Dogging It In Alaska

While walking along the main street of Ketchikan, Alaska, this past June, Dick Jordan looked up at a building along the waterfront and saw these two dogs (with sunglasses) checking out the tourists meandering below on the street. Look for the photo in the Travel Section of the Sunday, January 4, 2009 edition of the Marin I-J.

Pine Mt./Elliott Preserve Shutte Hike (January 6) Preview

Note the early start and finish times for our first hike of 2009. Here's how Wendy describes this shuttle hike:

"This hike starts in chaparral and passes by serpentine areas on the way to the waterfall. This year we can take the new trail and get to the waterfall easily, but it will mean we get back around 3:00 pm instead of 1:45. After the waterfall we go through the pygmy Sargeant cypress forest, and return through oak/bay/madrone woodland. We'll check out birds and mushrooms as we go.

We need people to meet at the end of Cascade Drive in Fairfax at 9:20 am. If you have time pressure after class go there as well, since the car shuttle won’t get people back to the start until about 3:20 pm. I will drive the drivers from Cascade to the start of the hike. Others should meet at the trailhead (directions follow).

Directions to the trailhead: Take the Bolinas-Fairfax Road past the Meadow Club (golf course) and keep going. Park in the parking lot across from the Pine Mountain Fire Road. It is a large dirt parking lot on your left, and the fire road is on the right. If you start going downhill and can see Lake Alpine, you’ve gone too far.

Maybe a portable at the trailhead. 25 minutes from College of Marin.

Weather forecast: Weather forecast: As of Tuesday, December 30th, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax for the day of the hike was mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and a high near 54. . (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: We'll be hiking on both MMWD watershed lands (click here for a map that you can view, zoom in on or print) and those of the Marin County Open Space District (click here for a description of the preserve in the Cascade area of Fairfax, or click here for a map of this area).

Season's Greetings from The Meandering Blog!

May visions of sugarplums
And edible mushrooms
Dance in your head,
And your holidays be
Brightened by guests
From near and afar,
And snowflakes fall
Where you can see them
But not bury your car.

Happy Holidays from The Meandering in Marin on Tuesdays blog!

New! Salmon and Eagle Spotting

Dick's friend, Megan, of SPAWN, reports that salmon which had been hanging out down by Tomales Bay may be moving upstream. At least one chinook salmon was seen near Devil's Gulch in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Rains over the last day and during the coming week may bring more fish to spawning areas in West Marin. (Perhaps we'll be able to reschedule the "fish walk" we had planned for early December to a new date in early January; if you just can't wait to go on a tour with SPAWN, you can click here to sign up on-line for one of its creekwalks (Saturday/Sunday from through January 18th).

Remember that bald eagle (they are big --- here's Dick's wife, Cindy, at a raptor center in Sitka, Alaska, spreading her "wings" to match those of an eagle) we saw chasing on osprey up at the Lake Lagunitas parking lot earlier this year? He (or she) may be back. Yesterday, the Marin I-J reported that a bald eagle was spotted near Bon Tempe (why didn't we see it on our Tuesday hike?) --- click here to read the story.

A Long Winter's Lake-to-Lake Hike (December 16)

A week ago we we hiking in our shirtsleeves out by Muddy Hollow in the Point Reyes National Seashore; today there was no mistaking it was nearly winter (which officially arrives in a few days) --- it was 39 degrees when we eleven intrepid (a euphemism for foolish --- the smart Meanderers stayed snug in the homes, no doubt drinking brandy-laced eggnog) hikers met up at the parking lot by the Bon Tempe dam and the temperature never got much about 40 degrees during the entire hike. Kathy thoughtfully brought along a basketful of gloves for those who needed "hand warmers", and dressed in our rain and winter weather gear, we soon took off for the trailhead.

We saw small patches of snow along the Bolinas-Fairfax Road as we drove west to the Catatract Trail trailhead, just beyond the dam that created Alpine Lake. Not exactly a "White Christmas" setting, but ample evidence of how chilly it had gotten overnight. We never saw the sun, but we had some weather karma: No icy wind blowing down our necks, and except for the steady drip, drip, drip of water dropping off the trees during part of the walk, and a few minutes of rain showers during the last half-mile of the trip, we didn't have to deal with winter precipitation.

We deferred our usual pre-hike "roundtable" discussion of the past week's events until we had warmed ourselves up by walking about half of the initial steep, uphill leg of the outing, following the Cataract Trail in the direction of Laurel Dell. After stopping for our "confab" at a level spot near the creek, we continued up stone and wooden steps, strewn with fallen folliage of Big Leaf Maples, until we crossed the stream and swung east onto the Helen Markt Trail. Then we began a gentle traverse across the hillside until reaching a sharp ridge and plunging down a drainage, then up the other side: we'd end up repeating this slow roller-coaster style of hiking for most of the rest of the day, crossing streams and climbing up and down ridges of the mountain that extend like fingers downward into Alpine Lake.

It was easy to tell that this is a damp, damp part of the watershed --- ferns and mosses, along with mushrooms (and a solitary snail) and a fairly dense forest, lined almost the entire route. The one real open space was our lunch stop where we sat out on a point overlooking Alpine Lake. Before we packed up and continued our walk after filling our bellies, Silvia led us in a sing-a-long. (She should produce a CD of her Meandering songs).

