The temperature was climbing to a comfortable mid-70s and the blue sky and wild green grass had a brilliant technicolor hue, the type you only see after foul weather has cleared. “I think the sun’s following me,” Latino Outdoors founder José González joked. Rains had battered the Southern California coastline for the past few weeks and the sun was finally shining brightly. Jose had just come from San Diego where the recent rains had let up just in time for his excursion there as well. He was heading to Santa Barbara soon after our hike and the sun, no doubt, would be his companion. Joining José at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook visitor center were a few local outdoor experts, myself, and about a dozen hikers of all ages who had heard of the event through social media, the Latino Outdoors website, and word of mouth.
We walked along a narrow dirt trail and the tall brush obscured any view of the busy downtown Los Angeles skyline, of the Hollywood Sign, and of the urban sprawl in between. Leading the day’s hike was Maricela Rosales, L.O. Brand Coordinator, who works to create an inclusive space outdoors. Along the way, Maricela described how unique the Overlook was as an outdoor space. “This space is for you,” she emphasized as she explained the importance of conservation, sustainability, and inspiring and empowering the next generation of outdoors leaders.
Selene Castillo, a Park Interpretive Specialist from the Los Angeles State Historic Park had also joined the excursion. “All of this is native” she announced as she educated our hikers about the importance of protecting and preserving the native wild flower and wildlife ecosystem.
While mindfully acknowledging that the Overlook, and the Los Angeles region as a whole, sits on indigenous land, González reminded us that we have every imaginable type of public space available here from city, state, and state parks to national monuments, protected marine parks and more. As he spoke passionately to the group, he pointed to various swaths of green on the horizon. His message was clear: Los Angeles was a unique area filled with a surprising amount of open spaces and it was ours, as a latinx community to cherish, to protect, and to enjoy.
A few hikers stopped to listen, perhaps intrigued by the sight of latinos outdoors and in numbers. A warm breeze suggested that Spring had finally arrived and we climbed up an incline, each of us at our own pace and yet together as a group. When we reached the summit of the Overlook we caught our breaths, wiped our brows and looked out at the same Los Angeles skyline, but somehow with different eyes. It wasn’t just highways, apartment buildings, skyscrapers and traffic that we were looking at. It was opportunity. It was a land of open space and trails, of mountains, parks, conservation, preservation, inclusion and access to the outdoors, right in our backyard.
We returned to the visitor center for a fun raffle giveaway as many of us exchanged contact information and ideas. Maricela wrapped up the outing with a call to action: get involved. Volunteer. Learn. Join the Latino Outdoors community. Protect open spaces. Represent and include those who are just getting started. Find and inspire young outdoor leaders.
We took some group photos, and showed off our new hats, stickers, t-shirts and calendars, we hugged, laughed, made sure we got each others’ names right and we wished José well as he, and the sun, headed off to warm and inspire the next group of latinx adventurers, hikers and conservationists. I took one last look at the City of Angels from the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and could only think of one thing: I can’t wait for the next L.O. outing.
— Guest Blogger: Christian La Mont
(Photos courtesy of Christian La Mont)