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Spring 2001 Calendar

Mar 24-25: Camping & Star Gazing (Peter)

Ever wanted to see the moons of Jupiter or the rings of Saturn, other galaxies millions of light years away or Orion's spectacular nebula? This a weekend trip to one of the prime astronomical local viewing sights situated south on highway 101 by beautiful Lake San Antonio, about 2.5 hours drive from San Jose. This weekend there is a new moon so the sky should be very bright and the Milky Way should be visible in all its splendour. There might also be some wildflowers blooming in the neighbourhood.

I will be bringing my 8 inch dobsonian reflector (Orion XT-8) plus my recent knowledge of the cosmos. It would be great if some others (Marcia, Johnny...) could bring telescopes (big or small). If anyone has just have binoculars that would be great too.

We will be camping by the lake in a campsite and hiking in the local hills and forests during the daytime. These hills are the ones that continue all the way to Big Sur. On the way back on Sunday I'd like to stop off by Fort Hunter Ligget and see the least visited of all the 18th century California missions - Mission san Antonio de Padua.

Please email me if you'd like to go on this rather unique combination trip (I was thinking of adding windsurfing too but my 4x4 isn't big enough). We would leave on Friday evening and return not too late on Sunday evening - times and place are flexible depending on the driver's and people's schedules/locations. Bad weather would probably cancel but it's looking rather good just now.

• name
• willing to drive?
  • if so, how many passengers?
• where would you like to leave from?
• when would you like to leave?
• have a tent?
  • if so, can you share?
• (also can you let me know if you can bring a telescope or binoculars.... thanks)

I'd like to keep the group reasonably small, since that way we can all see more.

ciao
Peter McColgan (trip organiser)
plumeria__no_spam__earthlink.net

p.s. here are some images of objects we will be searching for - the human eye isn't as sensitive to colour as the camera, so you won't see so much colour and the size will be a bit smaller - mine is an 8 inch (mirror) telescope, but what you'll see should be pretty cool :-)
http://home.earthlink.net/~alsonwong/nebulae.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~alsonwong/m81-m82.htm

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Mar 31: Mt. Tamalpais (Sundar)

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Mar 31-Apr 1: Mendocino Biking, Hiking, Sightseeing (Erhung)

• Departure: Friday late afternoon/early evening from Bechtel I-Center
• Return: Sunday evening
• Travel time: about 3.5-4 hours each way
• Activities:
  • Saturday: biking through redwood forests and along the ocean (highway 1) - approx. 45 miles; hiking some trails in Russian Gulch state park, Mendocino Headlands SP, or Van Damme SP
  • Sunday: biking through some more forest roads and right along the ocean front (if possible) - approx. 40 miles; sightseeing Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and other small towns; visiting botanical gardens or just hang out by the beach (this is whale migration season)
• Lodging: Camping at Russian Gulch state park: 2 camp sites with 3 cars on each site. Bathrooms have no showers
• Dining: Bring camping food to share. I propose dining at the restaurant, 'The Ravens' on Saturday night: this is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in CA, although it is a bit pricey (around $30). If not enough people are interested, we can do something else.
• Cost: $24 per camp site shared by all; about 185 miles from Stanford to Mendocino (with customary $.15 per mile policy); entrance fee to park and other attractions; ??? depending on dinner choice
• Bring:
  • road bike or mountain bike
  • bike rack for car (see below)
  • two water bottles or a Camelback
  • bike pump and tools; spare tire
  • two-way radio if you got one
  • bike lock (see below) - when we go hiking
  • layered clothing for biking and hiking,
  • wind-breaker (ocean breeze can be cool)
  • Dining at The Ravens may require clean non-hiking attire
  • sunglasses, sunblock
  • hiking boots
  • camping gear: sleeping bag and tent (see below)
  • stove and cookware (two sets is enough for all)
  • camera and film
  • money and ID
• Rain policy: Light rain does not cancel trip. If the roads are too wet to ride, we'll go hiking instead.

I thought long and hard about which routes to ride on. The original bike route in this book I have goes from Clear Lake to the coast - a 3-day, 176 mile trek. Since we have to make a loop each day so we can camp at the same spot, that wasn't going to work. There are so few roads that go north-south between US-101 and SR-1 that the only route I thought was a possibility was a 100+ mi route going east on Comptche- Ukiah Rd and coming back west on SR-20. After talking to a bike shop in Mendocino, they thought either I'm crazy or I'm training for the Tour-de-France. So I've changed the routes to easy loops along the coast, where most of the redwood and coastal scenery is anyway. And whatever time we have left we can do short hikes or walk along the beach hoping whales may swim by. I've never been to Mendocino, but I know it's a pretty touristy place with lots of nice bed-and-breakfast houses and logging-town history.

I don't have all the hiking details yet, but, on Saturday, I'm thinking of riding from Russian Gulch down on SR-1 to Comptche- Ukiah Rd. Heading east, we turn right at Comptche to Flynn Cr. Rd. until SR-128. Then we head west on 128, passing through dense redwood forests of Navarro River Redwoods SP. Once we come to SR-1, we go north a bit and we can take a detour onto Albion Little River Rd. to pass through Van Damme SP. before heading back to camp. On Sunday, I'd like to ride north on SR-1 from Russian Gulch for a bit and turn right on Little Lake Rd. This road generally loops left (to the north) and connects with SR-20 where we head west back to SR-1. We can then ride north on 1 until we come to MacKerricher SP in Fort Bragg, and ride on the ocean-front trail (off-limits to cars, I believe) back south to camp.

