Conejo OS Challenge Hike 3: Secret Passage to Simi Peak Shuttle Hike

Hike Stats: The hike will be 7.2 miles with 1500' of climbing. This is a difficult hike that we'll hike at a moderate pace and there will be time to take photos. We'll need to hike together as a group so that nobody gets lost by taking a wrong turn at one of the several forks we'll pass.

This is a shuttle hike! We will meet at the end and carpool to the start.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/b/0/7/600_434899207.jpeg

The Conejo Open Space Challenge: For the fourth year running, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA (http://www.conejo-openspace.org/)) is putting on an event to get us to experience some of the beautiful but possibly less well known trails in the Conejo Valley. To encourage us to complete the challenge, prizes are offered to some people who complete all ten segments of the Challenge before June 1, and also to those who take the best photos along the way. You show you hiked the segments by emailing photos of some view along the trail to the organizer. You can learn more about the Challenge from this flyer (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwnGWwrV3x1DdnVFY2xnOEFhODA/view).

On this hike we'll cover two trails of the Challenge, Hidden Meadows Trail and Albertson Motorway. Between these two trails we'll sneak a side-trip up the Secret Passage to Simi Peak for a much more challenging hike through some outstanding sandstone formations and incomparable views over Oak Park. This will be a shuttle hike so we'll meet at the end, carpool to the beginning, hike to the end, then carpool back to the cars we left at the start. Click here (http://www.venturacountytrails.org/RecentPhotos/2009-05-09SecretPassage/_Page.html) for photos from a previous hike to the Secret Passage.

This is a much more difficult hike than the previous ones. Parts of it are very steep and there will be short sections that are so steep that you'll need to use your hands to steady you as you climb.

The Secret Passage is one of my top three favorite hikes in the area. If you like a bit of a challenge, you won't be disappointed!

If you like this hike, please consider supporting COSCA by making a tax deductible donation to the Conejo Open Space Foundation http://cosf.org/donate/ and by participating in one of their many volunteer opportunities (http://cosf.org/volunteer/) available throughout the year.

Afterwards, you are welcome to join us for lunch at some local establishment that serves good food and beverages. We'll talk about which establishment to visit during the hike.

Here's the schedule for all the Challenge hikes:

• March 15: Potrero Ridge in Dos Vientos

• March 22: Shooting Star Trail into the Santa Rosa Valley

• March 28: Hidden Meadow Trail and Albertson Mtwy (shuttle hike)

• April 11: Hillcrest Ridge in North Ranch

• April 18: Woodridge Loop in Sunset Hills

• May 3: Hawk Canyon and Hill Canyon Trails in Conejo Canyons

• May 9: Space Mountain in Thousand Oaks

• May 10: Powerline Trail in Dos Vientos

Driving Directions: From the 23 Freeway, take Exit 15 at Avendida De Los Arboles and head east. Drive 1.4 miles to Westlake Blvd and turn right. Take the next left, after 0.2 miles, onto Lang Ranch Parkway and drive 0.8 miles to the Albertson Fireroad trailhead at the end.

Map: Use this Google Map to help you find your way

http://bit.ly/sPsY8N

Dogs: Please leave your pets at home for this hike. Dogs should only accompany their human companions on hikes that are billed as “Dog Friendly.”