Welcome To Great Outdoors, Los Angeles Chapter!

La Jolla Canyon

Beautiful Meadows, Wild Flowers and Panoramas of the Mountains and Ocean

Sunday, May 5

Time at Gelson's: 9:00 am (see below)
Time at Trailhead: 10:30 am (see below)
Distance: 8 - 9 miles
Elevation: 1500 foot gain
Hike Time: 5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Trail
Hike Type: Loop

The hike will begin with a 1000 foot climb out of the valley, and continue along the ridge to a gorgeous long valley likely filled with spring wild flowers. We will stop for lunch in the valley. After lunch we will continue hiking along the valley up to some great overlooks of the ocean. We will then descend back into the valley and the parking lot.

We will meet at trailhead at the La Jolla parking lot at 10:30 am. We will also meet at the Gelson's supermarket in West Hollywood for carpooling at 9 am. We will meet at the north door of the supermarket at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Kings Rd.

Directions/Trailhead: Driving north on Pacific Coast Highway, the entrance to La Jolla Canyon (Point Magu State Park) is about 1.5 miles north of Sycamore Canyon Road. Park on PCH or in the small lot inside the park.
GPS Coordinates: (Lat: 34.08396 Lon: -119.03565)
Google directions - click below and enter your address:
http://g.co/maps/ac2v5

Park Map: http://www.lamountains.com/maps/jolla.pdf

What to Bring: Good hiking boots/shoes. A hiking/trekking pole may be useful for the occasional step ascent/descent on the trail, but not necessary. Pack a lunch, snacks and bring plenty of water. Bring a hat/cap and sunscreen.

Contact: For information before or on the morning of the hike, contact John at (323) 786-2533. Cell coverage may be spotty at the trailhead, but of course, will not be a problem at the Gelson's meeting point.

Malibu Creek State Park Hike and Social

Sunday, May 12, 9:00 AM

Near: Calabasas, CA
Distance: 8 miles round trip
Elevation: 300 ft
Hike Time: 4 1/2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Type: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Out and Back

Before land for Malibu Creek State Park was acquired in 1974, it was divided into three parcels belonging to Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, and 20th Century Fox. Although the park is still used for moviemaking, it’s primarily a haven for day hikers and picnickers.

Century Lake: We will start the hike with a leisurely stroll through the Grassland trail, cross Malibu Creek on another bridge, just north of Century Lake, which is more like a wetland and during the spring months there are many migratory birds. After crossing the creek, the road narrows and eventually turns into a single-track trail over some very rocky terrain.

M*A*S*H Movie site: The trail continues in this shaded section between the Goat Buttes, then comes upon the site of the M*A*S*H set. We will have a nice view of the Goat Buttes that were featured in the opening shot of each episode.

The Forest Trail: a short stretch that hugs the southern banks of Century Lake, another artificial lake formed by a dam. The trail here is shady and cool, the result of some non-native trees such as Redwoods that were planted here some time ago. The views from the dam and the reflections on the lake water are worth the short side-trip.

Rock Pool: One last stop before we head out is Rock Pool — a popular area for swimming and rock climbing. The “Swiss Family Robinson” television series and some Tarzan movies were ?lmed here. The trail ends at the aptly named Rock Pool, a very popular hangout. We will then return back to the Grassland Trail.

Directions to Trailhead: From Highway 101/Ventura Freeway, take Las Virgenes Road South for about 3 1/2 miles. Turn right on Mulholland Road. From Pacific Coast Highway, turn inland on Malibu Canyon Road and proceed 6.75 miles and turn left on Mulholland Highway. You can park for free on the side of the road. Walk up the road until you see a sign for the Grasslands Trail. We will meet here.

What to Bring: Good hiking boots/shoes. Pack a lunch, snacks and bring plenty of water. Bring a hat/cap and sunscreen.

Social and Lunch after the hike: For those interested, we will have lunch at a Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Company following the hike. If you decide not to join us for lunch, bring snacks/food that you can eat during our breaks. The restaurant is located at 26787 Agoura RD, Calabasas, CA 91302. Phone: (818) 880-5300 and Web address:wolfcreekbrewingco.com.

Bicycle Ride from North Hollywood to Chinatown

Saturday, May 18th, 9:30 AM

Join us for a bicycle ride from the North Hollywood Metro Station to Chinatown and lunch at Hong King BBQ Restaurant. This pleasant ride is for all levels from beginner to advanced.

Meeting Time: 9:30 AM on the Plaza above the Metro Station near the escalator entrance down to the station. Please arrive at 9:00 AM to get ready. We will depart promptly at 10:00 AM.

