web-site:
http://www.nps.gov/muwo/home.htm
Important Notes:
1) Must bring working flash flight
to this hike.
2) Park your car along the road near the lower
parking lot since
the park will be closed by the time
we get back.
Let's get back in shape for the summer backpacking season with
this nice and strenuous hike. We have done this hike before but
in the reverse direction. The idea this time is to get to the
East Peak in time for sunset, and hang out to see the July 4th
fireworks from around the bay area.
The hike starts at the Muir Woods Ranger station, heading
towards Stinson Beach via the Dipsea trail (6 miles). After a
break on the beach we'll make our way up the slopes to the East
Peak of Mt Tam (7 miles). We should be there in time for sunset.
And if it's clear we will hang out, have some snack/dinner, and
wait for the fire-works that start around 9:30 PM. We'll head
back at around 10:00 PM to our cars (4 miles) and start heading
home at around mid-night.
Bring: sturdy hiking boots, flashlight/headlamp, Sunscreen,
hats, lunch/dinner and snacks, 2 liters of water/drinks, a warm
jacket, and some money for entrance to Muir Woods and to
reimburse the driver.
Please let me know if you can help organize the car-pools at
Stanford, since I will be meeting up with the group at the Muir
Woods Ranger station.
Trip "leader": Johnny Ng
(jng99@stanford.edu), 650-926-4490(o).
Take me to the top!
Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach Hike, (Craig)
* Date: July 11 (Sun)
* Total length of hike: About 8
miles
* Total elevation gain: 1700 feet
* park url/map:
www.nps.gov/goga
* Driving distancetime: 45 miles, 1 hour
approx. each way
* Cost: Mileage
* RAIN CANCELS
* NO
NEED TO RSVP
* Meet: 9:15 am at the Bechtel I-Center,
Stanford, or 10:30 am at trailhead
* Estimated finish time: 5
PM (back at trailhead)
* Optional dinner afterwards (I'm
taking suggestions)
* bring: lunch, sunscreen, plenty of
water, coat (remember it might be
somewhat cool at the
coast), optional bathing suit and towel, all the
usual stuff.
Directions from Stanford:
Turn R on CAMPUS DR E - go 0.7
mi
Continue on JUNIPERO SERRA
BLVD - go 0.9 mi
Bear R on SANTA CRUZ AVE - go
0.1 mi
Turn L on SAND HILL RD - go
1.4 mi
Take I-280 NORTH towards SAN
FRANCISCO - go 26.1 mi
Continue on CA-1 NORTH towards
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - go 7.3 mi
Take the US-101 NORTH exit
towards GOLDEN GATE BR - go 6.2 mi
Take the CA-1 NORTH exit
towards MILL VALLEY/STINSON BEACH - go 0.1 mi
Continue on CA-1 - go 0.6 mi
Turn L on TENNESSEE VALLEY RD - go 2 mi to trailhead
This is a moderate hike that will have some significant ups
and downs, but we'll try not to rush things.
We will start on the very flat Tennessee Valley Trail, but
soon make a right onto the Fox Trail and up into the quail-laden
hills of the Marin Headlands. At the end of the Fox Trail we will
bear right onto Coyote Ridge Road and then a quick left onto
Middle Green Gulch Trail which will descend quickly to Muir
Beach. We may spend some time there, or decide to head back
(south) via the Coastal Trail, and make a stop at the secluded
Pirate's Cove beach (we will stop by here anyway, it's just a
matter of how much time we spend relatively at each one). We will
then continue our ascent up the Coastal Trail, where on a clear
day there are fantastic views of the ocean, Tennessee Valley,
Point Reyes and San Francisco. This trail will return to the
Tennessee Valley Trail. We will turn left to take in the lagoon
and our third beach before returning to the cars and the optional
dinner.
I will not be at Stanford on Sunday morning, so if you are
willing to coordinate the carpool, please drop me an email.
Trip "leader": Craig
Foster
cfoster01 (at) yahoo.com (408) 835-0676
Take me to the top!
July 18th(Sun), Downtown Mill Valley to U.S. Navy plane crash
site, and the summit of Mount Tamalpais (Neil)
* Destination: Mill Valley, Mount Tamalpais, plane crash
site
* Date: Sunday, July 18
* Hiking Distance: about 12
miles
* Elevation Gain: about 2,900 feet
* Driving
Mileage/Time: 45 miles from Stanford (about 1.25 hours each way)
* Cost: Gas and bridge toll. Free, unlimited time, street
parking
* No need to RSVP, but you are welcome to call with
questions: (510) 528-2434
* Meet: Bechtel I-Center at
8:30a.m. or Peets Coffee and Tea in downtown Mill Valley (88
Throckmorton Avenue) at 10:00 a.m.
