SIERRA CLUB San Fernando Valley

Newsletter MAY 2014 Monthly Meetings-the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm

Reseda Park Rec. Hall, 18411 Victory Blvd. (Cross Street-Reseda Bl.) (Near child's play area), Reseda, CA. There is a parking lot & street parking. If the Rec Hall

parking lot is full, there is ample parking at the One Generation lot, directly east at 18255 Victory Boulevard

Call or Email for Information:

Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com

Learn About Conservation Tips AT OUR SF Valley Sierra Club WEBSITE: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/sfvg/

(See names, phone numbers and emails of our San Fernando Valley Management Committee in the sidebar)

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

In Main Column

Dinner-Fundraiser & Australia Program

* Fracking

* Mothers of the

Santa Monica Mts. *

Can Empowering Women Help Save Our

Planet *

Stay Married to Stay Green

*

Phone in to Water Committee

FUTURE PROGRAMS

Program

Following Darwin's Finches in the Galapagos Islands

JULY 15, 2014

Monthly meeting: Joe Young is a long time member of the Sierra Club. He received the "Life Long Service Award" from the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. He has led the Hundred Peaks Section of the Sierra Club, climbing over 270 peaks. He has been a member of the Angeles Chapter Excom since 2005. Come and hear his talk: "Following Darwin's Finches in the Galapagos Islands". Joe participated in an Earthwatch Expedition and assisted research into the effects of

Sierra Club San Fernando Valley ITALIAN DINNER & FUND-RAISER

PROGRAM, JUNE 17, 2014, TUES, 6:30PM

Come see and learn about the world famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia

At Prince of Peace Episcopal Church

5700 Rudnick Avenue Woodland Hills, CA 9l367

THE PROGRAM IS:

Down Under: Seeing Australia From

An Environmentalist's Perspective

Michael Stevenson, a long time Sierra Club member and the Program Chair for the San Fernando Valley Sierra Club Group will present: "Down Under: Seeing Australia From An Environmentalist's Perspective". Come and learn about the original Australian's, the Aboriginal people who were thought to have arrived on the continent during the last Ice Age, at least 50,000 years ago. See Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock), a site sacred to the Aboriginal owners. See and learn about the diverse range of habitats from semi-arid to tropical rainforests and the unique animals that occupy these places (more than 80% of these plants and animals are unique to Australia). See the spectacular southern sea coast off Melbourne. Visit the Great Barrier Reef, the largest structure on Earth built by living organisms. And finally learn about how "Climate Change" is effecting Australia and what they are going to have to do about it. Come and support the Sierra Club, get something to eat or as they say in Australia "Grab A Feed" and learn about one of the most interesting places on earth.

HOW TO RESERVE: Make your reservations by sending $25.00 payable to: San Fernando Valley Sierra Club, Mail To: Belen Katzen, 9543 Rudnick Ave Chatsworth, CA. 91311 818-341-8304, barkat@rocketmail.com Please include a phone number & address or email. Upon receipt of your check, a confirmation notice will immediately be mailed or emailed.

people on the finches. He also visited nearby islands and encountered some of the unique wildlife the Galapagos is known for. Come and see his beautiful photographs and learn about one of the most fascinating places on earth.

There will be Q & As, socializing and refreshments.

Energy & EV Secrets

Program

AUGUST 19, 2014

The presenter is Russell Sydney and he is going to be speaking about his book "Energy and EV Secrets" Russell Sydney has spent his life on the front lines of economic and technical change. He is uniquely qualified to write about the burgeoning EV solution. Russell is a Chevy Volt driver and has been an electric vehicle user for almost a decade

The State of Fracking in California SEPT.16, 2014

Monthly meeting: Alexandra Nagy is the Southern California Organizer at the Los Angeles branch of Food

Join Us!

Let's Not Frack Our Valley May 20, 2014 Tues. 7:00pm

(See address & directions at the top of this email.)

