Sky Trail to Mt. Wittenberg Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during this week's Sky Trail to Mt. Wittenberg hike are now online!

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

Bootjack Hike (2/4) Preview

We return to Mount Tamalpais for the second hike of the Winter 2014 series.

The hike description is simple: "A mostly shady trail opens up to an incredible vista at a sunny (we hope!) lunch spot overlooking the ocean! We'll take Bootjack Trail to Van Wyk Meadow, TCC Trail to the Dipsea Trail, and the Old Mine Trail back." (Click here for photos from our past hikes.)

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.  

As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($8/car, if you don't have a state park pass) on your right.  (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the parking lot; click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

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). 

50 minutes from the College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:00 am. (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the parking lot; click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Tuesday, January 28th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 56. (Click here for an updated forecast.)

Sky Trail To Mt. Wittenberg Hike (1/28) Preview

This loop has spectacular views of the estero and the ocean! (Yes, we do have to hike uphill to earn this reward). Lunch at a scenic spot on Mt. Wittenberg. Last year we saw Amanita muscaria, Zeller's boletes, Pleated Marasmius, and lots of other mushrooms, as well as the start of some spring wildflowers. Level and downhill after lunch.  (Click here for a recap of the hike we took on February 2, 2010. Click here for an album of photos from past hikes.)

Directions to Trailhead:  Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. west to Olema. Turn right on Route 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past the turn-off to Park Headquarters and go left on Limantour Road. Trailhead is 3.3 miles from this turn at the crest of the road. The parking lot is on your left.

50 minutes from College of Marin. 

(Click here for a MapQuest map showing the approximate location of the trailhead. Click on #2 and then on "Directions" to get driving directions and estimated driving time from your location.)

Carpoolers should depart from St. Rita's 8:45 a.m. (to allow time for a restroom break at Bear Valley), or by 9:00 a.m. at the latest if driving directly to the trailhead without stopping at Bear Valley first.

(Click here to get a map with driving directions and time to St. Rita's.)

There are no restrooms at trailhead, so stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center if you need a restroom prior to the hike; there will be pit toilets at Sky Camp which we'll reach about 10:30 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Tuesday afternoon, January 21, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 62. (Click here for an updated forecast). 

More on this hike:  We'll do a variation on the 4.6 mile hike "G1 Sky-Horse-Z Ranch Trails" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin. Presumably we'll do this hike in reverse, going from Junction 1 to 4, then to 3, up to the top of Mt. Wittenberg, then down to 2, and back to 1 before returning to the trailhead.  (Click here for the park's South District Hiking Map which shows these trails).

Blue Cheese and Apple Soup Recipe

Here's the recipe (from chef John Ash) for the Blue Cheese and Apple soup that Dick Jordan served at today's "Final Exam" lunch.

Ingredient List

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup finely minced shallots or scallions
• 3 cups peeled and diced tart-sweet apples such as McIntosh or Gravenstein
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 2-3 cups rich vegetable stock or chicken stock
• 1/2 pound sweet Gorgonzola, Cambozola, Maytag blue, or other blue cheese
• 1 1/2 cup light cream
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Drops of fresh lemon juice
• Garnish: Minced fresh chives (or freshly roasted chestnuts if soup served warm, diced tart apples if soup serve cold)

Dick's Ingredient Choices

Dick varied used these ingredients:

• Braeburn apples (neither McIntosh nor Gravenstein were available; used about 5 cups)
• Sauvignon blanc for the white wine
• Vegetable stock (Swanson's organic)
• Point Reyes Blue Cheese
• Heavy (whipping) cream
• Ground white pepper
• Garnish not used

Other Possible Variations

The soup was too "cheesy" for Dick's tastes and some of the other Meanderers who tried it.

The shallots might be replaced with leeks, onions, or a combination of all three, and more than 1/3 cup could be used (probably giving the soup more body.)

Adding diced potato might reduce the "cheesiness."