SIGNUP: To get our bikes to Mendocino, we need bike racks! So I will give priority to people with bike racks. The camp sites can accommodate at least 12 people (and 6 cars), but I can take only as many people as we have cars with racks to transport the bikes. We will also need locks with chains so we can chain our bikes somewhere in town when we hike (people with expensive bikes can perhaps fit them inside car trunks). So, please e-mail me the following info and I will send an update early next week.

• NAME
• E-MAIL
• PHONE # (mobile if you have one)
• CAR (that you're willing to drive)? (# of passengers)
• BIKE RACK? (type (roof or trunk mount) and # of bikes)
• LOCK? (type and how many bikes it can chain)
• TENT? (# of occupants)
• STOVE & COOKWARE?

Erhhung - your trip leader
erhhung__no_spam__alum.mit.edu

Additional info:
----------------
Mendocino Parks
Russian Gulch
Mendocino Headlands

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Apr 5: Quarterly Meeting & Potluck Dinner!!!

If you would like to lead a hike, or some other activity, but can't come to the meeting, please send me your ideas by email before the meeting.

New prospective "members" are welcome to come and learn about the club.

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Apr 6: (Fri) Moonlight Hike at San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge (Nikki)

• Length of hike: 3-6 miles
• Meet: 6:30pm at the Su Hong Restaurant
• Driving Time: about 20mins(each way)
• Rain Policy: Dinner then decision making

The full-moon walk was such a record-setting* success last month that it is back by popular demand! Yes, make no mistake: this is like no other Outing hike. What is so different, you ask? To begin with, it's on a Friday, not Saturday or Sunday; it's at night, not during daylight; and finally, it starts, instead of ending, with a group dinner. Intrigued? Then read on.

Meet:
We'll meet at 6:30pm on Friday 4/6 at Su Hong restaurant for a pre-hike dinner. After dinner (~8-8:30pm), we'll drive over the Dumbarton Bridge (11 miles drive -- ~20mins) to Coyote Hills for a 3-6 mile hike (depending on conditions) on a mostly paved road. There are marshes and lagoons which make for beautiful reflections of the moon in the water. Be advised that howling at the moon may be mandatory.

Here are the details:

Meet at Su Hong Chinese Restaurant in Menlo Park at 6:30pm on Friday 4/6
Address: 1039 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, Tel: (650) 323-6852 After dinner (around 8-8:30pm), drive to Coyote Hills in Fremont.

Directions:

• Start out going Southeast on EL CAMINO REAL/CA-82 towards MENLO AVE by turning right
• Turn LEFT onto RAVENSWOOD AVE.
• Turn RIGHT onto MIDDLEFIELD RD.
• Turn LEFT onto WILLOW RD
• Take CA-84 E. (Dumbarton)
• Take the PASEO PADRE PKWY/THORNTON AVENUE exit.
• Turn LEFT onto PASEO PADRE PKWY
• Turn RIGHT onto COMMERCE DR. (on your left you will see the PATTERSON RANCH RD).
• Park your car at the SE corner of Paseo Padre Parkway and Commerce Drive (there is a parking lot). That's where we'll start the hike, walking westward on the Patterson Ranch Rd.

Length of the hike:
3-6 miles (depending on conditions), mostly paved, mostly flat. See pdf map at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/coyote.htm

Cost:
Dinner, carpool, bridge toll, and a mink coat for me (the last item is optional).

Bring:

• Warm clothes -- it may get cool and windy at night
• Comfy shoes (ankle support even better)
• After dinner dessert. Water. Whatever you like to eat/drink on a moonlit night.
• Flashlight with a RED filter. Without a filter, it'll ruin your (and everyone's) night vision.

Rain and unclear skies policy:
We'll at least meet for dinner.

FYI:

• Sun Set: 7:33pm
• Moon Rise: 6:14pm
• Friday is 1 day before the full moon, but it'll be be bright enough for our purposes.

Disclaimer:
Walking is a dangerous activity. Walking in the moonlight is even more dangerous. By participating in this event, you're assuming all associated risks. Also, you may be cajoled to howl at the moon. Hey, I warned ya.

* You may ask the participants why the March 7th hike set a record!

Trip Leader:
Nikki Mirghafori
nikki__no_spam__nuance.com
(650)847-7866 (work)
(510)816-6221 (cell)

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Apr 8: Sunol Regional Wilderness Hike (Craig)

• When: Sunday April 8
• Depart: 10 am, Bechtel I-center, or 11 am, Sunol RW visitor center (Geary Rd.)
• Length of Hike: 6 mi.
• Estimate time of hike: 4-4.5 hours
• Elevation Change: 1700 ft, with a fair amount of up and down
• Driving Time: 45-60 minutes
• Driving Distance: about 35 mi.
• Directions: I'm getting different answers from different websites, but I think I am going to propose this:
  • Take Page Mill/Oregon Expressway to 101 S
  • Take 101 to 237 E
  • Take 237 to 880 N
  • Take 880 to 262/Mission Blvd. E
  • Follow 262 to 680 N
  • Take 680 to the 84/Calaveras Rd exit
  • Go S on Calaveras Rd 4.2 mi. to Geary Rd.
  • Drive 2 mi., past park entrance, and park across from visitor center
    
  • *South Bay people may want to consider taking 680 N and meeting us at the parking lot.
  • *SF/East Bay people may want to consider taking 580 E to 680 S and meeting us in parking lot
    
  • Please be on time
• Cost: $4 per vehicle plus mileage plus optional dinner
• Bring: Lunch, water, money for trip and optional dinner afterward, the usual.

