Happy Trails of LA

Lately, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on hiking. Not just with me but with America. Walk into any REI or Sport Chalet and you see oceans of merchandise directed to those socializing with Miss Terra Firma. Other than the new slim-fit shirts sold for $128 at Nordys, the ever-popular safari (or Sahara) shirts that boast of repelling both the suns UV rays and mosquitoes, has hit the fashion scene. Cotton is out—polyester-blend in. Wow, who would of thunk?

Trends come and go—just like the great hiking eras of the late 1800s and the 1920s in Los Angeles, people rediscover hidden treasures, often in their own proverbial back yards.

John Denver gave voice to another great outdoors period in the 70s ushering in a love for granola, pet rocks and freeze-dried scrambled eggs. But the new wave, techno culture of the 80s squelches most camp-lovers and replaced the sleeping bag with Starbucks and the satellite TV atop the RV.

Although the outdoor recreation retail stores sell more GPS’ than backpacks, there does seem to be an insurgence of back-to-nature people hitting the trails. Many of us sit for hours at work behind the LCD screen, then drive home with ear bud in place, referring to the portable GPS in the car and finally logging onto the family PC to catch up with friends on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. Even the local gym has TV screens in front of the treadmills…. At some point we get sick of the screen!

Enter Terra
I’ve been guilty of “hiking while on ‘Pod.” At least the music I am listening to is a sort of soundtrack to my walkabout experience. How can John Barry not add to a setting sun on the trail? But I think most people I see on the trail are mostly interested in getting away. What is cheaper than a walk on the trail?

The Asian community caught onto hiking. They are a perfect example of the outdoor enthusiast consumer. Typically dressed in North Face zip-off pants, long sleeve shirt (UPF 30+), an explorer hat, trekking poles and friendly smiles on their face, they are living out the great hiking era of the 2000s. They understand. That makes me happy.

I too have jumped back on that Nature Valley trail. Although hiking has been a large part of my recreational life since high school, I seem to rediscover the beauty of hiking each week, educating myself on flora and fauna as well as using time alone on the trail to think, and time with others to socialize and build community.

Never once have I regretted making the decision to hike over watching TV.

Ricks

Pasadena -- One of my favorite taco joints.

On The Road

Early morning travelers pulling an American icon, the Airstream.

The Edge of Earth

A hiker stands on top of a mountain overlooking a sea of clouds. Yet what he is actually looking at is a foggy shroud above a metropolis call Los Angeles.

Bass Fishing Lake Arrowhead

Fishing is as much of an aesthetic experience as it is a sport, especially at 6:00am at Lake Arrowhead . Pictured here, my friend Stu, a B.A.S.S. pro tournament fisherman, shows his appreciation by kissing a small mouth bass after catching the little fighter.

"The Boat House" in the background was originally owned by Mr. Thomas Hamilton, the inventor of the variable pitch prop on airplanes as well as building the world’s first plane made of metal. It was called the Hamilton Metal Plane. Not a bad backdrop while fishing.

Managing Debt from the Back Seat

As the license plate implies, managing debt can be a cool job, especially for a dog.

Magic Hour in LA

Wait

Color seems absent in the midst of doom.

End of Kodachrome

After 74 years, Kodak is discontinuing it's slide film, Kodachrome.

Sad day. I used to make a measly living on Kodachrome 64 and 25. Although, back in the early 80s, my photos barely paid the bills, the results were almost always stunning. The photo above is of my buddy and I in 1984; camera set on a tripod and timer. Kodachrome is known for it's rich colors, especially it's reds.

Kodachrome photos from other photographers -- click here

Iranians Rally Again

I believe I took these photos in 1986. I learned of the demonstration from a news report, and within an hour, I was at the Federal Building in Los Angeles. With my Nikon FE2 in hand, along with a few rolls of film, I got in the face of a few angry demonstrators, as well as many lovely Iranian nationals. It was a passionate, yet peaceful rally.

Once again, the Iranian people are expressing their views in the streets of Los Angeles. And thank God, we in America allow freedom of speech.