* Estimated return time:
4:00 p.m.
* What to bring: water, hat, sunscreen, camera,
lunch and all the other usual paraphernalia
* Please be in a
physical condition which will enable you to complete a strenuous
hike
This is a strenuous hike that will have a 2,500 foot climb in
the first 3 miles. However, as they say, "It's all downhill
from there." You will have many opportunities to take
photographs of wonderful views. Bring your camera, fresh
batteries and ample memory.
I will be leaving from Berkeley, so I will not be at Stanford
on Sunday morning; if you are willing to coordinate the carpool,
please call or send me an email.
HIKE ROUTE AND DESCRIPTION
We will start at Peets Coffee and Tea at 88 Throckmorton
Avenue in downtown Mill Valley. Sunday is the only day that
parking is free with unlimited time in Mill Valley. So park
wherever you see a parking location, and walk to Peets Coffee to
join the group. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. and I expect
the hike to take around 6 hours. The first mile will be on paved
roads; we will pass some lovely homes as we start out ascent.
Then it's onto the Temelpa Trail. The Temelpa Trail is quite old
and steep, it is shown on maps dating back to the 1880's.
We will take a little detour off the Temelpa Trail to view the
little known and hidden site of a Navy plane that crashed into
the side of Mount Tamalpais in November, 1944. The Navy seaplane
departed from Alameda Naval Air Station at about 11:00 p.m.; the
destination was Hawaii. For some inexplicable reason, the plane,
rather than heading west over the Golden Gate Bridge, continued
north and, holding ample fuel for a 3,000 mile journey, slammed
into the mountain at 1,450 feet elevation. All 8 crewmembers were
killed. A trail was cut to the site of the crash, and the great
majority of plane components and all human remains were removed.
However, there is still a surprising amount of debris at the
point of impact...60 years after the crash.
After we view the plane crash site we will continue to climb
up the Temelpa Trail to the Verna Dunshee Trail which circumvents
the summit about 200 feet from the top. Then it's up to the East
Peak summit (2,571 feet) for some excellent views. Water and
snacks are available below the summit. We then start our descent
back to Mill Valley via a circuitous route. We will head around
the north and east sides of the mountain, going down Eldridge
Grade, Indian Road Trail and some other lovely trails.
There will be an optional dinner afterwards at Jennie Low's
Chinese restaurant (38 Miller Avenue (415) 388- 8868)
You can view a hike that I did which has some similarities to
the hike scheduled for July 18:
http://www.mishalov.net/mt-tam-27june04/mt-tam.html
Trip "organizer": Neil Mishalov
neil@mishalov.com
(510) 528-2434
Cell Phone: (510)
520-4397 (please, day of hike only)
Directions from Stanford:
Turn R on CAMPUS DR E - go 0.7 mi
Continue on JUNIPERO
SERRA BLVD - go 0.9 mi
Bear R on SANTA CRUZ AVE - go 0.1 mi
Turn L on SAND HILL RD - go 1.4 mi
Take I-280 NORTH
towards SAN FRANCISCO - go 26.1 mi
Continue on CA-1 NORTH
towards GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE - go 7.3 mi
Take the US-101 NORTH
exit towards GOLDEN GATE BR - go 7.5 mi
Take the CA-1 NORTH
exit towards MILL VALLEY/STINSON BEACH - go 0.1 mi
Stay
straight to go onto ALMONTE BLVD - go 0.4 mi
Turn SLIGHT
RIGHT onto MILLER AVE - go 1.8 mi
Turn RIGHT onto
THROCKMORTON AVE
FIND A PLACE TO PARK
Walk to PEETS
COFFEE at 88 THROCKMORTON AVE
I hope to see you on Sunday.
Take me to the top!
July 24th (Sat), Tomales Point (Chris K)
If anyone can organize car pools at Stanford, that would be
greatly appreciated. E-mail me at crk5(at)comcast.net
*
Destination: Tomales Point Trail / Point Reyes National Seashore
* Date: July 24, 2004 (Saturday)
* Total length of hike:
9.4 miles
* Total elevation gain: 900 feet
* Further
information on Point Reyes National Seashore at
http://www.nps.gov/pore/home.htm
* Driving distance/time: 87
miles / 2 hours approx. each way
* Cost: Mileage + Golden
Gate Bridge toll
* Organizer: Chris (contact info below)
*
RAIN CANCELS .... In case of doubt, an e-mail will be sent the
day before if the hike is going to be canceled due to weather
forecast.
