Chimney Rock Photos Now On-Line!

Photos taken by our intrepid crew of photographers during last week's Chimney Rock hike are now on-line.

View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line photo album.

Green Gulch Hike (5/3) Preview

Here’s Wendy’s description for next week's hike:  “Today we get to see the beautiful organic vegetable garden at the Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farms on our way up to the Coyote Ridge Trail. Lunch overlooking the ocean on our way back down to Muir Beach.”  (Click here for a recap or here for the on-line album of photos from last year's hike).

Directions to trailhead:  Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101. Go through Tam Junction, and take Shoreline Highway and follow signs to Muir Beach.

Restrooms at trailhead. Time: 55 minutes from COM.  Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park and Ride lot at 9:00 a.m.

Weather forecast:  Winter seems determined to hang on this year.  As of Wednesday, April 27,  the forecast for the day of the hike was sunny, with a high near 68.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Although our actual route may vary, hike A10 (Coastal – Coyote Ridge – Green Gulch) in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, covers this area. The GGNRA Marin Headlands map shows the trails.  (Click here for more information on Green Gulch Farm).  The following Google Earth image shows where we will be hiking.

West Ridgecrest Hike (4/26) Preview

This week we return again to West Marin.  On this hike (not a loop) we’ll explore a section of the Coastal Trail with views of Stinson Beach and Bolinas Lagoon. When Ridgecrest Boulevard opened as a toll road in the 1920s it was proclaimed California’s “Most Scenic Drive.” It’s even better hiking!  Clintonia could be in bloom by now!  (Click here for the recap of last year's hike.  Photos from that hike are in this on-line album.)

Directions to trailhead:  THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:

1. Take the Fairfax Bolinas Road from Fairfax to Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park at the junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. (About 1 hour driving time from the College of Marin; car poolers can meet at St. Rita’s by 9:00 am); OR
   
2. 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. Turn left at Rock Springs onto Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park on left at junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road.  (Driving time from College of Marin about 1 hour).

No restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Wednesday, April 20th, the National Weather Service forecast for the time of the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 61. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  This hike isn’t mentioned in any of Dick Jordan’s trail guides, but we’ll be hiking south on the Coastal Trail which parallels Ridgecrest Boulevard until we reach the junction with the McKennan Gulch Trail (which heads downhill to Bolinas Lagoon) and then we will retrace our steps back north.
 
(Click here and go to page 6 of the Mt. Tam State Park brochure for the park map; click on the percentage magnification box at the top of the page and increase to about 125%-150% to get a good view of the trail which runs just west of the road).

Chimney Rock (4/19) Hike Preview

We'll return to Point Reyes National Seashore for this hike which we do every year in April. (Click here for a recap of last year's trek). Here's what Wendy promises for this outing: "This is one of Marin's must-see spring wildflower displays which includes some beautiful endangered flowers. We may see some late elephant seals at the overlook and we'll take time to learn about their history and return from the brink of extinction. Bring binoculars if you have them"  (Click here to view photos from past hikes at Chimney Rock).

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Olema. Turn right at Olema onto Highway 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (There are restrooms at the trailhead --- another 30-45 minutes down the road; if you need a restroom break now, take the first left off Bear Valley Road and stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center).

Continue on Bear Valley Road until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again. Turn left to follow Sir Francis Drake out to Point Reyes. Go through Inverness. At the junction with Pierce Point Road, bear left and stay on Sir Francis Drake. Follow signs towards the Lighthouse and Drake’s Beach. You’ll pass the turn to Drake’s Beach on your left. Keep going until you see a left turn to Chimney Rock. (Sir Francis Drake continues on to end at the Lighthouse parking lot).

Driving time from the College of Marin: One hour, thirty minutes. (Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church in Faifax about 8:30 am). Restrooms at trailhead. (If you need an earlier restroom stop, you can stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center). Click here to view and print a copy of the park map for the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, April 13, the National Weather Service forecast for the Point Reyes Lighthouse area was mostly sunny, with a high near 54. (Click here for an updated forecast). Real-time weather reporting for the Point Reyes Lighthouse is also available (click here). Sometimes it is very windy when we do this hike, so in addition to your rain gear, be sure to toss some extra layers and a warm jacket and hat (bring some duct tape to "tie" your hat on your head) in your car in case it is "blowin' like snot" (a sailor's term for windy weather).

More on this hike: The general area covered by this hike is shown in hike "G13 PR Lighthouse and Chimney Rock" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin and the "Chimney Rock" hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. You can also view and print out a map of the Chimney Rock area from the Point Reyes National Seashore Web site. The Google Earth image below shows where we'll be on this outing. (Click on the photo to open a large image in your Web browser).

at 7:48 PM

Water, Water, Everywhere!

There will be no meandering in Marin this week, but if you've got itchy feet, and can't join Wendy's friend, Bob Stewart, for a hike, here's where San Francisco Chronicle outdoor writer, Tom Stienstra, says you can go to watch water falling all around you.

(Meandering resumes on Tuesday, April 19th, when we head out to Point Reyes National Seashore to check out the wildflowers and try not to get blown off Chimney Rock).

Take A Hike! (With Bob Stewart, April 11-13)

No need to be slothful this coming week! Per Wendy, put on your boots "[i]f you'd like to take a hike the week I'm away, check out hikes with Bob Stewart who was my mentor in the '70s.   He's a wonderful naturalist and teacher! 

"April 11 is Cascade Canyon in Fairfax, April 12 is Wolf Ridge GGNRA, April 13 birding Tomales Bay and Bolinas Lagoon.  $25 (9-3 except Tomales Bay which meets at 8AM)."

For details, click here and go to "Marin Outings."

Reminder - NO HIKE ON APRIL 12TH!

Just a reminder that there is NO HIKE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12TH.

Our next hike will be at Chimney Rock in Point Reyes National Seashore on Tuesday, April 19.

Indian Valley Open Space Photos Now On-Line!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's Indian Valley Open Space hike are now on-line.

View them in the slideshow on the Meandering blog or click here to view them in the Picasa Web Album.