Hiking in Patagonia

Here is Kate and Irina on top of Cerro Otto.

I recently came back from a trip to Patagonia, Argentina.  After spending almost 4 months (of active pre-pro and production) working on Love 10 to 1 and being completely burnt out, I cashed in my frequent flier miles and brought along two credit cards.  That is really all you need to travel!  My best friend Kate flew down from NYC to meet me in Bariloche.  We met up with another friend, Irina, who lives in Bariloche.  We spent most of the trip on the various hiking trails in the area.  It is beautiful.  I imagine that being in heaven would feel like this.  Since Irina is a local, she took us to various trails that many tourists may miss.  

One hike that we went on was on top of Cerro Otto.  There is a gondola that takes you to the top, and then you walk through a forest and later hike up a short hill to reach the top of the peak.  Once there, the view was breathtaking. We usually brought along snacks and a thermos for making instant coffee and tea.  

I think hiking is like meditation for active people.  It is walking meditation really.  Van Gogh said that the best way to know God is to love many things.  Without getting all crunchy here, I think the best way to know God is to surround yourself with nature as often as possible, and hike!  

So I came back to L.A. with a greater sense of purpose and calm, despite all the craziness that happened while I was away.  That is another story for another day.

Still Raining

Luckily I got 9 miles from Paseo Miramar to Topanga today. There were a lot of people hitting the trail, it was a gorgeous, clear day, I was so glad to get a break from the rain.

I guess I'll hit the gym tomorrow, it's raining pretty hard right now and I doubt the trails will be dry.


Take A Hike (when it stops raining),

Lucy

Rain Rain and more Rain

It's been raining cats & dogs in the City of Angels. Contrary to popular belief it does rain in Southern California and when it rains it pours. We need the water and I love the rain, however, I hope it clears up by tomorrow because I want to roam.

The best reward after a big rainfall is the clear sky. If you make it to a mountain top, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views of the entire city and beyond.

I joined a site called meetup.com – I joined two hiking groups and am getting invites for new hikes. I don’t know that I can go this weekend because I have too much to do to venture on a 1 hour drive and a 10 mile hike – the hike sounds amazing, I can’t wait to try it with the nymphs.

Speaking of……Christine got back from her vacation and I was hoping for a full on nymph reunion this weekend. It doesn’t look like it’ll happen but I think DJ Haizee and I are going to Temescal. Who knows when we’ll all hike together again. We are thinking of doing Half Dome in either May or June – so I’m looking forward to that.



Take A Hike,

Lucy

I LOVE 3 DAY WEEKENDS

Saturday morning I woke up at 6am and couldn't fall back asleep so I did the laundry and watched a movie which I highly recommend – "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" directed by Sidney Lumet. I caught up on my episodes of the L Word and fearing getting stuck on the couch all weekend I made a few calls to see if anyone wanted to hike with me. Maybe because of Sundance, the 3 day weekend or laziness, no one came with me. I was intending on doing my usual 5 miles at Paseo Miramar but it was such a beautiful day that I wound up going to the bench by Topanga state park. I think it's about 9 miles. As much as I like hiking with others, I LOVE trekking out on my own. It amazes me how 20 minutes on Sunset Blvd. heading west can make such a difference. For me, hiking is the best therapy, it's the best way to get in touch with your thoughts and if you're feeling down it's the best pick me up (provided you can motivate yourself to get there). Next time you get a dose of the blahs try a hike, I guarantee you'll fell better.

Sunday I went to the gym, I did the treadmill for 1 hour (I got the wrong schedule and the spinning class started later than I thought) after the treadmill (intervals of walking & running) I did the spinning class followed by a pilates class that my friend taught. I felt pretty good and then a friend called and invited me on a hike. I almost said no but it was a 2 miler at Kenter which is a pretty simple hike. Even though this is one of the woosie hikes, for the first 15 minutes my heart rate was higher than it should have been. I guess too much activity for one day. I'm glad I went because I love being outdoors rather than confined to the gym.

Yesterday, I woke up around 8am and before I got stuck doing anything else, I went to Paseo Miramar again. It was nice and chilly (the best hiking weather in my opinion). I did about 8 miles this time but as I was heading home, Temescal looked very inviting so I parked my car and went all the way to skull rock (I'm not sure if this is the actual name but the rock looks like a skull so that's what I call it). As I made my way down, it started raining, which was scary because the trail is narrow and steep on some parts so I was trying my best not to slip. The day before two people had to be lifted off Temescal! There was one point where I almost slipped and the only way not to fall was to run down the hill. I was so scared because I did not know how I was going to stop. There was a wooden plank at the bottom of the hill so that's what stopped me – it was very random but I am grateful to whoever put it there because the plank was not there when I went up.

So today my legs are sore but clothes are loose in all the right places and I feel great. Today I'm going to a kickboxing class – we'll see how that goes!

