Fall 2002 Calendar

September 26 (Thurs): Fall Quarter Potluck!!!

The tentative agenda for this meeting is as follows:

1. Food and introductions
2. Trip planning

New prospective "members" are welcome to come and learn about the club. For more information, including directions to Bechtel, see our web pages at http://www.stanford.edu/group/outing/

Craig

Take me to the top!

Sept 28 (Sat): Angel Island (Craig)

• Length of hike: 5 mi (easy)
• Elevation Change: 100 feet
• Meet: 8:15 at the Bechtel Center, Stanford
• Driving time: approx. 1 hour each way
• Cost: $10.50 (for ferry and park entrance fee). Plan also for carpool
• cost ($4-$5), parking ($0-$3) and optional dinner ($12-$15).
• Directions:
  Take 280 North to Highway 101 North, following signs to the Bay Bridge.
  Take the 4th Street exit and turn left on Bryant Street.
  Follow Bryant to The Embarcadero.
  Turn left on The Embarcadero and go just over a mile to PIER 39.
  Blue & Gold Fleet is just west of PIER 39.

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 sitesto 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. Bring warm layers.

The "official" Description: (from the ferry company)
"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."

Trip description:
We will carpool to San Francisco and we will take the 9:45am 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. We should also have time to investigate the historical sites, and beach lounging if the weather is good.

We will return in the last ferry at 4:40pm. Optional dinner afterwards in San Francisco.

Take me to the top!

Sept 28-29: 4th Annual Desolation Wilderness Through-Hike (Marcin) (*) - FULL!!!

• Sign-up required
• Length of hike: 20 miles
• Elevation gain: 2300 feet plus optional
• Meet: Friday, Sep. 27 at TBD time/place.
• Driving: 4 hours each way plus 1 hour car shuttle
• Limit: 10 people

The hike starts at Echo challet, on the southern tip of Echo lake. We hike northwest towards Aloha lake, a large lake with hundreds of islands sprinkled all over. Then we turn toward Gilmore lake, where we will camp for the night. Depending on the time of day, there is an optional 3.5 mile trip to climb Mt. Tallac either that afternoon or Sunday morning. On Sunday we climb towards Dick's pass and then down towards Eagle Lake. Continuing towards Lake Tahoe we are rewarded with the picturesque Emerald Bay, where we end the hike.

We would arrive Friday night and camp at Lover's Leap campground or some other place along US50. Saturday morning we would need to set up the car shuttle, dropping most people off at Echo lake and taking most cars up to Emerald Bay. Sunday we'd pick up the last car at Echo lake and head on home. We should be back by 4pm on Sunday.

Meals on the trail will be Saturday lunch and dinner and Sunday breakfast and lunch. If anyone fishes and has a license, trout abound in the lakes. Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast can be had in South Lake Tahoe. The nights will probably be a little chilly, so have a warm sleeping bag. I'll provide 1 stove and 1 water filter, and we'll need at least one more stove. If it is not supposed to rain, I wasn't going to bring a tent. Definitely bring towel and a swimsuit, as opportunities abound and the lakes should be nice and warm this time of year.

If you want to come along, tell me:

• The number of people you want to bring.
• Whether you have a stove/tent/water filter.
• If you can drive.
• The number of people your car can seat.

If you have questions, call me at work at 650-633-6012, at home at 650-283-0395

Take me to the top!

Oct 4-6: Half Dome & Mt. Hoffman (Girish) (*)

• Sign-up required (trip will be limited to 12 people)
• High altitude experience & Strong legs required for this trip.
• RSVP Cut-Off Date : Sunday Sept 29th 9PM P.S.T.
• People going on the trip will be notified by Oct 1st NOON.
• Destination: Yosemite Valley & Half Dome Mt. Hoffman ( 10,850ft )
• Leaving: Friday, Oct 4th - 5 PM (Stanford)
  6:00 PM (Dublin/Pleasanton BART)
  5 PM (San Francisco)
• Returning: Sunday, Oct 6th - late evening
• Driving distance: Approx. 200 miles ONE WAY from SF & South Bay.
• Driving time: Approx. 4-5 hours from the Bay Area.
• Meeting Place : Happy Isles bus-stop ( trailhead for Half-Dome )
• Meeting Time : ( Sat Oct 5th : 7:15 AM )
• Hiking distance: 16.8 miles & ( Elevation Gain/Loss 4800ft ) for Saturday. ( Half Dome round-trip from Happy Isles. )
  6 miles & ( Elevation Gain/Loss 2300ft ) for Sunday. ( from May Lake to Mt. Hoffman, Elev. 10,850ft and back. )
• Elevation gain: close to 7000ft over two days... ( Some folks can hang out at May Lake on Sunday and not go up 2000 ft to Mt. Hoffman )
• Difficulty: Strenuous ( 4800 ft gain & 17 miles roundtrip and the extreme steep final summit up Half Dome can be very tiring.)
• Costs: Carpool money + eating out + Misc.
• Reservation Policy : Former Trip leaders will get priority if the trip fills up quickly.

Everyone is responsible for his/her own snacks and quick energy foods and the valley gets very hot. So wear appropriate clothing, bring lots of sunscreen and hat.

If you're interested in coming, please provide me with the following info and email to: ghullatti___attbi.com

• Name
• Contact info (e-mail, phone #s)
• Do you have a car and are you willing to drive?
  How many people (with camping gear) can it fit?
• What shared backpacking equipment do you own? etc.
  Tent, stove, cookware, water filter,
  If Tent, how many can the tent sleep ??
• Which starting point would you prefer ? Stanford, SF or East Bay
• What was the most difficult hike you have done so far ?

