As proof of their wariness of humans, biologists point to Griffith Park’s resident cougar, P-22, short for Puma 22. P-22, a young male mountain lion, entered the park in February of 2012 and has been living quietly on the north slopes above the Forest Lawn Cemetery and the Travel Town train museum.  While he has been photographed on National Park Service remote cameras, and more recently by National Geographic photographer Steve Winter, P-22 has remained elusive to the thousands of park visitors who tramp daily over his territory.  What makes his story so intriguing is not just that a mountain lion has taken up residence in an urban park within eyesight of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles, but that he made it there to begin with.  DNA testing have shown that P-22 comes from the stock of cats residing in the Santa Monica Mountains and had to cross both the 405 and 101 highways to reach Griffith Park.

While there seems to be little risk to humans, authorities urge park visitors and local residents to take precautions to prevent antagonizing the cats or making them feel threatened.  The California Department of Fish and Game has prepared a list of safety tips (see side bar) to help mitigate attracting a mountain lion’s attention and what to do should one encounter a mountain lion in the wild, even if the wild comes to your backyard.

For more information on P-22 in Griffith Park, read this article from the Los Angeles Times:

Scientists Track Cougar's Wild Nightlife Above Hollywood

Hiking and trekking into the wilderness for pleasure is a fairly recent human endeavor, though some still doubt pleasure can be found in huffing up a steep mountain incline or wading through ice cold streams while a blistering sun beats down on you from above.  In fact for most people prior to the start of the 20th Century, spending the day walking the perimeter of a canyon was absolute folly.  Wilderness areas had few, if any, roads or developed trails for recreational purposes.  What few existed were meant for more practical things like hunting and trapping.  Discovery of gold might bring a sudden influx of settlers, but the backcountry was still an area to be exploited, not enjoyed.

In the late 1800’s there was a shift in the way society perceived the wild lands beyond the growing urban sprawl of America’s cities.  This change was spurred in part by health concerns over the close quarters and polluted conditions in which many urbanites were forced to live.  The country offered clean water and fresh air for those able to afford the luxury—and healthful benefits—of leaving the cities for weeks at a time to enjoy the amenities of summer resorts that sprang up in New York’s Catskill Mountains or in the Poconos of Pennsylvania.  The San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California experienced a similar boon with the construction of private retreat cabins along the Santa Anita Wash and the Echo Mountain House resort accessible by the Mt. Lowe Railway.

Referred to as the ‘Father of the National Parks’, Muir’s writings were read by millions, inspiring people from all walks of life to take a walk in the woods.  By the 1930’s, an estimated 2 million people a year visited the San Gabriel Mountains alone.

Los Angeles’ PBS affiliate, KCET, has put together a photo retrospective of this period of wilderness awakening and posted it on their website.  It’s a very informative and entertaining trip to a bygone era.  And the next time you complain about the lack of support in those new hiking boots, just think back to when hikes were done in long woolen skirts or vest and tie, and maybe that next couple of miles on the trail won’t seem so bad.

You can view KCET’s photos by clicking here.

     A wildfire broke out in the Angeles National Forest just north of Glendora, CA  before dawn this morning.  As of this posting, 1700 acres had been consumed and several homes damaged.  There are unconfirmed reports of homes being destroyed, and photos of the area seem to verify these reports.  Residents in the vicinity of the fire are being evacuated.

     Southern California is experiencing a particularly dry winter and recent high winds are combining to create ideal fire conditions.  Under these conditions fires could break out anywhere and all area residents should trim shrubbery and remove dead or dry brush from their properties to help mitigate ignition sources and reduce chances of property damage in the event of a fire.  All hikers and outdoor enthusiasts should avoid the Glendora and surrounding areas due to heavy smoke and shifting wind conditions.  Once the fire is out, hikers should avoid the temptation to visit burn areas as the ground could be unstable.  Hiking in burn areas is also detrimental to the natural recovery of vegetation.  For more information on the fire follow this link: Colby Fire in Angeles National Forest near Glendora, CA

I was hiking in Eaton Canyon when I first had the idea of creating Hike-LosAngeles.com.  It seemed like a simple idea at the time: take a hike and then write a little about it.  Oh, if only it had stayed that simple, but by the time I returned home, that simple idea had become a bit more complex.  I began looking at other hiking sites and deciding what I did and didn’t like about them.  Most gave the basic essentials about the hikes, but many were assembled in a random, almost haphazard way.  The hikes were listed either alphabetically or in the order the hiker completed them.  Some of the larger, more ‘institutional’ sites were a bit sterile without any of the heart that makes a hike special.  Others were a bit too personal with my favorite being a hiker’s blog where the hiker found the sky so overwhelming he had to sit down on the trail and cry.  The description of his tears landing in the dust at his feet was a bit much and I can only imagine what his fellow hikers must have thought as they passed him weeping in the chaparral.

After reviewing a number of such sites I decided I would build the web destination that I would want to go to, one that would excite me about the trail and prepare me for whatever challenges I may encounter.  I also wanted to be able to find specific trails quickly and easily.  So my first goal was to organize the site in a way locate different types of hikes depending on mood and inclination.  As such, you will find the hikes are broken down by destination and specialty.  Under Destinations, the hikes are grouped geographically, which makes it easy to find a hike near your location.  Currently, our destinations include Griffith Park, the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains.  Upcoming destinations will include the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills and the Santa Susana Mountains.

If you are not particular about where you go, but rather what you want to see, our Specialty Hikes include Waterfalls, Sunrise/Sunset and Historic Hikes.  As more hikes are added I expect to add a Challenging category for those who want a more aggressive workout with their hike.  All of the hikes on Hike-LosAngeles.com can be found on the map at the bottom of our home page.  Click on the map icons to get a brief description of the hike.

Once your have found a hike your interested in, navigate to that hike’s page for trail statistics (length, elevation and time estimates), a video highlight tour and a map and trail guide.  Again, clicking on the map icons will bring up a brief description of trail junctions or interesting features as they correspond with the trail guide.  The map and trail guide can also be downloaded and printed for your use on the trail.  Directions to the trailhead and parking are included with every hike, as well as locations of nearby restrooms and water fountains.  We’ve also included pictures of the hike’s scenic views as well as photos of major trail junctions so you know what to look for out on the trail.

When searching for a hike, you will find that by clicking on Destinations instead of one of the drop down menus, you will be taken to a page giving you information on the Los Angeles area.  Likewise, clicking on Griffith Park, rather than a specific hike in the park, will bring you to an informational page on the history of the park.  The same holds true for the Verdugo Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains or any other destination on the site. 

Another good place for information is our resources page.  Here you will find local merchants who specialize in hiking gear, hiking groups and links to local, state and federal parks.  Initially, we are offering guides on 14 hikes on the eastern side of the metropolitan region, but we hope to add at least two new hikes a month beginning with some western walks in the Santa Monica Mountains.  And this blog will keep you up to date on interesting articles and facts about hiking in Los Angeles.  So there is plenty of exploring you can do right here on the website before heading out into the wilderness.  But once you do, drop us a line at [email protected] to tell us about your own outdoor adventures or maybe even recommend a hike to add to our growing collection.  So take a hike, Los Angeles, and become part of the scenery.