Two Free Hikes with Wendy, 4/8/2018 and 4/22/2018

Wendy is offering two free hikes, April 8 and April 22, 2018.
Hike No. 1

Wendy is leading this hike through LandPaths on April 8.  Wendy says: "Don't worry that it says Walter is the leader - he is the docent with the key! The hike is free but you have to register. My former student Lucas Corneliussen will be on hand to catch butterflies and spot birds."  

         
Birds, Butterflies, Hosts & Late Bloomers

Bohemia Ecological Preserve Hike leader: Walter Drucker, Bohemia Ecological Preserve Docent

Join us for a special hike with seasoned naturalist Wendy Dreskin, who will share her vast knowledge and enthusiasm as we explore the birds, butterflies and their habitat on this beautiful 1000 acre preserve. We will stop for lunch during our meander.

Moderate hike with some hills, 3-4 miles.

Hike Details: From the Preserve entrance,we'll need a few people to volunteer the use of their vehicles to drive us up to Hut Hill where the hike will begin. Please come prepared for a hike over moderate terrain with some steep sections, about 3-4 miles. Clink on link for Bohemian Ecological Preserve

When and Where: We will meet at 10am at the Bohemia Ecological Preserve, 6773 Bohemian Highway,j ust past Westminster Woods. From the intersection of Graton Road and Bohemian Highway in Occidental, travel approximately 3 miles north on Bohemian Highway. The Preserve is on the right-hand side (if you are coming from Occidental) & looks like a quarry. Watch for staff or volunteers located at Bohemian Highway to direct you to parking!  

• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver.

• There is one porta-potty on the property (2/3 mile into our hike). There is no potable water available on the property.

• No pets or smoking are permitted and absolutely no smoking pets!

Directions: Take 101 to the Ignacio Blvd. exit. Go west and follow Ignacio Blvd. into the campus. Our hike starts from the athletic field near the police station. Bring money to get a ticket from the parking machines.

Note on Timing: We will do our best to get back to our vehicles by 2:00 pm. However, it is possible we will get back later than intended.  If you have plans directly after this hike that you cannot miss this may not be the outing for you.  Early departures cannot be accommodated.  Thank you for your understanding!

What to bring: Please bring or wear: sturdy boots or shoes, a hat, weather appropriate clothing in layers, picnic lunch/ snacks & water, binoculars, cameras, hiking poles, and sunscreen.  

Details, Details:

We will stay together as a group & leave together.  Early departures cannot be accommodated except in case of medical emergency.

Hike No. 2

Free Earth Day hike with Marin Audubon.

IVC Open Space 
Click for link to Indian Valley Open Space Preserve

Location:Novato

Trip Leader(s): Lucas Corneliussen and Wendy Dreskin

Date: Sunday, April 22  Earth Day

Start Time: 9 AM

End Time: 12:30 PM

Description: IVC Open Space Once part of the Pacheco family dairy ranch, this 653 acre open space was acquired in 1975.  It is mostly oak/bay/madrone woodland with two creeks and a man-made pond. 

We will be looking and listening for spring migrants like Pacific Slope Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, and Orange-Crowned Warblers as well as the spring songs of resident birds.  Wear sturdy hiking shoes and be prepared to hike for several miles. Young birders especially welcome. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, hat and dress in layers.  NOTE: This will be a shorter hike than what we'll do in the spring session of meandering. 

Restrooms at trailhead.  

Bon Tempe Lake - 3/13/18

This is a lovely, level lakeside loop! We could see Ring-necked Ducks, Common Mergansers, American Widgeons, Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, and more. This could also be the week for our first Acmon Blue butterfly!

(Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike. There's also an album of photos taken on past hikes.)

Remember to bring your contribution to our gourmet feast, a plate, cup, and utensils. If it rains, Wendy opens her home so we may have our potluck inside. Her address is 10 East Ct. San Anselmo. 

Directions to her house follow: from Sir Francis Drake eastbound, as you would be if coming from Lake Lagunitas: left on Suffield which becomes Valley if you go straight when Suffield veers right.  Right on Traxler. Right (but not the hard right) on Hillcrest. Left on East Ct.  Don't worry about blocking in other cars as we'll all leave about the same time. 