Dr. Tom Williams is a Sierra Club Life Member and the Co-Chair of the Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter Fracking-Oil and Gas Committee. He has a doctorate in Geology and Zoology and worked for 30+ years as an Environmental Specialist, Geologist and Engineer with Parsons (Pasadena) and URS Corporation. He also worked for 10+ years for the Dubai-UAE Government. In the 1970's he was Conservation Chair for the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Come and hear his talk "Let's Not Frack Our Valley". Around the world hydraulic fracturing or fracking is changing the entire oil and gas industry as a method to produce gas and oil for us to burn. Come and learn about the history and the FUTURE of fracking, what it is and how it works. Most importantly learn what the environmental, health and seismic effects of fracking are and will be and what actions Sierra Club members must take to mitigate its effects and to help those in the Valley and the State Legislature. There will be Q & As, socializing and refreshments.

There will be socializing and refreshments. QUESTIONS CALL: Joe Phillips , 818 348-8884,

recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com

& Water Watch. She works both in Los Angeles and the greater Southern California region advocating for consumer health issues including food safety and the right to clean water as well as a statewide ban on fracking. Come and hear her talk: "The State of Fracking in California". Fracking is a controversial oil and gas production technique that has been linked to over 1,000 cases of water contamination, increases in air pollution/smog and earthquakes across the country. Fracking poses serious threats to public safety and health, the environment, and private property. In California, local communities including Los Angeles are taking a stand to ban fracking. The Sierra Club has also advocated for a ban on fracking. Come and learn what you can do to help stop this dangerous practice of extracting oil and natural gas.

There will be Q & As, socializing and refreshments.

A Political Night at

the Sierra Club

October 21, 2014 Monthly meeting: Barry Katzen our Political Chair will host "A Political Night at the Sierra Club". Come and hear our local candidates for Congress, Assembly and State Senate as well as

Has the Valley been Fracked?

Tom Williams, CoChair, Fracking Oil and Gas Committee Fracking is a popular term in California and now means any unconventional hydraulic fracturing, acidization, and gravel packing techniques to stimulate a new or old oil or gas wells to make them work better with higher flows of oil/gas into/from underground rocks from/into the well. Why? To make more money for the operators and royalty owners. These techniques frack the rocks by injecting very highly compressed gases or liquids into existing cracks in the rock and causing cracks to open up and allow gases/liquids into/from the rocks; injection pump pressures exceed 3000psig down in a 5000ft deep well.

Has it been done in the Valley? Probably, drilling and production has been done east of I-405 and north of the SR-118 since the1930s but recently oil and gas operators are very quiet about doing anything, except offshore. Is it SAFE and will it cause impacts now or in the future? Yes/No. We don't know and until last year no regulation and little knowledge or reporting of fracking existed in California. Now we are finding out more with the State legislature, Water/Air agencies, Sierra Club California, and many Chapters looking into all levels of the fields, operators, regulators, and sciences/engineering for the field. Problems arise from unknown risks to public/occupation health and safety, air quality, soil and groundwater contamination, spills/explosion/fires, and ground movements (subsidence, earthquakes and seismic responses). As one Valley state legislator said last year, Let's not do unto later

generations what has been done to our groundwater now (=informed consideration). We know the Valley is underlain by many big faults that caused major earthquakes and by large deposits of oil and gas, some removed, and others to be removed. We also found that many old wells in the Valley have not been sealed properly or to current best practices. We found that old wells in the Fairfax and Baldwin Hills/Culver City can blowout and injury people. Sierra Clubers are working on getting many cities, some counties, some regional and state agencies, and many legislators to stop such techniques until we have collected, analyzed, and assessed information and consider who benefits/is at risk from such activities and where and how to make it safe for all.

candidates for other state wide offices. Candidates or their representatives will speak to the issues that we in the environmental community care about the most. There will also be discussions on any Propositions on the Ballot of concern to the Sierra Club. Any Sierra Club official endorsements will be made known. There will be Q & As, socializing and refreshments.

We need your help!

The Sierra Club relies heavily on

its volunteers to

carry out its Mission.

Since you probably have a skill that

we need and if you can spare a few

hours a month, let us know.

