Wolf Ridge Hike (5/6) Preview

Here's Wendy's description of this annual Spring outing: "Wildflowers and views! "First of spring" flowers for this hike usually include Cobweb Thistle and Bee Plant, and we sometimes see the amazing Fairy Moth hanging out by Oceanspray."  (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike.  This is the on-line album of photos taken during our previous hikes in this area).

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 101 south bound, take the last exit before the Golden Gate Bridge. Turn right, go under the freeway, and get in the left turn lane to go through the one way tunnel with the 5 minute traffic light.

Park at the end of the road. (Rodeo Beach will be on the other side of the road). (Click here for a MapQuest Map for driving directions and times from your location.)

Time: 40 minutes from COM.

Carpoolers 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.)

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Tuesday, April 29th, the National Weather Service forecast for this year’s hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 63. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "A5 Coastal - Wolf Ridge - Miwok Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows our route for this 5 mile-plus hike with a 1,000' elevation gain, as does the "Coastal-Miwok Loop" hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (Hill 88, our probable lunch spot, is 960' above sea level with lovely views on a clear day). The Google Earth photo below shows the area. (Click on it to open a larger image in your Web browser).



Pay a Post-Hike Visit to The Marine Mammal Center:

Right now there are lots of rescued seals, sea lions and elephant seals at The Marine Mammal Center. So after the hike, turn left uphill just past the buildings along Mitchell Road and pay a visit to TMMC.

Indian Valley Open Space Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's Indian Valley Open Space hike are now online!

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

Green Gulch Hike (4/29) Preview

Here’s Wendy’s description for next week's hike:  “Today we get to see the beautiful organic vegetable garden at the Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farms on our way up to the Coyote Ridge Trail. Lunch overlooking the ocean on our way back down to Muir Beach.”  (Click here for a recap or here for the on-line album of photos from a previous hike on these trails).

Directions to trailhead:  Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101. Go through Tam Junction, and take Shoreline Highway and follow signs to Muir Beach. (Click here for a MapQuest map and directions and driving times from your location.)

Time: 55 minutes from COM.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park and Ride lot at 9:00 a.m. (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 Thursday, April 24th,  the forecast for the day of the hike was sunny, with a high near 74.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Although our actual route may vary, hike A10 (Coastal – Coyote Ridge – Green Gulch) in the Martins’ book, Hiking Marin, covers this area.  (Click here for more information on Green Gulch Farm).  The following Google Earth image shows where we will be hiking.

A Bufflehead, Up Close and Personal

We usually see Bufflehead ducks only at a distance. But while touring the Monterey Bay Aquarium two weeks ago, Dick Jordan happened upon a newly arrived male undergoing his "induction physical."

Here's a short video Dick made of this serendipitous encounter.


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

Indian Valley Open Space Hike (4/22) Preview

Two loops combine to make an interesting hike.  Tomcat Clover,
Fiddleneck, and Plectritis should be in bloom this week, and if we haven't heard the first Pacific Slope Flycatcher yet, we often here it at IVC.  (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike. You can view photos from past hikes by clicking here.)

Directions to trailhead: Take Highway 101 to the Ignacio Boulevard exit. Go west and follow Ignacio Boulevard into the Indian Valley College campus. (Click here for a MapQuest map and driving time and directions from your location.)

Our hike starts from parking lot #7 by the athletic field. (Click here to view and print a map of the campus).  

Bring a dozen quarters to get a ticket from the parking machines ($3/day ). 25 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at Smith Ranch Park & Ride lot at 9:15 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, April 16th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Two hikes in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, cover the area that we'll traverse: "E6 Indian Valley FR - Waterfall Trail" and "E7 Schwindt - Wildcat Trails". You can also view and print the map for the Marin County Open Space District's Indian Valley preserve. The Google Earth photo below shows this area. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

West Ridgecrest Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during last week's West Ridgecrest hike are now online!

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

NO HIKE, BUT PAY TAXES, ON APRIL 15TH!

To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, There are only two things certain about April 15, 2014:

1. You better have filed your tax return or obtained an extension to do so by that date, or you're as dead as a wild turkey (which Franklin allegedly thought should be America's National Bird, rather than the eagle) shot through the heart by an arrow from an Algonquin Indian's bow. 
2. And there's no Meandering in Marin on Tuesday's hike this week.

We'll next be meandering across the hills and meadows of Marin on Tuesday, April 22nd, when we hike at Indian Valley College Open Space in Novato.

Dick Jordan's Latest MarinTV Production

"Southeast" - Life in the Alaska Panhandle, Dick Jordan's latest "short" (3 minutes long) aired twice this past week on MarinTV (Comcast Channel 26).

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

West Ridgecrest Hike (4/8) Preview

This week we return again to West Marin.  On this hike (not a loop) we’ll explore a section of the Coastal Trail with views of Stinson Beach and Bolinas Lagoon. When Ridgecrest Boulevard opened as a toll road in the 1920s it was proclaimed California’s “Most Scenic Drive.” It’s even better hiking!  Clintonia could be in bloom by now!  (Click here for the recap of our 2010 hike.  Photos from past hikes are in this on-line album.)

Directions to trailhead:  THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:

1. Take the Fairfax Bolinas Road from Fairfax to Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park at the junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road. (About 1 hour driving time from the College of Marin; car poolers can meet at St. Rita’s by 9:00 am); OR
   
2. 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. Turn left at Rock Springs onto Ridgecrest Boulevard. Park on left at junction with the Fairfax-Bolinas Road.  (Driving time from College of Marin about 1 hour).

(Click here for a MapQuest which shows the trailhead as #1 and which can provide you with driving directions and time from your location.)

No restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, April 3rd, the National Weather Service forecast for the time of the hike was sunny, with a high near 74. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  This hike isn’t mentioned in any of Dick Jordan’s trail guides, but we’ll be hiking south on the Coastal Trail which parallels Ridgecrest Boulevard until we reach the junction with the McKennan Gulch Trail (which heads downhill to Bolinas Lagoon) and then we will retrace our steps back north.
 
(Click here and go to page 6 of the Mt. Tam State Park brochure for the park map; click on the percentage magnification box at the top of the page and increase to about 125%-150% to get a good view of the trail which runs just west of the road).