Hiking Plus

Fit Beginner - 6 miles, 600' gain (route link)
Easy Option - 2 miles, 300' gain (route link)

This is a social hike and an out-and-back event.

There is a potluck at the M.A.S.H. site before we turn around for the return. If your item requires paper plates, utensils, etc. please bring them. You may wish to bring your own cup, plate, and utensils in case there aren't any.

Pot Luck guidelines link

We will meet at the Grasslands trail head off of Mulholland Hwy and take the Grasslands Trail with a gentle climb and connect to the High Road (~3/4 miles). We'll take a right and follow the High Road another 3/4 miles then take a right at Crag Road up a short 1/3 mile climb (170' gain). At the top of the hill, we'll take a left turn down the short bypass trail to Century Lake.

From Century Lake, the trail is level all the way to the M.A.S.H. site. From the lake we'll continue on Crag Road and at a 1/2 mile we'll cross over Malibu Creek. The bridge over the creek is washed out, so we'll have cross over some fallen branches and rocks just beyond the bridge (I'm not sure of the water level or conditions of the creek, so there is a chance you may get wet). Another 3/4 miles on Crag Road we'll reach our destination and have our potluck.

Easy Option: 2 miles, 300' gain.
1912 Paiute Dr., Agoura Hills, CA 91301. Paiute Dr. also called Seminole Dr.
A park is bounded by Seminole Dr. and Crags Dr., parking along perimeter.
Crags Dr. south-east for 1 mile to Mash site.

Hike
Distance: 6.0 miles
Gain: 600'
Distribution: Well distributed.
Difficulty: Fit Beginner.
Shape: Out and Back.
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire road, double track, single track.
Trail Variations: Mostly fire road. May have to cross a creek where the bridge has washed out, stepping on rocks and fallen branches.
Duration: 5 hours
Dogs: no
Restrooms: At Mash Site
Drinking Fountains: no
Parking: Free along street.

What to bring:
1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK.
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Snacks and/or beverages to share

Hosting

Route: The host knows the route. A pic of the route has been posted.

Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.

Hike type: Social.
We won't be hiking at a fast pace because this is a social hike, not a conditioning hike. There is nothing wrong with stopping, even if it means every 50 steps.

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Make a sharp left onto Sunrise trail, then up to the bench. There, we'll meet with those that took the easy option, and stop for a snack and beverage share.

For the return, we'll turn right and follow Long Canyon Trail down to the parking lot.

Interesting Notes:
Take notice of the Eucalyptus tree at the trailhead.

Along the left side of the trail during the last 200' (last because we are doing a counter-clockwise loop), you will see:

White Sage - the leaves are very fragrant when pinched
Elderberry - The blue or purple berries can be made into elderberry wine, jam, syrup, and pies.

Hike
Distance: 3 mi (easier option, 1.4 mi)
Gain: 650' (easier option, 450')
Distribution: A moderate fire-road climb at the middle portion of the hike.
Difficulty: Fit Beginner.
Shape: Loop, counter-clockwise.
Pace: 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire road, single and double track. Areas of sand, gravel, and rock, some of it rugged.
Trail Variations: The beginning is a flat walk. The middle has an extended incline of about 1000 steps. The end is downhill, somewhat steep.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free at the trail head.

What to bring:
1 liter of water for every 3 miles
Snacks and/or beverages to share
Hiking shoes preferred, but athletic shoes will be OK
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed

Hosting

Route: The host knows the route.
Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.
Hike type: Social.

Stops:
The host may designate stopping points to let others catch up. This hike includes an extended stop for a snack and beverage share just before the last segment down.

We'll stop at junctions to make sure everybody makes any turns or chooses the correct direction at splits, else something will be used to mark the direction, usually a large arrow made of baking soda or some sticks in the shape of an arrow. There may not always be a sweeper designated to be the last hiker.

Directions
Where Long Canyon Rd. and S. Wood Ranch Pkwy. intersect in Simi Valley. There is a free paved lot at the trailhead on the southwest corner.

From CA-23 and I-101
North CA-23, exit Olsen Rd.
Right (east) on Olsen Rd., which becomes Madera Rd., for 2 miles.
Right (south) on N. Wood Ranch Pkwy., which becomes S. Wood Ranch Pkwy., for 2 miles.
Right at dead end (intersection with Long Canyon Rd.) and immediate left into parking lot.
Trailhead at the opposite corner.

From CA-118 and CA-27
West CA-118, exit 23 onto 1st St.
Left (south) on 1st St., which becomes Long Canyon Rd., for 5 miles.
Cross at dead end (intersection with S. Wood Ranch Pkwy.) and immediate left into parking lot.
Trailhead at the opposite corner.
Coordinates of trailhead: 34.228330, -118.803130

In the Spring and Summer, arrive early. Sometimes the parking lot gets full. If this happens, we'll need another 15 minutes to carpool from a nearby parking lot.

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We'll all begin the climb together. Those doing the easier option will stop after 0.8 miles and wait for about 45 minutes until the rest of us return to this spot for our social event. While waiting, they can continue to climb any portion they want and return to this spot, or just take in the views.

The rest will continue for 1.3 miles until a flat rock. Those that want the hardest option, continue for another 0.5 miles and 250' gain to the end of the trail. Head back down the same way to the social event spot.

At the social event spot, we'll be rewarded with sweeping views of Simi Valley and will share snacks and beverages.

There is really no way to get lost on this hike, so everybody will move along at whatever pace they want.