Call Elaine Trogman 818 780-

8345 Call Barry Katzen

818 341-8304

S.A.F.E Centers: Permanent Collection Centers

The following S.A.F.E.

(Solvents, Automotive,

Flammables Electronics)

Recycling and Disposal

Information is available

Northridge: Nicole

Bernson SAFE Collection Center

10241 N. Balboa Blvd. Northridge, CA 91325 Hours of Operation:

MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHERS OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

Three women, Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margot Feu er galvanized the movement that helped make Santa Monica Mountains National Re creation Area a reality in 1978. ( per National Park Service) By Elaine Trogman When I was in school in the 1950s and 1960s we used to go for drives and one of our most popular trips was to go from the SF Valley to Malibu via Malibu Canyon. It was very rural and my childish mind thought that would never change. Fast-forward until now and I now know that I was wrong but some of it changed for the better and other parts succumbed to the developer's shovel. The beginning of the Malibu Canyon ride from the SF Valley side has changed in that there are now continuous housing projects and fast food places where there was once open space. After you pass that part things start to look the same as when I was a kid. Some of that rural feeling can be credited to the 3 women whose picture you see above this article and they are Susan Nelson, Jill Swift and Margot Feuer. When I was a child most of that land I looked at was privately owned and at any time they could send in the bulldozers. Now large sections are National, State and local parks and, therefore, it has been saved from development but there are private lands sandwiched in-between. Some people refer to Anthony Beilensen as the father of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area (SMMNRA) and it is true he had political power to work with but there were 3 mothers who worked just as hard and they were Margot Feuer, Sue Nelson & Jill Swift. Both Margot and Sue spent a lot of their time trying to persuade political people to get involved with legislation to provide more land to SMMNRA; Margot became the Sierra Club's principal lobbyist for the park and made repeated trips to Washington to testify before Congress. What originally got Margot active were the terrifying proposals introduced, which included building a nuclear power plant in an isolated canyon and a freeway through Malibu Canyon. Jill spent her time getting the public interested in the project by taking people hiking in the mountains for the purpose of showing them what could be lost with development. In 1971 she led 5000 people on a march on Mulholland Drive. She was a member of the Sierra Club Santa Monica Mountains Task Force. Margot was a founder of the group Save Open Space and helped to save Ahmanson Ranch and neighboring Jordan Ranch. Sue was president of the Friends of the Santa Monica Mountains, Parks and Seashore and on the Central Committee of the Sierra Club. Not only did Sue do lobbying for the parks but she, also, was involved in inventorying both plants and wildlife species for the National Park Service. If you want to read more about the history of the creation and ongoing issues concerning the SMMNRA here are 2 links to articles below that can help you. July 12, 2012 article by Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation: "The Battle for Santa Monica Mountains Goes On." California Native Plant Society's: A Mountain Park in a Great City.

Saturdays, and Sundays 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m

(MAP/MAPA)

Sun Valley: RANDALL STREET

SAFE Collection Center 11025 Randall St

Sun Valley, CA 91352 Hours of Operation:

Saturdays and Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m (MAP/MAPA) .............

They accept: paint and solvents; used motor oil and filters, anti-freeze, and other automotive fluids; cleaning products; pool and garden chemicals; aerosol cans; all medicine except controlled substances; auto batteries; household batteries. E-waste: computers, monitors, printers, network equipment, cables, telephones, televisions, microwaves, video games, cell phones, radios, stereos, VCRs, and electronic toys

Transportation limit for chemical related items: It is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to collection sites. Please pack your waste properly to prevent tipping or spilling of the waste during transportation

It is dangerous to

throw compact

flourescent lights in the

garbage. You can

recycle the

Cartoon by Willis Simms

Population-7 Billion & Climbing

Certain social changes have to be met before the wo rld's birthrate goes down

Conservation Corner-

Can Empowering Women Help Save Our Planet?