A milder blue cheese than Point Reyes Blue, or using less than a half-pound of cheese, should keep the cheese flavor from overpowering the apple flavor.

Increasing the amount of cream, especially if the amount of cheese is reduced, could make the soup creamier and the cheese flavor less intense.

Chicken stock might make for richer flavor than vegetable stock.

Cooking Directions

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and saute the shallots until soft but not brown.

Add the apples and cook until they just begin to soften.

Add the wine and 2 cups of broth and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to simmer.

Crumble and add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts.

Add the cream and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

(Dick added the cream off-heat to reduce the chance it would curdle.)

Let cool a bit.

Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree, in batches if necessary, adding more stock if desired for a thinner consistency. [Dick found the soup too watery, sauteed a couple more cups of diced apples, added the soup to those apples, stirred, and re-blended to get a thicker soup.]

At this point, the soup can either be chilled (for up to 2 days) to serve cold or heated to serve hot. Do not allow the soup to boil, or it will curdle.

Serve hot or cold, with one of the suggested garnishes.

Serves 6 to 8. (Dick got just under 2 quarts, or 8 cups. The soup is quite rich, so keep portions small.)

"Favorite Marin Plant Walks" Website

One of the newest Tuesday Meanderers, Bruce Homer-Smith, and the Marin Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, have created a new Website entitled "Favorite Marin Plant Walks" (http://plantid.net/).

The idea is to help hikers identify trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns and grasses they see along the trail.

In addition to plant ID information, listings (such as the one below) will include overview and trail maps, and walking directions.

Got questions? Want to be a contributor? Contact bruce@quartetsystems.com.

More on "Red Flag" Land Closures

Wendy received the following response from the Marin County Fire Department to her inquiry about whether we could still hike on public lands in the county when "Red Flag" warnings closed roads to those areas.

"Unfortunately, during a “Red Flag” event, we don’t have the capacity to fax notifications out to interested parties.  Having said that, the local land owners (MMWD, Marin County Open Space, State and Federal Parks) do not close the parks to hikers, bikers and equestrian activities.  They only close certain roads to vehicular access, and prohibit certain activities that could introduce an ignition source to their respective parks, such as defensible space clearing activities, camp fires, etc.  You can call the park/landowners for a list of these specific activities, but nature walks/hikes are certainly allowed by all of them.

"Also, we maintain a fire information line, where we announce the duration/status of these restrictions.  That number is 415-473-7191.  If you have any further questions, please contact me."

Regards,

Scott D. Alber, PE, EFO, CFO, FM, MIFireE

BATTALION CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL

Marin County Fire Department

PO Box 518/33 Castle Rock Avenue

Woodacre, CA 94973

415.473.6566 T

415.473.4246 F

415.717.1520 M

CRS Dial 711

salber@marincounty.org

So the good news is that we can still hike despite the "Red Flag" situation.

But the bad news is that we may not be able to get to the trailhead due to road closures.

Sky Oaks to Deer Park “Final Exam” (1/21) Preview

This hike has some short uphill stretches, but much of it is downhill or fairly level Maybe we’ll see the first Indian Warriors of the season!  (Click here for a recap of the hike we did in October of 2009).

Remember to bring plate, utensils, cups, and a delicious dish to share at the post-hike luncheon.

This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming!

Directions to trailhead:  Meet at Deer Park to carpool. Take Bolinas Avenue in Fairfax, turn left on Porteous. (If you see Deer Park Villa you’ve gone a bit too far, turn around.) Go to the parking lot at the end. (Click here for a MapQuest map showing the location of Deer Park; click on #1 to get driving directions and estimated driving time from your location.)

Drivers leave food in cars at Deer Park.  Shuttle drivers will take us to the parking area just beyond the Sky Oaks pay station and leave their cars there.
 
The fee to park at Sky Oaks 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 $60 ($30 for those 62 and older).  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).

