Walk #29: Los Feliz- Griffith Park Loop

Distance: 3.8 miles
Steps: 463
Difficulty:4.5

"This is a challenging walk that rolls from the oak-lined foothills of Griffith Park up into the park itself, winding around the famed Griffith Park Observatory. Along the way, gigantic city views, some extreme staircases, and Frank Lloyd Wright." Taken from Secret Stairs by Charles Fleming.

Many people think of Griffith Park as only a must-see stop on the tourist trail of Los Angeles. A quick picture of the Observatory and the Hollywood sign and then you're gone! To me it means so much more. Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America and is often called the Central Park of Los Angeles. Our park is much larger and more rugged than that other urban oasis. To me Griffith Park is: numerous hiking trails, a landmark observatory, a world-class zoo, golf courses, an open air music venue (The Greek), a shortcut when traffic is impossible on the 5, and sweeping views of the LA Basin and of the San Fernando Valley. Years ago a huge Colombian festival was held here during the summer but it got kinda rowdy and the event has been moved to private venues. I've been coming here for over 30 years and when we were forced to go as kids we thought it was 'ghetto' but with age my opinion has drastically changed. I forgot to mention that it's also a place where I have had multiple coyote sightings and where Charles and I ride our bikes as he lives nearby. In the winter we like to visit the Festival of Lights.
We began our walk near the Vermont entrance to the park. This is a very quiet stretch of one of the main thoroughfares of the City and is a grand approach to the park. It's a ritzy part of LA called Los Feliz and we admired the homes as we walked downhill.



A few blocks later we turned and went deeper into the neighborhood and soon arrived at a City-designated Historic Cultural Landmark. It is one of very few stairways to enjoy this status . I think the Music Box stairs in Silver Lake share this as does one of the stairways in the Beachwood Canyon neighborhood of LA. It was 181 very grand steps with a rest area in the middle and at the top.

Charles takes a well-earned break at the top.

We soon found ourselves at our second stairway. Shady and well-maintained with a dramatic arch at the top.

Only 70 steps - a piece of cake.

With hillside walks in LA city views are inevitable. This was one of many incredible views we encountered along the way.

Can someone tell me what this is?

We usually encounter unusual mailboxes along the way.

I knew that this walk would eventually lead us to the Observatory and we had walked uphill and taken some stairs but now we were headed downhill.

Los Feliz Boulevard in the distance.

On the way down these 133 steps you can see the famous Ennis House - one of several Frank Lloyd Wright structures in Los Angeles.

Ennis House.

We continued down a second staircase and encountered a large mosaic on one of the walls depicting famous LA landmarks. The one pictured below is the Griffith Observatory which we would soon reach.

The Observatory in mosaic form.

This 1920's house (Witches' Whimsy) is said to be designed to resemble the famous Tam O'Shanter Inn restaurant in nearby Atwater Village. We could have continued downhill and headed back to the car and I was tempted but I was talked out of it and we pressed on.

A closer view of Ennis house.

Ennis house was built in '24 and you may remember it from 'Day of the Locust' or 'Bladerunner.' The Maya-inspired textile-block house needs major repair work and is rumored to be on the market. As we approached the Frank Lloyd Wright house we came across rooftop solar panels. Why are they so rare in sunny SoCal?!

The entrance to the Ennis House.

Detail of a textile block.

A view of Downtown LA.

As we continued walking uphill the Observatory was in view and we would soon enter the park and continue on a dirt path.

Willie on one of the numerous hiking trails leading to/from the Observatory.

We finally reached the Observatory and sat on the steps to rest before heading downhill to lunch and our cars. Below is Charles resting with a view of the famous Hollywood sign. From the Observatory there is a path leading to the top of the mountain and spectacular 360-degree views.

Charles taking another break.

Charlie's Angels or what?!

We were soon heading downhill and walked past an LA landmark - the Greek Theatre. While not as well-known or as big as the Hollywood Bowl, it has nevertheless hosted world-class entertainers in the decades that it has existed.

Just down the road our walk ended at the Roosevelt Golf Course snack shop where we grabbed lunch.

