Rock Spring, Mount Tamalpais, Final Exam May 15, 2018

As we do each year, we'll wrap up the Spring College of Marin hiking series with this Mount Tamalpais State Park hike. (Click here for a recap of our 2010 hike.  View photos from past hikes in the online album).

Here's Wendy's outline for the hike: "We should see Coral Roots (a native orchid), Meadow Rue, and Golden Banners on this mostly shady loop hike."

"Bring a plate and utensils, and food to share for the Gourmet Final!"

Directions to trailhead: Go south on Highway 101 to the Mill Valley Exit, East Blithdale. Turn left on Camino Alto (use the left turn only lane). Turn right on Miller Ave. Turn left on Montford. (The 2AM Club is the landmark.) Turn right on Molino. There is a yellow dividing line on the road so if in doubt "follow the yellow line road".  Moline becomes Edgewood, which becomes Sequoia Valley Road. At the large intersection at the top, turn right onto Panoramic Highway. At the intersection for the Pantoll Ranger Station, the road divides. Turn right onto Pantoll and keep heading uphill for about one mile. You'll come to an intersection with Ridgecrest Blvd. You'll be facing a dirt parking lot which is Rock Spring. Park here. (Click here for a map showing the parking area at the trailhead.   Click on the teardrop icon or click on "Directions" on the left-hand side of the screen to get  driving time and directions from your location.)

Driving time from College of Marin 55 minutes.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park and Ride lot at 9:10 a.m. (Click here for a map showing the parking lot on Drakes Landing Road; right click on the teardrop icon to get driving time and directions from your location.)

There is an outhouse at trailhead and mid-way.

Weather forecast: As of Friday, May 11th, the National Weather Service forecast for the area around Rock Spring on Mt. Tam was mostly sunny, with a high near 57. (Click here for an updated forecast).

More on this hike: The "B17 Simmons - Potrero - Arturo Trails" hike in the Martins' book, Hiking Marin, shows the trails that we'll be hiking on, although we'll probably follow a different route (Simmons to Benstein to Potrero Meadows to Laurel Dell and back up the Cataract Trail to Rock Spring). Page 6 of the state park brochure has a trail map that shows the area.

Here's the hike profile and route we'll follow.

The Google Earth image below shows were we'll be on the mountain. (Click on the photo to open a larger image in your Web browser).

Error Correction - Registration begins May 14, 2018

Registration opens at 9 AM on Monday, May 14, 2018 - not May 7th.

Thanks to Barbara for catching the error.

HIKES BETWEEN SPRING AND SUMMER SESSIONS

Wendy's Summer Schedule is as follows:

Monday, May 21, the Muddy Hollow Loop.  

     

Wendy says:
This is a lovely loop with views of Limantour Estero. We often see Tule Elk on this hike (sometimes even calves!), and there is a chance of the endangered Myrtle’s Silverspot butterfly. 

     Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to Olema. Turn right on Rt.1, then make an immediate left onto Bear Valley Rd. Continue past Park Headquarters (turn in if you need a restroom) and go left on Limantour Rd. Turn right for the parking lot at Muddy Hollow. (Youth Hostel is to the left.) Carpool leaves St. Rita at 8:55. Note: this hike is longer than a usual meander, about 7 miles, so we could get back late. (Some years we've been on time and some years as much as an hour late.) 

Tuesday, May 22  Angel Island 

We'll take the 10 AM ferry over. Allow time to park and don't miss the boat! We'll go to the top of Mt. Livermore and take the 3:30 ferry which arrives back in Tiburon about 3:45. Angel Island is often good for butterflies like Anise Swallowtails, Western Tiger Swallowtails, California Sisters, and Pipevine Swallowtails. Bring $15.00 ($14 for seniors) in cash for ferry and park entrance. NOTE LATE ENDING TIME!

     
Restrooms at ferry in Tiburon and on Angel Island. Carpool from Greenbrae Park and Ride at 9:10.

Natalie will be in touch to see if people want to hike on May 29, June 4 and June 5.  Wendy will be getting ready for the safari. 

SUMMER SESSION INFO

Over the summer Monday Meanders will be through College of Marin.  The summer session is 6 weeks long, from June 11 to July 16.  Wendy will be doing June 11, July 9 and July 16.  Natalie Clark will be doing the other three weeks while Wendy is leading the safari in Tanzania.  

Registration is on Monday, May 7.  Wendy says that for this spring session the Monday class filled up at 9:07 a.m. so it's best to register early.

Class Information:

Course/Class Number: 9395b/3388

Staff Phone: 415-485-9305

Wendy will be doing private Tuesday hikes when she is in town. Natalie will be offering some private Tuesday hikes while Wendy is away.  These will be by the hike so you don't need to sign up for a session. 

KENT PUMP ROAD (5/8/2018)

Here's Wendy's description of this outing: "While I know we all like loops, I was so excited about osprey nests last spring when I took this hike that I decided to add it to our itinerary. Kent Lake is the largest of the MMWD reservoirs. The first Osprey nest was found at Kent Lake in 1967 when ospreys had been so decimated by DDT it was a big deal to see one. The first bald eagle nested there in 2008. In 2017 there were about eighteen active nests. We’ll hike as far as the first few nests."

Directions to trailhead: 

Take the Fairfax-Bolinas Road to the Alpine Dam. Parking is limited, so carpool if possible. Park when you see the dam ahead (first choice), or cross the dam and turn around so you can park on the other side and walk back across the dam. Click for Alpine Dam

Time: 35 minutes from College of Marin. 
No restrooms at trailhead.

Note from Wendy:

Parking is very limited, so if you have room in your car, please meet at the Parkade in Fairfax to carpool at 9:15.  Unless you are driving via Route 1, everyone will have to pass through Fairfax.  

https://www.waze.com/directions/united-states/fairfax/fairfax-parkade/155582844.1555893975.3485720.html

Weather forecast: As of Thursday, May 3rd, the National Weather Service forecast for this hike was mostly sunny with a high near 75. (Click here for an updated forecast).