AHS May 14 Millard Canyon Talk

Even if you aren't an avid outdoors hiker, if you live near the San Gabriel Mountains you probably know of Millard Canyon. Covered by a canopy of at least nine species of native trees, habitat to countless birds and other wildlife, the canyon serves as a wildlife corridor for the large mammal species that live in the foothills.  Millard Creek is a year-round stream that  feeds the area as well.

There is a good possibility that 13 acres in the canyon, north of Canyon Crest Road, can be saved from development.  

Come to the May 14th  ALTADENA HISTORICAL SOCIETY program and hear author, historian and outdoor enthusiast Elizabeth Pomeroy speak about the past and future of our beloved canyon.  

In addition, Elizabeth and Conservancy president John Howell will invite you to take a hike on May 19 and personally experience this 13 acre parcel.  The hike will be led by experts in biology, geology, history or hydrology.  Learn how the Altadena Crest Trail will be extended through the well-publicized "La Vina gap.”

For more information, http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/millard/

Altadena Historical Society
Quarterly Meeting and Lecture
Historian and Author Elizabeth Pomeroy & Arroyo Foothills Conservancy Executive Director John Howell

The Past and Future of Millard Canyon
Monday, May 14, 2012, 7:30 PM
Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001
Programs are free and open to the public

Hike Millard Canyon May 19

Meadows residents have been invited to a hike through Millard Canyon on May 19th.  The Arroyo & Foothills Conservancy has a bid in on purchasing the acreage.

Here's the announcement:

Hike Millard Canyon on May 19

Ten years ago the Arroyos & Foothills (AFC) made a run at saving 13 acres in beautiful lower Millard Canyon.  They teamed up with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and bid $50,000 more than its appraised value to try to buy it at auction. It was heartbreaking to lose to someone who wanted to build homes in the canyon.

Never again! Ten years later and we have another chance. The owner has offered AFC the property on favorable terms. Let's not let this land get away!

Come see this seldom-hiked canyon on Saturday, May 19. Choose from four hikes: 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 or 1:30.

The habitat is top notch; the stream runs year-round; trees cover the whole route.

Docents expert in biology, geology, history or hydrology will guide us. Learn how the Altadena Crest Trail will be extended through the ‘La Vina gap’.

Directions:

Meet at the Altadena Community Garden. Take the 210 north to the Lincoln Avenue turnoff and go north to the corner of Lincoln and Palm (3330 N. Lincoln Ave. Altadena). We’ll be shuttled to the Millard campground parking lot and then we’ll hike down the canyon to Canyon Crest Road. The route is less than a mile and a half long, but somewhat rugged. The hike itself will take 1-1/2 to 2 hours. We’ll be shuttled back to the Community Garden for refreshments and to learn about this opportunity to save this remarkable place.

Suggestions: 

Wear a long sleeve shirt and pants because there’s poison oak along parts of the route.

Wear sturdy hiking shoes because much of the route is with faint or no trail and there’s boulder hopping at several stream crossings.

Consider hiking poles for those crossings.

Rattlesnakes are beginning to come out – be alert.

This is not a hike for dogs.

Bring garden gloves if you’d like to remove a few invasive plants along the way.

For more info, go to http://www.arroyosfoothills.org/millard/

Road Rage for Hikers?

This note came in from a neighbor:

"Yesterday afternoon I took the dog for a walk and was heading up El Prieto Road. A black car came speeding in reverse down the driveway from above the cul de sac and was headed straight for me.  I moved around to get out of the way, but it turned and kept heading at me as I scrambled some more to get out of the way. 

I finally cleared the backing, turning car as it stopped.  I went around to the side and saw that the driver was looking at her phone in her lap texting.  I got her attention and asked if she even saw me. 

She said that this is a private drive and people don't have a right to be hiking on it.  I said that this a public street that I'm on.  She said that this is a private drive and a private cul de sac and that this is what people who live up here need to do.  I asked her if she meant backing into people.  At that point she waggled her finger at me and sped back up the drive to the last house on the right before the Lincoln Avenue Water Company gate and went into the house.

I was rather shocked.  Be aware when hiking up there."

Humboldt Lilies are Blooming

With much thanks to Ray, here is his annual picture of the Humboldt Lilies - "precious gems" - as Ray likes to refer to them.

The picture was taken along El Prieto Trail at the third creek crossing (from the top).

Thanks Ray!

Two Updates for Sunday Re: Trail Access

On Sunday, November 7th, the fire department will be conducting extensive training exercises at the top of Risinghill Road. They will have at least 4 fire trucks/pumpers and extensive personnel. Please do not be alarmed by the activity.

Additionally, the Forest Service, CORBA, and Friends of El Prieto will be conducting trail work on El Prieto at the same time with numerous volunteers. As it is going to be extremely busy, it would be appreciated if The Meadows neighbors refrained from entering the area at the top of Risinghill Road, and the fire road leading up. The trail crews will be parking on Risinghill and El Prieto.

Trail Work Has Begun Around La Vina

Work has started on the trails around La Vina.  Here's the County's plan:

The County of Los Angeles is planning to conduct the necessary fieldwork to refine the layouts of the trails and to create the legal descriptions necessary to have the easements transferred from the La Viña Homeowners’ Association (HOA) to the County of Los Angeles and recorded as required in the Court’s final judgment. Sapphos Environmental, Inc. and Bellfree Contractors, Inc., a trail design and construction company, will conduct field visits to refine the trails layouts from July 7 through July 16, between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Representatives from the trail advocates and HOA may also participate in these field visits. Brush clearing may also need to be conducted on the proposed trail during these times. Any use of noise-generating motorized equipment for brush clearing will be conducted between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM.


