Update: Covid-19

Greetings! Thank you for visiting my blog Forteography.com! I haven't posted much here in the last few years due to having a full-time "day job" that pays my bills and with being so busy being active in my community and parish. But now sadly the Coronavirus or #Covid19 pandemic and resultant National Emergency and economic shutdown has given me much more time on my hands on the weekends. I can not go out or travel anywhere to take new photos, particularly out in the parks or mountains, even the beaches are closed, but I have amassed a great archive and collection of videos and photos from my many travels and from my many activities.

In addition to being a shutterbug and urban and natural explorer-enjoying a walk along the bay while the lights in the skyline reflect off the water to discovering what the other side of a mountain or canyon looks like out in the wilderness-I am also very active in my community with an emphasis on my Catholic faith and Italian American heritage.  I am the Facilities Coordinator for the Amici House, which is San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood event and heritage center which is run as part of the Heritage program of the Convivio Society, I also sit on the Convivio Society's Little Italy Heritage Commission, am a member of the House of Italy, the 2nd Vice President of the Italian Catholic Federation ICF Branch #230-Our Lady of the Rosary, and am a volunteer for the Little Italy Association and am very active with my church, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, an Italian National Parish. I am in the process of re-joining the Sons of Italy (now the Sons and Daughters of Italy) (OSIA) and will be a member of San Diego's Italian American Civic Association (IACA). I have over twenty years experience in personnel and financial management and have a Certificate in Writing for Publication. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the above organizations have put all their upcoming meetings and events on hold, so there will not be much to post about concerning them, other than a recap of the last few years with a hope that the future will be back to normal like those years and soon.

While this economic shutdown due to Covid-19 has hit and will continue to hit everyone hard financially, if you do have anything to spare, I would appreciate some contributions so I can replace my aging equipment, travel when allowed to create more content, and overall, like many of you, just to live right now. We are facing some hard and uncertain times, perhaps a Depression we have never seen before, but we are all in this together and we will get through it and come back bigger and better. As long as we stick together and help each other out financially as well as emotionally. And when this is over, with your help, I will have more content to put here and more time to be active in my community and continue to make my small part of the world better. Until then, please enjoy my memories, my archives, and collections.

For example, April 2018 was the last time I visited my hometown of Bishop, California that lies up in the Eastern Sierra area. The photos below are from that trip. More content will be posted soon. Videos are below. You can see my portfolios by clicking the following links: 500px  and ViewBug,      and I have some awards and recognition you can see here: Awards . 

To make a contribution please click on the button below. And remember to share my blog, recommend it, like and comment on the posts. Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
-Christopher Forte

More photos here: Google photos/Bishop April 2018

Eastern Sierra Pics from My Archives

These are some photos from my archives of my old hometown Bishop, California up in the Eastern Sierra Nevada and surrounding area:

More here

My Neighborhood of Little Italy San Diego Decorated & Lit Up For Christmas 2016!

Here are just some quick pics and video of "my neighborhood," San Diego's Little Italy, all decorated and  lit up for Christmas of 2016! An article will come shortly! #LittleItalySD

Just Sharing the View of Paradise!

While conserving natural open space and rural lands, along with smart growth and wise, strategic economic development are my main concerns and subjects regarding this blog, there are times when I just want to share a phenomenal picture I witnessed. Whenever I see an amazing sunset or storm I say to myself, "I wish everyone could see this!" Therefore I am a crazy, wild camera guy taking pictures everytime I walk out the door and everywhere I go, but since I don't have a professional DSLR camera (or any camera) anymore, I am relegated to using my cell phone. It is either the model or the fact that it is a cell phone camera with few megapixels that the photos taken with it, even after editing, don't turn out so great. So while I know these following photos won't make it into a magazine, ad campaign, or into your home through a purchase at one of my many e-stores, I hope you enjoy them nonetheless. My work isn't about me or my photographing skills, my work is about the subjects, I simply like to share what I see and I at times have to use the tools on hand to do so.

Now living in Bankers Hill, also known as "Park West" because it is west of Balboa Park in San Diego, California, I have a good view of the downtown skyline and bay. I am also so close to the airport you can almost reach out and touch the planes landing there! Like any, the view changes by the minute, depending on the time of day and weather, so I take multiple shots from the same position, that is why many photos here will look almost the same. Again, not professional quality, but I pray you like them anyways. Please feel free to comment with either a compliment, advice, or some constructive criticism. Below the photos are a few videos of the view you might like. Just scroll down! Thanks!

  

And to see more of these pics here go to 500px, and see more of my portfolio at 500px, Forteography.com, and ViewBug. To purchase a gift idea or promotional items for your business like coffee mugs, T-shirts, postcards, business cards, and more, go to my Zazzle e-store and REDBUBBLE. And don't forget to click on an AdSense sponsor or other sponsor with no pressure to buy as I get paid per click, and/or partner with me by making a donation. Thank you!

