Walk #39 - Santa Monica - Bluffs and Beach Walk

Distance: 3.5 miles Steps: 384-450 Difficulty: 3

"This is a great combination walk - big stairs, huge Pacific views, and long stretches of flat pathway filled with interesting historical bits. It can be very hot in summer and somwhat windy in winter, but the vistas are sensational." Taken from Secret Stairs by Charles Fleming.

We had to do this walk rain or shine as it was the next-to-last walk and the invitations for the party following the final walk were sent. We have experienced a very wet winter and we in parched SoCal should love this but not on my walk! This is the 2nd time it rained but we soldiered on and the payoff was a beautiful day spent with wonderful people! I had saved the four Secret Stairs walks on the Westside for summer or summer-like weather but we ended up going through the walks faster than we thought we would. 42 walks in 48 weeks!

We started this walk at the famous Santa Monica Pier which dates to 1909. I can say that in the 30-plus years of living in LA that I have never set foot on this beach and rarely visit the pier(except when we have guests) but sometimes it is fun and this was the case.

It was unusually calm for a Sunday on the Pier. Charles, Ines, Mark, Jessica, and Enrique.

Down some wooden steps and these concrete ones and we were at street level.

The underbelly of the Pier.

Back up some wooden stairs to the pier.

Looking towards Venice.

Just as soon as we were back on the pier we went down the other side to begin our walk along the beach.

While there was never a downpour it was coming down at the start of the walk but pretty soon it started to clear up and the weather improved as we walked. So much so that by the end of the walk it was a beautiful spring day. I remember when as teenagers we would go to the beach and being SoCal, it was always overcast in June and July and we would say, "it'll burn off," and it usually did!

As we walked along the beach the very busy PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) was a constant. This highway is so disaster-prone that it is a local running joke. It is a very busy highway and in addition to automobile accidents that can easily cause a shutdown of this major artery, mudslides after rains and fires in the warmer months are not rare.

PCH

An unexpected brick stairway once we crossed the overpass.

At the top of the stairs is a really beatiful promenade that is a buffer between the ocean and the city.

My friend Paolo used to cater and we did a party in one of these houses along this stretch but I can't decide exactly which one it was.

An old house on Ocean Drive.

We walked along the bluffside park for a short stretch before heading back to the beach side. There is a house directly in front of the stairway which I find kind of odd. I mean, you pay millions for a house and not only is it on a very busy highway but then you have a massive concrete post right in front of your bedroom window..

See what I mean?

This bikepath runs for several miles in both directions. On my list of things to do is to bike it this summer.

Charles on the path. You can see that the weather is improving.

We were about to go back to the bluffs and took this unusal spiral stairway leading to another overpass.

From the bluffs and from the overpass you can clearly see nature at work as evidenced by the erosion. We expected to climb the stairway pictured above but as we approached it was evident that it was in bad shape.

Glad we didn't climb this one - it's kinda iffy!

Closed. Now what?

There was a solution to the closure. We took a detour and continued up this famous incline and were back on the bluff (Palisades Park) and would soon return to the walk route.

A view towards Pacific Palisades and beyond that, Malibu.

I still don't understand it.

Charles and Mark smiling as we head (yet again) over PCH towards the beach.

Down some muddy steps.

I lost count of the overpasses covered in this walk.

Okay, someone tell me what this means. Should we be afraid of cats with Black Widos spiders?

Archeological evidence of a once grand building.

All that remains of a fancy beach club from 'back in the day.'

This one just stands out.

We were on our final stretch along the beach that would take us back to the pier and our starting point.

The Johnathan Club

Back at our starting point.

Lunch was a big surprise. Instead of the usual local restaurant someone suggested the Food Court at the newly-rebuilt Santa Monica Place. Genius idea! It was a nice food court as far as mall eateries go and the added bonus was the rooftop dining area with views of the ocean. Not a bad way to end our next-to-last walk!

Charles, Mark, Enrique, Jessica, and me.

Jessica and Ines at the rooftop dining are with the ocean behind them.

Feel free to join me as I discover hidden parts of Los Angeles and tackle the ONE remaining stair walk.

Steps walked to date: 20,897.