A view from the '19th' hole. Willie and Charles posing in front of the restaurant.

Feel free to join me as I discover hidden parts of Los Angeles and tackle the remaining 20 stair walks.

Steps walked to date: 11,588

Follow me on Twitter: @ClimbingLA

Walk #3 : Glassell Park North - York and Beyond

Distance: 3 miles
Steps: 266
Difficulty: 2.5

"This is a long, lopsided loop through one of the city's least-known neighborhoods, featuring ancient wooden staircases and towering views of the San Gabriel Mountains, Occidental College, and the hidden back side of Forest Lawn Memorial Park." Taken form Secret Stairs by Charles Fleming.

WE ARE HALFWAY THERE!

I know, I always say these walks are 'memorable' or 'special' and they all are but this one was even more so. Not only did we pay a social visit to one of the locals but this walk marked #21 - of 42! I didn't realize we were halfway through the book until we started the walk. I am still really happy to be doing these walks even if it means getting up early on a Sunday (early for me) after getting up early every Saturday to attend a full day of classes. I am a bit behind in writing these entries but will try to be better. I want to finish all 42 walks within a year and we have until May, 2011.

This walk took place on a very hot September 26. I had to select the day carefully as my big sister Angela lives on one of the streets along this route and I wanted to be sure she was home so that I could bring my sweaty friends to her house and be fed! Angela is not a blood relative but she is my big sis. I met her and her family soon after we moved to Los Angeles in 1976. We lived next door to the Puertas (4 siblings on their side 2 on mine) for many years and our doors were literally always open to make one big apartment. It really was like one big Colombian telenovela! She is the oldest of the bunch but I'm not revealing any ages. I do remember that she was always dancing to the Bee Gees when we first met. She was/is a great dancer! All 3 sisters are.

It was also a special day because Willie FINALLY wore a hat. We constantly get on his case about this and he should know better than to walk around in the hot sun without protection from the elements. Our nagging paid off.

The Regulars (Willie, Vlad, Charles)

We began our walk at Eagle Rock Blvd. and Avenue 40 in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

My favorite tree: Washingtonia Robusta

As Charles Fleming explains in Secret Stairs, wooden stair cases in Los Angeles are rare as most were taken down and rebuilt using cement but a few survive. This walk had two of them.

The steps gave way to a steep paved walkway that led us to another set of 10 wooden steps.

I had to include at least one of these in the blog. I think I have already shown flamingoes.

As we climbed, the neighborhood became more architecturally interesting, and more green and steep.

I'm not a cat person but they are always there when we walk.

The next staircase was huge. It contained 132 solid steps with several landings but it was still a killer. The only good thing about it was the views it offered from the top.

From up here we could see the 2 Fwy, the San Gabriel Mountains, and Occidental College.

The second wooden stairway on this walk was also broken up by a walkway between the sections with the first containing 17.

The walkway between the two sections.

What a surprise to find a stand of Redwood trees.

My favorite street, of course!

The green on the hillside is the back side of Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.

We usually end our walks with food and this was no exception. We finished the walk and drove up the hill we had just walked. Four hungry guys arrived to a smiling hostess (and host). My motive for the visit was to cheer up Angela and her husband Jose as their youngest one had left the week before for college (UC Davis). My other motive was to eat and they did not disappoint. They laid out the goodies from Porto's Bakery and we dived in. Not pictured are the potato balls which Willie took a shine to. She offered to send him home with the rest but he was too shy.

Fruit platter, guava cheese pastries, and pastelitos de carne.

Jose and Angela live in a beautiful house with a long massive deck and this is the view we were treated to. She is a freak for Thanksgiving and always hosts and the deck comes alive with dancing even before the turkey is out of the oven.

From left: Me, Angela, Jose.

It was a really festive way to celebrate our halfway point. I just wonder what kind of party she is going to throw for us when we finish! I always joke that she would join us on one of the walks and she kinda did. Thank you guys for making this one truly memorable!

Feel free to join me as I discover hidden parts of Los Angeles and tackle the remaining 21 stair walks.

Steps walked to date: 11,125

Follow me on Twitter: @ClimbingLA