Catcher in the Rye, Life of Pi, LOS ROBLES High

New plan!!! Given the irrational HEAT we will do a shorter hike and start at 6 o'clock to enjoy the sunset and the ACCOMPANYING BREEZE!!! New distance, gain, pace shall be pi miles, e*pi feet of gain, pi kph (notice how I not only change things at the last minute, but maddeningly mix metric and English units!) Still need water, snacks. Ice axes optional.

OK, I have a kid in high school so revisted some great coming of age novels, reading Catcher in the Rye for the third time and Life of Pi for the first time. Catcher in the Rye really holds up and the mystique around this book certainly hasn't gone away. Google for some bizarre history around folks who take the message as an impetus for a crazed personal mission.

Our mission is hiking and reveling in our glorious sunsets. The hike is West Los Robles Trail to Angel Vista, 7.6 miles and 800 feet of gain with some up and down. This is a low intermediate out and back hike and we will be moving at 2-2.5 miles/hour to make use of our daylight on this most irrational day of the year when the sun will set at 18:59. That's right. Not seven, but six-fifty nine! From Angel Vista, sunset is often a gaudy and glorious affair with islands, valleys, mountains, wine, cheese, chocolate, mountain bikers, suburbs, ringing cellphones, pending layoffs, mild coronary shock... but we will leave the latter part of this list behind and rise up into the world of light fiction and our own peaceful backyard wilderness! Dogs, tigers, and teenagers will be permitted and useful in explaining the works to us.

Here is what we do:

1. READ the book(s). Catcher in the Rye has been standard high school reading for 50 years and you probably have not read it since you got kicked out of prep school. Go dust it off, have the library slip it to you in a plain brown wrapper, find it online, or e-mail me if you want me to send you a copy you can read electronically. As with all Lit hikes, the laws created by the phonies (copyright, school, drinking at a low mental age) do not apply to us. Life of Pi was made into a popular movie a few years back. If you're like me you saw the visually stunning film but have yet to read the book, and are curious about it. So go pick it up from the library. It costs nothing and gives so much. It won prizes and got great praise as so many books do. It is by FAR the most contemporary work I have ever proposed and likely ever will propose. I choose works that have been around for some time because they spark controversy, creativity, ideas, imaginative flights of fancy. Please be prepared to discuss your insights, opinions, ideas about the work.

2. Be ready to hike to a beautiful spot at around sunset. Be able to keep up with the group and get out before it gets too too dark. Bring a headlamp or flashlight, water, appropriate footwear and clothing.

3. Bring amazing snacks to share. Your host generally focuses on wine and cheese, but the other two food groups, sugar and salt, are also wildly popular and pie is appropriate.

The hike: 7.6 miles, 800 feet of gain. This is up a single track trail with to a ridge with some up and down to Angel Vista. Underachievers who relate well to Holden Caulfield may choose to short cut via Rosewood Trail and meet us for cocktails at Angel Vista. There is a very good description with a map showing both trails at http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/angel-vista-west-los-robles-trail/

Directions to the Trailhead: In Thousand Oaks take the Moorpark road exit from the 101 freeway and head south toward the Santa Monica mountains to the end. Park at the dirt lot or nearby streets across from the condominiums.

Rain, fire, invasion of phonies, tigers will result in rescheduling of this event to an even less rational date.

PREPAREDNESS: Bring 1-2 liters/quarts of water (or other suitable liquid) and snacks to share with your fellow lithikers. Please wear appropriate footwear (preferably hiking boots) and be prepared with extra clothing, sunglasses and a headlamp for our return hike. Hiking pole(s) and a camera might come in handy.

DISCLAIMER:

The organizer(s) or leader(s) take no responsibility and will not be held responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur during any reading experience or any hike/outing. These events can be inherently dangerous and accidents will happen.

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1. The risk of injury, education or creative stimulation from the many of the activities is significant, including the potential for addiction to literature, permanent paralysis and death, and while particular skills, rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce this risk, the risk of serious injury does exist; and

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3. To willingly agree to comply with the stated and customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, you observe any unusual significant hazard during your presence or participation, you will remove yourself from participation and bring such to the attention of the nearest official immediately; and

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