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My most recent completed event with the Los Angeles Hiking and Photography group was a group potluck and photographing the sun setting at El Matador State Park.
Clear skies, a great food choices and a great location helped make this a fantastic way to end my planning streak and close out July.
Wow!
To say that this was a fantastic event with a great turn out, dynamic people, great food and diverse photographic opportunities is an understatement.
When Carla first emailed me about the Scott Kelby Photo Walk event, I thought it was great. Plus, when the date of the photo walk lined up with the planned date of my next “Hidden LA” photo walk (what can I say, I’m a planner), it was like the stars in the heavens aligned for a very obvious “Duh.”
I took a deep breath, submitted my application and bio to the national site for a proposed photo walk of Silver Lake, California. The next day, I was accepted as a photo walk leader. And on July 18th, I led one of my the best photo walks to date.
"I do mind, the Dude minds. This will not stand, ya know, this aggression will not stand, man.!""
The Big Lebowski" (c) 1998 Polygram Filmed Entertainment
Sometimes, it’s best to look at certain conflicts in life as an opportunity to grow as a human being and as an event organizer. In my case, it was a rather interesting email from a hike participant and reading the comments regarding the heat during last weekend’s Malibu Creek State Park hike.
The member and I exchanged emails, resulting in me understanding that new members and current members, unfamiliar with the logistics and how I run things, might experience a rather sharp different between their projected expectations of group participation and what would be offered and expected of individual participation.
As a result and to eliminate future situations that may occur from misdirected intentions, I wrote the following email -defining the difference between personal responsibility, event organizer responsibility and individual involvement. Judging from the positive emails and feedback I received from group members, I hit the problem on the nail and sunk it flush with the board.
Malibu Creek State Park is one of those hidden spots in the Santa Monica Mountain range that has something for everyone, depending on the season. Even in the summer heat of July, I found plenty to see. Rabbits, lizards, hidden streams and, of course, the M*A*S*H filming site were all available for the discerning eye.
However, my two days at Malibu Creek were yet another experience of how one day in Southern California can vary greatly from the next.
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Call it an active assessment of my post birthday life. Or, call it a full realization of how much, on a larger scale, the unpaid work I do. There comes a time in one’s life in which they suddenly open their eyes and see things for the way things are. For me, that time is now.
One of the hardest things that I’ve come to terms with is how to be properly compensated for the energy and time exchanged for work. Turning yet another year older, I’ve made a few new and surprising decisions in my life.
This gallery is from one of my first participated events with The Los Angeles Hiking and Photography meetup.
Even though I’m a Southern California native, I actually got lost trying to find Glendora! After two stops to ask for directions, getting lost due to bad directions, having to call an out of state friend with an Internet connection for correct directions and then getting lost again – I finally found Glendora and the Wilderness Park.
Eaton Canyon, in the San Gabriels, could be the easiest hike to get to. It’s right off of the 210 on Sierra Madre Blvd. Nice parking lot. Plenty of great picnic areas and even a little tadpole pond. It truly is a gem in Los Angeles County.
However, there is something to be said about the weather here in California. I did the hike on Friday under a clear and sunny sky. That same sky became a drizzling overcast on Saturday morning. But, that didn’t stop the group from having a great hike, exciting river crossings and Cheyenne Big Sur from being a very happy puppy.
There are some experiences in life that are so rich in detail that you can’t wait to share with others. My fascination with historical Downtown and greater Los Angeles started last year through the Smithsonian Magazine’s National Museum Day. Excited with the concept of visiting a museum for free, I chose the one that had eluded me the longest: The Museum of Neon Art. Little did I know that less than a year later, that choice would result in one of my most successful photography events to date.
Ah! It’s fitting that my first official blog entry be about this delightful little secret in the Santa Monica Mountains.
I first discovered Charmlee Wilderness Park from flipping through the pages of the book Southern California: A Day Hiker’s Guide by John McKinney. I was intrigued that there was another area of the Santa Monica Mountain range, waiting for me to explore.
Plus, as dogs are allowed, it was a golden opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
My first trip was in May. Armed with the Wonder Puppy, Cheyenne Big Sur, I meandered around the trails, steered her away from lizards, photographed the ocean, birds and trees, and marveled at the jewel above Pacific Coast Highway. Continue Reading »
