A common feature of any walk in the local mountains (San Gabriels, San Bernardino, San Jacinto), if it involves a fair amount of elevation gain, is the changing landscape.  You may start by walking through lush, shaded oak, alder and sycamore canyons, then traverse the chaparral, dominated by manzanita, continuing through pine forest and finally reaching summits populated by gnarly, weather beaten limber pines stubbornly clinging to the rocky terrain.

Like chord changes in a tune these transitions are merely a loose structure that nature gladly improvises on, giving each walk its own flavor, its own colors, its own mood.

Here’s an unexpected transition: Check out the changes in this Frank Zappa song, entitled, not so coincidentally, “San Ber’dino”.

The guide I used for this hike.

Walking Project 019_up changes from chris worland on Vimeo.