Blown Away, Not Off, At Chimney Rock

Last year just keeping upright at Chimney Rock was a challenge as a strong storm system hit Point Reyes during our hike.  This year was different.

While the Tuesday morning weather forecast remained bleak, the dozen Meanderers who threw caution to the wind and drove to the trailhead were rewarded with a fine day of hiking amid masses of blooming wildflowers.  This year the bad weather had mostly blown through early in the day, and thunderheads that developed later scudded by to the north and south of our route.  Only one brief, wet and cold downpour rained on our parade of hikers as we made our way from the parking lot toward the Lifesaving Station.

Our first stop was opposite the elephant seal haul-out beach at the northwest corner of Drake’s Bay.  A passel of these marine mammals looking like large pieces of dun colored driftwood “sawed logs” during a sandy siesta or barked like unfed dogs hungry for a meal.  Later in the morning we got a very “up close and personal” look at a some “weaners” basking in the sun by the Lifesaving Station.

We were the only fools on the trail during the blustery day in April of 2009 when we last hiked here.  This time we met several groups of hikers and the parking lot was mostly full all day.

This must be the best place in Marin to see iris blooming.  While we often spot individual plants during hikes elsewhere, here they grow en masse.  Franciscan Paintbrush, Owl’s Clover, California Poppy, and Footsteps of Spring were among the many wildflowers we saw during the hike.  (Click here to see hike photos).

Our lunch spot was special not only for the great views out over the ocean to the west, Drakes Bay to the east, and south towards San Francisco, but because a Peregrine Falcon went swooping by as we ate.  After our meal we sang “Happy Birthday!” to Lillian who turned another year younger on Tuesday.

Our route out to Chimney Rock took us along the Drakes Bay side of the peninsula that juts out to sea; on the way back we headed west to the Pacific side, climbing a long, steep hill that leads to views off towards Point Reyes itself.  Our only disappointment of the day was not being able to find the Great Horned Owls that nest in the old Cypress trees in this area.

Just before calling it a day we stopped at the poster on the sign next to the parking lot to review the wildflowers we’d seen.  Then it was off with the rain pants and packs, and time to head for home.
This is one of the shorter (but most scenic) hikes that we take during the year --- a mere 3.1 miles from start to finish.  (See the Google Earth image below).
 

But the elevation gain and loss is fairly substantial as shown on the following hike profile image.