"Downhill" from Dogtown to Five Brooks (August 26th)

Ten of us rendezvoused at Five Brooks, then carpooled south on Highway 1 until we reached a spot opposite from where the McCurdy Trail drops down from the Bolinas Ridge to the highway. This "Final Exam" hike proved to be no "Easy A" --- we trudged "downhill" along the San Andreas Fault for nearly six miles from Dogtown to Five Brooks to earn our spot at the table for the "end of term" luncheon.

It was a warm day and we were mostly out in the open during the the first half of the trek. We saw "Condominium" spiders (apparently not affected by the downturn in housing prices), and a few butterflies as we tromped along. This trail is popular with the "horsey set" and we passed several riders headed in the opposite direction.

About halfway to Five Brooks we met the intersection with the Randall Trail (which we'd hiked down from Bolinas Ridge earlier in August) and began a long uphill climb and then a long descent to Five Brooks. It was a warm and dusty walk, but a nice, cool breeze through the trees at Bear Valley made for a pleasant lunch and we "graduated from summer school" with full stomachs.

Photos from this hike can be viewed on the blog or by clicking here.