Climb up through Cave of the Munits to Castle Peak

3-HOUR CLIMB UP A CHIMNEY CAVE IN THE WEST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY TO A KING'S CROWN OF ROCKS

(part of a double-header, a separately-posted later hike is at Sage Ranch, a few miles to the north at 2 pm)

IT'S GONNA BE HOT---BRING PLENTY OF WATER AND A HAT AND SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP!

MEET HERE:

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HIKE HERE:

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(above: CASTLE PEAK)

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(Above: the Cave of the Munits)

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(ABOVE: top of the chimney cave)

for a printable aerial trails map: http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/3/8/4/highres_116309572.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/3/8/4/event_116309572.jpeg

Castle Peak and Cave of the Munits—hike is about 3 miles (the Cave is a 100 foot tall chimney cave--has a hole in the top where you can see the sky).

HIKE DIFFICULTY: CAVE: Medium--we will be ascending through a chimney cave which does not require ropes or climbing equipment. This requires using your hands, however. When we climb out the top of the cave, we will continue up a slippery hillside trail to a notch in the ridge. (total gain of 700 feet). THIS CLIMB TAKES ABOUT 1 HOUR OR 1/2 HOUR IF YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED CLIMBER/HIKER. Just over this notch is the civilized trail that will take us east to Castle Peak. There is some easy rock climbing to the top of Castle Peak (up about 50 feet). From Castle Peak, we will return on the same ridge trail (but not go down through the cave, instead we will continue west and the ridge trail leads down the hill) and it will lead us back down to the trail crossroads and to the cars.

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DOGS: no dogs, please, even if on leash. You will have to carry your dog up through the cave, and Rover will not be pleased.

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DIRECTIONS: Castle Peak Park—located at the west end of Vanowen Avenue (take the 101 freeway to Valley Circle offramp, go north to Vanowen, turn left (west) and park in neighborhood). Trailhead is where Vanowen curves to the right (north). There is a 20 foot wide metal gate at the trailhead. MEET AT EL SCORPION CANYON PARK SIGN

MAP TO THE MEETUP SPOTS: "A" IS CASTLE PEAK PARK; ("B" is location of later 2 pm hike)

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.21776,-118.65320&z=13&t=M&marker0=34.19569%2C-118.65938%2C4.4%20km%20SW%20of%20Chatsworth%20Reservoir%20CA&marker1=34.24076%2C-118.67217%2C4.1%20km%20WxNW%20of%20Chatsworth%20Reservoir%20CA

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TO SEE WHAT THE HIKES LOOK LIKE, PLUS MAPS:

https://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=7959712

https://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1583291

https://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1274467

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BRING ALL THE USUAL STUFF, I'M NOT YOUR MOM....

Bring clothing (sorry, nude hikes are a different Meetup group), lots of water--at least 3 liters, hat, comfy shoes, snacks, all your troubles..., guitar, camera, etc...

LEGAL STUFF: finally, by going on this hike, you agree to assume all risks of this hike, and that no one at Meetup including the organizer is responsible for your safety. See the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2:

https://www.meetup.com/terms/

CHECK MY GUIDE TO THE MOST AWESOME HIKES IN L.A.:

http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com/p/list-of-hikes-i-lead.html

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