Unique Rock Series # 2: Castle Peak - Cave of Munits - Stunning 360 View
- August 25, 2012 · 9:30 AM
This Hike Will Be Repeated on 10/6/12.
Organizer: Mike Cheng
Hike assistant: Mike J. and Thomas Arnold
Location: Cave of the Munits trail head
Hike Difficulty: Moderate, mostly Level 3/10. Cave climbing is a part of this hike. We will climb up, down and around (mostly around) big boulders.
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 700'
Time: 3 hours
Trail condition: Single file trail (We will climb up the 100 feet chimney cave.)
Water: Minimum 1 liter (2 bottles)
Dog: No dog
Toilette: None
Parking: Residential street parking
Direction: The trail head is at 24477 Vanowen Street, West Hills, CA 91307. It is accessible from 101 and 118 freeway via Topanga Canyon Blvd and Vanowen St.
What to wear: hat, short sleeve shirt, long pants and hiking boots. Absolutely no tennis shoes. (Gloves are not recommended)
What to bring: sunscreen, snacks, water, and the usual stuff.
Hiking plan: We plan to climb up the Cave, hike along the ridge line, and make a short climb up to the Peak. We will play around the Peak area, and then take an easy trail back down.
This entire hike is along the edge of a rocky cliff. If you are afraid of heights or you are not used to hiking up, down and around (mostly around) big boulders, then this may not be the hike for you.
This hike is not difficult. From the Cave to the Peak is around 1 mile. But in certain places all of us may need to be assisted by our fellow hikers. Some of the breaks that we plan to take will be along the edge of a sheer cliff.
I do not recommend gloves so that you have full use of your fingers. You hands may sustain some scratches but it is safer for you. The sole of your hiking boots need to have sufficient traction to give you the grip that you need for this hike.
We plan to take it slow to make sure everyone has a fun and safe experience.
Lunch afterward: We will meet at the corner of Vanowen St. and Fallbrook Ave. (Northeast corner of the Fallbrook Mall). There are several restaurants here: Tikka Grill, Chili's, IHop and Red Lobster. We can form smaller groups to fit into any of them. At lunch time, restaurants are generally busy. It maybe difficult for one restaurant to accommodate the entire group.
This is the second in a series of 3 hikes that take us from Rocky Peak to Eagle Rock.
This is a social hike for fun-loving people.
The 'Cave of Munits' is a large cave on the side of Escorpión Peak within the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.
The cave is important because stories about its significance are still known by Chumash people today. According to oral history, this cave was the home of a very powerful shaman who eventually met his end after murdering the son of a politically important chief. Cumash culture was here for 10,000 years.
Release of Liability:
The organizer (me) of this trip is a volunteer and is not a professional guide. The function of the organizer is only to organize this trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/hike/or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests.
By signing up for this trip, or any other event organized by me, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer (me) of this hike from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities.
In addition, you and your guests are acknowledging that you agree to the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2: http://www.meetup.com/terms/
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Oki
Mike, thank you for organizing this hike. Many many thanks to the people who helped me climbed up the rocks.
August 26
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Melissa
Mike is a super organizer leader. He knew the hike and made everyone feel welcome - it was a great day!
August 25
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LaNisha
Cave was awesome. Thank you, Mike, Mike, Scott, Russ, Andrew and anyone I'm forgetting for helping us in over the bigger rocks. And BIG, BIG THANKS for helping chicken little, me, with high points of the hike. As always it is greatly appreciated. I will overcome my fear. Thank you leader Mike for another great hike. Looking forward to the next one.
August 25
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Elizabeth T
Thanks, Mike for leading a great hike! Also a special thanks to Mike, Scott, Mark, Andrew, Russ, and Paul for your assistance. Could not have done it without such a great group and team lead! Had a blast!
August 25
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Mike Cheng
It was my pleasure to hike with this wonderful group of people. The weather was cool with a nice breeze. The Cave was challenging but fun. The Peak and the Ridge trail offers a view like no other. I want to thank Mike for leading and Russ for sweeping. Mike, you are the best lead there is. Russ, you are the most reliable. I also want to thank Scott, Andrew, Mark and many others who lent a hand to help fellow hikers. You guys were the best. I look forward to hiking with all of you soon.
August 25
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Andrew Coover
Great hike! I was a +1 from Karen. Im glad I came out. Met a lot of great people!
August 25
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sondra
Thanks Mike for a wonderful hike and thanks Isaac and all the other peeps who helped out getting us over the tight spots.
August 25
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THOMAS ARNOLD
What a great hike Mike. Rita and I are still talking about it. My camera died so all I had was my I phone to take photos.
August 25
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Larry T
Nike has made hiking shoes, but don't think they currently have any in their product line.
August 25
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Mike Cheng
I did a thorough run through today and the followings are my recommendation as to what to wear for the hike: hat, short sleeve shirt, long pants and hiking boots. Gloves are not recommended. Absolutely no tennis shoes.
There is a long waiting list for this hike. If your schedule has changed and will not be able to join us, please remove your name as soon as possible.
Please do not wait until Friday night to remove your name. It would not give people on the waiting list enough time to make necessary arrangement to join the hike.
