This is a reminder that the Stanford Outing Club holds its Annual Meeting
(the first meeting of the academic year) this Thursday at 6:30pm at the
Sequoia Room at Tresidder, Stanford.
As usual, we will have a potluck dinner before/during the meeting, so
please bring some food and/or drinks to share. The food should be ready
to serve as we won't have access to neither a stove nor a microwave.
This first weekend of the quarter, we are offering a kind, gentle hike
in Angel Island. If you are really, really out of shape, this should still
only be a moderately taxing hike. Otherwise, it will be a very relaxed
day. Since there aren't many trails on Angel Island, and because there's
so many historic sites to visit, we'll probably have a more leisurely day
than the usual pure hike, i.e.. lots of time for frisbee, lying in the
sun, extended siesta, historical poking around, etc. The views from Angel
Island can be spectacular if the weather cooperates, and the boat ride
should
also be quite scenic. Bring a frisbee or other leisure items if you like,
definitely plan on packing a lunch and plenty of water (2 liters/quarts).
Maybe bring binoculars (and a camera) if you have them.
Be prepared for San Francisco type weather: the boat ride could be windy
and chilly (even if it's a 100 degrees in Stanford) and it could get quite
warm in the island.
"A California State and Wildlife Preserve, Angel Island is perhaps one
of the finest historical sites in the Bay Area, and includes military garrisons
and compounds from every major war, dating back to the U.S. Civil War.
Also known as the Ellis Island of the West, Angel Island's immigration
station was the first stop for millions of Pacific Basin, Asian, and Russian
immigrants entering the U.S. Travel time to Angel Island is generally 40
minutes, depending on intermediate stops."
We will carpool to San Francisco and we will take the 9:30am Blue and
Gold Ferry in Pier 41 to Angel Island. On the Island, we will take a paved
perimeter road that is about 4-5 miles long. Then as we get closer to the
center of the island (which is higher up the mountain), we will take a
hiking trail that leads to the peak. The view from the top is magnificent,
if the weather is clear (unfortunately, there is a not-so-low probability
that it'll be foggy). We should also have time to investigate the historical
sites, for those with any interest.
We will return in the last ferry at 4:40pm. Optional dinner afterwards
in San Francisco.
Anyhow, we will head out to the Tamales Bay Oyster Company (___((at]]___ Tamales
Bay of course) this Sunday for an oyster picnic. It is 1 of 2 in the area
which harvest fresh oysters and while nothing fancy, they have a casual
little picnic area equipped with benches and grills for our use.
Fresh oysters are available for purchase on site. They range from the
baby minis which are best had raw (Right down the hatch!) to the mediums
and larges which are really great grilled with a dash of lemon and tabasco.
Apart from these, bring your own picnic. And if you have fancy oyster
recipes (such as tabasco-vodka-oyster shooters), hint-hint, this would
be a good time to share them. I would strongly recommend being self-sufficient
as there is very little available on site. If you would like to use the
grills, bring some briquets. Oyster shacklers and other eating implements
would be nice too if you have any.
Come along if the idea of spending a Sunday afternoon with wonderful
fresh oysters and wine appeals to you. Contact info for the oyster farm
is below. You might like to call ahead to make reservations for the oysters.
They are usually okay but every once in a while, they sell out their harvest
I would like to leave Bechtel at 9am and get there early because the
picnic area can fill up pretty quick. Time of return flexible.
com) in Santa
Clara for Saturday October 14th. During the 45 minute lesson (from 11 AM
to 11:45) you will learn the basics of belaying (rope work) and movement
in the vertical world of rock climbing. You don't need to have big arms,
just a sense of fun and the willingness to try something new and exciting.
The cost is $29 which includes full equipment rental and a day pass
(normally $16). After the class, you can purchase a special 5 pass for
only $50.
If you have climbed before and do not wish to take a lesson, you are
also welcome to come and meet new people to climb with! You would need
to pass (or has passed) a belay test at the gym, then you can buy a day
pass for $16 and rent equipment for $6.
If you would like to take a lesson, please call Planet Granite BY THURSDAY
AFTERNOON at (408)727-2777 to book a belay lesson at 11 AM. Tell them you
are with the Bill Shapiro group, as I have reserved several spots. You
will be asked for payment information when you call. If you are not able
to reserve a spot or decide to go after Thursday you may still show up
(before 11 AM to increase your chance of getting a spot) and take your
chances on a drop-in belay lesson, which does not require a reservation,
but has a limited number of first-come spaces available.
After the lesson we can go for lunch and return afterwards for more
climbing.
Please e-mail me if you'd like to go, so I have a rough idea of how
many people will be coming. Also, if you want to carpool, please email
me your phone number so I can set it up.
Trip "leader": Bill
Take me to the top!
Oct 14 UCSC Farm Harvest Festival (Mike)
-
Length of Hike: Okay, none again.
-
Meet: On your own...
-
Driving Time: ??.
-
Cost: Bring $3 Admission
Enjoy a day in the UCSC 25-acre Farm with music, workshops, food, produce
sales, and apple juice tasting. The annual Harvest Festival is happening
this Saturday at the UCSC farm from 11am to 5pm. Activities planned for
the day are:
Workshops:
-
Apple Tasting
-
Saving seeds from your garden
-
Garden-fresh cooking
-
Feathered Friends in the home garden
-
Growing California native plants in the garden
Continuous Events: Farm tours, Food and produce sales, Hay rides, Wreath
Sales, Kids and crafts games, life lab gardening activities, display of
rare breed chickens and turkeys, apple juice tasting.
