GeoTrek 3 May 19

GEOTREK 3
SOUTHERN VERDUGO MOUNTAINS

Monday, May 19, 2008

Route: From the trailhead south of the intersection of I-210 and La Tuna Cyn. Rd., south across the Verdugo Mountains on dirt fire roads and trails, along some paved residential streets of Glendale, and across the Los Angeles River to the trailhead on the south side of Zoo Dr. east of Travel Town on the north edge of Griffith Park.

Distance: 11.9 miles.

PICTURES OF PEOPLE AND NON-GEOLOGIC THINGS SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL
Click on the small picture to see an enlargement.

(Click on this line to see PICTURES OF GEOLOGY ALONG THE TRAIL
and the hike route traced on a Dibblee geologic map.)

Assembled here, eager to be on their way, left to right, are Gene and Sue Fritsche, Doug Yule, and Jorge Vazquez. We left here at 8:00 a.m.
Before we even got underway, this gopher snake slithered across the road by the parking area.
From a short way up the trail we could look back and see the I-210 Freeway as it traverses across the north flank of the Verdugo Mountains.
It proved to be a very hot day, but in the morning as we ascended the mountains there were several portions of the trail that were in the shade.
From high up on the north flank of the Verdugo Mountains we could look northward into the La Crescenta Valley and the town of Tujunga. The San Gabriel Mountains are in the background and the large canyon on the left is Big Tujunga Canyon. The Sierra Madre fault runs across the front of the San Gabriel Mountains at the break in slope.
We're almost to the top of the range here looking northward toward Big Tujunga Canyon.
We have now crossed the crest of the Verdugo Mountains and are looking southwest at the city of Burbank with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background. The large, grassy area on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains is Forest Lawn Cemetery and our ending point for today's trek is at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains a little way to the left of the cemetery.
A nice yucca blooms along the trail among the chaparral and flowers.
A closeup of the yucca flower.
Gene and Sue stand at the high point on the trail at the crest of the Verdugo Mountains.
These bushes with white flowers were common along the trail.
A closeup view of the flowers on the bush.
On the trail running along the crest of the mountains at three places we found bee hives that had been dug right into the hard trail surface.
On the right is the Verdugo Motorway, the trail along which we had come that follows the crest of the Verdugo Mountains, and on the left is the Brand Motorway along which we descended to Glendale. We stopped here to refill our water bottles from the stock of extra water we had in our packs.
Spanish Broom, like this one, is common along the trail.
Monkey Flower bushes are also common along the trail.
Here's a closeup of the yellow-orange Monkey Flowers.
Along some parts of the trail the flowers were especially abundant and colorful.
Another common flower along the trail was the purple Phlox.
Closeup of the Phlox flowers.
Approaching the north end of Brand Park. We were almost out of the mountains and into Glendale.
In Brand Park we passed "The Doctor's House" museum (an historical building). The house was built in 1888 and served as a home to three different physician families.
We arrived here at 12:30 p.m. and were really ready for a nice lunch in the cool shade.
After lunch we exited Brand Park and headed south through the town of Glendale where Jorge had lived and gone to school as a youth.
We eventually reached the Los Angeles River that flows along the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains on the south side of Glendale.
We finish today's trek by crossing a bridge over the Los Angeles River and the 134 Freeway.
We arrived at the end of today's trek at 2:20 p.m. and were met by alumnus Maggie Banda-Compton, who graciously brought us ice cold drinks and shuttled us back to our cars that were parked at the beginning of the hike.

Return to the CSUN Geological Sciences Department hike index.
THIS PAGE LAST MODIFIED ON MAY 20, 2008
If you have questions or comments, you may leave a message at:
a.eugene.fritsche@csun.edu

	Assembled here, eager to be on their way, left to right, are Gene and Sue Fritsche, Doug Yule, and Jorge Vazquez. We left here at 8:00 a.m.
	Before we even got underway, this gopher snake slithered across the road by the parking area.
	From a short way up the trail we could look back and see the I-210 Freeway as it traverses across the north flank of the Verdugo Mountains.
	It proved to be a very hot day, but in the morning as we ascended the mountains there were several portions of the trail that were in the shade.
	From high up on the north flank of the Verdugo Mountains we could look northward into the La Crescenta Valley and the town of Tujunga. The San Gabriel Mountains are in the background and the large canyon on the left is Big Tujunga Canyon. The Sierra Madre fault runs across the front of the San Gabriel Mountains at the break in slope.
	We're almost to the top of the range here looking northward toward Big Tujunga Canyon.
	We have now crossed the crest of the Verdugo Mountains and are looking southwest at the city of Burbank with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background. The large, grassy area on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains is Forest Lawn Cemetery and our ending point for today's trek is at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains a little way to the left of the cemetery.
	A nice yucca blooms along the trail among the chaparral and flowers.
	A closeup of the yucca flower.
	Gene and Sue stand at the high point on the trail at the crest of the Verdugo Mountains.
	These bushes with white flowers were common along the trail.
	A closeup view of the flowers on the bush.
	On the trail running along the crest of the mountains at three places we found bee hives that had been dug right into the hard trail surface.
	On the right is the Verdugo Motorway, the trail along which we had come that follows the crest of the Verdugo Mountains, and on the left is the Brand Motorway along which we descended to Glendale. We stopped here to refill our water bottles from the stock of extra water we had in our packs.
	Spanish Broom, like this one, is common along the trail.
	Monkey Flower bushes are also common along the trail.
	Here's a closeup of the yellow-orange Monkey Flowers.
	Along some parts of the trail the flowers were especially abundant and colorful.
	Another common flower along the trail was the purple Phlox.
	Closeup of the Phlox flowers.
	Approaching the north end of Brand Park. We were almost out of the mountains and into Glendale.
	In Brand Park we passed "The Doctor's House" museum (an historical building). The house was built in 1888 and served as a home to three different physician families.
	We arrived here at 12:30 p.m. and were really ready for a nice lunch in the cool shade.
	After lunch we exited Brand Park and headed south through the town of Glendale where Jorge had lived and gone to school as a youth.
	We eventually reached the Los Angeles River that flows along the north side of the Santa Monica Mountains on the south side of Glendale.
	We finish today's trek by crossing a bridge over the Los Angeles River and the 134 Freeway.
	We arrived at the end of today's trek at 2:20 p.m. and were met by alumnus Maggie Banda-Compton, who graciously brought us ice cold drinks and shuttled us back to our cars that were parked at the beginning of the hike.