Meet La Crescenta's Northernmost Resident, the Caretaker of Deukmejian Wilderness Park

They call La Crescenta the "Balcony of Southern California," which means Richard Smith and his wife, Nong, are living right on the edge of that balcony. 

Since March, the Smiths have been living in an RV at Deukmejian Wilderness Park, which sits at the northernmost point of the Glendale portion of La Crescenta on the edge of the Angeles National Forest high up in the mountains overlooking La Crescenta and the Crescenta Valley. They are the park's caretakers, or "hosts," who are permanent residents and volunteers hired by the city of Glendale to help keep it clean and maintained. 

Smith said he and his wife are attracted to the peace and serenity the park provides. (See the attached video of Smith telling Patch about what it is like to live at the park.)  

"Once we close up the gate [at dusk], it's very peaceful and quiet up here. If the moon is not out, we can sit out and watch a full range of stars," Smith said. 

Smith also said he and his wife have been enjoying their stay at the park so much they want to live there through 2015. 

With elevations ranging from 2,159 feet at the entryway to 4,775 feet at the northeast corner of the park, the Deukmejian offers some of the best views of the Crescenta Valley, along with a number of challenging hiking trails. Click here to learn more about Deukmejian Wilderness Park, which is located at 3429 Markridge Rd.