Route and Description:
Sunol Regional Wilderness is one of the more isolated Bay Area parks, with less civilization around it. The six-mile loop we will follow Sunday is a pretty good sampler of what the park has to offer. I'm leaving plenty of time on this hike for general exploring scrambling, or simple lolling. We will start off by hiking down the canyon view trail to a small canyon in the park referred to as "Little Yosemite". After exploring that area for a while, we will head up Cerro Este Road to Cave Rocks road to Vista Grande Road. These should provide some good vista points to view the park. Hopefully, the spring wildflower season which makes East Bay hiking such a joy will still be going. We will return on High Valley Road to Cave Rocks Road. Cave Rocks offers some good climbing, and there will be some optional scrambling over rocks here (but nothing dangerous, please). We will return to the parking lot down the Indian Joe Creek Trail.

Questions: Contact Craig Foster (trip leader) 650-497-3314

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Apr 14: Point Lobos State Reserve (Heidi)

• When: Saturday, April 14
• Depart: 8:45 am, Bechtel I-center, Stanford University.
• Length of Hike: not exactly sure, we're going to explore the Pt Lobos State Reserve (warning: the trip leader has never been there....)
• Estimated time of hike: all day, but we can return to Stanford for dinner if we care to...
• Elevation Change: none to little
• Driving Time: about 2 hours each way, is located 3 miles south of Carmel
• Cost: $4 per vehicle plus mileage plus optional dinner
• Bring: Lunch, water, sunscreen, money for trip and optional dinner afterward, the usual. It may be windy, bring something warm...

We'll most likely take the Loop Trail which is 6.5 miles long, which is a good overview of the Reserve...we can also string together a couple of other trails, and then just enjoy the salt air, and eat lunch. If we feel like it, we will stop in Carmel and check out the shopping...this is very laissez-faire...

from various websites:
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." Point Lobos has offered many things to millions of people who have visited it over the years. Point Lobos State Reserve has outstanding passive recreation values, such as sightseeing, photography, painting, nature study, picnicking, SCUBA diving, and jogging. In addition to the spectacular beauty, nearly every aspect of its resources is of scientific interest. There are rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora an fauna of both land and sea.
------------------------------------
Point Lobos was established in 1933 and encompasses some of the most beautiful scenery, above and below water, along the California coastline. Robert Louis Stevenson visited Point Lobos in 1879 and was so inspired by the landscape that he used it as the basis for the setting of his novel Treasure Island. The original name was Punta de los Lobos Marinos or "Point of the Sea Wolves" for the California sea lion frequently seen lounging on the offshore islands.

The abundant wildlife and hiking trails make this state reserve a favorite with visitors year round. An interpretative station, staffed daily by a docent, is located at the Seal Lion Point parking lot. Sea Lion Point Trail is a popular marine mammal viewing area for harbor seals, sea otters, and sea lions. China Cove is a good place for bird watching, especially May through September during nesting season. The pine woods along any of the trails is good for woodland birds. Terrestrial mammals, such as mule deer, are best seen early morning and very late afternoons. A museum located adjacent to Whalers' Cove details more of the area's human habitations.

Climate:
Fair sunny days, occasional winter rains, and dry summers, moderated by fog from July through September, characterize central California's climate.

Websites:
http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/
http://bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Visitor/Access/ptLobos.html

Questions: Contact Heidi Williams (408) 772-2828 (cell)
or email: hwilliams__no_spam__hoffman.com (work hours only, after Friday 5 pm, I won't answer email...)

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Apr 15: Tomales Bay Oyster Picnic (Paul)

• Length of Hike : 500 yds. Up and down the beach to work up an appetite.
• Meeting Time : 9am. Sunday, 4/15 __no_spam__ Bechtel
• Driving Time : Approx 2 hours each way
• Cost : Bring some $ for oysters and carpool.

Any oyster lovers out there? Fresh off the halfshell or grilled with a dash of tabsaco and lemon? You can have them both ways and more! Come spend Sunday by the beach and have an oyster picnic.

I plan to head out to the Tomales Bay Oyster Company this Sunday for a beach picnic. Just spoke to them on the phone and they confirm that they are harvesting daily now. You can purchase fresh oysters onsite and they range from $6 to $10 per dozen, depending on size.

They have a small picnic area with benches and BBQ grills. Bring some briquettes if you would like to grill. Apart from oysters, oysters and oysters, little is available onsite so please bring your own picnic. And of course, if you have any special oyster recipes, bring them, make 'em and share 'em! (Hey, I kept my part of the bargain last time!)

The weather outside is kind of mushy but it is supposed to clear by the weekend so no worries there. Bring a light coat just in cast it gets windy.

Contact info for the oyster farm:
Tamales Bay Oyster Co
15479 Highway 1
Marshall, CA 94940
(415)663-1242

They are located on the west side of HWY 1, about midway between the turnoff to Point Reyes Station and Marshall.

Trip Leader : Paul Chan (650)799-2636
chanpaul__no_spam__stanfordalumni.org

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Apr 22: Mission Peak Starlight Hike(Johnny)

• Total length of hike: ~ 6 miles
• Elevation gain: ~ 2200 ft. (moderate to strenuous)
• Meet: 4:30 PM at the Bechtel International Center, Stanford. or 5:30 PM at the Stanford Ave. entrance.
• Rain policy: Rain cancels hike.
• Driving time: ~ 45 min. from Stanford.
• Driving directions: http://www.stanford.edu/group/outing/directions/missionpeak.txt

1. a working flashlight with RED filter
2. sturdy hiking boots as the trail might be soft after the recent rains
3. warm cloths (jacket,hats,gloves, etc.): it WILL be cold and windy at the summit after dark.
4. food and water and snacks and chocolates
5. some money to pay your driver (parking is free)

Mission peak is located in the East Bay, it's 2527 ft high and it's one of the 6 peaks that form the Rim of the Bay (http://www.ebparks.org/parks/mission.htm).
We will start the hike from the Stanford Av. entrance, taking the Hidden Valley trail up to the peak. There should be some nice wild flowers along the way. We will arrive at the summit in time to enjoy the sunset (around 7:45PM). We should also have nice views of Mount Hamilton to the south, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, Mt. Tamalpais to the north, and Mt. Diablo and the Sierra Nevada to the northeast. If we're lucky and the sky is clear, we'll hang out and check out the stars. So bring your telescope, binoculars, etc., and star-charts. (Those of you out there with PDAs loaded with star-charts - bring them!) We will then take the Peak Meadow trail on the way down to our cars. (The park closes at 10PM).

