Tuesday, December 30, 2014

NO HIKE - JANUARY 6; COLLEGE OF MARIN WINTER HIKE REGISTRATION STARTS JANUARY 5

Just a reminder that there will be no hike next Tuesday, January 6th.


The next "Winterim" hike will be on January 13th from Sky Trail to Bear Valley.

Registration for the Winter series of hikes offered through the College of Marin opens on Monday, January 5th.

Here's the link to information on the Tuesday hikes.

If you want to hike with Wendy on Mondays instead, click here for info.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

NO HIKE - DECEMBER 30

Just a reminder that there will be no hike this coming Tuesday, December 30th.

The next "Winterim" hike will be on January 13th from Sky Trail to Bear Valley.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Wendy, The "Cover Girl"

When the print copy of the Winter 2015 College of Marin Community Education catalog arrives in your mailbox, you'll notice a familiar face on the cover.

(No, not the rhino. Wendy.)


On six Wednesday evenings, from January 28 through March 11, Wendy will be taking students on virtual trip to Africa in a class entitled "Armchair Safari: Preparing for a Trip to Tanzania."

As with the Winter 2015 Meandering in Marin hike series, registration for Wendy's Tanzania class opens on Monday, January 5, 2015.

For more information, go to http://marincommunityed.augusoft.net.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Happy Holidays from The Meandering Blog!

After seven years of slogging up and downhill in Marin on his own two feet with Wendy and the Meanderers, Dick Jordan got a bright idea: Why not go over hill and dale on an electric bike like the one he rode earlier this year in Long Beach?


Unfortunately, when Dick asked Santa to bring him such a wonderful toy, he lied about his age, putting him squarely on Santa's "Naughty List."

 
(Click here if the YouTube player doesn't display)

So in 2015, Dick will be huffing and puffing up the trail instead of cruising along at 20 mph on his electric bike.

Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays, wherever you may be meandering for the remainder of 2015!

The next "Winterim Hike" will be the January 13th Sky Trail to Bear Valley Shuttle Hike. 

Registration opens on Monday, January 5thfor the Winter 2015 College of Marin Tuesday hiking series which will run from January 27th through March 10th.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

NO HIKE - DECEMBER 23rd

Just a reminder that there will be no hike this coming Tuesday, December 23rd.

The next "Winterim" hike will be on January 13th from Sky Trail to Bear Valley.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Dick Jordan's Latest Travel TV Series Starts Tomorrow

Who says that there's nothing worth watching on TV?

(Library and Archives Canada Flickr Photo)
Dick Jordan's five-part "One Minute-Plus Journeys" begins airing on MarinTV, Comcast Channel 26, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 17th in Central and Southern Marin County.

Here's the full schedule:
  • Wednesday, 12/17, 7:00 PM - "A Minute With The Queen" (Queen Mary Ocean Liner)
  • Sunday, 12/18, 8:30 PM - "A Minute With The Queen"
  • Wednesday, 12/31, 7:00 PM - "A Minute At The Aquarium" (Aquarium of The Pacific)
  • Sunday, 1/4, 4:30 PM - "A Minute At The Aquarium"
  • Wednesday, 1/7, 7:00 PM - "A Minute In Nature" (Lassen Volcanic Nature Park)
  • Sunday, 1/11, 4:30 PM - "A Minute In Nature"
  • Wednesday, 1/14, 7:00 PM - "A Minute In The Museum" (deYoung Museum)
  • Sunday, 1/18, 8:00 PM - "A Minute In The Museum"
  • Wednesday, 1/21, 7:00 PM - "A Minute In Wine Country" (Sonoma County)
  • Sunday, 1/25, 8:30 PM - "A Minute In Wine Country"
Not a Comcast subscriber in Marin? Don't have a DVR? Can't wait to see them?

Not a problem. They are all available for viewing now on this YouTube Playlist.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Pine Mt./Elliott Preserve Hike (12/16) Preview

SHUTTLE HIKE - NOTE EARLY STARTING, LATE ENDING TIME
 
CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming!