By Michael Stevenson While many of us are busy trying to improve our "green energy" profile, eating locally grown organic food and recycling everything we can we seldom address the elephant in our little green lives: our staggering over population problem. It took the entirety of human history to reach a population of one billion in 1804. Since then we have had our collective feet on the population accelerator. It took us only 123 years to reach 2 billion in 1927 and another 33 years to reach 3 billion in 1960. In 1974, only 14 years later, we reached 4 billion. Since then we have been adding another billion every 12 years or so and will reach 7 billion this year. In our lifetime most of us will live through at least a doubling in the earth's human population.

If we are ever going to save our planet, stabilizing our population deserves at least as much effort as switching from "brown energy" to "green energy." Climate change won't be solved by energy experts alone. If everyone drove a plug-in hybrid or an electric car powered by sunlight our per capita energy use would certainly plummet but we would still have too many of us competing for a dwindling source of clean water and sustainable food supplies.

According to John Seager, President of Population Connection, (formerly known as Zero Population Growth), the worldwide empowerment of women and population stabilization go hand in hand. Many studies show that when educational opportunities are provided for young girls and women, birth rates drop as women begin to control their own destiny. We don't need to emulate China's forced family planning policy formulated in the early 1970s. This policy limits most urban couples to one child and most rural couples to two children. Without this policy China would have 400 million more than their current 1.3 billion people.

In contrast to China, Mexico decreased their birth rate from 5.7 children per woman in 1976 to 2.2 in 2006. The birth control method was education, jobs and a future. Women then choose to have fewer and healthier children.

Various high tech and risky ideas have been proposed to mitigate climate change such as launching mirrors into space to deflect the sun's rays. Laurie Mazur, the director of the Population Justice Projects says "there are more sensible low-tech ways to reduce our collective carbon footprint for relatively little cost, at far less risk, and with substantial social benefits. Voluntarily slowing population growth is one of them." Population expert Robert Engelman of The Worldwatch Institute spent decades interviewing women from around the world and found they prefer to have only about 2 children. He says that giving control to women will naturally end the world's population growth problem and that "women don't want more children they want what's best for their children."

Educating and empowering women is a win-win strategy but it doesn't get us off the hook. We must also come to terms with energy use in the developed world. Americans are by far the world's largest per-capita emitters of CO2 and changing our own systems of production and consumption must be a top priority if we are to preserve our planet. According to Mother Jones Magazine one American child creates as much CO2 as 106 Haitian kids. To avoid disaster that can't continue. Our challenge is to both empower women while at the same time reducing our consumption footprint.

lights at HOME DEPOT

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

SIERRA CLUB MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Chair/Rep to Executive Committee Barry Katzen 818 341-8304 barkat@rocketmail.com Vice-Chair… .Anita Devore 818 705-2301 Treasurer Gabe Szende 818-999-5384 gabesende@yahoo.com Outing Chair Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com Secretary… Belem Katzen 818 341-8304 Programs… Michael Stevenson drmsteve@aol.com 818-419-5318 Membership Chair: Julie Szende 818-999-5384 julieszende@gmail.com Political Committee… Barry Katzen 818 341-8304 barkat@rocketmail.com Outreach: OPEN Conservation Chair: Terrie Brady NEW 818-264-6731 terriebrady@gmail.com Publicity Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com Hospitality… Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com Info Phone… Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com Vall-E-Vents Editor Elaine Trogman 818-780-8345 ektrogman@yahoo.com Member at Large Edith Roth 818-346-9692 Cartoonist The Late Willis Simms

According to a recent investigation, divorce creates pretty hefty costs to the environment. Courtesy Orange Coast Voice

Stay Married to Stay Green

by Sarah S. Mosko, Ph.D. If you are looking for reasons to patch up a rocky marriage, here is one you have probably overlooked - do it for the planet! While it is common knowledge that divorce can be costly to the pocketbook, a recent investigation exposes pretty hefty costs to the environment too. Divorce is on the rise in the United States as evidenced by an increase in divorced households (households with divorced heads) from 5% to 15% of total households between 1970 and 2000. The proportion of married households (with married heads) sank from 69% to 53% over this same interval

Read the rest of "Stay Married to Stay Green" Other environmental articles by Sarah Mosko on boogiegreen.com

From your home, tune-in to the

Angeles Chapter's WATER COMMITTEE

If you are interested in water issues in California, & especially So. Calif., we urge you to come or tune into the WATER COMMITTEE by phone. We have discussions within the committee and we, also, invite experts to speak to us. The Water Comm. meets every month on the second Wed. at 7:00pm. If you can't make it in person then you can choose to tune-in from your home telephone or by video conferencing. The no charge phone conference line is available at 1-866-501-6174 Code: 1000 400 1892.