The forecast for Sunday looks fine for now. I will post another message on Friday if we are canceling due to the possibility of rain. Disclaimer (a la Nikki): walking is a dangerous activity. Walking in a moonless night is even more dangerous. By participating in this event, you're assuming all associated risks.

Trip "leader:" Johnny Ng (jng99__no_spam__stanford.edu), 650-926-4490(o)

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Apr 28-29: Henry Coe Backpacking (Brigitte)(*)

• Location: Henry W. Coe State Park (northeast of Gilroy)
• Park URL http://www.coepark.parks.ca.gov/
• Meet: Saturday morning
• Return: Sunday night
• Driving time: About 1.5 to 2 hours
• Length of hike: about 10 miles each day
• Rain policy: In the event of rain, the Park Service will not be able to open the south entrance, and the trip will be cancelled.

Sign ups for the Henry Coe Backpacking Trip are open. This will be a 2- day backpacking trip leaving early on Saturday morning and returning on Sunday evening. We don't know yet the exact route that we are going to follow, but we are expecting to hike about 10 miles each day. The park is very hilly, so expect a lot of ups and downs.

We will start from the South entrance of the park, which opens only once a year. To get a permit for this area, a lottery was conducted. We were able to secure 6 permits, which are good for 6 cars (about 18 people).

Park Description:
Henry W. Coe State Park is the largest state park in northern California, with over 80,000 acres of wild open spaces. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons. Once the home of Ohlone Indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety of plants and animals, including the elusive mountain lion. Within Coe Park are the headwaters of Coyote Creek, long stretches of the Pacheco and Orestimba creeks, and a 23,300-acre wilderness area.

About the Backcountry Weekend:
On April 28 and 29, people who have tickets for the Coe Backcounty Weekend can drive their vehicles into the east side of Coe Park, one of the loveliest and least accessible areas of the park. The east side of the park has beautiful spring wildflowers, great fishing, and scenic trails, some with breathtaking panoramic views of the Diablo Range. The ridges and valleys are broader and easier to travel than the steep terrain in the western part of the park, and you can plan day trips to areas that normally require several days of strenuous backpacking, places like Mississippi Lake and the Orestimba Wilderness.

** How to sign up:
To sign up send a message by Friday, April 20 to brigitte.ullrich__no_spam__sap.com
Please include in the message the following information:

1. Name
2. Phone
3. Backpacking equipment you have (tent, sleeping bag, stove, water filter, etc.).
4. Are you willing to drive and if yes, how many people can your car take (including backpacks)?

In case more people want to go than we can take, people who helped to apply for the lottery and previous leaders will be given priority. If we are able to offer you a spot on this trip, we will contact you by email on Saturday.

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May 6: Mission Peak (Mandar)

• Length of hike: approx. 8 miles (or more, depending on the group)
• Meet: 8:00am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford
• For people who do not want to come to Stanford, please meet at the parking lot on the right after passing Downing Road. This parking lot is visible from the road. Please park in front of the visitor center. The directions can be found at the here. This is the southern side of the park.
• If hikers are interested, we can go for dinner afterwards.
• Please carry enough water (at least 2 liters) and one lunch. The temperatures seem to be high on Sunday.

Cheers,
__no_spam__mandar
Cell: 408 910 6477

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May 13: Mount Diablo Four Summits (Arturo)

• Length of hike: 18 miles (very strenuous)
• Elevation gain: 4500 feet (very strenuous)
• Park URL: http://www.mdia.org/
• Driving time: approx 1:45
• Optional dinner in the way home
• Meet: 7:00am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford.
• Bring a flashlight for this hike

Join us for a very strenuous ascent of Diablo’s four main peaks (Eagle Peak, Mt Diablo, North Peak, Mt Olympia). This will be a difficult, fast-paced hike, but it's the definitive Mt. Diablo hike - the total mountain experience. It encompasses all of the park's life zones, from meadowlands to rocky summits, and the ever-changing views are simply stunning. A major portion of the loop consists of intimate single-track trails, in close encounter with the wilderness (including some unwelcome plants like poison oak for which we should keep a cautious eye).

For this hike, we will start on the north side of Mt. Diablo in Clayton near Walnut Creek. We enter through the Regency entrance and hike up the Eagle Peak Trail. This will take us from 600 feet up to Eagle Peak at 2369 feet! Then, we continue to Deer Flat, Juniper Campground, and Juniper Trail to the Lower Summit Parking Lot. From there, we will hike to the summit of Mount Diablo. The summit itself (3849ft) is inside the Visitor Center rotunda, a short distance uphill. We return to the Lower Parking Lot along the Summit Trail to Devils Elbow, then to Prospectors Gap and on the North Peak Trail to North Peak (3557 ft) from which there is a great view. We take a side trip to Mt. Olympia (2946ft). From Mt. Olympia, we return to the North Peak Trail, and follow the Bald Ridge Trail to the Back Creek Trail that will lead us right back to the cars.