We'll open the "Winterim" hiking session with our last hike of 2014. (The next "Winterim" hike will be  on January 13th. Registration for the College of Marin Winter 2015 hike series opens on Monday, January 5, 2015.)
 
This one-way shuttle hike starts in oak/bay/madrone woodland, passes through chaparral, then heads down to a valley with a stream, passing some serpentine rock areas. We'll check out birds and mushrooms as we go.  (Click here for the recap of our hike in this area in January of 2009. There are a few photos from a past hike in this area in one our online albums.)


Directions to trailhead: We need some people to meet at the end of Cascade Drive in Fairfax at 9:20 a.m. (Click here for a MapQuest map with that location and click on the #1 to get directions to it). If you have time pressure after class go there as well, since the car shuttle won’t get us back to the trailhead until a little after 2:00 pm. Wendy will drive those drivers to the start of the hike.

Others should meet at the trailhead by taking the Bolinas-Fairfax Road past the Meadow Club (golf course) and up to the crest of the hill. (Click here for a MapQuest map with that location and click on the #1 to get directions to it.)

Park in the parking lot across from the Pine Mountain Fire Road. It is a large dirt parking lot on your left, and the fire road is on the right. If you start going downhill and can see Lake Alpine, you’ve gone too far.  There may or may not be a porta-potty at the trailhead.

Carpool to the trailhead (not the end of Cascade Drive) will leave from St. Rita's at 9:25 a.m. (Wendy won't be at St. Rita's she is going early to drive to the end of Cascade Drive).

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, December 14th, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax on the day of the hike was Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 59. North northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: We'll be hiking on both MMWD watershed lands (click here for a map that you can view, zoom in on or print) and those of the Marin County Open Space District (click here for a description of the preserve (now called Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve instead of Elliott Preserve) on the District's Website, or click here for a map of this area).

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Newts and The "Final Exam"

About half of the Tuesday Meanderers made it for the Fall 2 "Final Exam" hike and luncheon at Lake Lagunitas today.


And although the fog never lifted, the temperatures were mild and it was perfect weather for finding lots of newts along the trail.



(The College of Marin session is over, but the final hike of 2014 will be next Tuesday, December 16th, up Pine Mountain and down into the Elliott Preserve near Fairfax.)

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Pigs Can't Fly, But They Can Surf

GoPro, the folks that make the popular "Hero" series of "action" video cameras, posted the following amazing video shot by a pelican in flight on its YouTube Channel.

 
(Click here if the YouTube video player doesn't display)

But can pigs fly?

Nope, but they can surf.

 
(Click here if the YouTube video player doesn't display)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Lake Lagunitas “Final Exam” Hike (12/9) Preview

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.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Muir Woods (Dipsea to Ben Johnson) Hike (12/2) Preview

Having It Both Ways On the Hillside Trail 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.

Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the approximate location of the parking lot. Click on #1 to get driving directions and time from your location.

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 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, November 26th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. (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.

Sky Oaks Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's Sky Oaks hike are now online!

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

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Winterim and Winter 2015 College of Marin Hikes

After our Fall 2 "Final Exam" hike on December 9th, Wendy will lead three "Winterim" shuttle hikes:
  • December 16 (Pine Mountain/Elliott Preserve)
  • January 13 (Sky Trail to Bear Valley)
  • January 20 (Alpine Dam to Bon Tempe Dam)
 There will be no hikes on December 23, 30 or January 6.

Cost for each with be $20. Click here for details on all of the hikes.

According to the College of Marin Community Education Website:
  • Winter class schedules will be available online on Monday, December 15
  • Winter class registration opens on Monday, January 5

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Bahia Open Space Hike and Post-Hike "Book Lunch" (11/25) 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).

Gael Chandler, who along with her partner, Sherry, used to be Tuesday Meanderers, will join us. After the hike, we'll bring our lunches to their Novato area home to celebrate Gael's recently published book. (Even if you aren't going to hike, you can join us for lunch. Details below.)

 BAHIA 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 #1 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 Wednesday, November 19th, the weather forecast for this hike was sunny, with a high near 67. (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.

