We thought it would be nice to get together for an early morning hike with brunch after to remember our beloved friends we lost 6 years ago.
Option 1 6am: Hike the 9 miles Los Pinetos loop
Option 2 8am: 3.5 miles Canyon Trail to Walker Ranch
Option 3 ~ 10am: brunch – no potluck – bring your own food
Length: 9 or 3.5 mile options
Elevation Gain: 2000 ft/250ft
Rating: 7/10 or 2/10
Trail: single track, fire road, fire break
The Plan:
The first two miles takes you from the Placerita Nature Center parking lot to the Los Pinetos Trailhead via the Canyon trail with only a 250 foot elevation gain. Mile 3 of our trek is the HARDEST with an elevation gain of 700 feet. The 4th mile takes us just about to the top, but only has an elevation gain of a bit more than 400 feet. Mile 4 is my favorite part because it’s somewhat forest like with most of the trail covered by trees with the only drawback being there can be an abundance of gnats in this area for some reason. After a brief sidetrip to catch a view of the valley and a bit more uphill at the top we will take a brief break at the Wilson Canyon Saddle where there is a bathroom. Next we will take the Firebreak Ridge Trail and finally the Manzanita Mountain Trail back to the Nature Center. The Firebreak Ridge Trail was, as the name implies, a fire break and has some very steep areas.
Meet at the picnic tables across the bridge
Directions
Exit the 14 Fwy at Placerita Canyon Rd and go South to the park entrance on the right. Parking is free and the map above is accurate.
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PLEASE – Know your limits and abilities. Bring snacks and drink plenty of liquids when hiking. Check weather conditions and dress accordingly and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Watching out for poison oak, snakes, ticks, uneven footing, spectacular views, beautiful fauna all while interacting with awesome (usually) fellow hikers can be extremely hazardous, rewarding and fun.
The Farzan Rule: Posted hike times are the time the hike starts or we leave from a posted shuttle location. I’m aware other Meetup groups offer a grace period for late arrivals; we don’t. It’s your responsibility to know the location of the meeting spot and be there and ready to participate at the posted time. If you have any concerns about the directions feel free to contact the organizer of the event, preferably in advance of the event and not at the start time. I’m of the opinion that it’s not fair to delay an event when the majority of attendees have arrived on-time. (so named after a conversation I had with a certain un-named member)
RSVP’s: If you RSVP for an event be responsible and update your RSVP if your plans change. If your plans change at the last second and you’re not able to update your RSVP also let us know. In my opinion a no-show is someone who has no regard for following the guidelines we request from our members and will risk being removed from future events that have a limit.
VHC HIKE RATING SCALE
Rating a hike is subjective, meaning the difficulty of a hike will be in direct relation to how often you hike and the type of hike you prefer. Keep in mind that any hike can have the following: un-even hiking surfaces, various obstructions, water and/or water crossings or bouldering and/or rock hopping. A great hike will have all of these!
1 – A long walk
2 – 4 mile hike w/little elevation gain
3 – 5 mile hike w/up to 1000 ft. elevation gain
4 – 5+ mile hike w/up to 1500 ft. elevation gain (heart rate increases at times)
5 – 7+ mile hike w/over 1500 ft. elevation gain (heart rate increasing even more at times)
6 – 7+ mile hike w/over 2000 ft. elevation gain (at times you might be trying to remember how to perform CPR)
7 – 5+ mile hike w/over 2000 ft. elevation gain (at times you might be muttering expletives to yourself)
8 – 10+ mile hike w/over 3500 ft. elevation gain (at times you might be angry with the hike leader)
9 – 10+ mile hike w/over 5000 ft. elevation gain (at times you might be thinking of reporting the hike leader to the authorities)
10 – Use your imagination
Class 3 Scrambling: Scrambling or un-roped climbing. You must use your hands at times to hold the terrain or find your route. This may be caused by a combination of boulders, steepness and extreme terrain. Some Class 3 routes have ropes in place for assistance.
DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY
IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY:
I am a volunteer (i.e. not liable for the group). Safety is a priority for everyone in the group. Think of this as hiking with a group of friends.
Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you’re taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Valencia Hiking Crew Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions. If you choose to sign up for any Valencia Hiking Crew Meetup events, you are releasing the Valencia Hiking Crew Meetup Group and it’s organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries as stated in paragraph 6.2 of the Meetup “Terms of Service” located on the bottom of the Meetup website. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.
