Some observable differences & observations on the day:
#1-The arrival. You're not parking on a fire access road or at a scooped-out trail head. No, in G-park, you're parking on the street or in one of her many lots. Today, I parked close to the pony and train rides (two separate attractions) . . . but from what I've seen, all of the lots in Griffith park are vaguely similar.
-There is inevitably a gathering of some sort where families are eating questionable food out of plastic bags-usually grouped around the back of a car or two. This sounds sort of shady-and that may be true-but these groups are usually laughing.
-Among the other cars in the lot, there are bound to be one or two where the occupant or occupants are just sitting there. They may have their feet casually tossed out of an open window, or perhaps their seat wrenched back in the lounging mode, but why don't they get out of their cars? I guess we all need a break sometimes.
-There will be music . . . sometimes you'll even know where it's coming from.
-There will be runners. I haven't kept an accurate count, but MOST of them are runners as you think of runners. About every fifth one or so will be the oddball . . . the shuffle-runner in full makeup, or the man-mountain running in flip-flops or something. They will all be wearing ear buds.
#2-The Trail. If you find the right path, you can be out of the city in minutes . . . while never leaving the city. There is zen in Griffith park-plenty of it-you just have to remember to carry it with you.
-Many of the paths though the hills are basically roads . . . some even functioning roads. You'll have to quickly make peace with a new definition of trail hiking. The beauty of G-park is not the immersion of nature, but the fact that it's there. There are plenty of small, adventurous paths that spike off of the main roads, but some of them lead to homeless hotels, so walk warily! (there's nothing worse than stepping on a used hypodermic while experiencing nature!)
-Spy the Tre-ffiti! Trees, rocks-sometimes the ground itself is often tagged. I'm not wise to the purpose or practice of tagging, so I'm not sure what draws someone to spray-paint their tag onto a tree. I suppose it's not TOO different from lovers carving their initials . . . but it seems to lack the romantic or historic angle.
-The trail can bring out the humanity in people! How much of a relief is it in this city to look someone in the eye and say hello to them-and to have that energy returned! That can happen in the part. I even got into a brief, meaningless, and perfectly wonderful conversation with an old couple today! They were walking, literally, a pack of dogs. Of course, the magic of the trails mostly comes from within, and plenty of people forget to bring their magic . . . so there's still plenty of that strange Los Angeles attitude of practiced nonchalance as well. Bring your magic with you!
#3-Look Sharp! While Griffith Park is dirty and covered in graffiti, littered with trash and trod upon by hipsters, loud with highway noise and paved with horseshit . . . there are some wonderful secrets in the "woods". I spied two today-affixed to one tree was a wish-making machine of some variety. It had been damaged by the wind or by vandals, but someone had take the time to affix something in the nook of a tree for others to wish upon. There was even a small stack of quarters there (I guess wishes are more expensive out west!). Then, a little further down the path, was a young Christmas tree. It was maybe 5 feet tall and beautifully shaped. A ring of carefully selected stones surrounded the base, and a beautifully simple star hung from the top branch . . . it definitely had the feeling of being recently planted. Amir would be proud!
So, there's some reports from the road today. Griffith Park-you're gnarly and used, you've been burned and built on, you're ugly and dirty, and I think I'm starting to fall for you a little bit . . .
To Grow to love-first plant a tree,
Then let it age most patiently.
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