Barbara and I drove the 210 eight miles east of Pasadena to Monrovia to explore one of the four trails in the Hillside Wilderness Preserve opened to the public in 2016. The Hillside Wilderness Preserve, home to rare native species and a habitat for bears and mountain lions, covers 1416 acres above the San Gabriel foothills. Our hiking goal: the "sunset bench" named for what it does—faces the sunset in the west with a view that, on a clear day, extends all the way to Santa Catalina Island. Okay, we hiked in the morning (no sunset) and the day was not even close to clear. A light mist surrounded us when we passed through the access gate on Ridgeway to get to the trailhead. But with temps in the mid-60s and a trail clear of rocks and rubble, the overcast day gave us the chance to focus on our immediate surroundings—mountainsides and canyons covered with fauna in every shade of green you can imagine. Plants trailside glittered with dewdrops, and mist and the fog created a comfortable, intimate setting that made every plant special. The Lower Clamshell Trail, a wide "truck trail" up the mountain, rises 472.4 feet in a moderate rise to the bench. Side note of props to Monrovia Girl Scout Group 2851 for installing the mile markers on the trail telling us how far it was to the bench. The trail twisted and turned, and handmade steps took us up the last leg our goal. Stop for snacks then back down the mountain. Probably mind-blowing on a clear day, but even in the mist this hike was a loving hug from Mother Nature.