Help Wanted - last call for new blogger

News Flash: updates to the Meandering blog will end as Susan Saltzman departs Tuesdays and begins anew with the Flat Friday group.

To prevent the Tuesday Meandering group from being left adrift, a new blog editor will have to be found.

The main part of the editor's "job" is posting the preview for next week's hike. This typically involves copying and pasting the preview from the last time the hike was done, updating the weather forecast, and perhaps the links to Google Maps or other Websites. Understanding basic HTML editing would be helpful, but not essential.

The new editor would have to have a Google Account (which anyone who uses "gmail" already has).

So, if you've always wished for a job as a journalist, now's your chance!

To apply for the job, just send me an email at susanpsaltzman@gmail.com. I will show you the ropes of being a blogger and be available to answer any questions.

There is no resume required. You will not be paid any salary or receive any benefits other than the good will bestowed upon you by your fellow hikers.

REMINDER - Register on Tuesday July 30 for Fall I and II, 2019

Register separately for each session.

EC | Meandering in Marin: Natural History and Hiking

If you enjoy getting exercise, socializing with a congenial group, and learning about birds, owers, butterflies, and mushrooms, come join the Meanderers. The instructor will send field trip itineraries to enrolled students before the first class. Participants should be comfortable hiking 4-6 miles with an elevation gain of up to 1000' at a pace of about 45 minutes per mile.

4114 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Mondays 9:45am-1:45pm | Aug 26-Oct 14 $189 (FF $8) | ESCOM $161 (FF $8)

4115 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
6 Mondays 9:45am-1:45pm | Oct 28-Dec 2 $155 (FF $3) | ESCOM $130 (FF $3)

4116 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Tuesdays 9:45am-1:45pm | Aug 27-Oct 8 $189 (FF $8) | ESCOM $161 (FF $8)

4117 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
6 Tuesdays 9:45am-1:45pm | Oct 29-Dec 3 $155 (FF $3) | ESCOM $130 (FF $3)

Click here to download full schedule of classesL

Flat Friday Fall Session 2019 - Hiking Schedule for level hikes

Wendy offers a flat hike on Fridays to those who prefer a hike with less elevation. The Flat Friday Schedule for Fall 2019 follows:

FALL SESSION 2019 

10 AM to 1 PM   Bring lunch! $175

No refunds for absences but you can bring a guest to a hike as a makeup, or have a friend fill in for you.

Please bring a copy of the attached release to the first class. 

Remember, unlike Meandering in Marin, rain cancels!   I will email by 7:15 AM is the weather is dubious.

AUGUST 30  Cross Marin Trail  SHUTTLE HIKE

     Today we hike along the old bed of the North Pacific Coast Railroad, which used to run from Larkspur to Cazadero. Meet at the main entrance to Samuel P.Taylor State Park.  We'll leave two shuttle cars and drive to the start of the hike.  If you want to drive to the start of the hike, continue west on Sir Francis Drake to Platform Bridge Rd.  Sir Francis Drake goes over a bridge (you'll see railings on the side of the road).  Watch for an unmarked road right after the bridge, and turn right.  Turn left and you'll see some parking places on the left. 

      This is paved bike trail, so easy walking.  3.2 miles, much of it through redwoods but there are some sunny stretches so bring a hat.

       No restrooms at trailhead, but restrooms at the end of the hike. Carpool from St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax at 9:35.

SEPTEMBER 6   Tennessee Valley GGNA

      This level trail is paved part of the way.  We might see some migrating hawks.  If you have time, you can go up to Hawk Hill after the hike. 

     Take the Stinson Beach exit from 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. Time: 40 minutes from College of Marin. Portable at trailhead. Carpool from Greenbrae Park and Ride at 9:35.

SEPTEMBER 13  Bear Valley

     Walk the trail where in the 1880s visitors could take an excursion by wagon “for miles and miles through a tree canopied glen, banked with ferns.”  Lunch in Divide Meadow.

       Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to Olema.  Turn right on Rt.1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Rd.  Turn in where the sign says Park Headquarters.  Park in the parking lot on your left.

