Another Joint Venture with Singles In Paradise

October 1st - 11th

8 nights with air from LAX - $1,995

Here’s a terrific vacation destination that we were now able to get a very good rate on that will take us to these two great cosmopolitan cities.

We’ll start off in Santiago, Chile for 4 nights where we will enjoy a diverse choice of tours ranging from taking walks along the Paseo Ahumada, where there are many street stalls selling trinkets and surrounded by Colonial buildings where the place is full of street painters and musicians who perform all sorts of concerts on the stage.

Climbing up the exuberantly landscaped Santa Lucía hill - via a maze of swirling stairways, turrets and fountains - is an essential part of the Santiago experience. Your reward is sweeping views over the city. The narrow streets and village-like atmosphere of Bellavista, the capital’s arty, bohemian quarter, make for a great wander.

If you want to go, sign up here, then go see more of the description and details to sign up at the Singles website
http://www.singlesinparadise.com/southamerica.htm

Mishe Mokwa Trail - Sandstone Peak

Distance

6 miles

Elevation

1400 feet gain

Difficulty

4/10

City

Malibu ,CA (90264)

Trailhead

The trailhead is 1 mile east of the Circle X Ranch, which is located 5.5 miles from Pacific Coast Highway on Yerba Buena Road in Malibu. Alternately, from Westlake Village, exit on Westlake Blvd from the 101 Freeway, and follow it south for several miles as it merges with Mulholland highway. Turn right onto Little Sycamore Canyon and it will become Yerba Buena Road as you cross the county line. Proceed on Yerba Buena Road for about 4 miles to trailhead (about a mile before you hit the Circle X Ranch Ranger Station).

Description

This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. Highlights include the spectacular Echo Cliffs where rock climbers ascend shear cliffs, a house sized boulder delicately balanced on a small rock beneath, a giant split rock where kids can dash between the sheer walls, stunning giant sandstone formations, and breathtaking views from the top of Sandstone Peak and Inspiration point. Highly recommended.

There is very little shade so bring water.

This hike is to Mt. Hollywood, about 7 miles/1400 feet. This hike is @ 2.5 hours

Legend for hikes: These hikes run year 'round every Tuesday. In the leader?s (subjective) mind, the hikes are generally easiest the first Tuesday of the month and most challenging the last Tuesday of the month, with everything progressive in between. Beginners are encouraged to come to the first Tuesday of the month. Beginners will receive doses of encouragement the second Tuesday of the month to keep up if unable. The 3-4-5 Tuesday?s of the month it is expected anyone that can?t keep up with the leader will turn back

The fine print:
Wildlife (snakes, bobcats, mountain lions etc) seen in the park, be aware of your surroundings and stay alert at all times. Polite dogs on leashes are allowed. If you plan on bringing a dog, please email the organizer beforehand.
We do start ON TIME, no matter how much traffic is on the freeways, inside the park, including if our parking lots are being used by movie crews. Allow yourself enough time for any unexpected surprises.

Bring Along:

Hiking boots and at least 1 Liter Water. Layered clothing in case it's cold. Long pants in case it's hot, to prevent being bitten by insects. Mosquito and tic spray (available at Sports Chalet) are recommended.

No bright (white) flashlights. Red, Blue flashlights are ok.
If you get to the lot after we meet (we start on time!), Sierra Club hikes start at 7:00PM on the opposite end of the lot.

This hike is to Mt. Hollywood, about 7 miles/1400 feet.

Directions:

134 Westbound (From Eagle Rock/Pasadena Area): Stay in the far right lane as if you are getting on Interstate 5. The Zoo Drive exit is almost hidden at the I5/134 Interchange. Exit Zoo Drive and proceed on the road, underneath the freeway, and make a left at the first stop sign (Western Heritage Way). At the fourth stop sign, make a right hand turn. There's no street sign, but there should be a sign in the median stating the Merry Go Round is to the right. Make a right hand turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot at the back side of the "yield" sign, near the driveway entrance to the lower parking lot. You won't be able to see the actual yield sign, but you'll see the pole.

134 Eastbound (From Burbank area): Exit Victory and make a right hand turn. Make a left hand turn into Griffith Park. Go five stop signs. There's no street sign, but there should be a sign in the median stating the Merry Go Round is to the right. Make a right hand turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot at the back side of the "yield" sign, near the driveway entrance to the lower parking lot. You won't be able to see the actual yield sign, but you'll see the pole.

From Interstate 5 (either direction)
Go West on Los Feliz. Make a right on Crystal Springs and drive into Griffith Park. Go two stop signs and make a left turn. Continue up the road. The road forces you to make a sharp right hand turn into a parking lot. Go through the parking lot. You'll hit a small dark road (it's lit if it's daylight savings time) for a short period of time, followed by a brightly lit lot. Park in the back of the lot (the part you entered in). Meet at the back of the lot at the back side of the "yield" sign, near the driveway entrance to the lower parking lot. You won't be able to see the actual yield sign, but you'll see the pole.

Where to meet: See above. If you know the park well, it is Merry Go Round Lot #2, just at the path to the lower lot.
If you'd like a visual, here is a map.

http://angeles.sierraclub.org/griffith/griffith_park_map.html

Join friends for an exciting, informative nature tour of the Ballona wetlands guided by Rex Frankel who is president of the Ballona Ecosystem Education Project. (BEEP). Ballona is the only remaining coastal wetlands in Los Angeles County. Rex will point out and discuss the native plants and how the wetlands almost were destroyed...Walk through this hidden space in our city in just two hours. An easy 2 hr walk with no elevation..

We will be meeting on Sunday September 20 at 2pm. on Jefferson Blvd - see directions below -

This meeting is also combined with another group and organized by Mariko http://skiing.meetup.com/51/calendar/11285578/

You can find out more about the Ballona wetlands at Ballona Ecosystem
www.saveallofballona.org

HOW TO GET THERE
Take 405 FWY and then Marina Fwy. 90 (west) off at Culver Blvd, turn left going East and take Culver all the way to Jefferson, make sharp left (going back toward East away from the beach) on Jefferson and follow down about a quarter mile until you see the port potty and the Wetland sign on your right. You can park anywhere from this point on till Lincoln Blvd.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Marina+Del+Rey&state=CA&address=W+Jefferson+Blvd+%26+Culver+Blvd&zipcode=90293&country=US&latitude=33.967113&longitude=-118.440166&geocode=INTERSECTION
This is a really nice walk and informative..hope to see you there!
Mariko

A last moment hike.

Buck Point lies southeast of the great Cucamonga massif. We'll ascend it via Etiwanda Ridge from the south; a ridge that will certainly be steep and will have decent brush in some spots, so bring / wear some pants / long sleeves.

After ascending the ridge, we will meet up with an old fireroad that we can follow near the summit of Buck Point.

If we decide to do more, we can then go east on the fireroad over to Sam Sevaine Lookout.

This hike is in the San Bernardino NF portion of the San Gabriels, and is therefore open.

It's gonna be a scorcher, so we'll start relatively early. Please bring a lot of water!!!

Buck Point (w option of Sam Sevaine Lookout)

12 miles (+4 for Sam Sevaine)
4500-5000 ft gain (+1000 for option)
Level: 9/10 Advanced

There will be BRUSH! This is a cross-country route.

Sign up on waiting list and I will manually add you.

also listed in peakbagger group

http://www.summitpost.org/images/medium/374875.JPG