altadenablog

Altadena Trails meeting tonight, Community Center

The Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm Tuesday evening, Jan. 14 at the Altadena Community Center (730 E. Altadena Drive across from Rite Aid and next to the Altadena Sheriffs Station). 

 

Please pass this information on to neighborhood listserves and those who might be interested, since the ACTRWG listserve remains down due to technical difficulties. We are only able to reach some of you through old e-mail CCs, sign-up sheet info. or through the Chaney Trail Neighborhood listserve.

 

There are several important trail-related topics we will be discussing, including:

-- Dept. of Public Works Draft EIR for excavating Hahamongna Watershed Park basin and blocking trails. See additional info. below.

-- Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA) traffic discussions recommending "No Parking" zones in the vicinity of ACT trailheads.

-- SCE destruction of 3 acres northwest of the top of Chaney Trail (including portion of La Vina Open Space / Access issues)

-- Public Access to Millard Canyon Trail (former Corbett land, current AFC property)

-- Bench Dedication on ACT above Cobb Estate:  Thank You to Dr. Kwang-hee Park and Jochen Strack

 

Opinion: Lawful hunters have forest rights, too

by Timothy Jones

The San Gabriel Mountain foothills are abundant with deer, bear, coyotes and a variety of animals that classify as game animals.  The State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife divide the state into specific Hunting Zones to regulate and balance populations of the aforementioned animals.  Specifically, legal deer hunting regulations in the Altadena and Pasadena areas by use of bow and arrow are as follows:

A-31 (Los Angeles Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt).
(A) Area: That portion of Los Angeles County within Zone D-11 (see subsection 360(a)(10)(A)).
(B) Season: The season for hunt A-31 (Los Angeles Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunt) shall open on the fourth Saturday in September and extend through December 31.  
(C) Bag and Possession Limit: One either-sex deer (see subsection 351(b)) per tag.
(D) Number of Tags: 1,000.

The proximity of legal hunting areas on public lands in the National Forest to urban areas and residential neighborhoods have long been a major concern in Altadena.  There have been reports of poaching, hunting on private property, hunting too close to a structure and other misdeeds.  These actions are illegal and should not be tolerated.  They should not be tolerated by residents, because they are definitely not tolerated by legal and ethical outdoors-men.  People who engage in this behavior are criminals.  Criminals typically execute their deeds in secrecy and out of the public eye.  When exposed, they scurry like cockroaches trying to avoid the light.  

Bow hunter spotted: be wary of illegal hunters

Lori Paul at the Chaney Trail neighborhood sent this to the newsgroups:

A bow hunter has been seen in the vicinity of Chaney Trail this afternoon (Sept. 16, 6:11pm); reportedly driving adark green GMC Suburban type SUV with rope tied around front bumper and deer head decals on rear window. CA Lic. #6RKZ276

Bow hunting is NOT safe nor legal on local County and USFS trails where children, dog-walkers, hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers can be mistaken for deer in the chaparral or coming around a corner. Also, alleged "deer hunters" may be covertly using deer season to cover poaching bears (for the black market gallbladder trade), killing bobcats (for the fur trade) and other wildlife for sharp-shooting "fun."

Weekend warriors in their camo clothing with cross-bows or compound hunting bows have been a problem in the past. Cross-bow bolts have lodged in trees and arrows have landed on private property (including land posted "No Hunting").

Please report sightings of hunters on the local listserves. Be aware of the danger on local trails and report any illegal hunting, especially when in close (bow-shot) proximity to residences, popular trails, day use or campground areas. Wear bright colors, put brightly colored vests on dogs, make horses identifiable, too.

Irresponsible and unsafe hunting has no place in the Angeles Forest around our homes and recreation areas. Please report such activity without delay to:

• Altadena Sheriffs 626 798.1131 (they can respond to the scene fastest near urban areas)
• USFS Dispatch for LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) 661 723.2703 3.)
• California Dept. of Fish & Game: 1 888 DFG CALTIP (1 888 334.2258)

Politely tell hunters you encounter to take their activities to the safer backcountry and away from heavily populated neighborhoods.

County group seeks to discourage hikers on dangerous trail

A group of county officials and the Forest Service is working to stop the dangerous hikes to the second waterfall, through signs, trail work, and altering maps

by Laura B. Monteros

These are the facts: The US Forest Service maintains a safe, easy trail from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center to the bottom of the first waterfall.  The Forest Service has not built and does not recognize any other trails to the falls or up the side of the falls.

These are also the facts:  On their own, hikers have created a path to the top of the first and second waterfalls that entices adventurous people to slither along the rock face, often ill-equipped, resulting in numerous deaths and scores of rescues.

There is no actual designated official trail to the second waterfall.  The one that people call Razorback Trail or Acrophobia Ridge, so-called because it is dangerously high and narrow, was created by hikers themselves.  Deputy Mike Leum, the Reserve Chief who oversees the eight Los Angeles County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams, puts it this way.  “There are 'use' trails -- in other words, trails that people have kind of created.  There are no recognized or official trails, you won’t see them on any map, but we all know they are there.”      

Razorback Trail leads to Eaton Canyon’s second waterfall, and that trail has been the locus of injuries, rescues, and fatalities for years.  Even though the unofficial trail  has a bloody legacy, social media -- Yelp, YouTube, etc. -- depict the hike an easy-to-accomplish lark for the young and strong.

Officials form working group
Therein lies the problem, and the impetus for Fifth District Supervisor Michael Antonovich to call a series of meetings to address the perception gap.  Sussy Nemer, field deputy for Antonovich, told us that three meetings have been held over the past two years, with all the official agencies invited, to discuss the rescues and get input from the stakeholders on how to increase public awareness of the dangers.  

Representatives from the Fifth District, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, LA County Counsel, Altadena Sheriff’s Station, LA County Search and Rescue, LA County Fire Department, US Forest Service, City of Pasadena, and the State Assembly attended the last meeting, held July 8.  A date has not been selected for the next meeting.

Trail use and advocacy groups were not invited to participate in the meetings.  “Trail users are not the problem,” Nemer stated.  “Trail users and advocates are not the people who are hiking up to the second waterfall.”

Four dead since 2011 in hike to second waterfall

by Laura B. Monteros

 

File photo of chopper crew rescuing an injured hiker in Eaton Canyon.

Reserve Chief Deputy Mike Leum oversees the eight Los Angeles County Sheriff’s search and rescue teams.  He told Altadenablog that though Eaton Canyon is probably the busiest single location in the county, search and rescue teams responded to 560 calls countywide last year.  “That’s a 10 percent increase from the prior year,” he said.

 

He reminded us that it’s not just the climb to the top of the second waterfall that is treacherous.  “People have gotten killed just in the effort of climbing Acrophobia Ridge to the top of the first falls,” Leum said, noting that the 17-year-old who died in March fell trying to reach it.  His statistics indicate that more than 40 percent of the injuries take place at the first waterfall.

He sent the statistics his department has compiled from January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013.

Four people have died since 2011 hiking in the area of the second waterfall.  The number of injuries in Eaton Canyon are as follows:

Volunteers needed to help restore Rubio Canyon Aug. 4

by Timothy Rutt

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is looking for volunteers for "Rubio Restoration Day" on Sunday, Aug. 4.

