altadenablog

Chaney Trail cleanup May 3

Altadena Foothlls Conservancy has planned a brush clearance along Chaney Trail on May 3.  Sounds like a vigorous spring activity that will help our foothils, too.  The announcement:

            Dear Neighbors & Friends
We're doing it early this year...clearing the flammable brush off 
the Altadena Foothills Conservancy land along Chaney Trail that many 
of you helped purchase.  Growth has been modest, and progress from 
prior years has made the job easier, but we still need all your help 
to make the job go fast, and our neighborhood even safer.

Please contribute a couple of hours of your time to help clear brush 
off AFC's land.  Refreshments will be served, and you'll meet new 
people who also care about our land.

We need your help Saturday, May 3, doing County-mandated brush 
clearance near the road and the two houses opposite the land 
preserved by Altadena Foothills Conservancy on the west side of 
Chaney Trail. The Altadena Crest Trail crosses the NW portion of this 
triangular parcel.

Start time is 8:00 AM; however, you can come later, if need be.   
Meet on Chaney Trail just above the intersection at Alzada Road and 
above the Chaney Trail Gate. You'll see me there, or down on the 
slope below. Please come for an hour, or more if you can.  The 
earlier we start, the cooler it is.  We plan to quit by noon, but you 
can leave earlier if you need to. Many hands make for light work!

I

Up on Mt. Lowe

The view and some shots of the Mt. Lowe Railway ruins grace this recent blog.

More bears ...

Alan Zorthian at the Zorthian Ranch reports to the newsgroups that a large brown bear was spotted tucking into a refrigerator full of food last night:

A woman, who lives on the ranch heard a noise outside at about 9:00 
PM. She shined her little light outside and saw two eyes looking at 
her. She called me and said she thought the mountain lion was outside 
her place.  I went over with my spotlight and we looked down in the 
canyon behind her place and indeed saw two eyes which were attached 
to a fairly large bear.  He had dragged a small refrigerator that she 
had left outside, with some food in it, down into the canyon and was 
busy consuming the contents. He ambled off after about 5 minutes of 
looking at us.

This canyon runs around behind the ranch and is the extension of the 
canyon that Alzada road runs along. Y’all may be seeing Mr. Bear 
later tonight.

Alan Zorthian

Oil roundup March 30

Used motor oil and oil filters will be collected at Dept. of Public Works, 737 E. Altadena Drive, from noon to 2 on March 30.

"Green building" meeting Wed.

LA County is holding a series of meetings to discuss Green Building Ordinances for unincorporated county areas.  The next meeting will be held Wed., March 19, at the Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, from 6-8 PM.  The county is soliciting feedback on proposed ordiances  for green building, low impact development, and drought-tolerant and native landscaping.  Says the release:

These ordinances are intended to help the County efficiently manage land uses to achieve its goals of environmental sustainability, carbon footprint reduction, and water conservation.  The proposed ordinances will impact [sic] all residential and non-residential development throughout the unincorporated County areas. 

There's lots more information here.

Millard Canyon trail work April 19

This from U.S. Forest Servict:

USDA Forest Service Los Angeles River Ranger District

California Trails Day 2008

DATE:  April 19, 2008, meet at 8:00 a.m., registration: 8:00 to 8:30 am

LOCATION:    Millard Canyon Trail System

 (Come early to get a Parking spot.)

EVENT: The USDA Forest Service and associated LARRD volunteer organizations will celebrate California Trails Day on April 19, 2008. The celebration will include 4-6 hours of trail work on the Millard Canyon area trails and a barbecue lunch at the Campground. This event is organized by the volunteer groups of the Los Angeles River Ranger District. Lunch will be held at the Millard Campground and will include a short ceremony about California Trails Day. Lunch will be served at 1:00 PM. Activities will end at 3:30 PM.

This activity is open to all volunteers, including sponsored groups. Those who are volunteering for trail work for the first time, please identify yourself to the registrar, so we can arrange for a Trail Boss to provide instruction and proper tools. Please bring personal equipment listed below.