If you sign up for the hike but do not show up, you will be asked to organize a hike to Mt. Whitney and arrange a BBQ feast afterward. Lee Zebold is keeping a list.
August 22
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Mike Cheng
I want to bring to everyone's attention about an event I am hosting on Saturday, 10/20/12, 3 pm at the Getty Center. This is a social event that features materpieces, food and musical performance by Cold Cave.
Our membership will likely be near or break 10,000 at that time. It is a perfect time for us to rest of our boots, daypack and celebrate.
This is the link to the event page. http://www.meetup.com/hiking-19...
August 22
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Paul G
If someone is coming from or the Alhambra/San Gabriel/Pasadena area that I could carpool with, let me know.
August 22
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Mike Cheng
I am happy to announce that in addition to Mike J. I will also be assisted by experienced hiker Thomas Arnold for this hike.
We have a strong team in place to make it a fun and safe hike.
August 21
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GERN BLANSTON
i was bitten by a MUNITZ once and got west Nile virus but im feeling better now because of the prozak and the accidental lobotomy
August 21
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THOMAS ARNOLD
Hi Mike, I would love to help you on this hike. I am a very experienced hiker and have been a sweeper before. Let me know if you would like my help.
August 21
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Mike Cheng
I am seeking an experienced hiker as the second hike assistant for this trip. It is preferable that you are familiar with this trail, but not essential. If you are capable and willing. Please email me.
Your responsibilities will be to make sure fellow hikers are safe and not getting lost along the trail.
L.A. Hiking is a volunteer orgainzation. It depends on voluteers to make each event fun and safe. Your assistance is needed and appreciated for this event.
August 21
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Mike Cheng
I thought by repeating the hike the waiting list would shrink, but the opposite happened. My logic was obviously flawed.
1 · August 20
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LaNisha
Carpool anyone? Think I'm coming the farthest - Riverside via 57/210/134/101. Most likely doing lunch after.
August 21
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Mike Cheng
Could anyone recommend a decent but reasonably priced restaurant nearby where we could have lunch aftward? Please post its name, address and phone #. Thanks.
August 19
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Irina
sorry if I miss something, where we supposed to meet?
6800 Sunset Ridge Ct., West Hills, CA or 24477 Vanowen Street, West Hills, CA 91307 ???August 19
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Mike Cheng
Both addresses are close to each other. The trailhead is closer to 2447 Vanowen Street, West Hills, CA 91307
August 19
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sondra
ANyone want to carpool from SFV area or points east? I am in Sherman Oaks, so can take people from Burbank, Pasadena, NoHo, Encino, whatever along the way.
August 19
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Mike Cheng
Due to the high interest in this hike, I have schedued a repeat on Saturday, 10/6/12, 9:30 am. If you are not able to sign up for this hike, please try that one.
For your information, it is common to see upward of a 20% drop out the day before the hike. If you are within the 20% range, there is a good chance you may get in. Please keep that in mind.
August 19
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Mike Cheng
Hi Everyone, The no-show rate for our group has been around 50% recently. There is a long list of people waiting to sign up. If you don't think you can join us for any reason, please remove your name from the list so that people on the waiting list can sign up.
Just to give you a heads up, if you sign up but don't show up, you will be reguired to organize a hike to Mt. Whitney. It is a promising new requirement that MAY be implemented before the hike :-).
August 19
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Mike Cheng
I am happy to announce that Mike J. will be assisting me for this hike. Mike is a strong and experienced hiker.
August 15
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Mike Cheng
I wish there is a way to accommodate more people. However, the cave and the peak can only take a limit # of hikers at a time without producing a long line.
If for any reason you cannot join us, please remove your name from the list so that people on the waiting list can sign up.
John, That John Guy, do you have suggetion?
August 15
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Mike Cheng
If any of you are interested in joining me for the hike to the Eagle Rock, the anchor of the Unique Rock Series, please click this link: http://www.meetup.com/hiking-19...
August 9
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sondra
yes I am coming, Mike. Anyone want to carpool from SFV let me know (sherman oaks, valley village, valley glen)
August 8
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Mike Cheng
Some of you RSVP for this event a while back. If your schedule has since changed and you will not be able to join us, please remove your name from the list so that people on the waiting list can join us. Thank you.
August 8
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GERN BLANSTON
thanks for the helpful hint Mike, Ill definitely wear pants; you have no idea how much trouble Ive gotten onto when I WASNT wearing pants
1 · July 31
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Mike Cheng
That is correct, no rock climbing, but we will need to use our hands to climb up the chimney cave. Bring a pair of gloves if you have one. I will wear gloves.
July 24
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Mike Cheng
We will be climbing rocks. It is a good idea to wear pants. There are poison oak at the top of the cave on the way to Castle Peak.
July 23
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46 attended
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Elizabeth T
"Maria"
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Adelina +2
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kathy sue +1
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Steve L. +1
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Koki +1
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Glenn +1
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Karen Myron +1
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Susan +1
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Brian +1
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A former member+1 guest
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A former member
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A former member+1 guest
Ameriprise Financial - Barry Craine
The sponsor will pay monthly fees. Contact Barry Craine, 818-713-9200
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