Cross-Posted with Hike to Health: Cheseboro / Palo Comado Jaunt

(Cross posted with Hike to Health - please only RSVP once).

We will walk east 0.4 miles to Palo Comado, south 0.1 miles to the Ranch Connector trail, then up, down, and east to Cheseboro Canyon. We'll head north to Sheep Corral, east a half mile to the Edison Road, and then up & northward into the badlands. We'll catch the Albertson Motorway via a little-known connector trail, then through China Flat to Simi Peak. We'll take Palo Comado Trail back to the cars. Overall length: 12+ miles, with +- 2,000 feet elevation change.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/c/4/6/600_366284102.jpeg

To the trailhead (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Newbury+Park,+CA&daddr=720+Doubletree+Rd,+Oak+Park,+CA+91377&hl=en&ll=34.164162,-118.730707&spn=0.044174,0.084543&sll=34.18237,-118.75191&sspn=0.011041,0.021136&geocode=FR-cCQIdsJLp-ClFNIb_lTnogDEmvksge4EcEQ%3BFWaVCQId0_nr-Cnf__pYiCbogDEpVL3sRB_yTQ&t=h&mra=ls&z=14): Exit 101 at Kanan, and drive 2.3 miles north. Turn right onto Sunnycrest. Proceed .6 miles and park at the trailhead (coordinates N34.18237, W118.75191). You have gone too far if the street name changes to "Doubletree."

Please plan to meet at the trailhead no later than 8:15, for a departure promptly at 8:30. I plan to average 3 mph, for a hike trip time (including occasional breaks) of about 5 hours. Three 500' uphill stretches include the "Dead Cow" segment (http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/Cheeseboro/CheeseboroTrails.htm#Dead%20Cow%20Trail) from Palo Comado to Sheep Corral, the Las Virgines Canyon climb out of Sheep Corral to the powerlines, and a climb from a canyon bottom to the very tippy-top of Albertson Fire Road. Descents are comparatively gentle, including a pass through China Flat, with a very pleasant 4 mile downhill stretch at the end. Except for a short use trail (and optional climb to Simi Peak - see below) in the middle, this hike is on well-established trails and fire roads; no rock-climbing or trail-blazing involved (unless you want to!).

If we're up for it, we'll do a side trip to Simi Peak, adding another 500' elevation gain, and another mile and a half to the hike.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/0/6/0/600_366285152.jpeg

Vistas will include Santa Monica Mountains to the south, Simi Peak, Bard Reservoir, China Flat, Simi Valley, and the Conejo Valley. I'm hoping that the Humboldt Lilies will be in bloom.

Be prepared for a challenging but spectacular outing. We'll break often enough to accommodate the least energetic hiker. Be sure to bring at least 2 liters of water, snacks, and a lunch. There are some long climbs, but none are technical (they are all on fire roads). We won't be on single-tracks for more than a couple of miles.