Lamountains 187 articles published
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Exploring the Great Outdoors, From Peaks to Streets.

187+
Published articles
5
Topics
187
This year

Latest articles

Updated regularly
01
— Gear & Preparation

How to identify and avoid poison oak on LA trails

In brief Recognize Pacific poison oak by its compound leaf of three leaflets on smooth, thornless stems, and keep away from any…
15 Oct
02
— Gear & Preparation

Essential gear for hiking in the rain in California

In brief A waterproof, breathable shell with sealed seams and rain pants keeps you dry in steady California rain. A 3-layer shell…
14 Oct
03
— Malibu & Coast

Hiking the Point Dume trail in Malibu

In brief Start at the end of Westward Beach Road for the short 1-mile preserve loop, which takes 30 to 45 minutes.…
13 Oct
04
— Gear & Preparation

Brightest and best hiking headlamps for night trails

Key takeaway: Optimal hiking performance in 2026 necessitates a strategic balance between high-lumen output and thermal regulation. While the Petzl NAO RL…
12 Oct
05
— Gear & Preparation

Trail etiquette every new hiker needs to know

Key takeaway: Mastering trail etiquette necessitates prioritizing uphill momentum and yielding to stock animals to ensure collective safety. Maintaining aerobic rhythm for…
11 Oct
06
— Urban & Historic LA

Mastering the Culver City stairs for hiking fitness

Key takeaway: Mastering the 282 irregular concrete steps at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook provides a superior vertical cardio and posterior chain workout,…
10 Oct
07
— Gear & Preparation

Top inflatable kayaks for Southern California lakes

Key takeaway: High-performance inflatable kayaks for California lakes prioritize 1,000-denier PVC and drop-stitch technology to achieve hard-shell rigidity against thermal winds. These…
9 Oct
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A place to share, slowly and thoughtfully, everything that matters when it comes to hiking and trekking.

MM
Mathilde Martin
Santa Monica Mountains & Urban & Historic LA writer
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