NEW! Get Driving Directions and Time to Trailhead on Your Smartphone!

The hike previews posted on the Meandering blog and sent to you via e-mail will now contain links to two separate MapQuest maps that will allow you to get turn-by-turn directions and estimated driving time based on current traffic conditions to the trailhead from either:

1. Your home or other "Current Location"
2. The carpool meeting place.

Just click on the link to the desired map in the hike preview e-mail and it should open the MapQuest map on your computer.

If you have the free MapQuest app installed on your iPhone or your Android smartphone, simply click on the link to the desired map in the hike preview e-mail to open the MapQuest map on your smartphone, and get the driving directions/driving time..

(If you downloaded the hike preview to your computer, you may have to forward it to yourself, then download it to your phone. You can also open a map on your computer,  click on "SEND" on the top right-hand side of the map and forward it to your phone via e-mail or if you click on "Mobile," via text message.)

Let Dick Jordan know if you have any questions or problems.

Bahia Open Space Hike (12/3) 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.

(Click here for a MapQuest map showing the trailhead location; click on "Get Directions" at the top left side of the map and enter your location to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location).

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. (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the Park & Ride location, and directions and estimated driving time to the trailhead.)
  
Weather forecast: As of Tuesday, November 26th, the weather forecast for this hike was a slight chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. (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.

Muir Woods (Dipsea to Ben Johnson) Hike (11/26) 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 Wednesday, November 20th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 70. (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.

Boojtack to Mt. Theater and West Point Inn Hike (11/19) Preview

A mostly shady trail takes us up to the Mountain Theater where you’ll learn the history of its construction and the tradition of drama* on the Mountain.  Lunch at the historic West Point Inn.

(*The Mountain Theater - a.k.a. The Cushing Memorial Theater- in Mount Tamalpais State Park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The natural-stone amphitheater seats 3,750 people and features the Mountain Play each spring, produced every year since 1913).  (Click here for a recap of our February 9, 2010 hike.  You can view photos from a previous hike in our online album).
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Directions to Trailhead:  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.  Bootjack is about 2 miles past Mountain Home.

As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($8/car, $7 for seniors, if you don't have a state park pass) on your right --- if you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway, you've gone too far and need to turn around and drive back down the mountain. (Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out).

Restrooms at trailhead (one at Bootjack will be closed through June, but the other should be open) and lunch stop. Driving time from College of Marin: 55 minutes.  Carpoolers meet at Greenbrae Park & Ride Lot at 9:00 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Saturday, November 16th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was cloudy, with 50 percent chance of rain and a high near 57.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Hike "B12 Bootjack - Rock Springs Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails we'll take.  (Click here to view a copy of the Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure; the park map on the last page shows the trails).

East Peak Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our East Pike hike on Mount Tamalpais State Park are now online!

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

At Home with The Birds

The birds we see during hikes might nest in hole in a tree, in a twig-built nest on a branch, or on the ground.

But what's it like inside of a man-made birdhouse? Take a look.


(Click here if the video player doesn't appear)
The ad is part of a campaign by the British company, Robinson's, and the RSPB, to protect British birds and wildlife.

California Legacy Project Film Premier, Nov. 21 at Dominican U

This event abut an the upcoming documentary film Becoming California about Point Reyes is something you may want to attend.

Here's the information on the showing provided by the Point Reyes National Seashore Association:

California Legacy Project Film Premier Thursday, November 21st 6 pm - 8 pm, screening at 7pm Angelico Hall, Dominican University 50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael refreshments * free parking * wheel chair accessible    Join us for the premiere of a very special short film about Point Reyes National Seashore.  Narrated by Jane Fonda and featuring extraordinary cinematography, this 20-minute film tells the remarkable story of how natural and human change have created the park we know today and how we can be a force of positive change in the future. The film's incredible story of the park will inform and inspire visitors at the Bear Valley Visitor Center.   The evening will begin with a reception, followed by a trailer for Becoming California, a new public television documentary about the Point Reyes film. After the films there will be a chance for Q&A with the producers.   A production of the California Environmental Legacy Project, the Becoming California documentary takes a fresh look at our past, present and future relationship with California's natural environment. Not the tired old tale of people versus nature. But a new story. A story about how nature and civilization need not be adversaries but partners - together creating healthy, sustainable environments amidst vibrant economies. The film is slated to air in spring 2014 and will highlight Point Reyes. For more information about the project visit: www.calegacy.org  Or email RSVP or call (415) 663.1200  x 304 for more information.

Sky Oaks MMWD Hike (11/12) 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, 2014.  (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 Thursday, November 7th, the weather forecast for this hike was a slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. (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).

Fog, Glorious Fog!

Not much fog hung off the coast while we were hiking on Mount Tam yesterday.

But then, it isn't summer any longer, is it?

Missing the fog? Check out this time lapse video of rivers of it flowing into the Bay.



(Click here if you don't see the video player.)
(Read Dick Jordan's short essay about fog on his Website, Tales Told From The Road.)

Tennessee Valley Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's hike at Tennessee Valley in the GGNRA are now online!

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