Admission is $3 for general public. Free for kids 12 and under.
Harvest Festival proceeds benefit the public education work of the Friends
of the UCSC Farm and Garden and the Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture,
a six-month training program in organic farming and gardening sponsored
by the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food System, and the
Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden.
For driving directions look in
http://www.ucsc.edu/general_info/maps.html.
Go to the Campus Facilities Parking lot and follow signs.
Sorry, no carpools will be organized from Stanford. If you have any
further questions, call the organizers at (831) 459-3240 or (831) 459-3248.
You can also call Michael Bitsko at (831) 457-8633.
Take me to the top!
Oct 15 Pinnacles (Craig)
More details will be posted a few days before the event.
-
Depart 8:30 a.m. from in front of Bechtel Center, Stanford
-
Driving Time: about 2 hours (?) each way.
-
Return: about 6 p.m.
-
Cost: about $5 ($5 entry fee per vehicle plus gas)
-
Distance: 8.4 miles (moderate to strenuous).
Hike along Juniper Canyon Trail, High Peaks Trail, Old Pinnacles Trail,
Balconies Trail (through balconies caves). see this
link.
Description: The Pinnacles are the remains of a volcanic area, now covered
with chaparral and fantastic geological formations. There are two sets
of caves in the park, the Bear Gulch Caves which are closed at this time
of year, and the Balconies Caves. We will be visiting the latter in our
trip. Note that we will be entering through the more accessible West entrance
to the Park. There is also an east entrance which is _not_ connected through
the Park (so if you start late and try to catch up with us, make sure that
you know where you are going).
What to bring: Clothes for warm and cool weather (Expect the park to
be 10+ degrees F warmer than Stanford, expect the caves to be significantly
cooler), lunch, FLASHLIGHT, lots of water (2 liters), good hiking shoes,
and any other recreational equipment you feel is appropriate (camera, binoculars,
etc.)
Driving directions: Take 101S to 146 East near Soledad Follow 146 (about
20 minutes of slow, windy road) up to Park entrance.
* Trip Leader: Craig Foster,
or (650) 497-3314
Take me to the top!
Oct 20-22 North Lake Tahoe Day Hikes(Marcin) (*)
-
Length of hike: 8-11 miles/hike
-
Elevation gain: 2000 ft/hike
-
Meet: Friday, Oct. 20 at Bechtel. Time TBDL
-
Limit: No limit
-
Cost: $15/person/night
The Whitney hike is off. Between the change in the permit situation and
the unseasonably early arrival of snow, I did not want to chance an unsuccessful
trip. Instead, we're off to do 2 dayhikes in the Tahoe area. I have access
to a large cabin near Sugarbowl, so we can all have hot showers and sleep
in beds. For those of you who are not experienced with hiking in the Sierra,
this is a chance to try it out without any of the risks or travails associated
with backpacking, especially this late in the season.
The plan is to leave Friday afternoon/evening, spend the night at the
cabin and then do a dayhike, probably something in the Anderson peak area.
On Sunday the plan would be to hit the Rubicon trail in the South Tahoe
area, and return to the Bay area from there. The Rubicon trail offers beautiful
views of lake Tahoe and of the peaks and lakes in the Desolation Wilderness.
The cabin belongs to the ski club of which I am a member, and charges non-
members $15/night. There are 45 beds, but you need to bring your own sleeping
bag or blanket or something along those lines. There are full bathroom
facilities, and a kitchen with a fridge, a sink and 2 microwaves. There
is no range.
If you're interested in this trip, drop me a line and tell me whether
you can/want to drive and whether you'd be bringing any friends along.
E-mail me
or call me.
Take me to the top!
Oct 28-29 King's Canyon/Sequoia (Peter) (*)
-
Location: Kings Canyon National Park, Cedar Grove
-
Meet: Friday afternoon, time and location to be decided - but probably
at least on campus and in Mountain View
-
Return: Sunday night
-
Driving Time: approx. 5-6 hours one way, depending on the driver
-
Trip: Car camping with day hiking
-
Why go: It's a beautiful, little visited part of the Sierra. In 2 weeks
the road in will be closed until the early summer... This is my fourth
annual fall visit.
The road to Cedar Grove cuts deep into the Sierra Nevada along the South
Fork of the Kings River, amidst spectacular scenery which we'll see on
the way back on Sunday. We'll day hike from the road end, out of the valley
and along Bubbs Creek towards the bottom of the sheer cliffs of Charlotte
Dome. The hike will be about 12-15 miles depending on the group, with an
elevation gain of about 3,000ft. On Sunday we'll do a shorter hike, to
Lookout Peak or another trail which climbs out of the Kings Canyon, heading
back in the afternoon and maybe even stopping off at Hume Lake for a swim,
but it may be too cold...
I am going to put a cap on the number of people going, but I'm not sure
how many yet - since it depends on the number of drivers, plus how hard
things get at organising. It will be around 20, I'd guess. Priority goes
to Stanford Outing Club officers, plus anyone who wants to stand for President!