LUNCH WITH GAEL AND SHERRY 

After the hike is over, we'll bring our own lunches to Gail and Sherry's home at 122 La Merida Court in Novato where they'll serve drinks and dessert. Click here for a MapQuest map showing how to reach their home from the trailhead.

You're welcome to come, even if didn't make the hike. Click here for a MapQuest map showing the location of their home and click on #1 to get driving directions and time from a location other than the trailhead.

Gael recently published Chronicle of Old San Francisco, a guidebook that focuses on the history of what we "locals" call "The City."

Here's the "book trailer" that Gael's new company, Picture Your Book, produced.


(Click here if the Vimeo video player window doesn't display)

Gael will have copies of the book available for purchase for $20. You can also check the shelves in local bookstores or buy a copy online through Book Passage (paperback) or Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle E-book versions; Dick Jordan gets a tiny commission).

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Pumpkin Ridge Lunch Break

Look for more photos from today's Sky Oaks hike soon.

In the meantime, here are two panoramic photos that Dick Jordan took with his iPhone.


The second is a 360 degree shot.


And last, but not least, here's a super-fast "hyperlapse" video.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Sky Oaks MMWD Hike (11/18) 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 a good mushroom hike with Boletes, Amanitas, Waxy Caps, Milky Caps and more if we've had some rain."

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. Or 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).
 
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 Wednesday, November 12th, the weather forecast for this hike was rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. (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).

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

East Peak Hike Photos

Theresa Fisher wasn't on yesterday's hike around East Peak on Mount Tamalpais,
so you'll have to settle for a few photos Dick Jordan shot with his iPhone.


While we're still having almost summer-like weather, recent rains have kicked off the mushroom spotting season.


From just below the ridge line, we could see Bon Tempe Lake in the distance.



NO HIKE --- NOVEMBER 11TH

Just a reminder that due to the Veterans Day holiday, there will be no hike next Tuesday, November 11th.

We'll resume our treks around the county on November 18th at Sky Oaks on the Marin Municipal Water District watershed lands above Fairfax.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

East Peak Mt. Tam Hike (11/4) Preview

Mount Tam This week we hike in Mount Tamalpais State Park.

This lovely loop takes up be California torreya trees with their nutmeg-like nuts, past scenic Inspiration Point, to beautiful Colier Spring where we lunch under the redwoods. We'll take Northside Trail to International Trail after lunch.

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. Keep going up the mountain, and when you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway (beyond Bootjack, where our hike to the Mountain Theater began), turn to the right and head uphill.

When you top out on this road, turn right and keep going until the road ends at the East Peak parking lot. (Parking costs $8/day unless you have a park pass).  

Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the East Peak Parking lot. Click on #1 to get driving times and directions from your location.
  
(Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out).

1 hour from College of Marin.  Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Parking & Ride lot at 8:55 am. Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Saturday, November 1st, the National Weather forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 73. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Hike "B21 Northside - Colier – Lakeview Trails" in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails we’ll be taking.  You can also view and the trails on page five of the Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

A Grand Day at Point Reyes

The weather couldn't have been better for our last "Fall 2" hike out at Point Reyes today.

Alas, our "Official Photographer," Theresa Fisher, wasn't along, so you'll have to make do with this iPhone photo taken by Dick Jordan at our lunch stop.



(Click here for photos from past hikes on these trails).

Friday, October 24, 2014

CHANGE TO FALL HIKE LIST

Third time is a charm.

Here's what hopefully is the final revision to the Fall 1 & 2 Hike List.

UPDATED HIKE LIST



The first hike of the "Fall 2" series has been changed, so click here to get a complete list of all Fall 1 & Fall 2 hikes that was updated as of October 24, 2014.

Laguna Trailhead Hike (October 28) Preview

Note: This week's hike was originally to take place at Samuel P. Taylor State Park, but that plan was changed due to closure of the trail we were to hike. "Plan B" was to do Bootjack to Mt. Theater to West Point Inn, but that's also been scrapped and we'll be headed out to Point Reyes National Seashore instead.