     Restrooms at trailhead. Carpool from St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax at 9:25.

SEPTEMBER 20   Dogtown to Randall Trail, Shuttle hike

     The Olema Valley trail parallels Pine Gulch Creek. Bay trees will be getting nuts, toyons will have small green berries. We could see Satyr commas, Mylitta crescents, Field Crescents, CA Ringlets,  and CA Sisters.

     Meet at the Randall Trail on Rt 1 and we’ll carpool to the bottom of the McCurdy trail near Dogtown.  Take Sir Francis Drake to Olema.  Turn left on Route 1 and go 6 miles south to the Randall Trailhead. Park in one of the large dirt pullouts on either side of the road.  Note: The sign for the Randall Trail is aligned parallel to Highway 1 on the east side of the road and can easily be missed.

     Meet at St. Rita’s at 9:15 to carpool. No restrooms at trailhead. There is a portable in the parking lot at Rt. 1 and Sir Francis Drake, or turn in to Bear Valley for flush toilets.

SEPTEMBER 27 China Camp State Park - Shuttle hike

     Wetlands and oak woodlands. This park is also of historical interest as the site of a Chinese fishing village.     

     From 101 take the San Pedro Road exit and go east for three miles. Turn in at the sign that says China Camp State Park Back Ranch Campground. Stop at the short-term parking and pay. You can pay the hiking fee, not the parking fee. Then go back out and turn right.  Continue east on San Pedro Rd. to where the sign on your right says Miwok Meadows. Park along the road.  We will need two cars to meet me at the China Camp Point parking lot, just uphill from China Camp Village. Then we can leave two cars and take one back to Miwok Meadows.  The drivers of those cars will drive people back to Miwok Meadows after the hike.

     No restrooms at trailhead, but you can turn in at the Back Ranch Campground sign and go past the short-term parking, past the day use parking area, to the campground parking area. There are restrooms there. There will also be restrooms at lunch. Carpool from Mission and Irwin (can only enter by turning left from Irwin and making a right into the parking lot) 9:45.

OCTOBER 4     Las Gallinas Water Reclamation Ponds

      Most of the ducks should be back from breeding grounds and molted out of their eclipse plumage, so it’s a good time to check out ducks, grebes, gallinules, marsh wrens, and other birds that frequent the ponds.  Bring binoculars if you have them, and I'll have extras to loan.               

     Take the Smith Ranch Rd Exit from Hway 101 and go east.  Just before the large sign that says McInnis Park, turn left into what looks like a parking lot but actually has a road continuing out the other end.  Park in the small lot on the left, or if there's no room, turn around and park on the road. 

      Portables in parking lot. Carpool from Mission and Irwin (can only enter by turning left from Irwin and making a right into the parking lot) 9:40

OCTOBER 11 Hamilton Wetlands, Novato  FINAL EXAM

     Migrants are back now, and we should also see some resident egrets, herons and raptors. Bring binoculars if you have them, and I'll have extras to loan.  Bring something to share for our gourmet Final Exam, and plates, flatware and a cup.

    101 North to Nave Drive.  Right on Mail Gate Rd, left on Palm, right on Hangar Drive. Park in the lot on your right just before the children's playground.

     Portable at trailhead, restrooms near where we have lunch. Carpool from Mission and Irwin (can only enter by turning left from Irwin and making a right into the parking lot) 9:30

Please let me know if you want to be removed from the mailing list for this class. 

Help Wanted: Meandering Blog Editor

News Flash: updates to the Meandering blog will end as Susan Saltzman departs Tuesdays and begins anew with the Flat Friday group.

To prevent the Tuesday Meandering group from being left adrift, a new blog editor will have to be found.

The main part of the editor's "job" is posting the preview for next week's hike. This typically involves copying and pasting the preview from the last time the hike was done, updating the weather forecast, and perhaps the links to Google Maps or other Websites. Understanding basic HTML editing would be helpful, but not essential.

The new editor would have to have a Google Account (which anyone who uses "gmail" already has).

So, if you've always wished for a job as a journalist, now's your chance!

To apply for the job, just send me an email at susanpsaltzman@gmail.com. I will show you the ropes of being a blogger and be available to answer any questions.