* NO NEED TO RSVP
* Meet: 8:45 am at the
Bechtel I-Center, Stanford; 11:15 am at the Pierce Point Ranch
parking lot.
* Estimated finish time: 5 PM (back at
trailhead)
* Optional low-cost dinner afterward.
* bring:
lunch, sunscreen, plenty of water, windbreaker/fleece (remember
it might be somewhat cool at the coast), all the usual stuff.
*Description: We will hike out Tomales Point, see trial
description below. DIRECTIONS from Stanford to Point Reyes
National Seashore:
* Turn left on Mayfield Ave.
* Turn
right on Campus Dr.
* Turn right on Junipero Serra Blvd.
*
Turn right on Santa Cruz and immediately turn left on Sand Hill
Rd.
* Take I-280 north 27 miles.
* Keep left on CA-1,
drive 7 miles
* Take US 101 north 10 miles.
* Take the
Sir Francis Drake Boulevard exit west toward San Anselmo, and
drive 20 miles to the town of Olema.
* At Olema, turn right
(north) on Highway 1 for about 150 yards.
* Turn left on Bear
Valley Road. Drive 2.2 miles on Bear Valley Road until it joins
with Sir Francis Drake Highway.
* Bear left on Sir Francis
Drake Highway and drive 5.6 miles.
* Take the right fork onto
Pierce Point Road.
* Drive nine miles to the Pierce Point
Ranch parking area.
Trip "leader": Chris Kimball
crk5 (at)
comcast.net
510-883-9094
Cell phone on the day of the
hike only: 301-509-5542
Trail Description (from A. Brown's "101 Great
Hikes of SF Bay Area"):
If seeing wildlife is one of the reasons you enjoy hiking, the
Tomales Point Trail is sure to satisfy. You'll have a good chance
at spotting big, furry animals before you even get out of your
car (and not just the usual Point Reyes bovines).
The wildlife is abundant because Tomales Point Trail is
located in Point Reyes National Seashore's tule elk preserve.
Before 1860, thousands of native tule elk roamed Tomales Point,
but in the late 19th century the animals were hunted out of
existence. The creation of the preserve was the National Park
Service's attempt to reestablish the elk in their native habitat.
Their efforts have succeeded; today the herd is numbered at 450
and going strong.
Seeing the magnificent tule elk is almost a given. Frequently
they're hanging out in large numbers near the trailhead parking
lot. Often you spot them as you drive in on Pierce Point Road.
Once you're out on the trail, you'll probably see more elk as
well as other wildlife. If you hike early in the morning, before
many other people have traipsed down the trail, check the dirt
path for footprints. I've seen mountain lion tracks as well as
more common raccoon and elk prints. While hiking, I've
encountered large jackrabbits, various harmless snakes, big fuzzy
caterpillars, and a variety of birds. Once I had to make a wide
circle off the path to avoid a big skunk who was walking down the
trail ahead of me. He was just moseying along, indifferent to my
presence.
It's 4.7 miles to the trail's end at the tip of Tomales Point,
but you don't have to walk that far to have a great trip. Only a
mile or two of hiking will allow splendid coastal and Tomales Bay
views, plus a probable wildlife encounter. Set your own trail
distance and turn around when you please. Just make sure you pick
a clear day for this trip; although you may still see tule elk in
the fog, you'll miss out on the trail's blue-water vistas. And be
sure to carry a few extra layers. If the weather is clear, it's
almost guaranteed to be windy. The Tomales Point Trail begins at
Pierce Point Ranch, one of the oldest dairies in Point Reyes. The
ranch manufactured milk and butter for San Francisco dinner
tables in the 1850s. Begin hiking around the western perimeter of
the ranch, or take a few minutes to inspect its buildings.
Interpretive signs describe the history of Pierce Point's dairy
business. The trail curves uphill around the ranch, then heads
northwest along the bluff tops toward Tomales Point, the
northernmost tip of Point Reyes. The treadway is wide, smooth,
and easy to hike from beginning to end. Wildflowers bloom
profusely in the spring, particularly poppies, gold fields, tidy
tips, and bush lupine.
