#19 Look Where You’re Walking
The Santa Monica Mountains

Wednesday – 1:00 p.m. 1st & 2nd session                    Winter Term 2009 (2nd 7 weeks)
                        10:00 a.m. 3rd – 7th sessions       

Coordinator:  Lee Ann Kennedy                                    Co-coordinator:  Sol Scope

Course Description
            As city dwellers, most of us pay little attention to the geological and botanical make up of the world around us.  If we did, we would notice that the Los Angeles basin and the surrounding mountains are the result of eons of geological activity and the wearing down of the mountains by water and weather.  For example, evidence that this area was once a sea bed can be found in the sea shell fossils in the hills above Topanga Canyon and the layers of sedimentary deposits that were revealed as roads were cut through the surrounding hills.  As the geology evolved so too did the native plants.  As a result, surrounding us are areas of great biological diversity.

            In this S/DG we will literally explore the geology and plant life of our neighborhood.  Not only will there be class room discussion in the traditional PLATO format but, also, we will walk the hills around Los Angeles in order to experience first hand the geology and botany of the area.  Because we contemplate that there will be extended walks on the trails of our hills and mountains, those persons who are interested in this S/DG should be physically able to walk at least 3 hours.

            Sessions 1 and 2 will take place at 1:00 p.m. at Plato, when we will discuss basic geology and botany.  For sessions 3 through 7 we will meet in the morning at 10:00 a.m. at specific locations in the Santa Monica Mountains.  This will allow us sufficient time for our explorations and to avoid traffic.

When meeting in the field, members must provide their own transportation and should anticipate that the sessions will be more than two hours.  Members will be required to sign a waiver releasing the University of California from any claims that could arise from this S/DG.  Members must provide their own water and refreshments.  This would be a group hike and, as a result, members will be required to stay together as a group with no one on their own.

Topics and Schedule
1. Classroom discussion of the native plants and botany and identification of  Southern California botanical zones.
2. Classroom discussion of the geological formation and the present makeup of the Los Angeles basin and surrounding areas.
3 - 6.  Trail hikes possibly exploring Vasquez Rock, Fossil Ridge, Malibu Creek State Park, Tapia State Park, Trippet Ranch and other local areas exhibiting  special geology and flora.
7. Picnic in the field and S/DG summary.

Bibliography
Material currently known and to be considered:
Sharp, Robert P. and Allen F. Glazner.  Geology Underfoot in Southern California.
McPhee, John McPhee.  Assembling California.
McAuley, Milt.  Hiking Trails of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Dale, Nancy.  Flowering Plants:  the Santa Monica Mountains, Coastal and Chaparral       Regions of Southern California.
McAuley, Milt and James Kenney.  Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Collins, Barbara J.  Key to Coastal and Chaparral Flowering Plants.
McAuley, Milt.  Wildflower Walks of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Additional geological Internet and print sources

Pre-Meeting:  Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 10:00 a.m.