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

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.

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

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).

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.

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

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).

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.

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

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.