At a half mile out, you reach the first short climb, in which
you gain about 100 feet. Turn around and look behind you as you
ascend-you are bracketed by the ocean on one side and Tomales Bay
on the other. On clear days, the water views are exquisite. Look
for forested Hog Island in Tomales Bay, a popular pull-up spot
for kayakers. At 1.8 miles, the path starts to descend, supplying
a good view of Bird Rock jutting upward from the sea and the town
and campground at Lawson's Landing across Tomales Bay. At 2.5
miles, the trail reaches its highest point. Views of Bodega Bay
and the Sonoma Coast to the north are a standout. Continuing
onward, you'll descend to the site of an outpost of Pierce Point
Ranch, then pass by windswept Bird Rock, often covered with
pelicans and cormorants.
In the final three quarters of a
mile past Bird Rock, the trail becomes a bit sketchy. Masses of
yellow bush lupine carpet the sandy soil in April and May. Amid a
series of low dunes, the trail peters out, then vanishes. But the
route is obvious; just keep hiking until the land runs out.
You'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Bodega Head to the
north, Tomales Bay to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the
west. Look closely and you can discern tiny boats departing the
harbor at Bodega Bay.
Take me to the top!
Butano Grand Loop (Jan)
* When: Saturday, July 17
* Meet: Bechtel, 10 am or
Trailhead, 11:15
* Distance: 11 miles
* Elevation Change:
1300 feet
* Bring: layered clothing (beware of coastal fog
:), lunch, lots of water, sunscreen
* Rain Policy: rain
cancels :)
* Cost: $6 Park Entrance fee per car + mileage +
optional dinner
* Driving Time/Mileage: 1 hr, 15 minutes/ 30
mi.
* Directions:
o Take Junipero Serra to
SAND HILL RD 3.7 mi.
o Turn Right on PORTOLA RD
0.8
o Turn Left on LA HONDA RD 10.2
o Bear Left on PESCADERO RD 4.8
o Continue on
PESCADERO CREEK RD/PESCADERO RD 1.6
o Continue
on PESCADERO CREEK RD 5.9
o Turn Left on
Cloverdale RD 4.2
o Turn Left at Park Entrance
and Park just past Kiosk 0.3
* Optional Dinner Afterward
Description
Butano isn?t as dramatically beautiful as other local parks.
But like the girl next door Butano is so nice, so personable and
so comfortable that you discover that you may like her more than
the flashy superstars. O.K., let?s end the analogy. Butano is
simply a great place to hike [Neil Wiley]. Yes, there are steep
parts there (so common in BA trails), but as we are going to hike
slowly and enjoy the views, I would rate this hike as moderate.
We will start on the Ano Nuevo trail, follow it to the Olmo
Fire Road, and turn right on the Gazos trail. As we ascend we get
better views of the coast. The trail rejoins the Olmo Fire Road.
We'll probably lunch at an overlook just off the trail. We'll
backtrack slightly to the Indian trail, follow that to Canyon
Trail, to Jackson Flats trail through the Redwoods and back to
the parking lot. We'll look for a dinner place afterwards, if
there is an interest.
Trip "leader": Jan
Chomyszyn
Questions ?
jan (at) ccrma.stanford.edu or
408-828-5784 (cell)
Take me to the
top!
July 22-25: Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, White Wolf to
Tuolumne Meadows (Craig)
Depart: Thursday evening, camp at Hodgdon Meadow
Return: Early Sunday evening
Distance: 28.7 miles over 3
days
Elevation Change: 4500 feet
Maximum Elevation: 9500
feet or so
Cost: Mileage, $20 park entrance fee per car or
National Park Pass, $5
per person wilderness permit, $3.60
per person first night camping fee
Maximum Group Size: 10
urls: www.nps.gov/yose (general)
http://www.nps.gov/yose/pphtml/maps.html
(map)
Note that this trip requires you take Friday off, so make sure
you can swing that.
I thought about trying to repeat Amit's feat and do this in a
day, but then I decided I'd take a long weekend and enjoy the
scenery a little longer. We will leave the Bay Area Thursday
evening and drive up and camp at Hodgdon Meadow, just inside the
Park boundary. It seems every time I have to deal with
first-come, first-serve sites I get into trouble, so I figure
this keeps things simple for a group arriving in multple cars.
We will get up early (6ish) Friday morning, run the car
shuttle, pick up necessary bear cannisters and permits, and start
the trip from White Wolf. From there we descend into the canyon.
We will aim to camp the first night at Pate Valley. For the
second day, we'll continue up the Canyon to Waterwheel Falls and
camp a little before Glen Aulin. The third day we'll hike out to
Tuolumne meadows and home.
This is supposed to be a beautiful gorge, and the falls on the
second day are supposed to be amazing, so if you're up for a bit
of adventure, drop me a line and let me know the following:
* Name:
* e-mail:
* Are you willing to drive?
