Santa Monica Hiking Club

 
 
 

Let's go on an 11 day-trip to see one of the most beautiful and fascinating places in the U.S., Alaska, the final frontier, and one of the most fascinating natural phenomena: The Midnight Sun.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP: https://www.1000treks.com/trips/alaska-midnight-sun-adventure

We will be going exactly on Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year. In northern Alaska, above the Arctic Circle, that translates into 24 hours of the sun in the sky, even at midnight.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cross the Arctic Circle on June 21, Summer Solstice, to see the Midnight Sun: when the sun touches the horizon at midnight but never goes below it.

• Visit the breathtaking Denali National Park, one of the most beautiful and unique national parks in the U.S.

• Go on an exciting adventure through Devil's Canyon with Mahay's Jet Boat Adventure, where we will go on CLASS 5 rapids on a jet boat, travelling through the Alaskan backcountry.

• Go on a hike at Denali at midnight, with the sun in the sky.

• Go on an ATV adventure at midnight!

• Get to see some of the most amazing wildlife in the U.S., such as grizzlies, moose, caribou, and bald eagles in their natural habitat.

• Fly over Mt. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.

• See the mighty Yukon River.

• Do the Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour, a breathtaking drive through the Denali Highway, the road through Denali National Park.

• Spend a night in Talkeetna, an authentic, small Alaska town

• Travel the Alaska Railroad aboard the Denali Star from Talkeetna through Denali and Fairbanks, on a 271-mile journey through one of the most beautiful countries you can imagine: the nearly-untouched Alaskan wilderness.

• Stay at Chena Hot Springs, a beautiful Alaskan hot spring resort and experience some of the most amazing hot springs in existence.

• Go horseback riding through the Alaskan scenery.

• Go dryland dog sledding.

• Explore Fairbanks, the northernmost metropolis in the United States.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP: https://www.1000treks.com/trips/alaska-midnight-sun-adventure

 
 
 

FIREWORKS - HIKE and PARTY!!!!!

(GREAT view of the fireworks at Bel Aire Beach Club and across the entire west-side)

Pot-Luck / BRING FOOD and DRINK TO SHARE!!

Pretty EASY 4 miles R/T

(half way up to Parker Mesa on a BLUFF overlooking the ocean)

leaving the parking lot at 6:50-ish

IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE YOU CAN EASILY FIND US!!! **We'll leave ORANGE chalk at each turn...

POTLUCK suggestion: (IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE with potlucks yet, just bring enough for yourself... no problemo)

lets go by BIRTHDAY...

Jan Feb March - Veggies / Salad
Apr May June - Protein
July Aug Sept - Pasta / Carb
Oct Nov Dec - Fruit / Desert

everyone bring your own beverages, plates / glasses / utensils / napkins / blankets

***if you have a specialty that doesn't fit into your category feel free to go for it, it's just a suggestion and nobody will check your ID.

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BRING a FLASHLIGHT

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⛔️ GOOGLE MAPS ⛔️ https://goo.gl/maps/Mf8ZYpMPC1fFfGgQA

***parking restrictions AFTER 11PM so we'll have to start heading down by 10 PM unless you're parked elsewhere

LEGAL STUFF: AND AS USUAL, YOU AGREE BY GOING ON THIS HIKE THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THAT THE MEETUP FOLKS HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SAFETY. PLEASE SEE THE MEETUP TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP: http://www.meetup.com/terms/ ESPECIALLY PARAGRAPH 11.

 
 
 

For all the info and to sign up, go to www.1000treks.com

Let's go on an amazing South American adventure where we visit three South American countries, explore the largest rainforest in the world, see the largest waterfalls in the world, visit one of the world's most beautiful cities, and marvel at one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

FOR FULL DETAILS, GO TO: https://www.1000treks.com/trips/the-south-american-wonders--the-amazon--iguassu-falls-and-rio-

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Visit THREE South American Countries: Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

• Explore the mighty Amazon Jungle, the biggest rainforest in the world, including three days on a river jungle cruise and four days in an authentic jungle lodge deep in the jungle!

• Visit and spend the night with a tribe of Amazon Indians.