Bicycle Ride: From the North Hollywood Metro Station we will take a 16 mile leisurely bike ride to Chinatown. We ride from the North Hollywood Metro Station along the new Chandler Blvd. bike path - transitioning through a couple of peaceful residential streets to the Los Angeles River bike path. We will be passing by Griffith Park and the Elysian Park neighborhood, and suddenly after going over a bridge and then a sharp turn we arrive in Chinatown. Taking the bicycle path most of the way there is little traffic to deal with. The bike ride will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

After lunch you can decide to join us riding back on bicycle to the North Hollywood Metro Station, or call it a day and return back to the North Hollywood Station via the Red Line Metro from Union Station.

Please RSVP for this event at the Great Outdoors Meetup Group by clicking here: http://www.meetup.com/Great-Outdoors-Los-Angeles/events/114132042/ so we know that you are coming and you can be notified if there are any last minute changes.

Catalina Island Memorial Day Campout

May 24 - 27

Just 26 miles across the sea lies one of Southern California's most famous locations, Santa Catalina Island. This has long been a favorite spot for many tourist and locals alike. Great Outdoors will once again return to this wonderful little paradise over the Memorial Day Weekend. We have reserved 3 tent cabins on the bluff overlooking the beautiful town of Two Harbors. Located on the narrowest part of the island, you can experience the calm waters of the Catalina Channel and then take a short walk to the other side of the island and see the full force of the Pacific Ocean crashing against the shore.

Our tent cabins will accommodate 6 persons each with cots provided for sleeping, a stove for cooking and a lantern complete with propane. Kayaks, bikes and snorkeling gear can all be rented at the marina to help make your stay as adventurous as you would like it to be. While hiking and exploring this wonderful area you may catch site of dolphins in the bay or glimpse the famous wild Catalina buffalo herd that roam the island.

Trip notes and registration for this exciting weekend are here. Contact Steve at hiknsteve@ca.rr.com for more information.

Gay Pride Party

Saturday, June 8

Time for Arroyo Seco Pre-Party Hike: 2:30PM
Time for Party: 6:00PM at the home of Eric Blakely, Pasadena

It's LA Gay Pride Weekend and we're having a party at the home of one of our members, Eric Blakely. Dinner will be provided free to members and $10.00 for non-members (or a better option is to just join or renew.) We plan to have a campfire in the backyard and possibly some entertainment. If you can volunteer to help with the party please let Eric know, scriabin76@gmail.com. We would like to form a committee to plan, prepare, set-up, clean-up, shop, etc. In conjunction with the party is a hike in the Arroyo Seco.

Hike: The Arroyo Seco flows out of the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a beautifully shaded hike along a stream that is lined with alders and surrounded by sycamores, maples, and oaks. We'll identify the trees and other plants and flowers as we walk. Normally the stream would be running this time of year but with the extremely low rainfall this year we may not be getting our feet wet as cross back and forth across the creek but be prepared. Total distance will be about 3 miles to the Paul Little Picnic Area, 6 miles round trip, with a 450 feet elevation gain. Bring plenty of water, hat, sunscreen, snack, and the ten essentials.

Directions to Hike: From the 210 Freeway in Pasadena take Arroyo Blvd/Windsor Ave. Exit. Go North on Arroyo, which turns into Windsor, about one mile. Park in lot on the left side of the street just before Ventura Street or park on the street and walk back to the lot. The parking lot is above JPL.

RSVP outings@greatoutdoorsla.org for directions to the party, and if you would like to carpool. Carpooling from Eric's house is also a possibility.

Kern River Adventure 2013

Rafting, Redwoods, Relaxation and More!

June 13 - 16

Come spend 4 days camped along the banks of the mighty Kern River and be a part of this exciting Great Outdoors adventure. Our featured event will be an all- day class IV whitewater rafting trip on the lower Kern. We will also venture up the north Kern via carpools and explore the Giant Redwoods of Sequoia National Park during our stay. The Kern offers world class trout fishing so bring your pole and catch that trophy sized fish you’ve always dreamed of. The quaint little town of Kernville with it’s cafes, shops and market are just a short walk away. Lake Isabella, hiking trails and wildlife viewing areas are nearby and offer numerous activities for you to enjoy during this adventurous weekend.

Get ready for the “BIG FIVE” rapids known as “SURPRISE” “HARI_KARI” “HORSESHOE” “FLUFFY BUNNY” “SILVER STAIRCASE” and much much more! Our optional “Big Water” rafting trip will be provided by Whitewater Voyages (whitewatervoyages.com) 1 800 400-RAFT. Their expert guides will provide instructions and safety guidelines prior to our departure. This will be a full day on the river with lunch and beverages provided by Whitewater Voyages. A class IV rafting trip requires no previous experience and can usually be done by persons in good health. The cost for this spectacular day-long 12 mile adventure is just $162.25. A $75:00 deposit is required at the time you register for this trip. Please, Please read the cancellation policy at whitewatervoyages.com to gain a complete understanding of their policy. You can however transfer your trip to someone else if you cannot make it.

