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Next Hikes
July 5. Saturday. 9:30.
Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades with lunch at Gladstones.
From the canyon floor to the ridge overlook is 5 1/2 mi RT, 700 ft.
gain. This is a fairly steep trail and in July it may be warm
so we'll go as far as we feel like going and then retreat to
Gladstones for lunch. Directions: Thomas Guide p. 631
A4. From Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, turn north on
Temescal Canyon Road. Proceed 1/2 mile and park in the open
area near the gate. Restrooms at trailhead. Let Lois
know if you plan to attend.
Aug. 2, Saturday, 9:30. Trump
Golf Course in Palos Verdes.
We'll
walk along the bluffs and eat at the clubhouse. Let Lois know
if you plan to attend and see newsletter for details.
August 31-September 6. Mammoth Lakes.
Yes, we are going to have our annual Mammoth fall trip. This
is mainly a hiking trip, but we always do a little biking, kayaking,
fishing, shopping, etc. Mark your calendar and more details will
follow in the June newsletter.
ABOUT HIKING / WALKING
Over
hills, around bends, alongside creeks, through meadows and into deep
canyons with overarching oaks we go, crunching leaves, acorns and
small twigs. Our hikes take us into the local mountains, including
the Santa Monica, Verdugo and San Gabriel ranges. Hiking shoes and
adequate water are necessities. Our stair walks and excursions take
us into communities that represent hidden treasures around the
city. Hikes and walks are planned to take two to three hours and
often loop to offer continually new terrain and visual interest. They are paced to allow us to focus on our surroundings, with pauses
to note an unusual flower or other wonder of nature (and to drink
from our water bottles in a shaded place). Our leaders select a
spot for us to bring out our lunches toward noon or after, or we
enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Recent Hikes/Walks
(Continued)
Venice Canals, Abbott Kinney, Main Street, Beach Boardwalk, December
1 -- Selected scenes
 
 
Solstice Canyon and Deer Valley Loop, November 3.
On a sunny fall day 12 of us headed up, up, up to the ridge on the
Rising Sun Trail which offers rewarding canyon and ocean views.
After 2 miles we dropped back down to the canyon floor to Tropical
Terrace and the remains of the Roberts Ranch House. Palms, bamboo,
bird of paradise and other tropical plants thrive in the family
garden gone wild. A
 waterfall, fountain and an old dam are some of
the other special features found in the paradisiacal setting. After
some exploration and lunch we returned via the old road which
travels
under the shade of very old oak and sycamore. Report by Lois
P.
June 2, Will Rogers State Park Hike and House Tour
Great turnout, with 17-20 hikers depending on who counted.
We met at 9 a.m. and it was pleasantly cool, but unfortunately,
an ocean mist
was obscuring some of the distant views. It
was a leisurely hike past the rear of the Will Rogers abode
winding up the hill on the fire road and up a side trail curving
to Inspiration
Point. Lovely views down Mitt and Heart
Canyons despite the mist. We hiked back down the loop,
ending up at the huge magnificent stables where two of Will
Rogers' horses were buried in 1945. We were in plenty of
time for the 11 a.m. tour of the house, led by an extremely
knowledgeable guide, who gave us fascinating details, even about
the plane crash which ended Rogers' life at age 55. The
sun came out for the picnic and we were going to wait to watch
the polo game, but it was scheduled for 2 p.m. so most of us
decided not to wait. Perhaps next time. Thanks to
Lois for researching this lovely spot. Report by Jacky G.
August 4, Rustic Canyon,
Pacific Palisades.
OHGLA "Gangers" had an exhilarating day in Rustic Canyon
hiking the historical residential area with the many hidden
stairways, some with 100+ steps. What a surprise to
see all the beautiful tall redwood trees and many varieties
of ferns and huge philodendron leaves that were there
because of the large mountain spring with continuous water
flowing on one side of the canyon. Many thanks to
Helen Ryan for her hospitality. We all enjoyed her
beautiful home, having our lunch around the pool and the
interesting narration of her neighborhood while on the hike.
Thanks to Lois for arranging another great hike! By
Helen DeBerard.
 
