The information on this page is kept as accurate as possible. However circumstances can change and trips may be cancelled. Please contact the trip leader for the latest information about trip status.
Trips we took in 2006 |
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Trip/Activity
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Description
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January 27-30, 2006 |
You don’t get to enjoy this place more than in the winter. This park is popular with muscular rock climbers and has plenty of hiking and warm daytime temps. If the weather works with us, there’ll also be lots of wildflowers. |
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February 4, 2006 |
You won't have to drive and this bus has closed circuit TV so we can watch our favorite themed shows and be with friends all the way to the border. Of course we'll be making our traditional 15-30-minute stop at a gay bar on the way home. |
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February 18, 2006 |
Last fall the Huntington opened a 16,000 square foot, $6,000,000 conservatory. There is a bog, cloud forest, rainforest, to include 1,000 orchids, flytraps, tupelo trees, oaks, Spanish moss, over 300 bromeliads, plus many more varieties. There is also a display of the hand written autobiography of Benjamin Framklin. |
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February 24-26, 2006 |
Bonita Ranch campgrounds are a small privately owned site, located in the San Bernardino Mountains. We will be in a private campground but if we drive outside the grounds we are in the National Park and we will need wilderness passes for the cars, there is a store that sells passes just down the road. Marco is the expert on hiking in the area so we will rely on him for a guide to hiking on Saturday. |
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March 4, 2006 |
Whale of a Day is being held this year on Saturday March 4th 2006. It’s a day celebrating the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale. This festival is an excellent opportunity to view the whale’s passage and the chance to see other marine mammals such as dolphins, sea lions, and seals. |
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March 11, 2006 |
Come explore the “Other Season” on this winter hike. Returning to one of our favorite summer hiking grounds, we’ll travel from South Fork Trailhead to Lost Creek. Due to low snow conditions we will not be using snowshoes. |
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March 17-19, 2006 |
Come spend a relaxing weekend at the beach in south Orange County. San Clemente State Park is a pine tree covered park at the waters edge. We will have several campsites less than a quarter of a mile from the sand. The park is on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Even though we are in a park within the city limits and you would not know it. There are miles of beaches to walk and the bike trail runs north and south as far as you wish to go. |
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April 23, 2006 |
This moderate loop hike gives us a comprehensive overview of the Santa Rosa Plateau Reserve. We will hike through one of the state’s few remaining Engelmann oak woodlands to one of the largest vernal pools in California. These seasonal ponds support fairy shrimp, wintering waterfowl, and several species of endangered plants. After lunch at two adobe buildings of the former Santa Rosa Ranch, we will return to the cars via another trail. Wildflowers surround us as we hike. The Adobes, at around 150 years old, are Riverside County's oldest buildings. |
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April 28-30, 2006 |
Located in the Los Padres National Forest on the scenic banks of the Matilija Creek, Wheeler Gorge is a favorite campground of many of our members. It offers a convenient location and shady campsites. The stream may be low but it is not silent. It meanders the length of the campground through a creek bed nestled among huge boulders. Old oak and sycamore trees shade campsites. This year we are including a wine tasting visit to a small winery located on the outskirts of Ojai. |
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May 5-7, 2006 |
Get out of the May-June gloom by joining Great Outdoors at the Villa Resort in the Palm Springs area. It’s the Cinco-de-Mayo weekend so we’ll have a piñata, a Mexican Hat dance and other fun activities. This All-Chapter event is open to members and non- member alike. So make your plans early. There's only room for 40 persons |
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May 7, 2006 |
Take a walk through history, as we climb up from Altadena to Echo Summit. Here is the site of the White City, a 19th century hotel at the top of an incline railway that was a wonder of the world. From there, we will follow the old trolley line to the site of the Alpine Tavern. There are many interesting picture markers of the old trolley along the way. We will have lunch at the Alpine Tavern. |
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May 20-21, 2006 |
Great Outdoors Orange County/Long Beach will have an information booth at the Long Beach Pride this year. With a theme like "I Am. I Belong" we felt that we belonged here too. So look for us. Come meet the officers and other volunteers who help make this organization work. The link will take you to the Long Beach Pride website where you can find more information about the festival. |