Take A Hike,

Lucy

Parker Mesa Overlook from Topanga State Park

Highlights: Great picnic area, beautiful ocean and mountain/canyon views
Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 800 ft
Hike Time: 2 - 3 hours depending on your hiking experience.
Diffuculty: Moderate if you are an experienced hiker – grueling the first few tries. Difficult during hot weather.
Trail Condition: The trail is wide and well kept. Watch out for bikers on the downhill who will sometimes zoom past you with very little warning, and snakes during warm weather.
Trail Head: From Topanga Canyon Boulevard, turn east on Entrada Road; that's to the left if you are coming from the San Fernando Valley. Follow Entrada Road by turning left at every opportunity until you arrive at Topanga State Park. The trailhead is at the end of the parking lot. (Lat:34.0928 Lon:-118.58707)


Summary: This is a great year round hike. You start the hike from Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park to the Overlook. The first section of the hike takes you through a lush grove of trees. This is your last chance for shade, so wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen. When you reach the first altitude you’ll see the trails between Topanga and Santa Ynez Canyons. The scenery is beautiful, mostly comprised of the green mountains and giant sandstones. You’ll notice the change in color of the sandstones. They range from beige to mossy green to a purplish pink. There’s a bench about 1 mile into the hike. Save sitting on this bench for the end.

The second part of the hike is a steady climb, and may be painful for first timers but by this point you’ll be hiking with a gorgeous ocean view, so don’t give up. Before you reach the Overlook, the incline is higher and can be challenging to a first time hiker.

By the time you get to the intersection of the Overlook, you’ll feel like a true Canyon Nymph and the .5 miles to the overlook are my favorite on this hike. You’ve already done the most difficult climbs. This last bit of trail to the overlook is narrower than the trail you were on but it’s still very well kept and the shrubs do not get in your way.

Finally, you reach the overlook. There are two benches and a flat rock on the ground for you to sit on and enjoy the ocean and city view. On a clear day you can see Catalina Island and past downtown LA.

If you want to make this hike more challenging, when you get to the intersection, instead of going to the Overlook, you can head over to Paseo Miramar – if you skip the overlook and go down to Paseo Miramar and back to Topanga it’s about a 9 mile hike.

Ranger Contact: California State Parks, (818) 880-0350

Disclaimer: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.

Take A Hike,

Lucy

Parker Mesa Overlook from Paseo Miramar

Highlights: Beautiful ocean and mountain/canyon views
Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1,200 ft
Hike Time: 2 - 3 hours depending on your hiking experience.
Diffuculty: Moderate if you are an experienced hiker – grueling the first few tries. Difficult during hot weather.
Trail Condition: The trail is wide and well kept. Watch out for bikers on the downhill who will sometimes zoom past you with very little warning, and snakes during warm weather.
Trail Head: From Santa Monica – take PCH heading north to Sunset Blvd. Turn right on Sunset and drive about .3 miles to Paseo Miramar. Turn left on Paseo and follow Paseo Miramar for about 1 mile. The road will fork, stay to the right take it all the way until it dead ends at the fire road. There’s street parking but gets crowded on weekends. The earlier you start the better.


Summary: This is a great year round hike, though it can be painful during hot weather. The view however, makes this hike worth it. You are hiking on a dirt road doing intervals of gradual and steep inclines. After about 1.5 miles you’ll go down a small hill and then the trail flattens out for a bit and you’ll find yourself in a small meadow followed by a bit of shade. Enjoy this little piece of heaven because you have one more hill before you get to the Parker Mesa Overlook Junction. There are several garbage cans to discard water bottles etc.

The path from the Junction to the Overlook is a bit narrower than the trail you were on before and is a series of up and down intervals. For your reward you’ll get amazing views of the Ocean and the city.

*At the junction, you can go left for about .5 miles to the The Overlook or keep right and continue on to Trippet Ranch. It's about 3 miles of up/down to Trippet Ranch.

Ranger Contact: California State Parks, (818) 880-0350

DISCLAIMER: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.

Take A Hike,
Lucy

Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven’s Door – or the ravine I almost fell into!

On Saturday, December 29th ¾ of the nymphs got together for a hike. Karina, DJ Haizee and I went to Runyon Canyon. This is a trail we've often referred to as the woosie hike. This is where a certain sector of the "Hollywood" set goes to "pick up" and "hook up". This is the hike where you'll see women in their Juicy Couture outfits, walking a toy dog and wearing more junk on their face than a Monet painting.

DJ Haizee assured us that she had found this great hike and it will give us the benefit of Paseo in less time. So off we go. It was a great workout until I tried to reach the top. Karina and Haizee got lost in conversation and I got lost in my thoughts. I should have kept up with them, I should have paid attention to what path they took to the top. I should have climbed the rocks but I didn't.

As I lifted my right foot up to reach the top, my left foot started sliding and I couldn't get any traction. I was slipping on the dirt. I decided to look back to see if I could slide down and then hike on the rocks where the traction would be better. As I look down, I see that I am very close to falling off this mountain. If I would have extended my leg, it would have touched the edge of the cliff.

