August Meandering Hike Lists Now On-Line!

For a complete list of all upcoming Tuesday Meandering during the month of August, click here. Monday Meanders are listed separately; click here to view and print that list. (Wendy should have e-mailed this information to you near the end of July).

On the right side of the blog you'll find all of the Tuesday August hikes listed in date order (first to last). But unlike in the past, you won't be able to click on each hike to get the details. Instead, either print and keep the list of all hikes, or look for Dick's "preview" during the week before the hike.

Registration for the Fall College of Marin "Meandering" hiking series (sign up separately for Part 1 and Part 2) open on Monday, August 3rd. (We'll have the list of those hikes posted in the near future).

Samuel P. Taylor Area Scouting Hike (August 11) Preview

After spending most of the summer hiking out near Point Reyes, we move inland this week and hike near Samuel P. Taylor State Park. This is a "scouting" hike, so there is no fee (but also no guarantee that we won't get lost!), but also a SHUTTLE HIKE, so call or e-mail Wendy to let her know if you do plan to come.

Here's Wendy's description of the hike: "This hike is a little longer than usual at around 7 miles, but has only 600' elevation gain. As usual for a scouting hike, I don't guarantee to get us back on time, so don't plan your schedule tightly!"

Directions to trailhead: Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita at 9:25 am. Otherwise, meet 0.2 miles west past the Shafter Bridge (and Cronin Fish Viewing Area parking lot which is closed this time of year) in Samuel P. Taylor State Park. There is some parking along the road here. We'll leave some cars and carpool to Buckeye Circle in Woodacre.

For shuttle drivers, here are directions to Buckeye Circle: Go east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Turn right on Railroad Avenue, right on Carson Road, left on Redwood Drive. This ends at Buckeye Circle. Go right to start the loop. There are few parking places. Park anywhere legal that you can find! Fire road is on the right as you head uphill on Buckeye Circle. (See Google Map below).


View Larger Map

No restrooms at trailhead or parking areas. (Closest restroom would well to the west at the main entrance to Samuel P. Taylor State Park).

Weather forecast: As of Sunday, August 9th, the weather forecast for the Forest Knolls area on Tuesday, August 11th was sunny, with a high near 91. South southwest wind between 3 and 6 mph. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: On this outing we'll be hiking through the County of Marin's Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve. After starting up the Summit Drive Fire Road, we'll cross the edge of White's Hill, then head west along the San Geronimo Ridge Fire Road. (Click here for the MCOS District map which shows these trails). Barry Spitz' book, Open Spaces: Lands of the Marin County Open Space District, discusses this area.

The following Google Earth image shows the area we'll be hiking through; click on it to open a larger image in your Web browser:

Fly Me to Jupiter Now!

Around 10 PM, look up into the eastern sky and you'll see the Moon. To its right, you'll find what looks like a very bright star: It's Jupiter. Point a spotting scope (or maybe even binoculars) at it and you'll see four of Jupiter's 63 brightest moons in a line (plane), two on either side. In about a week, the planet will make it's closet approach of the year to Earth. (Dick Jordan got a very clear view of Jupiter on Thursday, less so on Friday evening when skies didn't seem quite as clear).

URGENT! Vote for Theresa's Photo in the WGNAmerica Photo Contest Now!

Theresa Fisher of the Tuesday "Meanderers" and a frequent contributor to our on-line album of hike pictures, has submitted 2 photos to the WGNAmerica Photo Contest. Her first photo was submitted last week during week 6 of the contest. This week, week 7, she was excited to see that her picture, a panoramic shot of the sunrise over Monument Valley, was one of the "Top 12 Entries." If hers is the top vote-getting shot, she'll win a camera. Neither the photographer nor the location is identified on 12 photos shown on the WGNAmerica "My America" Web site, but Theresa's photo is the very last one you'll see. So click here to cast your vote in her favor.