Machu Pichu

When I was in elementary at Pillar of Fire next to Arroyo Seco park. On fridays they would all take us across the bridge into Montecito park territory. But that wasn't our final destination. It was to the fire lanes on the adjacent hills were now the Adubon is now at. Only the discovers of Machu Pichu would of known how I felt in those kid days of mine. The path was full of over vegetation, broken asphalt and "artifacts" of a long gone era. You will see stone circles and my favorite, these nice long stairs leading up to the top of Debs park but have since been overrun by trees and covered in landslides. It's rewarding enough just having an awesome hike up with rabbits running around and a perfect view of highland park for your picture needs. But thats not the true reward. If you take the trail all the way up to Debs Park to your right your greeted by a pond, yes a pond atop a hill over highland park. Some may know this spot already but for early 90's me this was like finding some great lost world only to expect dinosaurs to appear somewere. The lake on its own is charming just by its local, I dont know of any pond that on one side i have a hill view of highland park and on the other lincoln heights and downtown. On it's own its view plain jane, no fancy waterworks, no lush greenery on a mass scale. But looks are deceiving. On one of the side that in it's day this is one special pond. It had a path criss crossing waterfalls that use to cascade down into a little pool at the bottom. Theres abit of sadness that they haven't seen to revive it to it's full glory but at the same time im very grateful of this spot so close to me. I suggest the hike from the adubon to get more pics out of your trip and also the adubon center itself offers some nice landscaping with little lily fountains and a bridge. But you can also drive up the debs park entrance up until the end and follow the stairs and hike trail to the pond which of course is much shorter.





Me at 16 at the stairs.