Cool Hubble Pics

The beauty of some of these nebulae is astonishing. One could look at a nebula and be looking 400 million years ago. That's how long it takes (linear) light year time for it to get to planet Earth. This may change as we learn that not all movement is linear...maybe there's multi dimensional travel.

Brand Peak NE Trail (3)

Great sunset and ocean pics...one could see the US Naval island SW of Catalina as well.

Brand Peak NE Trail (2)

Now pics from the summit area...

Brand Peak hike NE from Brand Library 11-02-2010

This day was one of the few spectacular (clear) days in the basin. Here are pics from the summit towards the ocean. This was getting from 330P to 630P...this is a nice quick hike...the basic hike is .8 mile long and 1600 elevation gain/loss. The toyon berry now coming out quick with holiday red berries. Black flies still out at this late date. Noted an owl after sunset. Los Angeles is amazing to look at from above. Many loops can be done in the Verdugos. Several other trails occur near the library that are just as steep and a few miles more. The vegetation coming back a lot since the 2002 fire.

Crystal Lake in 2010

Here are examples of over use in the Angeles National Forest. In 1998, it's estimated that 40 million people went into and out of these mountains. This lake was a nice clear blue in 1987. Here is what it looks like with irresponsible and collective use of this national forest. These are also the results of new Orwellian policies thrusted against the hordes of vigilantes. One could also say they are the results of unmolested global capitalism courtesy of the 1994 GATT/NAFTA agreements. We are all responsible collectively...so the collective thinking of one's individual actions probably to the key to see how all this could propagate. Maybe today ( or recently) a good 70 million attend the forest; in fact the Angeles Forest Highway has been used as a commute road since the new economics from the late 1980s. It's a wonder that it hasn't been worse...hopefully people will wake up from their dream like states and respect the very Nature that a Higher Power made them from.

Mt Islip (3) 9-11-2010

More pics...now it's gradually getting up to the peak and savoring the almost 360 view. Los Angeles had a murky layer of smog/haze that day.

Mt Islip (2) 9-11-2010

More pics of the trip...mostly in sequential order.