Personal Equipment to Wear while working:

Work gloves, work shoes, work clothes (long sleeve shirts and long pants), sun protection hat, hard-hat (if available), Ten Essentials (include personal First Aid kit), Water (2 Qt's.), snacks. Be prepared to hike about a mile and work until 12:30. Lunch will be provided at the Millard Campground.

DIRECTIONS: From 210 Fwy in La Canada, go east on Fwy 210 and exit at Lincoln. Turn left (north) onto Lincoln Avenue, and proceed to Loma Alta. Right on Loma Alta to flashing yellow light, (Chaney Trail). Left on Chaney Trail to Millard Canyon Parking Lot. Allow 25 minutes driving time from the 210 Fwy. We will meet at the Millard Campground parking lot.. Carpool if possible.

For Additional Information, contact one of the following:

USDA Forest Service, LA River Ranger District, Little Tujunga Ranger Station

(M-F, 8am – 4pm): 

Howard Okamoto

Recreation Officer

(818) 899-1900 X229  

(M-F, 9am-6pm):

Kathie Reilly

JPL Trail Builders

(818) 354-8321

(Evenings):

Volunteer Leaders, Training

John Horton  

(310) 375-5032   

&

David Ledford          

(310) 373-2111 

Altadena Trails meeting ...

at the Community Center, 7 p.m. Tuesday March 11.

Native plant gardening talk tonight

Altadena Conservancy sends us this notice about a meeting tonight:

Native Plant Gardening Tips Talk *

Learn about gardening with native plants Wednesday, February 27, at 7:30
p.m. at the Altadena Community Center, 730 East Altadena Drive.

Barbara Eisenstein, horticultural outreach and education coordinator at
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, will give a lively illustrated
presentation of practical tips on gardening with California native
species. Increased use of native plants in residential and public spaces
saves water, saves money, create wildlife habitat, and helps create
beautiful "California Sublime" landscapes appropriate to Southern
California's climate. Eisenstein will demystify the difficulties and
share secrets of keeping California natives happy in your garden. The
talk is free. Note that although Altadena Drive is torn up, you can
safely drive to the Altadena Community Center.

Cougar! Cougar! Cougar!

The JPL Cougar has been much in the news and the newsgroup discussions around town.  First, the picture by Matthew Dickie and related story finally hit the high, mighty, and newsroom-gutted LA Times.  Even tho' the reporter said it was a large cat, consensus from those in the know say it was probably an adolescent, and not that big at all.  And while the occasional pet is snatched, more people kill cougars than cougars kill people.  And sightings are not all that rare -- but pictures are, and that's the story right there.

Cougar spotted near JPL

Several sources sent us this picture, taken by a Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee looking down the Arroyo Seco from the bridge from the JPL East parking lot to the campus.  A cougar in broad daylight, where runners and equestrians usually play.  Eeek!  Altho' cougars rarely attack humans or horses.  If you see it, just try not to look edible ...

1/28 Note: credit where credit is due: photo by Matthew Dickie.

STAT marks MLK day at Owen Brown gravesite

Save the Altadena Trails sends us this:

As we have done for the last two years, Save the Altadena Trails (STAT) will host an event at Little Round Top, the burial site of Owen Brown, on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21, 2008, from 9:00 a.m.-12 noon. This year's event will be a little different because the main focus will be creating a new, safer trail to the top of Little Round Top. You can come to work on the trail, stop by and chat, or just go to the top of Little Round Top, commune with the spirits and admire the view. Paul Ayers, who designed the new trail, will lead the work party.

A little bit of nature appreciation

One of the better local blogs, West Coast GrrlieBlather, has some cool pictures of the rain-swollen water coursing down Millard Canyon.

