Wandering Is Good For The Soul

So… what a year last week was…

By the time the weekend came I found myself feeling fatigued and weary of the news, the banter, the back and forth accusations from the social media warriors… all the things. My heart was weary, and emotionally I was spent. By the time Saturday morning came, I needed to get out and just be somewhere else. 

“Going on a drive” is something me and my husband did often when we were dating. Both of us worked for tips during that stage in life, so fancy dinners and trips were usually not an option. However, often during one of our “drives” I discovered a lot about southern California that I never knew existed. New hiking trails, small sleepy towns (that we never actually could manage to find again), some diners that made some of the best breakfasts but also the worst coffee ever, secret beaches (I’ve never known fear like I did the day I used a rope tied to a rock to repel down a cliffside to get to that beach), not to mention some of the best conversations and the hardest laughs of my life. And there’s something about being in the car, driving away, and exploring someplace new that brings such a relief to us both. And when I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed with the state of humanity, the farther the better. 

And since we are in the midst of a lockdown in which most things and places are closed, we were left with few options of “escape”. So again… we drove. We got bundled up, we went armed with snacks and warm drinks for everyone, we were more generous with screen time for the kids, and we decided to go somewhere high enough and remote enough to escape cell phone signal and the temptation to periodically check on any social media. 

We ended up wandering down Angeles Forest Hwy, meandering over to Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd and eventually found ourselves at Mt. Wilson. The surrounding mountains were still scorched from the Bobcat Fire that swept through and devastated the area last September, and smaller fires were still breaking out recently until the first snow blanketed the grounds a few days before New Year’s Eve. If you haven’t yet visited Mt. Wilson, please make a plan to do so. The facilities are over a century old, and for the first half of the 20th century, Mt. Wilson was host to the most famous Observatory and largest telescopes in the world. It was here that Astronomers discovered how to measure distances between stars, and it was here during WWI that Harlow Shapley measured the size of the Milky Way Galaxy for the first time and located our position in it, far from the center… For those in the back… did you hear that? We’re actually NOT the center of the Universe. Weird, right? 

Photo Courtesy of www.mtwilson.edu

And one day, when the world allows restaurants to be open again, be sure to go on a day that the Observatory’s Cosmic Cafe is open so you can enjoy lunch while you take in the setting and the beauty around you. 

After more wandering and driving around we came upon Mt Waterman, which I had no idea has functioning ski lifts on it. The first rope-tow was established in 1939 and continued to be operated by family up until the early 2000’s. At this time, there’s not quite enough snow to ski, but there was just enough snow for the kids to have a break from the car and throw around a few snowballs. The Pacific Crest trail also runs right through the area so there’s hiking trails with breathtaking views as well. The website seems to keep active updates on what the lift’s status is, as well as information about pricing, accessibility, and other activities to do on the mountain during summer months as well. 

Photo Courtesy of www.mtwaterman.org

It was a great day after a heartbreaking week. And the new discoveries made, were so much of an added bonus. There’s nothing like stumbling upon these views: 

To give us all perspective. The world is bigger than I am, there’s so much more of the world I have left to see, and I’m constantly surrounded by its beauty and majesty. We’ve been through hard times before, and we will get to the other side of them again. There’s something about being in the quiet of the mountains overlooking the city, while reflecting on those thoughts that brings me great hope and feelings of contentedness. 

So I invite you to get out and do the same. Take the opportunity to wander, to drive, to explore, to learn more about places you’ve never visited before, yet have lived so close to for all these years. Mt. Wilson is a great start!

My family LOVES living in Southern California. We love the endless amount of options of things to do, places to see, and experiences to be had. Metcalf Property Management has a passion for serving the Southern California area and its residents with the best that we have to offer. With that sentiment, we look forward to sharing more of these gems with you in the future - of what places, experiences, outings, etc our area has to offer.

Happy Wandering!

Cheers,

Ashley Prange