The Conservancy recently acquired significant property in Rubio Canyon, and offers an opportunity to help restore the area and learn more about plants, both native and invasive.

Join AFC board member Tim Martinez for a day of invasive plant removal and habitat restoration. Learn to identify native California plants and their uses while removing invasive mustard and grasses from the beautiful, mountainous terrain. Meet at 1101 E. Loma Alta Drive at 9 AM, and the event runs until noon.

Be sure to pack water bottles and to wear long pants and work clothing. Gloves will be provided, and there is a bathroom with running water on site. For more information, contact Tim Martinez: timmcmartinez@yahoo.com (626) 808-7964.

Related articles

Opinion: the danger of uncontrolled dogs in the forest

The turtle's tale: Max comes home

Conservancy receives $20,000 county grant to replant trees

Lost dogs: Russell Terriers Lake/Rubio Canyon

Community Garden needs $2,000 to complete revitalization

by Timothy Rutt

 

A view from inside the Altadena Community Garden.

The Altadena Community Garden is appealing to the public to raise the last $2,000 for its revitalization campaign.

 

The garden has been embarking on a project to beautify the strip of land that surrounds the garden along the street, which has become a magnet for invasive plants and litter.  Garden members and students from Cal Poly Pomona have conceptualized a Corner Revitalization Project  that will fill the strip with California native plants, cactus and succulents, and drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants.  A solar-powered irrigation system has already been installed.

According to a letter from garden president Silvera Grant, the garden needs a final $2,000 of $14,000 estimated to acquire plants and other materials for the project.  Grant said that the majority of funds have come from garden members, the Board of Supervisors, Scott's, Altadena Heritage, the Altadena Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and other private donors:

If you have not already done so, please consider making a contribution that will help us meet our goal.  Your contribution will do so much to showcase active Altadena citizens at work improving their community.  The project emphasizes smog, noise and crime reduction, water conservation, the beauty of native plants, and it provides habitat for beneficial insects and birds.  Last but not least, the project provides beauty for all to enjoy and pride in our community.

The garden provides 64 plots for local gardeners and runs a children's gardening program and Victory Garden extension classes.  Contributions to the Garden, a 501(c)3 corporation, are tax-deductible.  

 

For more information, contact Grant at 626-398-9840 or email silveragrant@gmail.com. Checks should be made payable to: Altadena Community Garden and mailed to: P.O. Box 6212, Altadena, CA 91103-6212.

 

Altadena Crest trail meeting tonight, Community Center

There there will be an Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) Meeting tonight, July 9, at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive.

Your participation and views are important. All are welcome! Please bring trail conditions, concerns and photos to this meeting for discussion.

Opinion: the danger of uncontrolled dogs in the forest

Editor's note: Lori Paul is a Millard Canyon resident, active with the Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group, and a long-time trails advocate and defender.  She recently sent out an email about the July 2 incident where a deer had to be put down because of wounds suffered in an encounter with an unleashed dog at the Millard Canyon campground.  She followed that up with an email to us when we asked to reprint it, elaborating on the problem of dogs in the canyons and at Hahamongna Watershed Park.  We’ve incorporated both emails in the following article.

by Lori Paul

A local hiker who walks her uncontrolled dogs off-leash... in spite of repeated admonitions not to do so... caused the death of a possibly pregnant doe deer up in Millard Canyon this week. The incident occurred near the campground in the area below the parking lot. 

The hiker's large male dog attacked a resident doe, deeply lacerating her neck and causing other injuries, including what appeared to be a broken leg. California Depatmen. of Fish & Wildlife officers were called to assist the incapacitated and suffering doe. They determined that she could not survive the severe injuries and shot her. This was an incredibly sad and preventable death.

This tragedy is what results when poorly trained dogs are allowed to run off-leash and out of restraint by their owners. This same hiker's dog ran off on another occasion, accosted a rattlesnake, and got struck. It is unknown if the snake survived injuries inflicted by the dog.

Dogs gone wild
A few years ago, I noticed a male malamute running, without his owner in sight, on the Gabrielino Trail. The malamute ran past me and right up to a well-behaved Siberian Husky on leash... then attacked the other dog!  The owner of the Siberian was in a panic, pulling back his dog, blood everywhere. I got off my bike, ran over, grabbed the malamute by his collar and we separated the two dogs. Both had bad bites on their faces and paws. 

I marched the now passive malamute over into the nearby creek to cool him off and rinse his wounds. Fortunately, a passing USFS Ranger in a truck stopped and took custody of the malamute. I then rendered first aid to the badly bitten husky. 

Both dogs survived... this time. If the victim had been a small dog instead of a sturdy husky, the outcome might've been different. The ranger later told me that he had encountered the malamute's owner, carrying the dog's leash, one quarter mile. down the trail from the incident. The owner was cited by the USFS officer.

On May 21, I watched helplessly as a large male greyhound killed a baby squirrel. He was one of two greyhounds accompanying two ladies in Hahamongna Watershed Park. The unrestrained, excitable male greyhound ran down the trail and into the bushes where he grabbed the tiny ground squirrel by the head, shook it violently, then dropped his "toy" and returned to the two women I'd been conversing with about the dogs! All this happened in a few seconds, while they ineffectually hollered at the dog to "Stop! Come back here! No No NO!" The greyhound simply ignored them. By the time I reached the baby squirrel, it had died.  Unfortunately, the two hikers had the attitude "Oh well, That's just what dogs do..."

No, that is what untrained, uncontrolled dogs do. Wild predators eat what they kill. Dogs kill for fun. The greyhound just left the little squirrel laying in the dirt.

Two Eaton Canyon hikers rescued by combined responder teams

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team, along with search and rescue teams from Sierra Madre and Montrose, rescued two hikers on Tuesday, June 25, in a complex technical rescue that lasted until the early morning hours.

According to a release from the Altadena Sheriff Station, members of the Altadena team were called out to a rescue in Eaton Canyon at about 6:36 PM.  Two hikers, trying to find a waterfall, wandered off the trail at Acrophobia Ridge toward Power Line Trail.  The release said that family members of the hikers contacted the Downey police department when the hikers did not return home, and Downyey notified the Sheriff's Department.

Montrose and Sierra Madre teams were called to assist at about 8:20 PM, according to the release, "as the position of the hikers was extremely precarious and dangerous. The expertise of all three teams was needed to handle the sophisticated operation that used harnesses to pull the hikers off the ridge and to safety. The operation ended in the early morning hours. There were no reported injuries. "

The press release also reminds hikers to fill out a  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue – Hiking Plan sheet and provide it to a loved one to hold onto just in case something happens . Download the form at http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_163961.pdf 

If you would like more information on how to prepare for your hiking / camping trip, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s camping website at 
http://www.cdc.gov/family/camping/ 

Forest Service extends Station Fire closure area for another year

 

In this detail from a Forest Service map, closed areas are indicated by the blue and white border.

by TImothy Rutt

 

The National Forest Service has extended the closure of the Station Fire Recovery Area for another year.