This is a challenging hike, which some astoundingly steep stretches, but the result is exhilarating. Remember that this trip contains a lot of hill climbing so it will be a real workout! Expect the full hike to take 10 hours (excluding driving). Note that there are no facilities at our entry point so make sure you bring everything you need and stop for a restroom break on the way. Hopefully the low pressure coming on Saturday will lower temperatures, but even with that this area can be very hot on a sunny day so bring lots of water (at least 2 liter/quarts) and perhaps a hat. There will be one opportunity half way the trip to refill your water bottles. Also, if you have a Mt.Diablo map, please bring it.

If you live in the East Bay and would like to meet us up there, please email me (crespo__no_spam__cs.stanford.edu) for directions.

Trip "leader": Arturo Crespo (crespo__no_spam__cs.stanford.edu) 650-723-9273 (w), 650-967-4039 (h).

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May 13: Napa Valley BBQ & Short Hike (Mandar)

• Where to go: #809 Augusta Circle, Napa, CA 94558
• Code to Enter : #####
• Contact : Mandar (cell: 408-910-6477)
• For Carpool : 7.45 am at Bechtel International Center (Carpool organizer: Liz Pang)
• Driving time: about 2 hrs.
• Meeting time in Napa : 10-10.30 am or before.
• Driving Directions: see below

What to do: We definitely will do a BBQ or some kind
of cooking. Please bring food for yourself and something to
share. Depending on how people feel, we might go
into wine country or visit a hot-spring. This is a take-it-ez outing trip
;).

Cheers,
Mandar.

Driving Directions from Mapquest:

From Stanford:

• Take 101 North
• Take the Dumbarton Bridge exit (84 East)
• Cross Dumbarton Bridge
• Stay straight to go onto DECOTO RD.
• Take the I-880 N exit towards OAKLAND.
• Merge onto I-880 N.
• Take I-80 E.
• Take the CA-29/SONOMA BLVD exit.
• Merge onto SONOMA BLVD.
• Stay straight to go onto SONOMA BLVD/CA-29.
• Take unnamed road towards DOWNTOWN NAPA/LAKE BERRYESSA.
• Stay straight to go onto NAPA VALLEJO HWY.
• NAPA VALLEJO HWY becomes SOSCOL AVE/CA-121 N.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto SILVERADO TRL/CA-121 N.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT.
• Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MONTICELLO RD/CA-121.
• Turn LEFT onto ATLAS PEAK RD.
• Turn RIGHT onto HILLCREST DR.
• Turn LEFT onto AUGUSTA CIR.
  
  

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May 20: Montara Mountain (Brigitte)

• Length of hike: approx. 11 miles 
• Elevation gain: 2x1600 feet! 
• Meet: 8:30 am at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford \
• Driving time: 45 min (each way) 
• Bring: Sunscreen, warm clothes, lunch, 2+ liters water, some $$, and toys for the beach!

Hike description (excuse me for copying a previous hike description): This
is a strenuous hike where we hike up and down Montara Mountain near Devil's
Slide twice. We start at San Pedro Valley Park near Pacifica and hike up
to Montara Mtn (1600 feet), where we will have great views of the Pacific
Coast if the fog stays away. Then, depending on how psyched people are, we
either go up to the peak before heading down to the beach, or descend
directly to Montara State Beach, where we relax and have lunch. Bring warm
clothes since it can be cold on the beach. The hike back to the cars is a
real killer, because we now have to climb up 1600 feet (again!) to get
back to Montara Mountain. We take the Brook Falls Trail down to San Pedro
Valley, though there is probably no water in the waterfall now. 
Bring: Sunscreen, warm clothes, lunch, 2 liters water/drinks, some $$, and
some toys for the beach! 

For more info, see http://www.cardiffgiant.com/ptped

650 320 3050 (w), 650 961 4189 (h)

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May 26-28 (Memorial Day weekend): White Mountain & Bristlecone Pines (Peter)(*)

• Departure: 5 am, Sat. May 26
• Return: either Mon. May 28 or Tue. May 29
• Driving time: about 8 hours
• Sign-ups required: See info. below

I did this trip last year and liked it so much that I am back again for more... and to try and identify the oldest living thing on the planet.

Basically the trip is part sightseeing (ghost town of Bodie, and the Bristlecone pines), part mountain climbing (3rd highest peak in California) and part relaxing (some natural hot springs in the Owens Valley)

The hiking is extremely strenuous, going up to 14,246ft (but you can drive from 11,500ft) and a 15 mile round trip, but all class 1 - the driving is far also (about 8 hours to the White Mountain campsite of Grand View). I am limiting the number of people, since it gets too hard to organise this type of trip with a large group...

Anyway, enough said - Here is the plan :

1. Leave Bay area very early on Saturday morning (around 5am)
2. Drive over Tioga pass (open already and head down to Mono Lake
3. Off to visit the ghost town of Bodie
4. Drive down Owens valley and arrive at the campsite in evening (it is about 9,000ft elevation and offers stunning views of the Sierra for almost its whole length!)
5. Up early and climb White Mountain
6. Stay at campsite second night
7. Visit Bristlecone Pine forest - one of the most amazing places on earth
   

8. For those wishing to go home on Memorial Day, leave in the late morning for the drive home. If you have a 4x4 there is an awesome trail down side of the mountain with a few fun river crossings.
9. For those like me who plan to take a day off work, camp a final night either up high or in the Owens Valley. Then the next day go on a natural hot springs crawl! There are many in the area... Drive home and hopefully avoid the traffic!