Just after lunch, we spotted a giant "Prince" mushroom which Wendy had seen when the Monday group did the same hike last week. Since we were now down at lake level, we thought maybe we'd have an easy stroll along the shoreline until reaching Bon Tempe. No such luck --- back to the rollercoaster, up and down, up and down, for over another hour until we reached a dirt road and the trailmarker telling us we only had a half-mile before we'd get to the Bon Tempe dam. Before long we had finished the last Meander of the year and were back at our cars, wishing each other happy holidays and good times until we meet again in January.

What to Do (When Raccoons Come Calling)

The rain that falls this week may bring the spawning salmon upstream and allow us to eventually reschedule our "Fish Walk" with Dick's friend, Megan. When she's not busy with her salmon-related activities, she runs Rancho Raccoon, an organization that provides foster care and orphaned and injured raccoons until they are ready to return to their natural, wild environment.

If you've got these cute, but sometimes pesky critters going in and out of your home through the cat or doggie door, or living in your attic or crawlspace, Rancho Raccoon can advise you how to legally and safely get these little imps to move on. And if you've got a persimmon tree in your yard and more fruit than you can eat or give away, Rancho Raccoon would be happy for you to call (415/488-1957) to donate these favorite raccoon treats which the organization will freeze and dole out to the "gang" during the next baby season. (Click here for Rancho Raccoon's blog, The Treehouse; click here to view its latest newsletter).

New! Alpine Lake (December 16th) Weather Update

On Wednesday, December 10, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax was mostly cloudy, a chance of showers, with a high near 47. As of Sunday, December 14th, the forecast had changed to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce small hail. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Northwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. (Click here for an updated forecast).

Will we be looking up a snow-capped Mount Tam during the hike? The NWS forecast for the North Bay Mountains at elevations over 1,000' calls for the possibility of snow showers. So dress warmly and bring your rain gear for this hike!

Lake Alpine Shuttle Hike (December 16) Preview

Note the half-hour earlier start time for our final hike of 2008 which Wendy describes as follows:

"On this favorite winter hike we hike along a creek with lovely cascades (assuming we’ve had some rain by then!) and ferns. You’ll think you’ve entered the Emerald City! We usually find some interesting mushrooms on this hike.

The start is uphill with some stairs (but we’ll find lots to look at on the way), the end is level - and in between it’s up and down! We end up at the Bon Tempe Dam.

We’ll need people who don’t need to be somewhere in a hurry to take the drivers back to their cars at Alpine (about 35 minutes round trip).

Directions to meeting place: Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. Turn in as you would to go to Lake Lagunitas. After the ranger station at Sky Oaks (but before Shaver Grade) there is an unpaved road to the right. Take this to Lake Bon Tempe and park. MEET AT 9:15. We’ll carpool to the trailhead, so don’t pay the $7 entrance fee if you plan to take your car to the trailhead. Portable toilet at Bon Tempe, but none at Alpine trailhead. 25 minutes from College of Marin.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, December 10, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax was mostly cloud, a chance of showers, with a high near 47. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: There is no comparable hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, but we'll begin our hike just past the dam at Alpine Lake and head east on the Helen Markt Trail, eventually pick up one of the fire roads, and wind our way back to Bon Tempe Lake. (Click here to view, zoom in on, or print a map of the MWWD watershed lands).

A Glorious Day on The Coast (Muddy Hollow, December 9th)

Jack Frost visited most of our pumpkins during the week hours before this hike, and it was just above freezing as we drove from Lagunitas through Samuel P. Taylor State Park on our way out to Point Reyes. But when we reached the Muddy Hollow trailhead, the temperature was a balmy 52 degrees. Ten of us (about half who made the "Final Exam" hike --- now we now that it's not about hiking, it all about food!) showed up for this trek. After our pre-hike confab about the past week's events, we headed north under sunny skies (past the "Gnarly Tree") and up the Muddy Hollow Road for a little over two miles --- a far cry from the outset of our July 22nd hike when the fog dripped on us like a leaky faucet.

We then turned west on to the Glenbrook trail which, from the map, looks like a long haul across a broad mesa-like land formation, but in truth, just wanders toward the sea for less than a mile. Dick thinks he saw only one of the many bright yellow American Goldfinches we spotted here back in the summer, and the Wood Nymphs we'd seen fluttering by in July were long, long gone. Although the hawks, songbirds, and butterflies had fled, we saw two herds of Tule Elk along this stretch of the hike.

Shortly after noon, and after we had started off on the in-aptly named Estero Trail (which in July took us down to Limantour Beach, but now has been re-routed back to the Muddy Hollow trailhead), we took our lunch break at a spot overlooking the Limantour Estero and the ocean. The skies were so clear to the west, that we could make out both the South and North Farallone Islands.

Off-shore winds had turned the late morning into shirt-sleeve hiking weather, but the wind began to shift, and a breeze off the ocean cooled things down a bit preventing us from lapsing into a post-prandial lethargy as we turned eastward towards our starting point.

