inglorious wanderer

Long before President Obama designated parts of the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument on October 10, 2014, I had my eyes set on Mount Baldy. Mount Baldy seems to be the most popular hiking destination for wannabe hardcore hikers like me. Known for being bald,  Mount Baldy is also known as  San Antonio Mountain and one of the two others peaks in the holy trinity of the tallest fucking mountains in Southern California. I was surprised that  Naomi agreed to go with me  for an exploratory hike to Mount Baldy. The last time I suggested to Kay about hiking  Mount Baldy earlier this year, I learned that the hiking trail leading to the summit was closed after three hikers fell to their death earlier. With the closure of the Devil's Backbone Trail, I waited for the opportunity and kept my I will t-shirt ready for the chance to hike Mount Baldy. I didn't know that ...

The Cedar Creek Falls was closed to the  public for two years after a 16-year old fell into the deep pool catch basin where the water from an 80-foot ravine flowed into. After every abundant rainfall, the catch basin create deep pools upon impact of a the water falling from the 80-foot ravine. The deep pool is called  a punch bowl and  Cedar Creek Falls is also known as San Diego' s  "Devil's Punch Bowl".The area surrounding the creek and the waterfall area reopened in 2013 with a permit system to regulate foot traffic and discourage teenagers going to the area for drinking sprees. In the photo is a young hiker being helped to retrieve  a gallon of water that fell into the water. The group photo was spontaneous. Naomi and I only knew these young people as fellow hikers exchanging hi and hellos earlier  on the trail. To me, the camaraderie looks as  deep as the Devil's punch bowl behind us. It was the Eagle Peak th...

Naomi suggested we go to the Blue Sky Ecological Preserve instead of Mount Woodson. A month ago, I passed by her house while she was tending to her front yard garden. She was so happy to learn I am into hiking. She got excited with the thought of hiking with me after her daughter's wedding because she did not want to get dark from as a result of hiking. Several years ago, I only knew Naomi as Napoleon's grandmother. Her daughter's bunny named Napoleon wandered into our front yard and I picked Napoleon up and cuddled him like anyone would after finding an adorable puppy. Napoleon stayed with us for two weeks while Naomi and husband John travelled to the holy land. The ecological preserve was teeming with wild flowers. The abundance of yerba manza blooming either indicated that it's still springtime  or there's a creek nearby. The wild rose bush reminded me of Rose Mangahas. I was a little disappointed when I couldn't see Lake Ramona as promised on a trail sign so...