Then people who have lead past trips, plus those who never made Marcin's
trip to Tahoe since it was full, and people with cars.
So if you'd like to go, send me your details including :
Your Name.
What time do you prefer to leave.
Where from? Choices are Mountain View or Stanford or maybe east Bay if
people live there.
Are you willing to drive and how many people can your car hold?
Do you have a tent? Can you share?
Phone number if you are a driver (including cell number if you have one)
I'll email out on Tuesday night with the lists, so let me know before
then please. I'll also email drivers more detailed route information etc.
Arturo will be helping with the Stanford car pool.
ciao
p.s. If you ask questions, I'll respond on Monday night
*********
Car Pooling
I'll try to put in contact people that want to leave/return at
the same time. Drivers will be reimbursed from their passengers. We suggest
each person to pay at least $20 to the driver to cover the cost of gas
and usage of the car, depending on the number of passengers etc. The there
is the $10 park entrance fee. IMPORTANT -> There is NO gas in the park,
so fill up before you enter - don't wait until you're at some small village
where the gas station closes at 8pm!
Camping
We will be staying at the Sentinel Campsite in Cedar Grove. I
have not reserved spots, nor prepaid. I will explain in detail how o contact
each other once I know the drivers. If anyone has a Motorola Talkabout
then I'll be on channel 5-9. Each campsite should be responsible for paying
the camp fees (they are cheap). Also it would be better if people could
share tents, so avoid scattering tents all over.
More info
see http://www.nps.gov/seki/
Food
Don't assume anything available, so bring all your food and stove.
There is no group cooking this time. Also bring your favourite beverages
to drink and maybe share. No-one has to worry about driving home :-)
Firewood
Can each car bring one bundle of wood for the fire, please.
What to bring (this is Arturo's list - my comments in parenthesis)
1) Sense of humour!
For the campground:
-
Sleeping Bag, rated at 20 degrees F or lower (It will probably get down
to below freezing at night but should be warm around them campfire)
-
Sleeping Pad (to insulate you from the cold ground)
-
Small Pillow (??? or yout favourite cuddly toy)
-
Clothes (we're not hiking naked and it will be cold at night!)
-
Warm jacket
-
Raincoat - VERY IMPORTANT!!
-
Toiletries (not sure what the shower situation will be like, so bring some
good smelling soap, perfumes etc. ^_^ )
-
Flashlight
-
Money & ID (ID - for the bars???)
-
Mug
-
Plate
-
Utensils
-
Dinner
For the hikes:
-
Hiking boots
-
2 quarts of water (don't need to bring them to the campsite, but bring
some empty bottles)
-
Lunch
-
Snacks
-
Daypack
-
Sunscreen/Sunglasses (hopfully we'll need them)
-
Camera & Film
What if I don't have a sleeping bag or sleeping pad?
You can borrow one from a friend or you can try to rent one at
REDWOOD, look at the Redwood
webpage for details. They will be open at 9pm this Thursday. Another
option (more expensive) is to rent at REI. There are 2 REI store nearby:
-
San Jose: 400 El Paseo de Saratoga Shopping Center Saratoga Avenue
San Jose, (408) 871-8765
-
San Carlos 1119 Industrial Road Suite 1-B San Carlos, (650) 508-2330
REI encourages to make phone reservations in advance. You may need to become
a member of the co-op ($15) to rent there.
Take me to the top!
Oct 29 CANCELED due to rain - Sierra Azul OSP (Benoît)
-
Length of hike: 11.5 miles, 2500' elevation gain.
-
Meeting time: 8 am at Bechtel
-
Driving time: 25 miles / 41 minutes
-
Directions: 280S to 85S to 17S to Alma Bridge Road
-
Rain policy: sleep in if it's pouring.
One note: I remember there being something funky about crossing 17 to get
to the Lexington Reservoir. The exit is that the North end of the reservoir;
if you end up halfway down it, U-turn at the next exit. I remember it being
fairly clear how to get there from 17 N.
We'll start at the second parking lot on Lexington Reservoir;
on the reserve map, this is the one near SA21. Then we'll take the Priest
Rock trail to the Kennedy trail, and finally up the Woods trail to the
peak of Mt. El Sombroso. Lunch there; then double back a bit on the Woods
trail, and turn onto the Limekiln trail all the way back to the road.
I'm not sure what altitude the reservoir is at; from the map,
I guess 499 feet; the peak is at 2999, so this should be moderately strenuous.
About the possibility of rain: call me 650-210-8037 the morning
of. Unless the message says it's canceled, the trip is on.
In order to avoid the usual confusion about how much we drove:
the distance is 50 miles round-trip according to MapQuest, so drivers should
collect a total of $7.50 from their passengers.
Take me to the top!
Nov 4 Purisima Creek Redwoods Hike (Don)
-
WHAT: 7.5 mile hike
-
WHERE: Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
-
WHEN: Saturday, November 4th. 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
-
COST: Free!
-
-
LINKS: Purisima Website
-
BRING: WATER, a bag LUNCH, and a good pair of sturdy shoes.
-
MEET: Bechtel, 9am or Northern Puisima Creek Parking Lot (RSVP above).
