Boy Scout (Oak Flat) Trail to Whitaker Peak - Woodlands, Views and solitude!

Saturday, April 25 - Boy Scout (Oak Flat) Trail to Whitaker Peak - Woodlands, Views and Solitude .... so close to SCV!

Distance: ~ 9 miles, out and back.

Gain: About 1400' (most of it at the beginning)

Rated: Easy++ to Moderate (due to gain at start and overall distance)

Time: About 4 hours, including a 20 minute lunch break.

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The trail departs the mellow Oak Flat Campground and climbs along switchbacks through woodlands and a geologically fascinating area to a ridge-top viewpoint. The hiker's reward for this short but stiff climb is a bird's-eye view of some of the Southland's great public works projects (Pyramid Lake, old Highway 99 and Interstate 5) and inspiring natural wonders: the dramatic gorge sculpted by Piru Creek and the mountains fractured by the San Gabriel Fault.

Along the fire road at the top, outcrops are visible (see below) -- these are pudding-type conglomerate of fragmented brown rock filled with embedded stone. These enable geologists to trace displacements that occurred along the San Gabriel Fault, an early and active member of the San Andreas Fault system.

We will continue along the fire road and turn West to Whitaker Peak.

The first part of this hike is on single track, and then we proceed on fire roads.

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Piru Creek emptying into Piru Lake, from Whitaker Peak.

Meet:

At Towsley Canyon Gate, 24255 The Old Road, Newhall, CA. Be there at 7.30AM for an 7:45AM SHARP departure to the trailhead.

If you carpool from Towsley, be so good as to share the cost of gas with your driver.

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Want to Meet at the Trail head?

Oak Flat Fire Station: Lat: 34.598538 Lon: -118.719182

(About 25 mins North of Towsley Canyon).

Go north of Santa Clarita on the I-5, North of Castaic, exit at Templin Hwy. At the bottom of the off ramp, turn left. Go under the 5 freeway and turn right on the road immediately past the freeway, proceed for approximately 3 miles. Watch the potholes! Stay on this road until you see a brown forest sign on the left side that says Oak Flat (be sure to ignore the Whitaker Peak sign that precedes it). Turn in to Oak Flat and carefully go up the driveway. Park on the gravel lot on the left in front of the Fire Station.

If you meet at the trail head, please be there at 8:15AM as we will be heading up the trail at 8:30AM SHARP.

Bring:

Lots of water (2 - 3 liters), some electrolytes, and a lunch/snack. There is not much shade on the second half of this hike, so sunscreen and a hat are essential. Poles are helpful on this hike, especially the first 1/2, when we are climbing. Bring your camera.

NOTE: There may be small biting flies out and about, so please wear long sleeves/ bring insect repellent.

Adventure Pass: Yes , 1/car. Available at Acton Ranger Station, the Little Tujunga station, REI Nothridge, Sport Chalet, Stevenson Ranch ($5 a day/ $30 a year) or any other Ranger Station.

Dogs: OK, if well behaved around other dogs and people and on a leash.

Leader: Steve I.

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