Experiencing L.A. - Temescal Ridge and Paseo Miramar Trails (Pacific Palisades)

What do I miss about our time in Los Angeles? There are a lot of things - but early morning hikes in Topanga State Park is definitely on the list. 

One of my two favorite hikes was the Upper Temescal Ridge trail - accessible from the top of the Palisades Highlands community of Pacific Palisades. 

The solitude - especially just before sunrise - is incredible. 

As well as the early morning coastal fog. This is looking west towards Topanga Canyon. 

And south towards Paseo Miramar trailhead. On a clear day, the Pacific Ocean is visible in the background. 

This is looking east along the ridges of Brentwood, Beverly Hills and Hollywood. The massive San Gabriel Mountains are in the distance. 

Another view of the Paseo Miramar trailhead, which has a much steeper trail and is a great workout, and my second favorite hike. More on that in a bit. 

Sunrise. Good time to hiked back to my car. What I love about this hike is the solitude. It was a Saturday morning and I didn't see anyone else until getting back to the parking lot. 

I consider the Upper Temescal Ridge ridge trail to be one of the very best hikes in Los Angeles. Here's a link to more information on a previous post. 

It was early and I had enough time to drive over to the Paseo Miramar trail, located off of Sunset Blvd, about 15 minutes away. Starting at lower elevation, I was shrouded in cool, coastal fog. Here's a link with more information on the Paseo Miramar hike from a previous blog post. 

I eventually popped out of the fog and into the brilliant sunshine of a summer morning. 

Love the look of fog against the hillsides. 

Years earlier while living in L.A., I had a chance to hear a professor at Cal State Northridge speak on Christian stewardship of the environment. He made some convincing arguments, including a statement I had never thought of before: the ability to see and enjoy the creation helps point individuals to the Creator.

The New Testament states that "For his [God's] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." 

The complexity and design of life on our little planet clearly pointers to a Designer. 

Los Angeles has both wonderful climate, beaches, the ocean, mountains, palm tree lined boulevards .... as well as a sprawling and sometimes gritty urban environment. 

I appreciate the work of men and women who worked tirelessly to see places like Topanga State Park become a reality. It didn't just "happen." Helping improve not only the quality of life, but the ability to see and enjoy the Creator's handiwork. 

I like to think of the Santa Monica Mountains as Los Angeles' backyard. Sure, coming from other parts of the city - it's a bit of a drive. But sooo worth it. 

Here's a couple links some additional "fog and mountain" photos from previous posts. 

Above: looking east towards the Temescal Canyon Ridge trail - where I was hiking an hour earlier. Either of these two hikes would be great. It's amazing to remember that they're both within the city limits of Los Angeles. And how cool was it to enjoy both of them in a single morning? 

Back down to my car, I dropped back down into the fog. Unlike the Upper Temescal Ridge, the Paseo  Miramar hike if fairly popular - so plan on hiking a couple of blocks to the trailhead. And regardless of what time of day you're there, please be considerate of the neighbors. 

© 2015 www.experiencingla.com



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Sunrise Over Los Angeles, Temescal Ridge Trail

I consider the Temescal Ridge Trail one of the very best hikes in Los Angeles. This photo was taken back on an early Saturday morning back in April 2007, just a few minutes before sunrise.

Completely hidden in a thick blanket of fog, Temescal Canyon - as well as the surrounding ridges - are all within the city limits of Los Angeles. Here's a link with additional photographs and information.

This photograph remains one of my very favorite from our five years living in Los Angeles.

All part of the Creator's handiwork; all part of experiencing Los Angeles.


.יְהוָה--בֹּקֶר, תִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי;    בֹּקֶר אֶעֱרָךְ-לְךָ, וַאֲצַפֶּה

"In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

© 2014 www.experiencingla.com



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Celebrating June Gloom: Temescal Canyon Ridge

Hey everyone! It's June! You know what that means: time to celebrate JUNE GLOOM! 

June Gloom is the terms used locally to describe the thick coastal fog that Los Angeles and much of coastal Southern California experiences in the Spring and early summer months. When we lived in Los Angeles, hiking locally in the Santa Monica Mountains was one way to actually enjoy June Gloom. 

A very accessible trail is the Temescal Ridge trail, part of Topanga State Park. The trailhead is located at the top of the Palisades Highlands in Pacific Palisades. 

Homes, mountains, fog: the photo above is looking east with Topanga Canyon in the distance. The trailhead is a few steps away from this spot. I've blogged about this trail several times before - each time it's different. 

Heading north along the trail, the fog was literally pouring over the adjacent ridges. 

It was amazing to watch. Above is the top of the Paseo Miramar ridge trail. Here's a link to some similar sunrise photos, taken a couple of years ago from the Paseo Miramar trail. 

In a matter of minutes the entire ridge was engulfed in a thick blanket of fog.

The fog allowed for some interesting photos, including the large tree several miles to the east on the western ridge of Mandeville Canyon. Normally, this tree would be completely blended in to the rest of the terrain: it's visible only because of the contrasting white fog.

Same tree - gives you an idea how far away it was. These mountains, the Santa Monicas, run from Griffith Park in the east all the way to Point Mugu in the west. They literally cut through the City of Los Angeles, separating the San Fernando Valley from the rest of the city. With the exception of the San Garbriel Mountains (barely visible in the distance), everything else you're looking at lies within the city limits of Los Angeles. 

Another view, same tree (or trees), with the fog morning for some interesting patterns. I've commented previously that the coastal fog is a continual reminder of how brief and temporal our own lives are. Seventy, or - if we're lucky - eighty, years is a blink in light of eternity. 

As a Christian, I've found that the creation - in all it's beauty, complexity, and design - points to a Creator. And, yes, I realize this perspective isn't limited to Christianity. 

Looking back east towards Topanga Canyon. The ridge that was covered in fog a few minutes earlier was once again visible.

Another view: the homes along the ridge on on the western edge of Topanga Canyon. 

Looking into upper Temescal Canyon as the fog made it's way up the canyon . . . 

. . . making for some interesting patterns. 

Swirling around, looking almost like a dragon . . . 

. . . or a hook . . .

. . . and a minute later, it was gone.  

A few last wisps of fog in the upper-most reaches of Temescal Canyon.

Thinking a bit more about our brief stint on earth, French mathematician, physicist and philosopher Blaise Pascal comes to mind. Pascal - who only lived to age 39 - used logic and mathematics to argue for the existence of God in what's commonly known as "Pascal's Wager."

A UCLA professor summarized Pascal's Wager on her website: "If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in him, while if he does exist, one will lose everything by not believing." Or, the bumper sticker sticker version: "If you live as if there is no God, you better be right."

While mathematics was probably my weakest subject in college, Pascal's Wager certainly makes a strong argument to at least consider the implications of Christianity. And hiking along Temescal Ridge, I found the beauty of what I was experiencing an equally compelling argument to consider if there is something more than our seventy or so years on earth. 

A final photo with the same fog now creeping up towards the top of the Palisades Highlands. A few minutes later I was in my car, having gotten some exercise, nice photos, and - thanks to Pascal and the local weather patterns - something significant to reflect on. 

The trailhead, located just past the corner of Via Las Palmas and Via La Costa in Pacific Palisades. While Via Las Palmas might look like a gated community, it is most assuredly a public road. Continue another 100 yards on Via Las Palmas past Via La Costa, and there is a public parking lot (with restrooms) on the left. 

© 2011 www.experiencingla.com