We
return to the MMWD watershed for our final hike of the 2014 Fall "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 or
click here for photos from past hikes.)
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 old toll booth by Sky Oaks Ranger Station.
Unless you have an MMWD pass,
continue past the old toll booth, pull over at the parking area on the right and pay the day use fee, and then continue driving until you reach the end of the road.
(
Click here for the MMWD map and directions. Or
click here for a MapQuest map showing the trailhead location;
click on the number "1" to get driving directions and estimated travel time from
your location).
The day use fee is $8. You can use $1, $5, or $10 bills (
change is not given, coins aren't accepted) or Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express credit cards at
the two automated pay station machines
which are now at the parking area just beyond the entrance station. (
Note that on our November 18th Sky Oaks hike some Meanderers had difficulty getting the pay station machines to accept a credit card with a chip.)
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, 2015.
It doesn't appear that you can purchase a pass from the new automated pay station machines. You can buy one online or by sending a check to MMWD and it will be mailed to you, or you purchase one in person at the MMWD office at 220 Nellen Avenue in Corte Madera, on the west side of Highway 101(take the southbound Lucky Drive exit).
Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. Outhouse in parking lot.
Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:20 a.m.
(Click here for a MapQuest map showing St. Rita's and directions and estimated driving time to the trailhead.)
Weather forecast: As of Wednesday December 3rd, the
National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. (
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).
Although this is the final hike of the College of Marin Fall 2 session, we'll do the first "Winterim" hike on December 16th up Pine Mountain and down through the Elliott Nature Preserve near Fairfax.
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.)
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).
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.
This week we hike in Mount Tamalpais State Park.
Per Wendy, "this loop [around Tennessee Valley]
features panoramic views of the Bay. We often see Condominium spiders, and raptors --- including Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, White-Tailed Kites,
Red-Shouldered Hawks and Red-Tailed Hawks. When we're lucky we see
bobcats!"
This week we hike on the eastern edge of Marin along San Francisco Bay, this time venturing into China Camp State Park. (Click here to read about our November 2008 hike or here for photos from past hikes in this area.)
We continue the 2013 Fall 1 hiking series with a trip down into one of Marin's federal parks.
This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore. This is not a loop hike, but there are
marvelous views!
This week we go back "over the hill" to East Marin to hike on Mount Tamalpais.
We return to Point Reyes National Seashore this coming week. Wendy says that "on this hike we'll look for the tule elk, once at the brink of extinction and now making a heartening comeback. This Point is also special for its views."
Here's how we'll kick off the Fall 1 2014 "Meandering" hikes: "Today we
explore the redwood habitat, visit the Pioneer Tree (if the trail is open) which is over 500
years old, and learn some history of the area at the mill site. We’ll
also see one of Marin’s few 'ghost trees,' a white redwood. We’re doing
two separate loops, so you can leave your lunch in the car. We'll have a
civilized lunch today with picnic tables and restrooms!"
This week we move south and east of Point Reyes National Seashore to take one of our hikes in the
GGNRA and finish up our Summer 2014 meaneders. Slightly longer than usual at 6.8 miles, but lots of downhill.
(Click here for a recap of our hike in August of 2008).
Something old and something new!
