Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that the Condor Event will be a go this Saturday if it is sprinkling or cloudy-or even if there is a threat of rain. However, if it is pouring, or worse, it will be rescheduled. Thanks!-Dianne
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
American Coots in Valencia
I think it's a terrible tragedy that the residents of Bridgeport are even thinking about destroying these lovely American birds. They are complaining that they leave droppings on the sidewalks and eat their grass around the lake. How selfish can these people be? Where are they supposed to leave their droppings? What are they supposed to eat? California has lost 95 percent of it's natural bodies of water. Little man-made lakes like the one at Bridgeport are the only little bits of habitat left for these birds...and they are migratory!!! They are only here for 2 months or so! Give the environment a break! Or, how about cementing your lake in? That would solve your problem now wouldn't it?
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Stewardship Event At Placerita-Eagle Scouts Pitch In
Eagle Scouts Troop #498 (from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Newhall 1st Ward, Valencia Stake), and Troop #609 (First Presbyterian Church) under the direction of Scoutmaster Greg Loveland and Eagle Scout Carlton Reininger worked an entire day to build 2 new bridges on the Ecology Trail at Placerita, and correct some problems with the tread on the trail, and correction of other problems found along the trail. Tons of rocks were moved into place, reinforcing and protecting the banks of the drainage bed, then a rock and cement footing was placed under the bridge to hold a railroad tie crossing. Thank you so much for all your hard work! Your dedication and untiring efforts will be appreciated by many for a long time to come! The day’s work crew consisted of the following volunteers: Greg Loveland, Carlton Reininger, C.J. Norris, Elliot Adair, Kyle Hill, Tyler Goeckeritz, Daniel Kelley, Samuel Kelley, Michael Morris, Dan Oborn, Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel, Jason Gondek, Jay Goeckeritz, Jeff Hill, Tris Cannon, Sam Aina, Eric Adair, Martha Kelley, Shannon Reininger, Renae Reininger, and Ed Reininger. These wonderful volunteers contributed 71 hours and 35 minutes to complete the project!! Kudos to all of you! And, a great big THANK YOU from everyone at Placerita Nature Center and all of it’s visitors!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Community Hiking Club Winter Schedule
Come join us for our 2008 Winter of Local and Wilderness Hiking! Get off the couch, Get into Shape! Below is our Winter Schedule. Every hike is FREE. Just show up and have fun. Hiking with a group is more fun, safer than hiking alone, and you'll get to learn about plants, animals, the environment, and wilderness issues from your hike leader! Check us out at communityhikingclub.org. You can find directions to the trail heads on this website as well as what to bring! See you there!
DECEMBER 8-WHITNEY CANYON—4 MILES-MEET AT WHITNEY CANYON TRAILHEAD AT 8:30
DECEMBER 29-MAGIC MOUNTAIN 2-4 MILES-MEET AT PLACERITA AT 8:30 TO CARPOOL TO TRAILHEAD
January 5-Pico Canyon to Odeen #1 –Meet at Mentryville at 8:30. This is an 8 mile hike RT with some elevation gain. Bring water, hat, and a lunch. To get to Mentryville, exit I-5 at Lyons Avenue, turn WEST, and follow the road through the MRCA gate and park in the parking lot at the old Oil Town of Mentryville. We will meet under the big Pepper tree before 8:30, and depart into the canyon at exactly 8:30.
January 19-Placerita Canyon Trail to the Waterfall-Today begins the new Season’s session! We will meet our new members on the steps of the Placerita Nature Center between 8 and 8:30 for sign ins, and leave for the hike promptly at 8:30. Please bring water. We will be done before lunch. RT is 5 miles.
January 26-Save the Condors Stewardship Event-Magic Mountain Micro-trash clean up. This is a micro-trash clean up (broken glass, bottle caps, etc.), litter and major dumping clean up as well. Condors have been known to eat glass chards and also feed them to their young, resulting in their death. This clean up will be a major contribution to the environment, and especially to the well being of the Condors. Please help!!! 9-3:00 at the Intersection of Sand Canyon and Santa Clara Divide Road. (We will depart at 9, so be there a few minutes early) Bring water, lunch, and work gloves. (You are not obligated to stay the entire time)
February 2-Santa Clarita Canyons-Santa Clarita Canyons is a beautiful proposed wilderness area. The views from this hike are probably the best in Santa Clarita. You will be able to see the Santa Clarita and the San Fernando valley while on this hike. There is very little gain or loss while you traverse the mountain ridge top. Meet at Placerita before 8:30. We will carpool to the trailhead at 8:30. An Adventure Pass is required to park in the Angeles National Forest. I have 5 of them that we can use. If you have one, bring it. Also bring water, a wind breaker, and lunch is optional….we can make this a short or long hike-it’s up to you! RT-2 to 10 miles (You can turn around any time)
February 9-Whitney Canyon-This is a wonderful hike along a creek to a series of local waterfalls that will be running with water, if we get some rain. It is an easy hike with some rocky areas and stream crossings. It is some of the most beautiful territory in Santa Clarita, and butts up against Angeles National Forest Property. If the waterfalls are running, you will be amazed! Bring water. Snacks are optional. The total hike RT is 6 miles, but very easy. Meet at Whitney Canyon Trail head before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure into the Canyon. Free Parking is allowed at the Park and Ride. Parking in the MRCA lot is $3.00.