According to an order signed May 24 by Angeles National Forest supervisor Thomas A. Contreras,  the service prohibits being in the Station Fire Recovery Area or any roads or trails within it, except for the Hidden Springs Day Use Area and Monte Cristo Campground.  

What this means locally is that popular hiking and camping areas around Millard Canyon, Mt. Lowe, and Gould Mesa remain off-limits for at least another year.

Henninger Flats namesake descendants honor the forest fire division

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The Henninger family attended a ceremony at Henninger Flats to recognize the100th anniversary of the  LA County FIre Forestry Division. 1. The descendants of the Henninger family. 2. From left, Chief Mike Takeshita, Ranger Johann Loockhard, Alana Longoria, James Aguirre, Tim Murphy and Chief Frank Vidales 3. From the left, Takeshita, Aguire, Chief Frank Vidales, and Deputy Jose Martinez present the plaque. 4. The plaque commemorating the fire division 5. Correspondent TIm Murphy's 50-lb. 1950 vintage Schwinn bicycle made it up the hill.  Note the modification on the handlebars for the beverage of your choice.

 

by Tim Murphy
Community Correspondent 

I was honored to be part of a very special event at Henninger Flats on Friday, May 17. Rangers, deputies and chiefs from LA County Fire Forestry Division drove 11 of the original Henninger family members up the Mt. Wilson Toll Road to Henninger for a reunion and ceremony. They were there to install a commemorative plaque they had donated to recognize the 100th anniversary of LA County Fire Forestry Division which has owned the flats since 1928.

In attendance were Dean Henninger and Corine Henninger, James Aguirre (who has written a book about the Henninger family) Julian Aguirre, Lucille Henninger Aguirre and her son Danny, Linda Henninger Escobeda, Donna Galvan, Tim Miguel, Jannine Longoria and her daughter Alanna. James Aguirre's family are the direct descendants of William Henninger, the original owner of Henninger Flats. In attendance for LA County Fire, Forestry were Chief Frank Vidales, Chief Mike Takeshita, Deputy Jose Martinez and Ranger Johann Lockhard.

After the ceremony and installation of the plaque, LA County Fire provided a great BBQ lunch. For anyone interested, James Aguirre has donated many photos and artifacts that are on display in the small museum at the site.

Community Garden completes first outreach project

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by Patrick Gothard
Community correspondent 

Altadena Community Garden’s newly formed Outreach Committee partnered with Girl Scout Troop 921 to complete the first outreach project. A raised-bed vegetable garden was installed in the yard of Adrian Griffin and her son Miles Johnston.

Special thanks go to garden members Jim and Chris Baughman for the donation of the wonderful raised box. This box had all the bells and whistles and was superbly constructed. The gopher guard and bird-netting frame were all included.

Special thanks also go to Altadenan David Apodaca of The Succulent Gardener. Thank you David for preparing the space, installing the box and supplying a healthy dose of happy red worms. The success of this project is a community working together!

Pictured are: Altadena Community Garden President, Silvera Grant, Altadena Community Garden Outreach Committee members, Mary Gothard Audra Grubbs and Michael Grady. Contributing Garden Members Jim and Chris Baughman, Girl Scout Troop 921 and recipient Adrian Griffin. Also pictured are David Apodaca and Patrick Gothard, working hard to make this project sustainable.

Forest fire danger "high," officials say

by Timothy Rutt

The National Forest Service will raise the fire danger level from "moderate" to "high" as of Friday, according to a press release.

The forest service blames "[the] lack of significant winter rain and the robust amount of tall dry grass" for raising the level.

However, open wood and charcoal fires will still be permitted in approved "developed" campgrounds and picnic areas, according to the release.  Propane or jelled gas stoves and grills are permitted in non-developed areas with a valid California Campfire Permit.

The forest service says that visitors should check spark-arrestors on off-road vehicles, chain saws, and other internal-combustion-engine driven equpment.  Drivers should stay on designated roads and never park on dry brush or grass.

Find out about local conditions at your destination prior to leaving by visiting us online at:http://fsweb.angeles.r5.fs.fed.us/

Annual picnic is off this year as the Altadena Community Garden revitalizes landscape

by Timothy Rutt

 

Silvera Grant holds up a diagram of the Altadena Community Garden revitalization project at the March meeting of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce.

The good news: the Altadena Community Garden is planning to revitalize the landscaping outside of the garden.

 

The bad news:  the work means there'll be no picnic this year.

According to Silvera Grant, director of the garden at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Palm Street,  the  shrubs in the area outside of the garden fence were getting old, and full of litter and invasive plants.  Garden members, along with students from Cal Poly Pomona, drew up a Corner Revitalization Project for garden.

So far, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation "has already cleared, mulched and installed a new state of the art solar timer irrigation system" in the landscaped area outside of the garden's fence.  

"They will also provide long term maintenance of the area once the project is completed. The only parts missing now are the plants and planting supplies to cover the 3,800 square feet, estimated to cost $14,000," Grand said in a press release.  To raise that money, the garden has mounted a capital campaign, thru direct mail requests and presentations to community groups.

The landscape outside the fence will be divided into three formal planting areas: California native plants, cactus and succulents, and drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants. "They will serve as educational tools for the community, providing landscaping ideas for those wishing to create water-conserving landscapes at home. In addition, the plants will be a draw for beneficial insects and pollinators, aiding the vegetable growers inside the ACG," Grant said in the release.

Altadena Heritage, the Altadena Kiwanis Club, and a private donor have already backed the project, according to Grant.

Grant told Altadenablog that the work meant that the annual picnic would have to be cancelled this year.

The garden -- which holds a well-attended annual picnic and resource fair --  was formed in 1973 and located at the site of the former Mt. Lowe Military Academy.  When the county decided to build an equestrian ring at what is now Loma Alta Park, the garden was moved to its present location.  It has 64 plots and hosts a children's gardening program and Victory Garden extension classes.  

The garden is a 501(c)3 corporation, and donations are tax-deductible.

To donate, checks should be made payable to Altadena Community Garden, and sent to P.O.Box 6212 - Altadena, CA 91003-621

For more information,call: 626-470-7482 or go to: http://www.altadenacommunitygarden.com.

Getting ready for spring at Old Marengo Park

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Scenes from the cleanup of Old Marengo Park on March 24: Master gardener Nancy Romero pitches in; Altadena Heritage members filled seven barrels with waste during the cleanup; Altadena Heritage board member (and Citizen of the Year) Michele Zack, who wrote the first grant to launch the park and remains involved in its maintenance; and Mark Goldschmidt, David Mosher, and John Zoraster do final tidy up.

by Timothy Rutt

Old Marengo Park, a pocket park at Woodbury Road and Marengo Avenue, used to be an undeveloped triangle of wasteland left over when Marengo was straightened out in the 1960's.  Two years ago, thanks to concerned residents and community groups, it was turned into a native plant demonstration garden where it's been a highlight of a frequently-overlooked neighborhood along the Pasadena/Altadena border. 

