Sky Oaks Hike (Nov. 17) Hike Photos Now On-Line

You can access Theresa Fisher's photos from Tuesday's Sky Oaks hike by clicking here.

Bear Valley Hike (November 24) Preview

Although we often hike out at Point Reyes National Seashore during the summer, this week we'll make a pre-Thanksgiving trip out to the park (perhaps during a little wild turkey hunting along the way in the San Geronimo Valley?).  Here' Wendy's description of the hike:  "Bear Valley is home to one of the largest acorn woodpecker colonies in California! We'll go to Kule Loklo to see the reconstructed Miwok Village, stop by the Morgan Horse Ranch, then take Woodpecker trail to Bear Valley Trail to walk where in the 1880s visitors could take an excursion by wagon 'for miles and miles through a tree canopied glen, banked with ferns.' Lunch at Divide Meadow."

Directions to trailhead:  Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard west through and beyond Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. From Bear Valley Road. turn left to the Visitor's Center. We'll hike out Bear Valley Trail and have lunch at Divide Meadow.

Time: 50 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead, portable en route.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, November 19, the forecast for Tuesday's hike was mostly sunny with a high near 63. Click here for an updated forecast from the National Weather Service).

More on this hike:  Hikes F1 (Bear Valley Interpretive Trails) and F2 (Bear Valley - Meadow - Horse Trails) in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, and the Bear Valley Trail to Divide Meadow hike in Tracy Salcedo-Chourrre's Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area show the general area where we'll be hiking.  The Seashore's Bear Valley map shows the Kule Loklo and Woodpecker trails, and the park's South District Hiking map has the Bear Valley to Divide Meadow trail.

What's In Store, Weather-Wise, for This Winter?

Our October rains seem to foretell a wet winter, but it's been very dry since then.  How much rain will we get this year?  Will there be a big snowpack in the Sierra?  Is the drought over?  Check out Tom Stienstra's long-range winter forecast which appeared in the Sunday, November 15, San Francisco Chronicle.

Sky Oaks Hike (Nov. 17) 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. If we've gotten some rain we should see mushroom including sulfur tufts, jack-o-lanterns, grisettes, Zeller's boletes, and manzanita boletes."  (Click here to read about our last hike in this general area on October24,  2008).

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. (Click here for the MMWD map and directions).

The day use fee is $7.  You can use $1, $5, or $10 bills and coins at the automated pay station, or a Visa or Mastercard. Annual entrance passes are normally $50 ($25 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, 2010.  (As Dick recalls, 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.

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, the weather forecast for this hike was partly cloudy with a high near 65 and a chance of showers. (Click here for an updated National Weather service forecast).

More on this hike: Hike C12 (Taylor-Concrete Pipe-Bullfrog Fire Road) 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).