Robert Winter's Arroyo Seco 5.5 mile walk

5.5 miles on pavement with just a few mellow ups and downs. We gain 400’ of elevation. This walk is a bit easier than the Elysian Park to Echo Park walk that we have done twice in the last 13 months and a bit friskier than walks that I have recently led (Culver City, East Hollywood, USC-Expo Pk) that were flat while covering the same distance. The effort level of this activity is a low 2 using my new 4-level grading (with 4 being the most difficult).

Historian Robert Winter was a beloved individual who played a pivotal role in the recognition and preservation of the architectural legacy of Southern California. 2024 is the centennial of the birth – he passed away just over 5 years ago. Bob Winter extolled the culture of the Arts and Crafts movement in the greater Arroyo Seco for nearly 60 years; he resided for 47 years in the home that was originally built for one of the icons of that movement, Ernest A. Batchelder.  After I met him when I was a freshman at Occidental College in 1968, I would speak to him as Dr. or Professor Winter. We stayed friends after I graduated from college and I grew comfortable calling him “Bob”, but I never entirely gave up the proper titles. 43 years later he asked me to team with him to get out the 6^th edition of a guidebook to greater Los Angeles architecture.

This will be a beautiful walk even if you cover your ears and miss everything that I want to say while we are doing it. But if you do listen, you will hear me provide many Bob Winter anecdotes and learn some about the historic and architectural context of small but vital area within Pasadena.

Architects on display include Greene and Greene, Frank Lloyd Wright, Craig Ellwood, Whitney Smith, Conrad Buff and Donald Hensman, and a bevy of very important but lesser-known early 20th c. architects. Bob Winter would delight in confounding his audiences by referring to this collection of lesser knowns as the firm of “Brown and Brown”. And there will be plenty of oak trees, gardens, and verdant views.

The walk begins and ends on a residential block with ample free curbside parking. Parking is free. The Metro A line Fillmore station is 1.2 miles from where we start walking and there is next to nothing in the way of nearby bus service.

There are no restrooms where we begin walking however by 12:40, there will be an opportunity to use the nice restrooms at Desiderio Neighborhood Park. Our single longer break will happen outside the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. This comes just after the halfway point of the entire activity. There is a shop here to get some fancy juices and maybe an ice cream.

I often include a “this is not a tour” advisory for my walks. I think that you are ok calling this one a tour. But nothing like the Conservancy would do – those 5.5 miles don’t happen by standing around. There is still hard surface walking and two short hills that might cause just a bit of elevated heartrate and loss of breath. Besides those two breaks, we stay in motion with nowhere to sit down. But I do let the group catch up as I stop to talk about the historic and cultural context of the neighborhood. And this walk is going to be gabbier than most, just as “Bungalow Bob” would want it to be.

I am leading this walk twice in a four-week period. I think that each date will sell out. Don't sign-up for both. If you are among those who have done walks with me through the years in this same area, don’t expect to see anything new – maybe there will be few stories that I have not repeated before. 

If the platform indicates that you have registered successfully, watch for a follow up email from an entity called Inman’s Urban Hikes 2 days before the event with the pre-walk specifics and tips and address any weather issues. This is a route that we might do even if it is raining. Check your spam. If you don’t see that email, please reach out to me 24 hours before the start. It is hard for me to react on-time to last minute “What’s the latest?” questions if that follow-up email went awry.

Attendance is limited. You must register first come first served for one of the available spots. There is a $5 fee to register.

If you are inviting a partner or friend to come with you, you agree that each of you has read all the information about this event, particularly the event waiver information.

Event Waiver 

By registering for this event you are releasing Robert Inman from any liability for damages from illness, injury and/or death that arises out of, or is connect with, or in any manner relates to, your participation with organized hikes or walks organized and guided by Robert Inman.

By registering for the event you understand and agree that it is your responsibility to assess the hazards presented by your participation in organized hikes or walks and further agree that you are the ultimate judge as to whether you can perform the organized hike or walk without risk of harm to yourself.

You understand and EXPRESSLY ASSUME all the dangers incident to the organized hike or walk and hereby RELEASE ALL CLAIMS, including but not limited to, personal injury, property damage or destruction, and death, whether caused by NEGLIGENCE, breach of contract or otherwise, and whether for bodily injury, property damage or loss otherwise, which you may ever have against Robert Inman.