What weβre about
Outings for all levels of those adventurous at heart from beginning to experienced hikers throughout the Southern California area as well as Northern California, the rest of the U.S. and even International trips. Hiking, backpacking, off-trail, on-trail, snow travel, all throughout the year with many Sierra Club sections. . Meet other like-minded folks who love the outdoors. Enjoy shared "happy hours" camping beside alpine lakes; celebrate with others as they achieve their goals of climbing local, Sierra, and desert peaks; or go on regularly scheduled conditioning hikes and walks; make lifelong friends with whom you can explore the outdoors in every season. We are eager to share our love for the outdoors with old friends and new.
To find more WTC outings go to:
www.wildernesstravelcourse.org/outings; \
This Meetup also announces the Sierra Club's Wilderness Travel Course (WTC), which runs from January to March of every year.
This ten-week Sierra Club course has been offering classroom instruction and field experiences to Los Angeles and Orange County outdoor enthusiasts for the past 20 years. During the late summer and autumn months, there is a series of free introductory/conditioning hikes (listed on this Meetup). The Wilderness Travel Course takes place every January through March and teaches basic navigation, off trail, snow travel, bouldering, and ,any other hiking / backpacking skills for mountain and desert travel. The Course includes navigation instruction using topo maps and compass, rock scrambling techniques, how to choose equipment, backpacking food and nutrition, snow travel, wilderness first aid, and lots more. Includes ten evening classes, and two full-day and two weekend outings with bus transportation provided. Offered in four So Cal locations (see below). See WTC Web site for more information, cost, and exact locations: \
www.wildernesstravelcourse.org
Locations:
Orange County \
South Bay (Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, North OC) \
San Gabriel Valley \
West Los Angeles
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Poppy Bloom in Antelope Valley. AND Hockney, Llano and Devil's Punchbowl201 S Front St, Burbank, CA
The bloom for 2025 is not going to materialize. Not enough rain early in the year.
The event is being moved to 2025 with hopes there will be a big bloom next year.
Read about the 2024 issue here
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2025/02/25/california-wildflowers-this-spring-2025-antelope-valley-poppies/80258169007/If you have never been here before . . . it worth seeing.
If you have been before . . . it's time to revisit.
Let's get to the event date first . . . The poppies bloom anywhere from Feb to May.
At the moment we are aiming for April 14th
https://ktla.com/news/california/southern-california-poised-for-another-wildflower-superbloom/amp/Or https://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html
We'll walk some or most of the 8 miles of trails--not all of it.
Each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year. The wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through late May,
Parking Fees
$10 per vehicle
$9 per vehicle with a senior on board (62 and over)
$5 per vehicle with DPR Disabled Discount Card (see below)Be prepared for wicked strong winds and bring sunblock! The desert temperatures can vary widely and change suddenly, so bring layers for unpredicted changes in weather.
Dogs are NOT allowed on trails or in the visitor center (just like any California Sate Park)
Whether you most enjoy expansive fields or the close-up study of a single flower, this is the place to visit.
Location - Directions The Reserve is located 15 miles west of Lancaster at 15101 Lancaster Road.
From Highway 14: Take the Avenue I exit and head west 15 miles. Avenue I becomes Lancaster Road.
From I-5: Take Hwy 138 east and turn right on 170th Street West. Make a left at the end, onto Lancaster Road. Follow the road two miles.
Carpool? YES!!!!
We will meet at the meet time and address. That location is a designated Park & Ride. It is a free lot that has roving security in the area. So it's safe to leave your car for the day.
We meet and then re-shuffle to then pool and caravan to the Poppies.
Why this location as meet-point? It's rather central. And just off the 5 . . . the main freeway we need to take to get there.
Carpool to our meetpoint? Sure. Post in the comments on the main group posting.
This is a free hiking event that take a little more work to make happen than a quickie local thing. This is not local in-town. As such you will drive to and meet there. OR you will use the carpool info sent a week before to work on setting up a carpool.
To attend this event:
- RSVP on this event (then)
- Click Here and fill out our Attendees google form
The form is a safety thing. If you do not fill it out. You will not be hiking with us.
Got questions?
Click Here to send a Direct Message to Marc (screen name Oddie)Other notable hiking we have planned:
AFTER the poppies . . . the plan is to go to the location where Hockney shot his photo. It is 45 min away at 126th and Pearblossom . . . Standing on 126th looking south.
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/103QT4
Then go the 200 feet to Llano Del Rio and poke in the ruins (again) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llano_del_Rio
https://la.curbed.com/2017/5/1/15465616/utopia-socialist-los-angeles-llano-del-rio
https://www.lancastermoah.org/single-post/the-llano-del-rio-cooperative-colonyThen drive up to Devils Punchbowl
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/southern-california/devils-punchbowl-nature-area-so-cal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Punchbowl_(Angeles_National_Forest)Hike or just view it. It's up to you.
NOTICE: For our events we do not discriminate by Age, Gender, Gender Preference, Ethnicity, National Origin, Race, Color, Religion, or even Belly Button Lint.
