Name: West Ballona Wetlands and City lights view--and garlic-fest Dinner at Alejo's
Start: 2012-12-12T18:30:00-08:00
End: 2012-12-12T21:30:00-08:00
Location: Ballona Wetlands

HIKE TO THE WEST BALLONA WETLANDS

FROM LINCOLN & JEFFERSON TO CABORA ROAD TRAIL AND THEN WEST TO THE WETLANDS OVERLOOK, THEN BACK TO LINCOLN BLVD. AND UP BLUFF TRAIL ROAD TO THE BLUFFTOP TRAIL AND WEST TO THE BLUFFTOP OVERLOOK (ok...if confused, see the map below); THEN BACK TO OUR CARS

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/5/a/f/event_10817839.jpeg

Here's a 4 mile mostly level hike in the Ballona Wetlands and bluffs--the recently State-acquired preserve for birds, lizards and bunnies in the heart of paved-over L.A. (OK, elevation gain is 150 feet)

TIME:

HIKE--6:30 to 8:30 PM,

DINNER: 8:30 until they throw us out!

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/a/a/0/event_131331872.jpeg

WE WILL MEET ON JEFFERSON BLVD. ON THE SOUTH SIDE, 500 FEET WEST OF LINCOLN BLVD. LOOK FOR THE CARS AND THE "BALLONA FRESHWATER MARSH" SIGN AND THE TSUNAMI EVACUATION ROUTE SIGN (SEE ABOVE PHOTO)

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/BallonaWetlandsPlayaVistaTsunamiWatch#5294672784020625618

PARKING LOCATION: the Ballona Wetlands are located between LAX and Marina Del Rey. From the 405 Freeway, take the 90 Freeway west toward Marina Del Rey. Exit at Culver Blvd and turn left. Follow Culver Blvd. one mile until you reach Jefferson Blvd and turn sharply left (east) and go 2/10ths of a mile. The parking is up ahead along Jefferson. If you reach Lincoln Blvd., you have gone too far. Parking is immediately west of Lincoln Blvd. on Jefferson Blvd. on the south side of the street.

DETAILS: We will meet at the parking area located along Jefferson Blvd. which is immediately west of Lincoln Blvd. The hike begins at the Ballona Freshwater marsh, then goes southeast alongside Lincoln Blvd to the Cabora Road trail, which we follow to the west for a quarter-mile, then go back to Lincoln Bllvd. on Cabora, go further up the hill to Bluff Trail drive and to the mini-park at the top, then take the bluff-edge trail west to an ocean view lookout for a half mile, then return to our cars on the same route. The trail is wide open, not bumpy, easy for all!

I plan on giving you the 5 minute summary of the 30 year battle to save this land, then we're off!

FOR A PRINTABLE TRAIL MAP:

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/c/b/8/highres_69787352.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/c/b/8/event_69787352.jpeg

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LOTS OF PHOTOS:

PICTURES OF CUTE CRITTERS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/BallonaCrittersAtRiskFromStateSBulldozingPlans

HISTORICAL PHOTOS:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/BallonaHistoricalMapsAndPhotos

CONTROVERSY OVER THE STATE'S PLANS TO "RESTORE" THE BALLONA WETLANDS WITH BULLDOZERS

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/EvolutionOfTheStateSRestorationPlansForBallona

THE HIKE:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/BallonaWetlandsWestLA

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/BallonaWetlandsPlayaVistaTsunamiWatch

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BRING: water, flashlight, comfortable hiking shoes.

8:30 pm--DINNER AFTERWARD: garlic-fest at Alejo's Italian restaurant located a block south of the wetlands on Lincoln Blvd. (8343 Lincoln) http://alejosrestaurant.com/

PLAN B: IF IT RAINS: WE MEET AT ALEJO'S AT 6:30 PM INSTEAD

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STANDARD MEETUP DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY:

LEGAL STUFF: yes, by going on this hike, you agree to assume all risks of this hike, and that no one at Meetup including the organizer is responsible for your safety. See the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2:

http://www.meetup.com/terms/

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You get one summary email a week.

AND, TO READ MY BLOG ON NEW HIKING SPOTS: http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com

AND FOR MY HANDY-DANDY GUIDE TO PHOTO POSTING: http://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/messages/boards/thread/9914574

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West Ballona Wetlands and City lights view--and garlic-fest Dinner at Alejo's

Ballona Wetlands

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West Ballona Wetlands and City lights view--and garlic-fest Dinner at Alejo's

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