Last Saturday, March 24, Altadena Heritage board members Mark Goldschmidt, David Mosher, Nancy Romero, Michele Zack and John Zoraster gave the park a spring facelift, removing weeds and an outbreak of prickly Russian Thistles.  They also spread mulch for weed control and to retain moisture.

Currently the park features blooming Redbud trees and a bloom of native California poppies.  Zack emailed us:

The new adjacent Woodbury Median Project uses a similar tree palette of California Oaks and Redbuds, as well as native grasses. When you drive by this part of Woodbury Road, the park anchors the median, and intensifies the effect of all the new planting on Woodbury.

Old Marengo Park was developed as a joint project of the Altadena Watershed Committee, the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy, and Altadena Heritage. Although now unirrigated, the park provides a beautiful and colorful shady refuge, as well as a habitat for birds and insects. Altadena Heritage takes care of regular park maintenance, and last summer Heritage and Arroyos and Foothills shared the expense of giving the trees, planted over three years ago, their first trimming to open up the park and reveal the beautiful forms of its many trees. Anyone interested in joining our Park Maintenance Team, please contact us at altadenaheritage@earthlink.net.

Fish & Game to hold natural resource volunteer academy

from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking applicants for the Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP) to serve in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

“The natural resource volunteers do not have law enforcement authority, but they are trained to be educational ambassadors for the Department,” said program coordinator Lt. Kent Smirl. “The mission of the Natural Resource Volunteer Program is to provide conservation and enforcement education in public service while providing biological, enforcement and administrative staff support to CDFW.”

CDFW is holding an NRVP training academy in Los Alamitos from April 10-23. Graduates of the academy become volunteers for CDFW. These positions are unpaid. Interested individuals go through a selection process, which includes an initial screening, application, interview and background check. If selected, individuals attend an 80-hour conservation course to prepare them for a monthly service commitment of at least 24 hours. After completing the academy, volunteers work with a trained volunteer mentor to implement their newly acquired skills during a six-month probationary period.

More information here.

 

Altadena Crest Trail group meets at Community Center

There will be an Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG)  meeting Tuesday night, March 12.

The meeting will be at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive. Meeting chair Robert Staehle writes:

Please join us to work on restoration of the Altadena Crest Trail and associated issues, such as ongoing concerns re: the need for Brown Mountain Fire Road maintenance to enable local emergency evacuation and fire truck access.

Special thanks to Ray Backes for his volunteer maintenance of the Owen Brown Trail section that leads up to the peak of Little Round Top and the gravesite of Owen Brown, son of abolitionist John Brown. Ray has single-handedly restored the trail and improved runoff drainage to reduce future erosion.

Your participation and views are important. All are welcome!

Please bring trail conditions, concerns and photos to this meeting for discussion.

 

Hahamongna walkabout scheduled for March 23

by Timothy Rutt

The third annual Hahamongna Walkabout will take place Saturday, March 23, from 9 AM-noon.

The escorted walking tour of the natural area includes information on the recreation, habitat, wildlife, birds and water resources in that basin.  This year's learning stations include Tom Sawyer Camps, Rose Bowl Riders, Oak Grove Disk Golf Club, and more.

The walkabout is free, but reservations are strongly recommended -- more information here.

 

Friends in Deed food bank will take your excess fruit

Steve and Judy Bass write:

Do you have a fruit tree that needs picking? Instead of letting the fruit land on the ground and go to waste, consider turning the fruit into a tax-deductible donation by giving it to Friends in Deed, a Pasadena-based, non-profit  food bank.

In fact, if you're planning and preparing a garden, why not consider planting a few extra rows or vegetables for Friends in Deed.

It's all for a good cause. In fact, last year, our garden club's organizers donated 2000 pounds --yes, that's one ton -- of fruits and vegetables to Friends in Deed. (Learn more about the First Fruits Garden Club goals and meetings.)

If you have questions, or want to get involved helping feed people who are truly in need, send me a private e-mail.

Steve and Judy Bass
mailto:stevebass@gmail.com 

Related articles

Market matters: the Altadena Farmers' Market story

Conservancy to lead Millard Canyon hikes next two Saturdays

by Timothy Rutt

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is in the last stages of fundraising to purchase lower Millard Canyon, and to show why it's worth preserving, they're leading hikes over the next two Saturdays.

The hikes, on Sat., Nov. 17 and Sat., Nov. 24, start at 9 AM.  Meet at the Millard campground parking lot -- drive north on Fair Oaks, left on West Loma Alta Drive, and turn right at Chaney Trail.  Follow Chaney Trail all the way over the top and down again to the parking lot. As an added incentive, there will be pastries by Euro Pane provided.

Wear hiking boots, long-sleeved shirt and pants, and bring water.  Dogs aren't allowed.  The route is less than a mile and a half, but somewhat rugged with some boulder hopping. There are patches of poison oak. There may be rattlesnakes.

The Conservancy says that :"If we can match a $20,000 commitment by the current landowner by the end of November, our $675,000 goal will be accomplished."  To donate to save MIllard Canyon, click here.

 

Altadena Trails looks at Brown Mountain Fire Road maintenance

The Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) will meet tonight, Tues., Nov. 13, at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

According to meetings chair Robert Staehle, Brown Mountain is the main topic:

The lack of maintenance for the Brown Mt. Fire Rd (from Millard Cyn Campground parking lot west to the top of Rising Hill Rd), which provides access for emergency fire trucks and crews as well as evacuation routes for local residents, is on the agenda for this meeting. This is an important issue not only for trail use, but because the unpaved Brown Mt. Rd provides a critical fire line between the Angeles Forest and hillside homes. In recent years, that road was passable by passenger car and County Fire Dept. vehicles; however, it is gradually approaching impassable due to rock fall, shrubs, saplings and weeds now that neither the USFS or L.A. County takes responsibility for its maintenance.

Your participation and views are important. All are welcome!

40 years later, mountaintop note left by La Cañada teen gets a response

by Daniel Siegal
Pasadena Sun

Forty years after he left a note on a mountain top deep in the Sierra Nevada backcountry, asking its finder to write him, Tim Taylor has gotten his wish.

Taylor, who was raised in La Cañada Flintridge, was hiking solo in Sequoia National Park in August 1972 — his Boy Scout troop bivouacked a short distance away — when he put a pencil to a lined sheet of paper: “Tim Taylor climbed to this peak, Thursday, August 17, 1972. Age 13 yrs. Anyone finding this note please write.”

Taylor placed the note in a metal film canister and left it on the 12,000-foot peak before rejoining his troop for trout fishing in a nearby lake.

Last month, another intrepid hiker, Larry Wright, 69, of Oakland, found the metal canister with the note inside. He sought out Taylor, and on Monday, Wright and now-San Diego County Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor spoke about their visits — separated by 40 years — to the rugged region known as the Great Western Divide.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

 

Grant fills a gap for Millard Canyon purchase

by Timothy Rutt

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy voted to authorize a grant of $100,000 Monday night to the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy to complete   toward the purchase of 13 acres of Millard Canyon, according to a release from Assemblyman Anthony Portantino.  

According to the release, the grant comes after the State Wildlife Conservation Board granted $375,000 in August toward the purchase.