• Have the chance to see a variety of unique wildlife, including several different kinds of primates, sloth, Amazonian crocodiles, even jaguars and the biggest snakes in the world, anacondas!

• Go fishing for piranhas and then have piranhas for dinner (that's right!).

• Swim with the beautiful, unique Amazonian freshwater pink dolphins. That's right, we will not only see them but will SWIM WITH THEM IN THE WILD!

• Take a panoramic flight over the Amazon jungle (optional).

• Astound yourself as you gaze at the world's largest waterfalls and one of the Seven Wonders Nature, the majestic Iguassu Falls. We will see the falls from both the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side.

• Explore one of the world's most famous and beautiful cities: Rio de Janeiro.

• See the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the official Seven Wonders of the World.

FOR FULL DETAILS AND TO SIGN UP, GO TO: https://www.1000treks.com/trips/the-south-american-wonders--the-amazon--iguassu-falls-and-rio-

 
 
 

• 8 MILE HIKE TO MT PINOS / SAWMILL PEAK / NOMINAL ELEVATION GAIN

( optional 4 mile hike for those of you who may be outta shape these days )

⭐️⭐️ HIKE / FOOD / METEOR SHOWER !! ⭐️⭐️

⭐️ optional camping at Chula Vista Campground; 120 yards east of the parking lot... first come, first served...

( in that order - we'll do the hike... then return to the parking lot for food and then meteor stuff!! )

there will be SEVERAL telescopes (possibly less these days cuz of that flu thing) in the parking lot set up by a local astronomy club... at an elevation of 8,300 ft, no CITY LIGHTS...

it should be PRIMO STAR-GAZING that evening
🌜
RED LED HEADLAMPS STRONGLY URGED!!!

GOOGLE MAPS / SMARTPHONE LINK

https://goo.gl/maps/4F5Ge9RaCyx

http://www.astro-tom.com/avac/observing_sites/mount_pinos.htm

***NO ADVENTURE PASS REQUIRED IN PARKING LOT

IT WILL TAKE approx 2 hours travel time from the west side. I'm gonna take off at 10:30AM so I don't have to stress about being late. the last 45 minutes is a GORGEOUS drive!!!

(people camping should get there prior to noon to find and set up a camping spot, so leave the west side around 10AM)

DIRECTIONS

1. From the west side, Take the 405 Freeway north for about 19.1 miles and merge with the 5 Freeway north.
2. Continue north on the 5 Freeway for about 46.1 miles.
3. Take the Frazier Mountain Park Road exit going west toward Frazier Mountain. Watch carefully for the signs indicating the Frazier Mountain Road exit. (The exit is about 35 miles past Magic Mountain, and about 3 miles past a small town called Gorman.)
4. Continue on road for about 21 miles following the signs to Mt. Pinos. (After about 7 miles along Frazier Mountain road, the name of the road will change to Cuddy Valley road. About 4 miles past this point, the road will reach a fork. To the right is Mil Portrero Hwy, and to the left is Mt. Pinos road. Stay to the left and continue on Mt. Pinos road for another 10 miles and you’ll reach the Mt. Pinos parking lot!
5. The star party will take place in the large open parking lot at the end of the road. Park along the left hand side as you drive in!

(borrowed from the astronomy club) Parking and Headlights:

If you drive up to Mt. Pinos on your own, please try to arrive at the star party site before the sun sets so that we don’t have our headlights on as we drive in. Headlights and other bright lights ruin the night vision of the observers at the site. For this reason it is strongly recommended to use your parking lights and not to turn your headlights on when leaving the site until you are out of the parking area. There may be limited parking at the site, so that is another reason to arrive early and ensure a space. RED LED flashlights strongly encouraged!!!

GOOD CARPOOLING LOCATIONS ARE THE WHOLE FOODS OFF THE 405 AND SEPULVEDA IN SHERMAN OAKS AND THE McDONALDS ON ROXFORD STREET ABOUT A MILE NORTH OF WHERE THE 405 AND THE 5 FREEWAYS INTERSECT.

🛑 BRING CHAIRS / BLANKETS / WARM CLOTHES!!! GETS SURPRISINGLY CHILLY THERE AT NIGHT!! 🛑

GREAT video of this event a couple years ago!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6lHK_HJf68