Hidden Farnsworth Stairs: The Gateway to Forest Knolls

Earlier this week I had met up with a fellow named Cam to do some street skating on Haight st. Cam, an artist originally from Australia, has been in San Francisco for a couple of months now and has truly enjoyed discovering this city as much as I have. It was to no surprise a week ago we had cross paths in Golden Gate Park while both discovering the wonders of the park.
After a couple of hours of skating we went into a café to relax for a bit...
While there I had mentioned there were some hidden steps not too far away. He was down to go find them. We took off on our skateboards bombing hills and pushing through lights. We got to were I thought the steps where supposed to be and couldn't find them. Walked up the street and skated back down. Still nothing...
I decided to ask people passing by if they had ever heard of the Farnsworth stairs and where I could find these stairs. I wasn't too surprised no one knew what I was talking about. Finally a young girl told us that there are a set of steps right around the corner. Lo and behold there they were!!! If the stairs where a snake it would have bit us... A number of times!
The Farnsworth stairs where dedicated to Philo T. Farnsworth, who in 1927 invented the all-electronic television. He was only 21 years old at the time and Farnsworth's ideas, vision and inventions paved the way to how we see television today. He also invented and patented many other devices like a nuclear fusion device. Farnsworth held a total of 165 patents mostly in radio and television. This guy was a true genius. Its no surprise that this city would dedicate and erect a set of stairs in his honor.
I was excited to have finally found the stairs but little did I know of the discovery still waiting for me at the top...
The stairs where great, passing houses and yards. The view of the city was quite beautiful, even saw a humming bird looking for some sweet nectar. But once I reach the top I realized there was more to this place than just stairs...
The stairs became the gateway to one of the most beautiful parks I've seen. I'm not talking about a grass and benches park, but instead, undisturbed forest. Forest Knolls, full of eucalyptus trees that reminded my new friend Cam of life in Australia and I think it even made him both a little home sick and a little comforted to be in the midst of all these trees. Trail after trail we took till we found a little opening to sit and take it all in. Here we were able to get away from the faster pace of the city and get in tune with the pace of the trees and move slower with the earth and the clouds. It was hard to believe we were still in the city.
If ever in San Francisco, check out The Farnsworth Stairs, what I call The Gateway to Forest Knolls. A definite hidden gem!