A Walk Around Mt. Wilson Observatory & The Drive Up There, Los Angeles
The Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO) is an astronomical observatory in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The MWO is located on Mount Wilson, a 1,740-metre (5,710-foot) peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, northeast of Los Angeles.
The observatory contains two historically important telescopes: the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker telescope, which was the largest aperture telescope in the world from its completion in 1917 to 1949, and the 60-inch telescope which was the largest telescope in the world when it was completed in 1908. It also contains the Snow solar telescope completed in 1905, the 60 foot solar tower completed in 1908, the 150 foot (46 m) solar tower completed in 1912, and the CHARA array, built by Georgia State University, which became fully operational in 2004 and was the largest optical interferometer in the world at its completion.
Due to the inversion layer that traps smog over Los Angeles, Mount Wilson has more natural steady air than any other location in North America, making it ideal for astronomy and in particular for interferometry. The increasing light pollution due to the growth of greater Los Angeles has limited the ability of the observatory to engage in deep space astronomy, but it remains a productive center, with the CHARA Array continuing important stellar research.
The observatory was conceived and founded by George Ellery Hale, who had previously built the 1 meter telescope at the Yerkes Observatory, then the world's largest telescope. The Mount Wilson Solar Observatory was first funded by the Carnegie Institution of Washington in 1904, leasing the land from the owners of the Mount Wilson Hotel in 1904. Among the conditions of the lease was that it allow public access.
XC Ride: Mt Wilson Non-Stop Descent, Los Angeles Mountain Biking
This has to be my favorite mountain bike ride in Southern California. From the Eaton Saddle Trail Head, it's a short climb and then it's all downhill for 4000 ft. I climbed via the Mt Wilson Toll Rd from Pasadena (link to map below). It's a long grind, but the part shown in the video can be shuttled.
The fire road is easy to coast down all the way to the bottom and there are optional single tracks for various skill levels. As much as it can be challenging for death-defying experts, it's also appropriate for beginners when they stay on the large path. Sunset Trail and El Prieto are great challenging single tracks for intermediates. Upper and Middle Sam Merrell are expert trails with a lot of exposure to cliffs. I skipped Upper Sam Merrell (on the left at 4:52) because it's a bit too sketchy when clipped-in on the cross-country bike. When riding it though, it's almost all single tracks all the way to the bottom. A trail bike is recommended!
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Jones Peak to Mt Wilson Trail loop hike
Mt. Wilson trail
Mt. Wilson -Mt. Lowe trail
Back on Route 66 - Bottle Tree Ranch - Eaton Canyon Falls - LeAw in the USA //Ep.48
We are living the American dream driving the Historic Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica but we are doing some detours to visit some places we like.
In this 48th episode, we get back on Route 66 and visit Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ran and stop for a hike to see Eaton Canyon Falls.
Enjoy the ride with us! ;)
Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch - Oro Grande, California.
A forest of 200 bottle trees along Route 66.
What does one do when left with thousands of colored glass bottles? Begin a massive recycling effort, or perhaps an obscure outdoor art gallery? Elmer Long decided on both after becoming the sole beneficiary of a massive bottle collection.
As a child, Long scoured the desert with his father, collecting everything and anything. While a younger Long took notes, his father amassed an incredible collection of glass bottles. When he passed away, Long inherited his work, as well as a loss at what to do with the strange collection. In 2000, an idea struck the famously bearded Elmer Long, and he created his first bottle tree.
Shaped like hat racks, with glass bottles of all colors and shapes angled off of them, the bottle tree ranch has now grown to 200 installations. Besides being a beautiful gallery, the hollow bottles also whirr a sweet tune when the wind passes through them. For travelers making their way across America, this collection and its curator are two treasures without equal.
Eaton Canyon is a major canyon beginning at the Eaton Saddle near Mount Markham and San Gabriel Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest, United States. Its drainage flows into the Rio Hondo river and then into the Los Angeles River. It is named after Judge Benjamin S. Eaton, who lived in the Fair Oaks Ranch House in 1865 not far from Eaton Creek.
The most well-known portion of the canyon is the Eaton Canyon Nature Center in Pasadena, California. The trailhead of the Mount Wilson Toll Road is in the canyon.
The Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park is located where the mountain stream debouches into the foothill wash at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The park is administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. The county administers the lower two-thirds of the area below the toll road bridge. Most of the 190 acres (0.8 km2) that comprises the natural area lie on the northern boundaries of the old Rancho San Pascual and Rancho Santa Anita on land designated for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Once the railroad gave up the land, it was opened for homesteading. The nature center is unique in the area because it houses exhibits that educate on the flora and fauna local to the San Gabriel Valley Southern California. The center was rebuilt in 1998 after the 1993 fire destroyed the previous facility.
Pasadena and parts of Altadena receive about 40% of their water from local sources. The upper third is controlled by the Water Department of the City of Pasadena.