We have pre-reserved 12 spots (to ensure a group rate) but there is a limit of 30 spots total for this raft trip. The general public will also have access to these spots unless we grab the rest. This will be AWESOME!

For registration go click here! Any further questions, contact Steve at (951) 318-0530 or hiknsteve@ca.rr.com.

Little Jimmy Backpack

June 15 - 16

Trip Leader: Timothy Stirton

Located a short 3.5 hike from the trailhead at Islip Saddle, the Little Jimmy campground is one of the prettiest places to pitch a tent in The San Gabriel Mountains. This is a perfect "get out of Dodge" weekend for seasoned backpackers, but well within the grasp of someone who has never backpacked before.

The campsites sit at about 7,000' under towering pines with views toward the High Desert. The year-round spring provides water. Trails from our campsite lead to the summit of 8,250' Mt. Islip and 9,399' Mt. Baden Powell, so we'll have plenty of opportunities before departing Sunday for a great day hike.

For more information about this weekend backpack contact Timothy at ts709@roadrunner.com.

Bridge to Nowhere - San Gabriel Backpacking

June 22 - 23

Trip Leader: Matthew DuBois

Come explore one of the longest stretches of wild river left in So. California. This trip winds it way through the rugged beauty of the East fork of the San Gabriel River. Along the way we'll experience the sights and sounds of the canyon as we approach the famous "Bridge to Nowhere". Built in the 1930's, the road leading to this magnificent structure was wiped out during heavy rains and all that's left is the bridge...going nowhere. Elevation gains on the trail are very moderate as the trails stays at river level most of the way. We will however have to cross the river numerous times so be prepared to get your feet a little wet. We will make camp along the river. Sleep under the stars, woken up by rushing water nearby. Explore abandoned mines, watch current day panners for gold. Play in the cool waters of the San Gabriel River in summertime.

Directions: Exit Azusa Ave. off the 210 fwy in the city of Azusa. Head north to the ranger station at the mouth of the canyon and buy your adventure parking pass for $5.00. Continue up the canyon to the East Fork road and turn right(across the bridge). Follow the road to it's end just passed the white trestle bridge Parking is limited so car-pool if you can. If you get there late just follow the fireroad at the north end of the parking area and catch-up.

What to Bring: tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, stove, water filter, and swimsuit. Rain Cancels this trip.

Click here for tripnotes and registration. For additional information contact Matthew DuBois: ofwood@sbcglobal.net.

Sequoia National Park Car Camp

July 3 - 7

Save the date for July 4 weekend at Sequoia National Park, land of the big trees. Great Outdoors has secured camping spots for four nights, so you can spend the entire weekend cooling off in the mountains, seeing the big trees, and enjoying a BBG with camping buddies.

We will be staying at Dorst Creek campground inside Sequoia National Park. We are at individual sites and the facility has flush toilets, water and bear boxes. Our sites can only accommodate a total of 20 people so you will need to register and pay in order to secure a spot.

Activities include seeing the General Sherman Tree, the Giant Forest, a BBQ on July 4, time to explore some of the park on your own, some hiking, and of course, a tea and a potluck dinner.

There is limited space and mandatory carpooling for this trip, so make plans early. Trip notes and registration forms are here. For questions, contact Bob King at bk78@pacbell.net or 323-660-6240.

Dry Lake - Mt. San Gorgonio

July 26 - 28

Trip Leader: Timothy Stirton

The grand-dame of our local mountains is Mt. San Gorgonio. At 11,499', it towers over all other peaks in Southern California. One of the best ways to access its summit and enjoy the piney splendor of the San Bernardino Mountains is to backpack to Dry Lake and devote a day to summiting.

This weekend backpack is probably not for first-timers, but suitable for anyone with some backpacking experience under their belt. Our campsite is tucked under the pines and sits at 9,100'; so definitely a place of nippy nights. Our arrival date will include a 7 mile trek from the trailhead to our campsite at Dry Lake. Day 2 will include an optional 8 mile roundtrip hike to the top San Gorgonio.

For more information about this weekend backpack contact Timothy at ts709@roadrunner.com.

New to Camping?

If you have any general questions about car camping, camping gear & equipment, carpooling, camp meals, membership benefits, or procedures specific to Great Outdoors; if you'd like to meet some of the other campers at a pre-outing (warm-up) meeting ... please don't hesitate to contact the group via email at outings@greatoutdoorsla.org.