August Interlude: Little Santa Anita Canyon

 The thing about August in the northern hemisphere is it can be brutally hot, so it might be a good idea to pick an interlude that avoids a lot of sun exposure, doesn't involve a ton of uphill, and get an early start. Well, we didn't really conform to any of those good ideas, but the nice shaded stretch between First Water and the old gauging station, along with the cooling waters of the stream did provide some rejuvenating relief at the half way point. The Mount Wilson Trail (not to be confused with the equally, if not more, well-known Mount Wilson Toll Road a little further to the west), starts off rather bucolically at the top of one of our favorite local small towns - Sierra Madre and, as its name suggests, does indeed go all the way up to Mt Wilson, where the "Biddies" live. 

What? You don't know what, or who, the Biddies are? Understandable, only our once-upon-a-time five year old son knows for sure, and considering how much time has passed since he was that age, I'm not sure if he would really remember much about the Biddies either.

Anyway...

while an interlude from earlier this year ascended neighboring Bailey Canyon and I, on more than one occasion, hiked in larger Big Santa Anita Canyon (and rode it many, many weekends), I can honestly admit to having never set foot in the little canyon. There is so much rich history to the area - from the Tongva, who used the canyon to access the higher mountains, to later settlement and city growth necessitating the need for a reliable water source, to the Great Hiking Era and the many resorts that sprung up in all these canyons during those years, and right up to todays efforts by volunteers to maintain the trail so that others can enjoy them for a few hours on a summer day.

one alder split two ways

As in all these front range canyon, the Alders are king; they grow tall alongside, and in, the water and the shade they supply is wonderful. If I could have strung a hammock between two of them, I could have daydreamed a few hours away until my hand, falling into a pool of the cool water would have brought be back to consciousness. Summer wildflowers are blooming, berries are popping, and the place was crazy with butterflies; there was one stream crossing where these little butterflies with wings rather nondescript when folded closed, but showed a pale lavender when open, fluttered around in the hundreds. The mrs. didn't notice them at first (though they had been flying all along the shaded portion of trail), and let out a little scream when she realized she was surrounded by all these flying "things." Finn noticed though, and made futile efforts darting back and forth trying to catch them. 

The August Interlude was one for the books, but now it is time to get back to our regularly scheduled riding. See you out there...

the start and the end - Lizzie's Trail Inn

i think they were commiserating about the heat

a little brightness in the shadows

uphill in full sun

how hot was it? just look at that tongue

ahhhhhh, shade at last

the old water gauging station - high and dry

blackberries

cool pools

lunch spot contemplation

rushing water

chasing butterflies...

there's one in this shot, can you see it?

there it is (along with a photobombing native bee)

switchbacks on the downhill side

red

end