Check out these links:

• Half Dome
  • http://www.yosemitevacation.com/hike.halfdome.htm (PLEASE READ THIS ...)
  • http://www.employees.org/~ciwata/yosemite/halfdome/halfdome.html
  • http://hometown.aol.com/Yosemite33/
  • http://gorptools.gorp.com/gorpapps/trails/trails_template.asp?trailid=5972
• Mt. Hoffman
  • http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/8989/ynp00.htm
  • http://kevingong.com/Hiking/MountHoffman.html
• Suggested gear checklists
  • http://www.backpacking.net/ten-essl.html
  • http://users.aol.com/gburch2/bpgear1.html
  • http://home.earthlink.net/~kirkm2506/BackpackGear.html

• Sleeping bag
• pad
• good sturdy hiking boots
• Comfortable and suitable/layered clothing for high altitude.
• Weather can change quickly at high altitudes.
• Come prepared for cold and rain.
• Water Bottles
• Insect Repellent
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Lots of film & Camera...
• Bring container to carry 3-4 liters of water.
• Bring LEATHER or similar GLOVES to use at the Half Dome Cables.. during climbing up and down.

Take me to the top!

Oct 11-13: Kings Canyon Paradise Valley (Giles) (*)

• Location: Paradise Valley, hiking from road's end at Cedar Grove, Kings Canyon
• Meet: Friday - each carpool to arrange suitable time
• Return: Sunday late
• Driving time: 5-6 hours depending on how fast you go
• Length of hike: one way backpack about 10 miles
• Elevation gain & loss: 2,500ft

According to Peter: "The views are magnificent, fall colours everywhere, waterfalls, granite cliffs and very few people. Kings Canyon is like Yosemite but without the crowds. 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."

The idea is to camp in the valley and do shorter hikes out from there on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. There is a swimming option in Hume Lake on Sunday if we have time, and the water isn't too cold. There is, however, a National Park limit on backcountry permits and I don't have them reserved, so I want to restrict the hike to 8 people, or two or three cars. Names will be drawn at random with, according to usual club proceedures, priority going to people leading hikes this quarter.

We'll meet Friday night at the Sentinel Campsight in Cedar Grove, and hike into Paradise Valley Saturday morning, from where we will leave the heavy packs behind and do some shorter hikes in the surrounding area.

You will need to bring a few dollars for the campsight friday night, money for dinners on the way both on Friday and Sunday and of course you will need to pay your driver.

If you would like to go, I need the following information by Wednesday noon:

1. Your Name.
2. Are you able to drive and how many people will your car take?
3. What time, and from where would you prefer to leave?
4. Do you have a tent? How many people can fit in it?
5. Do you have a stove?
6. Do you have a water filter?
7. Do you have a bear cannister, or can you rent one from REI?

Giles
(gilesh___stat.stanford.edu)

What to bring (this is Arturo's list)
__ Sense of humour!

For the campground:
__ Sleeping Bag (rated at 20 degrees F or lower) -> It will get down to below freezing at night
__ Sleeping Pad
__ Stove (shared)
__ Pots / pans / etc. (shared)
__ Water filter (shared)
__ Warm Clothes
__ Toiletries
__ Flashlight
__ Money
__ Plates/mug/tensils
__ Dinner (for Saturday night)
__ Backpack

For the hikes:
__ Hiking boots
__ 2 quarts of water
__ Breakfast (2 days)
__ Lunch (2 days)
__ Snacks
__ Sunscreen/Sunglasses
__ Camera & Film

Take me to the top!

Oct 12 (Sat): Chrissy Field to Ocean Beach (Julio)

• Destination: San Francisco- Crissy Field to Ocean Beach
• Date: October 12, 2002.
• Total length of hike: About 8 miles
• Total elevation gain: 500 feet (approx.)
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area URL: www.nps.gov/goga
• Driving distance/time: 50 miles / 1h hour approx. each way
• Cost: Free parking, plus mileage.
• Optional Dinner Afterwards
• Meet: 9:30 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford 10:45 am at lobby of Crissy Field Center, San Francisco
• Crissy Field URL: www.crissyfield.org
• Bring: lunch, sunscreen, plenty of water, coat (in case it is windy and foggy), all the usual stuff.

We will begin our hike at the Crissy Field Center from which we will walk westward along the shore of SF Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge. We will then take the Coastal Trail southward to reach Ocean Beach, passing by some historic structures, secluded beaches, and one of San Francisco’s nicest residential neighborhoods. At Ocean Beach we will spend some time enjoying the beach and the view of the ocean. We will then take a different branch of the Coastal Trail until the southern boundary of the Presidio of San Francisco. We will head eastward along this southern boundary and go through some peaceful and charming park and residential areas. We will then walk northward along the eastern boundary of the Presidio and stop at a spectacular vista spot where we can look down on San Francisco Bay. Continuing northward we will reach Crissy Field and our starting point.

DIRECTIONS to Crissy Field from Stanford:

• Take the I-280 NORTH ramp towards SAN FRANCISCO
• Take 19th AVENUE EXIT from I-280 in SF (only possibility is northward)
• Stay on 19th AVENUE going north
• When you reach Golden Gate Park, 19th AVENUE transitions to PARK- PRESIDIO AVENUE (to make sure you make this transition correctly, get in the rightmost lane after you arrive at Golden Gate Park)
• Continue northward on PARK-PRESIDIO
• After passing through a tunnel, watch out for the DOWNTOWN/ MARINA BLVD. EXIT, which you should take (first exit after tunnel)
• You will then be on Doyle Drive. Go to the leftmost lane and take the MARINA BLVD. EXIT, which will put you on MARINA BLVD heading EAST.
• Your next goal is to arrange to travel WEST on MARINA BLVD. (Try either making a right turn onto a sidestreet and then looping back to Marina Blvd or make a left turn into one of the parking lots on Marina Green and then loop back to Marina Blvd)
• When you are HEADING WEST on MARINA BLVD, you will encounter a stoplight where you can veer slightly right to get off Marina Blvd and head into the Presidio/ Crissy Field.
• You are now on MASON STREET and the CRISSY FIELD CENTER will be to your left (at the corner with HALLECK STREET).

