Name: PM Hump Day Hike - MULHOLLAND TO ENCINAL & 3-BRIDGES LOOPS
Start: 2016-05-11T18:30:00-07:00
End: 2016-05-11T21:30:00-07:00
Location: MULHOLLAND DRIVE @ IBOLD RD & BACKBONE TRAIL

THIS IS A REPEAT OF THE GREAT HIKES WE DID ON DECEMBER 22 AND SEPTEMBER 25 OF 2015!

Please visit the LINKS (below) for additional info, pictures, and comments:

For December 22: MULHOLLAND TO ENCINAL & 3-BRIDGES LOOPS (http://www.meetup.com/The-PM-Hikers/events/227279864/)

And for September 25: (Nearly Full Moon) MULHOLLAND TO ENCINAL & THREE BRIDGES LOOP of September 25, 2015 (http://www.meetup.com/The-PM-Hikers/events/224699461/)

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If you liked MY 3-BRIDGES HIKE of NOV 8, 2014 (http://www.meetup.com/The-PM-Hikers/events/216609552/) (<-- click on the link)...

You'll love this one too! This is partly a repeat of my original 3-BRIDGES HIKE with the mandatory addition of the 1.85 mile upper loop that connects Mulholland to Encinal Canyon Road.

This is, as usual, a True Loop hike. You will retrace less than a few hundred feet of trail during the entire hike. And, as usual, bringing Wine and Goodies to share (at Bridge #2) is highly encouraged! ;~}

Total distance is approximately 4.25 miles, with about 800 feet of elevation (loss then gain, mostly). Only because of one short uphill scramble this should be considered an Advanced (and adventurous) Beginner hike. You "should" have a flashlight, and a headlamp is preferred, however we'll be in daylight for all the "hard" parts! Please leave the dogs at home this time.

WHERE & WHEN:

We'll meet at a point where the Backbone Trail crosses over the West end of Mulholland Highway.

PLEASE PLAN CAREFULLY TO ARRIVE WELL BEFORE 6:30PM!

From the 101, go south (towards the ocean) on Westlake Blvd. up the hill to where it hits Mulholland and continue to the right (west) onto Mulholland. Follow Mulholland westward through a winding section for 1.33 miles to the trailhead.

Look for my Dark-Blue, with Gold Trim, GMC Safari van, as I'll plan to be there very early (6ish PM) sharing some wine with the early arrivers. Note that parking is limited so car-pooling is encouraged!

PLEASE use the Comments Section below to Arrange for Carpooling!

There is a great place to meet for carpooling on Westlake Blvd. just after you pass through the Potrero Road stop light and before you start making your way up the hill to Mulholland.

HOW:

We'll start with an easy 0.9 mile stroll south, down the fire-road seen just to the right (east) of Ibold Rd. on the MAP (<-- a Link) to Encinal Canyon Rd. to where my first 3-Bridges Hikes started.

Here's an Elevation Profile for the 3-BRIDGES portion:

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/f/0/d/600_441357101.jpeg

From there we'll do my original 3-Bridges Loop (2.4 miles, 1hr:30mins at an easy pace, not counting picnic time) to the east-south-east.

We'll head down this section of the Backbone Trail, but only for a few hundred feet before heading east (left turn) onto an unmarked single track trail. Within a few minutes we'll reach a very short but "lightly" challenging downslope (first red line in the profile above) that wasn't nearly as hard as I made it out to be last time. We'll soon arrive at a large area of old eucalyptus and pine trees that were cut down a few years ago, and Bridge #1.

Pretty quickly we'll be at a "moderately" challenging (use of hands usually not required) uphill section that will make you hate me (you'll get over it!) and appreciate your good lug-soled hiking shoes for 10 - 15 minutes.

From there it will be just a few more minutes to the high point of the lower section where we can take a short break. Below is the view from this vantage point. We should be here well before the sun goes down this time.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/0/3/6/600_421652822.jpeg

15 - 20 minutes down from this peak we'll make it into the Oak Grove at the low point of the hike at Bridge #2 where we can take our longest break for a picnic. Near by, we'll see this beautiful area that provided some great Spooky Night-time Photo Ops on previous hikes.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/f/4/2/600_441357154.jpeg

From there, we will be only ~20 minutes down an easy trail from Encinal Canyon Road, via Bridge #3.

Bridge #2 is shown here:

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/6/e/2/600_424842722.jpeg

And here is a photo of BRIDGE #3 in the daylight:

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/f/2/6/600_441357126.jpeg

Back at Encinal Canyon Road, we'll cross over and follow that winding 1-mile easy single-track section of the Backbone Trail back up to Mulholland Drive where we started.

Here's a map showing the entire route:

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/3/f/0/600_441033776.jpeg

IF YOU ARE LATE TO THE START...

It seems there are always a few who will arrive late, no matter how much you overstate the urgency of being ready to start hiking at a particular time. So...

If you arrive after 6:30PM and find that the group has departed the meetup location, you can easily catch up with the group with the following directions:

1. Start your hike following the same route as the main group by taking the Fire Road (east side of upper loop shown on map above) down to the Parking Lot on Encinal Canyon Rd.

2. Cross over Encinal and continue south on the clearly marked Backbone Trail. That trail entrance is just across the road but diagonally to the left (east).

3. Don't make that (totally unmarked) left turn onto single-track that the main group will have taken. Instead, just continue on down the Backbone Trail, crossing Bridge #3, going through the Oak Grove (trail will curve to the left here), and a few hundred feet more to Bridge #2, where, by then, or in a short while, you will find the main group having a picnic.

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!

Known Dangers: Rattlesnakes, slip-'n-fall

Disclaimer / Release of Liability: You must RSVP to attend this event, no exceptions. Hiking and other outdoor events are inherently dangerous and accidents can happen. By participating in any posted event, you're taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. This Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions. You are responsible for you. If you choose to sign up for any events, you are releasing the Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgement and experience. This applies to any guests you may invite.

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PM Hump Day Hike - MULHOLLAND TO ENCINAL & 3-BRIDGES LOOPS

MULHOLLAND DRIVE @ IBOLD RD & BACKBONE TRAIL

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