Bear traps again, or altadenablog scoops PSN

Pasadena Star-News had a story yesterday about the fear of bear traps on the hiking trails in west Altadena, something we reported Dec. 12.  Now, to date, nobody has actually come forward to say they've seen a trap -- it all seems to be "friend of a friend" stuff --  altho' Chaney Trail newsgroup reports that some of the local raccoons are sporting injuries that would be consistent with being caught in a trap.  (We're still trying to get a copy of an aerial photo that shows the trap on the ground -- can anyone help?)  As well, there are suspicious indentations along trails, which suggests that the trapper may have cleaned up his evidence.  In any event, hikers, equestrians, and dog walkers are advised to be cautious! 

La Vina trail trial starts

Opening arguments on the dispute over hiking trails in the La Vina development started Wednesday, with La Vina claiming that the county approved plans that did not have hiking trails, and the county and supporters claiming that hiking trails were one of the conditions of approval.  Whitter Daily News has the opening day's comments.

De Vermiis Mysteriis, or no post like compost

.. at least to Bill Ward of Pepper Drive.  PSN has a great feature about his vermicultural approach to composting.

(Extra credit if you know what the Latin reference is about)

La Vina trial to go forward

Save the Altadena Trails (STAT) reports that trial will begin Nov. 21 in a county lawsuit against the La Vina Homeowners Association.  The county is trying to enforce the original developer's agreement to provide public trails in the open spaces around the La Vina development. 

Yes, Nov.21 is the day before Thanksgiving.  While that's when the trial begins, witnesses are expected to start testimony Monday, Nov. 26.  STAT estimates that the trial will take about 10-12 days.

STAT's own lawsuit against La Vina HOA is scheduled to start Jan. 22, 2008.  Both suits will be tried before Superior Court Judge Joseph De Vanon at the courthouse, 300 E. Walnut.

Angeles Forest to re-open Thursday

Word from USFS Public Affairs Officer Sherry Rollman is that the Angeles National Forest closure will be lifted Thurs., Nov. 8.  San Bernardino and Los Padres will also re-open Thursday, and Cleveland on Saturday.  Fire conditions are still "extreme," and all prior fire restrictions will remain in effect.

Millard to remain open

Good news from Larry Wilson's column in the PSN: due to public comments, the Forest Service has decided to NOT close the walk-in campground at Millard Canyon.  It will remain as both a day-use and campground facility. Hooray!

Angeles Forest remains closed thru weekend

from the U.S. Forest Service:

Date:  October 31, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Sherry Rollman (626) 574-5205
or Kathy Peterson 626) 574-5208

Angeles National Forest will continue the Temporary Emergency Closure 
through the Weeken

ARCADIA, Calif. - As a result of extreme fire danger, and to protect 
public health and safety, Angeles National Forest officials will 
continue the temporary emergency Forest closure for awhile longer.   
The closure became effective last week on October 23, 2007 and it is 
projected to last until conditions have improved.
"It is our intent to get the Forest re-opened to the public as soon 
as possible," Jody Noiron, Forest Supervisor, said.  "However, 
with the extreme fire danger, ongoing fires in Southern California 
and the predicted strong weekend winds, we need to make public health 
and safety our primary concern.  We will reassess the situation early 
next week to see if things have changed so that we can lift the 
closure."

Individuals or organizations holding special use permits for 
sanctioned activities within the Forest are exempt from this order.

While the closure is in effect, going into or being upon National 
Forest System lands, roads, or trails within the Angeles National 
Forest is not allowed. The closure will affect the use of all 
National Forest recreational facilities, roads and hiking trails. 
Violators are subject to fines and/or imprisonment.

Most County roads and state highways, such as the Angeles Crest 
Highway (Hwy 2), will remain open to through traffic.  However, 
Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) is closed from Big Dalton Road to East 
Fork.  The Glendora Ridge Road is closed from the junction with GMR 
to Mt. Baldy Village.  Chantry Road is also closed.

For more information on the closure on the Angeles NF, please contact 
one of the offices listed below or visit the Forest website at 
www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles.