We crossed the creek feeding into the Estero, but the water level was higher than in July and we did not have the good fortune to spot either of the two Clapper Rails that he had seen here in the summer. (After we headed uphill from the creek, Dick and Neil saw a small bird with black and yellow markings, possibly a Goldfinch, and a larger, brownish speckled bird, maybe an Accipiter, sitting near each other on the top of a pine tree, but too far away to be easily identified. Click here for Wendy's list of critters and plants we saw on this hike).

The slow climb up from the creek brought us into a young, dense forest of tent-pole sized Bishop Pines creating a "tunnel" through which the path took us back to Muddy Hollow. A long, cork-screw descent eventually brought us back to our cars by about 2 pm. This turned out to be one of our longer treks --- 7.o miles exactly per the park map, and comparable in length to the Sky Trail to Bear Valley hike we did in mid-July and are scheduled to repeat on January 20, 2009.

Muddy Hollow (December 9) Hike Preview

A "rain delay" (no rain falling) has washed out our planned December 9th "salmon walk" with SPAWN naturalist, Megan Isadore; hopefully, wet weather will return during the last half of December and we can reschedule that outing for early January. (The complete list of "Winterim" hikes has now been revised and is available by clicking here or going to the blog).
So instead, Wendy will lead a hike from the Muddy Hollow Trailhead in Point Reyes National Seashore. Here's her description of the hike: "This trail has been redone and the pond removed to create more wetlands. We’ll check out the new trail which allows us to do this as a loop instead of a shuttle. Great views and, we hope, some birds! Unlike College of Marin – heavy rain cancels. In case of questionable weather, check your email after 7:30 AM. If you don’t have email I’ll phone you." (Tuition for this day hike: $17).

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Route 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom) and go left on Limantour Road. When you see a paved road to the Hostel on the left, turn right on the dirt road to Muddy Hollow parking lot. 55 minutes from College of Marin. (Click here to print out the description and trailhead directions for this hike).

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, December 3, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday the 9th was for sunny skies with a high of 57. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the following area between Muddy Hollow and Limantour beach. As Wendy notes, the National Park Service has made changes to the trail (click here for an NPS map of this area of the seashore which may or may not be up to date), so our route may differ from the one shown below:

Muddy Hollow to Limantour Beach Hike and Map

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

(Click here to view and print out a complete description of the hike and map from Martins' book. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Scribd" Web site, click on the "Download" icon and then on the "PDF" icon to open the document on your computer).

The complete list of "Winterim" hikes has now been revised

Another Fine Day of Hiking (Lake Lagunitias, December 2nd)

Monday's dreary damp fog completely dissipated long before we reached the trailhead, and we had a glorious sunny day with temperatures in the mid-60's to hike around Lake Lagunitas in the hills above Fairfax. Although waterfowl were not as abundant as can be on the lake, the recent rain seems to have caused an explosion in both the mushroom and newt populations in this area as we saw several species of each during the walk. (Click here to view Wendy's list of flora and fauna spotted on this hike.)

The easy part came first with a stroll around the southern edge of Lake Lagunitas. After crossing the dry East Fork of Lagunitas Creek with a stop for newt spotting, we continued east, climbing steeply out of the lake basin on the Lakeview Road, took a break at the crest of the road to catch our breath and remove a layer of clothing, then headed downhill, turning north at the junction of Eldridge Grade (which ascends to the East Peak of Mount Tam) and the Filter Plant Road (aka Southern Marin Line Road). Along this section of the route we were rewarded with sweeping views to the hills around Fairfax and off to east towards the Bay.

All of this downhill moseying meant, of course, that eventually we'd be forced to climb upwards again to regain the elevation we'd lost, hike past the MMWD filter plant, and return to the parking lot so we could "take" our "Final Exam." There was enough food to feed a small army, so even with a fairly large turnout for this hike, we still didn't manage to scarf up all of the culinary goodies that we'd brought to share at our potluck luncheon.

(Pictures of this hike shot by Theresa Fisher and Dick Jordan are now on-line. You can view them in the mini-slideshow window in the "Meandering In Marin On Tuesdays" blog, or by clicking here to go directly to the Picasa Web album of photos from the latest hike).

Soup du Jour (December 2nd "Final Exam")

The soup Dick Jordan served at today's "Final Exam" was a variation on the New Your Times recipe "Pumpkin or Winter Squash Soup." (Click here to view and print the recipe). Dick made a double batch using a two-to-one combination of Sugar Pie Pumpkin and Butternut Squash, fresh sage (rosemary was used in making the croutons), vegetable stock (chicken stock would probably make a richer soup), and a little less cream than the recipe calls for. To make the flavors a bit more complex, he also added ground curry and cumin to taste. The soup can be served chilled or hot.

The croutons were made from a ciabatta-style bread cut into pieces, tossed with olive oil, chopped fresh rosemary, salt and pepper, spread in a single layer on a sheet pan and toasted at 375 degrees in the oven until slightly browned and crisped (about 15 minutes).