Take me to the top!

Oct 12-13: Emigrant Wilderness (Bill) (*)

• Sign-up required (by Friday, Oct. 4th at 5 PM)
• Meet: Friday, Oct. 11th, 4:30 PM at Stanford
• Length of hike: 18 miles
• Elevation gain: ~1500 ft + some up and down
• Elevation loss(save the knees): no major downhills!
• Driving: ~4 hours each way
• Cost: carpool expenses + 2 dinners at restaurants
• Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (3 miles cross-country)
• Limit: 10 people

This should be a wonderful trip as we be taking a short-cut from a popular loop trail through seldom-visited Toms Canyon and up to large plateau that is home to two scenic and largely unvisited lakes Leopold and Toejam (I wish I could say that Toejam was a Native American word meaning lake of beautiful fish :-) ). We will camp by one of the lakes on Saturday and then rejoin the loop for the rest of the hike on Sunday.

The fishing is also reputed to be excellent and I will bring a fishing pole. Feel free to join me if you have a fishing pole and (technically) a California fishing license.

This will be a fairly easy backpacking trip based on the mileage (~9 miles per day) and elevation gain (1500ft the first day, not much the second); however, we will be hiking at elevation (starting at 7100 ft) and will be going cross-country (off-trail) for a few miles. One should be in decent physical condition and have some previous backpacking experience (however, I will allow a couple of enthusiastic beginners)

DETAILED TRIP ITINERARY (Illustrated)
Friday will will drive to the Crabtree trailhead where we will camp. Saturday morning we will set up a car shuttle between the Crabtree trailhead and the nearby Gianelli trailhead where we will finish on Sunday. We will then hike the Crabtree trail past beautiful Camp lake (called "No Camp Lake" by some, since camping is prohibited there) to Puite Meadow:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/icebox/piute.html

We will then leave the trail and follow Puite creek into Toms canyon:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/icebox/tom1.html

From Toms canyon, we will hike up to Leopold lake:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/icebox/leop2.html

and then to Toejam lake:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/icebox/toejam.html

We will camp at Toejam lake on Saturday (unless we find Leopold irresistible and camp there instead). On Sunday, we will take a use-trail from Toejam lake and meet up with the Burst rock trail which we will follow, enjoying the views. We will make a short diversion to Powell lake (time permitting) before ending at the Gianelli trailhead.

SIGN UP
If you would like to come, please send me email with answers to the following questions:

1. Name/Home Phone/Work Phone
2. Can you drive? How may passengers can you take including gear?
3. Can you bring a stove and a pot?
4. can you bring a water filter?
5. can you bring a tent? how may people will it accommodate?
6. If leaving from Stanford at 4:30 isn't convenient, where/when can you leave?
7. Have you been wait-listed on any trips in the last 6 months? If so, which one(s)?
8. Did you answer ALL of the proceeding questions :-)

Trip "leader":
Bill Shapiro
bill_shapiro___yahoo.com
Cell: 650-465-6141

Take me to the top!

Oct 18 (Fri): Live Music Outing (John)

• Location: Ireland's 32
• Address: 3920 Geary Blvd ___3rd St, San Francisco
• Date: Friday, Oct 18th, 9pm
• Difficulty: Extreme outdoors people only ;)

Please shoot me an email just to give me an idea of how many people to expect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me (email or 707.664.9506). Hope to see you all soon, Friday any time after 9pm!

I encourage people going to Ireland's 32 on 3820 Geary on Friday, 18th, to car pool from Bechel-I at 8pm. However, I won't be there, so don't wait for a leader. If you do have a car, please stop by there and pick up people without vehicles or drivers of excess cars.

Directions

-Sohn se silly Serman (with a lisp today)
:)

Take me to the top!

Oct 18-20: Eastern Sierras Hiking/Fishing/Hot Springs Safari (Alfred) (*)

• Sign-up required (by Wed, Oct. 16th at 6 PM)
• Meet: Friday, Oct. 18th, 5 PM at Stanford Bechtel I-Center
• Hiking: 6-16 miles (day hike)
• Driving: ~5 hours each way
• Cost: carpool expenses + campground fees + food along the way
• Limit: 12 people

We will be car camping at Silver Lake Campground in the beautiful June Lake Loop in Eastern Sierra Nevadas. On Saturday, we will do a day hike into the Ansel Adams Wilderness starting from the Silver Lake Trailhead. We will visit Agnew Lake, Gem Lake, and Waugh Lake, fishing for their rainbow, brook, brown, and possibly even golden trout (the California State fish!). The more adventurous may opt to hike over Island Pass to the spectacular Thousand Island Lake. We will attempt to return to camp early in the afternoon, to capitalize on the great evening bite at Silver Lake, and to prepare for the TROUT COOK-OFF that night! We will be having a trout cooking competition that night (assuming we catch something edible sized), so bring your favorite fish recipe! The best recipe will win a to-be-determined prize!

On Sunday, we will soothe our sore muscles from fighting all those monster trout by soaking in one or several of the nearby natural hot springs. Depending on interest, we may also check out the nearby natural attractions, including Devil's Postpile, Mono Lake, and the Inyo Craters. For the diehard fishermen in the group, we may also fish the lakes near Tioga Pass (Ellery, Saddlebag) on the way back. We should return to the bay area no later than midnight.