Forest Supervisor´s Office, 
Arcadia                                       (626) 574-1613
Los Angeles River Ranger District, Tujunga                           
(818) 899-1900
San Gabriel River Ranger District, Glendora                           
(626) 335-1251

Inspirational

The photogenic Bill Westphal has sent us a note and some pictures about the upcoming Mt. Lowe excursion:

Thanks for posting info about the Mount Lowe excursion.  What a great opportunity for those who have never been there.  Lots of great history.  There was even a fox farm near the Mt. Lowe Tavern.  It used to be on the side of the hill near the short road to Inspiration Point.  You can still see some remnants of posts and fencing.

 

I must comment on the use of the word "telescopes" at Inspiration Point.  They are more accurately "sighting tubes".  I am up there each year while volunteering for the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run. A rare treat to drive the path of the old "Railway In The Clouds".  I strongly urge folks to take advantage of the Forest Service's offer.

Bill also sent us some pictures, including this view of Altadena Dr. and Lake Ave. as seen from Inspiration Point (you can see the sheriff's station about right center).

 

Mt. Lowe Excursion set for Dec. 1

On Dec. 1, the Mt. Lowe Volunteers and US Forest Service will hold their annual excursion to various sites along the old Mt. Lowe Railway. 

Howard S. Okamoto, US Forest Service recreation officer, says: 

For those of you interested in local history, the Mount Lowe Railway, 
Ye Olde Alpine Tavern resort and its ruins, and a pleasant drive into 
Altadena's past and the local Forest... The event can't be beat for a 
cost of $2.00 per person. This is also an excellent way for those who 
have difficulty hiking long distances to see these beautiful, famous 
destinations. The short walk to Inspiration Point takes visitors to a 
spectacular view of Altadena, Pasadena and beyond all the way to the 
Pacific Ocean (assuming a clear day without fire smoke or fog). The 
drive will travel along the old railroad route beginning at the gate 
to the Forest Road (top of Chaney Trail) to the railroad's Cape of 
Good Hope, Dawn Station, Horseshoe Curve, Circular Bridge, Granite 
Gate and end at the Alpine Tavern.

The Mount Lowe picnic area is shaded by ancient oaks and other trees. 
The walk to Inspiration Point is sometimes in direct sun, but the 
restored Pavilion provides ample shade. 1 December can be warm or 
cold, so dress according to the weather forecast and wear "sensible 
shoes." There are picnic tables and telescopes at Inspiration Point. 
The old photos and artifacts on display are fascinating. Bring your 
camera! Usually hot dogs, chips and other food are for sale. Feel 
free to bring your own picnic lunch. Mount Lowe t-shirts and a few 
other items are also on sale to benefit the Mount Lowe Railway 
Historical Committee volunteers and their work.

For more information or to make a reservation (only 75 can go on the trip), go here.

And then there were three (Water, water pt. III)

Rubio Canon Land and Water Assn. has sent a letter to its customers (including Altadenablog) that it is adopting a voluntary water conservation program, with a goal of reducing water use by 10% or more during the drought.  Rubio is encouraging customers to do sensible things like adjust sprinklers to avoid overspray and runoff, avoid watering in the heat of the day, don't hose down sidewalks and driveways, retrofit low flow indoor plumbing fixtures, etc.

And if that's not enough, they say, "RCLWA will consider further action to curtail water use, including a temporary moratorium on new connections to RCLWA's distribution system."

(They also tell us that the Metropolitan Water District, which is largely the source of RCLWA water, will start fluoridating on Nov. 12.  Somebody alert the John Birch Society, or go here.)

Under a Yellow Sky

The Westphal WeatherCam view of Echo Mountain at about 4 p.m. this afternoon.  While we fortunately don't have fires in our area (cross fingers), the effect of the smoke is evident in this picture -- and in your lungs and throat!

The view from the Mt. WIlson cam at about the same time.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an advisory urging residents to curtail outdoor activities.

Also, the Chaney Trail Yahoo group reports that Angeles National Forest is closed for the duration to all recreational activities, altho' county hiking trails remain open, as long as they're not in the national forest.  Out-of-state US Forest Service fire strike team rangers are being brought in to patrol and stand watch for possible fires.   Please make sure you're on county land if you're hiking in the hills during this time.