Battery Townsley "Make-Over"

Every May, our annual Wolf Ridge hike takes  us from Rodeo Beach up and around Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands unit of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

On the way uphill, we also stop at Battery Townsley, a relic of the World War II coast defense system.

Today's Marin I-J reports on a plan to "rehab" the battery, including moving the 68' long, 120 ton gun from the battleship USS Missouri from outside of the big bunker where it not sits, to inside where a giant "cannon" originally point its muzzle out to sea.

It takes us about 4 hours to "circumnavigate" the hill on about 5 miles of trail, not quite as fast as the hikers make the up and down trek in this video.


Click on this link if the video doesn't display - Rodeo Beach to Hill 88 - Golden Gate National Recreation Area from Ryan Commons on Vimeo.

Estero Trail Hike (11/3) Preview

This week we return to Point Reyes National Seashore for the last time on a College of Marin scheduled hike in 2015.

This is not a loop hike, but there are marvelous views!

(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 and head uphill.

When you reach the turn off to the right onto Pierce Point Road, bear to the left and continue on Sir France Drake toward Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse.  Pass Mt. Vision Road on your left, and then in one mile turn left onto the road to Estero Trail.

Take this road to the parking lot at the trailhead. Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the parking lot. Click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.

Time: 1 hour from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am.  Outhouse at the trailhead. (Pull into the Bear Valley Visitors Center area if you need an earlier restroom stop.)

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, October 28th, the weather forecast for the hike was

Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.  (Click here for an updated forecast.)

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 with the route we'll follow and the trail length and profile information. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

UPDATE: Places Open On Fall 2 Meandering Hikes

Alas Bob, Carol, Vicki and Heidi have dropped out of the Fall 2 Tuesday Meandering hike series due to knee, hip, and back problems, or over-heating on the Tennessee Valley hot "Final Exam" hike.

If you have a friend who wants to hike, let them know that they DO need to sign up through the College of Marin, NOT just show up at the trailhead and pay $20/hike directly to Wendy as was originally reported.

You can send them the complete details on all of the upcoming hikes on this list (which also includes the completed Fall 1 hikes).

East Peak Mt. Tam Hike (10/27) 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.

(Click here for photos from 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. 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 begins), 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 Friday, October 234d, the National Weather forecast for the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 77. (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.

The following photo shows the route we'll take.

This version shows the distance we'll hike.

Here's the hike profile showing the elevation changes.

Chilled Pumpkin Soup Recipe

The recipe for Chilled Pumpkin Soup that Dick Jordan served at last week's "Final Exam" luncheon came from Epicurious. com.

Like most recipes, you need to adjust the amount of the ingredients to get both the consistency and taste that you prefer.

Dick used more pumpkin (one 15 oz and one 29 oz can), and less milk (only about 4 cups) to produce 3+ quarts of soup.

The soup requires no cooking. Just stir all of the ingredients together and refrigerate. (Dick made the soup the day before the hike.)

Dick Takes You to Cuba This Week

Thanks to President Obama's action last December to ease restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, interest by Americans in visiting that island nation has soared.

This week you can get a glimpse of the place when the trailer for Dick Jordan's documentary, Cuba Libre, airs on MarinTV (Comcast Channel 26) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday.

If you're not a Comcast cable subscriber, won't be home when the show airs, don't have a DVR, or prefer to watch it on your computer, tablet or smartphone, you can watch it on YouTube.

Dick hopes work on the full documentary (run time somewhere between 60-90 minutes) will be completed by December.

A Week Off: No Hike on October 20

Worn out from yesterday's "Mad Dogs & Englishmen Go Out in The Noonday Sun" hike at Tennessee Valley?

There's no hike next Tuesday, October 20th, so you've got two weeks to loaf.

We'll next meander on Tuesday, October 27th at East Peak on Mt. Tam when we kickoff the Fall 2 College of Marin Hiking Series.

Move to "The Light"

Weary of the burdens of home ownership?

Sell up, and become a tenant of the National Park Service living within a stone's throw of the Point Reyes Lighthouse.

(AEPG Flickr Photo)

Today's San Francisco Chronicle reports that the NPS is offering a one-year lease on a house on the edge of the continent for an undisclosed monthly rent.

But since it has "rooms with a view," expect to pay a premium for live there.

Tennessee Valley "Final Exam" Hike (10/13) Preview

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 7th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 78.  (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.

Restricted Parking Near Muir Woods

In June, the Meandering blog reviewed a proposed plan to restrict parking near Muir Woods National Monument.

Today's San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Marin County Board of Supervisors has voted to limit parking between the park and Muir Beach. The restrictions will go into effect in 30 days.

A similar story ran in the Marin I-J.

Details on Fall 1 and Fall 2 Hikes Now Online!

Detailed information on all Fall 1 and Fall 2 hikes is now online.

Click here to view and print out the list in PDF format.

China Camp State Park Hike (10/6) Preview

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 that we've usually done from this trailhead:

"Learn about wetland habitats and some of the endangered animals that live there like the tiny salt marsh harvest mouse. Last year we saw lots of mushrooms including oyster mushrooms, chicken-of-the-woods, jack-o-lantern mushrooms, and sulfur tufts. This area is also of historical interest as the site of a once thriving Chinese shrimp fishing village. We'll have lunch by the small museum." (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. There are also restrooms at just off the road at Weber Point and Buckeye Point, between the main park entrance and Miwok Meadows.

Weather forecast: As of Saturday, October 3rd, the weather forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 75. (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 exact route may vary from the ones they describe.