Memorial Day and The Santa Monica Mountains

Unlike in northern climes where the seasons are clearly delineated
there is generally some question about what the true seasons are in Southern California
Some say Flood, Fire, Mud, and Drought
Others say Fire, Mudslide, Earthquake and Riots
Yesterday, while strangely cold in the morning it began to feel like early Summer
aka early Fire season in the afternoon
One wouldn't say that down in the flats of Beverly Hills or Brentwood
where roses and jacaranda trees are blooming profusely
but up in the hills there are already signs of the start of a dry hot Summer

These are my photos from my hike in the hills yesterday

you can see how close the trail is to the ocean

which brings so much moisture from the marine layer
yet dryness is everywhere
in another month most of the green on the hills will be gone

 It amazes me that some wild flowers can be in full bloom and lush

amid other plants that are utterly dead and dry

don't they both have the exact same exposure to both water and sun?

With a book to listen to on my ipod, I can hike alone on the trail for hours

and I do



It is Memorial Day today

and I am sincerely thankful for what so many others have sacrificed for this country

so that I can spend my weekends wandering in the hills.

September Sundays In Southern California

Southern California Sundays
A week ago at Dana Point Harbor in Orange County

Watching the J24's come back into the harbor from their regatta while sipping one of these

Then yesterday back to the hiking trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

 

From Brentwood, four miles predominantly up to the ranger station on Mulholland Drive where you can see from the north San Fernando Valley to the peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Then four miles predominantly down...thank god.

There's not much to admire in the landscape of the late California summer. Most of the green is gone.  Which is just as well, because I'm not admiring the view. I hike mostly with my eyes focused on the trail, on the lookout for snakes, dodging out of control mountain bikers, ipod on listening to an audio book.