Program Information START
I’ve told the class that I’d like them to be on the bus and ready to go at 9 AM.
FIRST STOP: Griffith Park observatory
North on Reseda to the 118 east to the 5 south
Probably then taking the 170 to the 101 will be fastest on a Saturday morning?
Exit Gower, turn left on Gower
R Franklin
L Western, which becomes Los Feliz
L Fern Dell, which becomes Western Canyon
L Mt. Hollywood
R E. Observatory
We’ll be spending 30 to 45 minutes off the bus here, depending on how long it takes people to get off the bus to begin with.
NEXT: Driving along the edge of the San Gabriel Mountains and into Cajon Pass
East on Observatory
R Vermont Canyon
Continue Vermont
Slight L Hillhurst
L Los Feliz
Merge onto the 5 north
Merge 134 E
Merge 210 E
On this stretch of the trip, I’ll be doing a lot of pointing things out and narrating from the bus, but there won’t be a stop for a little over an hour.
SECOND STOP: Wrightwood and Jackson Lake
From the 210 E
Merge 15 N
Exit 131 for the 138 toward Palmdale
L Lone Pine Canyon Rd
R Sheep Creek Dr
L Angeles Crest Highway
I’ve told the students to bring their own lunch, but I’m sure some of them are going to forget. If they did, we can briefly stop in the town of Wrightwood, which has a few mini marts and delis. If not, we’ll keep going to Jackson Lake.
From the 2, turn right on Big Pines Highway
Then there will be a little turnout for the Jackson Lake picnic area on the left
We’ll stop for lunch here, and also talk about some fault features. My guess is we’ll be here for an hour or so, between eating and discussing.
THIRD STOP: Pallett Creek
This is a winding and narrower stretch of road, but it’s paved and well-maintained. I’ve seen people driving this in big RVs, so I’m hoping it will be totally fine in a bus.
Get back on Big Pines Highway, keep going northwest
Continue onto Valyermo Rd
L Fort Tejon Rd
Continue onto Pallett Creek Rd (almost immediately – don’t stay on Fort Tejon!)
Stop on Pallett Creek Rd, near a stone thing that looks like a castle. I’ll get more specific information on the best place to park before Saturday. We’ll be getting out of the bus and looking at some fault features just off the side of the road. I’m guessing we’ll be here around half an hour.
FOURTH STOP: Palmdale Roadcut (Avenue S at the 14)
This gets back out to regular freeways. It’s not as scenic as the route right on the fault, but that would probably get pretty dicey in terms of a bus. I’ll be doing more narrating while on the bus.
Backtrack to the junction between Pallett Creek, Fort Tejon, and Valyermo roads.
Pallett Creek Rd briefly becomes Fort Tejon Rd
L (east) Valyermo Rd
Continue onto Avenue W
R 131st st/Longview Rd
L on the 138
138 becomes Fort Tejon Rd again
L Avenue S
Go under the 14. There will be a big dirt parking area on the right, just past the freeway. Park in there. We’ll be getting out of the bus and walking up to look at a roadcut on the 14 that crosses the San Andreas Fault. I’m guessing this will take around 45 minutes, between walking up and back, and talking about things.
HEAD BACK TO CSUN
Get on the 14 south
Merge 5 S
Exit 118 E
I don’t know if you’d rather take Reseda all the way down or take the 405 to Nordhoff but whichever is best for getting back to campus!
Hopefully we’ll be back around 5.