1. Name
2. Can you drive? If so, how many passengers?
3. Where would be a good place for you to carpool (no promises here!)
4. Which day do you want to come back Mon. or Tues.?
5. Tent? If so, can you share.. with how many?
6. What is the highest altitude you have been hiking to?
7. Can you dance, sing, tell a story or a joke at 14,000ft :-)

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Jun 2-3: Biking & Camping (Erhhung)(*)

• Departure: June 1st, Friday afternoon
• Return: June 3rd, 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 about 40 miles on Saturday and the rest on Sunday
• Lodging: camping at D.L. Bliss SP in south Tahoe
• Cost: $5/person for camping + travel costs + meals
• Sing-up required: see below
• Route Map

A sequel to the wonderful Mendocino biking trip a couple of months ago, this bike trip around Lake Tahoe is another popular yet demanding ride ( http://www.tahoesbest.com/Biking/bikeroad.htm). Lots of people ride this strenuous 72-mile loop in a single day, but most are out to prove their cycling prowess :) We will do this at a more leisurely pace (but not necessarily easy!) and enjoy the Lake's scenic beauty from every angle and as well as getting a tour of all the towns surrounding it.

The plan is to drive up to DL Bliss state park in southwest Lake Tahoe on Friday and camp overnight. On early Saturday morning we will leave at least one car behind (for storing valuables and camping equipment, etc.) and haul our bikes to Incline Villiage, which is almost on the opposite side of the lake in Nevada. We leave our cars there and start riding clockwise around the lake on SR-28. There are enough towns and parks along the way that we won't have trouble finding places to get water refills and take a lunch break. We end the day riding through South Lake Tahoe and back to our campsite. The park has flush toilets and showers (bring quarters!) which we'll all appreciate after a long ride. On Sunday morning we pack up our campsite and leave our extra vehicle and gear somewhere where we can park for the day. We then continue our ride up SR-89, doing lunch around Tahoe City. When we arrive back at our cars, we'll drive back south and rescue our lone car and grab dinner in South Lake Tahoe before heading home on US-50.

There are lots of uphills on this ride, and with the high altitude, you need to be reasonably fit (no one will be left behind, but you may not get to see the views if your head is always down struggling to breath; I believe there is also a TART bus that can "sag" you if it's absolutely necessary). I haven't done any biking around this area at all, so I don't know the terrain yet. I will try to post more detailed info such as mileage marks and hill-climb sections in follow-up messages.

GEAR

1. road bike or mountain bike (MTBs require more effort, but they do have granny-gear for hill-climbing). Also, unless you're a diehard cyclist that dig rock-hard seats, you may want to consider a foam-padded seat as it really helps on long distance rides.
2. bike helmet (required
3. two water bottles or a Camelback
4. bike pump and tools; spare tube
5. two-way radio (if you have one) layered non-cotton cycling wear and padded shorts
6. sunglasses and sunblock
7. windbreaker
8. energy bars
9. pocket camera
10. money and ID
11. I'll give everyone a route slip before the ride

1. Camping gear - tent, sleeping bag & pad, stove, pots
2. Food - 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner. We will grab lunch at small shops along the way, and we'll do a celebratory dinner at a South Lake Tahoe restaurant after the ride

1. Name
2. Contact info (e-mail and phone #s)
3. Location (where you want to leave from)
4. Vehicle? (how many people + gear)
5. Bike rack? (how many bikes)
6. Camping gear? (tent, stove)

Take me to the top!

Jun 9-10: Kayaking & Camping at Point Reyes (Erik & Serg)(*)

• Location: Tomales Bay
• URLs:
  • Kayak Rental
  • Map
  • PointReyes.net
  • Bay Area Sea Kayakers
• Meet: Saturday morning, 8am at Bechtel
  
• Return: Sunday night
• Driving time: About 1.5 to 2 hours
• Rain policy: No cancellation, unless very rough weather prevents us from kayaking
• Expenses: driving fees, campsite fees, kayak rental ($85 single, $60 per person double)
• Deadline for signup: Sunday, June 3rd

Park Description:
Tomales Bay State Park is attached to Point Reyes National Seashore.
>From the Tamal Saka website:
"Lined with remote beaches, lagoons and brushy hillsides, the glassy and protected waters of Tomales Bay are a kayaking paradise. As the largest unspoiled coastal embayment on the coast of California, the Bay is a haul-out and pupping site for harbor seals and home to 45 species of fish, a variety of rare ducks and 25,000 wintering loons, grebes, cormorants, geese and other open-water birds. The Bay's nutrient and clean water serves as a major spawning ground for Pacific herring and an ideal environment for crab, cod, perch and halibut. Rare plant habitats dominate the Bay's landscape and you might hear the distant cries of tule elk wandering the forested ridges as your kayak glides across the Bay."

** READ INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO BRING AND EXPECT
We will be renting shared sit-on-top kayaks (safe). Those who have taken a self rescue class, can rent a closed kayak. Single kayaks are also available. You will have to sign a waiver to rent. When you rent the kayak and paddle you are entering into a deal with the kayak renter - not Stanford Outing Club. You will have a lifejacket but I would not recommend kayaking to people who can't swim. You should bring a towel and clothing to change into after the trip. You would be very foolish not to being good waterproof sunblock (35+), UV blocking sunglasses and a hat (all whether or not you are normally concerned by the sun - you get baked when on water).

Equipment:

• Tamal Saka will be providing: life vest, spray skirt, wetsuits (for those in sit-on-tops)
• You should also bring:
  1. Windbreaker
  2. Sunscreen
  3. Hat
  4. Water
  5. Clothes - artificial fabrics, clothes & shoes you can get wet
  6. Bring at least one extra set of clothes to change into in case you get wet.
  7. Use small bags (not large backpacks) as items need to be stowed in/on the kayak
  8. Food - Breakfast and dinner will be handled socially. (i.e. some folks will do dinner, others breakfast). Final list will be sent w/ confirmations. Let me know if you have a preference. Everyone should bring 2 lunches and snacks.
  9. Normal camping equipment (stoves, tents, etc.)

