Tamales Point, Point Reyes (9/4/18)

We'll hike in 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 Google Maps map showing the trailhead. Click on the teardrop icon 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, August 29th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog, otherwise partly sunny with a high near 59. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "G18 – Tomales Point Trail" 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.

Samuel P Taylor State Park 8/28/18

Here's Wendy's description of this hike: "Today we explore the redwood habitat, visit the Pioneer Tree 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 Here's an album of photos from past hikes).

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

Click here for a Google Map showing the park entrance. Click on teardrop icon to get driving time 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 Wednesday, August 22nd, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday's hike was partly sunny, with a high near 72 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.

Here's the route we'll follow and the hike profile.

(Click here to view and download the brochure for Samuel P. Taylor State Park; the trails are shown on page 4).

Sky Trail Shuttle Hike with Wendy on 8/21/18

We return to Point Reyes National Seashore.

This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 415-457-3949 or 415-517-0488 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming! 

Note the earlier than usual meeting time at Bear Valley.

Directions to trailhead: We’ll meet at Bear Valley at 9:20 a.m. and carpool to Sky Trail. (Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the Bear Valley Vistor Center; park in the lot next to the restrooms by the Earthquake trail. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and time from your location.)

(If you are running late, you drive directly to the Sky Trail trailhed. Click here for a Google Maps map showing the trailhead location; click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location).  

When we get to Mt. Wittenberg, instead of taking Z Ranch and Horse Trail as we did in the fall, we'll go down to the Bear Valley Trail. Maybe this time the mushrooms will be up! 

We’ll need some people who are not in a rush to drive people back to Sky Trail after we reach the Bear Valley Visitor Center and parking lot.

Restrooms at Bear Valley, none at Sky Trail trailhead, but some as we pass Coast Camp.

Carpool leaves St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:45 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, August 19th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy drizzle before 11 a.m. Otherwise it will be party sunny with a high near 65. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 18 mph.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  "G3 Sky Trailhead to Bear Valley" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, is a version of this hike although we usually go straight at Junction #1 shown on their map and continue on to Sky Camp rather than take the detour up to Mt. Wittenberg (which we do on a separate loop hike from the Sky Trail trailhead) and then back down to the Sky Trail before continuing on to the Old Pine Trail, Divide Meadow and on to Bear Valley.  (Click here for the Seashore's South District Hiking Map which shows these trails).

The following Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of where we'll be hiking:

Sky Trail to Bear Valley Shuttle Hike with Wendy 8/21/18

We return to Point Reyes National Seashore.

This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 415-457-3949 or 415-517-0488 or send her an e-mail her at bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming! 

Note the earlier than usual meeting time at Bear Valley.

Directions to trailhead: We’ll meet at Bear Valley at 9:20 a.m. and carpool to Sky Trail. (Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the Bear Valley Vistor Center; park in the lot next to the restrooms by the Earthquake trail. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and time from your location.)

(If you are running late, you drive directly to the Sky Trail trailhed. Click here for a Google Maps map showing the trailhead location; click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location).  

When we get to Mt. Wittenberg, instead of taking Z Ranch and Horse Trail as we did in the fall, we'll go down to the Bear Valley Trail. Maybe this time the mushrooms will be up! 

We’ll need some people who are not in a rush to drive people back to Sky Trail after we reach the Bear Valley Visitor Center and parking lot.

Restrooms at Bear Valley, none at Sky Trail trailhead, but some as we pass Coast Camp.

Carpool leaves St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 8:45 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, August 19th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy drizzle before 11 a.m. Otherwise it will be party sunny with a high near 65. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 18 mph.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  "G3 Sky Trailhead to Bear Valley" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, is a version of this hike although we usually go straight at Junction #1 shown on their map and continue on to Sky Camp rather than take the detour up to Mt. Wittenberg (which we do on a separate loop hike from the Sky Trail trailhead) and then back down to the Sky Trail before continuing on to the Old Pine Trail, Divide Meadow and on to Bear Valley.  (Click here for the Seashore's South District Hiking Map which shows these trails).

