Garcia Trail Hike – October 23, 2011

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After a few weeks off from hiking, it was time to hit the trail. And local Garcia Trail above Azusa was just the venue for a late afternoon scrappy hike to exercise my legs.

4:20 PM - Begin hike. The trail sign is missing. It is a warm day but the temps aren’t bad now. In spite of the one-day rain from the other week that started some grass growing in the shade, everything seems dry and dusty. Hardly anything in bloom (just a few occurrences of cliff aster, fuchsia, sunflower, and buckwheat). The marine layer from this morning leaves a thick haze over the valleys. I press along at a work-out pace. Several parties of other trail users are coming down. It’s disappointing to see litter and graffiti along the trail.

Soon I catch up with and pass a gentleman named Tommy. He follows along as he shares about his workout regimen on Garcia Trail. At 4:54 we reach Glendora Ridge Motorway. Stop only briefly as Tommy and I proceed east to Azusa Peak.

5:02 - Azusa Peak. Someone has constructed a brown, wooden bench near the cross. Tommy explained that the cross had been toppled recently and then re-erect. The vandalism is disconcerting to me. Tommy suggests that there should be trash cans along the trail. I disagree. This is natural open space, not a city park. We linger briefly and leave the peak at 5:05, continuing east. As we walk along the wide dirt road, I point out various plants and Tommy is an eager learner. I gaze north toward Crystal Lake Basin and Hawkins Ridge and lament that the hike I had planned three weeks ago was sadly aborted for my wife’s need of the car.

5:37 - Reach the wide road bend north of Glendora Peak. This will be our turnaround point. I introduced Tommy to my friends along the eastern skyline: Ontario Peak, Telegraph Peak, Thunder Mt., Baldy Notch, and Mt. Baldy. His friends George and Tina arrive. We chat. Head back at 5:44. The sun is beginning to set behind the marine layer. I love the warm colors of this hour. We swap stories as we walk toward the setting sun. A tarantula sits on the road.

6:09 - Arrive at the top of Garcia Trail and begin our descent. George and Tina are well ahead of us. Tommy and I enjoy good conversation as the twinkling lights of the valley below announce the arrival of dusk. It’s hard to capture the beauty of this time of day with a camera.

6:36 - End hike. It’s pretty much dark now and quite a bit cooler. Tommy and I chat for a few more minutes and say our good byes.

Epilog - Very pleasant outing. Good to be on the trail. Always a pleasure to meet new people. Four miles round trip isn’t a strenuous work out, but at least it was something. I am always thankful for such a splendid little trail so close to home.

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Beginning Summer on Garcia Trail - June 21, 2011

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It’s summertime! Summer 2011 official began in Southern California at 5:20 p.m., June 21. It was a pressing two days for me at work, so I decided it would be great to begin summer with a hike. I got home from work at about 6:30 and by 7:00 I was on my bike heading for nearby Garcia Trail...my default scrappy hike.

7:22 - Begin hike. The weather is warm and the sun low in the sky. With the sun setting at 8:05, I’m hoping to get a good sunset picture. But I see the sun will be setting behind the mountains stretching to the west and be out of sight long before 8:05, so I’ll have to get the shot from the trail. There is a real beauty this time of day. I’m not paying much attention to plants but some of the blooms include buckwheat, golden yarrow, scarlet penstemon, cliff aster, sunflower, mustard, everlasting, yucca, deerweed, Douglas nightshade, clarkia, fountain grass, tree tobacco, elderberry, and lupine (one occurrence on the summit).

There are lots people on the trail; the majority are young adults. My pace is brisk and I’m working up a nice sweat. The June gloom of this morning has left moisture in the atmosphere creating a distant haze. I am perturbed about the amount of litter along the trail...what is wrong with these people?!

7:29 - Arrive into direct sun at the ridge divide past the concrete wall. The sun is starting to dip behind the mountain so I figure this will be my sunset shot. Take a few pics and continue. Various ones stop to look at a tarantula crossing the trail. The beauty of dusk compels me to continue capturing the azure sky. The trail maintenance efforts of the crew from county fire camp 16 on May 9 has made considerable improvement on the trail.

8:05 - Arrive at Azusa Peak, exactly at sunset, but the sun has long dipped behind the mountains. The Christian flag atop of the large white cross flutters in the breeze. Others arrive at the summit. A new peak register box has been attached to the base of the cross. Looks like it is custom made and quite durable. The human sprawl rests in twilight below. I don’t linger long, wanting to be off the trail before it’s too dark. Leave summit at 8:12. Others are still coming up the trail.

I enjoy the beauty of dusk and am still drawn to photograph the sky. A blanket of city lights begins to twinkle, but I know my efforts to photograph the panorama will be blurry without taking time to secure the camera. The cool evening air feels good. Crickets chirping. My steps are more guarded as the light dims.

8:48 - Finish hike. It’s dark now and starting to cool. I’m glad my bike is still locked up to the picnic table. I enjoy the bike ride home, which is mostly downhill!

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