Delicious Strawberry Peak via Red Box Passage

http://youtu.be/FrG4TEcSuRg

Organizer: Kaushik & Steve

Sweep: Steve

Location: La Canada Flintridge, CA

Hike Difficulty: Level 6/10

Distance: About 6.6 miles

Elevation Gain: About 1,800'

Time: Approximately 4 hours

Trail condition: Single track w/some scrambling, out and back, almost entirely exposed

Water: Minimum 2 liters

Guest: 1

Dog: Permitted on leash

Restrooms: Available at Red Box parking lot

Carpool: Please sign up here. (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PpPe4Yc4P9_F1Okae6C2R_soePb3cql-QDfs4It3Hhk/edit?pli=1#gid=0)

Liability Waiver: Required to RSVP. This is the link. (https://www.hellosign.com/editor/getStarted?guid=a89f5789)

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What to bring: hat, sunscreen, hiking poles, energy bar, snacks and water.

Direction:

From the 210 Fwy, exit at Angeles Crest Hwy (SR 2) in La Canada and drive north about 14 miles to Red Box Junction, at the intersection of Angeles Crest Hwy and Mt. Wilson Road (mile marker 38.38). Remember to display your Adventure Pass in your windshield. We’ll meet in the parking lot a little before 7:45 am to warm up so we can start promptly.

Carpool Opportunity:

Form your own carpool. Exit the 210 Fwy. at Angeles Crest Hwy. and turn north (toward the mountains). Turn right onto the second street, Milmada Drive, and find a place to park along the frontage road that runs parallel to the Angeles Crest Hwy, between Milmada and Flanders to the north.

Parking:

National Forest Service Adventure Pass ($5/day; $30/annual) is required to park in the Angeles National Forest. Purchase at REI, Sports Chalet, Big 5, at any NFS Ranger Station or online. (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5181410&width=full)

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Please Contribute

Our events are free to participate, but not free to organize. If you have enjoyed them and want to see more, please contribute to our cause so that we can organize more fun and adventurous outings.

Suggested Event Contribution: $ 6 (Chip in link)

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Venue Description:

Strawberry Peak (elevation 6,164 feet) is the tallest summit of the San Gabriel Mountains, The mountain looks like an upside-down strawberry. The first mile mile of the hike is quite easy. We will have panoramic views of Mt. Lukens, Josephine Peak, the Santa Monica Mountains and more. The trail follows the western slope of Mt. Lawlor for 1.3 miles. We will reached Lawlor Saddle in about 2.4 miles and an elevation gain of about 1,200 feet.

From there, the trail becomes much steeper with only few flat stretches. This final mile which is more challenging with some parts that are sandy, rocky and slippery.We will then reach a false summit and follow a ridge line a short distance before finally arriving on the real peak. On a clear day, we can see Santa Cruz Island and the Topa range near Ojai to the west, San Jacinto to the east and the Palomar Mountains to the southeast.

Our Policy:

Profile photo: Anyone interested in joining US Hiking must have a profile photo showing his/her face. This is a requirement of our group. Without it, you will not be allowed to sign up for an event.

Waiting list priority: People who hike with with US Hiking regularly will be given priority when they are on the waiting list.

Advanced hikes: Anyone interested in participating in advanced hikes (>3,000' elevation gain or distance > 10 miles or Difficulty Level > = 7) will be subject to prescreening before his/her name will be added to the list. Therefore, interested hiker must share with the event host his/her recent hiking background to establish proficiency before his/her name will be added to the list. Guests are not allowed on advanced hikes.

Early departure: If a hiker needs to be separated from the group for any reason, he/she must inform the event host. Not knowing a hiker's where about may prompt the event host to report a hiker's missing to proper authority for further actions.

No show: If you sign up for an event but did not show up, you will be removed from the next event you sign up.

No minor: Meetup user agreement can not be agreed to by a minor. Therefore, you and your guest must be over 18 to participate in our events.

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Warning:

If you have prior medical condition or a family history of illnesses pertaining to heart, lungs, brain, etc. that can be aggravated by heat and physical exertion, this is not the hike for you.

If you have never done a hike of this distance or difficulty before, this hike will be very difficult for you. It may well be your death march. The mountain is not going anywhere. We will schedule this event again in the future. Do it when your mind and body are ready.

Hiking is a recreation, not a suicide mission.

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/