If this trip sounds interesting to you, please send me the following information:

1. Your name, email, phone #
2. Can you drive, and if so, how many people can you take?
3. Do you have a tent, and how many people can it fit?
4. Can you cook trout (not a prerequisite)?

Alfred

Take me to the top!

Oct 19 (Sat): Pt. Lobos (Sarah)

• Location: 3 miles south of Carmel on HW 1
• Meet: 9 am, Bechtel I-Center parking lot, or 11 am, Point Lobos Entrance booth.
• Driving time: approx 2 hours
• Length of hike: 6 miles, approx.
• Hike intensity: Easy to Moderate (Beginners welcome)
• Elevation Gain: 200 ft.
• Park URL: pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us
• Rain Policy: Heavy rain will cancel. Light rain will not necessarily cancel the hike if the leader is feeling die-hard.
• Meet: 9am at the Bechtel International Center, Stanford
• Bring: Windproof/rainproof outerwear, layered clothing, sunglasses, hat, chapstick, camera + plenty of film, binoculars, sturdy shoes, water and picnic lunch.
• Cost: parking, carpool money + optional dinner on the way back.
• Parking : Park your car on the roadside for free or inside the park for a fee ($3.00).

(From one of the earlier postings)
Point Lobos is located on Hwy 1 in a beautiful Pacific coast setting near Carmel south of Monterey. Deriving its name from the offshore rocks at Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point of the Sea Wolves, where the sound of the sea lions carries inland, the reserve has often been called "the crown jewel of the State Park System."

(From the coastal access book)
1276 acres of headlands of spectacular views of the coast, sandy coves and beaches, tidepools, Monterey cypress groves, more than 300 plant and 250 bird and animal species, trails and picnic areas. Numerous sea lions can be seen on the rocks from sea lion point. Bird Island is a sanctuary for thousands of birds. Sea Otters can be seen from the bluffs.

We will be hiking the Perimeter trail that consists of many smaller trails and loops along the coast. Although I am usually a relatively fast hiker, I expect to take this one slowly with frequent pauses to take pictures and look for wildlife, fog permitting.

Some of the interesting view points on this trail are: China Cove, Bird Island, Pelican Point, Pebbly beach, the Slot, Sea Lion rocks, Pinnacle Cove, Cypress Grove, Whaler's Knoll, Cannery Point, Whaler's Cabin, Whaler's Cove, Granite Point and much more.

Optional Dinner at the end of the hike around Carmel or Monterey.

Directions:
Here's a Mapquest link.

Take me to the top!

Oct 20 (Sun): Sonoma County Bike Trip (John)

• Distance: 42 miles round trip
• Grade: mostly flat to gradual (<5%), short hills ~10%
• Pace: Moderate
• Date: Sunday, Oct 20th, 10am
• Meeting Spot: Arthur Street in Cotati

We'll meet at 10am at the end of Arthur Street in Cotati, where there is ample parking. As you drive towards the end of Arthur Street, look on the right hand side for a tall wooden gate with a round golden symbol in the middle as a gathering spot. We will leave at 10:15am. Please send me a mail if you're interested, so I have an idea of how many people to expect, as well as if there's still people missing.

I recommend people meet in Stanford at 8am to car pool. I can assist in organizing it, however, I will not be there.

Bring a lunch, lots of water (~3L), and appropriate clothing. This trip will be easiest on road bikes with 15+ gears, however, you're welcome to take what you have.

If you're late, you can try phoning me at 707.664.9506 or send a text page at 877.695.9389. Also, I will send a map with the route to interested folks next week, so you know where we're going.

Please send me the following info:

• Name:
• List: Stanford Outing
• Where you would leave from:
• People/bikes can you fit in you car, if applicable:
• Biking experience:
• Type of bike/gears:

Take me to the top!

Oct 25-26: Abalone Diving (Chris) (*)

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Oct 26 (Sat): Mt. Manuel (Big Sur) (Sarah)

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Oct 26-27: Spanish Mountain, King's Canyon (Arturo) (*)

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Oct 26-27: Yosemite Valley (Yin-Yin) (*)

Take me to the top!

Oct 31 (Thurs): Halloween in SF (Lothar)

Who else wants to enjoy Halloween in San Francisco ?

On Thursday, October 31st, nothing maybe going on in Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. But in the City it will be. On Market Street and especially around Castro Sreet people are celebrating on the streets, most of them fancifully dressed up. It can get pretty crowded at some spots.

But you better don't go on Halloween night to San Francisco in your car. Here is my plan:

Meet at 7:00 pm at BART station in Daly City - should be plenty of parking space there. Take a train to 16th Street / Mission. Walk about 7 blocks to Market St. Haunt the area until about 11:00 pm, including visit of bars - if we get in. Head back to BART and get a train to Daly City - last train goes at 1:07 am on November 1st.

Most fun is when you come dressed up - I will. Please bring some money (BART is about $2 each way), and a cell phone or a two-way radio - would be useful for communication if people get lost in the crowds. You also may want to bring some snacks, don't expect that there will be time for a dinner.

Please send me an email by next Tuesday, so I can get an idea how many people will join.

Carpooling possible from Stanford, Bechtel International Center, at 6:00 pm.

Lothar

Take me to the top!

Nov 2 (Sat): Castle Rock (Alissa)

• Date: Saturday, November 2
• Meet: 8 am Betchel - I (or at Castle Rock at 9 am)
• Driving time: less than an hour
• Length of hike: about 8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1000 ft
• Difficulty: moderate
• Cost: $2 if park inside lot
• Bring: water, bag lunch, extra layer of clothing
• Reservations: none

We'll start at the parking lot on Hwy 35 and take the Saratoga Gap Trail to the Castle Rock Trail Camp. From there we'll wind our way to Saratoga Gap via the Tavertine Springs and Toll Road Trails. We'll return to the parking lot on the Skyline Trail.