GoToMeeting video conferencing link (no charge):https://www4.gotomeeting.com/join/124173903

GoToMeeting app. (iPhone®, iPad® or Android®) Meeting ID: 124-173-903

Any questions for the Water Committee contact Charming Evelyn. If you want to personally attend the Water Committee, contact Charming for location.bcharmz@aol.com

HIKE & ACTIVITIES SECTION

Sierra Club Santa Monica Mountains Taskforce (SMMTF) is largely responsible for many of the major trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. Mary Ann & Ron Webster are founding members of the SMMTF. When hiking on the Musch Trail in Topanga Canyon (and many other trails) you can thank them and their trail crews. The SMMTF website it below: The website is: http://smmtf.org/ To see the trail crew dates & Tues. hikes choose "Calendar" The Trail Crew of the SMMTF still maintains a strong program of building and maintaining trails that support recreational use throughout the Santa Monicas and in adjacent parkland. They have a need for volunteers. Use the graphic below to sign up.

http://smmtf.org/volunteer.php

SEE MORE PICTURES IN HIKE SECTION

BELOW

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES COME TO OUR PROGRAMS AND PICK UP OUR SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITES

through JUNE 2014. The schedules have programs and hikes in the San Fernando Valley area.)

See programs and hikes thru JUNE 2014 from our San Fernando Valley Sierra Club website. Use this link below to start: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/sfvg/

CALLING ALL HIKE LEADERS OR TRAINEES FOR

SATURDAY OR SUNDAY HIKES Help people who work to get exercise

and learn about nature. Call or Email Outings Chair

Joe Phillips 818 348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com

SATURDAY & SUNDAY ACTIVITIES

SATURDAY ACTIVITIES

TAKE A HIKE AT SEPULVEDA BASIN: Because of the plant destruction that was brought on by the Army Corp of Engineers, we are tentatively planning to conduct a public information hike around the damaged area each Sunday. If you are interested in the hike or if you are an interested hike leader

please contact Joe Phillips at 818-348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com

Thurs. 5-29-14 Trippit Ranch Tues. 5-13-14 Trippit Ranch

See write-ups in Tues & Thurs activities below Photo by Sierra Club Member Gayle Dufour

SUNDAY ACTIVITIES

Orcutt Ranch

Sunday, May 25th O:Sierra Singles/SFV Orcutt Ranch Picnic: Join us for a picnic to start the summer. We'll meet at The historic Orcutt Ranch. We'll enjoy our lunch, bring something to share, than take a docent lead tour (permitting). The historic Orcutt Residence is surrounded by 24-acres of gardens and a citrus orchard. The gardens include heritage oaks trees, wandering garden paths, formal flower beds, and a variety of interesting specimen trees, exotic shrubs, and flowering plants. There are several significant oak trees on the property; one of the largest is more that 33' in circumference and is estimated to be more than 700 years old. This stand of oaks was commemorated with a plaque on October 2, 1948, by the San Fernando Valley Historical Society. Meet at 11:30 am at the ranch located 23600 Roscoe Blvd., West Hills, 91304. Lunch, drink and item to share. Rain cancels. Leader: Sandra Tapia 818.365.4571, co-leader Gerrie Montooth.

Thurs. 5-29-14 Trippit Ranch

Tues. 5-13-14 Trippit Ranch See write-ups in Tues & Thurs activities below

Photo by Sierra Club Member Gayle Dufour

TUES. HIKES & ACTIVITIES

Tuesday

Moderate Easy Paced 4-6 Mile. For all hikes, bring 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, & sunscreen.