Once the proposed trail routes are marked, on one day between July 18 and July 24, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. and the County of Los Angeles will walk the proposed trail layout with representatives from the HOA and trail advocates’ plaintiffs to give all parties an opportunity to observe the trails’ layout and identify any concerns. After the walk is completed, the County of Los Angeles will finalize the trail layout. Any unresolved issues between the parties will be brought to the judge for resolution.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will then survey the trails from July 19, 2010 through August 13, 2010, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Once the fieldwork is completed, the County of Los Angeles will prepare a legal description of the trail easements. The Office of County Counsel will then submit to the judge a statement for the status conference scheduled for September 22, 2010.

Some of the Forest is Reopening

From a Meadows neighbor:  Some of the forest is being reopened including Millard Canyon.  See the following link for details:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/news/2010/news-2010-05-25-station-fire-areas-open.shtml

Update on Trails

Some input from a Meadows resident about the status of the trails:

"An April 10th posting on the Meadows blog asked about trails in the burn area. Please advise readers that according to the US Forest Service, an Angeles Forest Closure Order issued in September 2009 closed the entire Station Fire burn area through SEPTEMBER 30, 2010. A copy of the order may be found here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/orders/StationFireRecoveryOrder-01-09-08.pdf




A call to the USFS local office (626-574-1613) confirmed that the above order remains in effect, and is subject to extension. Only residents or owners who reside WITHIN THE BURN AREA, government officials, or persons/organizations that have been issued permits by the USFS are allowed in the burn area. Areas off-limits include upper/lower El Prieto, Millard, and Brown mountain. The USFS and Sheriff continue to regularly patrol both on land and by air; large penalty and possible jail time imposed on violators. Readers may find more information here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/

Current Closures

Angeles Forest Closure Orders

Trail Work Group?

I had a request on the blog asking if anyone would be interested in forming a trail work group?

If interested, just comment to this post with your name, email and phone.  I won't publish that information, but will send a separate email to connect everyone.

Questions about Trail Work

Two comments/questions posted to the blog.  Any info?

"Does anyone know who has been working on the El Prieto trail? The mugwort and horehound is all ripped up."


"The trail work that was done butchered about 10 Humboldt lillies. I found them today either uprooted or topped. I am really sad aboput this. I hope some education can be managed. Does anyone know how to contact those volunteers?"

Question About Trails

Anyone  have some input to this question that was posted to the blog?

"When will the trails that go up to Millard Canyon, Upper and Lower El Preito trails and Brown Mountain (be opened)?  The trails start next to JPL at the large parking lot next to the JPL entrance. There is a big sign that says the trails are closed since the fires. Does anyone know when they will be opened to walk or who to call to check?"

The Hills are Alive....

Thanks to Ray Backes for these pics of our surrounding hills.  Looks like nature is fast restoring our greenery after the fires.

Lupines flourish amid burnt tree skeletons.

Another patch of lupines.

Wild cucumber (manroot) vines over burnt scrub Oak

Laurel-leaf Sumac. Hot burning but quick regrowing.

Burnt Chemise sprouting anew.

The Meadows, Altadena blanketed in green.

Fastest re-growing shrub - Pepper tree.

USFS Listening Session

The U.S. Forest Service will host a listening session regarding the Cobb Estate and related trails, Mar 27th, 1-3PM at Alt. Community Center. The USFS is trying to put logs across some trails to keep public on original County-USFS trails.


Some of the public are not happy with that and are pushing back since they feel the trails in place reflect original trails dating back decades.

Also the issue of signage is a hot button

New Growth for the New Year?

Sent in from one of our neighbors.


"Here are two photos taken along the El Prieto Trail from approximately the same vantage point. The first was taken on January 18, 2006. The copious fruition of the toyons gives an appearance of flowered trees!


The second photo was snapped on December 24, 2009, to contrast the former beauty of the scene with the stark landscape left by the Station Fire.

It'll be quite a while before the scene returns to its former glory. Meanwhile, Happy New Year!"

Forest Closed Through September 2010

As of Oct. 1 and effective through Sept. 2010 (yes, correct, 2010), Angeles Forest and the burn areas are CLOSED to ALL use.

From the forest service website - Station Fire Recovery order: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/orders/StationFireRecoveryOrder-01-09-08.pdf

Pics of Hills and Canyons

From a neighbor on Sunmore:

"I took a bunch of saddening photos on my ride the other day if you want to show any to others who are hikers or riders."

http://web.mac.com/andreadamian/iWeb/Site/Photos.html

Guards at Top of Risinghill

Just received this info. Not sure how it will effect hiking for Meadows residents:

The County has hired private security guards to assist local law enforcement in areas surrounding Angeles National Forest.

A number of these guards are now posted at the end of Risinghill Road. Only residents that live beyond that point, and their guests along with emergency responders, will be allowed through.

The guards began last night and will be there 24/7 for at least the next week, with possible extensions while the forest remains closed.

Trail Clean-Up

"When I went up the Owen Brown Trail today to clean off the many deposits of dog-feces that I spotted on it yesterday, I was delightfully surprised to note that someone beat me to it. To whoever did it, a great big thanks! With that kind of spirit, we can maintain a very pleasant trail, up here in our 'back yard.' "

Ray Backes

Humboldt Lilies

The Humboldt Lilies are blooming. The photo attached was taken in El Prieto Canyon, near the picnic tables.

Thanks to Ray for the pic.

Spring in The Meadows

Some pics taken by a neighbor while on a hike.