Here's what the state parks website has to say about Castle Rock:
"Along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock State Park embraces 3,600 acres of coast redwood, Douglas-fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. The forest here is lush and mossy..."

The hike will be canceled in case of heavy rain, but a little light shower won't scare us away.

URLs to check out:
http://www.bahiker.com/castlerock.html (nice pictures)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=538

Directions (from bahiker.com)
From Highway 280 in San Mateo County, take Highway 92 west, then turn south onto Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35). Drive about 25.5 miles, to the junction of 35 and 9 (Saratoga Gap). Continue about 2.5 miles further south on 35, and look for the park entrance on the right side of the road. Large parking lot (fee to park in lot), and some free roadside parking just past the entrance on the right side of the road. Mind the no parking signs at the pullout. (Note: if you're driving from the south bay, you'll probably want to adjust these directions and arrive via Highway 9; consult a road map.)

-Alissa McFarlin

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Nov 2 (Sat): Pyramid Peak (Peter)

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Nov 2-3: Biking Around Tahoe (Erhhung) (*)

• Leave: November 8th, Friday afternoon
• Return: November 10th, Sunday evening
• Driving Time: Approx. 4 hours
• Length of ride: Approx. 72 miles around the lake with elevation varying between 6200 ft to 7500 ft; we will ride ~35-40 miles on Saturday and the rest on Sunday
• Lodging: We will stay at a motel near Tahoe City on Friday night and another motel between South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay on Saturday night
• Costs: ~$35/person for motel + ~$45 travel + several meals (we will dine in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday night)

The general plan will be lodging in Tahoe City on Friday night, then, on Saturday morning, visit the local bike shops if folks need to rent road bikes or pick up repair kits, etc. We then drive to Incline Village, where we can leave our vehicles and start the ride. We ride clockwise around the lake on SR-28 so that we are right next to the lake if we want to stop to catch the breathtaking vistas. There are lots of gradual climbs on this side of the lake, but none are too difficult. The primary challenge, I'd say, is the unpredictable gusts of wind and the turbulence left by RVs that frequently zoom past you. You need to know how to control your speed and stability, especially when you are picking up speed down a hill or there is little shoulder room on the road.

We will take a lunch break in Zephyr Cove or before that if there is a suitable spot. We end our day in South Lake Tahoe, where we will first check into a motel to leave our bikes, then go find a hot meal. One more thing, because our vehicles are parked on the opposite side of the lake, we need to ride with a daypack so we can carry everything we may need for our overnight stay.

On Sunday, we continue riding on the western half of the Lake. After an easy warm up through South Lake Tahoe, the ride gets tough rather quickly as we start the climb around Emerald Bay. This is the toughest climb of the ride, but once you tackle it you will be rewarded with a long downhill and even a dedicated bike path right next to the lake. We will take a lunch break in Tahoe City and return to our vehicles in Incline Village by mid afternoon.

See also:
http://www.tahoesbest.com/Biking/bikeroad.htm
Route map from last year's ride
Description from last year's ride

GEAR

• road bike or mountain bike (MTBs require more effort, but they do have "granny-gear" for hill-climbing). Also, unless you are a diehard cyclist that dig rock-hard seats, you may want to consider investing in a gel-padded seat because it can really prevent sore butts when riding long distances.
• bike helmet (required!!!)
• two water bottles or a Camelback
• bike pump and tools; spare tube!
• two-way radio (if you have one)
• daypack to carry stuff like toiletries for overnight stay
• non-cotton cycling jersey and fleece pullover and padded spandex tights (if you don't have specialized cycling wear, just make sure you can keep yourself warm when riding with a cold breeze)
• windbreaker
• sunglasses and sunblock
• energy bars/carbohydrate gels
• sports drink (optional)
• pocket camera (optional)
• money and ID
• I'll give everyone a copy of the route map before the ride

• Name
• Contact info (e-mail and phone #s)
• Location (where do you want to leave from?)
• Vehicle? (how many people, can you fold the backseat down to carry a bike?)
• Bike rack? (how many bikes?)
• Type of bike you have (or you plan on renting one) and how much cycling experience you have.

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Nov 16 (Sat): Joseph Grant Park (Julio)

• Destination: Joseph Grant Park (East of San Jose on road to Mt. Hamilton)
• Date: November 16, 2002.
• Total length of hike: About 7.5 miles
• Total elevation gain: 800 feet (approx.)
• Joseph Grant Park URL: http://www.parkhere.org/prkpages/grant.htm
• Driving distance/time: 28 miles / 45 minutes-1 hour approx. each way
• Cost: $4 per car, plus mileage.
• Meet: 9:00 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford
  10:15 am at Ranger Station (next to Cookhouse) in Joseph Grant Park
• Estimated finish time: 3:00-3:30 PM (back at Ranger Station)
• bring: lunch, sunscreen, plenty of water, coat, all the usual stuff.

We will meet at the Ranger Station/ Visitor Center that is next to the Cookhouse. From there we will cross San Felipe Creek and walk by Grant Lake. We will then hike up the eastern side of Halls Valley on Halls Valley Trail. At the ridge at the end of this trail, we will enjoy the excellent views of the surrounding foothills and hike southward along the ridge on Canada de Paia Trail. We will then loop back down to the valley on Yerba Buena Trail. After walking by Bass Lake we will then return to our starting point. The hike is a featured hike at bahiker.com and the route is designed to highlight the views, fauna, and flora of Grant Park.

