As I climb out of Bailey Canyon looking back at increasingly distant views of the Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center and the San Gabriel Valley beyond, I imagine how a Tongva indian looking down at the San Gabriel Mission would have had a similar view, minus the suburban sprawl, of course, but a dramatically different perspective.

“Since Southern California was the area of most intensive Mission activity among Indians, it is interesting to note the consequences of Missionization. From a total of 30,000 in 1769, the number of Indians in Southern California declined to approximately 1,250 by 1910. The seeds of this decline were sown by the Franciscans….So far as the Indian was concerned, contact with the Missions meant death.

…

With the best theological intentions in the world, the Franciscan padres eliminated Indians with the effectiveness of Nazis operating concentration camps.”

Carey McWilliams, Southern California, An Island on the Land

Combine this trail guide to Jones Peak with this one for the section from Jones to Hastings to Mt Wilson.

 

Walking Project 005_the bells of bailey from chris worland on Vimeo.