Restrooms at Deer Park and portable (hopefully) at Sky Oaks, and porta-potty en route. Carpool from St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 9:25 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Tuesday afternoon, January 14, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny with a high near 69.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, does not have a hike that matches this one.  But their hikes "C 12 Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog FR" and "C7 Deer Park FR-Canyon-Six Points" shows the the general area where we will be hiking as does the MMWD watershed trail map.

Land Closures Due to High Fire Danger

(Wheeldog Flickr Photo)

We Meanderers got a big surprise today when we arrived at the Sky Oaks Ranger station on the way to meet up at Bon Tempe Dam for our Alpine Lake to Bon Tempe hike: The gate across the entrance road was closed. (For those who didn't go, we ended up doing the Olema Hill to Samuel P. Taylor hike.)

Due to dry and windy weather forecast to continue through Thursday morning, Mt. Tam above Panoramic Highway will be closed, as will vehicle access to MMWD watershed lands through the Sky Oaks entrance.

To get the most current information regarding land use restrictions during fire season, call the Marin County Fire Department’s Public Information Line at (415) 499-7191 where you can listen to a recording of the latest conditions, or the MMWD Sky Oaks watershed headquarters at (415) 945-1195.  

Alpine Lake to Bon Tempe Dam Hike (1/14) Preview

We hike along a creek with lovely cascades and ferns. This is usually an interesting mushroom hike – in past years we've seen Toothed Jelly Fungus, Rosy Gomphidius, Cowboy's Handkerchief, and The Prince! The start is uphill with some stairs (but we’ll find lots to look at on the way), the end is level - and in between it’s up and down!

We end up at the Bon Tempe Dam.  (Click here for a recap of our January 2010 hike). We sometimes get back late on this hike. If you must be back at 1:45 pm it's safer to skip this one.

This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming! 

Directions to trailhead:  Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. Turn in as you would to go to Lake Lagunitas. After the ranger station at Sky Oaks (but before Shaver Grade) there is an unpaved road to the right. Take this to Lake Bon Tempe and park.  MEET HERE AT 9:15 a.m. Porta potties are in the parking lot. (Click here for directions from the MMWD Web site.  Or click here to get driving directions and travel time from a MapQuest map.)

From Bon Tempe we’ll carpool to the trailhead (near Alpine Dam). Do not pay the $8 day use fee at the Sky Oaks entrance kiosk if you plan to take people to the trailhead. (You can use $1, $5, or $10 bills and coins at the automated pay station, or a Visa or Mastercard.

Annual MMWD watershed 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 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).

We’ll need people who are not in a rush to take the driver’s back to their cars parked near Alpine Dam.

Driving Time from College of Marin: 25 minutes.

Carpool leaves St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:55 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Saturday, January 11th, the National Weather Service forecast for this area during the hike was sunny, with a high near 67. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: There is no comparable hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, but we'll begin our hike just past the dam at Alpine Lake and head east on the Helen Markt Trail, eventually pick up one of the fire roads, and wind our way back to Bon Tempe Lake. (Click here to view, zoom in on, or print a map of the MWWD watershed lands).

COLLEGE OF MARIN ONLINE CLASS REGISTRATION IS NOW WORKING!

The SNAFU that early in the day on January 2, 2014 was preventing online registration for College of Marin Community Education classes, including the Winter 2014 Meandering in Marin hike series, seems to have been resolved.

Dick Jordan was able to successfully register online a litter after 1:00 pm today.

Pine Mt./Elliott Preserve Hike (1/7) 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!
 
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 Thursday, January 2nd, the National Weather Service forecast for Fairfax on the day of the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 60. (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 insttead of Elliott Preserve) on the District's Website, or click here for a map of this area).

Hike Registration SNAFU!

On the morning of Thursday, January 2nd, Theresa Fisher and Dick Jordan tried unsuccessfully to register for the Winter Meandering hike series through the College of Marin Community Education Website.

Both got the following error message:

"You have no registration date. Your registration date will be assigned by the next business day at COM.