This week as we repeat a hike we did last February when Marge filled in for Wendy and we saw scads of woodrat nests: "Today we take a different route from a familiar trailhead to make a 4.6 mile loop. We get our exercise on the uphill before lunch and then stroll downhill to complete the loop."

Directions: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Route 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road.

Continue past Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom; there are none at the trailhead) and go left on Limantour Road. Turn left at the sign for the youth hostel. Follow that road until you see a right turn across a bridge to the Laguna Trailhead by the Clem Miller Education Center. Park in the parking lot.

To cut half a mile off the hike, turn right instead of left at the sign for the youth hostel, leave your car at the Muddy Hollow parking lot and ride with a friend across the Limantour Road to the trailhead.

Click here for a MapQuest Map that shows the Muddy Hollow area, and click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.

55 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:55 a.m.

No restrooms at trailhead.

Weather Forecast: As of Friday, October 24th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 66. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "G5 Bayview - Muddy Hollow - Laguna" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the route we'll take. (Point 1 on their map shows where you'll leave your car to cut 0.5 miles off the hike. Point 2 is where we'll leave the other cars and actually begin hiking.)

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

NO HIKE ON OCTOBER 21ST

Enjoy a week off hiking on Tuesday, October 21st, following the last hike of "Fall 1" today.


We'll resume our weekly treks around the county on October 28th as "Fall 2" begins with a hike on Mount Tam from Bootjack to Mountain Theater to West Point Inn and back.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

REVISED FALL 1 & 2 HIKE LIST

Since Bill's Trail in Samuel P. Taylor State Park is closed, we won't be able to hike in Devil's Gulch on October 28th as originally planned.

Instead, we'll do the Bootjack to Mountain Theater (with a lunch stop at West Point Inn) hike.

Click here to view and print a revised list of all Fall 1 & 2 hikes.

China Camp: A New Hike

Trail construction and closure forced us to ditch both "Plan A" and "Plan B" for hiking yesterday at China Camp State Park.


Instead of the routes we've taken in the past, this time we parked along San Pedro Road at the park entrance that leads to the Back Ranch campground, discovered that we had to pay $3/person or have park pass just to hike in that section of the park, and headed up the Bay View Trail and Powerline Fire Road.



Fortunately, although the sun was shining on the hillsides and the temperature was warm, there was enough shade to keep our brains from being baked into adobe bricks.

We topped out at about 700' above sea level, now and then being rewarded with sweeping views to the north across San Pablo Bay toward Sonoma and Napa.

Steeply descending the Back Ranch Fire Trail brought us to picnic tables in the campground near the bottom of the hill, leaving us just a short walk back to our cars after lunch.

(Hike "D14 Bay View Trail - Miwok Fire Trail" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows these trails we walked, although we didn't follow the entire route for that specific hike.)


Tennessee Valley "Final Exam" Hike (10/14) Preview

Down In The Valley 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!"

REMEMBER TO BRING PLATE, UTENSILS, AND SOMETHING TO SHARE FOR THE GOURMET FINAL EXAM! (Let’s think green and try to cut down on paper and plastic throw-aways as much as possible). We’ll leave the food in the cars and eat when we get back, but bring your water bottle. 

(Click here for a recap of our October 2008 hike. Here's an album of photos from past hikes in this area.).

Directions to trailhead: Take the Stinson Beach exit from Highway 101. Follow signs to Stinson Beach and Muir Woods, then turn left on Tennessee Valley Road and take it to the parking lot at the end.

(Click here for a MapQuest map showing the trailhead. Click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

40 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot 9:15 am.  (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the parking lot; click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Portable toilets at the trailhead and lunch.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, October 8th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 72.  (Click here for an updated forecast)..

More information on this hike: Hike A8 Miwok – Coyote Ridge – Coastal Trails in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows our route from Tennessee Valley towards Mill Valley, westward to ocean views, then back east to the parking lot.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Mountain Home to Muir Woods Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher and Dick Jordan during this week's Mountain Home to Muir Woods hike are now online!

