For those who crave an unobstructed view of Ontario International Airport, here's your big chance.

The round trip to and from Cucamonga Peak (elevation 8,859 feet) is 12 to 13 miles in length, depending on exacty which route we take, with an elevation gain of approximately 4,000 feet. First, we climb to the Icehouse Saddle, and from there trek down into the canyon between Ontario Peak and Cucamonga Peak, before climbing steeply to the summit. Unless you recently have hiked at least ten miles at elevations above 5,000 feet, this is NOT the hike for you. It is comparable in difficulty to hiking nearby Mt. Baldy, but a lot less crowded.

Atop Cucamonga, which is more of a plateau than a peak, there are trees and views to the west, south (Ontario Airport) and east as well as Mt. Baldy to the north. We will relax and picnic at the top and then return along the same trail. Sections of the trail up and down are shaded, but there also is plenty of exposure to the sun. Bring sunscreen and/or hats as well as plenty of water for a day on the trail and pack a lunch.

We will proceed at a steady pace with a break of 5 to ten minutes, going up and coming down, at Icehouse Saddle. Plan to be back at the trailhead between 4 and 4:30 pm.

To reach the trailhead, take the 10 or the 210 freeway east from Los Angeles to Upland and exit at Mountain Avenue (NOT the Mountain Avenue exit in Monrovia 20 miles to the west) heading north toward the mountains. Follow Mountain Avenue to the intersection with Shinn Road, then veer left. Continue to Mt. Baldy Road, then veer right and follow Mt. Baldy Road for several miles up San Antonio Canyon to the village of Mt. Baldy. Continue 1.5 miles past the village to a short spur road on the right signed "no outlet". Park at the end of that spur. There are restrooms in the parking lot. We will meet at the trailhead a few minutes before 8 am.

Please note: The drive takes an hour from Los Angeles. Carpooling is recommended. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park.

Those coming from the LA Basin, or points north and south, are welcome to meet me at the parking lot for the tennis courts and soccer field near the southeast corner of Griffith Park -– on Riverside Drive 100 yards south of the intersection of Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Blvd. To get there, exit from the I-5 at Los Feliz, proceed west to the first stop light, turn left (south) onto Riverside, and then left at the first driveway into the parking lot. Do NOT turn north from Los Feliz into Griffith Park. (If you cannot see the tennis courts and the soccer field immediately after you turn onto Riverside, you are going the wrong way.) Look for a white Volvo sedan.

The carpool point meeting time is 6:40 to 6:45 am. Don't be late. We will leave without you at 6:45 to meet the rest of the group at the Icehouse Canyon trailhead a few minutes before 8 am. Sometimes the tennis courts parking lot does not open until 7 am. In that case, park on Riverside Drive, and meet on the sidewalk at the entrance to the parking lot.

My mobile number is 323-354-0168.

Since I limit the number of participants please do not RSVP "Yes" unless you mean it. There is no "Maybe" option.

Joining this hike is entirely voluntary and participants assume all associated risks. It is each hiker's responsibility to ensure that s/he is in sufficient fitness and health to participate, with appropriate provisions and equipment. The Los Angeles Hiking Meetup group and the hike organizer make no warranties about the safety or supervision of these activities.

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

This hike is 4 miles/800 ft is known to the regulars as the "backyard hike". Most of the elevation gain is in a short period of time. The trail on the steep ascent is hard to find because of the fires, so a little bit of adventure is required for this hike. This hike is @ 100 minutes

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.

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, Sierra Club hikes start at 7:00PM on the opposite end of the lot.
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.

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