"This may be one to five days depending on the date of your application submission. During the College Winter break, your registration date will be assigned by Monday, January 6th, 2014.

"Thank you for your patience while we assign the registration date to your student portal account."

Dick has a call into the Community Education department office seeking an explanation of this computer SNAFU and will post any response he gets on the Meandering blog.

This Weather's For The Birds!

Since more sunny and dry weather is forecast for the next several days, and because the holidays are officially over and our "winterim" Meanders don't resume until next Tuesday, January 7th, now is a great time to head to Sacramento Valley wildlife refuges for waterfowl viewing.

Dick Jordan and his wife, Cindy, spent two days there last week. A docent at the federal Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge south of Willows, California said that because of the scant rainfall, more ducks seem to be hanging out on refuges such as the state-run Gray Lodge Wildlife Area north of Yuba City and east of the Sacramento River, than those such as SRNWR on the west side. However, there seem to be lots of Snow Geese at refuges on either side of the river.

Both of those refuges are about 2.5-3 hours drive from Marin. The outlet stores in Vacaville provide a convenient stop along the way to buy gas or use a restroom.

If you make an early start you can probably visit both in a day and get back home sometime in the evening.

Gray Lodge

Dick and Cindy usually leave Marin in mid-morning, make a "pit stop" and get gas in Live Oak, then head to Gray Lodge, have lunch at a picnic table near the parking lot for birders, and spend a couple of hours or so driving the "auto route" through the refuge, or hiking on some of the trails in it, before heading north and west to overnight at Willows.
 

A viewing platform can be reached from a trail leading north from the parking lot at the beginning of the auto tour, and there are a couple of "blinds" along the auto route.

Porta-potties are located at just a few places in the refuge, and there is no potable water. Day use fee is $4/person unless you have a pass from the Fish & Game or other entity. (As far as Dick knows, state park passes aren't accepted.) Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the refuge location.

(If you head south from Gray Lodge towards Sutter Buttes, and circle west around the Buttes on your way back to I-5, you may see Sand Hill Cranes flying or in the fields next to the road).

Overnight Stops

In Willows, Dick and Cindy recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and having dinner at the Old Highway 99 Steak House. Yuba City is a good place to overnight if you go to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge first, and Gray Lodge last, or if you want to hit Gray Lodge early in the morning.

On day two, they have a complimentary breakfast at the Holiday Inn, pick up sandwiches at the adjacent Subway (Willows isn't noted for its dining options), and then head 7 miles south to the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. Click here for a map showing the refuge location.

Two bonuses from an overnight stay: 1) At the end of the day just before sunset you may see thousands of geese flying into the refuges after feeding in nearby rice feeds; 2) you may be treated to a spectacular sunset if high clouds float in the sky above the valley or mountains to the west.

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

That refuge has a small visitor center (closed Mondays through February) with "stuffed" birds on display, and books and other items for sale in its gift shop. Restrooms with flush toilets (but no potable water) and picnic tables are located at the visitor center. There is a pit toilet next to a viewing platform about half-way around the auto route.

The day use fee is $6. Holders of a Federal Duck Stamp ($15) or an America the Beautiful - Interagency Annual, Senior, Access or Volunteer Pass (or the past equivalent Golden Age Pass) enter free

There is a hiking trail around ponds near the visitor center. It takes a couple of hours or so to drive the auto tour route, and on it you're may see some upland birds such as pheasants, river otters or raccoons, and raptors (including eagles, if you're luck) as well as ducks, geese, coots, and perhaps some grebes.

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

If you tour either the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge or Gray Lodge in the morning, you'll probably have time to visit the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in the afternoon.

Winter COM Hike Registration Starts Tomorrow!

Registration for the Winter 2014 Meandering in Marin hike series starts tomorrow, Thursday, January 2, 2014, and you can find information on the hike course numbers, fees, and dates on the Community Education section of the college Website.

Click here for information on the Tuesday hike series.

Click here for information on the Monday hike series.