It’s an important piece of the financial puzzle to forever save Millard Canyon,” Portantino said in the release.  “It’s a great day for the residents of Altadena and surrounding communities.  I am very pleased to have joined my friends at the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy in advocating for Millard.”

Portantino, who represents the 44th Assemby District, is an advisor to the Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy and previously served as vice chair of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Board.  

“I am very grateful to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for this grant and to Assemblymember Portantino for working with the Arroyos and Foothills Board on crafting the request and being such a tireless advocate for open space preservation in our region,” commented Tim Wendler, President of the Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy Board.

UPDATE 9/26:  While the press release from Portantino's office said the purchase was complete, Arroyos & Foothlls Conservancy President Sean Howell says that they are still $66,000 short, and are trying to raise the remaining funds from the local community. The story and headline have been rewritten to reflect this.

 

Cobb Estate gate restoration is needed, will keep the forest open

by Lori Paul,
Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group

Scout Kyle Blair stands by one of the metal holding structures that was removed and refurbished as part of his Eagle Scout project.

The US Forest Service and a few of us continue to receive e-mails of concern about the Cobb Estate gateway restoration underway courtesy of local Eagle Scouts. It is clear that there is still some misunderstanding out there about this wonderful project. 

I want to re-emphasize that the gateway restoration is in no way a covert effort to install a locked gate at the entrance of the Cobb Estate at the top of Lake Avenue. The Scouts are restoring the decorative gateway, stone bench covered by the shade ramada, old ornamental iron work and, eventually, landscaping the site. South of the historic gateway structures, the pathway into Cobb Estate bordering Southern California Edison land will remain completely open (24/7) under the tall ornamental arch for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians. (Cobb Estate has always been closed to unauthorized motor vehicles.) In fact, the old ornamental arch is being raised a bit higher so that riders on horses can pass through more easily. When finished, the entrance pathway will have better slope and footing for both people and horses.

Altadena needs to give credit where it is due. The Eagle Scouts in question, along with their parents and advisors, have come from as far as Long Beach to provide the USFS and Altadena with a beautiful, virtually no-cost restoration of the historic Cobb Estate site. These young volunteers have provided their own time, physical labor, special skills and interest in wrought iron, stone work and so forth, as a part of their Eagle Scout project. They are restoring a site that has long been neglected, damaged by vehicles crashing into it, or poorly modified. They have researched original photos and are restoring or replacing elements of the gateway with period-accurate ornate iron and finials, cement and natural stone cladding.

The Eagle Scouts are also involved in planting tough, drought resistant, beautiful native plant landscaping to this long-neglected trail entrance. They have been very responsive to suggestions (such as assuring that the open entrance is tall enough for riders on horses... or adding native species that produce flowers, but resist trampling).

It is time to express gratitude instead of criticism for this generosity. These are fine young folks with supportive, involved parents who are saving the Forest Service and County money and restoring a grand, historic public entrance to our local trails and parkland. I doubt any of these improvements would've occurred without this youth project.

It is gratifying that so many local residents value the Cobb Estate and its trails to the extent they keep an eye on what is happening and question any changes. I think the current project will make everyone very proud.

Arroyos & Foothills meets Millard Canyon matching funds goal

by Timothy Rutt

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy announced that it has surpassed its fundraising goal to help preserve 13 acres in Millard Canyon -- and have collected matching funds to boot.

The conservancy received a challenge from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates: if the conservancy could raise $10,000 by June 30, the Associates would match it, dollar for dollar.  

Conservancy executive director John Howell said in a press release that 102 donors responded, giving $16,100 to the cause.  

"The original challenge pledge from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates was for $10,000," Howell wrote in the release.  "We've called on challenge pledges from our good friends Ninarose Mayer and Nancy Steele to match the extra $6,000 you gave, as well. So, every dollar you gave has been matched."

The land the Conservancy wants to purchase would preserve the entire canyon north of Canyon Close Road.

For information on the project, click here.

 

"The Hills of Altadena" at Museum of California Art

by Jane Brackman

 

Edgar Payne's plein-air view of the hills of Altadena

The Pasadena Museum of California Art at 690 E. Union Street in Pasadena is exhibiting a retrospective of plein-air painter Edgar Payne.  Payne was an American impressionist, famous for painting the Sierras as well as other monumental nature scenes all over the world, from the first part of the 20th century through the 1950s I think. 

This is an amazing show for anyone.  (And if you are a hiker, I warn you, it will bring tears to your eyes.)  But the thing that took my breath away is the painting titled “Hills of Altadena.” (1917-1919).  I recognized it immediately.  I believe he was sitting very near the Country Club, probably near the corner of Holliston and Mendocino, looking east.  You can’t see it in this poor quality photo that I took from the show catalog, but in the painting which is very large, at the end of the road (which must be Mendocino) you can clearly see the cut in the mountain that is the Mt. Wilson Toll Road! 

For comparison, I’ve included a second photo that shows the same POV during magic hour, taken from the ATCC balcony last fall.

 

The view today

The show is open through October 14, 2012.  http://www.pmcaonline.org/exhibits/70/index.html

 

 

Conservancy seeking donations to save Millard Canyon

from the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

Our friends at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center have challenged you to help save Altadena's Millard Canyon. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates have pledged $10,000 to help preserve the property, and has asked the local community to match that $10,000 by June 30.

Donate to Save Millard Canyon - ECNCA will match dollar-for-dollar

Millard is a true gem in our foothills -- a densely wooded area with a perennial stream, at the northern edge of Altadena. But it will only stay that way if we act now to preserve it. Doing so would complete the preservation of the entire canyon north of Canyon Crest Road, leaving only two major unprotected canyons in Altadena. To learn more about the land, click here. 

Scouts spiff up Cobb Estate gate Saturday

 

Scout Kyle Blair stands by one of the metal holding structures that will be removed and refurbished as part of his Eagle Scout project.

by Timothy Rutt

Some good Scouts (and adult helpers) helped spiff up the Cobb Estate gate area as part of a Long Beach Boy Scout's Eagle project.

Kyle Blair, 14, and crew spent Saturday refurbishing a bench in the old bus shelter, building a formal trail going up to the fire road, putting up a new section of fence, and removing the arch that stands over the gate and its supporting structures.  The metal pieces will be taken to the shop, refurbished, and re-installed at the site.

The idea came from Ted Hatch, who had built metal structures for the National Forest Service in the past.  He suggested the Cobb Estate gates as Blair's Eagle project, and they recently received the nod to begin.  Blair is a member of Troop 14 in Long Beach.

The original project, as proposed last fall, would have been more ambitious and created a gate on the south entrance which provides access to the property.  That was turned thumbs-down by many individuals and groups who watch the Cobb Estate, who favored unimpeded access to the property.

Blair's revised project would not create any gates, but would improve the existing gate and surrounding area.  The group constructed a retaining wall along Loma Alta Drive and created a safer trail up to the fire road that many hikers take.  They also installed eight feet of fence that matched the existing fencing behind the bus bench area.  A new wood slat bus bench was also installed in the stone structure -- although buses haven't used it as a stop for years.

