Secret Stairs #22: Coffee Table Loop, 3.5 miles, 268 steps.

Architecturally this section of Silver Lake was "meh," but the streets, shaded by pockets of elephant-legged lemon eucalyptus, purple jacaranda, silk floss trees, and weeping willows, were beautiful. The payoff at the top was a sweeping view from the mountains to downtown. Pictured are the 84 grand East Landa stairs and a shot of the Silver Lake reservoir from the top. Bet you didn't know the neighborhood and its 1906 reservoir weren't named for the color of the water under the sun—it was named for Herman Silver, the L.A. Board of Water commissioner who helped design the lake. Barbara Beck and I have done longer, steeper, and more difficult hikes, but the pounding sun in 83 degree temp at 9am hit me hard. In-N-Out for lunch and a 2 hour nap, my cure. I'll be shopping this week for sleeveless tops and shorter leggings.