TRAVEL SLIDESHOW
CHECK OUT ONE OF MY ADVENTURES AND THE LESSON I LEARNED, THE HARD WAY!
TRAVEL WITH ME IN THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS.
DOWN TO EARTH IS CLIMBING HIGHER
This slideshow that I want to share with you begins with a trip to Los Angeles, California where I would visit the Griffith Observatory, one of Southern California’s most popular attractions, located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park just above the Los Feliz neighborhood. My attempt to take a peak at the stars and the moon at the Observatory would land me on a hike beginning on the Charlie Turner Trailhead, on the Observatory grounds, where I would decide, on the spur of the moment, to climb to Dante’s View, a popular spot in the park with a garden of trees and plants located high on the east shoulder that holds a million dollar scenic view that overlooks Los Angeles at an elevation of 1,626 feet. The distance from the trailhead to Dante’s View is only 2.5 miles.
My "great idea" was to climb the hills and then hike back down to earth with a success story about how an inexperienced hiker, like myself, successfully hiked the Hollywood Hills to Dante's View with the simple the motivational message from nature that suggests that we could do anything if we put our minds to it. But instead, the hike would take on an unpleasant twist with such a different conclusion. You see, about one fourth of the way up the mountain, I realized that I was unprepared for the hike, and the results were disastrous. As you will see, there were signs along the way. Don't we often ignore signs in life when we are determined to do something. I know I have. Keep watching for the new release, Higher Ground, or call me today to schedule a presentation, seminar, workshop or lecture and find out what I ran into along my journey to Dante's view.
My goal was to find motivational messages while climbing the Hills, and that's exactly what I learned, but the hard way. You could say my Hollywood Hills account was a valley experience. The life application lessons that I learned by climbing that small but significant mountain would not only encourage me to climb even higher mountains, both on the physical Earth and in my personal life, but it would also teach me some valuable lessons about how to successfully reach any goal in life.
 |
The Griffith Observatory
Looking at the Universe
|
|
 |
Griffith Observatory Deck.
Looking at Nature
|
|
 |
Observatory Deck
Walking around the deck.
|
|
 |
The Observatory
See the sign
|
|
 |
Giffith Observatory
Charlie Turner Trail head. I think I'll follow the trail and see how close I get to the Hollywood sign.
|
|
 |
On my way, to Dante's View, but looking back.
|
|
 |
This is a a long dusty road
|
|
 |
I'm a mile from the Observatory. Can you see it?
|
|
 |
Look where I am now.
|
|
 |
Seems like the road to nowhere.
|
|
 |
Griffith Observatory far off
Am I crazy?
|
|
 |
Climbing the Hill
Going Up, hungry, hot, and tired already. Was this a good idea?
|
|
 |
Snake and Coyote Sign
Warning Sign Ahead. No water, snakes and coyotes? I'm going in.
|
|
 |
The Hollywood Hills
Ahh...the green hills of Hollywood! What an awesome sight! I'm motivated now.
|
|
 |
Hiking Hollywood Hills
I'm on a hiking mission now. No pain, no gain
|
|
 |
Hiking Hollywood Hills
Ahh, a tree to rest in the shade. I'll sit for just a minute.
|
|
 |
Hiking Hollywood Hills
Getting closer but I'm feeling the pain.
|
|
 |
Hiking the Hollywood
Still hiking the Hollywood Hills
|
|
 |
The Hollywood Sign
Finally, I made it to the Hollywood Sign at last! Dante's View must be just aorund the bend.
|
|
 |
Hiking to Dante's Peak
OK, up hill to the View. Ughhhh!
|
|
 |
Climbing Hollywood Hills
Still climbing. It can't get any worse than this.
|
|
 |
Hiking Hollywood Hills
The home stretch to Dante's View.
|
|
 |
Dante's View on Hollywood Hill
Dante's View. I did it! .
|
|
 |
Hiking's no joke
If you only knew what I just ran into on the way down.
|
|
 |
The Observatory
Ahh, a sight for sore eyes. I made it!But what a fool I was....Stay tuned!
|
| | |
Once I returned home from Hollywood, I began planning a trip through Arizona to the
border of Utah, using the lessons I learned from hiking in Hollywood. I traveled from Flagstaff to Page, visiting meteor craters, bat caves, gemstone caverns, underground canyons, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, the Mineral and Mining Museum, the painted desert, the buttes (isolated hills) of Sedona, the forests of Flagstaff, and the Vermillion Cliffs, just to name a few. It was a six-hour hike on the Vermillion Cliffs in 115 degrees where I would hike in the sun baked desert, hide in multi-colored cliffs, explored dark bat caves, and decend into underground orange-shaded canyons where I learned that life is a series of peak and valleys, and you have to go down into the valley before you can climb to higher heights. I realize now that it was the difficult valley experience hiking to Dante’s View in California that allowed me to have a successful mountain top experience in the Arizona/Utah mountains. These are the mountains that I was now prepared to climb, successfully. Look at the peaks I was able to climb now!
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
 |
Vermillion Cliffs
Arizona
|
|
The Vermilion Cliffs reveals seven major geologic formations in layer-cake fashion. This remote, unspoiled 294,000-acre national monument is a geologic treasure of towering cliffs, deep canyons, and spectacular sandstone formations, containing the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes and Paria Canyon. Elevations range from 3,100 to 6,500 feet. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It was 115 degrees and I walked and climbed for 6 hours. Myself, my real cowboy tour guide, and a 70-year old fit and tanned Floridian whose occupation was scuba diving for tropical fish for retail establishments walked for hours with our cameras. It was hot, but this time, I was prepared, with hiking boots, a large hat, sunscreen, food, and water, lots of water. At one point, the bottles of water were actually hot. But it did the trick. From the dirt path in the Hollywood Hills, to a hidden paradise on earth. I was in awe. It was incredible!
It was on these cliffs where I learned that life is a series of peak and valleys, and you have to go down into the valley before you can climb to higher heights. I realize now that it was the difficult valley experience hiking to Dante’s View in California that allowed me to have a successful mountain top experience in the Arizona/Utah mountains. These are the mountains that I was now prepared to climb, successfully. The Hollywood Hills were a preparation of what was to come. If only I knew then what I know now.
Just like the Earth's surface, life is a series of peaks and valleys. Manytimes, we want to achieve greater things, but we don't want to travel down into the valley that will lead us to and prepare us for the next level. The good news is, some of the most fertile soil and green pastures can be found in a valley. It's where water flows from the mountain tops and sheep and cattle graze. The valley is a refuge, a place of rest in order to prepare us for the journey upward. There is a valley at the foot of every great mountain. What valley experience are you going through? Keep moving forward, and don't look back. You're being prepared for greater things.
YOU DON'T NEED A
GREEN THUMB TO
LEARN FROM GOD'S
GREEN EARTH!!
Book Specifications:
Publisher: AMG Publishers
Release Date: May 2005
ISBN: 0-89957-144-1
AVAILABLE IN YOUR
FAVORITE BOOK STORE
THE 2ND BOOK, "HIGHER GROUND,"
IS COMING SOON!!!
JOANNE TAYLOR
610-644-0295
Copyright 2010 by Joanne TaylorPublished by Joanne Taylor. “All Rights Reserved”
No part of this publication, including the artwork, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written consent of Joanne Taylor.