There is no resume required. You will not be paid any salary or receive any benefits other than the good will bestowed upon you by your fellow hikers.

Registration for Fall I and II begins Tuesday July 30, 2019 at 9 a.m.

Register separately for each session.

EC | Meandering in Marin: Natural History and Hiking

If you enjoy getting exercise, socializing with a congenial group, and learning about birds, owers, butterflies, and mushrooms, come join the Meanderers. The instructor will send field trip itineraries to enrolled students before the first class. Participants should be comfortable hiking 4-6 miles with an elevation gain of up to 1000' at a pace of about 45 minutes per mile.

4114 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Mondays 9:45am-1:45pm | Aug 26-Oct 14 $189 (FF $8) | ESCOM $161 (FF $8)

4115 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
6 Mondays 9:45am-1:45pm | Oct 28-Dec 2 $155 (FF $3) | ESCOM $130 (FF $3)

4116 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Tuesdays 9:45am-1:45pm | Aug 27-Oct 8 $189 (FF $8) | ESCOM $161 (FF $8)

4117 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
6 Tuesdays 9:45am-1:45pm | Oct 29-Dec 3 $155 (FF $3) | ESCOM $130 (FF $3)

Click here to download full schedule of classes

Tomales Bay State Park Final Exam Hike 7/23/19

This coming week we go to Tomales Bay State Park for our final exam hike. We'll take the Johnson/Jepson Loop.

Here's Wendy's description of the outing: "We sometimes see the endangered California Harebells and this is the only hike where we always see Deer Ferns. One of the most scenic picnic tables in Marin for our Final Exam!" 

Bring something to share for our gourmet potluck lunch, and utensils, plate, and cup.

(Click here to view photos from past hikes in Tomales Bay State Park).

Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (Stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center to use the restrooms as there are none at the trailhead).

Continue until you pick up Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Go through Inverness and over the ridge. At the "Y" where the road veers left to Drake's Beach and the Lighthouse go straight. This puts you on Pierce Point Road.

Just BEFORE the right turn that takes you down to Heart's Desire Beach there is a dirt parking lot on the right. If you don't know it you may need to go to the road to Heart's Desire and then turn around. We'll take the Jepson/Johnson loop.

Driving time one hour from College of Marin. Outhouse en route and restrooms at lunch spot. Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:55 am.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, July 17, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny with a high near 59. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: "G14 Johnstone - Jepson Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the area in which we'll be hiking. The trails are also shown on page 4 of the Tomales Bay State Park brochure. The Google Earth image below shows this part of the state park. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

Bolinas Ridge Down Randall Trail 7/16/19

  

This week we move south and east of Point Reyes National Seashore to take one of our hikes in the GGNRA.

This hike is slightly longer than our usual at 7.4 miles, but lots of downhill with ripe huckleberries to snack on along the way. We usually find naturalized orchid Hellebore on this hike, and in 2013 the fog drip provided some surprise chanterelles. While Wendy can't promise those, lots of ripe huckleberries and some ripe salal berries are a pretty sure bet.  (Click here for a recap of our hike in August of 2008).

CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 OR EMAIL bdreskin@comcast.net if you are coming! The fee is $22. 

Directions to trailhead: We’ll meet at 9:20 on Highway 1 at the bottom of Randall Trail which is about 3 miles north of Dogtown and about 3 miles south of Five Brooks. (The Point Reyes National Seashore says to allow 15 minutes for the drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, and that it is just under 6 miles from the intersection of Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake at Olema south to the Randall trailhead.) You will pass Five Brooks on your right and go about three more miles. If you are traveling north on Highway 1, it is about 3 miles north of Dogtown. Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:40.

Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the Randall Trail trailhead. Click where the Randall Trail crosses Highway 1, and then click on the teardrop icon to get directions and driving time from your location.

Park in one of the large dirt pullouts on either side of the road. The Park Service notes that the sign for the Randall Trail is aligned parallel to Highway 1 on the east side of the road and can easily be missed.