RAIN CANCELS. Possible $3-$9 park fee

Hike Leaders phone # Nancy Krupa (818)981-4799, Pixie Klemic (818)787-5420, M. Vernallis(818)360-4414, , Marcia Harris.310-828-6670, Charlotte Feitshans (818)818-501-1225, Peter Ireland 310-457-9783 (w) Sandra Tapia 818.365-4571, Rosemary Campbell (818)344-6869, Doug Demers( 805)419-4094, Richard Pardi (818)346-6257. Dotty Sanford 805-532-2485, Rita Okowitz 818-889-9924, Virve Leps 310-477-9664. Reaven Gately (661)255-8873, Mimi Knights (661)253-3414, Ted Mattock (818)222-5581, Joe Phillips 818 348-8884, Stephen Beck 818-346-5759 Hikes sponsored by Wilderness Adventures These hikes are included as a courtesy.

May 6 , 2014 Valley to the Sea (almost): O:(WA) Moderately paced 71/2 mile 800' gain 2300' loss hike across Topanga State Park from Tarzana to Temescal Canyon at Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades. Ride 3 buses and car shuttle back to start. This is an all day adventure, lots of fun. Meet 8:00 AM at top of Reseda Blvd in Tarzana. From 101 Ventura Fwy take Reseda Blvd exit, turn south and go 3 miles to Mulholland Gateway Park. Choice to park along street below the white line at beginning of fee area or pay fee and park above. Meet at trailhead at the top. Bring money for bus, 2 qts water, snack, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: PIXIE KLEMIC Asst: HERB MOORE

May 13 Trippet Ranch to Eagle Rock via Musch Trail: O:(WA) Moderately paced 5 mile, 700' gain hike through Topanga State Park with lots of wildflowers , grasslands, oak woodlands,

chaparral and coastal sage to great 360º view at Eagle Rock via the Musch Trail. Meet 8:00 AM at Trippet Ranch fee parking lot. From 101 Ventura Fwy take Topanga Canyon Blvd 7 ½ mi. south to Entrada Rd, turn left (east), and go about a mile to fee lot. Bring water, snack, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: MARCIA HARRIS Asst: STEPHEN BECK

May 20 Bear Divide to Walker Ranch: O:(WA) 6 mile, 1300' loss hike. We will start at the top of the San Gabriel Mtns at Bear Divide; hike the ridge to the Wilson Saddle with great views of the Valleys, then down the Los Pinetos Trail into the oaks at Walker Ranch in Placerita Cyn SP. Meet at Walker Ranch trail head parking area for car shuttle to Bear Divide at 8:00 AM. From Hwy 14 in Newhall take Placerita Cyn Rd exit and go east about 3½ miles, passing Placerita Cyn Park entrance, to dirt shoulder parking for Walker Ranch on right. Do not block gate. Bring water, snack, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: REAVEN GATELY Asst: PIXIE KLEMIC

May 27 Paramount Ranch: O:(WA) Moderately paced 5 mile, 400' gain around the old (and still active) movie set and environs of oak savannahs, Medea Creek, chaparral canyons, including a side trip to the old Reagan Ranch. Meet 8:00 AM at Paramount Ranch parking lot. From 101 Ventura Fwy take Kanan Rd exit, go south on Kanan Rd ½ mile, turn left on Cornell Way and veer to right continuing south 2½ miles to Paramount Ranch entrance on right. Bring water, snack, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: RITA OKOWITZ Asst: PIXIE KLEMIC

Tues. 5-6-14 Valley to the Sea (almost) writeup above Thurs. 5-1-14 Valley to the Sea writeup below Photo by Sierra Club Hike Leader Pixie Klemic

THURSDAY HIKES & ACTIVITIES

Hike Leaders phone # Nancy Krupa (818)981-4799, Pixie Klemic (818)787-5420, M. Vernallis(818)360-4414,, Marcia Harris.310-828-6670, Charlotte Feitshans (818)818-501-1225, Peter Ireland 310-457-9783 (w) Sandra Tapia 818.365-4571, Rosemary Campbell (818)344-6869, Doug Demers( 805)419-4094, Richard Pardi (818)346-6257. Dotty Sanford 805-532-2485, Rita Okowitz 818-889-9924, Virve Leps 310-477-9664. Reaven Gately (661)255-8873, Mimi Knights (661)253-3414, Ted Mattock (818)222-5581, Joe Phillips 818 348-8884, Stephen Beck 818-346-5759

Thurs Moderate Paced

For all hikes, bring 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, & sunscreen. RAIN CANCELS. Possible $3-$9 park fee

Hikes sponsored by Wilderness Adventures These hikes are included as a courtesy.

