20-mile Madness! Wilderness Hike to Divide Peak and Beyond.

20-Mile Madness in Matilija Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest, Ojai

Okay, so here’s where it all started: I posted 15-milers and at the end they’re saying, “What—was that it?! … Can’t we go just a little farther … please? … You made me drive all the way here for a little walk in the park? … I thought I was going to get a workout here … Wasn’t this supposed to be a strenuous hike?!”

The tribe has spoken; we're on a roll with 20-milers whenever it's cool enough. There's a very limited opportunity to do this hike; there's usually not enough daylight, it's too hot, or the river crossings are impossible.

We just did a 25+ miler on the Murietta Trails on 10/8 (Old Man Mountain and Monte Arido from Murietta Divide), and managed to finish before dark. Since this hike is much easier (2,000' less), we hope to do the same today.

There was spring water available at the Murietta Spring on 10/8 (filtering advised). There's a chance you could still get still get water here. There's also a chance you could get wet getting to the water, because the spring was flowing into a small pool.

Don't sign up if you've been a "no show." Your RSVP will be changed to a "no."

I'm bringing friends as guests. Everyone else must be signed up, thereby agreeing to Meetup's Release of Liability.http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/b/e/0/event_64852192.jpeg

Steep section up to Divide Peak.

Trailblazing? Yes! Yes! Whoohoo! It's so difficult to find local trails that haven't been trodden, but I think no one will have been to some places we're going today.

Exploratory? Yes. We'll look for the best route to get to a couple of destinations, including Divide Peak.

Bushwacking? Yes, it's brushy on Murietta Canyon Trail, and probably on our trailblazing section (but maybe not). Trailblazing doesn't always mean brushy. It could be wide open firebreak type hiking.

Terrain: Single track, fireroad, firebreak, xc. We'll stay on the fireroad the whole way back so even after sunset, it will be easy enough with headlamps and a full moon.

Type of Hike: Out and back the same way.

WEATHER: I'll change hike to Newbury Park area if there are severe weather conditions like wind/fire/rain or temps above 79 degrees forecast

Sunset: 4:46PM

Moonrise: 4:20PM Full Moon Tonight! It will be stunningly gorgeous up there.

Estimated Stats: 20 miles/4,300'.http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/b/f/e/event_64852222.jpeg

Views of Old Man Mountain and Vulture Peak.

Bring: The ten essentials. Trekking poles if you like using them, gloves for summit section (garden gloves fine), headlamp, food for all day, plenty water, e.g. 4L+.http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/c/c/0/8/event_64852232.jpeg

Enjoy the smell of the pine forests when we get up on top of the mountain.

Wear: Layers, hiking shoes/boots with lug soles. You may want to wear long pants for the bushwacking part

Dogs: Leashed dogs okay if they can handle the stats.

Gorgeous lake views from the peak, with Jameson Lake (top) and Lake Casitas (bottom):

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