Conejo OS Challenge 4: White Horse Canyon Trail

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/3/7/c/event_198161852.jpeg

The Conejo Open Space Challenge: For the second year, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) is putting on an event to get us to experience some of the beautiful but possibly less well known trails in the Conejo Valley. To encourage us to complete the challenge, prizes are offered to some people who complete all ten segments of the Challenge before May 1, and also to those who take the best photos along the way. You prove you hiked the segments by emailing photos of a specific location to the organizer, or by joining this Meetup event. You can learn more about the Challenge from this flyer (http://www.venturacountytrails.org/COSCA/2013ConejoChallenge.pdf).

For our fourth challenge, we'll explore a mixture of singletrack and fireroad in the South Ranch Open Space that we'll pull together as part loop, part out-and-back. We'll start by climbing the White Horse Canyon Trail from Potrero road in Westlake. From the ridge at the top we'll look down over parts of Westlake, Hidden Valley, Lake Sherwood and Dole Foods owner David Murdoch's ranch. At the furthest point, we'll find ourselves down to the newest Bridgegate neighborhood of gated megalomansions. From there we'll head back taking a slightly different view.

Meet at the parking area described below.

Details

Distance: 5.2 miles

Climbing: 1040' cumulative

Pace: We'll hike at a moderate pace so that novice hikers can join in. We'll need to hike together as a group so that nobody gets lost by taking a wrong turn at one of the several forks we'll pass through.

Driving Directions: Park near the corner of Margate Place and Cromwell Pl in Westlake. From the 101 Freeway in Thousand Oaks, exit at Westlake Blvd (exit 40) and drive south 1.7 miles to Potrero Road. Turn right and continue 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Trafalgar Place, then immediately turn left onto Margate Place. Drive 1 block to Cromwell Place and park at the side of the road. We'll meet at the parking area.

Map: http://bit.ly/V5mZ88 (https://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=34.143679,-118.856235&hl=en&sll=34.143795,-118.855773&sspn=0.008666,0.006963&t=h&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=17&z=17)

This hike is being cross-posted to the Calabasas Dayhikers (https://www.meetup.com/calabasasdayhikers/events/100898992/) Meetup goup.

The Fine Print/Please Read!

You don't need to RSVP "NO" if you can't make it--let's save the "NOs" for the folks that wanted to go, then needed to change their minds.

Wear lug soled shoes, long sleeve shirt and long pants for brush and tick protection, and dress in layers for comfort.

Bring at least 1 liter of water per 3 miles, snacks, lunch (if posted), hiking poles (if you use them), camera and the "Ten Essentials".

Carry rain gear if the rain forecast is 20 percent chance or better.

Know your own capabilities and plan accordingly.

Be on time -- It is extremely rude to be late and expect 20 people to wait for you. Even if you call, it is still inappropriate to think that they should wait for you.

Don't be a no show -- How hard is it to remove your name? TAKE IT OFF IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT! The earlier the better so someone else that wants to go, can.

Any outdoors activity can be challenging, fun, or a painful experience, (often depending who you are with), even deadly and more painful depending on you, your abilities, circumstances and sometimes just bad luck. Accidents happen. Please do not sign up if you are not comfortable with what you are doing, or if you think you don’t have the needed skills for the event. You will be agreeing to take responsibility for yourself, your actions and not to hold organizer/group leader, participants, or anyone liable but yourself by signing up for this event.

Most importantly: Have Fun!