Hike Cancelled for Tuesday, Oct 10 and rescheduled for Oct 17

College of Marin has cancelled the hike scheduled for tomorrow.

This was the announcement:
 
"Your class originally scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 10 has been cancelled due to air quality concerns.
This class has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct 17.
 
Best,
Community Education"

Fall 2 2017 Hike Schedule

Fall 2 2017 Hike Schedule

FALL 2 TUESDAYS

Please note that receiving this itinerary does not mean the class is definitely a go.  We still need three more people to enroll.  If you have a friend who would like to Meander with you, please invite them to join the class!  

FALL 2  TUESDAYS INSTRUCTOR:  Wendy Dreskin TIME: 9:45 AM until 1:45 PM     

WHAT TO BRING:  Water, lunch, warm layer, hat, sunscreen. Optional equipment: hiking poles, binoculars. Walks go rain or shine, so wear raingear when appropriate. State park pass or $8 cash for parking at East Peak. MMWD pass or credit card for parking at Lake Lagunitas.     

OCTOBER 24 EAST PEAK, MOUNT TAMALPAIS STATE PARK      This lovely loop takes us by California torreya trees with their nutmeg-like nuts, past scenic Inspiration Point, to beautiful Collier Springs where we lunch under the redwoods. We’ll take Northside Trail to International Trail after lunch.     Take the Stinson Beach/Hway 1 exit off Hway 101. Go west through Tam Valley and up onto the ridge. Turn right onto Panoramic Hway and follow signs to Mt. Tamalpais.  Keep going up the Mountain, turn right at Rock Spring, and keep going until the road ends at the East Peak parking lot. Restrooms at trailhead. 1 hour from COM.   

OCTOBER 31  TENNESSEE VALLEY, GGNRA This loop features panoramic views of the Bay. You’ll appreciate the fact that it’s open space as you learn about Marincello, a city of 18,000 that was planned for this area! We may see hawks like the Northern harrier, brush rabbits, and even a coyote.      Take the Stinson Beach exit from 101.  Follow signs to Stinson Beach and Muir Woods, then turn left on Tennessee Valley Road and take it to the parking lot at the end.      Time: 40 minutes from College of Marin. Portables at trailhead.      

NOVEMBER 7  INDIAN TREE OPEN SPACE       We hike pretty loop  trail with views and a grove of old redwoods that escaped logging. If there has been rain you may want boots for this hike, or be prepared to rock hop a few streams.      Take 101 north.  Exit at DeLong Ave, which becomes Diablo Ave for a short stretch.  Go west on Novato Blvd.  Turn left (south) on Wilson Ave, right (west) on Vineyard Ave. The trail starts where the paved road turns into a dirt road.  35 minutes from College of Marin.                    

NOVEMBER 14  DIPSEA TO BEN JOHNSON       Instead of racing up the Dipsea, we’ll stop to admire ancient redwoods, beautiful views, and - I hope! - early mushrooms!      From Hwy 101 take the Stinson Beach exit, turn left (west) on Shoreline Hwy, right on Panoramic Hwy and left on Muir Woods Rd. Meet at Muir Woods Parking Lot #2.               Time:  35 minutes from College of Marin. Restrooms at trailhead.      

NOVEMBER 21 BAHIA OPEN SPACE, NOVATO       This is a wonderful birding area! I’ll bring a spotting scope, but bring binoculars if you have them.  (If you don’t have any, I have extras I can loan you.)  We usually see at least eight species of ducks, as well as swans, grebes, and shorebirds.      Take 101 and exit on Atherton Ave. in Novato. Go east, until Bugia splits left and Atherton goes right. Take Bugia, which becomes Bahia and park at the end of the street.      Driving time from College of Marin: 35 minutes. No restrooms.    

NOVEMBER 28  SKY OAKS, MMWD      This loop starts out in oak/bay/madrone habitat, but we'll also see redwoods and some grassland.  This is a good mushroom hike with Boletes, Amanitas, Waxy Caps, Milky Caps and more if we've had some rain.        Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. into Fairfax.  Turn left on Pacheco and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater which puts you on Broadway.  The first left puts you on Bolinas Ave.  Follow this until you see the sign on your left for Lake Bon Tempe and Lake Lagunitas. Follow the road to the tollbooth by Sky Oaks Ranger Station.  (Credit card accepted by the machine.)       Time: 25 minutes from College of Marin.    

