It’s an arduous climb from the foothills of La Cañada to Bee Flat. The views from the Teepee overlooking a misty Southland, and the company of a gazillion bees visiting my shaded resting spot made it worth every drop of sweat. The fire road ramble to Mt Lukens is gentler, gradewise, but looong, and exposed pretty much the whole way, which is perfect, and even more so thanks to the abundance of spanish broom perfuming fun, giddy stretches of what could have been a boring walk.

Descending into Haines canyon, via the blue bug I’m happy to note someone has freshly painted, was a welcome breezy, green stroll through a lush canyon that buzzed like a giant beehive, home to at least one rattler who rattled so late and sheepishly I almost stepped on it.

Another great day walking along the northeast edges of Tovaangar, the world originally inhabited by the Tongva we broadly call the LA basin.

“Aweeshkore xaa.” (We are happy, in Tongva, according to an LA Times article).