"Final Exam" (December 2) At Lake Lagunitas Preview

"Fall 2" officially comes to a close next week with a hike followed by our traditional "Final Exam" luncheon at Lake Lagunitas in the MMWD watershed. Here's Wendy's outline for the outing:

"We make a partial circle around the lake, looking for ring-neck ducks, ruddy ducks, grebes and other birds, and then make a loop past Pilot Knob, returning on Southern Marin Line. REMEMBER TO BRING PLATE, UTENSILS, AND SOMETHING TO SHARE FOR THE GOURMET FINAL EXAM! (Let’s think green and try to cut down on paper and plastic throw-aways as much as possible). We’ll leave the food in the cars and eat when we get back but bring your water bottle. Potluck at my house in San Anselmo if it rains."

Directions to trailhead: As you enter Fairfax on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard jog left when you see the movie theater and make an immediate right. This puts you on Broadway, the street that parallels Sir Francis Drake, but is on the other side of the Parkade parking lot. Make the first left which is Bolinas Avenue. Follow the Bolinas-Fairfax Road for about 1 mile. Turn left onto Sky Oaks Road. (If you miss the Sky Oaks Road turn-off and you get to the Meadow Club golf course you have gone too far). You'll need to pay the $7 day-use fee at the kiosk unless you have an MMWD pass. Continue to the parking lot at the end of the road. Driving time from COM 30 minutes. Outhouse at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, November 26, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax was sunny, with a high near 67. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martin's book, Hiking Marin, sets out a shorter hike shown below; instead of following the Pilot Knob trail back to the parking lot, we'll take a longer route back by continuing eastward and then looping back the west, picking up the Southern Marin Line Road (called the Filter Plant Road on the Martin's map). (Click here to view, zoom in on, and print a map of the MMWD watershed lands).

Lagunitas Pilot Knob Hike and Map

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

(Click here to view and print out a complete description of the hike and map from Martins' book. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Scribd" Web site, click on the "Download" icon and then on the "PDF" icon to open the document on your computer).

A Perfect Delightful Holiday Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner is over, the table is cleared, the guests have gone home, and the dishes are done. Maybe you were lucky and the Thanksgiving Fairy (pictured here) came to your home and made the meal and cleaned up afterward.

The TG Fairy will be busy helping Santa during the next month, just when you have to start planning the next, big holiday meal. But you've lucked out again: Dick's done all the planning for you! You just have to shop for the food, cook, and put it on the table! Here's a menu that he and Cindy have served up during the holidays at least four or five times to rave reviews. The meal is designed to be served in courses (as would be the case in a fine restaurant) rather than as a buffet or "family style" meal, but without trapping you, the cook, in the kitchen all night and away from your guests.

Make all or just some of these dishes, mix and match them with your favorite recipes, or serve them as part of another meal. Here's the complete dinner menu (along with wine pairing suggestions). More comments on each course follow the menu. (Click here to view and print a copy of the menu; click on individual courses to view and print the recipe).

Appetizers
Smoked Almonds
(Champagne or Sparkling Wine)

First Course
“Crab Louis” Towers
(Chardonnay)

Soup Course
Winter Squash & Chestnut Bisque
With Wild Mushroom Crisps & Cornbread-Chive Croutons
(Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, or a White Rhone-Style Blend)

Main Course
Crown Roast of Pork
With Fig & Lime Jam
or
Pan-Roasted Halibut with Caper Vinaigrette
and
Brussel Sprouts Roasted with Bacon
or
Roasted Baby Carrots and Cauliflower
(Pinot Noir with the Pork)
(Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, or a White Rhone-Style Blend with the Halibut)

Sorbet
Limoncello “Martinis”

Salad Course

Grilled Pear and Frisee Salad
(Sauvignon Blanc)

Dessert*
Mango Creme Brulee
or
Apple Tarte Tatin with Late Harvest Riesling Sabayon

