Hollywood, CA: Wacky Hollywood

Our Hollywood adventure in pictures...

I've been here so many times, but this time I took my camera, and I have never been stopped and solicited so many times in my life. Good Lord, I don't want a freaking tour people, I've already seen it!

Again some pics are sideways... I can't seem to figure out how to fix that... so I'll get back to that.

By the Kodak Theatre- In prep for the Academy Awards

Yes... Hollywood is a bit crazy.

 What do you see?

Flowers...

It's a small adventure, but a unique one.  I have never legitimately been given flowers like this in my life.

 

Don't mind me...

... just here, climbing mountains and all.. I realized this week, the strange contradiction involved with adventure. It is a lonely business, and yet you meet so many people along the way, and make a core group of friends that are rivaled by very few. You will keep in touch with these people across continents, but you must always continue on your way. I climbed a mountain, while sick, this past sunday, and the feeling of standing on the top of a mountain that you just struggled up, is simply amazing... and yet it is one that so few are willing to share the struggle and the moment with you. This past hike, we were the only people on that mountain for awhile. We sat there staring in awe at the view, and took pictures, in an attempt to share the moment. Interesting.

Mt. Baden-Powel

Mt. Baden-Powell
9,406 ft elevation
8-ish miles

Guide: http://www.modernhiker.com/2009/06/18/hiking-mount-baden-powell/

On our way up we passed police search and rescue helping two guys over a railing and talking to them.  When we got to Vincent's Gap, there were search and rescue police with two other guys, and when we pulled up, they told us they were looking for lost hikers.  A moment later the police that we had passed pulled up behind us and reunited the group.  We heard them tell their story, about how scared they were, got off path, etc.  Turned out the dudes got high and decided to go on a hike, totally unprepared.  They ended up getting lost and spending a night in the cold.

Lessons:
1. Don't smoke pot and then go hiking people.
2. Come prepared
3. Tell someone where you are going
4. Don't go off trail
5. If you get lost stay in one spot- don't wonder

 At the top

  

A scary part... the icy ground was very slippery... It's very straightforward and deceptive at the same time.  

* Winter closure of Angeles Crest may make things difficult.  Check out directions here: http://california.hometownlocator.com/maps/distance-directions2.cfm?vincent%20gap@34.3736113,-117.7522817

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