Geo-hikes Geologic Maps Foundation

NO CELL COVERAGE AT THE TRAILHEAD

Let's hike the Chorro Grande trail to the Pine Mtn ridge line (5.5 miles on way, plus 3236 ft up) so 11 miles round trip. Pace will be moderate (2.0 mph), but this a fair amount of up so make sure you know your limitations. This is not an easy hike. We will have a short break at the crest and return the route we hiked in on. Bring a snack. Weather forecast is for a mid-day high in 70s in Ojai so it should be in the 60s-70s for hike, but it could be windy. The trail is along the southern flank so its well exposed to the sun. I expect to be back at the cars by 3:00 PM but it could take until 4:00PM.

The Chorro Grande trailhead is along the Maricopa Hwy (Hwy 33). About a 30-40 minute drive north of Ojai. There's a small trailhead sign on the right as you drive north and large dirt parking lot on the left of the highway.

At the Pine Mountain Ridge crest are great panoramas of the local ranges, if clear. To north we peer into the Cuyama badlands, and to south possibly see the Pacific Ocean and northern Channel Islands. The Chorro Grande trail traverses the southwest flank of the Pine Mountain Ridge. Along the way we will cross the Pine Mountain thrust fault and some interesting Eocene and Oligocene marine formations with their layers dipping southward. Pine Mountain Ridge is large anticlinorium (an arched upward crustal-scale fold) created by movement on the underlying Pine Mountain thrust, and the Chorro Grande trail traverses the southwest limb of the fold.

Bring plenty of water, boots, snacks, and lunch. It should be sunny and possibly warm, so a hat and sunblock are recommended.

Here's a link to a substack newsletter on the hike and geology with several short videos,
https://tdavisgeo.substack.com/p/geo-hike-along-the-chorro-grande

NOTE: YOU NEED TO BE IN GOOD HIKING CONDITION FOR THIS ADVENTURE. THE PACE IS ABOUT 2.0 MPH, IT'S UP MOST OF THE WAY, AND STEEP IN A FEW PLACES. THERE WILL BE NO SWEEP AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO TOP OF THE RIDGE YOU WILL NEED TO RETURN TO THE CHORRO GRANDE TRAILHEAD VIA THE TRAIL WE WENT UP, SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS ON THE WAY UP.

Please be prompt for meet-up point. We do not wait.

DOGS ARE OK BUT PLEASE KEEP THEM ON A LEASH DURING HIKE
NO GUESTS, HAVE THEM JOIN

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY*
(IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY):
The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.
Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.
If you choose to sign up for this or any Geo-hikes Meetup event, you are releasing the Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

• Anyone 18 yrs. or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

~5 miles RT route with ~1,000’ of elevation gain. We'll be taking the Pratt Trail (23W09) to its intersection with the Cozy Dell trail and returning along same route. Hike is in the moderate range, of course it depends on your hiking shape. It's up most of the way. We'll stop a couple times going up and at the top to discuss the geology.

From a geologic standpoint the Pratt trail is an excellent traverse across the older forearc deposits in the Ojai area: Coldwater, Cozy Dell, and Matijila Formations. To the east these deposits are locally overturned so the oldest unit is on top and probably due to the westward and subsurface continuation of the San Cayetano fault that breaks the surface further east. I'll bring a geologic map and a cross section.
Bring water, day pack, a snack, hat, sun block. Cellphone is always a good idea.

NO GUESTS, HAVE THEM JOIN GEO-HIKE GROUP.

PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU RSVP

PHOTO SHOWS MEETUP START POINT

A 4.5 miles roundtrip hike to the communication tower above Ventura and return, with a ~900 ft elevation gain, and pace is moderate, at about 2.0 MPH with several short stops. Most of the route is along an old dirt road that is closed to traffic, and the route traverses the south limb of the large Ventura anticline. I'll stop here and there and say a few words about the geology along the route. There is a great 360 degree view from the top. Dogs must be on a leash for the entire hike. Hike has no sweep and it is along the same dirt road in and out. If you are real slow we'll see you on way back down.

No guests, have them join.

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY*
(IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY):
The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.

Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.

If you choose to sign up for this or any Geo-hikes Meetup event, you are releasing the Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

• Anyone 18 yrs. or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

EVENT IS CLOSED, AT MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING ON. MEMBERS THAT HIKE WITH GEO-HIKES FREQUENTLY WILL HAVE PRIORITY TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

If you have a solid interest in attending this trip, absolutely know you can make the trip, can afford the trip, then sign-on and you'll be put on the waitlist, otherwise please do not sign-on.

If you are placed on the trip, You will need to email me, ASAP, your full name, email address, and vehicle color, make, year, and license plate number if you plan on driving (send to [email protected]) and state the trip you are on. If I don't receive this info you will be removed from the trip.

This will be a small group, 8-10 participants, including the leader Thom Davis, visiting and staying at the UC Reserve System's Boyd Deep Canyon facility above Palm Desert, CA. We will be hiking Coyote Canyon (photo), the lower portion of Deep Canyon, the Mecca Hills, and discussing the geology. There's some interesting and beautiful flora and fauna in these areas too! Hikes will be from 5-7 miles long with about 1,000 ft of elevation gain. You need to be in good hiking shape and stay-up with the group (approx. a 2.0 mph pace). Some of the routes are desert cross-country, we have no sweep, and we need to stay together as a group; getting lost in this place could be bad!

We will not be camping out but staying at the Deep Canyon facility. Facility has a well equipped kitchen facility (you bring and prepare all your meals including preparing lunch for the field). Kitchen has a stove, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, two refrigerators, plates, cups, eating utensils, pot and pans, etc. Facility has private rooms with two beds (we'll have to double up and there needs to be an equal number of men and women to maximize the attendance), and the facility has showers. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (or blankets), sheet to cover the mattress, pillow, towel, your personal hygiene stuff; plus your hiking gear: boots, hiking clothes (trail runners and short pants are a painful option given the amount of spiny plants in this place), water bottles, and a flashlight or headlamp. Facility has a swimming pool we can use (but it's not heated). There is good wifi but the cell coverage is spotty. I recommend checking the weather before the trip and be prepared for cool nights, warm days, and most likely lots of sun.

IMPORTANT: We meet at noon, Friday, November 22, 2024 at the intersection of Buckboard Trail and Portola Ave. in Palm Desert, CA. We need to check-in, as a group, at the security kiosk at the Reserve. If you are placed on the trip, You will need to email me, ASAP, your full name, email address, and your vehicle color, make, year, license plate number if you plan on driving (send to [email protected]) and state the trip you are on. If I don't receive, you will be removed from the trip.

This is a fund raiser for the nonprofit GMF (Geologic Maps Foundation), www.geologicmapsfoundation.org. GMF is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible. Cost is $170.00/person for 3 days and 2 nights payable by check to the Geologic Maps Foundation at the start of the event (please don't forget your check). GMF is a 100% volunteer effort with no employees. Donations pay for event expenses (in this case the facility) and GMF operating costs. Please read the cancellation policy.

THE COST OF THE TRIP IS $170.00.

PLEASE BRING A CHECK MADE OUT TO THE GEOLOGIC MAPS FOUNDATION FOR $170.00. DO NOT MAKE IT OUT TO ME!! GIVE ME THE CHECK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT WHEN WE MEET AT THE MEETUP POINT.

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY (IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY)

The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you are able to proceed, it is expected that you will maintain line of sight with other members of the group at all times and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.

Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.

If you choose to sign up for this or any Geo-hikes Meetup event, you are releasing the Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

No one under 18 years age will be allowed on this event and no dogs.