A Walk In The Park - Bear Valley (November 24)

The weather couldn't have been better for our final hike of November:  Bright and sunny, a little cool in the shade, but warm in the sun, from morning until afternoon, out in Bear Valley at Point Reyes National Seashore.

We left our packs in the cars at the outset, and then spent about an hour and a quarter hiking a measly 0.8 miles up and down the woodpecker trail ("F1 - Bear Valley Interpretive Trails" if you have the Martins' book, Hiking Marin).  We dilly dallied around because of the plethora of mushrooms sprouting everywhere along the trail thanks to the recent wet weather.  A giant Douglas Fir was full of holes punched out by Acorn Woodpeckers to stash their supply of nuts. We found a California slender salamander here, too.  After a brief stop at the Morgan Horse Farm to watch a Black Phoebe flit back and forth in search of bugs on the wing, we returned to the parking lot to retrieve our packs and begin the second part of the day's hiking.  (Click here for Wendy's list of all flora and fauna spotted during the day).

By about 11:15 a.m. we were on our way up the Bear Valley Trail headed for Divide Meadow where we planned to stop for lunch.  A slow, but steady stream of water was headed the other direction along the creek that parallels the trail.  A Downy Woopecker crawled around a tree above us.  Ferns thrived in the shady sections.  In a little over an hour we had climbed 250 feet to the meadow and plopped down to relax in the sunshine and quell our appetites. 

Before we retraced our steps downhill to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, Wendy recounted the history of the long-gone 35 room sportsmen's lodge built along the edge of the meadow by San Francisco's Pacific Union Club during the 1890's.  The planned golf course, tennis courts, and swimming pool never made it off the plans on onto the ground, but the lodge building stood until it was removed in 1950.

It was all downhill, literally, but not figuratively, during the 1.6 mile stroll back to the Bear Valley Visitor Center and our cars.  Clouds portending rain later in the week had begun to streak the sky which had been clear blue when we left two and half hours earlier.  Compared to some of our hikes (like Limantour Road to Bear Valley via Divide Meadow), this was really a walk in the park:  Just 4.0 miles total.  Hardly enough to burn off many calories before "reloading" two days later on Thanksgiving.

(Click here to view more of Dick Jordan's photos taken during this hike.  If you've misplaced the link to Theresa Fisher's separate on-line album of hike pictures, click here).

Bahia Open Space Hike (Dec. 1) Preview

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 and the ducks and shore birds are all back in Marin! We can expect green-winged teal, northern shovelers, American avocets, yellowlegs, and more. 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.)"  (Click here for a list of species that can be found in this area).

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 Tuesday evening, November 24, the weather forecast for this hike is sunny with a high near 62 (Click here for an updated National Weather Service 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.
(Click here to view and print out a map of this area).

Dick Jordan's Travel Writing Blog

On the way back from today's hike at Bear Valley, Kathy expressed interest is seeing my "Official Travel Writer's" blog called "Tales Told from the Road."  If you'd like to see it, just click here.

Sky Oaks Hike (Nov. 17) Hike Photos Now On-Line

You can access Theresa Fisher's photos from Tuesday's Sky Oaks hike by clicking here.

Bear Valley Hike (November 24) Preview

Although we often hike out at Point Reyes National Seashore during the summer, this week we'll make a pre-Thanksgiving trip out to the park (perhaps during a little wild turkey hunting along the way in the San Geronimo Valley?).  Here' Wendy's description of the hike:  "Bear Valley is home to one of the largest acorn woodpecker colonies in California! We'll go to Kule Loklo to see the reconstructed Miwok Village, stop by the Morgan Horse Ranch, then take Woodpecker trail to Bear Valley Trail to walk where in the 1880s visitors could take an excursion by wagon 'for miles and miles through a tree canopied glen, banked with ferns.' Lunch at Divide Meadow."

Directions to trailhead:  Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through and beyond Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. From Bear Valley Road. turn left to the Visitor's Center. We'll hike out Bear Valley Trail and have lunch at Divide Meadow.

Time: 50 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead, portable en route.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, November 19, the forecast for Tuesday's hike was mostly sunny with a high near 63. Click here for an updated forecast from the National Weather Service).

More on this hike:  Hikes F1 (Bear Valley Interpretive Trails) and F2 (Bear Valley - Meadow - Horse Trails) in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, and the Bear Valley Trail to Divide Meadow hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourrre's Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area show the general area where we'll be hiking.  The Seashore's Bear Valley map shows the Kule Loklo and Woodpecker trails, and the park's South District Hiking map has the Bear Valley to Divide Meadow trail.

What's In Store, Weather-Wise, for This Winter?