Hike (click this link for a pic)
Distance: 4.0 miles (1.5 mi for easy option, 5.0 mi for hardest option)
Gain: 950' (400' for easy option, 1200' for hardest option)
Distribution: Most of the incline is concentrated in the first half.
Difficulty: Intermediate (Fit Beginer for easy option, Intermediate for hardest option)
Shape: Out and back.
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire road, double track, single track.
Trail Variations: The entire first half is incline. Some of the trail is rugged sandstone. Some of the trail is covered in large gravel.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free along street.

What to bring: 1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes/boots. Not required, but recommended.
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Snacks and/or beverages to share

Hosting
Route: The host knows the route. A pic of the route has been posted as part of this description.
Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed.
Hike type: Social.

Interesting Notes
Here are a couple plants you are sure to see on this hike:

California Encelia
Aka, California Bush Sunflower, California Brittlebush, Coast Sunflower, El Dorado.

Center is brown. When the center is yellow, it is Brittlebush, from the brittleness of the stems. This is from the daisy family, and it is typically used as an ornamental plant.

Mediterranean Mustard / Black Mustard
Mediterranean mustard seeds are yellow or white, while Black mustard seeds are brown or black. The flowers look the same.

Flowers, leaves (mustard greens), and roots are edible. Can be used as a spice. Grind seeds and mix with water and vinegar to make prepared mustard. This is often a very abundant noxious weed (has been designated by an agricultural authority as one that is injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, or humans or livestock.). It grows everywhere along the sides of the trail, often having to be cut back during trail maintenance.

Did you know that cabbage, mustard greens, collard greens, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and prepared mustard, are all from different parts of the wild mustard plant?

Directions
Chumash Trail
3200 Flanagan Dr.
Simi Valley, CA 93063
Coordinates of trailhead: 34.293497, -118.671176

From CA-118
I-118, exit Yosemite.
North on Yosemite for 1.3 miles.
Right (east) on Flanagan Dr. for 08. miles.
Continue until the street ends and park.

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Easier Option (unhosted): 2.4mi, 550' gain. (link to map).
497 Hillsborough St, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

We'll start by entering the Los Padres trail, through a spooky oak covered section, then climb until we reach the fireroad at the 1/2 mile point. We'll stop and regroup here.

We'll turn right up the fireroad and climb for about a 1/2 mile to another junction, where we'll turn right onto the Los Robles trail. After 500 feet, we'll take a split off to the right and continue along the Vista Loop for another 1/2 mile until we come to a bench at the top.

We'll have a potluck here and watch the fireworks.
You may wish to bring something to sit on, such as a camp chair or a blanket. The bench and area around it will be used to place our potluck items.

We'll follow the reverse route back to the cars sometime after the fireworks. It will be dark on the return trip, so please bring a light.

Please bring something to eat and drink, we'll share snacks and drinks.
If your item requires it, bring plates and utensils to share.

If you wish to leave early, please study the map posted with description so you are able to navigate the return without the host.

Hike Distance: 3.25 miles
Gain: 600'
Distribution: Most of the incline well distributed in the first half.
Difficulty: Easy Intermediate.
Shape: Out and Back
Pace: approx. 2.0 mph.
Trail Type: Fire Road, Single-Track, and Double-Track.
Trail Variations:
Several extended inclines of 1000 steps.
Several steep sections of 300 steps, but no hands required.
Duration: 3.0 hours
Dogs: Yes.
Restrooms: No
Drinking Fountains: No.
Parking: Free along street.
What to bring: 1 liter of water for every 3 miles.
Hiking shoes/boots
Flashlight or headlamp.
Sunscreen and/or hat as needed.
Snacks and/or beverages to share.

Hosting
Route: The host knows the route. A pic of the route LINK
Navigation: Host memory, enhanced by GPS navigation as needed
Hike type: Social.
We won't be hiking at a fast pace because this is a social hike, not a conditioning hike. There is nothing wrong with stopping, even if it means every 50 steps.

Stops:
The host may designate stopping points to let others catch up. We will stop at junctions to make sure everybody makes any turns or chooses the correct direction at splits, else something will be used to mark the direction, usually a large arrow made of baking soda. There may not always be a sweeper designated to be the last hiker.

Interesting Notes
Yucca
White flowers on stalk. Stalk is often missing, leaving only the spires from which it grows. Stalks are very strong and light, so they make good walking sticks. Needles on end of spires. Chopped up root can be uses as shampoo or soap. Roasted root can be eaten like a potato. Illegal to remove live stick in CA.

Pronounced with short u. Dried leaves make good tinder. To eat root, remove skin and core, boil 15 minutes. Then fry or bake. Flowers are mildly sweet. Adam says they taste like radishes. The fruit is also edible, but bitter if not ripe. To access fibers: Soak for a month in water, lightly pound leaves with rock or club, or scrape off skin. Roll between hands, then pull and separate fibers. Weave into cordage.

Wild Cucumber
Toxic. Boil fruit in water to make spikes easy to remove. Inside is a natural luffa. Tubars (thickened part of a stem, usually underground, like the potato) can be crushed and thrown into water to immobilize fish.

Almost the entire plant is poisonous. Although wild cucumbers are related to the familiar, domestic vegetable, the prickly “cucumbers” consist not of fleshy fruit, but of two seed chambers containing lacy netting.

Directions
Los Padres Trailhead
15 Los Padres Dr.
Thousand Oaks, CA, 91361

From I-101:
West of CA-23, I-101, exit S. Moorpark Rd.
South on Moorpark Rd. north for 1000 ft.
Left on Los Padres Dr.
After 200 ft, trailhead on the right.
Park on the street.

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