Moments in Dirt and Ink

Sketches for the month of September. A twisted section of the old toll road . Power lines stretching over the mountains by Alder Creek . (From an old photo.)

Glendale Locate the trailhead. I've been going up Henninger now and again to stretch the legs. Generally leaving before sunset so I can get through the gate and then coming back out the middle between the two usual spots that close at sunset. I did again the day before and sat at the junction between the trails to draw. I just got a new water system and wanted to give it a try. The mosquitoes were biting and I'd not put repellent into the little pocket, only the lamp. Score one for the usual pack that usually has the repellent in it. I decided not to go all the way up with all the bugs. I decided to go up in the Verdugo Mountains the next day, again to stretch the legs and try out the water system and this time see a bit I'd not seen before. The hike is along fire roads starting in a seemingly random spot in a neighborhood and climbs up into the emptier mountain surrounded by city, then loops around past some radio towers and back down. I somehow seem to ...

Angeles National Forest It's been a while since the last bit of hiking somewhere.  I really should.  Just not really sure where and the forest is still closed.  I think there were some changes in exactly what is open, but it's hard to figure out.  The forest service page doesn't seem to bring people's attention to the fact it is closed and hasn't for some time. I went up along the toll road a little and sketched the winding route along the side of the mountains from the intersection with the thing often referred to as the "horse trail" although I don't think I would want to ride a horse on it.  The mosquitoes were biting and I didn't have the repellent along, so I decided to go back down after sketching instead of continuing up to the top. Toll road twisting up the mountain. Going up seemed easier than usual.  Perhaps the daily walks about 1.5 miles to and from school are helping out.  Perhaps it's just easier to go with ...