Meet Location: at the Picnic tables at the cul-de-sac end of Alta Laguna. If you park in the parking lot, walk out to the street and down to the cul-de-sac end of Alta Laguna Blvd. where you will see people around the picnic tables.
Departure Time: 7:30 AM. This hike will start at the designated time. Please arrive 10 minutes early to allow for parking and introductions.

No beginners please.
We will begin at the West Ridge trail, descend down Mathis and come right back up to car wreck. Then back to the West Ridge and down on Cholla trail. We will follow the Wood Canyon Trail, climb up Rock-It trail and again back to the West Ridge. We will walk approximately two miles back to the Top of the World where we began our hike. Length: Est. 10 miles – 1500+ ft gain/loss – 2 ½ to 3 hours.

Please note: Hikers will join the organizer for a workout; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike

General Rating/Difficulty: Level 3 Fast Pace for distance, elevation, and pace. Click RATING TABLE (https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating) to learn more about hike levels

Bring: Lots of water, a hat, sunglasses

Trail Map: Aliso Wood trail map (http://ocparks.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=21141)

Dec, 20 2014: photos (https://www.meetup.com/HikingOC/photos/)

Description:
In Laguna Beach turn inland on Park Ave from Pacific Coast Hwy. Follow until the end at Alta Laguna Blvd. Turn left and go few hundred feet until dead end. We meet at the picnic tables at the cul-de-sac end of Alta Laguna Blvd. If you park in the parking lot walk out to the street and down to the cul-de-sac end of Alta Laguna Blvd. where you will see people around the picnic tables.

REMINDER: By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings

> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY. Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, mountain lions, coyotes, snake bites or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike

THIS GREAT HIKE THAT FITS REGULAR HIKERS WHO LIKE TO HAVE A WORKOUT IN ONE OF THE MOST SCENIC TRAILS IN OC OR ARE TRAINING FOR MOUNTAIN HIKES!

=====We will meet at the parking lot near Starbucks-Wahoos====

MEETING TIME: 7:30 AM (finish the hike in about 3 hours)

GENERAL RATING/DIFFICULTY: Level 3: Strenuous/Fast Pace for distance, elevation and pace. Click to see RATING TABLE (https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating) for more info about hiking levels

DISTANCE/ELEVATION/DURATION: Level 3/3+: Estimate: 8+/- miles, 1500+- ft gain and ~ 3 hours (fast pace)

Please note: Hikers will join the organizer for a workout; there is no leader or sweeper on this hike

ESSENTIALS: Wear traction hiking shoes, bring water, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat

ROUTE: Starting on a flat trail for about 1.5 miles, our workout will begin going up Dreaded Hill, to four Corners, Mustard, Billy Goat, back to four Corners, Cactus Hill, Vulture View, Sage, Serrano Cow, Line Shack, back to Serrano that will take us back to trail head and parking.

ABOUT WHITING RANCH:

Limestone Canyon & Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park encompasses approximately 4,300 acres of riparian and oak woodland canyons, rolling grassland hills and steep slopes of coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The park is highlighted by scenic rock formations, including the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. There are three intermittent streams: Borrego, Serrano and Aliso Creek meandering through the park, each hosting an abundance of wildlife. Remnants of the former cattle ranching days can be seen throughout the park.

Though 90% of the park burned in the Santiago Fire of 2007, the land is in the recovery process. Please respect that process by staying on marked trails and following park rules

More info:

Orange County Parks (http://www.ocparks.com/whitingranch/)

Whiting Ranch Wilderness (http://www.whitingranch.com/)

DIRECTION: from Fwy 405 or 5 going South, exit Bake Pkwy, turn left on Bake Pkwy and going for about 5 miles. Turn right at Portola and turn right at the light of Glenn Ranch (park somewhere in Starbucks coffee parking). If you going North on 5, I think you should get off on Lake Forest and head toward Foothill Ranch, direction is similar to above

REMINDER

By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings

Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***

> YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.

> YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY