Sunday Afternoon Hike, Picnic Dinner, and Evening Theater in Topanga Canyon
Sunday, September 29, 2024
(Join us for either or both activities.)
2:00pm Hondo Canyon Hike
6:00pm Picnic Dinner
7:30pm Theatricum Botanicum
Hondo Canyon Trail: This a section of the Backbone Trail. We will hike through a thickly shaded area forested with bays and along a creek with sycamores, and oaks. This is a beautiful hike with lots of shade. The beginning of the trail has a couple of small meadows near the creek. The path climbs 1,550 feet over 3.8 miles, 7.6-miles out and back hike. If it’s particularly warm we will modify the hike. Hopefully we will make it to Fossil Ridge Trail, at the top for stunning views of the Pacific. Bring plenty of water, snack, hat, hiking poles, etc. It is a moderate to difficult hike. We will make plenty of stops.
Directions to Trailhead: From the 101 or PCH, take Old Topanga Canyon Road. Trailhead is 0.4 miles from Topanga Village. Park along either side of the road and locate the marked trailhead on the west side of the road. Click here:Trailhead. Trailhead address: 381 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga Canyon, CA 90290
Trailhead coordinates: 34.09295, -118.60915 (34° 05′ 34.6″N 118° 36′ 32.9″W)
Theatricum Botanicum: Remember Grandpa Walton? The actor Will Geer was blacklisted from Hollywood in the 1950’s as a communist. To support himself, he and his wife purchased acreage in Topanga Canyon, grew vegetables, raised chickens, and put on plays. Here Geer created a community of blacklisted artists, writers, actors, directors, musicians. Through his daughter and granddaughter his garden theater continues. Click here https://theatricum.com. for more of the story, and to purchase general seating tickets: Adults $32.00, Senior $20.00. My seats are GA 14 & 15.
Picnic Dinner, 6:00-7:00 pm: We will have a bite to eat before the play at the venue. Bring your own picnic and perhaps a bit extra to share. Food is also available for purchase. Note: Hikers may arrive shortly after 6:00.
Showtime 7:30 pm: The play we will be seeing is a timely modern adaptation of the French political comedy, Tartuffe: Born Again, by Moliére set in the 1980’s told through an American family in the south. Purchase your own tickets in advance. Join us for outdoor theater under a canopy of oaks. Bring a sweater or jacket, temperatures in the canyon drop in the evening.
Trip Leader: Russell Hammerl VPO-LA@greatoutdoors.org
Carpool/ride sharing: Due to liability and insurance reasons Great Outdoors cannot organize carpools and hike/trip leaders cannot take an active role in making arrangements for participants' transportation. If you would like a ride, or could provide a ride, you can sign up on your own at the link below. https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/zp0x76
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