2 months ago
On Saturday morning, much than 20 L.A. Times subscribers traveled from adjacent and acold to subordinate maine connected our first-ever subscriber hike.
We met astatine San Pascual Stables successful South Pasadena, pinch nan hazy June gloom offering cleanable hiking weather. Though our trek was only 3.2 miles, we covered a batch of crushed successful our 2½ hours together. As we meandered on nan Arroyo Seco stream basin, which was flanked by fields of yellowish mustard weed, stalks of purple showy penstemon and feathery clusters of blooming matilija poppy, I offered a small history of nan area arsenic good arsenic architectural tidbits astir nan 3 expansive bridges we passed under.
We took a break astatine nan casting pond, connected nan Lower Arroyo Seco Trail, for a group photo.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
We discussed The Times’ hiking guide and compared notes connected immoderate of nan trails it covers. When we reached nan Lower Arroyo Seco Habitat Restoration Project , lead ecologist Richard Lewis, from nan biology consultancy Psomas, gave a short talk astir nan plants and animals there.
Plenty of furry companions joined our hike.
(Deborah Vankin / Los Angeles Times)
I had a chance to amended get to cognize our subscribers and was heartened to spot our participants making connections arsenic well. Our group of astir 30 relaxed into smaller groups and pairings, discussing their jobs and families. Others chatted astir nan domiciled of hiking successful their lives. One subordinate shared pinch maine that her partner had died and that hiking helped to capable nan void of that loss. Another female confided to maine really fearful she was of hiking unsocial and asked for information suggestions. Some group walked solo, contemplatively.
Psomas ecologist Richard Lewis, acold left, gave a talk astir nan section plants and fauna.
(Deborah Vankin / Los Angeles Times)
I learned arsenic overmuch from our participants arsenic they did from maine during nan event. I walked distant pinch respective communicative ideas. And, according to my iPhone, we sewage successful astir 8,700 steps. Not bad.
If nan Arroyo Seco was nan prima of this peculiar hike, past an unexpected supporting character emerged: my hiking vest rig. It’s really a dog trainer’s vest that has pockets and carabiner clips galore, and I made a video astir it a fewer weeks ago.
I was besides happy to stock immoderate of nan hiking accessories I banal it with, including a waterproof reporters notebook connected a retractable cord, a telephone tether lanyard securing my iPhone to my pouch and my collapsible water bottle.
But nan astir predominant mobility I sewage from astir everyone who joined america was: Will The Times do this again?
We dream to. Stay tuned for specifications astir upcoming subscriber hikes. Until then, cheque retired our hiking guide. Or subscribe to our outdoors newsletter, The Wild.
Stay safe retired there. And don’t hide to hydrate.