A beginner to itermediate 7.5 mile hike with a loss of 1500 feet during
the first half and then an uphill gain of 1500 feet after lunch. We'll
start on a portion of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and should be able to catch
a few glimpses of Half Moon Bay and the ocean. The other parts of the hike
will take us through second growth coastal redwood trees. We'll start at
the North Ridge Trail Head on Sky Line Blvd (Highway 35)and take the Harkins
Ridge Trail to the Whittemore Gulch Trail back to the North Ridge Trail.
Light day hiking boots or good sneakers would do. Dress in layers: shorts,
windpants, windbreaker, light jacket, t-shirt. Judge your comfort level.
It can be cold at the top on Skyline Blvd. Parts of the trail are in the
sun while other parts are in the shade.
DIRECTIONS To Northern Purisima Creek parking lot:
I recommend taking 280 or 101 to 92 as the fastest route. Alternatively
you could drive north along Highway 35 (the parking lot is about 8.5 miles
north of Highway 84), but it's a very windy road and will take you longer
to get there. If you do go that way, make sure you meet us at the NORTH
parking lot. The parking lot has about 20 some parking spots.
From the North or South Bay near 280, take 280 North to
Highway 92 West (towards Half Moon Bay). Make a left onto
Skyline Blvd (Highway 35) heading south, and go 4.5 miles south.
You'll see the Purisima Creek parking lot on your right just past
the Kings Mountain Market.
From the North or South Bay near 101, take 101 North to
Highway 92 West. Make a left onto Skyline Blvd (Highway 35)
heading south and go 4.5 miles. You'll see the Purisima Creek
parking lot on your right just past the Kings Mountain Market.
CONTACT INFO: Don Mitchell
Take me to the top!
Nov 4-5 Bike to Pt. Reyes (Erhhung, Rami)
-
Length of ride: Biking time approximately 6 hours with many breaks along
the way, over a distance of 80km, with total elevation gain of about 800m.
-
Meet: 7AM at the Bechtel Center, Stanford
-
Rain: Rain cancels! However, for those ready for a last minute route change,
we will devise an alternate plan. Read below for more details.
Wait... if you are not a biker, do not delete this message yet. We still
need your help, with generous compensation! Read below for details.
For bikers, this is an auto-free biking trip from Stanford to Point
Reyes (short-cutting the distance to San Francisco on Caltrain), with optional
detour to the top of Mt. Tam. We will camp in Tomales Bay State Park. We
return on Sunday along the scenic PCH, lunch in Sausalito, dessert in Ghirardelli
Square (skip lunch? ;-) then ride on Caltrain to Palo Alto.
Note that I have never cycled this route, so there might be a little
discrepancy between actual numbers and my map readings. You should not
worry though. For those who can comfortably bike up Page Mill or run 10km,
this should be easy. For others, we will not leave you behind and have
as many regroups as necessary.
Non-bikers:
We need your help in transporting our gear from Stanford to Point Reyes
and return it next day. You do not need to even have a car. We will pay
for its rental (you still need a driver's license though!!!)
In exchange, we will compensate you handsomely, including trip expenses
such as car, gas, camping fees, dinner, etc. Please contact me directly
if you are interested, and we can discuss further.
More importantly, this need not be a chore. You will enjoy a relaxing
trip to Point Reyes, one of the most scenic spots along California's coast.
You can invite others to accompany you on the trip, join us for the communal
dinner party on Saturday, and hike in Point Reyes.
Reservation:
Registration is limited to 10, simply because Caltrain can accommodate
few bikes. We do not want to end up in a situation where not everyone can
ride the train because the bike car is full.
To sign up for this trip, email the answers to the questions below to
-
Your name
-
Your phone number
-
Do you have a tent? How many people does it sleep?
-
Describe briefly your biking (or aerobic activity) habits. Again, remember
that we will have frequent regroups. You still need to sustain the ability
to bike 80km.
-
In case of rain in the area, would you consider alternate plans? If so,
please answer the following questions:
-
Can you drive?
-
Do you have a bike rack?
-
How many bikes can you load on or in your car?
-
Can you leave the area on Friday night by 7:00pm?
I will give a fair chance to register for everyone who responds by Sunday,
October 29th, 5:00pm. Excel will randomly select 10 names from the latest
list. I will consider all subsequent requests as first come first serve.
Couples need only to send one application; include both names on it. I
cannot accommodate group reservations; members should register individually.
As usual, past hike leaders will have priority in the signup.
After confirmation, I will ask you to mail me a deposit check for $20.
I will use this amount toward trip expenses: car, gas, dinner on Saturday,
camp-fee, and tents. You are responsible for your own food though.
More information:
Point Reyes National Seashore
Tomales Bay State
Park
For further questions, email either of the trip leaders.
--
Regards, Erhhung and Rami
Take me to the top!
Nov 5 Stanford Foothills (Kwong)
-
WHAT: 3-4 Mile Hike
-
WHERE: Stanford Foothills
-
WHEN: Sunday, November 5th - 3:00pm
-
COST: Free!
-
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: View nightlight of San Francisco and Fremont
-
RAIN POLICY: Bring a raincoat, unless there is a big storm..
-
MEET: Bechtel, 3pm
This leisurely trip is scenic and fun.
Stanford University and the surround communities are now actively
debating the future of the Stanford Foothills. Come enjoy a peaceful
walk around the Foothill loop, the centerpiece of negotiations.
As
the evening approaches, the view of the San Francisco and Fremont
nightlight becomes quite spectacular.