Comments on each course:
Appetizers: There is so much food and wine being served during the course of the meal that we go very light on appetizers; just some store-bought smoked almonds along with champagne or another good California sparkling wine).
First Course: The "Crab Louis" Towers require no cooking. While nice to serve during our winter crab season, they could be made any time of year. The presentation will "wow" your guests. Make them in the afternoon, put them in the 'frig, and "unmold" and serve at mealtime.
Soup Course: Hands-down, this is the very best winter squash-based soup Dick has made and guests love it. You could skip the "mushroom crisps" used as garnish and flavor enhancers to save time and money, or if your guests dislike 'rooms. Baguettes, a crusty French or Italian bread, another cornbread recipe, or herbed bread croutons could be substituted for those in this recipe. (Note: Dick served those "Croutons" to you with a chilled Carrot-Ginger Soup at our Winter "Final Exam").
Main Course: The Crown Pork Roast is very simple to make --- your butcher does all the work "Frenching" the rib bones and joining the two "rack of pork" cuts used in this impressive dish. You apply a simple spice rub to the pork, and pop it in the oven to roast bones-down while you and your guests enjoy the earlier courses of this meal. The Fig & Lime Jam is a condiment served alongside the meat and made ahead of time. The roast will probably have at least 12 if not 16 chops --- enough to feed a small army, a large dinner party (only an NFL lineman could eat more than one), or provide ample, tasty leftovers. The meat will probably cost you $80-$100, but it's well worth it. Substitute your favorite roast meat or poultry, or even fish (like the halibut in the recipe Dick has given you) for a more moderately priced main course or one producing a smaller amount of food.
Vegetables: We've had the brussel sprout recipe (designed specifically by the originating chef to accompany the Crown Pork Roast recipe) for a long time, but we made it for the first time this Thanksgiving. It went well with roast turkey and could be served with most grilled or roasted meat or poultry. Serve the oven-roasted carrots and cauliflower instead of the brussel sprouts with the halibut; these vegetables also pair well with the roast pork.
Limoncello "Martinis": This is Dick's creation, designed to clean the palate after the pork and vegetables. You can skip the Limoncello (an Italian, lemon-flavored vodka, served ice cold) for those guests who don't drink or feel they've had plenty of wine already. We've served this dish as dessert, skipping a more formal dessert after the salad course (which we've also sometimes omitted from the menu).
Salad Course: Dick usually uses Red Bartlett Pears for this dish, but any pear would probably work fine. Other bitter greens such as arugula or watercress could be substituted for the frisee, although that salad green makes for a nice presentation. You can broil the pears, cook them on a gas or charcoal grill, or follow Dick's method and cook them on the stove top in a non-stick grill pan. They key is to caramelize the sugars in the pears and leave nice toasty-looking grill marks, without turning them black.
Dessert: We've tried various desserts with this dinner, some of which have been good flavor choices, but the recipes have sometimes been disappointing. Dick would recommend avoiding a heavy dessert like chocolate cake with this meal. Dick has given you two recipes he hasn't made, a Mango Creme Brulee (from chef John Ash whose Crown Roast Pork is featured on this menu) and an Apple Tarte Tatin (from Mary Karlin of Ramekins who created the recipe for the Winter Squash and Chestnut Bisque), which should go nicely with this meal.
Wine Pairing: You might get away with serving a Chardonnay or Savignon Blanc with the entire meal, although the choices Dick has recommended do match particularly well with each course. Merlot might work with the Pork Roast in lieu of Pinot Noir which has become a bit pricey thanks to the movie "Sideways"; Cabernet Sauvignon is probably not a good choice for this meat dish. No suggestion is made for the dessert since the key is getting the sweetness of the wine to match that of the dessert. However, with the tarte tatin, you could serve the same late harvest riesling used in making the dish.

Bon Appetit!

No Rain On This Parade (At China Camp, November 25)

Last week at Bahia it was summer. This week at China Camp the low, gray skies made it look like winter, but air temperatures in the low 60's and high humidity had us shedding layers on the uphill portions of this hike. The clouds never parted and we didn't need any sunscreen for this trip, but only a handful of rain drops fell on our heads during the entire walk.

We left our cars along San Pedro Road near the edge of the wetlands, walked eastward in the direction of the park's ranger station, then we turned south and began ascending a tree-line trail. Despite a fairly dry three week period since early November, Honey Mushrooms were abundant in this Bay and Oak forest. (Too bad we couldn't use those in the mushroom dishes Dick posted to the blog!). The luckier among the group got to spot a Pileated Woodpecker although most, if not all of us, got a good long look at a little Brown Creeper later in the walk. (Click here to view and print Wendy's list of flora and fauna spotted on this hike).

After climbing up to the ridge above the Peacock Gap housing development, we continued west to a saddle where the trail dipped down to our starting point, and plopped down there on logs, tree stumps, or along the trail for a midday lunch. Several mountain bikers passed us during the hike, and the trail we took to return to our cars was steep, rocky and rutted, probably due in part to erosion sped up by bike tires churning up the earth.

NEW! Meandering Photo Albums Changes

Photos from our November 25th China Camp-Miwok Meadows hike are now on-line, along with two other on-line albums of hike photos.

Just click on the link below (or on the right-hand side of the blog) for the photo album you want to view:

• Latest (China Camp 11/25/08) Hike Photos
• 2008-2009 Hike Photos (November - )
• 2008 Hike Photos (Through October)

Leaving Room for Mushrooms

After stuffing yourself on Thanksgiving, do you hanker for some "comfort food" that is tasty, easy to make, and not so filling? If you're wild about mushrooms, try Wild Mushroom Risotto (don't use those "Honey" mushrooms we saw today --- forage for creminis, chanterelles, or portobellos at the farmer's market or your grocery store) with a green salad and crusty bread? Or if you want a more substantial meal, but are tired of eating Thanksgiving leftovers, grill some chops, chicken breasts, or fish, and serve Wild Mushroom Ragout (made from a combination of chanterelles, shiitakes, oysters, or creminis) as a side dish. (Click on the recipe name to view and download a PDF copy from Scribd.com).

Dick Jordan has made both of these tasty dishes taken from the cookbook of The Girl & The Fig, one of his favorite restaurants (serving French bistro-style food accompanied by Rhone-style red and white wines) located on the plaza in the Town of Sonoma. (The cookbook is available for $30 plus tax at the restaurant, or from the restaurant's on-line store with an extra charge for shipping, at the same price from Book Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, and from Amazon.com for $19.80, plus tax or shipping if applicable).

Coming to the blog soon: A Perfect Delightful Holiday Dinner (Menu and recipes only; food, wine, and chef not included; some assembly required).

We Do Not Live By Hiking Alone!

