August 2025
I was visiting family in Southern California over the summer and was struck by how imposing the San Gabriel Mountains are. I grew up in the area with them always looming in the background and, like many things that you are exposed to day to day, I stopped appreciating them.
I have been wanting to make this map for quite some time and started it a few years ago. This is the case with many areas that I want to map. I start working on them, doing the initial sketches, but then all the other demands of running a small business pull my attention away and they remain unfinished. I have at least a dozen maps like this right now!
Sadly the devastating Altadena fire reminded me of how much I needed to finish this map. And my summer trip and watching the insanely beautiful sunsets on the San Gabies gave me the final push I needed.
Since this mountain range was rather long and narrow and I wanted it to fit into one of our standard frame sizes I needed to fill horizontal sections of the map with something. So I decided to add some illustrations. I love incorporating charts to my maps whenever I can so that's just what I did. This map has a small chart of native plants-some of the most common one of the area. I also made a little drawing of the iconic mountain silhouette that is so recognizable from the San Gabriel Valley.
You can fins it for purchase here