This trip is simple. We shall meet at Bechtel I-Center promptly
at
3:00pm. Then a twenty-minute walk will bring us to the Stanford
Avenue entrance to the Foothill loop. Bring one liter of water
and
wear a jacket to enjoy the evening breeze. A hat and a camera
may be
useful. Eat lunch BEFORE coming to Stanford.
Directions from Bechtel to Stanford Avenue entrance to Foothill loop
can be found here
or:
-
Leave Bechtel on Mayfield Avenue and head out to Campus Drive East.
-
Take a left onto Campus Drive East.
-
Take a right onto Bowdoin Street.
-
Take a right onto Stanford Avenue.
-
Walk down Stanford Avenue to Junipero Serra Boulevard.
-
Enter Foothill loop entrance and hike the full loop.
Take me to the top!
Nov 11 Elkhorn Slough Kayaking & Bird Walk (Erik)
***Reservations: Reservations directly w/ Kayak Connection Required by Wed (see below)
- Duration of kayak: 4 hours
- Length of hike: 2-3 miles
- Elevation gain: minimal
- Meet: 7:30am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford or 9:30 ___((at]]___ Kayak Connection
- Driving: approx. 1.5 hrs min. each way
- Bring: hat, sunscreen, binoculars, windbreaker, lunch, and change of clothes (see below)
- Cost: Kayak rental $30 USD per double kayak + 2.50 per person entrance fee
- Rain Policy: heavy rain/stormy weather cancels the trip
Elkhorn slough is one of 17 estuarine reserves in the US. It is
home to saltwater, freshwater and marshland wildlife. In the fall and
spring, many migrating shore birds and waterfowl are found here.
There are also numerous types of birds that are permanent
residents. Seals and otters spend time resting and playing in the
calm environment of the Slough. This is an excellent paddle for
beginners going in stable double kayaks.
In the fall and winter the Elkhorn Slough virtually vibrates with
birds -- flocks of thousands of sandpipers, dunlins, dowitchers and
other shorebirds. These flocks of birds put on a captivatingly
powerful show of nature as they fly overhead -- diving and turning.
In a kayak, one can view this stunning show in an intimate and
unobtrusive manner.
During this time of the year, the Elkhorn Slough is a dramatic
backdrop for shorebirds on their migratory path. Every bird wintering
here, including the tiny sandpipers, have traveled thousands of
miles to come to the Slough. From 1983 to 1990, the Elkhorn Slough
held the North American record for the highest number of bird
species (116) observed from a fixed point in one day!
We will be arriving at the Kayaking location ___((at]]___ 9:30am, just at low
tide which is a perfect time to see all the birds in the mudflats.
After kayaking we will have lunch, then head over to the Visitor
Center for a short hike around the Slough.
Clothing and Equipment:
Kayak, paddle, life jacket, spray skirt, and paddling jacket
will be provided. It is advisable to dress warmly in layers
for the trip out on the slough. There is always the possibility
that you will get damp from paddling and it is important that
you stay warm. It is not recommended to wear cotton clothing
during the tour because it will hold the moisture next to your
skin and will not insulate you from the cold. Wool or synthetic
materials such as polyester fleece are strongly recommended. A
change of clothes is recommended just in case you decide to
unexpectedly go swimming. For the same reason, knowing how to
swim is a requirement for the trip.
***Reservations****
Please call Kayak Connection directly at 831-724-5692 preferably by
Wednesday and let them know the following:
- You are with the Stanford Outing Club Group for Sat 11th of Nov at 9:30 am
- You want to reserve X spots on a 1 or 2 person kayak. ($30 for the boat on either one, thus comes out to $15 if you get to share.) Kayak connection will track all singles who want to pair up.
- Give them your credit card number to reserve.
We will probably have an optional dinner on the way home.
Directions to Kayak rental location:
http://gate.cruziocom/~kayakcon/KC_Pages/How_To_Find_Us.html
Elkhorn Slough info: http://www.elkhornslough.org/
Take me to the top!
Nov 12 Pt. Reyes (Brigette)
Sun Nov 12: Point Reyes - Limantour Beach and Drakes Estero
----------------------------------------------------
- Length of hike: ~ 12 miles
- Elevation gain: approx. 800 feet
- Meet: 7.30 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford
- Driving: approx. 2 hours each way
- Park URL: http://www.nps.gov/pore/
Hike description:
The hike is going to start at Point Reyes Hill (1336 feet) on Inverness
Ridge, which is supposed to be an "ideal lookout for admiring pretty
scenes
of the esteros, Drake's bay and the ocean". We will descend via Bucklin
Trail and Muddy Hollow Trail to Limantour Beach. After a lunch break at
the
beach we will continue our hike on Estero Trail along the Estero de
Limantour and Drake's estero, a paradise for birdwatchers. Estero Trail
leads past cattle ranch lands, ponds and through a dense stand of
Monterey
Pines. Along the trail there are nearly non-stop views of the estuary,
bay
and ocean. The chance to see some wildlife is according to a guidebook
and
the leader's personal experience excellent. We will end our hike at the
Estero Trailhead and car shuttle back to Point Reyes Hill.
Bring: Sunscreen, warm clothes, lunch, 2 liters of water/drinks and
some
money to reimburse the drivers
Optional dinner stop on the way home.
