Socal Science Hikes

When it comes to hiking and land navigation, we often use rules of thumb to estimate the line of sight distance to an object or estimate the height of an object or estimate/track how far we have traveled.

Rules of thumb are very handy, but they have their limitations, and relying on them outside of those limitations can get you into trouble. The best way to recognize their limitations is to understand why they work in the first place.

In this meeting, I will be sharing the math behind these rules of thumb to explain why they usually work, and when they shouldn't be used. We will also have some hands-on demonstrations and experiments to back up the math.

As such, this meeting will be more of a discussion / classroom type of event, and not a hike - though there will be some walking. For those wanting to hike, please see the event I've scheduled to start after this one, and sign up if you're interested.

Meeting location:
Irvine Regional Park
Parking lot P
Look for the Socal Science Hikes banner

What to bring:

• Notebook / paper
• Pencil and/or pen
• Straight edge
• Camp chair or sitting pad
• Snacks and beverages as desired
• Clothing appropriate for the weather
• Footwear appropriate for pavement, grass, and dirt

Join us as we explore the oak woodland of Irvine Regional Park after dark and under the full moon.

The hike will start while it's still a bit light. This will give us the opportunity to see the diurnal animals settle down for the evening, and the nocturnal animals begin to stir- paying attention to any silhouettes in the treetops and flight paths against the sky. As the light turns to darkness, we will focus on listening for animals from the calls of owls to the buzzing of insects.

If you've never hiked at night, but have wanted to try, this will be a great first step. Irvine Regional Park is safe, and you can't get lost, and we'll never be much more than a mile as the crow flies from our vehicles.

Location: Irvine Regional Park.

Starting point: Grassy area adjacent to Parking Lot P located in the far east end of the park. Look for the Socal Sciences Hikes banner, and the guy with long hair, beard, and cowboy hat.

Distance: Approximately four miles.

Elevation gain: Minimal

Terrain: Dirt trail, rocky trails, pavement, concrete

Difficulty: Beginner

Recommended gear:
- Footwear suitable for dirt paths, creek beds, and pavement
- Clothing suitable for the weather
- Water
- Snacks (if desired)
- Headlamp or flashlight with red light setting
- Binoculars, monocular, or spotting scope

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