Name: Wildflower, pond and ocean-view trek at 2 spots in west Malibu, & dinner
Start: 2011-03-27T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2011-03-27T14:00:00-07:00
Location: Charmlee Wilderness Park (Main Entrance)

Wildflowers, pond and ocean-view loop hikes at 2 spots in west Malibu, followed by Mexican-food, etc

WHERE: Charmlee Regional Park and Nicholas Flats (part of Leo Carrillo State beach park)

WHY: to celebrate the end of Winter and, OK, I just finished another final exam in law school...)

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WHEN: Sunday March 27th, 2011,

11 AM at Charmlee park

3 PM at Nicholas Flats

6:30—optional Dinner, beer, margaritas (?) at Coral Beach Cantina--29350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu,

http://www.coralbeachcantina.net/

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DIFFICULTY: Both are pretty easy, each hike features total elevation gain of 300 to 400 feet, and each hike is between 3 and 4 miles..

PHOTOS AND MAPS TO THE HIKES:

Charmlee park:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/CharmleeRanchPark11262009# (https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/CharmleeRanchPark11262009)

TOPO MAP (http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.06048,-118.87585&z=15&t=T&marker0=34.06048%2C-118.87585%2C7.2%20km%20E%20of%20Solromar%20CA)--CLICK HERE

TRAIL MAP: http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/download/index.cfm/fuseaction/download/cid/9197/

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/5/8/2/event_22074658.jpeg

Nicholas Flats:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/NicholasFlatsAndPondLeoCarrilloStateParkSMMountains# (https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/NicholasFlatsAndPondLeoCarrilloStateParkSMMountains)

TOPO MAP (http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.07182,-118.90833&z=15&t=T&marker0=34.07182%2C-118.90833%2C4.8%20km%20ExNE%20of%20Solromar%20CA)

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/5/8/5/event_22074661.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/5/8/0/event_22074656.jpeg

(Above: the famous lilac tunnel trail at Nicholas Flats)

ITINERARY and details:

11 AM--Meet at the Charmlee parking lot: Parking Fee: $4 at Charmlee if you park inside the gate. If you park outside the gate, it’s free and you have to walk about a quarter mile to the meeting spot.

At Charmlee, we will see the native plant garden and nature center (with critters). Charmlee has restrooms and running water (YEAYYY) and lots of ups and downs and great ocean views. Charmlee also has just about the widest variety of wildflowers and plants in the Santa Monica Mountains due to it having at least 4 types of plant communities.

12:30 PM--LUNCH: We will eat at the remains of the Charmlee's cabin at the highest point in the park

3 PM--At Nicholas Flats, we will start at the dead-end of Decker School road, head north thru the old burnt out cabins area, take the north side of the hill trail to the left which gives us a great view of Sandstone Peak and Boney Mountain. Then we climb the hill and head south toward the ocean thru various tunnel trails that run on the west side of the grasslands at Nicholas Flats. This hill is covered with wildflowers. Last year, the tunnel trails were full of smelly lilac flowers which was a feast for the nose. Then we pass the pond and roost on the rocks that form the natural dam on the south end of the pond.

Purchased by the State's park department in 1978, the park's Nicholas Flat area is one of the best spots in the Santa Monica Mountains for spring wildflowers because it's a meeting place for four different plant communities. Chaparral, grassland, coastal scrub and oak woodland all converge near the flat. Another reason for the remarkable plant diversity is Leo Carrillo's elevation, which varies from sea level to nearly 2,000 feet.--http://www.hike-socal.com/hike_nicholas_flat_trail.html (http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.hike-socal.com/hike_nicholas_flat_trail.html&usd=1&usg=AFQjCNHJX6_f6GNIPRUTOo8YshA3v04zzQ)

DIRECTIONS:

TO CHARMLEE: 10 freeway west to Pacific Coast Highway to Encinal Canyon Road. Go up the hill 3 to 4 miles to the Charmlee park entrance sign. We will meet at the parking lot. Parking is $5 unless you park outside the gate on Encinal Road.

From the 101 freeway, take it west to Kanan Dume Road, turn right on Mulholland, then take the left at the fork to Encinal Canyon road. When you hit the "T", turn left and go one mile to Charmlee Park.

WE WILL THEN DO A CAR-CONVOY TO NICHOLAS FLATS SO NO ONE GETS CONFUSED BY THE LACK OF STREET SIGNS.

DIRECTIONS TO NICHOLAS FLATS: follow thedirections to Charmlee park. THEN: we drive 1 ½ miles north on Encinal Canyon Road, turn left onto Decker Canyon road (Maps also show it as Hwy 23), and follow it downhill 1 mile on the curvy road to Decker School Road Road. (Note--do not turn onto Decker school LANE. It is the wrong street. Go another half mile until you can turn onto Decker School Road) Turn right. (A short distance after turning onto Decker School Road there is a fork--take the right hand fork) Then we follow this road one mile to the dead end and park.

Parking is Free!!! at Nicholas Flats

For full size printable version of this map: http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/5/e/1/highres_22085601.jpeg

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/5/e/1/event_22085601.jpeg

AS USUAL, BRING HAT, SUNSCREEN, WATER, CAMERA, LUNCH, MONEY FOR PARKING AT CHARMLEE AND FOR DINNER…

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