*
If yes, how many people can you fit, with gear?
* Do you
have:
a backpacking tent (number of people)?
a stove?
a bear cannister?
a water filter?
a National Parks Pass?
Have you led an Outing Club trip in the past year? When and
from where would you prefer to leave? Do you have a cell phone
number you would be willing to share with the group? Preference
will be given to trip leaders who respond by 5pm Thursday.
Questions?
contact Craig Foster
trip "leader"
cfoster01 (at) yahoo (dot) com
(408) 835-0676
Take me to the top!
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Saturday 7/31 ( David and
Adriana)
Destination: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Tour
Leaders: Adriana and David
Date: July 31, 2004
Hiking
Distance: 11 miles
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Driving
Mileage: 39.4 mi from Stanford (1hour 15 min each way)
Cost:
$5.00 entrance fee + round trip carpool costs
Meet: Bechtel I
Center at 9:00 am
Leaders Contact: (650) 861-0143
No need
to RSVP
What to see Old growth forest in undeveloped park areas,
Waddell Creek, Berry Creek Falls, Silver Cascade, Golden Falls.
Trail head location Parking lot across from park headquarters
at the large marker for the Redwood Trail. Continue past the
restrooms and cross the bridge over Opal Creek.
Directions to the Park:
1. Start at 422 LAGUNITA DR,
STANFORD - go < 0.1 mi
2. Turn on MAYFIELD AVE - go 0.1 mi
3. Turn on CAMPUS DR E - go 0.5 mi
4. Make a Sharp Turn
on JUNIPERO SERRA BLVD - go 1.5 mi
5. Turn on PAGE MILL RD -
go 1.3 mi
6. Bear to take I-280 SOUTH towards SAN JOSE - go
7.6 mi
7. Take the CA-85 SOUTH exit towards GILROY - go 2.6
mi
8. Take the S DE ANZA BLVD exit towards DE ANZA BOULEVARD
- go 0.2 mi
9. Turn on S DE ANZA BLVD - go 0.5 mi
10.
Continue on SARATOGA SUNNYVALE RD - go 2.4 mi
11. Bear on BIG
BASIN WAY - go 0.5 mi
12. Bear on BIG BASIN WAY/CONGRESS
SPRINGS RD - go 6.9 mi
13. Continue on BIG BASIN WAY - go 2.3
mi
14. BIG BASIN WAY becomes CA-9 - go 3.8 mi
15.
Continue on BIG BASIN WAY - go 9.3 mi
16. Arrive at 21600 BIG
BASIN WAY, BOULDER CREEK
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest State
Park, established in 1902. Home to the largest continuous stand
of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco, the park
consists of over 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering
redwood forest, with mixed conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian
habitats. Elevations in the park vary from sea level to over
2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp near the ocean
to sunny, warm ridge tops.
It has a surprising number of waterfalls and a wide variety of
environments from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered
slopes. Many animals such as deer, raccoon, coyote, fox, an
occasional bobcat, mountain lion, and many bird
species--including California quail, egret, heron, hawk, owl,
woodpecker, and the endangered marbled murrelet--call Big Basin
home.
The hike to Berry Creek Falls (the one we are going to do)
affords park visitors perhaps the best opportunity to experience
the wide range of habitats represented in Big Basin. Be prepared
for a 4- to 6-hour hike roundtrip going from moderately difficult
to strenuous. The falls are actually a series of four cascades:
Golden Falls, named for their lovely golden shimmer; Cascade
Falls, the most dramatic of the falls, dropping a breathtaking 80
feet; Silver Falls, a silvery cascade; and Berry Creek Falls, the
lower falls and perhaps the prettiest of the four. Together, the
falls drop over 200 feet, creating a refreshing pool for park
visitors to rest beside.
What to bring: Windbreaker,
sunglasses, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, plenty of water, camera
lunch and snacks.
Take me to the top!
Desolation Wilderness, Mount Tallac and Heather Lake, August
6-8 (Ira)
*Signup required. See below for details.
Depart: Leave Friday evening and camp at "Campground
by the Lake" in South Lake Tahoe
Return: Early Sunday
evening
Distance: 15 miles over two days
Elevation
Change: A loop trail with maximum elevation 9,735' and minimum
elevation 6,378'
Maximum Elevation: 9,735' (top of Mt.
