Fall Hike Details Now Online!

Click here to view and print the details for all of the Fall 1 & Fall 2 Tuesday hikes if you didn't receive Wendy's e-mail with that information.

You will also find a link to those details on the "Upcoming Hikes" page of the Meandering blog.

Remember that registration for both series of hikes begins Monday, August 4th!

Sky Trail to Bear Valley Hike (8/5) Preview

We return to Point Reyes National Seashore on Tuesday for our first hike of August.

The trail is about 7.3 miles long, but a lot of it is fairly level, so the hike is a bit easier than the distance implies.  

This is a shuttle hike, so CALL WENDY AT 457-3949 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 MapQuest map showing the Bear Valley meeting location; click on "Get Directions" at the top left side of the map and enter your location to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location.)

When we get to Mt. Wittenberg we’ll go down Old Pine to the Bear Valley Trail.

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.

(Click here for a MapQuest map showing St. Rita's, and directions and estimated driving time to the trailhead from there.) 

Weather forecast: As of Thursday afternoon, July 31st, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 70.  (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:

Register for Fall Hikes Monday, August 4th!

Summer isn't quite over and Wendy will be leading more hikes in August.

But on this coming Monday, August 4th, registration opens for both the Fall 1 and Fall 2 series of hikes offered through the College of Marin Community Education program.

Here are the course numbers:

Tuesday Hikes

FALL 1 -  CRN #85200

FALL 2  - CRN #85201

(If you can't make it on Tuesdays this Fall, sign up for the Monday hikes.)

Monday Hikes

FALL 1 - CRN #85198

FALL 2 - CRN #85199

Tomales Bay State Park "Final Exam" Hike (July 29) Preview

It's the end of the first half of "summer school" this coming week when we return to Tomales Bay State Park for our hike.

Here's Wendy's description of the outing: "Bishop pine forest, beach, and a favorite scenic picnic spot over-looking Tomales Bay. 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.

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

Driving time one hour from College of Marin. Restrooms before lunch.

Carpool leaves St. Rita at 9:00 am.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, July 24, 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: "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).