The following Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of where we'll be hiking:

ALERT-REVISED HIKE-Bear Valley to Five Brooks Shuttle Hike 8/14/18 with Natalie

This week's hike with Natalie starts at Five Brooks in Point Reyes National Seashore.  (Here's the recap from the June, 2009 trek.) 

Here's Wendy's description of the outing: "We’ll start by checking out dragonflies and birds on the pond at Five Brooks, then carpool to Bear Valley. In past years we've seen Satyr Commas, Acmon Blues, Field Crescents, California Tortoise Shells, Pale Swallowtails, Western Tiger Swallowtails, and dragonflies including Cardinal Meadowhawks, Western Pondhawks, and Eight Spotted Skimmers.

This level hike takes us through Vedanta Retreat and Stewart Ranch back to Five Brooks."  

THIS IS A SHUTTLE HIKE (CALL OR E-MAIL NATALIE IF YOU'RE COMING: Cell: 415 686-1681 or email her at: gnatsimi@comcast.net.

Directions to trailhead:  We'll meet at Five Brooks at 9:30 am. Take Sir Francis Drake to Olema, turn left onto Highway 1, and continue south until you see the right hand turn off the highway to Five Brooks.

Click here for a Google Maps map that shows Five Brooks. Rigth click on the teardrop icon on the map or click on "Directions" to the left of the map to get driving time and directions from your location.

We'll leave some cars at Five Brooks, so we'll need some drivers not in a hurry to head home after the hike to drive those who left their cars at the trailhead back to Five Brooks.

Restrooms (porta-potties) at Five Brooks and (real-deal flush toilets) at Bear Valley. Carpool from St. Rita's at 8:55 am.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, August 10th, the weather forecast is patchy fog before 11 a.m., then mostly sunny with a high near 74. click here for an updated National Weather Service forecast.

More on this hike: Hike "F8 Five Brooks Trailhead to Bear Valley" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, does this 4.4 mile hike in the reverse direction from our trek. Our route will roughly parallel the San Andreas Fault which splits the Olema Valley down its middle.

After about a mile and a half we'll begin to cross the 2,000 acre parcel owned by the Vedanta Society of Northern California. Later we'll skirt the the historic Stewart Ranch. This trail is popular with equestrians, and we're likely to encounter horses and cattle along the way.

The elevation change is only 350' over the length of the trail, and many sections are quite flat or downhill. (Click here to view the Rift Zone Trail on the park's South District Hiking Map).

The Google Earth image below gives you a bird's eye view of the route will follow; the Bear Valley parking lot is at the far right, and "Mill Pond" at the far left is at Five Brooks. The yellow line marked "Shoreline Highway" is Highway 1. (Click on the image to enlarge it in your Web browser).

REMINDER - No Hike on Tuesday 8/7/18

Just a quick reminder that there will be no hike this coming Tuesday, August 7, 2018.

Enjoy the summertime.

Learn to prune California Natives with Linda Oqvist on 8/4/18

Pruning California Natives

Date: August 4, 2018

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Contact: Margaret Chu, domani@pacbell.net

Sponsor: Marin Master Gardeners

Location: Schurig Center

Event Details

The Program:  Why California natives? Recent droughts have precipitated an increased interest in gardening with California native plants. What do we mean by native plants and how do they differ from their East Coast cousins? Come join us and learn about the care and pruning of these under-utilized botanical beauties.

The Speaker: Linda Oqvist and Carroll Yandell are Marin Master Gardeners and Pruning Guild Journeymen experienced and passionate in planting and pruning California native plants.

Additional Information and Parking: We will meet inside at the Schurig Center building. There is ample free street parking and additional parking next door at College of Marin Childcare Parking Lot #13. Drive to lot #13 from College Avenue, from the South end of the lot walk across the footbridge to the Schurig Center.

Cost:  None                                                                

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Contact:  Margaret Chu at domani@pacbell.net