DIRECTIONS to Joseph Grant Park from Stanford:

• Take the I-280 SOUTH ramp towards SAN JOSE
• Stay on I-280 as it turns into I-680 a bit after downtown San Jose.
• Take the Alum Rock Avenue exit and head EAST (towards mountains)
• Stay on Alum Rock Ave. until you reach Mount Hamilton Road (Route 130). Note: Be patient. You first need to get through the suburban shops, etc of Alum Rock Ave. The turnoff for Mt. Hamilton Road occurs after you start heading up the side of the mountain in an area with less development.
• Turn onto Mount Hamilton Road and drive 8 miles to the entrance of Joseph Grant Park (note this is a narrow windy road so drive defensively!)
• Turn right into the main entrance of the park and meet at the Ranger Station/ Visitor Center which is next to the Cookhouse.

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Nov 16-17: Wine Tasting / Camping in Napa (Paul) (*)

• Meeting Time: 10 am, Sat 11/16. Bechtel I-Center unless other arrangements made.
• Type of trip: Car camping at developed campsite in Napa. Optional wine tasting along the way.
• Length of hike: None
• Cost: Est $20-$30 per person. Cost-sharing. There is no limit to the group size but I would like to request for sign-ups by Thur (11/14) to know what group size to expect.
• Rain policy: Forecast of rain may cancel trip.

I plan to leave Stanford at 10am Sat morning, and carpool up to the Napa Valley. Camp plans for Sat night is at the Spanish Flat Report by Lake Berryessa (www.spanishflatresort.com). This is a developed campsite with running water, bathrooms and showers.

Along the way to the campsite, I personally plan to stop by a few vineyards for some wine and champagne tasting. Per Outing Club policy on alcohol, this part of the activity is completely elective and I will leave it up to individual carpools and their constituents to determine participation.

Weather forecast for the weekend in Napa looks decent now but I'll keep an eye out and update everyone if it starts looking iffy. You'll need tents and sleeping bags for the trip. Stanford affiliates may choose to check out the Redwood gear rental program at www.stanford.edu/group/redwood

Signups
Please let me know the following:

• Name
• Contact email
• Contact phone number (Day/Night)
• Can you drive? # of passengers you can take with you?

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Nov 17 (Sun): Beginner's Climbing, Planet Granite (Bill)

• Length of Hike: Well, none...
• Meet: 10:00am Bechtel International Center, Stanford or at 10:45 at Planet Granite in Belmont
• NOTE: There are 2 Planet Granite sites. We will be going to BELMONT.
• Driving Time: Approx. 20 minutes each way.
• Cost: belay lesson+day pass+equipment, $29; day pass, $16; equipment, $6
• RSVP: strongly recommended if you need to take the belay lesson (see below)
• Rain Policy: It's Indoors!!

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 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON at 650-591-3030 to book a belay lesson. Tell them you are with the Stanford Outing Club and wish to sign up for a belay lesson at 11 AM on Nov. 17th, 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 after Wednesday to go 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.

Bill Shapiro

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Nov 18 (Mon): Henry Coe Moonlight Hike and Leonid Meteor Shower

• Length of hike: ~5 miles
• Elevation gain: ~600 ft
• Time and place: 8:30PM at Bechtel or 9:45PM at Henry Coe Headquarter
• Driving time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Rain policy: Rain cancels hike

For more information on the Leonids, check out http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/09oct_leonidsforecast.htm

Notes:

• Bring some water and snacks for the hike
• Bring plenty of warm clothings (jacket, hat, gloves, etc)
• Bring a flashlight with a red filter (or use red cellophane)
• For comfort, bring a lawn chair, a sleeping pad, a blanket, etc.
• Hike will be on if it's cloudy but not forecasted to rain (email me if you'd like to make sure)

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Nov 20 (Wed): Ice Skating (Erhhung)

RSVP encouraged (for dinner)

• Date: Wednesday, 11/20/2002
• Time: 6:45p at The BayLeaf Café, Palo Alto
  8:00p at The Winter Lodge, Palo Alto
  10:30p at Cafe Borrone, Menlo Park
• Links: http://www.thebayleafcafe.com/
  http://www.winterlodge.com/
  http://www.cafeborrone.com/

We will start with a light meal at The BayLeaf Café, located at 520 Ramona St, just off of University Ave in Palo Alto. Check out their menus online and let me know if you'd like to join the group for dinner. This cafe is not very big and service would be much speedier if we tell them how many people to expect and perhaps even what we plan to order. There are public parking lots close by and street parking if you're lucky.

At 7:50, we will head over to The Winter Lodge, which is just a short drive away (there's a big parking lot there). If you can't join us for dinner and want to meet us directly at the rink, that's fine, too. They are located at 3009 Middlefield Rd, just off of Oregon Expwy and behind the Arco station. Admission is $7 and another $3 for skate rentals.

After skating ends at 10pm, those who would like to hang out a little longer and get a cup of coffee or tea can come to Cafe Borrone around 10:30. They are located at 1010 El Camino Real in Menlo Park, next to Kepler's bookstore.

Again, let me know if you'd like to come, especially if you plan on coming to dinner, and let me know if you already know what you may want to order. Thanks.

Event organizer:
Erhhung Yuan

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Nov 23 (Sat): Bike Trip TBA (Arturo)

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Nov 23-24: Angel Island (Eng-Shien) (*)

• Meeting time: Saturday, Nov 23
  8am at Bechtel, or on the
  10:00am ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island
• Length of Hike: 2 miles each way, 700 feet elevation gain
• Driving Time: 1:15 hour each way
• Return: We'll catch 3:20pm ferry back to Tiburon
• Cost: ~$30 for ferry, carpool, parking, and campsite
• Limit: 8 people

The goal is to see the city lights at night--our campsite faces the city. However, the guidebook warns that nights can be cold, windy, and foggy. We will be camping at one of the 9 environmental campsites. The campsites have running water and toilets. To get there, we will take a ferry from Tiburon and hike 2 miles. After setting up camp, we will explore the island on foot. Note that this is essentially a short backpacking trip.