February 16-Towsley Canyon Loop-This is a great hike with lots of great things to see. By February 16 the Pacific Chorus frogs should be serenading us along the trail while they seek out a mate (so appropriate for Valentine’s Day!). There are fabulous views, oil seeps, methane vents, creeks laced with oil, Sulphur vents, gorgeous Oak trees, fields of Wild Currants, Wild Mountain Lilac, Deer and more. The total hike will be just under 7 miles. Bring water, lunch (optional), snacks. Meet in the first parking area on the right side. This lot is free. Any other lots are $5.00. Please meet in the parking lot before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure.
February 23-Elsmere Canyon-This area was recently opened to the public. It is a most pristine canyon waiting to be explored. There are remnants of ranching, oil drilling, and fossils among the many things to see. There is also a waterfall that runs during wet periods, and a creek as well. You will be amazed at the beautiful Oaks and Sycamores in the Canyon, as well as wildflowers that may be ready to burst! The total hike is 4 miles. Please meet at the Whitney Canyon parking area before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure. Parking is available for free in the Park and Ride, or in the MRCA lot for $3.00.
March 1-East Canyon-East Canyon is a constant uphill climb to the top. There are some wonderful views of the southern part of the Santa Clarita Valley, and once you reach the top you will be able to spot the Van Norman Dam in the San Fernando Valley. This is not a loop trail, so it is 3 miles back down to the cars. The canyon should be in bloom by this time, so you will be able to enjoy lots of wildflowers and butterflies while you’re on the trail. Bring water, lunch is optional, snacks. Total distance is 6 miles RT. Please meet at the East Canyon Trail head before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure. Free Parking available on the street. Parking in the MRCA lot is $5.00.
March 8-Big Tujunga Stewardship Project-TBA with the Sierra Club. Details to be posted as they become available.
March 15-Magic Mountain Old Miner’s Trail-This area has an old mining claim, and the road/trail that we will be taking provided access to the mining area. The mine was to be Titanium Oxide, but the operation never began. The road has since eroded but is still navigable by foot. Hiking Poles would be an excellent addition to your gear today! It is all downhill to start with, but the return is all uphill. Bring water, lunch is optional, snacks. Total hike is 2-4 miles, depending on the group. An Adventure pass is needed to park in Forest Service areas. If you have one, please bring it. I have 5 to share. Meet at Placerita Nature Center on the steps before 8:30. We will be carpooling to the trailhead from there, leaving precisely at 8:30.
March 29-Manzanita Trail-This is another of Placerita’s beautiful trails. This one is a real work-out! It is steep and constant. Prepare to burn some calories today! We will be climbing to the top of the ridge, and following the ridge before descending and returning to the Nature Center. Bring lunch, snacks, lots of water. Total RT is about 8 miles. Meet at Placerita Nature Center before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure.
DECEMBER 8-WHITNEY CANYON—4 MILES-MEET AT WHITNEY CANYON TRAILHEAD AT 8:30
DECEMBER 29-MAGIC MOUNTAIN 2-4 MILES-MEET AT PLACERITA AT 8:30 TO CARPOOL TO TRAILHEAD
January 5-Pico Canyon to Odeen #1 –Meet at Mentryville at 8:30. This is an 8 mile hike RT with some elevation gain. Bring water, hat, and a lunch. To get to Mentryville, exit I-5 at Lyons Avenue, turn WEST, and follow the road through the MRCA gate and park in the parking lot at the old Oil Town of Mentryville. We will meet under the big Pepper tree before 8:30, and depart into the canyon at exactly 8:30.
January 19-Placerita Canyon Trail to the Waterfall-Today begins the new Season’s session! We will meet our new members on the steps of the Placerita Nature Center between 8 and 8:30 for sign ins, and leave for the hike promptly at 8:30. Please bring water. We will be done before lunch. RT is 5 miles.