Before he started meandering all over Marin with Wendy, Dick Jordan spent three years working as a "scullery maid" at Ramekins Sonoma County Culinary School in the Town of Sonoma. He still goes back from time to time to take a class, and has found three "demonstration" classes (you watch, the chef cooks, you eat) coming up early in 2009 that he thought that the Tuesday Meanderers might be interested in attending. (We could do a private cooking class for the group, but the per person costs are quite a bit higher).
Here are the three classes; let Dick know which, if any, tantalizes your taste buds, and he'll see if we can put a group together (with everyone to register individually):

Friday, February 6, 2009 (11:00 am - 3:00 pm; $50)
Heart's Delight: French Food Done Light
Spa cuisine has earned a reputation for tasting delicious while being healthy and low in calories. The French have mastered this cuisine, without compromising on flavor. Connie Barney Wilson returns from France to demonstrate these flavorful dishes that will satisfy without destroying your waistline:

• Fresh Crab Flan
• Smoky Roast Pumpkin Soup
• Chicken Sautéed with Normandy Cider (Poulet Sauté au Cidre)
• Savory Wild Mushroom Mousse
• Port-Poached Pears on Brioche with Chocolate Sauce

Friday, February 27, 2009 (11:00 am - 2:00 pm; $50)
A Culinary Tribute: Liberace Cooks!
Come to a special class saluting the culinary talents of Liberace. Believing that food and music were the two best things in life, Liberace thoroughly enjoyed the art of cooking. Lisa Lavagetto will demonstrate the following recipes from this famed entertainer, including a velvety soup to start and Italian custard for a sweet finish:

• Creamy Artichoke Soup with Garlic Croutons
• Roasted Pork Loin with Apricot Brandy Purée
• Baked Fennel Gratin with Fresh Breadcrumbs and Parmesan
• Cucumbers and Sweet Red Onions marinated in Vinegar and Cream
• Zabaglione Custard with Marsala and Seasonal Fruits

Friday, March 27, 2009 (11:00 am - 2:00 pm; $50)
The Splendor of Spring
Spring’s arrival brings bright flavors and ingredients that are simple to prepare. Therese Nugent, Sonoma cooking teacher and food columnist for the Sonoma Index Tribune, will show you how to make a hearty meal that celebrates the new ingredients of the season and is sure to please family and friends using the following recipes:

• Roasted Asparagus Soup with Spring Herb Gremolata
• Pasta in a Lemon Cream Sauce (Tagliolini al Limone)
• Poached Salmon bathed in Basil Butter over Spring Succotash
• Minted Sugar Snap Peas
• Old Fashioned Rhubarb Cake with Strawberry Sauce

"Summer" Hike Along The Bahia (November 18)

It was just over a week until Thanksgiving and here we were, walking in our shirtsleeves through a mixed Bay/Oak forest west of the Petaluma River at Bahia, some of us thinking about what flavor ice cream we'd order from "The Scoop" after the hike. Summer's over, but it isn't.

We began the day with a bit of hummingbird spotting, thanks to a friend of Lee Skutch who kindly allowed us to linger in her backyard watching these minute avians flit back and forth to the many nectar-filled feeders hanging there. There were fewer "hummers" than expected --- perhaps the warm morning had left them more in the mood for napping than flying, but we did spot some Blackchinned ones sipping away at the sugar-water.

After hauling ourselves up and down the Marin headlands, Mt. Tam, and the flanks of Inverness Ridge over the past several weeks, we enjoyed an almost level walk on paths just above the high tide line as we meandered from east to west. We strolled by many large manzanita (red bark) and madrone (orange bark) trees as we made our way towards the tidal areas along Rush Creek. Along the way we were rewarded with views eastward to Cougar Mountain near Sears Point, up north toward Lakeville, and finally northwest to Mount Burdell.

Small planes practicing take offs and landings at Gnoss Field soared overhead as we trekked to our lunch spot under an ancient oak tree along Cemetery Marsh where we spotted shorebirds and ducks. The oak provided ample shade for us to laze away our lunch break, munching on brownies that Barbara had brought along for us to snack on in celebration of her "Reverse Birthday" (she's now worked her way back from 50 to 31) while Silvia honored Barbara with a song.

While we usually hike a looping route back to our starting place, the more interesting views in this area are close to the wetlands so we retraced our route back to the cars after lunch in more or less non-stop fashion. We passed a few other hikers and mountain bikers, and one mother pushing a sleeping child along in a stroller (not a bad way to be transported back to the trailhead after lunch on a warm day), but had the area mostly to ourselves.

(Pictures of this hike shot by Theresa Fisher and Dick Jordan are now on-line. You can view them in the mini-slideshow window in the "Meandering In Marin On Tuesdays" blog, or by clicking here to go directly to the Picasa Web album of photos from the latest hike).

China Camp Hike (November 25) Preview

For the second week in a row we hike on the eastern edge of Marin along San Francisco Bay, this time venturing into China Camp State Park. Here's Wendy's description of the outing:

"Learn about wetland habitats and some of the endangered animals that live there like the tiny salt marsh harvest mouse. Last year we saw lots of mushrooms including oyster mushrooms, chicken-of-the-woods, jack-o-lantern mushrooms, and sulfur tufts. This area is also of historical interest as the site of a once thriving Chinese shrimp fishing village. We'll have lunch by the small museum." (Click here to view and print out the park brochure and map).