Take me to the top!
Nov 18 Mt. Tam Traverse (Muir Woods - Mt Tam - Stinson Beach and
back)(Peter)
NPS Site to get you excited...
- Length of hike: ~ 17 miles (This is a long and strenuous hike)
- Elevation gain: approx. 4,000 feet
- Meet: 7.30 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford (sorry its so early
but we need daylight)
- Driving: approx. 1.5 hours each way
The exact length of the hike depends on the weather, the speed of the
group and if I have recovered from my cold :-) If people want to
shorten the hike, then that should be possible - but it would not be
part of the "official" trip. If you do this, then make sure you
purchase a map of the Park and that your driver is with you!
Hike description:
Start at the Muir Woods car park and head up to the east summit of Mt
Tam at 2,571ft (4 miles). Then it's all downhill from there to the
Stinson Beach (7 miles), where those dirty from hiking can go for a
swim
:-) On the way back we'll skirt around the southern slopes of Mt Tam
to
return to the cars in great spirits :-) (6 miles) Bring flashlight
just in case we're running late.
Bring: Sunscreen, warm clothes, raincoat, lunch, 2 liters of
water/drinks and some money to reimburse the drivers / dinner,
head-lamp
or flashlight.
Let me know if you'd like to meet us in the Muir Woods car park, so we
can arrange a meeting time/spot (probably Ranger Station at 9am). If
you have Talkabout walki-talkies, I'll be on channnel 5-9.
Optional dinner stop on the way home.
Take me to the top!
Nov 22-26 Death Valley (Erhhung) (*)
*** Sign-up required - see last section
- Dates: Leaving on Wednesday afternoon
Returning on Sunday evening
- Meet: Bechtel International Center, Stanford
Time to be determined by each carpool
- Driving Time: Non-stop - approximately 9 hours
We will take 2 days to get there, however: drive approximately 5 hours on Wednesday
to Lake Isabella (near Bakersfield) and
camp overnight, then drive the remaining
lag on Thursday
- Lodging: Car camping on 3 campsites with 2 tents on each
- Costs:
Camping - approximately $13 per person
Travel - approximately $55 per person
Food - approximately $5-8 per person
Park Fees - $10 per vehicle
Welcome to a fun-filled Thanksgiving weekend to Death Valley
National Park. Besides hiking through spectacular desert scenery,
this trip will be highlighted by a (potential, depending on crowd)
visit to Miracle Hot Spring on the Kern River and a Thanksgiving
group dinner.
Most visitors drive to Death Valley via Yosemite and Tioga Pass,
but since this is winter time and Tioga Pass is closed, we will
go around the Sierras from the south through Bakersfield.
Day 1 (Wednesday)
We will leave on Wednesday afternoon and drive to the Paradise
Cove Campground near Lake Isabella (on highway 178) where we will
stay the first night (there is a possibility that we will have to
find another site closeby because all sites around Lake Isabella
that take reservations have a 2-day requirement and have already
been booked). Details on exactly where and when to meet will be
determined later.
Day 2 (Thursday)
Since Miracle Hot Spring is right next to Lake Isabella, we will
try to take a dip in the morning before heading to Death Valley
(this hot spring is well known and located next to a campground,
so there may be a lot of visitors, especially on a holiday).
Because the sun sets by 5pm, we need to make good time covering the
remaining lag. Before we check in to the Furnace Creek Campground
where we will stay for the next 3 days and prepare our spectacular
Thanksgiving dinner, we will stop, along the way, at Mosaic Canyon
and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, both near Stovepipe Wells Village in
the middle of the Park.
Mosaic Canyon: 1-3 miles round-trip;
start at 950 ft, total chage of 450 ft
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: 1.5 miles round-trip;
start at 0 ft, total change of 100 ft
My tour book describes Mosaic Canyon as "one of the crown jewels
of Death Valley" and "its gem-like marble walls are considered to
be a 'geologic outdoor museum'." "Mosaic Canyon is far different
from that of other desert canyons. The trail shows off smooth,
water-polished marble from ancient lakebeds as it winds its way
up the narrow, high-walled canyon." "Multicolored rock fragments
that appear to be cemented together are visible in several areas
...it's a gorgeous mix of red, white, black and gray stone."
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are easy to cross, 100-foot tall dunes.
The famouse 700-foot dunes are the Eureka Dunes, which, as much
as I would like to go, is too far from where we will be camping
and requires a high-clearance vehicle to get there, so we will
trade it for a chance to visit several other equally wonderful
attractions. You will definitely want to roll down these dunes
or play some tackle football on the soft sands.
We will aim to get to our campsites by 4pm and get set up before
it gets dark. Afterwards, folks can either take a shower to get
out the sand grains at nearby Furnace Creek Ranch ($2 per person),
or start preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner. I will coordinate
a full vegetarian fare; those that must have a bird please let me
know and we will add a separate fare (anyone who can help me with
food contact me as well).
Day 3 (Friday)
Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral: 2.5 miles round-trip;
start at 150 ft, total change of 400 ft
We will start the day hiking from Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral.
The Golden Canyon Trail is a 2.5-mile interpretive trail "leading
up a flat alluvial fan and displays a colorful array of volcanic
rocks, sand, and gravel. The canyon cliffs exhibit every shade
of gold you can think of--from yellow to orange to apricot." Red
Cathedral is at the end of this trail and has red-colored cliffs.
