Ed Wayburn, Protector of Parks, Dies at Age 103

Former Sierra Club President Edgar Wayburn of San Francisco, a prime mover in the establishment of the Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, passed away on Friday, March 5th at age 103.  Dick Jordan (who met Ed on several occasions) learned of his death from their mutual friend, Amy Meyer, who helped Ed and the late Congressman Phil Burton of San Francisco give birth to the GGNRA.  (Amy is the author of the book New Guardians For The Golden Gate which chronicles the park's history; Dick gets a brief mention in the book for his work with Ed and Amy's citizen group, People For A Golden Gate National Recreation Area).

Rembering Silvia Lange: March 21st on Angel Island

As you know from Wendy's e-mail of Monday, March 1st, a Celebration of The Life of Silvia Lange will be held at Angel Island State Park on Sunday, March 21st. (Details, including the exact time, will follow).

In the meantime, Wendy asked Dick Jordan to pass along this tribute to Silvia which Michael Colbruno posted to the "Lives of The Dead:  Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland" blog.

Blithedale Canyon Loop in Mill Valley Hike (3/9) Preview

A loop with great views of Mt. Tamalpais! We should see the beautiful mist maidens, mission bells, and huckleberry and tree poppies in bloom. Probably a 9 fern day!

Directions to trailhead: Take East Blithedale exit from Highway 101. Where you cross Throckmorton it becomes West Blithedale. Go 0.9 miles and look for parking at Marsh Drive and West Blithedale on both the left and the right sides of the street. (Click here for a map and driving directions). Time: 30 minutes from COM. (Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Parking & Ride lot around 9:15-9:20 am). No restrooms at trailhead. 

Weather forecast:  As of Friday, March 5th, the National Weather Service forecast for Tuesday's hike was partly sunny with a high near 57.  (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "B1 Blithedale Ridge - Corte Madera Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the area we will be hiking in although our route may differ slightly from the one they set out for their hike. (This area is also shown on the map of the Marin County Open Space District's Baltimore Canyon Preserve and Blithedale Summit Preserve).   

This Google Earth image shows Marsh Drive and West Blithedale Avenue in Mill Valley where we'll meet to start our hike. We'll head up to the ridge at the top of the picture (which looks east over Corte Madera and Larkspur to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge), hike along it, then double back to our starting point. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

MALT Spring Hikes & Tours Begin on March 26

The Marin Agricultural Land Trust will kick off its annual Hikes & Tours program on March 26th at the Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma and a "Wildflowers & Vineyards" walk the next day.

Events through mid-June are now posted on MALT's Web site; click here for more information.