Friday, November 30, 2012

Winterim 2012-2013 Hike Descriptions Now Online!

The complete list of Winterim 2012-2013 Hikes (December 18, 2012 - January 22, 2013) are now online!

You'll find the dates and places of those hikes under the "Upcoming Hikes" tab on the Meandering blog.

Click here to view and print the detailed hike descriptions.

Sky Oaks Hike (Dec. 4) 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. We often see a large variety of mushrooms on this hike!"

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).

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, 2013.  (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 Friday, November 30th, the weather forecast for this hike was mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and a high near 67. (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).

Monday, November 26, 2012

Wendy's Guide to Mushrooms

In case you didn't get a copy of Wendy's mushroom identification guide via her recent e-mail, click here to view and download a copy.

Muir Woods Hike (11/20) Photos Now Online!

Photos taken by Dick Jordan during last week's Muir Woods hike in Samuel P. Taylor State Park are now online!

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

The highlight of our mushroom spotting was the Earth Star. Here's Wendy making it go"puff" for us.

(If the video doesn't display in the e-mail you received, click here to view it on the Meandering in Marin YouTube Channel.)