DECEMBER 5  FINAL EXAM LAKE LAGUNITAS, MMWD           We make a partial circle around the lake, looking for Ring-Neck Ducks, Mergansers, Grebes and other birds, and then make a loop past Pilot Knob, returning on Southern Marin Line. We usually see newts and some interesting mushrooms on this hike. Bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, plus a plate, utensils, and a cup.       As you enter Fairfax on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. jog left on Pacheco when you see the movie theater and make an immediate right.  This puts you on Broadway, the street that parallels SF Drake but is on the other side of the parkade. Make the first left which is Bolinas Ave. Follow the Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. for about 1 mile. Turn left onto Sky Oaks Rd. You'll need to pay at the kiosk. (Credit cards accepted.) Continue to the parking lot at the end of the road.      Driving time from College of Marin 30 minutes. Outhouse in parking lot.           
------------ 
You received this e-mail because you are taking a class taught by Wendy Dreskin at College of Marin Community Education. College of Marin Community Education respects your privacy, and does not send unsolicited e-mails, nor do we rent or sell our mailing list to anyone.
To ensure that future messages from us are delivered properly to your inbox (and not your bulk or junk mail folders), add bdreskin@comcast.net to your Address Book or Safe List.

Tennessee Valley "Final Exam" Hike (10/10/17)

Per Wendy, "this loop [around Tennessee Valley] features panoramic views of the Bay. We often see Condominium spiders, several species of hawks, and sometimes find a bobcat hunting."

REMEMBER TO BRING PLATE, UTENSILS, AND SOMETHING TO SHARE FOR THE GOURMET FINAL EXAM! (Let’s think green and try to cut down on paper and plastic throw-aways as much as possible). We’ll leave the food in the cars and eat when we get back, but bring your water bottle. 

(Click here for a recap of our October 2008 hike. Here's an album of photos from past hikes in this area.).

Directions to trailhead: Take the Stinson Beach exit from Highway 101. Follow signs to Stinson Beach and Muir Woods, then turn left on Tennessee Valley Road and take it to the parking lot at the end.

(Click here for a Google Maps map showing the trailhead. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

40 minutes from College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot 9:15 am. (Click here for a Google Maps map showing the parking lot on Drakes Landing Road; right click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

Portable toilets at the trailhead and lunch.

Weather forecast: As of Saturday, October 7th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was sunny, with a high near 72.  (Click here for an updated forecast)..

More information on this hike: Hike A8 Miwok – Coyote Ridge – Coastal Trails in the Martin's book, Hiking Marin, shows our route from Tennessee Valley towards Mill Valley, westward to ocean views, then back east to the parking lot.

Here's the route we'll follow.

Here's the hike profile.

Estero Trail, Pt Reyes National Seashore (10/3/17)

This is not a loop hike, but there are marvelous views!

(Click here for a brief recap of our July 13, 2010 hike. Here's the album of photos taken during our past hikes in this area.).

Directions to trailhead:

Turn right at Olema and make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Road. (Use the restrooms at the park's Visitor Center in Bear Valley if you do not want to wait until you reach those at the trailhead). Continue until you pick up Sir Francis Drake again.

Go through Inverness and head uphill.

When you reach the turn off to the right onto Pierce Point Road, bear to the left and continue on Sir France Drake toward Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse.  Pass Mt. Vision Road on your left, and then in one mile turn left onto the road to Estero Trail.

Take this road to the parking lot at the trailhead. Click here for a Google Maps map that shows the parking lot. Click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.

Time: 1 hour from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's at 8:55 am.  Outhouse at the trailhead. (Pull into the Bear Valley Visitors Center area if you need an earlier restroom stop.)

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, September 28th, the weather forecast for the hike was mostly

sunny, with a high near 68.  (Click here for an updated forecast.) 

More on this hike: "Hike G11 Estero - Drakes Head Trails" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows where we'll be hiking, although not necessarily our exact route.

Two hikes ("Estero Trail to Sunset Beach" and "Estero Trail to Drakes Head" in Tracy Salcedo-Chourre's book, Exploring Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area also cover this area).

The trails are also shown on the park's North District Hiking Trails map.

This Google Earth image gives a bird's eye view of this part of the park with the route we'll follow and the trail length and profile information. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).