Follow me on Twitter: @ClimbingLA

Walk #41 - Pacific Palisades - Castellammare

Distance: 3.2 miles
Steps: 518
Difficulty: 3.5

"The most scenic of all the city's stairwalks, this hillside stroll offers sweeping Pacific views, ocean breezes, and grisly Hollywood film lore. Its handsome hidden staircases are adjacent to the Getty Villa, the Self-Realization Fellowship, and Topanga Park, making it an ideal all-day recreation destination." Taken from Secret Stairs by Charles Fleming.

Yes, it was the middle of winter and there we were, walking on the beach on a clear, perfect, sunny southern California day. This walk had it all: amazing vistas, surprises galore, and great company of course. We even had someone fly out all the way from Germany just to join us. Well, Norbert (from Hamburg) was here visiting one of our regular walkers (Mark).

Norbert and Mark.
From left: Mark, Norbert, Ines, Charles, Jessica, Enrique.

We began our walk on Pacific Coast Highway where Sunset Boulevard meets the sea - at Gladstone's Restaurant. This place has killer views and there is an oceanfront patio that is open to the public - you can bring your own food! I'm sure this has something to do with the fact that the overpriced restaurant sits on County property.

We started with a brief walk on the beach before heading for the hills.

The first stairway straddled the crazy-busy PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and would lead us to another world.

Thirty-five steps and then 40 more took us to Castellammare Drive,Pacific Palisades.

We wallked very briefly on Castellammare before encountering this 69-step stairway which would lead us to Posetano Road.

Castellammare, Posetano (that's how they spell it..), Revello. Yes, many streets in the neighborhood have Italian names and I know of a Capri and Amalfi Drive nearby. While not exactly the Italian coastline this area has many Mediterranean-inspired homes and can hold its own in terms of scenery and beauty.

Just a few minutes after climbing the roar of PCH began to disappear.

Jessica in her pensive pose.

A local teenager told us proudly that his Dad painted this wall.

The Pacific Ocean was apparent at almost every point during this walk.

While this stairway looked inviting, it was not part of our walk and apparently leads to nowhere.

That's me with most of the gang looking on..

We soon found our next stairway which would drop us off on Breve Way. 91-steps with a peek of the ocean.

We were now closer to the ocean but still able to enjoy a view from high above. I can't remember how many times we all paused just to take in the views.

A maritime motif on this gate - how fitting.

We continued along Porto Marina Way until it was time to climb the 86-stairs and head uphill once again. Now we began to see some serious homes.

What people will to try to hold Mother Nature at bay - she usually wins in the end..

Can you see the 'infinity' pool?

Surprising to see a clear ocean-facing lot in this neighborhood; there were houses all around.

The imposing palazzo/villa pictured above is the Villa Leone which dates to 1928. It was built for wool magnate Leon Kauffman and you can see ram motifs on the facade of the manse, in honor of the sheep that made him very rich.

Jessica and Enrique petting the grass.

The Santa Monica Mountains.

This may look like a normal home but it sure was located in a great neighborhood!

It says 'HOME' just in case it's not obvious..

I think this one is a bit - busy?!

Mark & Norbert at one of our most scenic overlooks.

Now that's a view!

Charles.

That's Santa Monica in the background.

Yes, those are filing cabinets!

That's Enrique peeking through the gap in the wall.

This 122-step staircase had amazing views and we just had to pause before heading down. That's me posing with my handy Secret Stairs guide. It's been put to the test and I am almost done with all 42 walks! It'll be hard to have the book on the shelf and I know it won't gather much dust as we will be repeating.

The house pictured above is called Castillo del Mar and was the home of the actrees Thelma Todd. She appeared in several Marx Brothers films and died at this home under suspicious circumstances in 1935. It was somewhere along this street where we had our 'Star' sighting - Lindsay Crouse. Thanks Mark! He has an eagle-eye for that sort of stuff..

Katrina, this one is extra special.

A cow sculpture on the hill.

Norbert, Mark, and Charles.

The end of the road led us to a dirt path and down to our last staircase. It was strange to see this patch of 'wilderness' so close to PCH.

Our last staircase led to the overpass we took at the start of the walk.

A view from the beach looking towards the hills.

The Interpreters at Third Street Promenade: Ines, Enrique, Jessica, and me.

After our long walk some of us went to lunch at Yankee Doodle at the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. A great place to practice the sport of people-watching.

Charles in front of our dining spot.

A view of Third Street Promenade from the Santa Monica Place mall.

Feel free to join me as I discover hidden parts of Los Angeles and tackle the remaining 5 stair walks. Steps walked to date: 18,832. Follow me on Twitter: @ClimbingLA