POSTPONED - Water Hike Adventure - Piru Creek trail from Frenchman's Flat

Saturday, August 13 - Water Hike Adventure - Piru Creek/ trail, from Frenchman's Flat

***** NOTE: LIMITED GROUP SIZE!! *****

Distance: ~ 7 miles RT (out and back style)

Gain: None

Rated: Moderate (some water if you are not careful or just want to get wet/ minor bouldering/ maybe a little bushwhacking)

Time: ~ 4 hours

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Description:

Piru Creek is a Native California Fishery fed by Pyramid lake. We will hike a trail past camp sites and follow the canyon / creek bed, heading West/ South downstream toward Piru Lake. There will be overhanging trees, some boulder hopping and we will cross the creek several times. You can definitely be in and out of the creek at several stages, if you want to get wet. We will see some amazing rock formations, bird life, maybe a deer or two and a few wild flowers.

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It is usually easy enough, with care and some bouldering, to stay dry if you like. However, you can easily tramp in the stream or even swim some (water is maybe 3 - 4 feet in some short stretches). If you want to walk in the river, water hiking sandals are highly recommended for their convenience/ your toe safety. We recommend you wear synthetic materials that you do not mind getting wet, so they dry fast on your way back.

The canyon is narrow in many places, so there will be a sense of adventure...... We cannot make it all the way to Lake Piru in the time we have but we will hike ~2 hours in (until the trail gets pretty overgrown), have a snack and then return the same way.

Mark Mac Memorial Water hike: Mark Mac was a friend to many members of our club and a wonderful person. He especially enjoyed water hikes and joined us on this hike in August 2015, just 3 weeks before losing his life in September from an unfortunate flash flood drowning accident in Keystone Canyon, Utah.

Mark Mac - R.I.P. (on right with pack)

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Carpool to Trailhead: We will meet at the outside gate of Towsley Canyon ( 24255 The Old Road, Newhall) at 6:45AM for a 7:00AM SHARP departure to the trail head. We will carpool to the trailhead above Castaic on I-5, about 25 minutes away.

Bring: Lunch/ snacks, more water than you think you will need (3 liters is recommended), SUNSCREEN, hiking poles, and boots you do not mind getting a little wet or better still - water sandals. Bugspray and a bugnet ($4 at Walmart) are also recommended as there are black flies. Please bring a couple of supermarket / garbage bags to help (on the way back) to remove recyclables and miscellaneous trash that are left by uncaring folks.

Directions to Frenchman's Flat trail head (Frenchman's Flat Campground, Castaic, CA 91384): Go north on I-5, exit Templin Hwy, turn left. Go under the freeway, and turn right. Follow this road until it ends at a white forest service gate, park.

Meet at the Trailhead: We will meet at Frenchman's Flat at the white gate at ~7:45AM for a 8:00AM SHARP departure up the river trail.

Adventure Pass: Required! These can be obtained at any BIG 5 Sport­ing Goods store (Valencia or Canyon Country); $5 for a day pass, $30 for a year pass.

Dogs: OK, on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs and hikers with poles. If bringing your dog, please drive yourself and go directly to the trailhead. Bear in mind, there will be poison oak on this trail. If it is looking hot, it may not be the best day for Fido to be out.

Leader: Steve I.

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