Gower Gulch Loop & Zabriske Point: 6.4 miles round-trip;
start at 150 ft, total change of 900 ft
After visiting Red Cathedral, we will continue on to the Gower
Gulch Loop from the Golden Canyon Trail, passing Zabriske Point.
Unlike lots of people that drive to Zabriske Point, you will be
proud that you made the trip hiking there, where you will see
spectacular vistas of the surrounding badlands and the Panamint
Mountains. After lunch, we will return to the trailhead through
Gower Gulch.
Natural Bridge Canyon: 1.2 miles round-trip;
start at 500 ft, total change of 450 ft
Badwater Salt Flats: 1 mile round-trip;
start at -280 ft, total change 0 ft
We will finish the day taking a short hike to Natural Bridge
Canyon and the Badwater Salt Flats, which is the lowest point
in the western hemisphere. For dinner, we will try to cook up
another group fare with whatever is left from the day before.
Day 4 (Saturday)
Ubehebe Peak: 6 miles round-trip;
start at 3700 ft, total change of 2100 ft
For those who were hoping to climb the high peaks, this is,
unfortunately, not the season. Telescope Peak, the highest
point in the Park, is probably snow covered, and it will be
difficult to prepare the whole group for ice and snow. Instead,
we will hike a strenuous 6 miles to Ubehebe Peak, where we will
get terrific views of the Grandstand, the Racetrack playa, and
the Saline Valley. We probably won't reach the summit because
getting there requires a "trail-less, hands-and-feet scramble
up to the top."
The Racetrack's Sliding Rocks: 2 miles round-trip;
start at 3700 ft, total change of 0 ft (plus a
little if we climb the Grandstand)
After we descend we will check out the sliding rocks on the
Racetrack. These moving rocks may be Death Valley's greatest
mystery as they move in seemingly random directions and leave
mud tracks behind. Once we cross the mudflats, we will stop
by the Grandstand, which is an ancient mountain peak with its
surrounding basin filled by erosion.
Darwin Falls: 1.8 miles round-trip;
start at 2500 ft, total change of 120 ft
If we have time, we will head to Darwin Falls, which my book
describes as a "must-do desert hike" because a waterfall in
the desert is "a precious thing, a miracle of life in a harsh
world." "You trace the stream's path, and at the back of the
canyon you discover that it drops over a 30-foot high cliff
to form Darwin Falls."
Day 5 (Sunday)
The Bay Area is a long way from Death Valley, so we will have
to pack up and start driving early. With the post-Thanksgiving
weekend traffic, the trip home will certainly be tiresome. We
will plan to meet midway for lunch before everyone head their
own ways.
Gear
Camping:
- Tent (I will coordinate who should bring tents and
perhaps also renting from Redwood since we should
obey the 2-tent per site restriction)
- Sleeping bag (rated down to 20 degrees)
- Sleeping pad
- Pillow
- Warm jacket (nighttime temperatures around this
- time of year gets down to the 40s or even 30s)
- Change of clothes for 4 days
- Toiletries (including supplies for shower)
- Shower slippers
- Bath towel (you'll also need it for the hot spring)
- Bathing suit
- Food for breakfast and lunch and for at least one dinner
(I will try to coordinate group dinners for 2 nights)
- Plate, cup, utensils, and paper towel
- Ziploc bags and extra bags for trash
- Flashlight (and spare batteries)
- Camera (and film) and binoculars
- Money and ID (you might want to bring your checkbook to
pay your driver instead of carrying wads of cash, but
you do need cash for showers, stopover meals, etc.)
- Stove, fuel, and cookware if you have them
- Camping/lawn chair if you have one
- Firewood (each car should bring a medium-sized box)
- Chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, popcorn, etc.
for the campfire. And don't forget good stories and
talent demonstrations
Hiking:
- Sturdy boots
- Shirts and hat (non-cotton shirts recommended)
- Daypack with 2 quarts of water (each hike won't take the
whole day, so bring some containers to put in the car)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- First aid kit (including mole skin) and ibuprofen
- Snacks
If you are missing critical items like a sleeping bag and/or
sleeping pad, you can rent them from Stanford's Redwood Outdoor
Club or from REI.
Sign-up
Please send the following information to me ASAP to reserve
your spot. I will cap the trip to around 20 people (assuming
4 person max per vehicle, 3 campsites allowing 2 cars each).
By Thursday evening I will announce who will be going. I will
give priority to those who have a high-clearance, all-wheel
drive vehicle and to those having a large tent, and then to
past trip leaders.
- Your name
- Contact info: e-mail, phone # and mobile #, if available
- Do you have a car that you're willing to drive for 1000+
miles? If so, what kind?
- Do you have a tent? If so, how big?
- What time do you prefer to leave and from where?
After confirmation, I will ask you to send me a check to
cover the campground reservations (cost depends on the #
of people going). Driving directions will also be sent
at that time.
Erhhung - your fearless trip leader
(who's never been to Death Valley :)
Take me to the top!
Nov 22-26 Anza Borrego State Park (Peter) (*)
I am planning a trip to beautiful Anza Borrego State Park - California's
largest, over the 4 day Thanksgiving holiday, leaving Wed evening
(or Thurs 4am) coming back Sun. The park is about 600,00 acres
and is located about 2 hours east of San Diego.