How to sign up:
To sign up send a message by Sunday, June 3rd to erikpeterson__no_spam__onebox.com

Please include in the message the following information:

1. Name
2. Phone
3. Camping equipment you have (tent, sleeping bag, stove, water filter, etc.)
4. Kayak rental: (a) bring own boat (b) want to rent boat, specify single or shared (we will do partner matching) and open/closed preference.
5. Previous kayaking experience, if any.
6. Are you willing to drive and if yes, how many people can your car take (including equipment)?

Trip "leaders":
Erik Peterson
Sergey Loginowski

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Jun 10: Samuel P. Taylor Park (Vicky)

• Length of hike: 7 - 10 miles
• Elevation gain: 1300 feet
• Meet: 8:30am at Bechtel I-Center (Stanford)
• Driving time: 1.5-2 hrs (approx)
• Weather forecast (Sunday): Sunny, Hi: 72F
• Hike intensity: Moderate
• Optional dinner on the way back.

Official Park Description
Samuel P. Taylor State Park has over 2,700 acres of wooded countryside in the steep rolling hills of Marin County north of San Francisco. The park features a unique contrast of coast redwoods groves and open grassland.

The park features a variety of flowers and trees, including oak, tanoak, madrone, live oak, laurel and Douglas fir. California native wildflowers include buttercups, milkmaids, and Indian paintbrush.

The most common animal in the park is the black-tailed deer. There are also raccoons, striped skunks and gray foxes. Silver salmon and steelhead trout migrate up Papermill Creek to spawn.

Hike Description
The plan is to start at Devil's Gulch, follow Bill's trail to Stairstep Falls, then to Barnabe peak. After enjoying the view at the summit, we can either hike down the fire road to the west (7 miles), or take the Ridge trail to see the southeast side of the park and then follow the trail parallel to Sir Francis Drake back to Devil's Gulch.

Driving Direction To Trailhead

1. Take HW 280 North
2. 280 ends at 19th Ave
3. Turn slight left onto 19th Ave
4. Merge with 101 and cross Golden Gate bridge
5. Drive north on 101 for about 7.5 miles
6. Take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd exit west towards San Anselmo
7. Drive for about 15 miles on Sir Francis Drake (through towns of Ross, Fairfax and Lagunitas) to Samuel P Taylor Park's entrance
8. Drive another mile and park in the pullout across from Devil's Gulch Horse Camp

Note:

• Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, etc.
• Sturdy shoes recommended.
• If you wish to meet us at the trailhead, please contact the leader.

Take me to the top!

Jun 16: Forest of Nisene Marks (Sundar)

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Jun 17: Mount Madonna County Park (Bill)

• Location: Mount Madonna County Park (just south of Gilroy)
• Length of hike: 7 - 10 miles
• Elevation gain: 1300 feet initially + some up and down
• Meet: 9:00am at Bechtel I-Center (Stanford)
• Driving time: 1.5 hrs (approx)
• Hike intensity: Moderate
• Optional dinner/sightseeing in historic San Juan Batista
• URL: http://santaclaracounty.org/parks/prkpages/madonna.htm

After driving by Gilroy and filling our lungs with the wonderful scent of garlic, we will start the hike at Sprig Lake (which is currently dry, so no need to bring a bathing suit). We will ascend Mt. Madonna on a fairly steep, but short trail. After reaching the top we will take in the view as we enjoy lunch. The rest of the day should be fairly relaxed as we stroll by the ruins of the Cattle Baron Henry Miller's summer home and through a large grassy meadow. We will also pay a visit to the Giant Twins, two large redwoods, at the southern edge of the park.

Afterwards, for those that are interested, we will stop in the historic mission town of San Juan Batista for dinner and possibly some sightseeing -- part of Alfred Hitchcocks movie "Vertigo" was filmed here.

Trip "leader": Bill Shapiro (bill_shapiro__no_spam__yahoo.com) 650-465-6141

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Jun 23-24: Trinity Alps Backpacking (Erhhung)(*)

• Departure: June 22nd, Friday afternoon Camping Friday night at the Oak Bottom campground at Whiskeytown Lake, just west of Redding (approx. 5 hours drive from Stanford)
• Return: June 24th, Sunday late evening The drive back will take around 7 hours, so don't expect to return home before 10pm.
• Trails: Long Canyon Trail, located 24 miles north of Weaverville on CA Hwy 3. It will take us about 2 hours to get from the Whiskeytown Lake campsite to the trailhead, which includes a stop at Weaverville briefly to pick up our hiking permits. Long Canyon Trail ends at Deer Lake after 6.8 miles, at which point we do the Four Lakes Loop for another 5.2 miles (this is all on Sunday).
• Camping: On Saturday we'll camp at a flat area just after Deer Lake (7.3 miles in and at 7500 ft). We'll take a swim break at Deer Lake to relax after the long climb.
• Total Distance: 19 miles over 2 days
• Elevation Gain: approx 6,000 ft - there is quite a bit of uphill on this hike, but it will all be worth it when you see the summer wildflowers, lush meadows and lakes with surrounding mountain peaks.
• Highlights: I picked this trail because of the lakes, so we will have plenty of opportunity to cool off (or freeze our bottoms - most lakes in Trinity Alps are rather chilly).
• Sign-up required: see bottom

If time permits, we will try to climb up to Siligo Peak, which is only a few hundred feet above the main trail on a steep but non-technical use trail. On the summit, "the 360-degree view emcompasses Sawtooth Mountain to the west, Seven Up Peak to the east and, on the eastern horizon, Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak."

