Random fact: "People who have positive core self-evaluations like themselves and see themselves as effective, capable, and in control of the environment. Those with negative core self-evaluations tend to dislike themselves, question their capabilities, and view themselves as powerless over their environment.... [as a result] People with positive CSE perform better than others because they ate nor ambitious goals, are more committed to their goals, and persist longer in attempting to reach these goals." Robbins and Judge, Essentials of Organizational Behavior 12 ed, p68

Downtown Los Angeles

Another adventure today: exploring downtown Los Angeles via the Metrolink. Some of the pics are sideways... sorry.

The Metro to Union Station.

Take the Red Line to Little Tokyo

Walk down to the City Hall

And to Grand Central Market

Pupusas

Went over the bridge

To China Town and Calle Olvera

Went back and ate Udon noodles and had some beer.

Devil's Punchbowl

Here we go again, hiking into the middle of nowhere. 

Got some equipment this time.  

Devil's Punch Bowl, Pearblossom, CA

We did 13.2 miles in total.  

Official Site: http://www.devils-punchbowl.com/

I would recommend going here and printing up a map.  The official trail goes on for 20+ miles, so you want to be careful and watch your mileage if you continue on the trail.  There is also a smaller loop, down in the canyon, that is about a mile long, starting right past the main center and bathrooms.  

Hiking Guide: http://www.modernhiker.com/2007/12/12/hiking-the-devils-chair/

4 miles in- The Devil's Chair

And the view from there. 

This is such a beautiful place!

There was an amazing moment, when we were 6.5 miles into the canyon, 2.5 past the Devil's Chair, and we heard, what we thought was wind swooshing through the canyon.  A few minutes later it got louder, and then deafening.  We stopped to see what was going on, and then a fighter jet came flying low, right above us.  The echo of the jet in the canyon, the breaking of complete silence, and the fact that we don't often see these jets, except for on special events, made it an awe inspiring moment.  

Falling scares me, and my legs are short, but I made it up a boulder... finally!

The whole entire loop, past the chair and all, is 20+ miles so watch your mileage an take a trail map we went 6.5/7 miles in to te other side of the canyon and then back