Mon, Jan 23 2017 - Big Awesome Hike @ East Palisades (Beginners Welcome) (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Joyce T., Trena Participants: Trena, Joyce T., Linda H, Shirley N, mike hirschmann, Bob R, Holt Ward, Patty, Bette, Bill C, Gayle M., Rozanne, Lori W., Leigh B, David Duffey

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East Palisades has provided our AOC groups with a couple of recent challenges. A few weeks ago, the parking lot was blocked off so that emergency vehicles could access the park to put out a woods fire. (We were able to hike past that area today and take a few pictures.) Today, just a few minutes before time to start our hike, we heard a thunderous "boom" to find that two trees had fallen all the way across the road leading to the parking lot! Not only could two of our members not drive in, but none of the rest could drive out! Trena called the forestry service emergency number as well as another call to her firefighter husband, Ed, to assure that workers would remove the trees in time for us to get out of the park after the hike. (See the photos of the trees and also the removal equipment as we finished our hike.)

The fallen tree was exciting. Thankfully, no one was hurt in what could have a disasterous event.  

The rest of the hike was great. We anticipated getting caught in some rain, but we were very lucky to make it all the way through the hike without rain. The winds picked up, but they weren't bad on the trails. We enjoyed the quiet that the wet trails provided, and were impressed with the verdant color of the bamboo forest. Those brown stalks were beautifully transformed thanks to the abundant rain over the last few days.

This was a wonderful event for Lori, a brand new AOC member, to cut her teeth on. She is a fit hiker, and we look forward to seeing her often on the trails. ~ Joyce