In my explorations of LA, I have seen more in one year than most locals - or even natives - have seen in several years.
But there are still areas I don't really want to go to alone, and so they remain as-yet unexplored.
Despite having house-sat near Dodger Stadium in Highland Park in Summer 2010, Elysian Park was one of those places...
...until this weekend, when I joined the Meetup hiking group excursion led by Lee, one of my new friends from the Mount Lowe Historical Society.
Elysian Park is decidedly urban...
...situated somewhere between Echo Park, Glendale, and Highland Park...
...and housing Dodger Stadium...
...But despite the hum of the nearby freeway traffic on the 5...
...and the graffiti that frequently greets you...
...you can get some good easy climbing in...
...to overlook the suburban sprawl below.
We climbed along a narrow ridge...
...through a tree...
...past the LA River...
...and the Elysian Reservoir...
...to an area well-populated by homeless.
Despite the predominance of fire roads in the park (something I am not much of a fan of), the trails do manage to display a burst of color...
...and plenty of palm trees.
With little elevation change, Elysian Park was a good way to get 6 or 7 miles of walking in on a Saturday morning after sitting at a desk all week.
But since I simply followed the group and didn't have to navigate myself through, would I ever be able to go back and reexperience it for myself?
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Gorgeous pics! Hard to believe you're in the city.
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