Hikers enjoy a morning at Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hikers from Calvary Chapel make their way to Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hikers from Calvary Chapel make their way along Eaton Canyon Falls Trail in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hikers gather at Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hikers from Calvary Chapel make their way to Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike Gomez leads a group of hikers on a hike to Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike Gomez leads a group of hikers on a hike to Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hikers from Calvary Chapel make their way along Eaton Canyon Falls Trail in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Pastor Mike Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike Gomez leads a group of hikers on a hike to Eaton Canyon Falls in Pasadena July 6, 2024. Gomez, who is a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, invited members of his church to participate in the hike to celebrate and showcase the natural beauty in the area and to promote efforts to preserve it. The area was recently acquired by the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
It’s been a big year for the San Gabriel Valley mountains, and the folks who visit them.
That was celebrated on Saturday, July 6, at Eaton Canyon, as Hispanic Access Foundation’s Por La Creación, a nonprofit that advocates Hispanic civic engagement and improved lives, led a hike that drew more than 100 folks.
Many see the expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument earlier this year as opening new horizons for improving lives. And they also saw it as a way to introduce the beauty of the mountains to populations that traditionally have not had much access.
So, the foundation hosted a hike, with the goal of enabling participants “to appreciate the natural beauty of this pristine wilderness and celebrates the joint efforts to preserve it.”
Those efforts culminated on May 2, when President Joe Biden signed a proclamation that expanded the size of the moment by nearly 110,000 acres.
The group also used the moment to teach about the efforts that led to the expansion.
Advocates for years have long said that the expansion provides access for populations that have not traditionally had access to recreational lands in the mountains. Among them are Latinos, who comprised much of the crowd gathered Saturday morning.
“Nature is part of Latino history, tradition, and culture. Yet Latinos in California are disproportionately affected by a lack of access to nature and its benefits,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, in a statement. “The San Gabriel Mountains make up 70% of Los Angeles County’s open space and are one of the few places where residents can enjoy nature.”
The hike was led by Mike Gomez, pastor and Por La Creación faith-based alliance member.