I didn't freak out too much. I had to give myself a pep talk to remain calm. I needed to be calm and steady so I would not plunge to the bottom of the canyon. I decided to kneel and bury my knees in the dirt. Once I did that, I was stable. The next step was to grab on to a nearby rock, climb to the rest of the rocks and make it to the top. The rock did not share my sentiment, because the rock came loose and brought down more dirt and I started sliding a little bit. I planted my knees deeper into the dirt and did the same with my hands. I finally somehow, managed to reach the bed of rocks and then I was home free.

Kristina and Haizee were waiting for me not knowing what I had just been through. When I told Haizee, she said that it wasn't over because the way down could be a bit scary. What!!!! I wanted to panic but didn't. I was not going to panic until I saw what lay before me.

It was not a comforting site when I saw Karina, Haizee and a very strong man grasping on to the rocks so that they don't fall off this thing. I did not want to look down. Karina said I should sit and slide down. That sounded like the better alternative. Haizee said that the first time she did the hike, she did the same thing and it felt like she was sliding down a birth canal. Yes, I share that sentiment. I made it through that ordeal and enjoyed the rest of the hike.

The last mile of the hike was going down the woosie trail. You could tell the difference between those who ate dirt and those who spent 2 hours getting their hair and make up done!

My butt and upper thighs looked like they had been scratched by a five paw kitten. The bruises are slowly going away.

Am I crazy for wanting to do it again and conquering that trail?

I found this excerpt from http://www.runyon-canyon.com/

"For the more adventurous there are three routes off the Western High Way, the first being by the fence line at the top of the first ascent which takes you towards the Wattles Garden Park on its Eastern side. This route peters out with the Gardens in sight and one has a choice of retracing ones steps or going for a bit of a slide. The second route comes south west from the high point and takes a gentle path along the spine of the ridge that makes up the western edge of the Wattles and is a pleasant and scarcely populated route, down hill all the way. When in the Wattles Park there is a route along the bottom of the valley, along the dry river bed which will eventually lead to a steep climb that will emerge just before the final ascent to the High Point. Finally, a route guaranteed to scratch your legs is the scramble down the hill beyond the western pylon to the west of the High Way. This takes you to the bottom of another valley, past a little shack and along the river bed and comes out at the end of Curson Ave, by a newly built property. These routes may well cross private property and because they are seldom traveled, it would probably be safer not to attempt them alone."

xoxo,

Lucy

The Canyon Nymphs

It's been a long time since the Nymphs have gotten together for a hike – That's the Canyon Nymphs, a name my friends and I gave ourselves because at one time we used to take to the trails on Saturday and Sunday. The core team is Karina Wilson, Kristina Meyers (DJ Haizee), Christine Le and me (Lucy Rodriguez-Watson).

We have hosted guest nymphs, Karen Gutierrez, Laura Somers, Onahoua Rodriguez and any out of town friends willing to take to the mountains with us. We did this religiously every weekend for almost two years, including the summers.

In the summer we started out very early because our treks were a minimum of 5 miles. We would meet at Whole Foods in Brentwood and be ready to go by 7am. We mostly stayed on the Westside, rarely straying from Topanga State Park and Paseo Miramar in the Palisades. We would occasionally do Temescal but at roughly 3 miles, that was barely a hike. Kenter Canyon was visited on one or two occasions and one time, we visited the Betty Ford of hiking trails – Griffith Park. We were amazed at the beer bottles, and various other things we found at that park (crack vials anyone!). It seemed that whenever we tried a new hike, we'd long for the 5 miler of Paseo Miramar, so that's where we mostly hiked.

All good things come to an end and life got in the way so we barely hike together anymore. DJ Haizee moved to Silver Lake, Karina went to London and Christine and I got busy with the film (Love 10 to 1 - check out our blog http://indiefilmlove10to1.blogspot.com/). The original Canyon Nymphs have not hiked together in a long time but I'm hoping to remedy that sometime soon.

I've tried to hike at least once a week since we "broke up" but that was hard during preproduction and production of Love 10 to 1.

I went on a hike after we wrapped and I did a 10 miler (On Thanksgiving Day). I started in Paseo Miramar and went all the way to Topanga State Park and back. It felt so good to hike, and it felt amazing being up there by myself. The ocean breeze was strong but pleasant and even though I had not hiked in about a month, I wasn't tired. I finished the hike in 3.5 hours, which is rare for me. I normally take my time when I hike by myself but I was so excited to be back on the trail after such a long sabbatical that I practically skipped my way to Topanga.

Since Thanksgiving, I've been very good about hiking at least once a week but have mostly been doing it Saturday and Sunday. During Christmas I hiked a bit more and it felt great. This is perfect hiking weather so I strongly urge anyone reading this to take to the mountains and get lost in nature.


xoxo,

Lucy