San Vicente Park via Sullivan/Westridge

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GIVEN THE STATE OF U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS, we’d best check out as many of the former Nike missile defense sites as we can now, before they’re reinstated for service. This one at San Vicente Park (http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=54) includes not only the requisite sentry booth, but also a lookout tower that’s legal to climb and a lookout telescope to scan the skies and surrounding mountains.

We’ll begin by walking through Sullivan Canyon for about a mile. Then we’ll climb out of the canyon via a steep, single-track trail to the Westridge fire road above. From there, we’ll walk gradually uphill on the exposed fire road for about three more miles through Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park to San Vicente Mountain.

We’ll take advantage of the picnic tables and restrooms there, and then climb the lookout tower and check out the Sullivan Ridge trail we’ll be taking back (the same one we took when visiting Murphy Ranch and the ruins of the Nazi sympathizer colony there). Then we’ll return by heading west on Mulholland to Sullivan Ridge, taking that south and down the west side of the canyon onto the shaded, dirt-and-gravel Sullivan Canyon trail – a gentle downhill most of the way -- to our starting point.

STATS

Level: Moderate (for length)

Gain: ~ 1,100 ft.

Distance: ~ 9.5-10 miles

Time: 4-4.5 hours

Type: Loop, single track and fire road, some paved.

Exposed on Westridge/Mulholland, shaded in Sullivan Canyon

Dogs: Permitted on leash in Sullivan Canyon, off leash on Westridge

Water: Available at San Vicente Mountain Park

Restrooms: Available at San Vicente Mountain Park

Parking: Free street parking; note parking restrictions in directions, below.

Bring: Hat, sunscreen, water, snacks to share, quarters for the telescope if you wish

DIRECTIONS
An approximate address for GPS purposes is 2120 Queensferry Road, Los Angeles, 90049.

From the 405, exit on Sunset and head west for 2.3 miles. Turn right on Mandeville Canyon, left on Westridge Road (after the first stop sign), left on Bayliss, and finally left on Queensferry Road. There are a few parking spaces on the south side of Queensferry (opposite the houses, near the tall hedges). If these are taken, park on Bayliss, but make sure you’re north or south of the “No Parking 7 am – 7 pm Daily” signs (generally north of house numbers 13600 and south of 13500). Walk down to the end of Queensferry Road and we’ll meet by the gate.

From PCH, take Sunset east to Mandeville Canyon, turn left on Mandeville and follow the directions above.

Note - currently, the CalTrans site (http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/) has no closures of the 405 at Sunset for Saturday, but you may want to check Friday night to be sure.

Here’s a map. (http://goo.gl/maps/HYQ6a)

Shawn’s mobile: 213/308-7372

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Looking ahead: we will not be scheduling a hike for Sat. Aug. 31 (the Saturday before Labor Day), so please check out LA Meetup Group Rex Frankel's terrific list of LA Area Meetup Hikes (http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com/) (updated weekly) or the Sierra Club's Schedule of Activities (http://angeles2.sierraclub.org/activities) for options, then let us know what you did if you think it's something the group might enjoy. We'll be back on the trails Sat., Sept. 7.

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The Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts in this group are not professional guides. The function of the organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts of this Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities.