Connect Outdoors: Hiking and Social Gatherings

Explore Olympia Watershed! (2 - 7 miles) [Trout Farm, San Lorenzo Valley]

Wed, Jul 22 · 5:30 PM PDT

Trout Farm Inn, 7701 E Zayante Rd, Felton, CA, US

Join us for a short, medium or longer (options below) journey into wilds above Ben Lomond — just turn around when you have gone far enough and the fire road will take you back to the Trout Farm.

This is a lovely hiking trail on the protected Olympia Watershed, part of the sandhills formation, especially if you enjoy hiking in the San Lorenzo Valley and want to know all the secret nooks and crannies. It is also convenient if you want to come early for the Trout Farm's Happy Hour menu and then work it off by hiking straight from the front door. (Note: Happy Hour is 100% optional. When you RSVP, you can note whether you’d like to attend 4-5pm. If we don’t get a quorum, we can reschedule a Hiker's Happy Hour for a future attenpt.)

Options:
Mini Route: ~2 miles, relatively flat
Basic Route: ~3 miles with steep segments, 600' TEG (Total elevation gain)
Explore Further: 6-7 miles quest to Scotts Valley & back

See All Details Below 👇

Route: There is a very short loop near the Fire Station without much elevation gain, for people wanting a stroll but not a hike, and an easy return on your own to the Trout Farm. To return after the Mini or Basic Route, just follow the fire road back to the Trout Farm, alone or in a small group. Most of us will continue up a steep trail through redwoods and mixed forest, with views into the neighboring Zayante Creek valley. For energetic hikers, we will explore further via the newly opened trails that continue from the Olympia Watershed into Scotts Valley’s Mission Springs neighborhood!

The Trout Farm is a (revamped and rather swanky) restaurant/bar/swimming pool ($25/all day pool access) on East Zayante Road, close to Felton.
Website: Trout Farm.
Happy Hour menu: Page 1, Page 2

Timing:
1:00pm — You are welcome to join our writing marathon at 1pm. RSVP here or tell Peter and come as a guest. You can work on any project that requires quiet focus.
4-5pm — Optional pre-hike Happy Hour.
~5pm — Hike departs from in front of the Trout Farm
7 - 8:30pm -- Back to Trout Farm, depending on which hike you do.

Carpool — There is free parking on either side of the road at the Trout Farm, but it can gets busy for dinner, so carpool with a friend if it is convenient.

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a hike, event, or other outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for this hike, or any other event organized by this group, 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, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.

Trivia Night [Abbott Square]

Wed, Aug 12 · 6:00 PM PDT

Abbott Square, 118 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA, US

Abbott Square's Summer Trivia Nights, hosted by Wallace Baine and Lookout Santa Cruz. Let’s see if our winning streak from 2023 can be revived in 2026!

6pm — Arrive and find each other — look for Debra’s magnetic smile (center of photo). Brainstorm a group name! Buy some food or beer!!
6:30 — Trivia game begins.
8pm — Game ends.
8:10 — 9pm Possible sunset walk to work off the beer?

NOTE on tickets: We will acquire tickets for 10 members, and may grab another 10 if we have a large demand. You may initially be on the waitlist, as we sort out our team. Please do not “no-show” if your plans change — just update your RSVP on this page. Returning attendees may be given priority from the waitlist, due to their track record of showing up.
Abbott Square Trivia web page here.

During our legendary winning streak of yore, the Abbott Square goodie bag of prizes was fun, but unlike Greater Purpose trivia night, it included no free beer! Of course, free beer had its down side. What trims the budget can pad the waistline. 😂 Also, we regret to report, Greater Purpose went bankrupt as we started to cash in our winnings, so maybe Abbott Square has wised up. Greater Purpose has been replaced by Balefire Brewing, sans the game room / ping pong tables 😢.

Come at 6pm to help us commandeer a table or two! Games start at 6:30.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
Was our sassy invite the secret to our 2023 success? Read it below, and let us know:
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --

Is your brain a trove of useless facts? Useless no longer! Join our team to compete in this high-stakes trivia competition!

If they ask about Santa Cruz hiking trails, or which local wildflower garners the word "fetid" in its name, we've got it covered. But, for more arcane topics, like music, or Kanye West's shoe size, we are at a loss. That's why we need you!

Help round out our square team. If hundreds show up, we can just branch out into multiple teams like a high IQ plasmodium! (Haven't heard of plasmodium? Hmmm, don't tell your trivia mates, and learn about them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk).

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a trivia night, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.

Trivia Night [Abbott Square]

Wed, Sep 9 · 6:00 PM PDT

Abbott Square, 118 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA, US

Abbott Square's Summer Trivia Nights, hosted by Wallace Baine and Lookout Santa Cruz. Let’s see if our winning streak from 2023 can be revived in 2026!

6pm — Arrive and find each other — look for Debra’s magnetic smile (center of photo). Brainstorm a group name! Buy some food or beer!!
6:30 — Trivia game begins.
8pm — Game ends.
8:10 — 9pm Possible sunset walk to work off the beer?

NOTE on tickets: We will acquire tickets for 10 members, and may grab another 10 if we have a large demand. You may initially be on the waitlist, as we sort out our team. Please do not “no-show” if your plans change — just update your RSVP on this page. Returning attendees may be given priority from the waitlist, due to their track record of showing up.
Abbott Square Trivia web page here.

During our legendary winning streak of yore, the Abbott Square goodie bag of prizes was fun, but unlike Greater Purpose trivia night, it included no free beer! Of course, free beer had its down side. What trims the budget can pad the waistline. 😂 Also, we regret to report, Greater Purpose went bankrupt as we started to cash in our winnings, so maybe Abbott Square has wised up. Greater Purpose has been replaced by Balefire Brewing, sans the game room / ping pong tables 😢.

Come at 6pm to help us commandeer a table or two! Games start at 6:30.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --
Was our sassy invite the secret to our 2023 success? Read it below, and let us know:
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --

Is your brain a trove of useless facts? Useless no longer! Join our team to compete in this high-stakes trivia competition!

If they ask about Santa Cruz hiking trails, or which local wildflower garners the word "fetid" in its name, we've got it covered. But, for more arcane topics, like music, or Kanye West's shoe size, we are at a loss. That's why we need you!

Help round out our square team. If hundreds show up, we can just branch out into multiple teams like a high IQ plasmodium! (Haven't heard of plasmodium? Hmmm, don't tell your trivia mates, and learn about them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HEDqoTPgk).

Legal Disclaimer: The organizers and hosts in this group are not professional guides, and each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests and property. By signing up for a trivia night, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any social activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. As always, this is a “Participate at your Own Risk” event.