Please Email agritschke@hotmail.com if you are interested in the outings. So we can keep you posted.
LA Turners member Andreas Gritschke has found great places to hike and socialize. And here they are.
Sunday, January 19, 10am
Pomona: Swap Meet and Classic Cer Show
West Coast’s largest automotive swap meet and classic car show. Thousands of classic cars from all across the country are displayed by their owners in six distinct car corral areas: Pre-’95 Classic Cars, any year Corvettes, any year Porsches, Pre-’59 Street Rods, Pre-’95 Imports and Pre-’95 Volkswagens. With over 2,400 swap spaces full of hard to find car parts and accessories, you never know what you’re going to see or find out here!
This shopping spree will be followed by a visit to “Die Bierstube” in nearby Brea.
Meet in front of the Volkswagen car corral, of course. It’s right next to entrance gate #17. Pomona Fairplex, Fairplex Drive & McKinley Avenue, Pomona.
Sunday, February 16, 11am
Tenaja Falls
Tenaja Falls pours over a sandstone staircase in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness of the Santa Ana Mountains. Even through the waterfall’s setting is picturesque and remote, the hike to the waterfall is a short and easy, following Tenaja Falls Trail for 1.5 miles round trip with 275 feet of elevation change. Totaling 150 feet in height with multiple tiers, this SoCal waterfall might not compare with the beauties in Yosemite National Park, but visit during the early, rainy months of the year and Tenaja Falls is an undeniable thrill.
Next move? Swing into Swing Inn Café in Temecula!
Meet at Tenaja Falls Trailhead, Tenaja Truck Trail & Forest Route 7S02, Murrieta.
Saturday, March 15, 10am
Whale Watching at Point Vicente, Palos Verdes
Short, easy, almost level coastal bluff walk. We will keep an eye out for whales breaching off the coast at what is probably the best whale watching spot in all of SoCal.
Any cetacean-related questions that cannot be answered by our very own local expert and Aquarium of the Pacific alum, Kody Rankin, will be directed to the Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Whoever got hungry is invited to walk over to “Nelson’s” with us for fish & chips. The meeting point for this one is the Pelican Cove parking lot in between Point Vicente and the Terranea Resort. If this (free!) parking lot had a street address, it would be at 31300 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho PV.
Weather and whale-depending this lot may fill up, in which case there’s overflow parking at Point Vicente and the Terranea Resort, just a short hike away.
Saturday April 12, 11am
Park to Playa Trail
This is the long-awaited hike and bike trail connecting the Baldwin Hills with the beach at Marina del Rey.
We will hike the most scenic section from Baldwin Hills to Culver City to see our fair city from a whole different, but no less spectacular perspective than the same-old view from the observatory. No Stau. No parking fee. No crowds. No glare. No sunset.
Let’s start by exploring the gardens at Stoneview Nature Center, then take the park’s own shuttle bus to Kenneth Hahn Visitor Center for the Downtown LA views. Hike 1.6 mostly flat miles along the lakes and across the new pedestrian bridge across La Cienega Boulevard to Baldwin Hills Overlook.
What next? Head over to re-born Culver City for the many lunch options at “Citizen Public Market”. “WeHo Sausage Company” comes to mind. Probably for their hamburgers with sausage patties. What could be more German?
Meet-up for this one is at Stoneview Nature Center, 5950 Stoneview Drive, Culver City.
Sunday, May 4, 10am
Ernie Maxwell Trail
The San Jacinto Mountains are a steep rugged mountain range full of challenging trails that put hikers to the test… Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail is not one of those trails. This leisurely alternative is 5.2 miles round trip with 675 rolling feet of elevation change. The gradual and enjoyable dirt single track overlooks the mountain community of Idyllwild and is appropriate for hikers of all abilities. The trail passes peaceful streams, quiet forests, and sterling San Jacinto Mountain views of Tahquitz Rock and Strawberry Valley. Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail runs south and downhill from Humber Park to an alternate trailhead on Tahquitz View Drive in Idyllwild. Those with a second vehicle and less time to hike, can use Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail as a 2.6-mile one-way shuttle hike.
Hungy for more? How about lunch at “La Casita”?
Meet at the flagpole in Idyllwild Park, 54380 N Circle Drive, and shuttle to the trailheads.
Please RSVP to agritschke@hotmail.com. Running late? Got Lost? Call 424-407-6073.
Looking forward to seeing you out there,