Directions: Take the San Pedro Road exit from Highway 101 and go east for three miles. PASS the sign that says China Camp State Park and go about 3/4 mile further on San Pedro Road to Miwok Meadows (sign on your right). Park along the road.

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead, but you can turn in at the China Camp sign and go past the toll booth (you don't need to pay), past the day use parking area, to the campground parking area.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, November 21, the weather forecast for San Rafael was a chance of showers, mostly cloudy skies, with a high temperature near 63. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, contains the following hike (our route may vary from this one):

China Camp Miwok Meadows Hike and Map

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

(Click here to view and print out a complete description of the hike and map from Martins' book. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Scribd" Web site, click on the "Download" icon and then on the "PDF" icon to open the document on your computer).

NEW! Winterim 2008-2009 Hike Descriptions On-Line

Complete information on all of Wendy's hikes for "Winterim" 2008-09 (December 6th through January 27th; no hikes on December 23 or 30) has been e-mailed to you, but if you mislay the list, click here to view or print another copy , or go to the blog (where you can view and print out the information for all of the hikes, or any single hike).

Be sure to use this current information for the December 9th "Salmon Walk". (The meeting place is now the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and not the Shafter Bridge). Click here for the updated outing description.

NEW! Photos From the Bootjack-Mt. Theater-West Point Hike

Pictures of our hike from Bootjack to the Mountain Theater and on to the West Point Inn (including photos shot by Theresa Fisher) are now on-line. You can view them in the mini-slideshow window in the "Meandering In Marin On Tuesdays" blog, or by clicking here to go directly to the Picasa Web album of photos from the latest hike.

Bahia Open Space Hike (November 18) Preview

After spending a good part of the fall meandering around Southern Marin and Mount Tam, this week we'll head north to the Novato area and do some birdwatching on a portion of the Marin County Open Space lands. Here's Wendy's description of this outing: "This is a wonderful birding area! I’ll bring a spotting scope, but bring binoculars if you have them. (If you don’t have any, I have extras you can share.)"

Directions to trailhead: Take Highway 101 and exit on Atherton Avenue in Novato. Go east, until Bugeia Lane splits left and Atherton goes right. Take Bugeia which becomes Bahia and park at the end of the street.

Driving time from College of Marin: 35 minutes. No restrooms.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, November 12th, the National Weather Service forecast for Novato on Tuesday, November 18th was mostly sunny, with a high near 67. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hiking in this particular areas isn't covered by any of the trailguides which Dick Jordan has, but you can click here for the Marin County Open Space District's description of the Rush Creek area. The map below shows the general area for this outing:

Rush Creek Bahia Map

Publish Post

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

(Click here to view and print out this map using Adobe Acrobat Reader).

A Green And Gray Day Above the Bay (Boojack Hike - November 11th)

Unlike our last hike in this area (from Mountain Home to Bootjack on October 28th) when a hot sun shown down on us, today the temperatures dropped nearly twenty degrees as fog shrouded San Francisco and high clouds fanned out over Mountain Tam making for a cooler, but more comfortable hike. After spending 45 minutes slogging uphill on the Bootjack Trail to the Mountain Theater, we paused to reminisce about our favorite Mountain Play productions during years past, including "Annie", "The Sound of Music", and "South Pacific" (replete with WWII vintage aircraft doing a "fly by" during the performance).

Then it was downhill on the Rock Spring Trail to the West Point Inn for a leisurely lunch with a grand, sweeping view across Southern Marin to San Francisco. Lucky for us, the Inn was staffed today so we could get a steaming cup of coffee or tea to go with our repast and take the slightly chilly edge off the day. Because of the Veterans' Day holiday, we were joined at the Inn by hikers and bikers who had the day off from work.

After lunch, we moseyed a half-mile down the tree-lined Nora Trail, passing by small pools in the creek leftover from last week's rain, until we reached the junction with the Matt Davis Trail leading us on the mile-plus traverse across the chaparral growth on the southern flank of the mountain and back to the parking lot at Bootjack.

NEW! Changes To The "Meandering Blog"

Dick Jordan has made some minor changes to the "Meandering in Marin on Tuesdays" blog to make it easier to use:

• Each upcoming hike is now listed at the top right hand side of the blog in reverse order (last hike listed first). Hikes we've done will be deleted from the list each week. Just click on the hike you're interested in to view, download, and print out the description and trailhead directions for that hike only. (You'll still get the "preview" of the next hike e-mailed to you).
  
• Below the list of upcoming hikes you find a link to the list of all hikes during a College of Marin Semester (e.g., "Fall 2") or "interim" period when Wendy offers hikes on a weekly, "pay-as-you-go" basis.
  
• The "Mini-slideshow" of latest hike photos and the link to the on-line album of photos from past hikes is just below these hike listings.
• The Archive of past blog "posts" and the How To Search This Blog instructions have been moved up from to the bottom of the blog to a spot just below the photos.
  

NEW! December 9th "Salmon Walk" Set

On the first Tuesday of "Winterim" (hikes between the end of Fall and beginning of Winter hiking series through the College of Marin), December 9th, we'll spend about two hours in the morning along creeks and streams in San Geronimo Valley with Dick Jordan's friend, and SPAWN naturalist, Megan Isadore, looking for spawning salmon. We may not find any fish as large as this 85 pounder picked up off a stream bank near Redding (see Tom Stienstra's "Monster Salmon" story in this Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle), but with luck, we'll spot a number of fish returning to reproduce in Marin's watersheds.