May 1, 2014 Valley to the Sea: O:(WA) Moderately paced 11 mile 1600' gain 3000' loss hike across Topanga State Park from Tarzana to Sunset Blvd/PCH in Pacific Palisades. Ride 3 buses back to start. This is an all day adventure, lots of fun. Meet 8 AM on Mecca Ave just south of Ventura Blvd for car shuttle to trailhead (from 101 Ventura Fwy take Reseda Blvd, exit 23, south to Ventura Blvd, turn right and then left at next corner, Mecca). Bring $ for bus fare, 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leaders: TED MATTOCK, MIMI KNIGHTS

May 8 Wilson Canyon: O: (WA) Moderately paced 10 mile 1600' gain hike from SM Mts Conservancy Park with magnificent oak area, to Wilson Saddle viewpoint with great SF valley views. Meet 8 AM at Wilson Cyn Park trailhead (from the Golden State/I-5 Freeway in Sylmar take Roxford St, exit 159, north past the 210 Freeway, bend right to Olive View Drive, continue past the main hospital and the four-way stop at Bledsoe Street to park entrance road located approximately 200 yards east of Bledsoe, just before Fenton Avenue, pay $5 parking fee near entrance, then proceed to trailhead parking at northwest terminus of entry road). Bring $5 for parking, 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: MIMI KNIGHTS Asst: NANCY KRUPA

May 15 Tapia Park to MASH Site: O: (WA) Moderately paced provisional hike, about 8 miles and 800 feet of gain, from Tapia Park to MASH site in Malibu Creek State Park. Meet 8am at Tapia Park trailhead. From 101 Ventura Fwy take Las Virgenes / Malibu Canyon Rd exit and go approximately 4½ miles south, about a mile south of main entrance to Malibu Creek State Park. From Pacific Coast Hwy take Malibu Canyon Rd north approximately 3½ miles. Entrance is on west side about 1/10 mile north of Piuma Rd. Pay to park at trailhead or park free at SE corner of Piuma & Malibu Canyon. Bring water, snacks, lugsole boots, hat, sunscreen, $ for parking. Rain cancels. Leader: DIANE DEMARCO Asst: NANCY KRUPA

May 22 Weldon Cyn Overlook: O: (WA) Moderately paced 8 mile 1200' gain hike through oaks, black walnut and fir trees, passing BFI planted oaks as a condition of landfill expansion, to overlooking views of Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys. Meet 8 AM East Canyon trailhead of Santa Susana Mtns. From northbound Interstate 5 take Calgrove Blvd, exit 166, turn left (west) under the freeway and take the Old Road south about 1 mile to parking entrance after church on right, and continue past trailhead sign to parking area. Bring $5 for parking, 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leaders: MIMI KNIGHTS, REAVEN GATELY

May 29 Trippet Ranch, Musch Trail, Eagle Rock Loop O: (WA) : Moderately paced 8 mile 1200' gain hike in Topanga State Park. Meet 8 AM at Trippet Ranch parking lot (from 101 Ventura Fwy take Topanga Canyon Blvd, exit 27, south to Entrada Rd, turn left (east), go about one mile making two left turns to stay on Entrada Rd, and park along Entrada Rd outside lot or pay to park in lot). Bring $ for parking, 2 qts water, lunch, lugsoles, hat, sunscreen. Rain cancels. Leader: STEPHEN BECK Asst: NANCY KRUPA

Wilson Canyon hike Thurs, May 8, 2014

See writeup abovee in Thurs. Section Photo by hike leader Pixie Klemic

NON-SIERRA CLUB ACTIVITIES (from here to the end of the newsletter)

The following activities are not sponsored nor administered by the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has no information about the planning of these activities and makes no representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision or management of such activities. They are published only as a reader service because they may be of interest to the readers of this publication.

