Paseo Miramar
"I will wash my bike tomorrow," I said to myself. And then when I got home and I saw my legs, I realized, "Actually, I will be washing everything tonight."
Everything: bike, chain, pack, helmet, gloves, shirt, shorts, sunglasses, and of course myself. Both shoes also. Everything except my socks. Those went in the trash.
I have tried to be patient.
Since my foray up Sullivan Canyon this past June, I have told myself to wait until winter rains calm down the ash. Today, the biking bug bit me, and I said, well, maybe it's gotten better?
Not so much.
The fire roads, at least, are in good condition, and everything is open, but I just can't recommend recreating within the Palisades Fire burn scar. In addition to the mess, there are a lot of things in that ash that you don't want getting into your home or your body, likely including whatever's in those orange Phos-Chek drop zones staining the ridgelines.
Still... it felt good to be back. I rode from downtown Santa Monica to Amalfi to Sullivan Ridge to the Nike Base to the Hub, to Eagle Rock, then the Paseo Miramar Trail back down to the Pacific and Santa Monica.
As I rode, I took time to pause and look, and look and pause, and no matter how many times I looked, it still felt surreal.
Past Parker Mesa, I found myself looking at the homes that had survived the fire along upper Lachman, and upper Paseo, and in the Highlands, and something suddenly hit me.
Years ago, my wife and I didn't buy a condo in the Highlands when we had the chance primarily because I felt the wildfire risk was too high. The Highlands, and Upper Lachman, and Upper Paseo Miramar all border chaparral wilderness—first in line for fire.
I was right about the wildfire threat—but not how it would play out. Because on January 7, first in line for fire also meant first in line for water.
With the Chautauqua and Santa Ynez reservoirs shuttered and empty, respectively, the temporary tanks serving the area were quickly exhausted. Those frontline neighborhoods largely survived the fire. The rest of the Palisades? Not so much.
— October 5, 2025
Andy Lewicky is the author and creator of SierraDescents
Dan Conger October 6, 2025 at 7:03 am
Such a terrible fire. So sorry your family suffered such a loss. It should be a lesson to California authorities, and also residents living so close to fire danger. I've read of a nightmare fire scenario authorities envision for San Diego. Most people laugh it off as so outlandish as to be the stuff of fantasy. The Palisade's fire proves that this scenario is quite a real threat.
We could solve all of the states water problems by investing in a series of advanced desalination plants running from San Diego to San Francisco. These plants could provide the water to all of the states major cities, the supply of water from the ocean will not run out or be affected by drought, and then river water could be returned to both rivers and farmers.
Just my two cents ...
Andy October 6, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Dan thanks for the well-wishes! I wasn't trying to point at state water policy here. This was a local failure--decrepit infra + agency dysfunction. I just think it's amazing that my initial risk assessment was correct, but 100% inverted. The buildings closest to the initial flames were the ones that ultimately survived.
Anyhow, maybe wait on biking Sullivan or Paseo unless you enjoy showering with all your gear :)
Dan Conger October 6, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Maybe just bike through one of those car washes next time. LOL