High on promontory above the town of Altadena, CA, there once was a dazzling Victorian resort known as The White City in the Sky. This ‘city’ was comprised of a 40-room chalet, astronomical observatory, zoo, dormitories, dance hall, bowling alley, tennis courts, picnic areas, machine shops and, the jewel of the city, the palatial 70-room Echo Mountain House. The entire complex of buildings was painted a brilliant white to reflect the southern California sun. Situated as it was at the tip of Echo Mountain, the resort could be seen glowing against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains (then called the Sierra Madre Mountains) from downtown Los Angeles, some 13 miles distant. The resort was part of a series of hotels and taverns built to service the Mount Lowe Railway.

In 1900, a kitchen fire destroyed the Echo Mountain House, leaving only the foundation in its wake. The building had not been properly insured and thus was never rebuilt. In 1905, a second fire destroyed all the remaining buildings with the exception of the observatory. The incline railway powerhouse was rebuilt in 1906, but the rest of the property on Echo Mountain was left in ruins. In 1909, a flash flood destroyed the Rubio Pavilion hotel at the bottom of the funicular incline railway. The observatory held on until 1928 when a particularly strong Santa Ana wind blew the building down. The curator managed to escape moments before the collapse, taking the expensive telescope with him. Despite the catastrophes, the railway continued to operate under various owners, hauling passengers to the Mount Lowe Tavern (the renamed Ye Alpine Tavern) at Mount Lowe until 1936 when the tavern also succumbed to fire. The railway was now a line without a destination. As such, the railroad’s booster club organized one final excursion, and in December of 1937, the Mount Lowe Railway made its last public trek past the remains of the White City to the burnt ruins of the Mount Lowe Tavern. In March of the following year, a three-day thunderstorm washed the railroad itself from the mountain. What little remained of the buildings that once graced the promontory of Echo Mountain was declared a hazardous nuisance and blasted into history with dynamite by the US Forest Service between 1959 and 1962.

Search helicopters have detected emergency locator beacons buried in the snow on Mount Rainer. Six climbers, two guides with four clients, were reported missing on Friday evening when they did not return as expected. The pings from the locators are registering in an area several thousand feet below the climber's last reported position. Park officials believe the expedition fell up to 3,300' in an avalanche prone area. Climbing gear was also spotted scattered across the section where the pings are coming from. Rescue and recovery efforts have been suspended at this time. Park Ranger Fawn Bauer told the AP News Service there was no viable chance of survival from such a fall. Falling rock and ice are currently preventing any recovery efforts. Bauer added, "In all honesty, we may never be able to get on the ground there." Names of the climbers are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. More information can be found in this AP News story.

Hiking the wilderness areas surrounding Los Angeles provides intrepid trekers with sweeping mountain vistas, wildlife observation, quiet coves for personal reflection and a general escape from the hustle and bustle of big city living, though you may have to suffer through LA traffic in order to reach such nirvana. On occasion, you may also unexpectedly step into history. This recently occurred for me while making the climb up the wind swept grassy balds  of Oat Mountain. About halfway up the trail, the paved Browns Canyon Road, it passes through the remnants of an abandoned military facility constructed during the cold war, but with roots stretching back to World War II and the development of jet aircraft and nuclear weapons.

With the advent of jet fighters and bombers during the second world war, existing gun-based ant-aircraft batteries proved largely ineffective in combatting these new high speed, high altitude aircraft. In 1944, to counter this advance in weaponry, the US Army, in conjunction with Bell Laboratories, developed a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system called Project Nike (named after the Greek Goddess of Victory). The project’s goal was to acquire and track an incoming enemy plane should it evade Navy and Air Force resources and then launch and guide a defensive missile to the incoming target. This had never been attempted before and the complex Nike system required 3 separate yet integrated radar systems to achieve that result. Despite its promise, the system was largely considered a last ditch effort to prevent the enemy from delivering its payload as the initial effective range of the Nike Ajax missiles was only about 25 miles, but it marked the first time the US military attempted a strategic air defense of the country based on guided missiles, a safeguard that proactively sought out threats rather than one that simply threw up a barrage of projectiles hoping one would be lucky enough to intercept the target. The missiles later received an upgrade extending the range to about 100 miles and were given the designation Nike Hercules. Though the missiles were capable of carrying warheads of varying size in both conventional and nuclear explosives, the warheads on the US-based Nike missiles were almost entirely nuclear with an explosive rating of 20 Kilotons. By comparison, the bomb dropped over Hiroshima had an estimated explosive yield of only 16 KT.  Hiking the serene hills of Oat Mountain today, It is hard to imagine the fear and even paranoia that existed during the Cold War that would justify the detonation of a 20 KT nuclear weapon within 25 miles of Los Angeles, or any of the other 240 sites situated around the United States at the time for that matter, but it was the country's last line of defense for nearly 20 years. 