Tallac)
Cost: Mileage and $12 for wilderness permit and
campground fee
Maximum Group Size: 8
Web:
http://www.stanford.edu/~iwygant/des_wilderness_map.pdf
(route)
www.recreationintahoe.com/campground.htm
(Friday campground)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/wild/deso/
(Desolation Wilderness)
http://www.tahoeadventuresports.com/peakindex/south/mounttallac.htm
(Mount Tallac)
http://www.tahoeadventuresports.com/hikeindex/south/glenalpine.htm
(Glen Alpine trails)
We will leave the Bay Area around 5pm on Friday and drive to
South Lake Tahoe (about 4 hours) and camp at "Campground by
the Lake" in South Lake Tahoe. Saturday morning we will make
the short drive to the Mt. Tallac trailhead. From there, it's a
very strenuous 4.5 miles and 3,300' to the top of Mt. Tallac. The
trail passes Floating Island Lake and Cathedral Lake on the way
to reportedly spectacular views at the summit of Mt. Tallac. From
Mt. Tallac, it's about 4 miles downhill to Heather Lake where we
will camp Saturday night. Along the way, we will pass Gilmore and
Susie Lakes. On Sunday, we'll make the relatively flat 6.5 mile
hike back to the car and drive home.
The trip to Mt. Tallac is supposed to be one of the best hikes
in the Desolation Wilderness. We'll also get to check out some of
the awesome alpine lakes of Desolation Wilderness.
If you're interested, send an email to Ira with the following
information:
* Name:
* Email:
* Are you willing to
drive?
* If yes, how many people can your car fit with gear?
* Do you have:
A backpacking tent (number of people)?
A
stove?
A bear canister?
A water filter?
* Have you
had prior backpacking experience?
* Have you lead an Outing
Club trip in the past year?
* When and where would you prefer
to leave?
* Do you have a cell phone number that you would be
willing to share with the group?
Please send in your replies to
Ira Wygant (iwygant@stanford.edu) by Sunday, August 1.
Take me to the top!
"The Tour of Four Lakes" Marin
Municipal Water District, August 15, Sunday (Neil)
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REVISIONS TO THIS
HIKE, and I want to ensure that all potential hikers are aware of
the changes.
The route I originally planned is
actually longer and has more climbing than I indicated on the
original version of the below description. In fact, it was too
long and had too much climbing! So I have revised the route so
that the distance covered is about 16-17 miles and the total
accumulated elevation gain is somewhere between 2,500 - 3,500
feet. Sorry, but I am unable to be more precise. The highest
elevation we will reach on the hike is approximately 1,300 feet.
"Water, water everywhere, and not a
drop to drink." Samual Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner.
Mr. Coleridge was referring to seawater,
but please take his statement into serious consideration.
There is no potable water on the trail,
and the route is about 16 miles in distance. Sure, during parts
of the hike, we will be cruising around 4 reservoirs that were
constructed to provide drinking water for the local population.
Yes, in an emergency, one could drink from the reservoir water,
but, since the water has not yet be treated for human
consumption, the water may contain the Giardia Protozoa. So I
urge you to carry enough water to sustain yourself on a 16 miles
hike in the middle of August. Of course you could also bring a
water filtration/purification device.
I am classifying this hike as strenuous.
We will be on some remote trails and we will be on the trails for
more than 6 hours. Please take your physical conditioning and
endurance into consideration before joining this hike.
About 50% of the trails are exposed, so
I suggest that you bring a hat to protect yourself from the sun's
rays.
You may want to bring a good trail map
with you. I can recommend two excellent maps:
1. Trails of Mt. Tamalpais and the
Marin Headlands. Olmsted Maps. 9th edition
2. Mt. Tam Trail
Map. Tom Harrison Maps
You can find these maps in any good
bookstore, REI or other outdoor emporium.
The automotive route to Deer Park
School, the start of the hike, can be a little confusing to
navigate after you exit Hwy 101 at the San Rafael exit. So I have
scanned a copy of the AAA map that covers the surface roads from
the point where you exit Highway 101 North.
The map can be found here:
http://www.mishalov.net/15aug-map.html
Please note, those of you who are
interested in grabbing a delicious ice cold brewski and/or some
brewery snacks at the Ross Valley Brewery at the conclusion of
the hike, can also locate the brewery on the map.
The below info has also been updated.
The directions to Deer Valley School have been changed to provide
a more direct route to the start. I suggest that you do not use
the original version of the hike route and description.
That's about it. Hope to see you on
Sunday.
Neil
9 August
The below info has also been updated.
The directions to Deer Valley School have been changed to provide
a more direct route to the start. I suggest that you do not use
the original version of the hike route and description.