For more information about the island, visit http://www.angelisland.com or http://www.angelisland.org.

Signups:
To signup for the trip, answer the following:

• Name:
• Contact email:
• Contact phone number:
• Can you drive (and # of passengers you can take with you)?
• Backpacking tent (and # of people it can hold)?
• Backpacking stove?

Take me to the top!

Nov 27 - Dec 1: Death Valley (Lothar)

This will be a remake of last year 's Death Valley trip on the same weekend with some variations. As an introduction here is what Erhhung wrote last year: "If you haven't been to Death Valley, get ready to absorb breathtaking views of nothingness. Besides some developed areas, there are no trees or rivers in sight. What you will see are the myriad colors of the rock formations, the vast mountain ranges, the sand dunes, and the salt flats."

The transportion policy will be the same as last year: rental SUVs for everyone because the itinerary will depend on vehicles capable of driving over long distances of rough, unpaved roads.

Only the rental costs will be considerably higher this year.

• Leaving: Wednesday (11/27) afternoon 5 pm
• Returning: Sunday evening (12/1) around 10 pm
• Meeting: Bechtel International Center, Stanford
• Driving Time: All passes through the Sierras will have certainly all been closed by Thanksgiving, so we will go the southern route on I-5 towards Bakersfield and cut east on CA-178 and up on US-395. Driving non-stop each way takes around 9 hours, but, on the way down, we'll camp overnight in Sequoia National Forest past Lake Isabella, and do the last 4-5 hours the following day.
• Lodging: Backcountry roadside camping would be the first choice because it means greater flexibility to our itinerary (we will be doing lots of driving on this trip...).
• Meals: It would be nice to have a group Thanksgiving dinner. Ideas are welcome. We could have groups of people preparing different kinds of dishes. How about that ... ? Besides that, everyone is on their own for meals, but people usually bring lots to share.
• Costs: The primary cost will be vehicle rental and fuel (we'll be driving well in excess of 1000 miles). We don't know the exact rental rates yet, but a check on orbitz.com for a 5-day rental of a Ford Explorer with unlimited mileage comes to around $350. Add fuel costs+insurance to that and you are looking at about $140 per person. There will also be a per vehicle park entrance fee of $10, unless a passenger has the National Parks Pass.

Wednesday: driving past Lake Isabella
People who want to be drivers will meet at Bechtel and drive in one car to pick up the SUVs, and all vehicles will return to Bechtel to pick up everyone else. If there are people who'd rather meet at another location, we can work out the carpools later.

Hopefully, everyone will leave by 7pm, fighting traffic out of the Bay Area. We'll coordinate by cell phone or by some other way the exact location where we will meet and camp that night. There should be places by a section of Sequoia National Forest on CA-178, shortly after Lake Isabella, where we can camp or just crash for the (rest of) the night. Thursday: more driving, Racetrack, Grandstand, Thanksgiving dinner
We will need to fuel up at the junction of CA-178 and US-395 because it could be another couple hundred miles before we find another gas station in the park. At the park's boundary we will head towards the Racetrack. This road will be a pretty bumpy.

Continuing to Ubehebe crater we 'll try to find a nice place for the dinner. Regulations say campfires are not allowed except on developed campsites. We also could try to find campsites at Mesquite Springs. Anyway, it is allowed to camp when you keep at a certain distance from the road. Friday: Eureka Dunes, Scotty 's Castle
We will have to fuel up at Scotty's castle. Its a 44 mile drive to Eureka Dunes on dirt roads. This will be a certain challenge because we will have to take the same road back. The dunes (700 ft high) will make it worth while.
This also means that Friday night's camp will be in the same area. Saturday: Zabriskie Point, Dante 's View, Golden Canyon
A lot of driving, too, gorgeous views and hiking Golden Canyon. And enjoying the salt lake at Badwater, Devil's Golf Course in a hopefully clear night. Sunday: Mosaic Canyon, driving home
Same thing as last year: Mosaic Canyon Hike because it's so nice. Heading back home should start around noon. It will be a long drive. We will have to meet a last time at Stanford. Death Valley Links
http://deathvalley.areaparks.com/
http://www.nps.gov/deva/
http://www.death.valley.national-park.com/
http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/national_park.html (Great Pictures)
http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np-image.deva1152.html
Geology: http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/usgsnps/deva/deva1.html
Weather: http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/Death_Valley_CA_US_f.html

Gear Checklist

• Tent and tarp (We will coordinate who should bring tents, stoves, fuel, cookware, etc. later on)
• Stove, fuel, and cookware (if you have them)
• Sleeping bag (should be rated down to 20 degrees F)
• Sleeping pad
• Pillow (optional)
• Daypack
• 2 one-liter water bottles (2 standard Nalgenes)
• Sturdy boots (no sneakers!)
• Tevas
• rain gear
• Hiking poles (optional)
• Hiking shirts and pants (non-cotton highly recommended; convertible pants are also convenient)
• Hat (for shade)
• Warm jacket (nighttime temperatures can get into the 40s at this time of year, even though daytime temperatures may be quite balmy--70s-80s)
• Change of clothes for 4 days
• Towel for shower (for those who want to shower (possibly on Saturday evening), you can do so at Furnace Creek Ranch for $2)
• Toiletries
• Trowel and toilet paper
• Sunblock and sunglasses
• Pocket knife
• Whistle (optional)
• Headlamp or flashlight (and spare batteries)
• Candle lantern (optional)
• Camera and film
• Two-way radio (if you have one)
• First-aid kit (including mole skin) and aspirin/ibuprofen
• Food for 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and at least two dinners (I hope we'll have volunteers to plan at least the Thanksgiving dinner)
• Energy bars, snacks, fruits, stuff for the campfire
• Thermost bottle (good for tea) (optional)
• Plate, cup, fork and spoon, and napkins
• Ziploc bags for lunch and extra bags for trash
• Money and ID (you should also bring your checkbook, which you can leave in your car at the Bechtel Center, to pay for left-over group expenses at the end of the trip)
• Bottled water (large jugs) (we should always be prepared to have sufficient water for 2 days since we are backcountry camping)
• Firewood (each car should bring a medium-sized box)

