These hills are actually right in the middle of Los Angeles County, which includes the actual city of Los Angeles AND over 50 other cities. We drove 40 miles north from our school (in “Orange County”) to reach our trail. This area has been preserved from further development by the hard work of people belonging to the “Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority”. LANDFILL you ask???
Yes, “landfill” as in an enormous hole in the ground that receives 4,000 tons of trash each day from 60 cities – the largest in the United States. This is a high-tech operation that is managed to minimize air and ground water pollution. From our climb up a hill we could see the “refrigerator department” and the “tire department” – these are areas off to side of main dumping grounds. The tires are recycled to make street asphalt, and refrigerators are transported to other locations where their harmful “insides” are handled to minimize pollution. For each “dump”, the Preservation Authority receives $1 to preserve the surrounding canyons for wildlife and plants to flourish.
This landfill also generates enough electricity to supply 75,000 homes! HOW? Well, all that trash produces GAS, which is burned to create steam..that pushes turbines…that creates electricity…that powers light bulbs – and more refrigerators! Under the landfill engineers built 30 miles of tunnels to channel all this gas.
Our group of 12 students, 2 teachers and the school principal took a break at the top of one hill. We had a great view in all directions. It was worth the climb!
This hike was a good example of how “wilderness” can coexist next to an enormous operation that collects the TONS of STUFF that we urban dwellers throw out each day. In about 10 years this huge hole will be full, and Los Angeles County will have to dump trash elsewhere…this hike can provide a lot of “food for thought” besides a lot of beautiful views!
Puente Hills Field trip
By: Ana Labra
Community Day School
9/30/03
When I was at the Puente Hills field trip,
I was afraid to go up the mountain.
When I was going up,
I was afraid to look down.
When I looked down,
I was getting more afraid
Of looking down.
When I went higher and higher,
I was getting more afraid
Of looking down.
When we were going back down,
I was afraid to fall down.
When I was going down,
I almost fell.
But now that I know its not scary,
I'm not afraid to go again.