Open Space in the Urban Core: Canyons & Trails I Visit in San Diego: Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon lies between State Street which turns into Reynard Way on the west in Mission Hills and Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest. But the accessible trail only goes to Third and Redwood where there is a second entrance. There is an entrance at West Maple Street just past State Street and this first half of the trail is the most secluded and quiet where you can feel like you're out in the wilderness, away from the noise and crowds of the urban city that actually surrounds you, and refresh your mind and soul and reconnect with nature. 

Of course, there are some rules that are there to protect the canyon itself and visitors, and to read them please go here  Open Space Canyons and Parklands Rules, but basically they are just common sense stuff like No Littering, No Damaging or Removing Natural Resources, No Fires or Overnight Camping, etc.. While it doesn't say it in the link provided here, some trails do prohibit unleashed dogs and Maple Canyon is one of them, though as I often see in San Diego, few dog owners care about that. Most canyons and other parks are open sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. It may be a good idea not to be in a canyon or on any trail in urban San Diego after dark, especially if you are alone. 

I'm sorry to say this, but good luck finding parking, as most of it is on the street and very hard to find in such a dense area. There are some parking lots and garages, but expect to pay top dollar for them. If you live in San Diego or are just visiting, the best thing to do is walk, ride a bike, or take the #MTS. The #11 bus goes up First Avenue and from there you can walk west down Laurel Street about 6 blocks to State, then one block north on State to West Maple Street, then right (or east) there straight just a few blocks to the canyon's entrance. It should only take about 20 minutes at most. Or you can take the #11 to First Avenue and Quince Street then east on Quince to Third, left (north) on Third to the entrance on you right. The trolley will drop you off at the Middletown Station then it is just a 20 minute walk south on California Street to Laurel Street, left (east) on Laurel a few blocks and under the freeway to State then State left (north) to West Maple and right (east) on West Maple to the trail. 

The Third and Redwood Street entrance.

An open and quiet area on the western side near West Maple Street.

While walking up the trail, I felt so relaxed and at peace amongst the quiet nature, hearing mainly birdsong and the fallen leaves and branches crushing under my feet as this was Fall. The sounds of cars on the nearby roads and freeways, jets landing and taking off at the nearby airport, and of people doing yard work at their homes; lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc. only occasionally pierced the air and woke me up from out of my dream state of being out in the mountains or countryside. Along the way, even in Autumn when most vegetation was losing its color and aura in preparation for Winter, I could still smell the mix of native sage-scrub/chaparral vegetation and the nonnative eucalyptus trees and palm trees.

Below is video of my Maple Canyon exploration. It is sort of long, about a half hour, but you may enjoy it, and you may also jump around to different parts of it. 

To see more of these pics here go to 500px, and see more of my portfolio at 500px, Forteography.com, and ViewBug. To purchase a gift idea or promotional items for your business like coffee mugs, T-shirts, postcards, business cards, and more, go to my Zazzle e-store and REDBUBBLE. And don't forget to click on an AdSense sponsor or other sponsor with no pressure to buy as I get paid per click, and/or partner with me by making a donation. Thank you!

Video:

Open Space in the Urban Core: Canyons & Trails I Visit in San Diego: Maple Canyon

Open Space in the Urban Core: Canyons & Trails I Visit in San Diego:

Maple Canyon

Thanks to concerned residents, organizations, and civic leaders, the City of San Diego has preserved natural open space even right in the middle of its urban core. So, while not perfect, it is a fine model for other cities to follow as it concerns development and planning. Which is yet just another reason, one out of thousands, why I love San Diego so much! 

While I do enjoy the urban environment, the Big City: the tall skyscrapers, the bright lights, the bustling streets, the cultural diversity and so on, there are times when I feel like John Muir who made a famous quote saying, "The mountains are calling and I must go." Also being drawn to the sands of the "lonely shore" and the waves of the "deep sea" like Lord Byron,  the land, the wild land, the mysterious mountains and forests, the bare, wide open deserts where you can see everything from afar thanks to its barren landscape yet still have to explore close up to find and contemplate an old mine or ghost town, is where I really belong. 

Like Muir, the mountains call to me. Beckoning me. Luring me. I need to climb to the top to see the view and to see what is on the other side. I am pulled into long, dark canyons and crevices, into trails fully covered and almost hidden by trees and other vegetation. I must take risks, I must be adventurous, I must risk life and limb just to see what is at the end of that canyon, that trail, what is at the top or on the other side of that mountain or hill. I must do this. And thanks, again, to the City of San Diego and those concerned residents, groups and civic leaders, as I do not have my own vehicle now, I can still do that, I can do that close to home. Blocks from my home, in fact. So close I can walk or cycle to it. Again, right in the middle of the the 3 million-strong city's urban core. 