Our October rains seem to foretell a wet winter, but it's been very dry since then.  How much rain will we get this year?  Will there be a big snowpack in the Sierra?  Is the drought over?  Check out Tom Stienstra's long-range winter forecast which appeared in the Sunday, November 15, San Francisco Chronicle.

Sky Oaks Hike (Nov. 17) Preview

This week we'll in the MMWD watershed near Fairfax. Here's Wendy's description of the hike:

"This loop starts out in oak/bay/madrone habitat, but we'll also see redwoods and some grassland. If we've gotten some rain we should see mushroom including sulfur tufts, jack-o-lanterns, grisettes, Zeller's boletes, and manzanita boletes."  (Click here to read about our last hike in this general area on October24,  2008).

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard into Fairfax. Jog left and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater. The first left puts you on Bolinas Avenue. Follow this until you see the sign on your left for Lake Bon Tempe and Lake Lagunitas. Follow the road to the toll booth by Sky Oaks Ranger Station. (Click here for the MMWD map and directions).

The day use fee is $7.  You can use $1, $5, or $10 bills and coins at the automated pay station, or a Visa or Mastercard. Annual entrance passes are normally $50 ($25 for those 62 and older), but after September 1st you can buy one for half of those prices and the pass will be valid through January 31, 2010.  (As Dick recalls, you pay the annual pass fee at the automated pay station, then have to either stop at the Sky Oaks Ranger Station on the way out and ask them to send your receipt to the main office in Corte Madera which will issue the pass and mail it to you, or you have to send or take the receipt to that office yourself).

Time: 25 minutes from College of Marin. Portapotty in parking lot.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, the weather forecast for this hike was partly cloudy with a high near 65 and a chance of showers. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast).

More on this hike: Hike C12 (Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog Fire Road) in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the area where we will be hiking (our route may differ) in this part of the MMWD watershed.  (Click here to view and print the MMWD map of this area).

Muir Woods (Nov. 2) Hike Photos Now On-Line!

Theresa Fisher shot several photos during last week's hike in Muir Woods:  Click here to view them.

Indian Tree Open Space Hike (Nov. 10) Preview

This week we head north and east to the Novato area to hike in the Indian Tree Open Space Preserve.  Here's Wendy's hike description:  "We hike a pretty loop trail with mushrooms, views, and a grove of old redwoods that escaped logging.  If there have been late rains you may want to boots [Dick: make that "old" boots, or Goretex or waterproofed ones] or be prepared to rock hop a few streams."  (Click here to read the recap of our last hike in this area on February 3, 2009).

Directions: Take Highway 101 north. Exit at San Marin Drive and go west. San Marin becomes Sutro Avenue after if crosses Novato Boulevard. Turn right (west) onto Vineyard Road. The trail starts where the paved road turns into a dirt road. Time: 35 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead. (Carpoolers meet about 9:15-9:20 am at the Park & Ride lot on the east side of Highway 101 at Smith Ranch Road in the Terra Linda area north of the Marin Civic Center and downtown San Rafael).

Weather forecast: As of noon on Thursday, November  5, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday's hike was mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and a high near 63. (Click here for an updated National Weather Service forecast).

More on this hike: The Marin County Open Space District operates the preserve on a portion of this area (the North Marin Water District owns adjacent land) and its Web site provides a viewable/printable trail map and a list of the species of various critters we might encounter. Barry Spitz's book, Open Spaces (Marin County Open Space District, 2000) describes the area and contains a map similar to that found on the MCOSD Web site). The following hike ("E9 Deer Camp - Big Trees Trails) from the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, is probably much longer (7.2 miles) than the one we'll actually take, but shows the general area where we'll be hiking.

Correction to Nov. 3 Muir Woods Hike

We'll be hiking on the Dipsea (not "Dipsed") and Ben Johnson trails.

IMPORTANT REMINDER! LOCATION CHANGE FOR NOV. 3RD HIKE!!!

Just a reminder that our Tuesday, November 3rd hike has been changed from "Boojack to Mt. Theater" on Mt. Tam to "Dipsea to Ben Johnson Trails" in Muir Woods.

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 101 take the Stinson Beach exit, turn left (west) on Shoreline Highway, right on Panoramic Highway and left on Muir Woods Road. Meet at Muir Woods Parking Lot #2. Time: 35 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead. (Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot near the intersection of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Highway 101 at 9:10 am).

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, October 29, the National Weather Service forecast for Mill Valley on Tuesday, November 3rd, is sunny with a high near 73. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: We'll hike up the Dipsea Trail, then descend back to the floor of Muir Woods on the Ben Johnson Trail. (Click here to view and download the park trail map). If you have Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, you'll see that she proposes hiking this route in the reverse direction (up the Ben Johnson, down the Dipsea) from our plan, but her book will at least give you an idea of what our hike will be like.