ITINERARY
Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail Trek 2010
RENDEZVOUS MAY 1, 2010 SATURDAY
- Meet at Thornhill Broome Beach Campground, Point Mugu State Park, between 2 & 4 p.m.
- Camp here and shuttle personal vehicles to secure parking
- Dinner provided
- Campfire. Introductions and orientation.
- Cold showers (bring sun shower)
- Single van shuttle to park vehicles in the secure parking area
DAY 1 MAY 2, 2010 SUNDAY
La Jolla Canyon Backbone Trail, trailhead to Danielson Ranch Group Camp - Moderate: 8.1 mi., 1,330 ft. climb
- Break camp 8:30 am. This time is subject to being earlier if the predicted high temperature is over 85 degrees.
- From this point, the western terminus of the BBT, hike up the Ray Miller Trail to the Overlook Trail (2.7 mi.), hike Overlook Trail to the Wood Canyon Vista Trail (1.9 mi.), descend the Wood Canyon Vista Trail to Big Sycamore Canyon (1.8 mi.), and hike to Danielson Ranch Group Camp, Point Mugu State Park (1.7 mi.)
- Look to the right for tomorrow’s challenge: the ridge line of Boney Mountain, 2,000 feet higher
- Camp at Danielson Ranch
- Hot showers
- No shuttle
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 2 MAY 3, 2010 MONDAY
Danielson Ranch Group Camp to Triunfo Peak Trailhead - Difficult: 9 mi., 3,060 ft. climb with the option of including an additional 4.5 mi. section of the Backbone Trail for a total of 13.5 mi.
- Break camp 7:00 am
- Hike up Blue Canyon to Chamberlain Rock (3 mi.) and continue (4.5 mi.) up to the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains (and consequently the highest point of the Backbone Trail)
- Visit Inspiration Point and Sandstone Peak
- Descend the trail to the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead parking (1.6 mi.). For those hikers that elect to not hike the optional 4.5 miles, a shuttle to the National Park Service’s Circle X Ranch Group Camp will be provided.
- Optional: For the hikers electing to continue hiking, continue for an additional 4.5 miles around Triunfo Peak, with a gentle additional climb and descent of 400 ft. Van shuttle to the Circle X Ranch Group Camp.
- No showers (bring sun shower)
- Single van shuttle afternoon
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 3 MAY 4, 2010 TUESDAY
Mulholland Hwy Trailhead to Latigo Canyon Trailhead - Moderate: 8.6 mi., 1,620 ft. climb
- Break camp 8:00 am
- Shuttle to trailhead, an unnamed section of the Backbone Trail, which takes us from Mulholland Hwy to Encinal Canyon Road (1.2 mi.)
- From Encinal Canyon Road hike Trancas Canyon Trail to the Zuma Ridge Motorway (2.3 mi.)
- Hike Zuma Ridge Motorway to Zuma Canyon section of the Backbone Trail (0.1 mi.)
- From the Zuma Ridge Motorway, hike the Upper Zuma Canyon Trail to Kanan Road (2.5 mi.)
- Continue hiking the Newton Canyon section to the Latigo Canyon Trailhead (2.5 mi.)
- Shuttle to Malibu Creek State Park Campground
- Hot showers
- Two van shuttles early morning and afternoon
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 4 MAY 5, 2010 WEDNESDAY
Latigo Canyon Trailhead to Malibu Canyon Road Trailhead - Difficult: 9.5 mi., 1,120 ft. climb
- Leave camp 8:00 am
- Shuttle to Latigo Trailhead on Latigo Canyon Road
- From the Latigo Canyon Road hike to Castro Fire Road (1.4 mi.)
- From the Castro Fire Road hike the Upper Solstice Trail to Corral Canyon Road (2.7 mi.)
- From Corral Canyon Road hike the Mesa Peak Fire Road to junction with Puerco Canyon Road (3.0 mi.)
- From Puerco Canyon Road hike the Mesa Peak Fire Road to Las Virgenes Road (2.5 mi.)
- Shuttle to Malibu Creek State Park Campground
- Hot showers at Malibu Creek Campground
- Two van shuttle in the morning and afternoon
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 5 MAY 6, 2010 THURSDAY
Malibu Creek State Park Group Campground to Saddle Peak Trailhead - Difficult: 8.0 mi., 2,500 ft. climb
- Leave camp 8:00 am
- From the camp, hike the Tapia Spur Trail to Las Virgenes Road (1.2 mi.)
- From Las Virgenes Road hike the Piuma Ridge Trail to Piuma Road (2.1 mi.)
- From Piuma Road hike Dark Canyon, and up the Saddle Peak Trail to Stunt Road (4.7 mi.)
- Shuttle to Malibu Creek State Park Campground
- Hot showers
- Two van shuttles in afternoon
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 6 MAY 7, 2010 FRIDAY
Saddle Peak Trailhead to Musch Camp - Moderate: 7.5 mi., 970 ft. climb
- Break camp 8:00 am
- Shuttle to the top of Stunt Road
- From Stunt Road hike the Fossil Ridge Trail to the Hondo Canyon trailhead (0.7 mi.)
- From the Fossil Ridge Trail hike down Hondo Canyon to Old Topanga Canyon Road (3.8 mi.)
- From Old Topanga Cyn. Rd. hike over Henry Ridge to Topanga Canyon Blvd. (0.7 mi.), through Trippet Ranch to the Musch Camp in Topanga Canyon State Park (2.3 mi.)
- Camp at Musch Camp
- No showers (bring sun shower)
- Two van shuttles in the morning
Leader: Dave Edwards
DAY 7 MAY 8, 2010 SATURDAY
Musch Camp to Will Rogers Historic Park - Difficult: 10.5 mi., 1,360 ft. climb
- Break camp 8:00 am
- Hike to Eagle Junction (1.2 mi.), past Eagle Rock to The Hub (2.0 mi.), to Rogers Trail (0.5 mi.) past the Lone Oak, cross the Chicken Ridge Bridge and descend into Will Rogers State Historic Park (6.1 mi.); the eastern terminus of the BBT
- Plan to arrive at Will Rogers Historic Park by 2 P.M.
- Two van shuttles and gear transport to the secure vehicle parking in afternoon. No morning shuttle.
- This ends Backbone Trail Trek 2010
Leader: Dave Edwards