Mt. Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

Placed 4-12-03 by The Mandrill

themandrill5@yahoo.com

Would you like to see the Hollywood Sign up close, from behind? Well,
this isn't it. Check out the Mt. Lee letterbox for that. This hike
takes you through dusty chaparral in the Hollywood Hills.

Enter Griffith Park by the Greek Theater, and park at the Bird
Sanctuary, just before the road curves to the left and begins going
uphill. Enter the forested Bird Sanctuary and find the path on the
left side that goes uphill along a fence. Follow this path uphill
until the trail widens into a dirt "platform." On the rare clear day,
you will be able to see the city of Los Angeles spread out below you.
Find a path to your right that goes uphill. You will know you are on
the correct path if you can find a small pipe that comes out of the
ground and crosses the trail, just high enough to trip you. Keep
going. You will then come to a larger pipe that goes uphill. But stay
on the path for a short while, and the path will come to a junction
of sorts, with the pipe now downhill to your right. You want to go
left. From this point, count 40 single-step paces and you will see a
large shrub on the left side of the trail. It stands taller than most
of the surrounding shrubs. Walk around to the left side of this
shrub, the side farthest from the path. You will find what you seek
under a medium-sized boulder. Either go back the way you came, or
continue ever upwards to the top of Mount Hollywood, with spectacular
views both the San Fernando Valley and the L.A. Basin.