It is a desert park complete with all the usual desert features
- cactus, rattle snakes etc, plus high mountains, and several
oasis complete with pools and palm trees. We plan on car camping,
except perhaps for the Rabbit Peak ascent.
The plan is to do some sightseeing, mountain biking (optional)
and hiking - including my second attempt on Rabbit Peak which
is 6,640 ft tall and involves a long a strenuous hike (may do
overnight with bivvy).
Here are some links to the park :
http://www.anzaborrego.statepark.org/
http://parks.ca.gov/south/colorado/abdsp622.htm
Let me know if you're interested in coming along, and if you
can drive how many passengers can you take? I'm going to limit
the number of people on the trip that I am organizing - but this
doesn't mean that you can't come, just that you have to do your
own organizing :-)
I'll send out a follow up email next week. This is a joint trip
with the Confused Club (another bay area hiking club)
ciao
Peter
Take me to the top!
Nov 25 - Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve (Jonathan)
- Length of hike: 11.5 miles, 2500' elevation gain.
- Meeting time: 9 am at Bechtel
- Driving time: 25 miles / 41 minutes
- Directions: 280S to 85S to 17S to Alma Bridge Road
- Rain policy: Sleep in if it's pouring. Will probably go if
it's just drizzling.
- Bring: Lunch, Water (2L+), Layers
For those wanting to hike off some of that turkey, join me for a hike
in Sierra Azul, which Benoît was going to lead last month, but was
rained out.
Here's Benoît's description:
One note: I remember there being something funky about crossing 17 to get
to the Lexington Reservoir. The exit is that the North end of the reservoir;
if you end up halfway down it, U-turn at the next exit. I remember it being
fairly clear how to get there from 17 N.
We'll start at the second parking lot on Lexington Reservoir;
on the reserve map, this is the one near SA21. Then we'll take the Priest
Rock trail to the Kennedy trail, and finally up the Woods trail to the
peak of Mt. El Sombroso. Lunch there; then double back a bit on the Woods
trail, and turn onto the Limekiln trail all the way back to the road.
I'm not sure what altitude the reservoir is at; from the map,
I guess 499 feet; the peak is at 2999, so this should be moderately strenuous.
About the possibility of rain: call me 650-497-9797 the morning
of.
In order to avoid the usual confusion about how much we drove:
the distance is 50 miles round-trip according to MapQuest, so drivers should
collect a total of $7.50 from their passengers.
Take me to the top!
Dec 2-3 Sykes Hot Springs (Marcin) (*)
- Length of Hike: ~10 miles each way
- Elevation Gain: 2000-2500 feet
- Meet: 7am on Dec. 2 at the Bechtel I-Center
- Driving time: approx. 2 hours each way
- Limit: 12 people
The Sykes Hot Springs are situated in Big Sur, the beatiful and wild
coastal
range south of Monterey. We will hike in along the Big Sur river. The
goal
is to find (and enjoy) the hot springs at what is hopefully a time when
they
are not too heavily mobbed. We will spend a night near the hot springs
by a
campfire before we head back the next morning. We should be back in the
Bay
Area by early Sunday evening.
You'll need the standard overnight gear: sleeping bag and pad, warm
clothes,
food... we will also need some tents (it may rain) and some stoves, so
let me
know if you have either. Also let me know if you're willing to drive and
how
many your car can seat.
Note: rain cancels the hike. I'll monitor weather reports and send out
updates.
Take me to the top!
Dec 9 Henry Coe (Johnny)
- Time: Sat. 12/9 8:00 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford
(Car pools will leave promptly - so please be on time.)
- Driving time: 1h 15' (each way)
- Distance: 12+ miles
- Elevation gain: 2550 feet
- Park URL: http://www.coepark.parks.ca.gov/
- Rain Policy: rain doesn't cancel the hike
- Optional dinner on the way back.
Join us in exploring the Southeast region of Henry Coe State Park.
Henry Coe is the largest state park in Northern California, with
89,000 acres and 200 miles of trails. The park has a terrain that is
very rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep
canyons.
The hike will start at the Hunting Hollow entrance (870ft).
We'll first head South-East, following a tributary of the Coyote
Creek in a gentle uphill through the serene Hunting Hollow. Close to
the head of the creek, we turn North and start climbing uphill to the
Phegley Ridge (at 1950ft). From ridge, depending on the condition of
the group, we either head towards Willson Ranch or take a slight
detour to take on the Vasquez (2210ft) and Rock Springs (2300ft)
peaks. We will then continue towards the highest point in our hike,
Willson Peak (2651ft). From Willson Peak, we head South-West, in a
relatively steep downhill, to return to our cars. The hike will be
12+ mi with a total elevation gain of 2550ft.
Bring the usual hiking gear (warm jacket, boots, hats, sun-screens,
etc.) and some money to pay your driver/park entrance/dinner.
Long pants are recommended as ticks are common in this area. You
should also bring a working flashlight, lunch, and lots of energy-rich
snacks since this could be a long day. Also, bring enough water for
the whole day as there is no reliable water supply on the trail
(nor the trailhead).
Take me to the top!
Dec 16-17 20/20 Backpacking Trip CANCELED
Sorry, this trip has been canceled.
Take me to the top!
