Upcoming Trips for 2010-2011

February 17-20, 2012

Big Sur Coast Campout

Los Angeles

Consider President´s Day weekend on the Big Sur Coast. Famous for its beauty, sheer cliffs, secluded beaches, crashing waves, pockets of redwoods, clover-like sorrel and ferns sustained by winter rains and a damp summer fog. The waters and kelp beds along the coast are rich in sea life. The scenic splendors of the area are protected in a network of parks and preserves. From our campsite, we´ll be in striking distance of Pt. Lobos: famous for groves of Monterey Pines, and frothy seas, home to the beleaguered sea otter. Also nearby, the world renowned 17-Mile Drive. Along this spectacular coastal drive from Carmel to Pacific Grove are the coiffed links of Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay, and scenic overlooks of rock, sand, and sea. Although the Big Sur´s beauty is predictable; the winter weather isn´t. This is definitely a trip for the adventurous.

February 25, 2012

Getty Center Museum

OCLB

The Getty Center, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, is a campus for cultural institutions founded by oilman J. Paul Getty. The $1.3 billion center, which opened on December 16, 1997, is also well known for its architecture, gardens, and the views overlooking Los Angeles. The center sits atop a hill connected to a visitor's parking garage at the bottom of the hill by a three-car, cable-pulled tram. The center draws 1.3 million visitors annually. This branch of the J. Paul Getty Museum specializes in "pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and 19th- and 20th-century American and European photographs". Among the works on display is the painting Irises by Vincent van Gogh. The center also has outdoor sculptures displayed on terraces and in gardens. Designed by architect Richard Meier, the campus includes a central garden designed by artist Robert Irwin. The center's design included special provisions to address concerns regarding earthquakes and fires.

March 10-11, 2012

Outdoors Experience I

Corporation

Part of the purpose of California Great Outdoors - according to our Bylaws - is to provide "low-cost outdoor activities, programs, education, and leadership training to its members."  Our Outdoors Experience training program accomplishes that purpose for our organization.

Here's what our Outdoors Experience Leader Chris has to say about our 2012 program:

“I´m excited to announce the Outdoors Experience 2012 - our own GO - sponsored outdoors skills and leadership program. We´ll; cover useful topics such as equipment/gear, trip planning, navigation, cooking, wilderness survival techniques, and medical considerations."

Phase I (Day Hike Certification) is March 10 & 11, 2012 at LaJolla Canyon Group Camp.  It's right near the PCH, just north of Malibu. Our campsite sits majestically above a clearly visible ocean and has a covered structure with picnic benches. The LaJolla Canyon hiking loop offers a bird's eye view up and down the coast, of the Channel Islands, and Mugu Rock. This is one sweet camp.

DON'T WAIT - THERE ARE ONLY SIXTEEN (16) TRAINING SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS COURSE!

March 14-20, 2012

Death Valley

Palm Springs

Death Valley was established as a national monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1933. The Desert Protection Act, under the Clinton Administration in 1994, not only increased its acreage from 2,036,000 acres to 3,396,000 acres, but also changed the Monument to the status of a National Park. Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. It is North America´s driest and hottest spot. The park has the lowest elevation on the continent, Badwater, at -282 feet below sea level.

Although The Desert Protection Act protects nearly 95% of the parks lands as wilderness, there are over 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads. These unpaved roads include some of the loneliest and most spectacular desert scenes. Generally, the wilderness boundary is 50 feet from the centerline of most backcountry dirt roads.

March 24, 2012

Whiting Ranch Easy Day Hike

OCLB

Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park encompasses about 4,300 acres of riparian and oak woodland canyons, rolling grassland hills, and steep slopes of costal sage scrub and chaparral. The park is highlighted by scenic rock formations, including the beautiful Red Rock Canyon, our destination.

Our hike will go up Borrego Canyon, through old growth forest. At 2 miles out, we will arrive at Red Rock Canyon. We will spend time there to enjoy the sights and a snack. On our way back, we will take a detour uphill to a view of central Orange County. The total hike will be about 4.5 miles and take about 2.5 hours. The last portion of trail into the Red Rocks is sandy and rocky so boots or sturdy walking shoes are recommended. Afterwards, those who wish can gather for lunch at a nearby food court.

March 30-April 1, 2012

Anza Borrego Campout

OCLB

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five -hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the Colorado Desert. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name Borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamondback rattlesnake.