The main gate to the estate is usually closed, and only opened to allow entry to emergency vehicles and Southern California Edison crews who maintain the electrical lines on the border of the estate.  The arch above the main gate has been banged up a bit by tall Edison trucks.

 

Among the improvements is the installation of fencing (left) to match the original fence, and a new bench at the former bus shelter.

The plan is for the arch to be repaired and straightened out.  The metal structures atop the stone pillars, which hold the arch, were also removed for repair and refurbishment.  Finials --  "roofs"-- that were part of the original structures will be restored.  The height of the structures will also be increased by a foot so that Edison trucks will no longer bang up the arch when they go through the gate.

 

Hatch said that another Eagle Scout project is scheduled for the summer: a raised archway for the entrance south of the gate, high enough to admit equestrians.  There will also be some flood control measures taken to allow rainwater that now flows out to the street to run into the storm drain on the estate's road instead.  

 Hatch said that the Forest Service and the Altadena Crest Trails Working Group had approved the work, although we were unable to reach representatives of either group at press time.

UPDATE: Rob Staehle of the Altadena Crest Trails Working Group said that the scouts had been working with them for several months, making presentations and incorporating suggestions for improvements.  "I wish every group working with the trails would do such a good job," he said.

Arroyos & Foothills succeeds in Rosemont Preserve fundraising

by Timothy Rutt

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy has announced that it has raised enough funds in the past two weeks to create the Rosemont Preserve in La Crescenta.

According to a release from AFC, after announcing on May 14 that they were $20,000 short of the funds they needed to acquire the eight acres of open space at the top of Rosemont Avenue, community members pledged or donated $42,500 in about two weeks.  AFC says that "the excess funds will help provide for the long-term stewardship of the land and will allow AFC to begin planning programs for the local community immediately. From the beginning of the drive the community has generously contributed a total of $97,500."

Big donors included $12,000 by La Crescenta resident Henry Fliegel,  a $10,000 grant by the Wells Fargo Foundation and Scarlett Hibner of Flintridge donating $14,000 "in order get the conservancy’s planned projects and programs on the property up and running," AFC said.

Previous major supporters included La Crescenta residents Desiree and Paul Rabinov, $15,000; the Crescenta Valley Group of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club and its members,  $5,000' and the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich was responsible for securing $350,000 in county funding.

 

Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy faces deadline for Rosemont preservation

by Timothy Rutt

Besides trying to save lower Millard Canyon, the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is on a campaign to preserve eight acres of open space in La Crescenta.   

The Rosemont Preserve is located at the northern end of Rosemont Avenue in La Crescenta, in the mouth of Goss Canyon.  

According to a flyer from AFC, the landowner has agreed to sell the land "on favorable terms, so long as it is preserved forever as natural open space."  AFC has received a $350,000 grant through County Supv. Michael D. Antonovich, and is looking to the public to support the last $100,000 needed to complete the project.

According to an email from AFC, they are currently about $14,000 short, and need to make that by May 31 to complete the purchase.

Acquiring the land would "effectively double green space in La Crescenta," according to AFC.

Besides providing open space, the land is a habitat for a range of wildlife, including mountain lions, bears, coyotes, mule deer, bobcats, and "potentially endangered Arroyo toads."

A brochure on the project is available here.

More on the Rosemont project, including a donation page, is here.

Image: map of the Rosemont Preserve, from the AFC website.

Arroyos & Foothills hosting hikes in lower Millard Canyon May 19

by TImothy Rutt

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy wants you to fall in love.

Specifically, to fall in love with lower Millard Canyon.  The Conservancy will hold four hikes on Sat., May 19, to look over this 13 acre parcel, covered by a canopy of at least nine species of native trees, habitat to countless birds and other wildlife, and that serves as a wildlife corridor for the large mammal species that live in the foothills.  MIlard Creek is a year-round stream that  feeds the area as well.

According to a release, AFC,  along with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, lost a bid to save this property ten years ago.  Now, the owner who bought it for development has offered AFC a chance to buy the property "on favorable terms," according to a press release.

AFC will host four hikes on May 19 (at 9 AM, 10:30 AM, noon, or 1:30 PM) with docent experts in biology, geology, history or hydrology.  Learn how the Altadena Crest Trail will be extended through the "La Vina gap".

The hikes will start at the Altadena Community Garden at Loma Alta Park, at the corner of Palm St. and Lincoln Avenue.  HIkers will be shuttled to the Millard campground parking lot and then hike down the canyon to Canyon Crest Road.  The 1 1/2 to 2-hour hike is less than a mile and a half long, but somewhat rugged, so prepare to boulder-hop, consider hiking poles, be aware of rattlers, and don't bring your dog.  Bring gardening gloves if you want to remove some invasive plants along the way.

Following the hike, hikers will be shuttled back to the Community Garden for refreshments and to learn about saving the parcel.

For more information, go to http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/millard/

Officials urge caution for Eaton Canyon hikers

First responders and parks officials held a press conference April 17 to warn about the dangers of hiking in Eaton Canyon.  Left to righ: Capt. Bob Taylor, Pasadena Fire Dept., Capt. John Benedict, Altadena Sheriff’s Station, Russ Guiney, director, L.A. County Parks & Recreation, Lt. Duane Allen, Altadena Sheriff’s Station, Ranger Mike McIntyre from USFS, Capt. Bill Niccum from L.A. County Fire Department, unidentified LAFD.  Photo by Laura Monteros.

by Laura Monteros


Don’t.  That was the operative word at the joint press conference at Eaton Canyon Nature Center on Tuesday afternoon.  

• Don’t try to hike up to the second waterfall, there is no developed trail.  
• Don’t believe what you see on the internet, the hike is beautiful but perilous.  
• Don’t believe the people who tell you it’s okay.  It’s not.

People need to know that the stories about a trail to the second falls are false, Capt. John Benedict of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station said.  “Don’t try it,” he warned.  “It’s not worth losing your life over.”

Representatives from Los Angeles County departments of Parks and Recreation, Fire, and Sheriff joined Pasadena Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service in announcing a new public education effort to inform people about the dangers of the area above the first Eaton Canyon waterfall.  Director Russ Guiney from Parks and Recreation led the conference.

With 60 rescues in the last 12 months—40 of those responded to by the Altadena Sheriff’s Station according to Benedict—the agencies are trying to get the word out to hikers that the unmarked, unofficial, and unmaintained trail above the first waterfall is not navigable.  Two of the accidents resulted in death and 20 in injury, and two of those hikers had to be flown out.

Though stats for 2010 were not available, the participants said there had been an increase in rescues in Eaton Canyon in 2011.  Capt. Bill Niccum of the County Fire Department attributed this to other parts of the Angeles Forest being closed after the Station Fire, and social media on sites such as Yelp and YouTube that extol the natural beauty of area and convince people there is a trail that can be climbed.

The strategy to combat this misinformation is to distribute three short public service announcements (PSA) to traditional media, on YouTube and other social networking sites, and to hiking groups.  Rebuttals to reviews and videos that entice people to try the hike will be posted as well.  Currently, park rangers walk the area, and there are signs at the beginning of the trail from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and on the Forest Service trail.