Angeles Crest above
Altadena to Mr. Lowe, May 5
 
This
fascinating walk was led by Donna E. who acquainted us with a Los
Angeles landmark of bygone years, a resort in the rugged mountains
above Altadena of rustic elegance with a tram to ease the work of
getting there. Views were panoramic and our walk through history
will illuminating.
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 Near
the end of March, 1845, I borrowed an axe and went down to
the woods by Walden Pond, nearest to where I intended to
build my house, and began to cut down some tall, arrowy
white pines, still in their youth, for timber . . . It was a
pleasant hillside where I worked, covered with pine woods,
through which I looked out on the pond, and a small open
field in the woods where pines and hickories were springing
up.
By Henry David Thoreau, Reflections at Walden.
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Recent Hikes/Walks
Sept. 2-8, Fall Trip to
Mammoth Lakes
Sixteen of us explored the wonders of Mammoth Lakes in
the summer, from September 2nd through the 8th,
headquartered at the Rodeway Inn (except for Dar, who camped
out in her motor home nearby – where she hosted a bonfire
one evening, complete with marshmallow roasting). Members
came from Nebraska, Yucca Valley, Santa
Barbara, and greater Los
Angeles to hike the trails, learn about the
natural history of the
 Eastern Sierras, and relax in the
evening surrounded by friends. The trip was documented in
photography by several members, including Rosemarie Tashima,
Barbara Levine, Marilyn Tullius and Dar Clarke, which was
appreciated by those of us who forgot cameras. Our
week started with a cocktail party on Sunday from 5 – 6,
during which our hiking leader and overall font of knowledge
of the Sierras, Lois Piper, explained the plan for the next
day, and gave an overview of the scheduled week’s
activities. The
cocktail hour was
 held every evening, with the same format.
We shared stories, sampled each other’s appetizers, enjoyed
various drinks, and made dinner plans. Monday was the
day to ease into our week of hiking at 10,000 feet. We
carpooled to Convict Lake, and hiked around the lake, about
a 2-mile walk. The hike was easy, and the scenery
spectacular –with mountains surrounding the glistening
lake. We spotted several fishermen trying their luck in the
pristine waters, and ended our hike on a beach, where we had
our lunch. We passed the Convict Lake Lodge
 Restaurant, and
decided to go there for dinner on our last night (based on
some great recommendations from members of our group).
Tuesday we headed for Yosemite National Park, via Tioga
Pass, which is only open from late spring to late fall
(depending on the snowfall). The views of lakes and
mountains were amazing (awesome) in the morning light. Our
destination was Tuolumne Meadows, an alpine meadow at 10,000
feet. We parked near the trailhead, and passed a car whose
window had been broken by a bear, a cooler removed, and
raided. (Wake-up call!) We hiked along
 Lyell Creek, and
through lovely forests, had lunch along a path frequented by
John Muir Trail hikers, whom we greeted and encouraged, and
returned along the creek. We rested at a broad part of the
creek, where some of us cooled our heels (and toes), and
others explored waterfalls. We could have stayed there for
the rest of the day, but we needed to push on out of the
park. Some of us stopped at a quaint lodge and little
restaurant/store where we had homemade pie - think it was
called Tioga Lodge. Wednesday was a ‘free’ day – we all did
our own thing.
 This writer went to Devil‘s Postpile, and
Rainbow Falls – amazing natural wonders. Devil’s Postpile
looked like a book of black matches, which had stayed in
someone’s pocket too long; we hiked to the top to see the
octagonal shape of the ‘ posts’ and then went on to Rainbow
Falls, after traversing a forest that had been burned out in
a thunder and lightening storm in 1992. The forest is
coming back, through natural progression. It was easy to
see the rainbow in the cascading water; we sat and had lunch
as we watched the falls. We took the 112 steps to the
bottom of the falls, and got some foot therapy in the cool
stream. Other groups went fishing, to the ghost mining town
of Bodie, shopped or just relaxed in the heated swimming
pool
 and hot tub at the hotel. Thursday was a special
treat: a visit to the Valentine reserve, open to the public
by appointment only. Our guide, Leslie, led us through this
enchanting place of meadows in green and gold, past a
waterfall with a unique upside-down artichoke shape, and
through pine forests. Along the way, we saw hawks, deer,
squirrels chasing each other around tree trunks, and
 many
birds. Leslie pointed out various plants that were used by
the Paiute Indians to make food, clothing, baskets and
shelter. It is difficult to adequately describe the beauty
of this place; hopefully we will return every year to enjoy it.Friday, we set off for Rock Creek Lakes area for a full
day of hiking in the high country. The hike took us past
several lakes, and our path was often rocky and slightly
watery…we climbed over rocks to avoid getting wet. The
scenery was breathtaking – varying rock formations, trees
and lakes and streams.
 We formed two groups at the end of
the hike, and explored two crystalline lakes, where we
relaxed and had lunch by some of the most spectacular
scenery anywhere. We hiked back the six or eight miles to
our cars, collapsed for a couple of hours, and ended out
trip with a delicious dinner at the Convict Lake Lodge.
April 7, Topanga
State Park, Eagle Rock Loop
So. You
say you want to live to be 100? And look like you’re 50? And feel
like you’re 40? So have you met Lois Piper? Lois of the clear blue
eyes, perfect skin and the Ipana smile? That’s Lois. Lois is like
a double whammy vitamin pill for the heart, the lungs, the legs.
Eight of us – some on their 3rd repeat of the same jaunt
– set out to the top of Topanga and the major rock of Eagle Rock on
April 7. Marie Jordan, Marilyn T., D. B., Darlene, Donna, our
wonderful new member, Joyce and me. Lois setting the pace and
me straggling in the rear, trying to pretend I might be the sweep.
Darlene said, smiling breathlessly, that she was kind of used to
starting out flat and working up to breathless. This one was steep
from the start to steeper to steepest. We stopped for a quick rest
to look down from
 Eagle Rock and on this clear day you could see
forever, the entire Valley seemed spread out in front of us. On we
trekked to the top of Eagle Rock and its giant Rock where D.B,
Donna, and Lois scaled to its top while others went below into its
cave (made famous by Chuck and Helen DeBerard’s “impossible” photo
on a hike out of our past.) And surprise! Having reached the top,
we found that Lois’ down hills are almost as challenging as Lois’
uphills: rocky trails through forestry; we even inherited a wolf dog
and alerted the Rangers who met us with their pick up to take the
dog home. More canyon, and then we were finally down and feeling
like a million bucks, a great workout. And, gentlemen, it was
all female! The feminist manifesto according to Lois. Would we
do it again? Like Sir Edmund Hilary and Tensing on Everest, who
could resist? Thanks, Lois! Report by Cynthia
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