G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Trails)- Chivo Canyon in Simi

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/7/0/event_97959792.jpegAt first glance, this looks like Elyse's return hike we did in January, but it's not! Sure, it starts from the same place, but the adventure is completely different, and one you'll regret missing the rest of your life.

(end hyperbole)

Lots of life has been lived in Las Llajas and Chivo Canyons, and we'll see traces of much of it. Llajas is a variant of the Spanish word for mares, and Chivo is Spanish for goat (ah, that clever title), though we're more likely to see cattle, both living and in dessicated bones, on the airy meadow and down by the sulfur stream that winds through Chivo.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/c/2/e/event_97959982.jpegBefore we get to that meadow, we'll climb up to an abandoned lime mine from the 1920s, when the land was owned by Howard Marr (inventor of the Gillette razor), complete with rusted heavy equipment that was deemed more trouble than it was worth to remove when the mine shut down. We'll also see traces of the oil drilling operation that preceded the mine.

Remnants of aquatic life from when all of Simi rested at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean is evident in marine fossils near the mine site and elsewhere throughout our hike. As if a healthy climb to stunning views of Simi Valley and the Santa Susanna Mountains, over-sized Tonka trucks, Sound of Music-style mountain meadows, bones, fossils, and a sulfur stream (with oil seeps!) weren't enough, the close of our loop hike provides an overlook on a large earthen dam and, if we're lucky, a blanket of wildflowers.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/b/6/event_97959862.jpeg

The total hike is roughly 9 miles, with 1700 feet of elevation gain. Fire road, single track, and open fields connect the loop.

There is ample free parking on the street. The address listed will get you to the general area.

Directions:

From the 118, exit at Yosemite and turn north (toward the nearest mountains). Take Yosemite to Evening Sky Rd. (note- NOT to Flanigan, which is where most Chumash Trail hikes start) and turn right. Follow Evening Sky until it starts to get steep, and look for the trailhead on your left (the North Ridge Trailhead is on the right).

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY:

The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.

Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Weekday Trailblazers 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.

If you choose to sign up for this or any Weekday Trailblazers Meetup event, you are releasing the Weekday Trailblazers Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

All participants must be 18 or older, or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.