* Destination: Water Reservoirs on the North Side of Mount
Tamalpais
* Date: Sunday, August 15
* Hiking Distance:
about 16 miles
* Elevation Gain: I'm not sure, maybe
2,500-3,000 feet
* Driving Mileage/Time: about 60 miles from
Stanford (about 1.5 hours each way)
* Cost: Gas and bridge
toll. Free LIMITED parking at Deer Park School. Arrive early!
*
No need to RSVP, but you are welcome to e-mail with questions
*
Meet: Bechtel I-Center at 8:00 am or at Deer Park School,
Fairfax, at 10:00 am
* Estimated return time: 5:30 pm
*
What to bring: water, hat, sunscreen, camera, lunch and the other
usual paraphernalia
Amy Truong will be the Bechtel I-Center Car Pool Coordinator.
Cell: (650) 814-5774 (day of hike only)
HIKE ROUTE AND DESCRIPTION
Water is the Elixir of Life. Without water, life, as we know
it, would perish. Where does this elixir come from to nourish and
sustain the people of the greater San Francisco Bay Area?
You may know that most of the water that comes out of the
faucets of Stanford University, San Francisco, the East Bay and
San Jose originates in the snow pack of the High Sierra. You may
also know that the bitterly opposed construction of the Hetch
Hetchy Dam and water system, was an engineering marvel that took
over 10 years of hard labor before construction was finalized in
1923. There are more than 160 miles of huge pipes and tunnels
that carry the pristine and pure Sierra snow melt water by
gravity to most, but not all, of the people in the San Francisco
Bay Area.
The residents of southern Marin County are not recipients of
the potable water from the High Sierra. Their water supply is in
their back yard, and we will hike past four of the five man-made
reservoirs that comprise the Mount Tamalpais watershed land for
southern Marin County.
Lagunitas Reservoir: Constructed 1872 Phoenix Reservoir:
Constructed 1905 Alpine Reservoir: Constructed 1918 Bon Tempe
Reservoir: Constructed 1948
We will start our hike at Deer Park School and ascend to the
lovely Yolanda Trail, then down to Phoenix Reservoir. Some of the
other trails on this little jaunt are: Bill Williams Trail,
Tucker Trail, Lakeview Fire Road, Stocking Trail, Kent Trail,
Mandrone Trail and some other delightful trails.
There will be an optional dinner afterwards at the Ross Valley
Brewing Company (765 Center Boulevard, Fairfax (415) 485-1005)
Trip "leader": Neil Mishalov
neil(at)mishalov.com
(510) 528-2434
Cell: (510) 520-4397 (day of hike only)
Directions from Stanford:
Turn RIGHT on CAMPUS DR E
Continue on JUNIPERO SERRA BLVD
Bear RIGHT on SANTA CRUZ
AVE
Turn LEFT on SAND HILL RD
Take I-280 NORTH towards
SAN FRANCISCO -
Continue on CA-1 NORTH towards GOLDEN GATE
BRIDGE
Take the US-101 NORTH exit towards GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Cross the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Take US-101 NORTH toward SAN
RAFAEL
Take the SAN RAFAEL exit for downtown SAN RAFAEL
Turn
LEFT onto 3RD ST
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto 2ND ST
Turn
SLIGHT LEFT onto 4TH ST
Bear RIGHT at SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD
Turn LEFT on BANK STREET
Turn immediate LEFT on BROADWAY
Turn immediate RIGHT onto BOLINAS RD
Turn LEFT onto
PORTEOUS AVE
Bear right to remain on PORTEOUS AVE.
Drive
about 0.5 mile to the DEER PARK SCHOOL Park at the trailhead at
the end of the road.
In case of navigational questions about the automotive route
to the start of the hike, I suggest you bring a paper map of the
San Rafael and Fairfax area. The AAA "San Rafael" city
series map can be helpful (see above URL).
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY: If you have a cell phone and it is
functioning, call Marin Municipal Water District at 415-945-1455
In case of navigating questions
about the automotive route to the start of the hike, I suggest
you bring a paper map of the Mill Valley, San Anselmo, San Rafael
and Fairfax area.
Take me to the top!
McGee Creek to Cottonwood Pass, Aug 20 - Sep 6 (Shosh)
Possible to join to a part. My plan is to start every morning
very early (6:30-7:30am). Pace would not be fast.
Departing:
Thursday Aug 19 at 2-3pm from the East Bay.
Starting: Friday,
Sep 20 at 7am.