If you skip the hike and want to come for the potluck here are directions from Sir Francis Drake Blvd westbound: Right on Butterfield. (There is a right turn only lane.) At the first stop sign, left on Rutherford. Hard right on Camino de Herrera. Right on Hillcrest Ct. Left on East Ct.  Don't worry about blocking in other cars as we'll all leave about the same time. 

Click on link for directions.

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.

Click here for the MMWD map and directions. Or click here for a Google Maps map showing the trailhead location; click on the teardrop icon to get driving directions and estimated travel time from your location.

Unless you have an MMWD pass, continue past the old toll booth, pull over at the parking area on the right and pay the day use fee, and then continue driving until you reach the end of the road.

The day use fee is $8.  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.

Time: 30 minutes from College of Marin. Outhouse in parking lot; portables en route

Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:20 a.m. Click here for a Google Maps map showing St. Rita's ("A") and directions and estimated driving time to the trailhead.

We’ll have lunch at the picnic area at Lake Lagunitas so you don’t need to carry the food for the potluck.

Weather forecast:  As of Friday, March 9th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was showers likely. Mostly cloudy with a high near 58. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Hike "C13 Bon Tempe Lake Trail" in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the general area where we will be hiking. However, we'll start and end at trail junction #2 on their map, rather than at Bon Tempe dam. (Click here for an MMWD map that shows this area).

This hike is a little shorter than average at about 3.7 miles, without a great deal of elevation change.

The Google Earth image below shows both lakes in a view looking back towards Fairfax. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

REMINDER-SPRING REGISTRATION BEGINS MONDAY 3/5/18

Spring 2018 is coming!

The Spring 2018 Quarter schedule will be mailed starting Tuesday February 27, 2018.

Registration for the College of Marin Community Education courses, including the Meandering in Marin Spring series, starts on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

Here is the information you'll need to sign up:

EC | Meandering in Marin: Natural History and Hiking

If you enjoy getting exercise, socializing with a congenial group, and learning about birds, flowers, butterflies, and mushrooms, come join the Meanderers. The instructor will send field trip itineraries to enrolled students before the first class.

3251| Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Mondays 9:45am–1:45pm | Apr 2-May 14

3252 | Dreskin | OFF | TBA
7 Tuesdays 9:45am–1:45pm | Apr 3- May 15

$155 | ESCOM $131 per course

Deer Park to Lake Phoenix (3/6/2018)

This is a scenic hike with lunch at Phoenix Lake.  We should see Red Larkspur, Gypsum Spring Beauty, Baby Blue Eyes, and Ground Iris  Maybe we'll hear the first Orange-Crowned Warblers of the season singing their spring song!  (Click here for a recap of our hike in March 2010 or here for photos from past hikes.)

Directions to trailhead:  Go west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Fairfax. As you enter Fairfax, turn left at the gas station, and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater. This puts you on Broadway.

Make the first left onto Bolinas Avenue. Just after it veers left, turn left on Porteous Avenue. Follow it to the parking lot at Deer Park.

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

15 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at St. Rita's Church at 9:30 a.m.

Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast:  As of Thursday, March 1st, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was partly sunny, with a high near 60. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: Presumably we'll follow the same route as in the past. The Martin's Hiking in Marin trail guide does not have a single map and directions for our hike from Deer Park School to Phoenix Lake and back, but you can use the following two maps and hikes from their book to piece together our path:

Start off using the Martin's Hike "C6 - Deer Park Road - Yolanda Trail." Head up the Deer Park Fire Road to Oak Tree Junction, then turn left (to the south) and hike uphill on the Six Points Trail. When you reach the Six Points junction, switch to Hike "C4 - Hidden Meadow - Yolanda Trail" and hike down the Yolanda South Trail to Phoenix Lake.

Using that same hike and map, follow Shaver Grade uphill, and while doing so, refer back to the C6 hike and map to follow the Grade to Five Corners. Continue straight down Deer Park Fire Road to Boy Scout Junction. Cross the fire road and take the Junction Trail back to its intersection with Deer Park Fire Road (just where you turned off onto Six Points Trail when you were headed toward the lake).

Here's a Google Earth view looking from Deer Park over Bald Hill towards Phoenix Lake.

Here's the hike's profile.