Eaton Canyon Falls
The falls are where the Eaton Creek has a fifty-foot drop and are located north of the bridge in the part of the canyon administered by the US Forest Service. John Muir once described the waterfall as a charming little thing, with a low, sweet voice, singing like a bird, as it pours from a notch in a short ledge, some thirty or forty feet into a round mirror-pool.
Several waterfalls also exist above Eaton Fall, which are more secluded. Until 1979, there was a tunnel which allowed access, but this has been dynamited and filled in. While the upper falls were accessible decades ago, there are no longer any maintained trails. People have been injured and killed trying to make these climbs.
On July 31, 2011, a man fell to his death on the hike to the falls. Another man fell to his death one week later on August 6, 2011.
On March 22, 2013, two hikers tried to climb to the second waterfall, but decided against it mid-climb. As they made their way down, they both lost their footing and fell. One hiker, a high school senior, fell to her death, and the other was airlifted for treatment.
On June 27, 2014, the US Forest Service announced plans to close the trail to the upper falls. The trail to the upper falls was closed off on August 1, 2014. Violators caught trespassing the off-limits area will face a fine of up to $5,000 or six months in jail.
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The Epic Gabrielino Trail | San Gabriel Mountains | Los Angeles Mountain Biking
The Gabrielino Trail was recently reopened in its entirety thanks to the efforts of some 100 trail building volunteers. Please show them your gratitude for these amazing trails with a thank you comment below.
Riding with John Nobil in the video. He's a fast XC racer and a trail builder. On our way up, we bumped into no other than the Chief Restoration Officer Steve Messer of CORBA. He explained to us how has been working on this restoration project for the past 7 years and was finally going out on a ride that day to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
The trail was pristine. The conditions were all-time. It’s the best riding in Los Angeles.
If your are interested in learning how to build trails and lending a hand, make sure to follow CORBA →
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ride through the Pasadena mountains
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Mt. Wilson Part 1 | Upper and Middle Sam Merrill Trails with the Boys
On Sat, Aug 17, 2019, we headed up for a classic early morning Mount Wilson Frontside shuttle run with the boys - Jesse, Albert, and JG make appearances on this Part 1 of 2. As always, it was rowdy, technical, flowy, and fun!
Part 1 includes:
- Upper Merrill and the loose-as-ever chutes. I botched up the first two chutes, taking the wrong line on the first one and just plain skipping the second one. I hit the third chute, which is usually the most daunting one for me.
- Middle Merrill. One of the best technical trails in all of Socal, if not the whole state of California. Rocky, fast, and exposed!
Go here for Part 2 (Sunset Ridge Trail):
Gabrielino Trail — Switzers to JPL, part 1 | Angeles National Forest
Recently revived through the hard efforts of local bike advocacy groups and many volunteers, this portion of the Gabrielino trail is a SoCal classic. Its a big descent with big challenges and multiple eco zones. One of the top SoCal rides of all time.
Trailforks:
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Gabrielino Trail Hike 2017
The Gabrielino Trail is a United States National Recreation Trail that runs through the Angeles National Forest with trailheads at Windsor Avenue in Altadena, California on the west end and Chantry Flat, just north of Arcadia, California, on the east. It passes through three major watersheds and has an elevation gain/loss of 3,500 ft (1,100 m)
Monrovia Truck Trail | Gabrielino Trail.
Monrovia Truck Trail | Gabrielino Trail |
Ride with Shelby - 2017 Fall Gabrielino Trail
with footage of the rock that cracked my Santa Cruz Rear Triangle
California Downhill Mountain Biking Angeles Forest Old Ridge Route Los Angeles County
A section of a classic mountain biking trail near the Northwest corner of Los Angeles County in the Angeles National Forest. This unmarked singletrack trail is near the Old Ridge Route and the San Andreas Rift Zone earthquake fault.
Mt Lowe trail - Mt Wilson - 3-17-2013 pt. 4
Gabrielino Trail Ride 82414
First Ride with GoPro
Red Box/ Gabrielino Trail to Switzers and Old Mt. Wilson to Sierra Madre
04 April 2017, Red Box/ Gabrielino Trail to Switzers and Old Mt. Wilson to Sierra Madre
Riders: Gustavo, Peter, Roman and Steve
15 Seconds: Sketchy Ride on Middle Sam Merrill Mt Wilson
Another 15 seconds teaser of the Sam Merrill ride on Mt Wilson. That was a sketchy ride!!
Location: Pasadena, CA, USA
Date: July 2015
Segment Map:
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altadena crest trail, from zane grey to eaton canyon
MTB - Arroyo Seco / Gabrielino Trail. Pasadena/Altadena, CA
Mountain biking Gabrielino Trail in Pasadena/Altadena, CA. This is a beautiful trail that is great to do on hot days because it has so much shade. Not a steep climb, but this 9 mile out & back ride has some fun and challenging sections for any skill level.
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Music: Avenged Sevenfold - Strength Of The World, Sidewinder