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

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

China Camp State Park Hike (10/7) Preview

Wetlands To The North 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.)
 
Here's Wendy's description of the outing:
"Learn about wetland habitats and some of the endangered animals that live there like the tiny salt marsh harvest mouse. This area is also of historical interest as the site of a once thriving Chinese shrimp fishing village." (Click here to view and print out the park brochure and map).

Directions to trailhead: Take the San Pedro Road exit from Highway 101 and go east for three miles. PASS the sign that says China Camp State Park and go about 3/4 mile further on San Pedro Road to Miwok Meadows (sign on your right). Park along the road, not inside of the park entrance as Wendy's list of hikes directs.


Click here for a map that shows the parking area along San Pedro Road. Click on #1 to get driving times and directions from your location. 

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers coming from San Rafael or farther north can meet at 9:15 am at the Park & Ride lot on the east side of Highway 101 at Smith Ranch Road in the Terra Linda area north of the Marin Civic Center and downtown San Rafael.

Carpoolers coming from south of San Rafael can meet at Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:15 a.m. (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the parking lot; click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

No restrooms at trailhead, but you can turn in at the China Camp State Park sign and go past the toll booth (you don't need to pay), past the day use parking area, and to the campground parking area.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, October 1st, the weather forecast for the hike was Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 76. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hikes "D13 Miwork - Oak Ridge - Shoreline Trails" and “D14 Bay View Trail – Miwok Fire Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin show the general area where we will be hiking although our route may vary from the ones they describe due to closure of the Miwok Fire Road.

Estero Trail Panoramic Photos

Theresa Fisher wasn't on last week's Estero Trail hike out at Point Reyes National Seashore, but here are a few panoramic photos that Dick Jordan shot.





Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Mountain Home to Muir Woods Hike (9/30) Preview

Ladybug Traffic Jam We continue the 2013 Fall 1 hiking series with a trip down into one of Marin's federal parks.

Here's Wendy's description of this week's hike:  "Today we’ll hike down to Muir Woods and learn how it became a National Monument. Lunch at Camp Eastwood where you’ll hear the fascinating life story of intrepid botanist Alice Eastwood."

(Click here for a recap of our September 2008 hike. There is an online album of photos from our past hikes here.)

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. Drive about 4 miles.

When you reach Mountain Home Inn on your right, park in the parking lot across the road on your left.

45 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:00 am.

Click here for a MapQuest Map showing the trailhead. Click on #1 for directions and driving time from your location.

Outhouse at trailhead and restrooms at lunch.

Weather Forecast: As of Wednesday, September 24th, the National Weather Service forecast for the day of the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 81. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More On This Hike: Hike "B6 – Muir Woods – TCC – Dipsea Trails" and hike "B7 – Panoramic – Lost – Sierra Trails" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the area where we'll be hiking, but our route will not cover all of the trails taken on either of those hikes.

Films About Preserving Mount Tam, The Marin Humane Society

"The Invisible Peak, made for the National Parks Conservancy to inaugurate the Tamalpais Lands Collaborative’s efforts to restore and maintain Mt. Tam—and in particular, efforts to remove the remnants of the old military base on top of the West Peak," will be screened at the Rafael Theater on October 3rd at 3:30 pm, as part of the Mill Valley Film Festival.



Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

At the Throckmorton Theatre at 5:00 pm on the same day (and at The Rafael on Monday, October 6 at 9:15 pm), you can see a series of short films, the last two of which focus on work of the Marin Humane Society: "The Page Turners (US, 4 min), about a dyslexic girl who discovers other kids reading to dogs at the library; and The Rabbit Whisperer (US, 5 min), an inspirational story of a stroke sufferer who volunteers at the animal shelter" (and who Dick Jordan's wife, Cindy works with on Sundays --- she has a "cameo role." in the film).



Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Estero Trail Hike (9/23) Preview

Home Bay, Cloudy Day This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore. This is not a loop hike, but there are marvelous views!

