You'll find the dates and places of those hikes under the "Upcoming Hikes" tab on the Meandering blog.
Click here to view and print the detailed hike descriptions.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Winterim 2012-2013 Hike Descriptions Now Online!
You'll find the dates and places of those hikes under the "Upcoming Hikes" tab on the Meandering blog.
Click here to view and print the detailed hike descriptions.
Sky Oaks Hike (Dec. 4) 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. We often see a large variety of mushrooms on this hike!"
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. Park at the dirt parking lot on the right, just past the toll 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, 2013. (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 Friday, November 30th, the weather forecast for this hike was mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and a high near 67. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast).
More on this hike: Hike "C12 Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog FR" 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).
"This loop starts out in oak/bay/madrone habitat, but we'll also see redwoods and some grassland. We often see a large variety of mushrooms on this hike!"
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. Park at the dirt parking lot on the right, just past the toll 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, 2013. (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 Friday, November 30th, the weather forecast for this hike was mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and a high near 67. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast).
More on this hike: Hike "C12 Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog FR" 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).
Monday, November 26, 2012
Wendy's Guide to Mushrooms
Muir Woods Hike (11/20) Photos Now Online!
View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.
The highlight of our mushroom spotting was the Earth Star. Here's Wendy making it go"puff" for us.
(If the video doesn't display in the e-mail you received, click here to view it on the Meandering in Marin YouTube Channel.)
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Bahia Open Space Hike (11/27) 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 can expect about ten species of ducks, as well as stilts, avocets, grebes, raptors and songbirds.”
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 Saturday, November 23, the weather forecast for this hike was Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. (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.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Devli's Gulch Hike (11/13) Photos Now Online!
View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
West Point Inn Hike Video
Boys are their new toys.
Ted Rathbun and Dick Jordan recently purchased Apple's latest smartphone, the iPhone 5.
Like other recent models, the "5" has a rear mounted camera camera that shoots high-definition video, and a forward facing (meaning you can shoot film of yourself) video camera.
Dick tried out his new "toy," shooting video and panoramic still photos during our November 6th hike from Mountain Home Inn to West Point Inn and back. He combined those shots, and photos taken with his Canon point-and-shoot camera, into this YouTube video which is posted on the Meandering in Marin on Tuesday YouTube Channel.
As you can see, getting one's face lined up in the forward-facing camera is a bit tricky. But practice makes perfect, so hopefully future Meandering videos will have a more professional look to them.
The still photos appear to move, thanks to the "Ken Burns Effect" built into the iMovie software Dick used to make the film.
If you'd like to see how Ken Burns combines video he's shot, archival movie clips, and still photos into his documentaries, watch his latest film, The Dust Bowl, which premieres on PBS TV stations at the beginning of next week, on Sunday, November 18, and Monday, November 19.
Like other recent models, the "5" has a rear mounted camera camera that shoots high-definition video, and a forward facing (meaning you can shoot film of yourself) video camera.
Dick tried out his new "toy," shooting video and panoramic still photos during our November 6th hike from Mountain Home Inn to West Point Inn and back. He combined those shots, and photos taken with his Canon point-and-shoot camera, into this YouTube video which is posted on the Meandering in Marin on Tuesday YouTube Channel.
As you can see, getting one's face lined up in the forward-facing camera is a bit tricky. But practice makes perfect, so hopefully future Meandering videos will have a more professional look to them.
The still photos appear to move, thanks to the "Ken Burns Effect" built into the iMovie software Dick used to make the film.
If you'd like to see how Ken Burns combines video he's shot, archival movie clips, and still photos into his documentaries, watch his latest film, The Dust Bowl, which premieres on PBS TV stations at the beginning of next week, on Sunday, November 18, and Monday, November 19.
Muir Woods (Dipsea to Ben Johnson) Hike (11/20) 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. You can view photos taken on previous hikes.)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 15, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly cloudy, with a high near 66 and a chance of rain. (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.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Mt. Home to West Point Inn Hike Photos Now Online!
View them on the Meandering blog or click here for the on-line album.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Sleep In Style at Samuel P. Taylor State Park
You like Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
But you don't like the idea of sleeping on the ground, even in a tent, especially at this time of the year.
 |
| (Marin I-J Photo) |
Yesterday the state officially opened 5 new, prefabricated 12' x 20' cabins that have indoor lighting, electric outlets, a wood-burning stove for heating (but not cooking), and bunk beds,. The cabins can sleep up to 5 people.
Sorry, there's no built-in stove (and you'll have to cook outdoors), refrigerator, or dish-washer, and no in-door "facilities."
It costs $100/night to stay in one of the cabins, located in the Madrone campground area, at the foot of Mt. Barnabe and on the opposite side of the road from the park entrance.
Click here for more details on the cabins. Online reservations are available.
Here's the Marin I-J story about the opening ceremony for the cabins.
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