From the Randall trailhead we’ll carpool up the Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Ridgecrest Boulevard and hike along Bolinas Ridge Fire Road and then down the Randall Trail to Highway 1.

No restrooms at either the Randall Trail or Bolinas Ridge trailheads.  Stop at the Bear Valley Visitor Center or at Five Brooks if you need to “use the facilities.”

Driving time from the College of Marin is about 40 minutes. Carpool leaves St. Rita's at 8:40 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, July 11th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny with a high near 74. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  None of my hiking books describe this hike, but you can find the Fairfax-Bolinas Road, Bolinas Ridge Fire Road, and the Randall Trail in the bottom right-hand section of the Point Reyes National Seashore park map shown below.



Click here to view and print a copy of the map. Use the plus-sign button under the drop-down arrow button to enlarge the map for easier reading If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer you can print the document. Once you see the document on the "Google Docs" Web site, click on the "Actions" down arrow and then on "Download" to download the document to your computer).

Palomarin, Point Reyes National Seashore 7/9/19

We continue our summer hikes this coming week with a trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, this time beginning at the far southern end of the park at the Palomarin trailhead near Bolinas. Remember,  Cost for the hike is $22.

Here's Wendy's description of this outing: "This hike is not a loop, but has incredible ocean views making it well worth the drive! We should see Bee Plant, Seep-Spring Monkey Flower, Salmonberries as well as butterflies and dragonflies. Lunch at Bass Lake." (Click here for a recap of our July 2010 hike. Click here for an album of photos from that hike.)

Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn left (south) onto Highway 1. Pass Five Brooks and Dogtown, and take the unmarked right turn (onto Horseshoe Hill Road which merges with the Olema-Bolinas Road) towards the town of Bolinas. (If you find yourself going along the shore of Bolinas Lagoon, you've driven too far south and missed the turn.) Turn right on Mesa Road (which eventually becomes a dirt road) and follow it to the Palomarin trailhead parking lot. this is a long dirt road so don't wash your car the day before. The dirt road can be bumpy.

Click here for a Google Map that shows the parking lot at the trailhead. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and time from your location.

Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:40 a.m.

If you're coming from southern Marin you may prefer to take Highway 1 north, turning left just past the end of the lagoon onto the unmarked road into the town of Bolinas, then right on to Mesa Road to get to the trailhead.

Toilets at the trailhead. If you can't wait, use the porta-potties at Five Brooks, a right turn off Highway 1 for those coming south from Olema. For those heading north from southern Marin, turn left off the highway into Muir Beach or at the ocean overlook just to the north.

Weather forecast:  As of Wednesday, July 3rd, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 65. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The "F17 Coast Trail to Wildcat Camp" hike in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, is 11 miles long, but shows the route that we'll take up to Bass Lake, 2.7 miles from the trailhead. (The 8.5 mile "Alamere Falls and Double Point Overlook" hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area says the distance to the north shore of the lake is 2.9 miles, while the park's South District Hiking Map pegs it at 2.8 miles).  We’ll retrace our steps back to the trailhead after lunch so our total hiking distance will be around 5.5-6.0 miles.

Bull Point 7/2/19

This week we head through Inverness to hike on the ocean side of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Cost is $22.

Here's Wendy's description for this hike: "A beautiful but soggy (in places) walk timed to see the Coast Lilly blooming in its only site in Marin!

"Other endangered flowers we've seen other years include the Swamp Harebell, Large Flowered Lianthus, and Point Reyes Checkerbloom. We may also see Yellow-Eyed Grass, Tinker's Penny, White-Flowered Bog Orchid, and Hooker’s Evening Primrose. Some off-trail walking but little elevation gain." (Click here for the recap of our Bull Point hike on July 7, 2009.).

Directions to the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west to Olema. Turn right on Highway 1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. Continue past the road to Park Headquarters (stop here for a restroom break; there are no porta-potties at the trailhead) and go left when you hit Sir Francis Drake again.

Go through Inverness. Go left at the "Y" (right takes you out to Pierce Point) and pass MCI and RCA stations on your right. The Bull Point parking lot will be on your left.

(Click here for a map of the trailhead location and to get driving directions and times from your location.)

Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:50 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Saturday,June 29th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny with a high near 63. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "H11 Bull Point and South Beach Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows this as 4.0 mile out and back hike. Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, pegs it at 3.6 miles as does the park's North District Hiking Map.

The Google Earth image below shows the area where we'll be hiking. (Click on the image to open a larger version in your Web browser).

Angel Island State Park 6/25/19

Angel Island State Park is the destination for our next summer hike.  Here's Wendy's description of the outing: Flowers, great views, and a fascinating history from when Juan Manuel de Ayala sailed the San Carlos into San Francisco Bay in 1775, through Angel Island's years as a quarantine station, its years as Fort McDowell during World War II and a Nike missile base during the Cold War. Angel Island is often good for butterflies like Anise Swallowtails, Western Tiger Swallowtails, California Sisters, and Pipevine Swallowtails.

Allow time to park and don't miss the boat! (Although it's only a 10-minute trip, the next ferry doesn't run until 11:00 a.m.)

Parking gets more expensive the closer you get to the ferry. There is sometimes on-street free parking if you make a left on Mar West, the corner the library is on. (See map at left). Allow ten minutes to walk (click here to view and print walking directions) from there to the ferry.

Directions to the ferry dock: Take the Tiburon Blvd. exit from Highway 101. Follow Tiburon Blvd. to downtown Tiburon. We'll meet at the ferry dock at 21 Main Street at 9:50 a.m.

We'll take the 10 a.m. ferry from Tiburon to the island. Bring cash or check to pay for the ferry ($14.00 for Seniors, $15 for adults, covers round trip ferry and park entrance fee, pay as you board) No credit cards and no Clipper Cards. Bring $22 in cash or check for Wendy, too!

Here is a map of parking lots (cash only, no credit or debit cards, accepted) and the ferry dock provided by the Angel Island Conservancy:

Restrooms at ferry in Tiburon and on Angel Island. Carpool from Greenbrae Park and Ride at 9:10 a.m.

We'll go to the top of Mt. Livermore, eat lunch there, and take the last ferry of the day back at 3:30 p.m. Please note the late ending time.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, June 20th, the National Weather Service forecast for Angel Island for Tuesday's hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 70. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More information on this hike: The Martin's book, Hiking Marin, sets out two hikes on the island: "A12 North Ridge Trail to Mt. Livermore" and "A13 Angel Island Perimeter Trail."

Click here to go to the Angel Island State Park page on the California State Park's Web site.  Click here for on-line information provided by the Angel Island Conservancy.

You'll find a map of the island on page 4 of the state park brochure.

Click here to listen to a podcast about Angel Island. (It may take a while for the audio player to display in your Web browser.)

Here's a Google Earth bird's eye view of the island:

Tide Pooling with Wendy on 6/18/2019

TIDE POOLING, NO FEE 

Just a brief reminder that there is NO HIKE scheduled for June 18, but instead call or email Wendy if you'd like to join her for a 6 a.m. tide pooling adventure.

Our next hike will be on JUNE 25th,  ANGEL ISLAND STATE PARK.

(Brendon Landis Flickr Photo)

Bolinas Ridge to Samuel P. Taylor - Shuttle Hike 6/11/19

Looking West from Bolinas Ridge (S. Walker photo)

This is another "pay-if-you-go" hike between now and the Fall 1 COM series. The cost is $22.

Directions to Trailhead:
Meet at Samuel P. Taylor State Park at 9:30 am.

Unless you have a State Park Pass, pay the $8.00 day use fee/parking if you leave your car there. 

We’ll carpool to the Bolinas Ridge trailhead and hike back down. The hike is uphill to start and then downhill and level. We could hear meadowlarks singing and see Lorquiin's admiral butterflies, western tiger swallowtails, and pipeline swallowtail caterpillars.
  
Click here for a Google Maps map showing the parking lot at Samuel P. Taylor. Click on teardrop icon on the map or on "Directions" on the left-hand side of the page for driving times and directions from your location.

Carpool leaves from St. Rita at 9:10 a.m.

Restrooms at Samuel P. Taylor, none at trailhead.