We can expect some of the shorebirds and ducks that bred in Canada and Alaska to be back. (Click here for a brief recap of our July 13, 2010 hike. Here's the album of photos taken during our past hikes in this area.).

Directions to trailhead: Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (Use the restrooms at the park's Visitor Center in Bear Valley if you do not want to wait until you reach those at the trailhead). Continue until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again.

Go through Inverness.

Continue on Sir Francis Drake past the turn off to the right onto Pierce Point Road, go past Mt. Vision Road on your left, and then in one mile you'll come to a left hand turn onto the road to the Estero Trail parking lot. Click here for a MapQuest Map that shows the turn onto the road leading to the parking lot. (Click on #1 to get driving directions and time from your location.)

Time: 1 hour from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am.

Restrooms at the trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, September 18th, the weather forecast for the hike was  Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 67.  (Click here for an updated forecast.) Real-time weather reporting for the Point Reyes Lighthouse is also available (click here).

More on this hike: "Hike G11 Estero - Drakes Head Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows where we'll be hiking, although not necessarily our exact route.

Two hikes ("Estero Trail to Sunset Beach" and "Estero Trail to Drakes Head" in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area also cover this area).

The trails are also shown on the park's North District Hiking Trails map.

This Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of this part of the park. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Mt. Home to Bootjack Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during this week's Mountain Home to Bootjack hike are now online!

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

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Mountain Home to Boojack (9/16) Hike Preview

Sun Above, Fog Below This week we go back "over the hill" to East Marin to hike on Mount Tamalpais.

Per Wendy, "this hike takes us through redwood forest, over Fern Creek, into chaparral, and finally to lunch at Bootjack. The return is fairly level and shady."  (Click here for a recap of our October 2008 hike and click here for the photo album for this hike.)

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. Drive about 4 miles.

When you reach Mountain Home Inn on your right, park in the parking lot across the road on your left.

45 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:00 am.

Click here for a MapQuest Map showing the trailhead. Click on #1 for directions and driving time from your location.

Restrooms at trailhead and Bootjack.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, September 11th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 77. (Click here for an updated forecast.)

More on this hike:  Hike "B9 – Matt Davis – Troop 80 Trails" – in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows the area where we’ll be hiking.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Tomales Point Hike (9/9) Preview

Tule Elk TF 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."  

(Click here for a recap of our September 2008 hike; here is an album of photos taken on past hikes in this area.)

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west from Fairfax. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road.

Continue until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again. Go through Inverness.

Where the road veers left to Drake's Beach and the lighthouse, bear right. This puts you on Pierce Point Road. Follow it to the parking lot at the end of the road.

Click here for a MapQuest map showing the trailhead. Click on the number "1" to get driving directions and times from your location.

Restrooms:  Stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center to use the flush toilets, or pull off Pierce Point Road at the parking lots for the trails to Abbott’s Lagoon or Kehoe Beach to use the porta-potties.

When you reach the parking lot for the Tomales Point Trail you can drive downhill toward McClure's Beach to use the pit toilet there before returning to the trailhead parking lot to meet the group.

Click here to view and print a map of the Seashore showing these roads and locations.

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes from College of Marin.  Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita’s at 8:35 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, September 3rd, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 62. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "G18 – Tomales Point Trai"l in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, is 9.4 mile roundtrip hike to Tomales Point and back.  We’ll only do about half of that route, stopping well short of the Point.

This Google Earth image created by Theresa Fisher shows the path we'll follow out and back.


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Half A Hike Is Better Than None At All!

Unfortunately, Theresa Fisher wasn't on today's hike in Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Dick Jordan only hiked the first loop (to the Pioneer Tree) and only took a single photo (this panoramic shot at the Pioneer Tree).


If we could really hike as fast as this video (rendered at 12 x normal speed using the Hyperlapse for iPhone app) shows us doing, we could cover 60 miles in four hours, instead of a measly 5!



(Click here if the video player doesn't appear)

But then we'd have to rename the COM class and the blog "Scampering in Marin"!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Samuel P. Taylor State Park Hike (9/2) Preview

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!"
 
