The Angeles Crest Hwy from La Cañada to Wrightwood has always been one of my favorite rides. On the weekends it can get pretty busy but during the week you’ve got the road mostly to yourself. After several miles with the crazy folks on the freeway, the temperature was rising and we couldn’t wait to get up onto the nearly vacant and cooler roads in the Angeles National Forest. It’s not long before the smell of pine trees makes you forget all about the traffic and heat you left behind.
Aug. 26, 2009, the Station Fire was started by an arsonist in the Angeles National Forest, north of Los Angeles. It is still the largest fire in Los Angeles County’s recorded history, burning a total of 161,189 acres – or nearly 252 square miles. The forest actually needs the fire though and I’m happy to report that it is recovering quite well.
I always like going up to the top of Mt. Willson for the view of the L.A. basin. I guess it has been quite a while since I was up here because these radio and TV towers didn’t look anything like this the last time. I wonder how often technology improves enough that they come up and replace the towers and antennas. Another occupant up here is the Mt. Willson Observatory – we didn’t get that close to the observatory.
I’ve never been able to get a clear picture of the L.A. basin, it’s much more impressive in person.
Farther down the road, you get a good view of the Antelope Valley. Edwards AFB in the distance.
Newcomb’s Ranch is a roadhouse at 5,340 feet and the only private property along the Angeles Crest Hwy. The Newcomb family, who also created the Mount Waterman ski area, built the roadhouse in 1939. The roadhouse has served as a restaurant, hotel, general store, gas station, and as a brothel and is a good spot to stretch your legs and get a beverage. Most people turn around here, but we are pressing on to Wrightwood.
They have a fairly large parking lot here and on the weekends it is PACKED!!
Guess this guy never rides at night….
We talked to the rider of that bike and he said it was an encounter with a deer that broke the headlight. I was skeptical, but there are signs that warn you about desert bighorn sheep being in the area. I couldn’t believe it when we actually saw one and got a picture before it bounded off. THAT doesn’t happen every day.
Greeting travelers to Wrightwood is this monument. It was built by entrepreneur William M. Bristol back when this road was part of Route 66. Mr. Bristol’s love of the mountains is reflected in this poem he wrote that is attached to the “castle tower”.
I’ve actually forgotten over the years how nice it is up here in the Angeles National Forest. We vowed to come back up with a picnic basket in the very near future. That chicken salad sandwich always tastes so much better up in the fresh mountain air.