What makes the trail so unsafe is that, in the first place, there is no identified trail to the second waterfall.  Secondly, the trail made by previous usage is rugged, steep, and consists of loose decomposed granite and shale that gives way when stepped on. Sherry Rollman of USFS said that there is a 70 percent slope throughout the San Gabriels Mountains.  

Capt. Bob Taylor from Pasadena Fire said that most rescues are of people who get stuck at White Ridge on the way to the waterfall.  “They can’t go down and they can’t come up.”

Coffee Gallery to hold rummage sale for parking permit

by Timothy Rutt

The Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake, is renewing its permits with the county this month, and is looking to raise funds to do it (you need to sell a lot of cups of coffee to raise $20,000).  There's already a benefit concert scheduled for Feb. 8, and this Saturday, there will be a rummage sale at the Gallery.

The "Got Parking" sale hopes to raise the $8,270 needed to pay for the parking variance on Lake Avenue.  Coffee Gallery coffee shop owner Julie Sandoval is looking for lots of donations and some volunteers to help out with the sale, which will be from 7 AM-4 PM.

The Gallery is accepting items for the sale (drop 'em off and they'll handle them).  To volunteer or donate items please contact Julie  at (626)831-8285.

 

Altadena Trails to discuss La Vina, gates, bike plan, and horse falling tonight

The Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group meeting tonight sounds ambitious and serious.

Among the topics scheduled to be discussed;

• LA Vina litigation update
• Update on locked Pinecrest Gate
• Hahamangna EIR scoping meetings: what effect will proposed sediment removal options have on trail access and wildlife?
• Proposal being floated to construct a gate at the Cobb Estate, with possible closure at night
• County master bike plan
• Safety issues around the current detour that connects the Altadena Crest Trail to Hahamongna Watershed Park (it's where the horse fell into the hole last week).

The working group meets at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive.

Geology hike of Rubio Canyon this Saturday

The Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy continues its hiking series this Saturday, Oct. 22.   Learn about the 1,200-million-year geologic history of Rubio Canyon in the Altadena foothills with docent John Wros. Tucked away at the foot of one of the fastest-rising mountain ranges in the United States, the canyon holds a number of clues to that range's development. Meet at the base of Camp Huntington Road, where it intersects with E. Loma Alta Drive, at 9 AM. The trail is moderate -- about one mile each way, with a 500-foot elevation gain.

Arroyo Seco Foundation releases Hahmongna EIR toolkit

The next scoping meeting for the Devil's Gate (Hahamongna watershed) cleanout environmental impact report will be Sat., Oct. 15, at 9 AM at the La Canada High School Cafeteria, 443 Oak Grove Dr., La Canada.  Written comments are due by Nov. 11, 2011.

The Arroyo Seco Foundation has prepared a "Devil's Gate EIR Toolkit" with important documents and history of the site for anyone who is interested in the issue.  The downloadable docments are availabe at their website here.

After the fire: weeding the Angeles National Forest, one plant at a time

Check out the story at the Pasadena Sun.

 

Altadena Crest Trails looks at Brown Mountain access, Millard Canyon pipeline

The Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) meets tonight at 7 PM at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.

Two major items on the agenda, according to ACTRWG's Robert Staehle:

1.  Maintenance (or lack thereof) of Brown Mt. Fire Road, including portion of road that is emergency escape and Fire Dept. access linking Chaney Trail to Millard Canyon campground and Upper Risinghill Road (evacuation route for the Chaney Trail Neighborhood, The Meadows and Upper El Prieto Canyon residents). Trail / road maintenance and grading, including repair to the Millard Creek crossing.

-- First hand reports, photos of the fire road (before the Station Fire and current conditions), and images of the stream crossing in Millard Cyn Campground would be helpful. 

2.  “Lincoln Avenue Water Company Project” Environmental Assessment (EA), public comment due 30 September to USFS re:  permit USFS renewals / agency permit acquisitiom and pipeline replacement and reroute along Mount Lowe Fire Road.

 

The Lincoln Avenue Water Company is planning to replace about 1,400 feet of century-old pipeline in Millard Canyon.

Three rescued in Eaton Canyon Sunday night

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department rescued three hikers from a cliff face at Eaton Canyon Sunday night, according to a statement from the office.

At about 5 PM a call came in that three hikers were "clinging to a cliff 100 feet above the canyon floor and unable to move," according to the report.  Rescue workers were lowered to each victim from the Air 5 helicopter to pluck them from the cliff face. 

All three hikers were uninjured and released at the scene, the report said.

 

Fire danger up for Labor Day Weekend

by Bill Kisliuk
Pasadena Sun

Fire danger at Angeles National Forest is increasing from “high” to “very high” as of Thurs., Sept. 1, when extreme heat is expected to return to the region.

“Very high” is the fourth-highest warning in an alert system that ranges from “low” to “critical.”

Despite the change, the U.S. Forest Service is imposing  no new campfire restrictions. Open wood and charcoal fires will still be permitted in developed campgrounds and picnic areas. Visitors must get permits to operate gas and propane-powered stoves and grills in non-developed areas.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

The Hahamongna question

By Sue Horton
Pasadena Sun

As nature goes, the Hahamongna basin is not pristine.

The wide, sandy arroyo, bounded by oak woodlands, sits just north of Devil's Gate Dam on the border of Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada Flintridge. A gravel operation there, closed decades ago, has left scars on the landscape, and a Frisbee golf course threads in and out of the oaks. Noise from the 210 Freeway on the south end and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the north is ever-present. And if all that weren't enough, the Environmental Protection Agency has declared this part of the Arroyo Seco a Superfund site because of groundwater contamination by JPL, which once dumped solvents and rocket fuel in the area.

But what I love about the place is that nature has stubbornly refused to give up. The arroyo provides crucial habitat for stressed flora and fauna struggling to survive along the border between urban land and open space, and every time I go there I see something remarkable. A dense forest of willows has grown up along the seasonal stream bed, and it has drawn an amazing array of wildlife. Once, while walking among the trees, I came upon a fox slowly making its way down the path in front of me. I have seen a bobcat in the stream bed and regularly see deer, coyotes and rattlesnakes. A couple of years ago, workers at JPL were surprised to see a mountain lion sunning itself on a rock near the bridge from their parking lot.

More at the Pasadena Sun.

One reported dead in Eaton Canyon fall

Pictured: Rescue workers gather at the gate at Pinecrest this morning as two hikers have fallen near Eaton Falls.

by Timothy Rutt

As we write, there are two rescues going on simultaneously in Eaton Canyon and the Angeles National Forest.

According to Sgt. Gary Ogurek of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, a male and female had fallen off a cliff near Eaton Falls this morning.  The man died but the woman was rescued, Ogurek said.

Meanwhile, near Gould Mesa, a horse and rider have fallen about 6-8 feet according to reports, and rescue is presently underway.

 Pictured: Forest Service rescue vehicle goes down the trail at Pinecrest Gate.

"This is the people's bid": the nail-biting drama of the Cobb Estate

Bob Barnes told the dramatic story of the purchase of the Cobb Estate  Monday night -- and has a surprise reunion with the student who made it possible.

by Laura Monteros

Maggie Stratton has impeccable timing and a flair for the dramatic.

