Secret Stairs #28: Los Angeles River Loop, 3 miles, 115 steps

We did it!!!! A year ago Barbara Beck and I set out to conquer the 42 staircase hikes in Charles Fleming's fabulous Secret Stairs book. Today we completed our final hike—more of an adventure than a challenge. The section of the bike path along the LA River between Los Feliz Blvd. and Glendale Blvd. is, as Fleming says "a front row seat for some of the city's most remarkable water life." We began at the Baum Bicycle Bridge (first pic.) All sections of the bike path aren't quite open so we had to crawl under a fence or two, and climb over a gate or two, including the gate to the thin pedestrian bridge over the river (third pic.) First end, no problem. At the no-turning-back other end: an active beehive. But that's what adventure is about, right? We found the only two staircases on the hike at the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct, built in 1927 and familiar to 1940s noir movie fans. On the way back, we stopped for yoga poses at the fitness stations along the path's beautiful flora: wild grape vines, bougainvillea, fig trees, olive trees.

In two weeks Barbara and I begin our quest to conquer Fleming's Secret Walks. I don't know how his walks could top the fun we've had discovering LA one staircase at a time, but we're game! A special thank you to Charles Fleming for providing us with a year filled with discovery. Truly one of the coolest things I've ever done.