Sunday, October 14, 2012

Altadena Crest Trail

The super-hot weather is over. It's hiking time again. Of course it was hiking time during the super-hot weather if you got up at 4:30 a.m., but you were not me if you did that.

I've never hiked the Altadena Crest Trail from one end to the other all at once. I've done different parts at different times. The trail is long enough that to do that at my pace I'd have to take provisions (lunch, dinner, and probably breakfast), and someone would have to drop me off at one end and pick me up at the other.) The trail's got exposed parts, rocky parts, precarious parts and disputed parts.

All of its parts are worth a trek. But you don't have to do them all at once.

15 comments:

irinapictures said...

This kind of lace is one of the most beautiful. Happy hiking!

dive said...

Even the best of us have disputed parts, Petrea. As for exposed, rocky and precarious, however: I'm not saying.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Dang, a lot of routes to choose... Have u ever done the Temescal Cyn. one? I did it two weekends ago w/my daughter who has used that as her workout... The first couple of miles is all uphill and my quads were dying.. didn't help that my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest.. The weather definitely has to be cooler... At 9am I was sweating like a pig... do pigs sweat?? and yes, I would do it again because the endorphins kicked in and it felt good!.

Bellis said...

The trailmakers, who rate very high in my list of people to admire, have been busy lately. There's a new section connecting east of Rubio to the Same Merrill trail up Echo mountain, though it's steep and precarious in places, as you say. Abby's enjoying her hikes much more now it's cooler ... some dogs are so temperature-sensitive.

Bellis said...

Sorry, that should be Sam Merrill.

Petrea Burchard said...

Good eye, Irina. That would make beautiful fabric to wear.

Well said, Dive.

KBF, I don't think I've done Temescal Canyon. I'll bet Bellis has, she knows them all. AltadenaHiker does, too. And I don't think pigs sweat, now that you mention it. They cool themselves in mud instead.

Boz likes this weather, too, Bellis. He has much more energy now.

Bellis said...

I've been up Temescal Canyon a short way, illegally. That is, I had my dog with me, and they're not allowed in any of the State parks around there, not even on the leash. Temescal, Malibu, Topanga are all out of bounds.

Desiree said...

Lovely shot. You are delightfully optimistic in claiming the super hot weather officially over. I am hedging my bets--

TheChieftess said...

I've been reviewing some of my Galapagos Island photos recently and your photo today is very similar to quite a few I took there!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't worry about that anymore, Bellis, as Boz is no longer hiking. A few blocks in the neighborhood this morning wiped him out for the day.

You make an excellent point, Desiree. 90 is better than 106, but perhaps I was premature. I can get up at 6:30.

Chieftess, do you mean Galapagos looks like the San Gabriel foothills? I always expect other parts of the world to look so different than ours! You know, purple hills and yellow waterfalls.

Katie said...

Beautiful photo. Sounds like a great hike, especially if someone else carries all the provisions for the meals, and if it isn't too hot. Or maybe I'll just stay back on the porch with Boz.

TheChieftess said...

Actually...the Galapagos Is were fairly desolate compared to what I was expecting...not particularly tropical even though it's on the ecuator!!!

Virginia said...

I love the silhouette images of the branches. What a wonderful POV ,
V

Petrea Burchard said...

Let's all stay on the porch with Boz. It's just the day for it.

Ms M said...

Wonderful photo with the interlacing of the branches.