Lake Lagunitas “Final Exam” Hike (12/6) Preview

We return to the MMWD watershed for our final hike of the Fall 2009 "2" session.  Here's what we'll be doing:  "We make a partial circle around the lake, looking for ring-neck ducks, mergansers, grebes and other birds, and then make a loop past Pilot Knob, returning on Southern Marin Line. We usually see newts and some interesting mushrooms on this hike. Bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, plus a plate, utensils, and a cup."  (Click here for a recap of our December 2009 "Final Exam" hike at this location).

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 continue past to toll booth until you reach the end of the room.

The day use fee is $8.  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 $60 ($30 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, 2012.  (You can pay the annual pass fee at the automated pay station.  Keep one part of the receipt which is a temporary pass good for two weeks, then: 1) stop at the Sky Oaks Ranger Station on the way out and ask them to send the other half of your receipt to the main office in Corte Madera which will issue the permanent pass and mail it to you, or 2) send or take the receipt to the main office yourself).

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms in parking lot.  Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:20 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Wednesday November 30, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 60. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast).

More on this hike:  Hike "C16 - Lakeview FR to Pilot Knob" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, sets out a shorter hike than we'll be doing; 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).

Sky Oaks Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our November 22nd Sky Oaks hike are now online!

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

Thanksgiving “Bird” Watching

Spotting a flock of wild turkeys in the rural areas surrounding San Francisco Bay is so common that Dick Jordan is almost certain to see them in a field just ten minutes’ drive to the west of his home. But he never expected to find one at the condominium complex in El Cerrito where he had gone for Thanksgiving dinner.

This turkey strode slowly up to Dick after he parked his car, eyeing Dick as though it was he that was going to be on the turkey’s carte du jour.  Fortunately for this Tom, he lived to eat another day, while one of his feathered friends joined Dick at table.

(Click here to read more about locally grown birds that were served up for Thanksgiving dinner).

Winterim Hike Schedule Now Available!

The dates for all Winterim 2011-2012 hikes have been posted on the "Upcoming Hikes" page of the Meandering in Marin on Tuesdays blog.

You can view and print the details for all of these hikes from a link on that page, or by clicking here.

Bahia Hike (11/29/10) Preview

For our next hike we'll head north to the Novato area and do some bird watching on a portion of the Marin County Open Space lands. (Click here for a recap of our 2009 hike).

Here's Wendy's description of the outing: "This is a wonderful birding area! I'll bring a spotting scope, but bring binoculars if you have them. We usually see at least eight species of ducks, as well as swans, grebes, and shorebirds.”


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. 

Carpoolers can meet at 9:20 a.m. at the Terra Linda Park & Ride lot on the east side of Highway 101 at the Smith Ranch Road exit.
  
Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, November 23, the weather forecast for this hike was patchy fog, otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 66. (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 trail guides which Dick Jordan has, but you can click here for the Marin County Open Space District's description of the Rush Creek area.

Samuel P. Taylor Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our November 15th hike in Samuel P. Taylor State Park are now online!

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

Sky Oaks Hike (Nov. 22) 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. This is usually a good mushroom hike with Boletes, Amanitas, Waxy Caps, Milky Caps and more."  (Click here to read about our hike in this general area on October 24,  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 $8.  You can use $1, $5, or $10 bills and coins at the automated pay station, or a Visa or Mastercard. Annual entrance passes for Marin residents are normally $60 ($30 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, 2012.  (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.  Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:25 am.

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, November 20th, the weather forecast for this hike was Partly sunny, with a high near 60, southeast wind between 3 and 5 mph. (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 Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our November 8th Muir Woods hike are now online!

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

Samuel P. Taylor State Park Hike (11/15) Preview

This week we'll head toward West Marin and stop at Samuel P. Taylor State Park. We'll hike up towards, but not all the way to the summit, of Mount Barnabe. Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "This may be only mountain named for a mule! We’re not going all the way to the lookout on the top, so we’ll keep within our 1000’ elevation gain limit. (Mount Barnabe is 1446’; click here for photos taken from the fire lookout). The way up is longer and more gradual (about 5% grade), but you’ll want your hiking poles for the shorter fire road down. We’ll stop by the Samuel and Sarah Taylor’s grave site."

Directions: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard past the main park entrance. As you head west, watch for the sign for Devil’s Gulch on your right and the dirt parking area on your left.

Time: 40 minutes from College of Marin. No restrooms at trailhead. (Use ones at main park entrance as you pass by.) Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church in Fairfax at 9:15 am.

Weather Forecast: As of Wednesday afternoon, November 9th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 57. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More On This Hike: Hike "D11 Devil's Gulch to Mt. Barnabe" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails we'll follow, although we'll skip the sidetrip to the summit.  You can find the trails on the park brochure available in PDF format from the park's Website.

Steep Ravine Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our November 1st Steep Ravine hike are now online!

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

Dipsea to Ben Johnson Hike (11/8) Preview

This week we head south in the County and back into the federal parklands.  Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "Instead of racing up the Dipsea, we’ll stop to admire ancient redwoods, beautiful views, and hopefully some mushrooms."  (Click here to read the recap of our 2/10/09 hike on these trails).

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, November 3, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 65. (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.