Saturday, July 7, 2012

Above Town

With the sun setting to our left and an old road beneath our feet, John and I enjoyed a walk above town on the Sunset Mountain Fire Road on the Fourth of July. You have to take Chaney Trail to get there and Chaney Trail is closed at 8pm, but we had plenty of time for a good hike, or so we thought.

On our way out at about 7:40pm we approached the locked gate near the bottom of Chaney Trail. Several Forest Service vehicles were there and the workers let us out (not that they had much choice, but they were nice about it). One Forest Service guy told us a sign had been posted for early closing at 6pm, but we sure hadn't noticed it. And we weren't the only ones. When we left there were at least four cars still parked at the trail head.

Can you spot the unexpected vehicle in this photo?

20 comments:

TheChieftess said...

This is a gorgeous shot Petrea...very Japanese
painting-ish...darn those pesky forest service guys!!! Don't they know some of the best photos are well after 6 pm?!!!

Dina said...

Such a wonderful photo!
But glad you didn't have to spend the night there.
Is that unexpected vehicle seen between the trunk and the limb? Lucky!

Anonymous said...

I saw something up on the far ridge to the right. I also saw that my laptop screen is in serious need of cleaning, so....

Lovely photo....

Michael Coppess said...

That is really a great picture. But, I don't see the vehicle. Hint? Also, don't know if this will post, I seem to be having difficulty getting the characters right on your robot test that screens comments.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

I wish they would go back to locking the gates at 10pm; at least during the long days. I loved going for a leisurely walk starting at 6ish and heading up to Cape Hope or beyond, then coming back under the moonlight.

Now you have to park in the nearby neighborhood below the gate and hike up on the street (dangerous) or take the horse trail and get leveled by gonzo mountain bikers (happened)....so we don't

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Chieftess. Almost a black and white.

Dina, you are right about the vehicle.

Michael, I dislike the spam filter and use it sparingly, but I was at the point of spending more than an hour each day controlling spam so I have it on for now. We'll get back to normal soon I hope. I don't think you have to be perfect on the thing, just close.

I don't know where the horse trail is PA but I'll probably try the road. I don't know who's safer, cars or bikes, but I think maybe cars because they have headlights.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Anon, thanks, just found you in the spam box!

Jean Spitzer said...

Looks like a Japanese painting.

Katie said...

Stunning photo! Looks like you caught a bit of a sundog too. So cool that you have such amazing trails close to you (even if they try to kick you out when the sun is still shining).

Bellis said...

PA has said just what I was going to say - the gate closes at 8 pm, yet sunset isn't till 8:30 at midsummer, and it's at 8:10 now. If you park below the gate, the horse trail up to the Sunset trail is too pitted and steep to be safe in the dark. It's such a pity, because coming down the fire road in twilight is one of the most magical experiences ever: the mountains are dark and uninhabited, the poorwills and owls are hooting, and the cities below gradually light up all the way to the ocean. I recently mistimed my hike so I had to rush down to my car. It was 8:03 and the sheriff had just locked up, and wasn't happy. I got a lecture. But why did he have to be so punctual? Other sheriffs kindly sit next to the cars at the trail-head waiting for the owners to return before locking up. Glad the firemen were so nice to you.

I can see a plane, but it can't be the big military one that flew low over the Rose Bowl for the Americafest, because that one left the area after 7:00 pm - or did it?

Petrea Burchard said...

It all looks like a Japanese painting up there since the Station fire, Jean. A lot of the old trees still stand, they just don't have any foliage on them.

Katie, it's the sun itself, no dog. I think. Unless you're seeing something I'm not, which is perfectly fine with me.

That's the military airship, Bellis. It was after 7:00 for sure. We were on our way out long after 7.

Anonymous said...

I can understand why they close early on 7/4 -- to keep the hills safe from fireworks. But 8 o'clock the rest of summer when we still have plenty of daylight -- hmmm wonder who we can write to.

(I see you have word verification up again. I had to do it too.)

Mrs. Rental Momma said...

Absolutely stunning photo!! Thank you!

Ms M said...

Beautiful, haunting photo. I agree, too, that it reminds me of a Japanese block print. Or it could be a Chinese ink painting.

Laura M said...

Petrea, lately none of my comments post. I'm not getting an error message, just a screen with Google stuff on it.

Laura M said...

Argh! I see now--I have to sign in again, but the sign-in box is so far to the right it doesn't show up in this little window. And I submitted some pretty pithy comments, too.

Petrea Burchard said...

It's my pleasure, Mrs. Rental Momma!

Merci, Ms. M.

Laura, I wish I could help you with the quirks of Google and Blogger. My problem lately is commenting on WordPress blogs. Some accept my sign-in and some don't. I had to make up a fake WordPress account, which works, believe it or not.

TheChieftess said...

It's always one's most pithy comments that get lost in the blogger ethers...

Katya said...

Hi Petrea,
Liked your picture. Hope all is well.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Katya!