THIS IS A SHUTTLE HIKE SO CALL OR E-MAIL WENDY IF YOU'RE COMING: Home phone: 415 457-3949; cell 415 517-0488; E-mail:  bdreskin@comcast.net.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, June 6th, the National Weather Service forecast was sunny with a high near 78. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: "H8 - Taylor State Park to Bolinas Ridge" in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, is a 10.2 mile loop hike which starts and ends in the state park. We're doing this hike in the opposite direction, but only one-way, from the trailhead on the south side of the road where Sir Francis Drake Boulevard reaches a crest between the McIsaac Ranch at Tocoloma (intersection of SFD and Platform Bridge Road) and Olema, so our total distance hiked should be more like 5 miles.

Although part of the area is within the GGNRA, it is actually administered by Point Reyes National Seashore. The Point Reyes Hiking Map (South District) shows the trails that we'll be following within the GGNRA.

The Google Earth image below shows the area where will be hiking viewed from just east of Olema toward Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is the yellow line snaking through the picture. You can see the trail beginning right off to the road on the right. (Click on the image to open a larger view in your Web browser).

TIDE POOLING WITH WENDY ON JUNE 4, 2019, NO FEE

TIDE POOLING WITH WENDY ON JUNE 4, 2019, NO FEE 

Just a brief reminder that there is NO HIKE, instead call or email Wendy if you'd like to join her for a 6 a.m. tide pooling adventure.

Our next hike will be a Shuttle Hike on JUNE 11,  BOLINAS RIDGE  TO SAMUEL P. TAYLOR    

(Brendon Landis Flickr Photo)

Muddy Hollow Trailhead, Pt Reyes 5/28/19

Here's Wendy's description of our upcoming hike: " Great views and, we hope, some birds including American Goldfinches and Northern Harriers.  Some years we see tule elk with calves."  

 (Note: this hike is longer than we usually do (about 7 miles), so sometimes we make it back on time but sometimes we get back late).



Directions to the 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 Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom, there are none at the trailhead) and go left on Limantour Road.

When you see a paved road to the Hostel on the left, turn right on the dirt road to Muddy Hollow parking lot.

Click here for a map showing the trailhead. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving times and directions from your location.

Carpool from St. Rita at 8:55 am.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, May 24th, the National Weather Service forecast for this area was mostly sunny with a high near 62. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, was lasted updated in 2006, so it does not show the current trail which now only loops back to the Muddy Hollow Trailhead and no longer has an offshoot that goes to the Limantour Beach parking lot as shown on the Martins’ map. But their hike "G8 Muddy Hollow Rd - Estero Trail" does show the area where we'll be hiking.

However, the Point Reyes National Seashore's North District Hiking Map includes the new loop trail and pegs the distance at exactly 7.0 miles. The following Google Earth image shows the area (click on it to open a larger picture in your Web browser).

2019 Tuesday Summer Hikes with Wendy 5/28 - 7/23/19

Wendy has scheduled the following:

TUESDAY HIKES SUMMER 2019

Please email at least a day ahead if you plan to hike. Hikes with less than 8 may get cancelled.

MAY 28  MUDDY HOLLOW TRAILHEAD, POINT REYES 

     Great views and, we hope, some birds including American Goldfinches and Northern Harriers.  Some years we see tule elk with calves.  Note: this hike is longer than we usually do (about 7 miles).

     Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to Olema.  Turn right on Rt.1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Rd. Continue past Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom) and go left on Limantour Rd.  When you see a paved road to the Hostel on the left, turn right on the dirt road to Muddy Hollow parking lot.

     No portable at trailhead.  Carpool from St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 9.

JUNE 4  Anyone crazy enough to join me for tidepooling at 6 AM?  No fee.

JUNE 11  BOLINAS RIDGE  TO SAMUEL P. TAYLOR SHUTTLE HIKE                     

    Uphill to start, but then downhill and level!  Meet at Samuel P. Taylor AT 9:30.  We’ll carpool to the Bolinas Ridge trailhead and hike back down.  We could hear meadowlarks singing, and see Lorquin’s admirals and western tiger swallowtails and find pipevine swallowtail caterpillars.    