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June 17, 2006 |
Several miles from the nearest road, a graceful concrete arch bridge was built in the mid 1930's spanning arguably the most impressive gorge in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was meant to be part of a road connecting the San Gabriel Valley with the eastern desert. The East Fork Road was still under construction when it was washed out during the great flood of 1938. The road never reached the arched bridge constructed for it to cross. The East Fork Road project was abandoned as a result of the flood, leaving the bridge forever stranded in the middle of a wilderness. |
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July 1-5, 2006 |
Summer Jamboree will be at Big Bear the 4th of July weekend. It will be at the Oso Group Camp. Scheduled activities include a party cruise on Big Bear Lake in an all-gay chartered 85-passenger cruise boat, BBQ dinner at a lakeside restaurant, and the free Big Bear firework's show, rated the third best pyrotechnial display in California. |
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July 6-10, 2006 |
Right after all the hoopla of the fourth of July as summer in Los Angeles and environs heats up; there is an opportunity to escape to the High Sierra. Big Pine Canyon is a narrow steep sided canyon carved by the glaciers. Beautiful alpine flowers, tumbling waterfalls and serene lakes await you. We’ll hike about four miles a day with an altitude gain of about 800 feet per mile. Along the way, you‘ll see stunning vistas and in the evenings, watch the sunset set the peaks aflame. At night you’ll see more stars than you remembered exist. |
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July 15, 2006 |
Our annual trip to the Hollywood Bowl has been scheduled for July 15. This is always a fun trip and the program ends with a fireworks spectacular. We hope you'll plan to attend with us. |
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July 22, 2006 |
Our ever popular paddle through the picturesque canals of Naples. No experience, we'll teach you - No Kayak, you can rent one. Don't miss this really fun trip. |
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July 30, 2006 |
For the people who are getting ready for summer backpacking or who have done previous strong hiking, this beautiful mountain basin approaches true alpine conditions and bears a striking resemblance to the High Sierra. |
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August 12, 2006 |
To Celebrate the end of summer, the Los Angeles and Orange County/Long Beach Chapters will sail aboard the Luxury Yacht Caroline. We will depart from Rainbow Harbor for a three hour tour of the harbor. A buffet dinner will be served. Plan now to be on board with us. This trip will fill up fast. |
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August 25-27, 2006 |
The Orange County/Long Beach Chapter is going to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. This is a mountain setting 10 miles south of Julian, California and east of Escondido. There hiking trails to explore, breathtaking scenic views and maybe a trip to Historic Julian. Don’t miss this great weekend. |
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September 16, 2006 |
This is a remarkably accessible and very scenic hike in the heart of Orange County. Like a mini-Grand Canyon, the trail alternates between deep shade and dry sandy areas. At the end of the hike we will reach the Red Rock Canyon with it's spectacular sandstone cliffs. Watch for trip notes coming soon. |
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October 14, 2006 |
Great Outdoors returns to Huntington Harbour with this autumn kayaking tour. If you enjoyed the spring trip, you won't want to miss this one. Our tour also include a visit to the edge Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, home to several endangered species. |
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October 20-22, 2006 |
The Orange County/Long Beach chapter is proud to host this year's all-chapter Conference & Jamboree. This event will be held at San Clemente State Beach, a tree lined park over looking the Pacific Ocean. This important conference and jamboree not only offers fun in the sun, but it is also when we hold our annual elections for the Corporate officers: Chairperson, Financial Officer and Secretary. The theme for this year is Oktoberfest. |
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October 28, 2006 |
Catch a view from the top of Mt San Jacinto Peak. We will be taking the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, then hike the trail from the Mountain Station to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto. It's 11.5 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 2600 feet. This trip should be considered moderately strenuous due to the high altitude. |
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November 12, 2006 |
Come join us as we bask in the only hot springs in San Bernardino County. These 5 clothing-optional pools provide a relaxing end to a stressful week. |
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November 23-26, 2006 |
Join us at this beautiful lake in San Diego county. It will be a weekend of hikes and relaxation. The Pacific Coast trail runs directly through the park. The park is a landscape of chaparral, oak woodlands and grasslands. Boat rentals are available and there are 30 miles of hiking trails. |
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