Lunch at the Two Bird Cafe in the San Geronomio Valley will follow. The salmon walk will go, rain or shine.

Further details on the outing will be posted to the blog and e-mailed to the group early in December. Cost will be $10 (which goes to SPAWN; you can make a larger donation if you wish; since Wendy is going along as a "student" she won't charge the usual "Pay-As-You-Go" hike fee). Group size limited to twenty. Let Dick Jordan know by December 2nd (the "Final Exam" hike) if you plan on coming.

If you just can't go on the December 9th tour with SPAWN, you can click here to sign up on-line for one of its creek walks (Saturday/Sunday from November 15 through January 18th; walks also offered on Thanksgiving and the day after Turkey Day), And if you just don't get enough blog-food from the Meandering On Tuesday blog, click here for SPAWN's "Salmon Blog"!

Mountain Theater/West Point Inn Hike (November 11) Preview

It may be a long, long way to Tipperary, but our Veterans' Day hike will be much shorter. Here's Wendy's description of this trek: "A mostly shady trail takes us up to the Mountain Theater where you’ll learn the history of its construction and the tradition of drama on the Mountain*. Lunch at the historic West Point Inn."

(*The Mountain Theater - a.k.a. The Cushing Memorial Theater- in Mount Tamalpais State Park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The natural-stone amphitheater seats 3,750 people and features the Mountain Play each spring, produced every year since 1913).

Directions: Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101. Go west through Tam Valley and up onto the ridge. Turn right onto Panoramic Highway and follow signs to Mt. Tamalpais. Park in Bootjack lot. As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($6/car) on your right about 2.5 miles after you cross the state park boundary --- if you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway, you've gone too far and need to turn around and drive back down the mountain. (Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out) 50 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead and lunch stop.

Weather forecast: As of Saturday morning, the National Weather Service forecast for Mill Valley on Tuesday was mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain and a high near 60. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martin's book, Hiking Marin, contains the following hike (our route may vary somewhat) on this part of Mount Tam:

Bootjack-Mt Theater-West Point Hike and Map

Get your own at Scribd or explore others:

(Click here to view and print out a complete description of the hike and map from Martins' book. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Scribd" Web site, click on the "Download" icon and then on the "PDF" icon to open the document on your computer).

Fish Finding (Upcoming Outing)

Salmon will soon be returning to the streams of Marin to spawn. Wendy and Dick Jordan are trying to set up an outing (either on a Tuesday during "Winterim" or on another weekday) to find and view the fish on a guided tour with Dick's friend, Megan, who is a naturalist with SPAWN (Salmon Protection and Watershed Network). Stay tuned for details!

If you just can't wait to go on a tour with SPAWN, you can click here to sign up on-line for one of its creekwalks (Saturday/Sunday from November 15 through January 18th; walks also offered on Thanksgiving and the day after Turkey Day), And if you just don't get enough blog-food from the Meandering On Tuesday blog, click here for SPAWN's "Salmon Blog"!

Rain, Rain, Gone Away (Laguna-Bayview Hike)

Sun, glorious sun, returned after a few cold and wet days to greet us as we drove west out to the Point Reyes National Seashore where we spent several weeks hiking during the summer. On July 22nd, we started out at Muddy Hollow and headed northwest on the Muddy Hollow Road, then west on the Glenbrook Trail to Limantour Beach (click here for the map of that hike). Today, we started out at the Laguna Trailhead near the Point Reyes Hostel, walked east past the Clem Miller Environmental Center (named for a Congressman who played a major role in creating the park) and then up the steep grade of the Laguna Trail until it topped out at the Limantour Road, and then westward back down the Bayview Trail to Muddy Hollow.

Much of the first half of the hike was under the canopy of Bishop Pines which have grown up since the 1995 Vision Fire in the park. The trees shaded us from the sun, protected us from the breeze, and created a fragrant, green "tunnel" through which we walked. The recent rains brought forth a raft of banana slugs (Silvia treated us to a rendition of the "Chiquita Banana Slug Song") and several mushrooms. While it is not unusual for us to run into a few other day hikers on our Tuesday treks, this time we had to "pull over" on the Laguna Trail to allow a large group of schoolkids on an outing to Point Reyes from Tracy to pass by. One kid, spotting those of us with hiking poles, remarked that we looked as though we were "skiing on dirt."

After crossing the park road, we were back under the trees while descending the initial stretch of the Bayview Trail which, true to its name, eventually opened up to a panorama of ridges and ocean. About noon "dinner bells" were going off in our stomachs, so we stopped at the bottom of the grade, and most of us sat on ponchos and plastic bags or sheets along the trail for our mid-day repast. We paused to examine the "fruit" of a Buckeye tree, then marched on along the creek to Muddy Hollow where some hopped back in their cars and the rest of us hiked the half mile or so back to the parking lot by the hostel to catch our ride home.

(Photos from the hike taken can be viewed on the blog or by clicking here to access to on-line album of photos from this hike).