Here's a description of Summit Lake: "The startlingly clear blue water of Summit (at 7350 ft and 13 acres, it's the highest and biggest of the 4 lakes) is perched in a basin of red metamorphic rock. The lake appears to sit in a volcanic crater, but in fact it's in a glacier-carved bowl like other lakes in the Alps."

And another for Bee Tree Gap, a high pass on the Long Canyon Trail: "As you continue up [towards Bee Tree Gap], look for colorful explosions of summer wildflowers along the trail where little streams nourish sprays of monkshood, leopard lilies, Indian paintbrush, and scarlet gilia. Just before reaching the top of the meadow, the trail descends briefly on rocky tread to cross the creek at the bottom of the canyon, passes a golden field of yellow lupine, then climbs the south wall on several switchbacks to a hanging meadow. An icy stream emerges from under a semipermanent snowbank here ... you might want to allow time for at least a short snowball fight." :)

This trip requires a lot of driving, especially for a 2-day weekend trip, so we probably won't be back home until very late Sunday. It also means that we must make very efficient use of our time, like starting our daily trek by 9am.

Gear List

This is my standard spring/summer backpacking list, so not all items may apply to this trip.

General:

backpack, of course
sleeping bag (40 degrees or below)
sleeping pad, and pillow (optional)
tent and tarp
2 one-liter water bottles (like 2 regular Nalgenes)
backpack cover or big garbage bags (in case it rains)
water filter and/or iodine tablets
trowel (small shovel for crapping)
toilet paper
sunblock
sunglasses
first aid kit (mole skin, tape, bandages, etc.)
insect repellent
candle lantern (optional)
headlamp or flashlight
spare batteries
pocket knife
camera and film
map and compass
two-way radio (if you have one)
whistle
toiletries
hand lotion
money and ID
zip-loc bags
plastic grocery bags (for trash, etc.)
hiking pole(s) (optional)
bear rope
entertainment (ghost stories, cards, etc.)

Clothing:

sturdy boots (waterproof if possible)
tevas or birkenstocks (may have to cross streams)
swimsuit and towel
2 pairs of thick hiking socks (non-cotton is best; a couple pairs of thin liner socks are also helpful)
layered undershirts and underwear (non-cotton if possible); convertable shorts/pants work best
water-proof jacket or similar, with hood
hats (for shade in the day)
bandanas

Cooking:

stove and lighter
fuel bottle and fuel
pots and pan
thermost bottle (good for tea)
fork and spoon (plastic is best)
cup or bowl (you'll eat everything out of it)
sturdy bag for food (we'll have to hang this bag on a tree with bear rope and carabiners)

Food (suggestions):

pasta or cup o' noodles
oatmeal packets
Luna bars or similar
dried fruits and nuts
gatorade powder
chocolate (dessert)
tea bags or hot chocolate
bread
lunches will generally be sandwiches, so avocado, carrots and spreads are good), but we can always boil water if necessary

Sign-up

Please send me the following info if you're interested in coming. I'll collect the sign-ups and send an update by Tuesday evening.

• Name
• Contact info (e-mail and phone #s; mobile if you have one)
• Location (where you prefer to leave from and when on Fri.)
• Vehicle (can you drive, and, if yes, how many people can you take, including gear?)
• Water filter (do you have one?)
• Tent (how many people?)
• Stove, fuel & pots

Your trip leader: Erhhung Yuan (erhhung__no_spam__alum.mit.edu)

Take me to the top!

Jun 23: Forest of Nisene Marks (Sundar)

• Where: Forest of Nisene Marks
• When: June 23, 2001. (Saturday), 8.00 am at the Bechtel I Center, Stanford
• Who: Sundar Iyer (Trek Leader)
• How long: 15 miles
• How high: 1400 ft.
• Driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Important: No Drinking Water inside the park. Get atleast 2 liters of water.
• Park Web Site: http://cal-parks.ca.gov/central/santacruz/fnmsp465.htm
• Dinner: Yes, we will indulge ourselves in Ambrosia after the hike either in Aptos or Santa Cruz.
• Why: That is a philosophical question...

Meet at the International Center at 8:00am, or at the park (Porter Family Picnic Area) at 9:30am. Please note that there's no drinking water available in the park. Fill your canteens before you leave home.

Optional dinner in Aptos or Santa Cruz after the hike.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a little hard to find, primarily because you enter it by going through a shopping center! But if you consult a Santa Cruz map and/or follow these directions, you shouldn't get lost...

1) Take Highway 17 to Santa Cruz, then continue south on Highway 1 towards Watsonville and Monterey.

2) After driving approximately 6 miles on Highway 1, exit at "State Park Drive." (Do not take the similarly-named "Park Avenue" exit!).

3) At the botton of the exit ramp, turn left towards Aptos, and continue over Highway 1 until you come to the T-intersection at Soquel Drive.

4) Turn right on Soquel Drive. It will soon go underneath a railroad bridge and then curve left into the small town of Aptos.

5) Take the first left turn after the railroad bridge, onto Aptos Creek Road. It will go over a railroad track, through the "Aptos Station" shopping center and into the park. (If you soon see the Pacific Rim Buffet on your right, you are in the correct road.)

6) Follow Aptos Creek Road until it ends at the Porter

7) Family Picnic Area, about three miles.

This is where we'll start the hike. (Aptos Creek Road is narrow, winding, and mostly unpaved. It is also a favorite haunt of joggers and bicyclist. Drive carefully!)

This hike is organized by Sundar Iyer, who has never visited the park (but obviously wants to!) You can also call him at (650) 575 9659.

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June 28: Outing Club Potluck!!!

New prospective "members" are welcome to come and learn about the club. Directions to the Bechtel I-Center can be found here.

If you would like to lead a hike, or some other activity, but can't come to the meeting, please send an email to Jonathan Karpick

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