Switzer Canyon

Tecolote Canyon

 Below are pics and videos from my favorite and most easily accessible locations I routinely visit: Switzer Canyon, Tecolote Canyon, The San Diego River, and the Balboa Park Trails and Florida Canyon, and most recently near my new neighborhood, Maple Canyon.. I would include other hidden gems like my real favorite, Los Penasquitos Canyon, which has a waterfall in its center,  Mission Trails Regional Park, and Cowles Mountain, etc., but I would have to use pics and wording from other sources since I have been unable to visit them due to my car breaking down a few years ago.  I don't want to do that because I want as much of my work here to be as original as possible. For more information on "natural" and "open space parks" in both the city and county of San Diego, go to San Diego County Parks and Recreation/Find a Park/Preserves and to City of San Diego Parks and Recreation/Open Space Canyons and Parklands.

I hope you enjoy this, and I pray that this article inspires you to visit them and similar parks, while being good stewards, and encourages you to be actively involved in preserving natural spaces like these at or near your home and beyond. You can find many groups doing just that on my page "Organizations I Support." 

I did not get all the locations I promised into my last post that was way back in April, but I wanted to share with you the newest canyon and open space park I just visited this Fall that is close to my new home in San Diego's Bankers Hill neighborhood. I will do a write-up on the San Diego River and the Balboa Park Trails in the near future. This post will go long and probably get broken up eventually and so will take a while to update, so please keep checking back to read about all these awesome and beneficial open space and natural parks in San Diego. 

 "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
Albert Einstein

Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon lies between State Street which turns into Reynard Way on the west in Mission Hills and Fourth Avenue in Hillcrest. But the accessible trail only goes to Third and Redwood where there is a second entrance. There is an entrance at West Maple Street just past State Street and this first half of the trail is the most secluded and quiet where you can feel like you're out in the wilderness, away from the noise and crowds of the urban city that actually surrounds you, and refresh your mind and soul and reconnect with nature. 

Of course, there are some rules that are there to protect the canyon itself and visitors, and to read them please go here  Open Space Canyons and Parklands Rules, but basically they are just common sense stuff like No Littering, No Damaging or Removing Natural Resources, No Fires or Overnight Camping, etc.. While it doesn't say it in the link provided here, some trails do prohibit unleashed dogs and Maple Canyon is one of them, though as I often see in San Diego, few dog owners care about that. Most canyons and other parks are open sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise posted. It may be a good idea not to be in a canyon or on any trail in urban San Diego after dark, especially if you are alone. 

I'm sorry to say this, but good luck finding parking, as most of it is on the street and very hard to find in such a dense area. There are some parking lots and garages, but expect to pay top dollar for them. If you live in San Diego or are just visiting, the best thing to do is walk, ride a bike, or take the #MTS. The #11 bus goes up First Avenue and from there you can walk west down Laurel Street about 6 blocks to State, then one block north on State to West Maple Street, then right (or east) there straight just a few blocks to the canyon's entrance. It should only take about 20 minutes at most. Or you can take the #11 to First Avenue and Quince Street then east on Quince to Third, left (north) on Third to the entrance on you right. The trolley will drop you off at the Middletown Station then it is just a 20 minute walk south on California Street to Laurel Street, left (east) on Laurel a few blocks and under the freeway to State then State left (north) to West Maple and right (east) on West Maple to the trail. 

The Third and Redwood Street entrance.

An open and quiet area on the western side near West Maple Street.

While walking up the trail, I felt so relaxed and at peace amongst the quiet nature, hearing mainly birdsong and the fallen leaves and branches crushing under my feet as this was Fall. The sounds of cars on the nearby roads and freeways, jets landing and taking off at the nearby airport, and of people doing yard work at their homes; lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc. only occasionally pierced the air and woke me up from out of my dream state of being out in the mountains or countryside. Along the way, even in Autumn when most vegetation was losing its color and aura in preparation for Winter, I could still smell the mix of native sage-scrub/chaparral vegetation and the nonnative eucalyptus trees and palm trees.

Below is video of my Maple Canyon exploration. It is sort of long, about a half hour, but you may enjoy it, and you may also jump around to different parts of it. 

To see more of these pics here at 500px, and see more of my portfolio at 500px, Forteography.com, and ViewBug. To purchase a gift idea or promotional items for your business like coffee mugs, T-shirts, postcards, business cards, and more, go to my Zazzle e-store and REDBUBBLE. And don't forget to click on an AdSense sponsor with no pressure to buy as I get paid per click, and/or partner with me by making a donation. Thank you!

