Hiking in the Hollywood Hills + El Porto Surf

While Mike was working a conference in LA this weekend, we decided to take advantage of being in the area  to do some new exploring in LA.

We did the hike to the Hollywood sign via the Hollyridge trail which is the trail that is the closest you can get to the actual Hollywood sign. A big fence and security cameras stop you from actually touching the Hollywood sign but it was still very cool to be on the same mountain as the sign. The very confusing and not so well marked trail made this not a very touristy trail. We came across the blog, hollywoodsigntrip.com which was very helpful with turn by turn directions in the non-marked trail.
 

The trail head is at the end of Beechwood Dr. through the Hollywood Hills.There are tons of really beautiful, large old homes in this neighboorhood. 

 

These letters are 45ft. tall!

Had to take a pic of the sign in two parts because it is over 300 ft. wide!

Standing above the smog of LA

While in LA we naturally wanted to check out some new surf breaks. We went to El Porto which is known as one of the best breaks in LA. Sadly although there were 3-4 ft. waves and absolutely no shape to the waves. Dumping, closed out really dirty beach break (it's right in front of a Cheveron power plant) is what we found and apparently the norm for this break. The El Porto area itself however was pretty cool.

El Porto Neighborhood

One of the many close outs

The reason El Porto has some of the worst water quality - power  plant right on the beach...the surf break in front of it is called Shit Pipes to give you an even better idea what you're surfing in.

Unfortunately after all this fun, we lost our car keys on the beach at El Porto so we were locked out and stranded there with no real clothes and a surfboard and wetsuit. Some nice locals felt bad for us and brought us sweaters and a sheet to keep warm and Mike found a "Team USA" t-shirt wadded up in the sand for a shirt. We also had to walk around town at night with a surfboard including to our dinner at Pancho's. Our El Porto stay was extended longer than planned but we were stoked on discovering this new part of LA we had never been to.

Mike in his awesome attire stranded outside a liquor store in LA.