Bootjack to Mountain Theater Hike (10/25) Preview

A mostly shady trail takes us up to the Mountain Theater where you’ll learn the history of its construction and the tradition of drama* on the Mountain.  Lunch at the historic West Point Inn."

(*The Mountain Theater - a.k.a. The Cushing Memorial Theater- in Mount Tamalpais State Park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The natural-stone amphitheater seats 3,750 people and features the Mountain Play each spring, produced every year since 1913).  (Click here for a recap of our February 9, 2010 hike).
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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.  Bootjack is about 2 miles past Mountain Home.

As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($8/car if you don't have a state park pass) on your right --- if you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway, you've gone too far and need to turn around and drive back down the mountain. (Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out).

Restrooms at trailhead and lunch stop. Driving time from College of Marin: 55 minutes.  Carpoolers meet at Greenbrae Park & Ride Lot at 9:00 a.m.

Weather forecast:  As of Saturday, October 22, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny, with a high near 67.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike:  Hike "B12 Bootjack - Rock Springs Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails in this area although we could take a slightly different route.  (Click here to view a copy of the Mount Tamalpais State Park brochure; the park map on page 6 shows the trails).

Soup and Wine du Jour

If you liked the Blood Mary Soup that Dick Jordan made for today's "Final Exam" luncheon, click here to view and download the recipe.

Dick used heirloom tomatoes (fairly cheap in the grocery stores in September-October), but any tomatoes, including Romas, would probably work okay.  He's found that it normally takes about 2 hours (at 350 degrees) to roast large heirloom tomatoes (cut in half before roasting), much longer than the 25 minutes suggested in the recipe.

Dick added more horseradish, Tobasco and Worcestershire sauce than called for --- start with what the recipe recommends, then add more if it doesn't seem spicy enough for you.

Dick used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth as called for in the recipe.

Sour cream could probably be substituted for creme fraiche.

The red wine that Dick brought today is a blend called "The Duke 8" made by Wellington Vineyards in the Sonoma Valley. Its composition varies a bit from year.  This year's "The Duke 9" is still available (at $8/bottle it's a fantastic red wine bargain), but only at the winery's tasting room (or shipped to you after ordering online), and it will go fast as only a few hundred cases are made.

The rose was a 2010 Toad Hollow Dry Rose of Pinot Noir which you may be able to find at United Market for about $10/bottle.

The white wine was a 2009 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc.  You can probably find the 2010 vintage at Costco for about $11/bottle, far less than the $19/bottle at-the-winery price or the $15.99/bottle price at BevMo.

Latest Hike Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Theresa Fisher during our October 4 Estero Trail hike are now online!

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

To see the photos Theresa took during during last Tuesday's Laguna Trailhead-Bayview hike, click here.

Tennessee Valley "Final Exam" Hike (10/18) Preview

Per Wendy, "this loop [around Tennessee Valley] features panoramic views of the Bay. We often see Condominium spiders, several species of hawks, and sometimes find a bobcat out hunting. 

 

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).

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.

40 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot 9:15 am. Portable toilets at the trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, October 14, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was mostly sunny,with a high near 68.  (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.