She had it on Oct. 1, 1971, when she led a band of students in claiming the Cobb Estate for the people in an eleventh-hour nail biter of an auction. She had it on Monday night when she stood up at the end of Bob Barnes’ presentation and announced, “I am Maggie Stratton.”


Pictured: "I am Maggie Stratton."

Barnes, a social studies teacher at John Muir High School who was instrumental in organizing students and raising money to purchase the 107-acre estate to keep it out of the hands of developers, had lost track of the girl he had worked with so closely for eight days in 1971.  He had no clue that she was sitting in the middle of the audience, listening to make sure the story was told correctly.

And what a story it is.

The call to action
Barnes was the speaker last night at the Altadena Historical Society's presentation on the acquisition of the Cobb Estate, the hiking area behind the gates at the top of Lake Avenue.  As Barnes told it, it was a story full of suspense and game-changing events, and at the last minute good prevailed in a way as corny as the ending of a Frank Capra film.  But it really happened.

Back in 1971, Barnes was only filling in for a colleague who was the faculty advisor of the Muir Conservation Club when he drove Maggie, the president of the club, to a conservation meeting on a September evening.  The topic of the meeting was the impending sale of the Cobb Estate, a former grand estate that had sunk to dereliction and finally disappearance, as the land changed hands many times over the years.  Formerly owned by the Marx Brothers, among others, a developer was now eyeing the estate for a housing development, which raised the alarms of the Audobon Club and other conservationists.

“We need help from the community and the young people here tonight,” Barnes remembers the leaders of the Audubon Society saying.  He slunk lower in his seat as Maggie sat taller in hers.

“Barnes, we need to do this,” she told him.

Friends of the Angeles "sensing meetings" in June

Looking to form a Friends of the Angeles organization, the  National Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation will hold a series of "sensing meetings" in June.

According to a press release, initial meetings were held in April "as almost 100 community members with a variety of interests in the Angeles National Forest convened to discuss current and long-term needs of the forest and forest community, and what roles a Friends of the Angeles organization could take on to address those needs. Community members at all three meetings expressed interest in the formation of a Friends group and we have scheduled a second series of meetings to continue the conversation."

The meetings are:

San Gabriel River Ranger District Sensing Meeting: Tues., June 21, 6:30-8:30 PM at San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center, 1990 North San Gabriel Canyon Road (Hwy 39), Azusa, CA 91702

Los Angeles River Ranger District Sensing Meeting:  Thurs. June 23,  6:30-8:30 PM at Lake View Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Santa Clara/Mojave Rivers Ranger District Sensing Meeting: time and place to be determined.

Updates to sensing meeting info will be posted to the Friends of the Angeles online forum. To join the forum, please go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/friendsoftheangeles/join. 

 

Beautiful but deadly: poodle dog bush

We've been getting warnings from several quarters about the Poodle Dog Bush, also called Sticky Nama (Turricula parryi).  It's a fire-follower plant that lives in granatic soils and can form thickets.  It's pretty, but you neither want to touch it or breathe too close to it if you encounter it in the hills.

The poodledog has highly-irritating glandular hairs to discourage herbivores.  The sticky hairs -- which can dislodge easily -- can be passed on to hikers who touch it or brush up against it, causing an itching dermititis that can last for two weeks.  Even shaking the plant and inhaling close to it can cause a serious reaction.

Wikipedia says: "Chemicals exuded by the glandular trichomes (prenylated phenolics) result in severe contact dermatitis and an inflammation response similar to that caused by poison oak. The scientific name of the plant's genus, Turricula, means "little tower" in reference to the stalk of deep blue, deceptively lovely flowers that rises over the plant in the spring. At other times of year the poodle dog bush can appear to be a droopy collection of brownish stems topped by green pom-poms of narrow leaves, shaped a bit like a clipped poodle."  Orange County Register has a short article.

Rescue team extracting lost hikers on El Prieto

The Altadena Sheriff's station tells us (at 9:30 PM) that rescue teams have located some lost hikers up on El Prieto Trail/Brown Mountain area.  According to the watch commander, the hikers went up without flashlights and couldn't get down before dark.  Unknown at this time how they were reported as missing.  Per scanner traffic, the hikers have been approximately located, and  two teams are heading up to meet them and escort them out.  In the event they can't be escorted down, a chopper will be sent up at first light.

 

Conservancy acquires Rubio parcel, seeks donations for more

The Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy shares this good news:

Dear AFC Friend,

You did it! With your help, and with a big boost from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, we bought the first of the remaining private parcels in historic Rubio Canyon today.

Thanks to you, we are now closer to completing the preservation of the entire canyon, located in the foothills above Altadena. As you know, we acquired 20 acres in the canyon in 2009, and the owner offered us the remaining 21 acres earlier this year, in two parcels - the ~3 acre parcel, which we bought today, was to have been turned into a five home development. With the land we acquired today – the land that was most vulnerable to development – we have only 18 acres to go.

To complete this purchase, we plan to rely primarily on grants, but we need to raise about $50,000 from you, our supporters, by the end of the year to push us over the top – allowing us to save the land for substantially less than the appraised value.

This is a goal we can reach, though it will take all of us to get there. I personally have doubled my contribution to AFC, and I hope you will consider increasing your contribution before the end of 2010.

Visit www.arroyosfoothills.org to make an online donation or send a check to: Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy / P.O. Box 3 / Altadena, CA 91003-0003.

Thanks for all your help. And congratulations on reaching this milestone!

Nancy Steele

President, Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy

UPDATE: Nancy Steele sent out the following addendum:

[W]e need to give proper thanks to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority which awarded the funds that allowed us to purchase this land, in a deal that involves MRCA and SMMC working together with us. The details are a bit complex, but the results are not - we purchased the land at a steep discount because the agencies were able to work quickly, cutting through paperwork in record time. It has been an amazing collaboration. I also need to call out our new [Executive Director], John Howell, who has worked tirelessly to get this done and meet the deadline. Working together, we can do it!

Critterdena: appetites

Reader Doris Finch shares this picture and story:

Here is a curiosity;  I noticed a struggling hummingbird [turned out to be an adult female Allen's] in a backyard Lantana.  On trying to free it, the "branch" it was stuck on came off with it.  Oops!  A mantis, which had apparently struck out at the bird.  Looking for a hearty lunch?  A couple of tiny feathers were stuck in the mandible.  Not a high quality shot, but the best I could manage with my free right hand.  I didn't want to keep the birdlet in that stressful situation too long.  End of story, bird was fine, she buzzed off.  The mantis was set down in a fuchsia in another location.

Actually, in the higher-res version (which we don't think makes it online) you can distinctly see a couple of feathers in the mantis' mandible.  That's one ambitious (and hungry) insect!

 

Conservancy still looking for funds for Rubio Canyon land purchase

A reminder that the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy is trying to raise $250,000 by Sept. 30 to purchase the remaining 21 acres in the mouth of Rubio Canyon (see our earlier story here).  You can donate directly at this site.