The Springs Fire began on May 2, 2013 on the Conejo Grade section of the 101 Freeway in Camarillo, CA by accidental ignition from a passing car or truck. Th e fire occurred under extreme weather conditions wi th low humidity, high temperatures and strong Santa Ana wi nds. The fire burned 24,238 acres in a day and a ha lf.

Monday, May 19, 2014 Personal Wildfire Action Plan.... READY - SET - GO Presenter: The Fire Captain from LA County Lake Manor Firehouse

Rockpointe Clubhouse: 22300 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 (On the south side, one block before entrance to Chatsworth Park South) The Fire Captain from LA County Lake Manor Firehouse will discuss how to best prepare for wildfires in Chatsworth and surrounding area, what to do and not do, to best protect your family and home. The presentation will explain the fire department's emergency use of the heliport located in the Chatsworth Nature Preserve during a brushfire in the area. You will not want to miss this meeting with the approaching summer, Santa Ana winds, and extra-dry season that fuels wildfires. Fire safety handouts will be provided at the meeting. . website Santa Susana Mt. Park Assn (SSMPA)

Reseda Neighborhood Council Bike Ride Reseda program rides weekly in and around San Fernando Valley. For info. contact: Joe Phillips at 818-348-8884 recreationbyjoe@yahoo.com

King Gillette Ranch

King Gillette Ranch See write-up on activities below

Photo by Sierra Club hike leader Pixie Klemic

King Gillette Ranch Directions & Info. From 101 Ventura Fwy take Las Virgenes Rd/Malibu Canyon exit, go south approx. 3.5 miles miles to Mulholland Hwy. Turn left on Mulholland and then right to enter the long eucalyptus alleé driveway for Ranch.

Parking Visit the King Gillette Ranch Visitor Center & Store Free Parking for 2 hours Other Ranch parking is $7.00. (There is an iron ranger at the parking lot entrance where visitors can pick up an envelope and make their payments.) All programs and activities are free unless stated on the event write-up. Allow time to visit the Visitor Center and Store then take a hike. The visitor center is a very enjoyable experience with many hands on exhibits regarding the Santa Monica Mountains. There is, also, a fun short hike up a hill with great views in all directions. The photo above was taken from this hill.

King Gillette Interpretive Programs & Misc Western National Parks Assn. events at King Gillette Ranch

Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center & Store 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302 Open 9 – 5 Daily

Event Info/Reservations: 805-370-2302 General Info: 805-370-2301

Questions for these events below contact Sophia Wong, Store & Events Manager Western National Parks Association Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area King Gillette Ranch 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas CA 91302 805-370-2302 direct/ 805-370-2301 general, 818-880-6550 fax samo@wnpa.org, www.wnpa.org

Below are the Western National Parks Assn./National Park Service events at King Gillette Ranch

PROGRAM: Sunday, May 18: 10 am - 3 pm Live Reptile & Amphibian Show Sponsored by Southwestern Herpetologists Society and Western National Parks - King Gillette Ranch: Santa

Monica Mountains Interagency VisitorCenter: www.samo@wnpa.org * Phone: 805-370-2302

King-Gillette Interpretive Programs & Misc Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) events at King-Gillette Park sponsors the events below:

These programs below are a project of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) in cooperation with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, California State Parks, and National Park Service. Come visit their visitor center at King Gillette Ranch. If you have questions on these programs below call: (818) 878-0866 x228 RAIN CANCELS $7.00 parking

26800 Mulholland Hwy.Calabasas, CA 91302

PROGRAM: Sat, May 3rd at 3pm Capture a Nature Moment

Nature offers the best photo opportunities, but can be a difficult model. Learn the tricks of nature photography on an easy walk. Bring your camera. Meet at Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center. 2 hours.

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