“Truly it may be said that the outside of a mountain is good for the inside of man.”
~ George Wherry, “Alpine Notes and the Climbing Foot,” 1856              

Friday night at the movies – “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.” We watched the 1961 classic film at the former location of the old Montrose Theatre, now the parking lot for Andersen’s Pet Shop. Under the stars on a warm summer evening, Audrey Hepburn’s timeless beauty was on the big screen where once the 63-year-old movie house stood. In 1987 a fire was sparked by the old wiring of the popcorn maker, destroying the entire theater. A sad, sad day in the foothills.

So much has changed in the Crescenta Valley through the years. Often change has negative implications, but quite the opposite is true when it comes to Honolulu Avenue’s “Mayberry atmosphere” and the surrounding landscape – the mountains. Driving north on the 2 Freeway, high above the L.A. basin, the sky is bluer, the winters rainier and the summers hotter. And most importantly, life is calmer. Perhaps the mountains’ influence?

The San Gabriel Mountains run along the north side of the Crescenta Valley. Geologically speaking, they are considered relatively young. Uplifted by the head-on collision of tectonic plates, the range is not only steep but one of the fastest-growing in the world. Much of our weather is  directly related to our geography. For example…

~ Higher elevations have more rain, snow and low temperatures in the winter.

~ During the summer, temperatures are higher and coastal fog is minimal.

~ Warm Santa Ana winds are channeled through mountain passes and met by the cooler air blowing off the Pacific, a constant offshore/onshore flow. Due to these, most L.A. forecasts don’t apply to the Crescenta Valley.

Meteorologists are not in good agreement for the upcoming days. Maybe they need the help of an amateur! According to one, daytime temperatures will reach the mid 90s, then drop to around 70 at night. A chance of thunderstorms continues but only for the desert and eastern mountains. At least we can enjoy the afternoon cloud formations – cumulonimbus (thunderheads).

Next week, maybe cooler? We’ll see…

“If  I could find a real-life place that’d make me feel like Tiffany’s, then – then I would buy some furniture and give the cat a name!”
~ “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” 1961

For many, the Crescenta Valley is that “real- life place.”

Sue Kilpatrick is a Crescenta Valley
resident and Official Skywarn Spotter for the National Weather Service.
Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick