Since we had some extra time driving back from Long Beach to Las Vegas, I decided to follow Californian Highway 2 (aka Angeles Crest Highway) through Angeles National Forest as it passes over the San Gabriel Mountains.
Starting in La Canada Flintridge, which is just north of Pasadena, the narrow two-lane road rises quickly in elevation as it clings to the sides of steep mountains and passes, eventually arriving at a Forest Service Visitor Center.
There were a number of well-informed docents at the Visitor Center and one docent was a botanist that gave us a walking tour, describing the various trees and plants in the area. When our kids were younger, they always liked the Jeffrey Pines because if you put your nose in the cracks between the bark, it smells like Vanilla. I always remember one time Heather was so excited she exclaimed: "Look Mom! It smells like 'banilla.'"
The San Gabriel Forest Reserve was established December 20, 1892 and in 1907 it was combined with the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve and the San Bernardino Forest Reserve to become Angeles National Forest, the first National Forest in the State of California. The first Forest Service log cabin that was built has been relocated to a hill near the Visitor Center, but the cabin is now suffering severe damage from the Acorn Woodpecker that is destroying the cabin's logs looking for food.
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| Photographer Unknown |
Along the way there are various tunnels and scenic pull-out that offer views to the north towards Edwards Air Force Base.
Located at the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center is "Bob's Rock," which is a Migmatite. A placard states: "Migmatites are unique rocks in that they possess qualities of both metamorphic and igneous rocks. Many Migmatites form by the subduction of rocks deep in the earth. Here, the rocks are subjected to extreme pressure and high temperatures. At this phase, most minerals in the rock begin to melt. The melted minerals compose the igneous portion of the rock. However, in the case of a Migmatites some of the minerals do not melt, and instead undergo metamorphism. The minerals that don't melt compose the metamorphic portion of the rock. When the rock is forced back towards the surface of the earth, the melted portion of the rock slowly cools and re-crystallizes. This process causes the unique 'flow-like' texture in the rock"
After leaving the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, our RonnieAdventure almost came to an end. As we were going around a blind mountain curve, a Porsche traveling at a high rate of speed suddenly appeared in our lane as he attempted to pass another vehicle. Somehow, I had the reaction of an 18-year old and managed to swerve fast enough to prevent a head-on collision. The driver of the Porsche froze at the wheel and did not do anything. It all happened so fast that Linda did not even have time to scream. We are thankful to be alive, but the Porsche driver should really be thankful because we were driving a Titan 4-wheel drive pickup with 18 inch wheels and had I not swerved in time we would have driven right over top of the Porsche.
The last Forest Service Visitor Center located along Highway 2 was closed, but there was an observation tower in front of the building that looked like it may have been built as part of a WPA project. There was a plaque on the front of the tower with the following poem:
IN THE PINES
by William M. Bristol
There is music in the forest of the pines
As its murmur ever swells and declines;
And its trees, though old and hoary,
Sing a sweet aeolian story
To the soul that for their glory
E'er repines.
There is beauty in the profile of the pines,
In the shaft that never wavers nor reclines;
and their tops seem ever yearning
For the Sun above them burning -
Stalwart, straight and never turning
Are their lines.
There is vigor in the odor of the pines,
There's a wealth of hearty health in their mines;
And to him who hath the leisure
To pursue their hidden treasure
There is peace and there is pleasure
In the Pines.
BONUS PICTURES (part of Ronnie's Collection)
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