Winter 2017 Tuesday Hike Details Now Online!

The Winter 2017 College of Marin series of hikes kicks off next week!

If you didn't receive or mislaid the detailed hike information Wendy sent out via e-mail, you'll find it online here.

Lake Bon Tempe, Rocky Ridge Hike (1/31) Preview

As far as Dick Jordan (writing from far-flung Eugene, Oregon) can recall, the Tuesday Meanderers have never done this hike in the MMWD Watershed in the past nine years.

Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "After we cross the dam we have about an hour of uphill walking, but we’ll take it slowly admiring the sweeping views of the lakes and checking out the early wildflowers. Lunch by the lake."

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 Sky Oaks Ranger Station. Pull over and park on the right and pay the $8 day-use fee (unless you own an MMWD pass). You can use a credit card, $1, $5, or $10 bills (but not coins or $20 bills) at the automated pay station.

Annual watershed area parking passes for Marin residents are $60 ($30 for those 62 and older). You can buy them online or at the MMWD main office in Corte Madera.

Then continue driving toward Lake Lagunitas. When you reach the right turn marked Lake Bon Tempe, turn right onto a dirt road that takes you to the parking lot by the dam. 

Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the trailhead at the Bon Tempe dam.  Click on the teardrop icon to get directions and driving times from your location.

Portables at trailhead. Time: 25 minutes from COM.

25 minutes from the College of Marin to Deer Park School. Carpool from St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 9:20 a.m.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecast for the day of the hike was a slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast.)

More on this hike: Dick thinks he may have done this hike with his wife and a friend some years back. Unfortunately, he no longer owns a copy of the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, which may or may not have details on the hike.

However, the Hiking Project Website shows a hike that may be the one that Wendy plans to do (although perhaps in the reverse direction).

How to Get to Marin Headlands During Tunnel Closure

As you may know, work is being done on the tunnel that leads from the Sausalito side of Marin to Rodeo Lagoon and the surrounding area of the Marin Headlands.

Here's a map (courtesy of The Marine Mammal Center, where Dick Jordan's wife, Cindy, was a volunteer) that shows how to get to that area until the tunnel is re-open to traffic.

(Dick hasn't seen any marine mammals meandering around Eugene, but knows that they are probably lurking inside of the privately-owned "Sea Lion Caves" just about an hour's drive to the west at Florence, Oregon.)

Sky Oaks to Deer Park “Final Exam” (1/24) Preview

This hike has some short uphill stretches, but much of it is downhill or fairly level. Maybe we’ll see the first milkmaids of the season! (Click here for a recap of the hike we did in October of 2009).

Remember to bring plate, utensils, cups, and a delicious dish to share at the post-hike luncheon.

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!

Directions to trailhead:  Meet at Deer Park School to carpool. Take Bolinas Avenue in Fairfax, turn left on Porteous. (If you see the sign for Deer Park Villa you’ve gone a bit too far on Bolinas Avenue, so turn around, head back toward town, and turn right on Porteous.)

Go to the parking lot at the end of Porteous. (Click here for a Google Maps map showing the location of Deer Park School; click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated driving time from your location.)

Shuttle drivers will take us to the parking area just beyond the Sky Oaks entrance and leave their cars there. They'll leave their food in the cars we'll leave behind at Deer Park School.
 
If you are going to shuttle hikers from Deer Park to Sky Oaks, use one of the two automated pay station machines at the parking area to pay the $8 day use fee unless have an MMWD Watershed pass.
 
You can use a credit card, $1, $5, or $10 bills (but not coins or $20 bills) at the automated pay station.

Annual watershed area parking passes for Marin residents are $60 ($30 for those 62 and older). You can buy them online or at the MMWD main office in Corte Madera.

20 minutes from the College of Marin to Deer Park School. Carpool from St. Rita Church in Fairfax at 9:25 a.m.

Restrooms at Deer Park and portable (hopefully) at Sky Oaks, and porta-potty en route. 

Weather forecast:  As of Tuesday, January 17th, the National Weather Service forecast for the day of the hike was a slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Click here for an updated forecast for the day of the hike..

More on this hike:  The Martins' book, Hiking Marin, does not have a hike that matches this one.  But their hikes "C 12 Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog FR" and "C7 Deer Park FR-Canyon-Six Points" shows the the general area where we will be hiking as does the MMWD watershed trail map.