January 26-Save the Condors Stewardship Event-Magic Mountain Micro-trash clean up. This is a micro-trash clean up (broken glass, bottle caps, etc.), litter and major dumping clean up as well. Condors have been known to eat glass chards and also feed them to their young, resulting in their death. This clean up will be a major contribution to the environment, and especially to the well being of the Condors. Please help!!! 9-3:00 at the Intersection of Sand Canyon and Santa Clara Divide Road. (We will depart at 9, so be there a few minutes early) Bring water, lunch, and work gloves. (You are not obligated to stay the entire time)
February 2-Santa Clarita Canyons-Santa Clarita Canyons is a beautiful proposed wilderness area. The views from this hike are probably the best in Santa Clarita. You will be able to see the Santa Clarita and the San Fernando valley while on this hike. There is very little gain or loss while you traverse the mountain ridge top. Meet at Placerita before 8:30. We will carpool to the trailhead at 8:30. An Adventure Pass is required to park in the Angeles National Forest. I have 5 of them that we can use. If you have one, bring it. Also bring water, a wind breaker, and lunch is optional….we can make this a short or long hike-it’s up to you! RT-2 to 10 miles (You can turn around any time)
February 9-Whitney Canyon-This is a wonderful hike along a creek to a series of local waterfalls that will be running with water, if we get some rain. It is an easy hike with some rocky areas and stream crossings. It is some of the most beautiful territory in Santa Clarita, and butts up against Angeles National Forest Property. If the waterfalls are running, you will be amazed! Bring water. Snacks are optional. The total hike RT is 6 miles, but very easy. Meet at Whitney Canyon Trail head before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure into the Canyon. Free Parking is allowed at the Park and Ride. Parking in the MRCA lot is $3.00.
February 16-Towsley Canyon Loop-This is a great hike with lots of great things to see. By February 16 the Pacific Chorus frogs should be serenading us along the trail while they seek out a mate (so appropriate for Valentine’s Day!). There are fabulous views, oil seeps, methane vents, creeks laced with oil, Sulphur vents, gorgeous Oak trees, fields of Wild Currants, Wild Mountain Lilac, Deer and more. The total hike will be just under 7 miles. Bring water, lunch (optional), snacks. Meet in the first parking area on the right side. This lot is free. Any other lots are $5.00. Please meet in the parking lot before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure.
February 23-Elsmere Canyon-This area was recently opened to the public. It is a most pristine canyon waiting to be explored. There are remnants of ranching, oil drilling, and fossils among the many things to see. There is also a waterfall that runs during wet periods, and a creek as well. You will be amazed at the beautiful Oaks and Sycamores in the Canyon, as well as wildflowers that may be ready to burst! The total hike is 4 miles. Please meet at the Whitney Canyon parking area before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure. Parking is available for free in the Park and Ride, or in the MRCA lot for $3.00.
March 1-East Canyon-East Canyon is a constant uphill climb to the top. There are some wonderful views of the southern part of the Santa Clarita Valley, and once you reach the top you will be able to spot the Van Norman Dam in the San Fernando Valley. This is not a loop trail, so it is 3 miles back down to the cars. The canyon should be in bloom by this time, so you will be able to enjoy lots of wildflowers and butterflies while you’re on the trail. Bring water, lunch is optional, snacks. Total distance is 6 miles RT. Please meet at the East Canyon Trail head before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure. Free Parking available on the street. Parking in the MRCA lot is $5.00.
March 8-Big Tujunga Stewardship Project-TBA with the Sierra Club. Details to be posted as they become available.
March 15-Magic Mountain Old Miner’s Trail-This area has an old mining claim, and the road/trail that we will be taking provided access to the mining area. The mine was to be Titanium Oxide, but the operation never began. The road has since eroded but is still navigable by foot. Hiking Poles would be an excellent addition to your gear today! It is all downhill to start with, but the return is all uphill. Bring water, lunch is optional, snacks. Total hike is 2-4 miles, depending on the group. An Adventure pass is needed to park in Forest Service areas. If you have one, please bring it. I have 5 to share. Meet at Placerita Nature Center on the steps before 8:30. We will be carpooling to the trailhead from there, leaving precisely at 8:30.
March 29-Manzanita Trail-This is another of Placerita’s beautiful trails. This one is a real work-out! It is steep and constant. Prepare to burn some calories today! We will be climbing to the top of the ridge, and following the ridge before descending and returning to the Nature Center. Bring lunch, snacks, lots of water. Total RT is about 8 miles. Meet at Placerita Nature Center before 8:30 for an 8:30 departure.
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