Dick Jordan's Cuba Documentary February Screenings

Save the dates!

Dick Jordan's Cuba, Libre? travel documentary will have two screenings at Marin County locations in February that will be open to the public:

• Saturday, February 13th, 6:30 pm, at the Community Media Center of Marin, 819 "A" Street in San Rafael.
• Friday, February 19th, 7:00 pm, at the Sausalito Public Library, 420 Litho Street in Sausalito.

Blithedale Canyon Loop Hike (2/2) Preview

This week we head to the the eastern side of Southern Marin near Mill Valley.

Here's Wendy's description of the hike:  "A loop with great views of Mt. Tamalpais! Early wildflowers and probably a 9 fern day!" (Click here to read a re-cap of our 2010 hike.  View the online album of photos taken on past hikes on these trails).

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 MapQuest map that shows the parking area near the trailhead. Click on #1 to get driving time and directions from your location.

Time: 30 minutes from the College of Marin.

Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Parking & Ride lot at 9:10 a.m.

 No restrooms at trailhead. 

Weather forecast:  As of Tuesday, January 26th, the National Weather Service forecast for the hike was a chance of showers, partly sunny, with a high near 54. (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 maps of the Marin County Open Space District's Baltimore Canyon Preserve and Blithedale Summit Preserve).

Here's the route we will follow.

Here's the hike profile.

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).

Muir Woods Trail Widening Riles "Locals"

While problems associated with parking at Muir Woods may have been resolved, a plan by the National Park Service to widen and improve the trails leading into the monument from the west has riled local residents.

You can read more about it in today's San Francisco Chronicle.

Bootjack Hike (1/26) Preview

We kickoff the Winter 2016 College of Marin hiking series on the Bootjack Trail on Mount Tamalpais.

The hike description is simple: "A mostly shady trail opens up to an incredible vista at a sunny (we hope!) lunch spot overlooking the ocean!

"We'll take Bootjack Trail to Van Wyk Meadow, TCC Trail to the Dipsea Trail, and the Old Mine Trail back."

Click here for photos taken on past hikes along these trails.

This map shows the route we'll follow.

Here's the hike's profile showing the elevation changes.

 (Click on the Map or Profile to View a Larger Image)

Directions to trailhead: Take the Stinson Beach/Highway 1 exit off Highway 101. Go west through Tam Valley and up onto the ridge. Turn right onto Panoramic Highway and follow signs to Mt. Tamalpais.

As you drive up the mountain, look for the Bootjack picnic area and parking lot ($8/car, if you don't have a state park pass) on your right.

Click here for a MapQuest map that shows the Bootjack parking lot. Click on #1 to get driving directions and times from your location.

If you get to Pantoll at the crest of Panoramic Highway, you've gone too far and need to turn around and drive back down the mountain. (Click here for a map of Mt. Tam that you can view and print out). 

50 minutes from the College of Marin. Carpoolers can meet at the Greenbrae Park & Ride lot at 9:00 am. Restrooms at trailhead.

Weather forecast: As of Wednesday, January 20th, the National Weather Service forecast was Partly sunny, with a high near 48. (Click here for an updated forecast.)