Sign-up
The ideal group size is 15 because the backcountry overnight camping regulations limit group sizes to 15 and no more than 6 vehicles.

If you are interested in coming, please send me the following information. The sign-up list on Sunday, Nov. 17th and notify everyone who is either confirmed or is put on the waiting list. At that time, I will need all confirmed participants to send me a deposit of $100 (to cover, the cost of vehicle rentals).

• Name
• E-mail
• Phone #s (work, home, mobile)
• Do you have a tent? If yes, how big?
• Do you have a stove, fuel, cookware?
• If Stanford is really inconvenient, where would you want to leave from?
• Are you comfortable driving an SUV on rough terrain?
• Do you have AAA membership ?
• Can you help plan the Thanksgiving dinner? Any ideas? (decide on the menu and help with shopping)

Take me to the top!

Nov 30 (Sat): Bike the Turkey (Arturo)

• Meet: 8am at I-Center (if you live in SF, call me for an alternative meeting point)
• Total length of bike ride: 34.5 miles
• Difficulty: two major climbs, lots of rolling hills on smooth, quiet roads
• Driving distance/time: 68 miles / 1.5 hours
• Gear: See below, use of a helmet is mandatory.
• Rain policy: rain cancels the event.
• Lunch: please pack one, there are not many places where you can buy something on route.

The ride is on rolling hills, but it includes 2 steep climbs, including the (in)famous Marshall Wall. However, don't be discourage by this: we will take our time up these climbs and we won't leave anybody behind. This ride is not a race: we will wait for the last person at every turn-off. Although this ride is not recommended for somebody that just bikes on campus, it's definitely doable for anybody in OK shape.

Cycling Gear:

• Road bike or mountain bike. The gears in your bike should be in working order as we need to climb some hills.
• Bike helmet (required)
• Bike light (we are not planning to ride in the dark, but it's good to have one)
• Water and Energy bars
• Windbreaker, sunglasses and sunblock
• Bike pump and tools; spare tube (recommended)
• Two-way radio (if you have one)

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Dec 7 (Sat): Portola State Park (Boaz)

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Dec 7-8: Sykes Hot Springs (Marcin) (*)

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Dec 14 (Sat): Sonoma Wine Tasting (Marcin)

• Length of hike: 0
• Elevation gain: 0
• Meeting time: Bechtel I-center, 9am
• Driving time: 1.5 hours
• Destination: Sonoma Valley wineries
• Group size limit: 8-10

I had originally planned to go to the Russian River valley, but we will probably go to Sonoma proper since that is closer, and I need to be back in Palo Alto by 5:30. The places on the list include: Gundlach-Bundschu, The Cellar Door and Castle. I'm open to other suggestions.

A NOTE FOR DRIVERS: I would strongly recommend that people who drive only do the taste and spit approach. The CHP usually steps up enforcement between Thanksgiving and New Years, and none of us really need to have to deal with that headache. Also, I'm guessing that Stanford's liability policy would have something to say about this if the drivers actually drank. Since I've been there before and have tasted most of the places we'll be going to, I'll forgo drinking and be a driver this time.

--

Take me to the top!

Dec 14 (Sat): Purisima Creek Redwoods (Julio)

• Destination: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
• Date: December 14, 2002.
• Total length of hike: About 9 miles
• Total elevation gain: 900 feet (approx.)
• Further information on Purisima Creek Redwoods at URL: www.openspace.org
• Driving distance/time: About 40 miles / 45 minutes - 1 hour approx. each way
• Cost: Mileage.
• RAIN CANCELS
• Meet: 9:00 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford
  10:00 am at Whittemore Gulch trailhead located on Skyline Boulevard
• Estimated finish time: 3:00-3:30 PM (back at trailhead)
• bring: lunch, sunscreen, plenty of water, coat, all the usual stuff.

We will meet at the Whittemore Gulch trailhead on Skyline Boulevard. This trailhead has a 20-car parking lot and is next to a small country store. From the trailhead we will head down Whittemore Gulch trail entering and exiting groves of majestic redwoods while getting an excellent view of the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. We will then cross Whittemore Gulch and hike along Purisima Creek on the Purisima Creek trail. A section of the Bay Ridge Trail will take us back to our starting point and will also provide a good mix of redwood groves and fine views.

DIRECTIONS from Stanford to the Whittemore Gulch trailhead of the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve:

• Take the I-280 NORTH ramp towards SAN FRANCISCO
• Exit to Highway 92 heading WEST
• Continue on Highway 92 until near the summit where Skyline Boulevard (Route 35) intersects with 92 at a right angle. Turn LEFT onto Skyline.
• Drive 4.5 miles on Skyline Boulevard until the Whittemore Gulch trailhead, which is on the RIGHT after a SMALL STORE.

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Dec 21-22: Yosemite Snow Shoe (Yin-Yin) (*)

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Jan 11-12: Tahoe Skiing (Marcin) (*)

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Jan 11-12: Snow shoeing from Donner Pass (John) (*)

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