Beginners Series, Hike 4: (Nearly Full Moon) TRIUNFO LOOKOUT LOOP

The latest weather report, as of 10/19/2015, indicates warm and slightly cloudy weather for Sunday night!

Sunset is at 6:07PM and Moonrise time is 5:11PM, so a big, bright moon (weather permitting) will be nice and high in the sky for this 2.22 mile, easy hike with only 450 feet in high/low elevation. This hike fulfills Kurt's request for "easy" hikes.

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We'll take a leisurely walk up to the old Triunfo Lookout Tower site where we can hang out for a while and watch the sun go down. After that, we'll backtrack a few hundred yards then drop off the back side of the hill, down to the Backbone Trail. The last 200 feet of this part will be the only (slightly) technically challenging section as it is just a little steep for the loose, dry rocky path. A walking stick will help you get past it with ease.

Once safely on level ground, we can find a place to stop for a while to share some wine, beer, and snacks. From there it will be an easy walk on almost flat trail to the big Sycamore Tree where we will find a hidden trail up to the road that leads to the Lookout and also back down to the start.

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SHORTNESS...

If the 2.22 miles we just did aren't enough for some of you... After we drop some of the hikers back at their cars we can then hop back down onto the Backbone Trail by taking a short little path off the back corner of the parking area. We can then do a quick mile (or so) out to the east and back. This would be a very easy and almost completely level and smooth ~2 miles that should take about 45 minutes to complete.

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PARKING IS LIMITED NEAR THE TRAILHEAD!!!

Carpooling is URGENTLY suggested!!!

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If you want to ride up the hill with me, you must be ready to go early, stop at the "Early Bird Lookout" described below for ~40 minutes, and do the additional 2 miles after the initial 2.2 mile section as described above.

I'll swing by the Transportation Center, lower section, south of the 101 at Rancho Road at ~3:20 to pick up anyone who prefers to park there.

Then I'll stop by the parking area on Westlake Blvd., just south of Potrero Rd. (past last stoplight before you go up the canyon to Mulholland) from ~3:35 to 3:45PM to check for additional carpoolers.

I will be able to take 7 passengers, first come, first served, to the "Early Bird Lookout", then on to the trailhead at ~4:45.

Anyone else willing to drive or desiring to carpool should coordinate via messages within this event.

You should plan to be going up the hill from the Westlake/Potrero location by 4:55PM latest. It takes 20-25 minutes to drive to the trailhead from there.

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DIRECTIONS:

Please take a good look at the MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=34.107570,-118.909200) (click on "MAP") to get an idea of distances.

From the 101, go south on Westlake Blvd. and follow it up to where it turns into Mulholland. Continue to the right (west) on Mulholland and follow it for a few miles to the stop sign at Decker Canyon Road. Continue on Mulholland (by keeping to the right) for a quarter mile to Little Sycamore Road (it comes up quick) and turn right (north). After about a mile, Little Sycamore Road turns into Yerba Buena Road (at the LA/Ventura County line). Continue for approximately 2 more miles to a large turnout on the left (south) side of the road where, after 4:45PM, you will see my blue, with gold trim GMC Safari van. Total distance from the Mulholland/Little Sycamore intersection to the trailhead is 3.0 miles. If you get to the driveway on the right with the huge anchor chain across it (a private hilltop residence), you've gone about a quarter mile too far. EARLYBIRDS, LOOKIE HERE...

From ~4PM to 4:35PM, I will be at a Lookout Point on the north side of Yerba Buena Road, approximately a half mile short of the trailhead described above, to share one of the most awesome views over Carlisle Canyon you will ever see. There's quite a bit of parking on a sloping pull out there, so come up early and walked out to the big rocks there for a grand view that overlooks the old Animal Actors Shelter where Elsa the lioness (Born Free) lived!