Wet Winter hiking season is here!

Now is the time to check out the SM Mountains' Waterfalls

I took my hiking group to see 6 waterfalls near Point Mugu State park on 12/27. If you want to join in, membership in the group is free. The one below is in a room under a giant boulder.

http://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/calendar/15818267

PHOTOS:
http://www.meetup.com/hiking-196/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1200522

I also put together a website that features an automatically-generated calendar of nature hikes in the L.A. area:
http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com/

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OTHER WATERFALL HIKES

Trail Notes: Hike the Grotto Trail from Circle X Ranch
http://wildrye.com/?p=180

Mishe Mokwa to Sandstone Peak--photos
http://sites.google.com/site/daykations/los-angeles-ca/mishe-mokwa-to-sandstone-peak

Ray Miller trail map, photo of La Jolla falls, why Ray Miller was built—to keep horses off the Chumash trail
http://www.californiacoastaltrail.info/cms/archives/hike_fav.php?aid=158

photos of hike in Santa Inez canyon
http://picasaweb.google.com/highland777/WebSantaYnezCanyon?feat=flashslideshow#

photos of hike to Santa Inez falls
http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/santa-ynez-falls/

Solstice canyon after Dec 2010 storms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaahNt4iIx0

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A NEW PARK SERVICE TRAIL MAP:

SMM NPS map of trails in SM and Simi hills
http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=376830

and another SM Mtns map--All trails are in yellow
http://www.cccarto.com/wmaps/SMMNRA/index.html

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OTHER COOL HIKES:

Photos and map of Ladyface mountain hike
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/RecentPhotos/2009-02-28Ladyface/_Page.html

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photos of Nicholas Flat---
http://picasaweb.google.com/highland777/WebNicholasFlatTrail?feat=flashslideshow#

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http://twitter.com/mountainstrust
their twitter page

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A WRAP-UP OF SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NEWS:

BATTLING OVER RESTORATION PLANS FOR MALIBU LAGOON:
http://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/showdown-over-malibu-lagoon/

Showdown over Malibu Lagoon

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/environment/malibu-lagoon-dredging-war-eru/

10/13/2010--Malibu Lagoon Dredging War Erupts Between Heal the Bay and Wetlands Defense Fund as Coastal Commission Decides Fate

http://malibusurfsidenews-blog.blogspot.com/2010/10/critics-of-state-plan-say-it-destroys.html

http://www.dof.ca.gov/osae/audit_reports/documents/WEBFinalReport-ResourceConservationDistrictoftheSantaMonicaMountainsMalibuLagoonRestorationP.pdf

review of Malibu Lagoon project
AND aerial before and after photo

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BATTLES OVER MORE CAMPSITES AND TRAIL CONNECTIONS:

http://malibusurfsidenews-blog.blogspot.com/2010/09/overnight-camping-may-now-be-non-issue.html
Overnight Camping May Now Be Non-Issue
• Conservancy Plan Critics No Longer Pack Council Chambers
9/29/2010
While the original plan proposed campsites at five parks, the current plan calls for the bulk of proposed campsites in one Pacific Coast Highway cluster at Corral Canyon Park and in two clusters at the SMMC-owned Bluffs Park. Two Americans-with-Disabilities-accessible campsites were retained at Ramirez Canyon Park, but the current plan eliminates all the campsites at the Latigo property and Escondido Canyon Park.

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CAHUENGA PEAK IS SAVED--HOLLYWOOD SIGN DIDN'T NEED TO BE SAVED

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40605648#40605648
140 ACRES IS BOUGHT To the west of the sign. The sign and the mountain it sits on have been part of Griffith Park for many years!

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HISTORY:

Topanga fire lookout

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/4/6/f/highres_20158479.jpeg
http://www.meetup.com/calabasasdayhikers/calendar/15337485/?from=list&offset=0

The lookout tower is not there anymore; it has been replaced with 2 sofas.


1961 Bel air wildfire
http://www.cccarto.com/cal_wildfire/index.html