Video:

Open Space in the Urban Core: Canyons & Trails I Visit in San Diego

Thanks to concerned residents, organizations, and civic leaders, the City of San Diego has preserved natural open space even right in the middle of its urban core. So, while not perfect, it is a fine model for other cities to follow as it concerns development and planning. Which is yet just another reason, one out of thousands, why I love San Diego so much! 

While I do enjoy the urban environment, the Big City: the tall skyscrapers, the bright lights, the bustling streets, the cultural diversity and so on, there are times when I feel like John Muir who made a famous quote saying, "The mountains are calling and I must go." Also being drawn to the sands of the "lonely shore" and the waves of the "deep sea" like Lord Byron,  the land, the wild land, the mysterious mountains and forests, the bare, wide open deserts where you can see everything from afar thanks to its barren landscape yet still have to explore close up to find and contemplate an old mine or ghost town, is where I really belong. 

Like Muir, the mountains call to me. Beckoning me. Luring me. I need to climb to the top to see the view and to see what is on the other side. I am pulled into long, dark canyons and crevices, into trails fully covered and almost hidden by trees and other vegetation. I must take risks, I must be adventurous, I must risk life and limb just to see what is at the end of that canyon, that trail, what is at the top or on the other side of that mountain or hill. I must do this. And thanks, again, to the City of San Diego and those concerned residents, groups and civic leaders, as I do not have my own vehicle now, I can still do that, I can do that close to home. Blocks from my home, in fact. So close I can walk or cycle to it. Again, right in the middle of the the 3 million-strong city's urban core. 

Switzer Canyon

Tecolote Canyon

 Below are pics and videos from my favorite and most easily accessible locations in order   I routinely visit: Switzer Canyon, Tecolote Canyon, The San Diego River, and the Balboa Park Trails and Florida Canyon. I would include other hidden gems like my real favorite, Los Penasquitos Canyon, which has a waterfall in its center, and Maple Canyon, Mission Trails Regional Park, and Cowles Mountain, etc., but I would have to use pics and wording from other sources since I have been unable to visit them due to my car breaking down a few years ago.  I don't want to do that because I want as much of my work here to be as original as possible. For more information on "natural" and "open space parks" in both the city and county of San Diego, go to San Diego County Parks and Recreation/Find a Park/Preserves and to City of San Diego Parks and Recreation/Open Space Canyons and Parklands.

I hope you enjoy this, and I pray that this article inspires you to visit them and similar parks, while being good stewards, and encourages you to be actively involved in preserving natural spaces like these at or near your home and beyond. You can find many groups doing just that on my page "Organizations I Support." 

This post will go long and probably get broken up eventually and so will take a while to update, so please keep checking back to read about all these awesome and beneficial open space and natural parks in San Diego. 

 "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
Albert Einstein

  ______________________________________________________________

#1: Switzer Canyon

Located close and connected to Balboa Park within sight of the skyscrapers of downtown just a mile or so away, lies my favorite and this most special San Diego canyon and “open space park”: Switzer Canyon.

Switzer Canyon lies in sight of the skyscrapers of downtown San Diego.

Whenever I enter Switzer Canyon, I feel like Alice entering Wonderland or a hiker accidentally falling into a hole in the ground and finding another world inside, such is this canyon so hidden, so narrow, so dark. Like a hole in the ground, you literally go down into this canyon as it is a very narrow crevice surrounded by canyon walls and homes atop them. Like discovering Wonderland or exploring another world after falling into a hole or discovering a cave, it is tight, narrow, and thanks to all the vegetation and tree canopy, even in Summer, it is mostly shady, dark and cool. The sounds of the canyon alternate between just nature-bird songs, a trickle of creek water, leaves rustling-and civilization-a lawnmower, kids hollering and splashing in a pool, a car engine. The sounds of civilization at times sound far away, so feel as if another world or dimension, the one containing the urban city you are actually in the middle of, is just next door, just beyond the dimension of nature you’re in, and at times echo throughout the canyon, as if the two worlds are supernaturally overlapping and colliding. 

Switzer Canyon is uniquely special to explore right after a fresh rain, which is rare in San Diego, when all the leaves, trees, and other vegetation and soil are wet and releasing their aromas, when mist hangs ghostly in the air, and you are forced to navigate mud and deep puddles.

To enter Switzer Canyon, you have to climb or hike down.

Switzer Canyon is best visited after a fresh rain.

Below are some videos I made of Switzer Canyon. For more info on it, go to . For more of my pics, go to my portfolio here. Thank you and enjoy! 

  

 

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#2: Tecolote Canyon

A story will accompany this in the near future, in the meantime enjoy videos and pics of my second favorite easily-accessible canyon and "open space" or "natural park" in San Diego, Tecolote Canyon. For more info on Tecolote Canyon, go here and here.