     Restrooms at Samuel P. Taylor, none at trailhead. Carpool from St. Rita at 9:10.

JUNE 18  Anyone crazy enough to join me for tidepooling at 6 AM?

JUNE 25  ANGEL ISLAND STATE PARK

     Flowers, great views, and a fascinating history from when Juan Manuel de Ayala sailed the San Carlos into San Francisco Bay in 1775, through Angel Island's years as a quarantine station, and its years as Fort McDowell during World War II and a Nike missile base during the Cold War. 

      Take the Tiburon Blvd. exit from 101.  Follow it to downtown Tiburon. The ferry is at 21 Main St. We'll take the 10 AM ferry over. Allow time to park and don't miss the boat!   There is free parking on Mar West. (Turn left at the library.) Note: Parking lots closest to the ferry cost more.  If you can't find street parking, park in the farthest lot for the best rate.

     We'll go to the top of Mt. Livermore, eat lunch there, and take the 3:20 ferry back. Bring $14 cash for ferry and park entrance. $15 if you are not a senior. No credit cards.      Restrooms at ferry in Tiburon and on Angel Island. Carpool from Greenbrae Park and Ride at 9:10. 

JULY 2  BULL POINT

     A beautiful but soggy (in places) walk timed to see the Coast Lily blooming at its only site in Marin!  Other endangered flowers we’ve seen other years include the Swamp Harebell, Large-Flowered Linanthus, and Point Reyes Checkerbloom.  We may also see Yellow-Eyed Grass, Tinker's Penny, White-Flowered Bog Orchid, and Hooker’s Evening Primrose. Some off trail walking but very little elevation gain.

        Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to Olema.  Turn right on Rt.1, then make an         immediate left onto Bear Valley Rd. Continue past the road to Park Headquarters (don't turn in) and go left when you hit Sir Francis Drake again.  Go through Inverness.  Go left at the "Y" and pass MCI and RCA stations.  The Bull Point parking lot will be on your         left. 

     No restrooms at trailhead, so stop at Bear Valley.  Carpool from St. Rita’s Church in Fairfax at 8:50.

JULY 9   PALOMARIN, POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE

     This hike is not a loop, but has incredible ocean views making it well worth the drive! We should see Bee Plant, Seep-Spring Monkey Flower, and Salmonberries as well as butterflies and dragonflies. Lunch at Bass Lake.

     Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to Olema. Turn left (south) on Rt. 1.  Pass Five Brooks and Dogtown, and take the unmarked right turn towards the town of Bolinas. (If you find yourself going along the shore of Bolinas Lagoon, you've just missed the turn.)  Turn right on Mesa Rd. and follow it to the Palomarin trailhead parking lot. This is a long dirt road so don't wash your car the day before!  If you're coming from south Marin you may prefer to take Rt. 1 north, turning left just past the end of the lagoon onto the unmarked road into the town of Bolinas. 

     Carpool from St. Rita at 8:40. Note: Dirt road so don’t wash your car on the weekend if you plan to drive.

JULY 16      BOLINAS RIDGE DOWN RANDALL TRAIL

     Slightly longer than usual at 7.4 miles, but lots of downhill.  Ripe huckleberries to snack on along the way!

      We’ll meet at 9:20 on Route One at the bottom of Randall Trail. From Route One and Sir Francis Drake Blvd, go 8.3 miles south to the Randall Trailhead. You will pass Five Brooks on your right and go about three more miles. Park in one of the large dirt pullouts on either side of the road.  If you are traveling north on Route 1, it's about 3 miles north of Dogtown.  Then we’ll carpool up the Bolinas-Fairfax Road to Ridgecrest Blvd. and hike along Bolinas Ridge Fire Rd. and come down Randall Trail. 

     Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:40.

JULY 23  TOMALES BAY STATE PARK  FINAL EXAM

     We’ll take the Johnson/Jepson Loop.  We sometimes see the endangered California Harebells and this is the only hike where we always see Deer Ferns. One of the most scenic picnic tables in Marin for our Final Exam!

     Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Rd.  Continue until you pick up SF Drake again. Go through Inverness.  Where the road veers left to Drake's Beach and the lighthouse, go straight.  This puts you

on Pierce Point Rd.  Just BEFORE the right turn that takes you down to Heart's Desire Beach there is a dirt parking lot on the right. If you don't know it you may need to go to the road to Heart's Desire and then turn around.  We'll take the Jepson/Johnson loop.

     Outhouse en route and at restrooms at lunch spot. Bring food to share for our gourmet final exam!  Remember to pack a plate and utensils.  Carpool from St. Rita at 8:55.

NOTE: If there is interest I'll schedule some hikes for August.  COM starts August 27

Rock Spring, Mount Tamalpais 5/21/19

This is a classic hike on Mount Tamalpais. Wendy wrote a Marin Independent Journal article about this hike.  Click here to see Wendy's article. Wendy writes that "we could see coral roots (a native orchid), meadow rue, and golden banners on this mostly shady loop hike".

Here's a brief description of the hike: Classic sites on Mt. Tamalpais popular in the heyday of hiking - Potrero Meadow Barth's Retreat and Rifle Camp. Learn about the Down and Outers Club and who Barth was!

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.

Directions to trailhead: Go south on Highway 101 to the Mill Valley Exit, East Blithdale. Turn left on Camino Alto (use the left turn only lane). Turn right on Miller Ave. Turn left on Montford. (The 2AM Club is the landmark.) Turn right on Molino. There is a yellow dividing line on the road so if in doubt "follow the yellow line road".  Moline becomes Edgewood, which becomes Sequoia Valley Road. At the large intersection at the top, turn right onto Panoramic Highway. At the intersection for the Pantoll Ranger Station, the road divides. Turn right onto Pantoll and keep heading uphill for about one mile. You'll come to an intersection with Ridgecrest Blvd. You'll be facing a dirt parking lot which is Rock Spring. Park here. (Click here for a map showing the parking area at the trailhead.   Click on the teardrop icon or click on "Directions" on the left-hand side of the screen to get  driving time and directions from your location.)

Driving time from College of Marin - 55 minutes.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park and Ride lot at 9:10 a.m. (Click here for a map showing the parking lot on Drakes Landing Road; right click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

There is an outhouse at the trailhead and mid-way.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, May 16th, the National Weather Service forecast for the area around Rock Spring on Mt. Tam was a mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and a high near 55. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The "B17 Simmons - Potrero - Arturo Trails" hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails that we'll be hiking on, although we'll probably follow a different route (Simmons to Benstein to Potrero Meadows to Laurel Dell and back up the Cataract Trail to Rock Spring). Page 6 of the state park brochure has a trail map that shows the area.

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

The Google Earth image below shows were we'll be on the mountain. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Kent Pump Road 5.14/19

Here's Wendy's description of this outing: "While I know we all like loops, I was so excited about osprey nests when I took this hike that I decided to add it to our itinerary. Kent Lake is the largest of the MMWD reservoirs. The first Osprey nest was found at Kent Lake in 1967 when ospreys had been so decimated by DDT it was a big deal to see one. The first bald eagle nested there in 2008. In 2017 there were about eighteen active nests. We’ll hike as far as the first few nests."

Directions to trailhead: 

Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road to the Alpine Dam. Parking is limited, so carpool if possible. Park when you see the dam ahead (first choice), or cross the dam and turn around so you can park on the other side and walk back across the dam. Click here for a Google Map showing Alpine Dam

Time: 35 minutes from College of Marin. 
No restrooms at trailhead.

Note from Wendy:

Parking is very limited, so if you have room in your car, please meet at the Parkade in Fairfax to carpool at 9:15.  Unless you are driving via Route 1, everyone will have to pass through Fairfax. The Parkade Project is complete and there is parking available. Click here for a Parkade Project update.

Click here for a Waze Map showing the location of the Parkade.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, May 9th, the National Weather Service forecast for this hike was partly sunny with a high near 59. Click here for an updated forecast.

A Marin Independent Journal article describes the area where we'll be looking for osprey nests . Click here for the Marin IJ article about ospreys