(Click here for a recap of the hike we did on September 2, 2008).

Directions to trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to the main entrance of Samuel P. Taylor State Park.

Click here for a map showing the park entrance and for driving times and directions from your location.

Parking fee: $8 unless you have a State Park Pass (or a day pass from the California State Parks Foundation).

35 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita’s at 9:20 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead and at lunch.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, August 29th, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday's hike was patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 77, although it could be somewhat cooler in places that are under the shade of the redwood trees. (Click here for an updated weather forecast.)

More on this hike:  Hikes "D7 Creek – Ox Trails History Loop" and D8 "Pioneer Tree – Barnabe Creek Trails" in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, show the area where we will be hiking.  (Click here to view and download the brochure for Samuel P. Taylor State Park; the trails are shown on page 4).

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Bolinas Ridge-Randall Trail Shuttle Hike (8/26) Preview

Decision Time 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).

CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 OR EMAIL bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming!

Directions to trailhead: We’ll meet at 9:30 am on Route One at the bottom of Randall Trail which is about 3 miles north of Dogtown and about 3 miles south of Five Brooks. (The Point Reyes National Seashore says to allow 15 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, and that it is just under 6 miles from the intersection of Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake at Olema south to the Randall trailhead.)

Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the Randall trailhead. Click on #1 to get directions and driving time from your location.

Park in one of the large dirt pullouts on either side of the road. The Park Service notes that the sign for the Randall Trail is aligned parallel to Highway 1 on the east side of the road and can easily be missed).

From the Randall trailhead we’ll carpool up the Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Ridgecrest Boulevard and hike along Bolinas Ridge Fire Road and then down the Randall Trail to Highway 1.

No restrooms at either the Randall Trail or Bolinas Ridge trailheads.  Stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or at Five Brooks if you need to “use the facilities.”

Carpool leaves St. Rita's at 8:35 a.m. 

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, August 21st, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 75. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  None of Dick Jordan's hiking books describe this hike, but you can find the Fairfax-Bolinas Road, Bolinas Ridge Fire Road, and the Randall Trail in the bottom right-hand section of the Point Reyes National Seashore park map shown below.



Click here to view and print a copy of the map. Use the plus-sign button under the drop-down arrow button to enlarge the map for easier reading If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Google Docs" Web site, click on the "Actions" down arrow and then on "Download" to download the document to your computer).

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Tomales Bay SP Shell Beach Shuttle Hike (8/19) Preview

Looking Across Tomales Bay to Three PeaksSomething old and something new!

We’ll hike from (but not meet at) the same parking lot on Pierce Point Road that’s just before the turn to Heart’s Desire.  Last year there were ripe huckleberries! Wetland plants like Marsh Rosemary, Ledum and Jaumea should be in bloom.

THIS IS A SHUTTLE HIKE! CALL OR E-MAIL WENDY IF YOU'RE COMING! Home: (415) 457-3949, E-mail: bdreskin@comcast.net.
 
Directions to the trailhead: Meet at the Shell Beach parking lot, not at the trailhead (we’ll carpool to it from the Shell Beach lot).

After you pass Inverness, take a right on Camino del Mar (there’s an inn on your left; it’s just where the road starts going uphill.) Follow it to the parking lot. (Click here for a MapQuest map for driving time and directions to this area from your location.)

No restrooms at trailhead; stop at the Bear Valley Visitors Center on the way if you need to powder your nose.

Meet at 9:00 am to carpool from St. Rita.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, August 14th, the National Weather Service forecast was Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 67. Click here for an updated forecast.

More on this hike: "G15 Pierce Point Road to Shell Beach" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the area in which we'll be hiking. The trails are also shown on page 4 of the Tomales Bay State Park brochure. The Google Earth image below shows Heart's Desire and Shell Beaches as seen from the east side of Tomales Bay. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

AUGUST 12 - NO HIKE

Just a reminder that there is no hike next week on Tuesday, August 12th.

Our next outing with be on Tuesday, August 19th when we do the Shell Beach hike at Tomales Bay State Park.