After a successful Nike test in November of 1951, the Army began deploy the system to defend strategic and tactical sites around the country. Sixteen such missile sites were established around Los Angeles to protect the city from Soviet attack beginning in 1956 and remained operational until the early 1970s. The Oat Mountain facility was part of this 'ring of defense' and was designated LA-88. Though LA-88 was closed in 1972, the site remained largely intact until a devastating wildfire swept through the area in 2008, destroying most of the buildings. What remains are mostly large concrete pads that once held barracks, mess halls and administrative offices and a large pad of pavement used as a basketball court. The launch area for the missiles is mostly bare, but the silo doors for the subterranean storage area for the missiles are still in place as is the substructure used to service the missiles.

What makes LA-88 unique is that the trail to the summit of Oat Mountain passes directly through the heart of the former missile complex, providing great views of the facility’s remains.  Though it is illegal to trespass on the grounds themselves, the open gates have invited many a hiker and more than a few ‘taggers’ to take a look around. There are a few outbuildings still standing on the southern side of the trail, including the guard shack and missile assembly building. On the north side of the trail, the base flagpole can be found still standing tall in a small garden. In more recent years, the site has been used by the LAPD for SWAT training exercises as evidenced by the shot up buses on the premises. On a recent visit, it was noted that an access panel to the missile storage area beneath the silo doors was open and metal rungs descended into the dark depths below.  

In 2006, Howard Rathbun, who served at LA-88, returned to his former base for a stroll down memory lane. He has written an interesting article with before and after pictures comparing the base’s operational phase with its derelict state that can be found here. Mr. Rathbun was fortunate to visit before the 2008 fire and found all the buildings to be intact at that time. The black and white photos you see here are courtesy of Mr. Rathbun and the Nike Historical Society.

The hike to Oat Mountain’s summit is worth it just for the views and the grassy, rolling hills, but the chance to literally walk through history makes this hike all the more interesting. Another Nike site has been partially preserved in the Santa Monica Mountains at San Vicente Park. Self-guided displays give visitors a look into the Nike Program and how it was used around the country and the still standing radar tower provides impressive views across the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles basin.

Learn more about Project Nike here.

Puma 22 was captured recently after backcountry remote cameras snapped photos of the big cat that appeared to show the animal was suffering from the skin disease mange. Wildlife biologists confirmed P-22 had contracted the disease and his blood showed traces of toxins linked to rat poison. The cat appeared somewhat scraggly and was reportedly 10 pounds lighter than his last capture. While the effects of mange on mountain lions is not widely known, local bobcat populations that contract the disease can see their survival rate drop from 75% to around 30%. The biologists gave P-22 a large dose of selacmectin, a topical parasiteacide used to kill mites, fleas and ticks on domestic pets. The large cat was also given injections of Vitamin K to help combat the effects of the rat poison toxins. Though researches are concerned about P-22, his nocturnal behavior still seems to be normal and active. The cat has traveled throughout the park, ranging from Glendale Peak in the east to Cahuenga Peak in the west, preferring the hilly areas to the flatlands. His roaming has taken him out of the park as well. P-22 was recently caught on security cameras on Hollyridge Drive in the Hollywood Hills. View footage here.

A 50 year old homeless man was the apparent victim of a mountain lion attack last weekend in Perris, CA.  The unidentified man has been hospitalized since Saturday with severe lacerations and bites to the base of his skull and has been unable to communicate with investigators. He had been living in a makeshift camp near Navajo Drive and California 74 and was able to make his way to a nearby residence early Saturday morning for help.  Investigators from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife believe he may have been attacked as early as Friday.  Upon searching the campsite, it was determined the man was attacked as he slept in his sleeping bag.  Said Lt. Patrick Foy of the CDFW, "It was incredible that that amount of blood could accumulate in the sleeping bag and this guy could still be alive."

Baited traps were placed in the area, but attempts to capture the large cat have proved fruitless.  The attack comes right after recent sightings of a mountain lion were reported in the Verdugo Mountains of Burbank and Glendale.  California's last fatality from a mountain lion occurred in January 2004 in Orange county.  A Nevada County man was attacked in July 2012, but survived his injuries.  For more information on this story, read the LA Times article here or view the video below.

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.