Returning: Night on Monday Sep 6.
Length:
201mi.
Day distance: 10-13.
Difficulty: Strenuous - Open
to experienced backpackers.
Driving Destination: ~270mi to
McGee Creek.
Group size: 4
Special requirements:
-BEAR CANISTER or rope to hang food high.
-Sleeping
somewhere 10,000' on the night before is a must to acclimate!!
-A trip to high alt +10,000' on the weekend before to
acclimate!!
Costs
- Wilderness Permit Reservation Fee: $20 per group.
- Car: gas.
- Resupply shipping
Notes:
* Resupplies in 2 points. You?ll carry your food
for 4 days, 6 days and 8 days.
* Thunderstorms can surprise
any time and can be few hours.
Please contact
shoshgrp(at)yahoo.com with the following details:
Name:
E-mail:
Work or home phone:
Cell phone:
Can you
Drive your own car:
How many people can fit in your car w/
gear:
Have you been backpacking and what was the longest:
Your backpacking experience level, # of trips and years:
Your backpacking experience in the high Sierras:
Your
departing location:
Take me to the top!
Little Lakes Valley, John Muir Wilderness (Henri)
* Destination: Little Lakes Valley in the John Muir
Wilderness (Eastern Sierras)
* Leave: Friday, Aug 6
afternoon, flexible, from Bechtel Int'l Center
* Return:
Sunday, Aug 8, late evening/night
* Driving time: 6-7 hours
* Le Bechtel, 11:
00 am, or 11:45 am in front of the park HQ
* DISTANCE: 11.5
miles
* ELEVATION CHANGE: 1000 ft
* BRING: Whatever you
like. You know,?food, water, clothes, sunscreen etc etc.?
*
RAIN POLICY: It's not going to rain
* DRIVING TIME/MILEAGE:
40-45 min/17 miles DIRECTIONS
* Take Page Mill? Road past 280
* After about 10-11 miles, Page Mill will intersect with
Skyline Blvd
* Continue past Skyline as Page Mill becomes
Alpine Road
* Drive 3.2 miles on Alpine
* Turn LEFT onto
Portola State Park Road
* Drive 3.3 miles to the Park HQ. The
road ends there.
HIKE ROUTE AND DESCRIPTION
Portola Redwoods State Park is situated in a rugged, natural
basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. It
has?some of the tallest redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.?Our
hike will take us to Peters Creek Grove, which is comprised of
old-growth redwoods, most of them?atleast 1000 years old. Many of
them are over 200 ft tall with a diameter exceeding 12 feet. What
is awe inspiring about this place is not individual trees, but
the ambience created by the sum total. ?This is one of Bay
Areas?few unspoiled areas. ?The grove is in a somewhat deep
canyon, which is probably why it was never logged. The hike will
start at 12 pm. From the park HQ, we will take?Slate Creek Trail.
The park HQ is at 400 ft. We will go up 600 ft to reach 1000 ft
in the next 1.5 miles, where we meet up with Summit Trail. We
will continue on Slate Creek Trail for the next 1.1 miles till we
reach Slate Creek Trail Camp. This part of the trail is quite
flat. We will take a short break here. From here, we will take
Bear Creek Trail and will go up 400 ft in the?next 1.4 miles to
reach the highest point of the hike, at 1400 ft. Then we will
decscend into the canyon where Peters Creek Grove is located.?
After 1 mile and a descent of?700 ft, we will get to Peters Creek
Loop, which is a 1.3 mile loop that will take us around the
grove.??We will do the loop and then take a short break before
starting back. While coming back, we will retrace our route till
the intersection with Summit Trail and Slate Creek Trail,? at
which point we will take Summit Trail back to the?park HQ. I
expect?the hike to take about five and a half?hrs, so we should
be back at the HQ by 5:30 pm.???
Most of the hike would be through the woods. So it is very
shaded. We will see?all kinds of trees along the way - redwoods,
douglas firs, oaks, manzanitas, pines etc.?We will also
encounter?a couple?of creeks
- Bear Creek and Peters
Creek.??On the Bear Creek Trail,?we can also see the wreck of a
vintage car down on the slope, probably a relic from the old
logging days.? For more information, check out the following
links :
- bayarea hiker website for Portola Redwoods -
http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/portola.html
- the official park map -
http://virtualparks.org/pics/portola-sp-v26.jpg
Now, there will be an optional
dinner afterwards. Make sure that you carpool with like minded
(dinner/non-dinner) people. Any questions, feel free to contact
moi,? Sundeep Abraham. email: snkabraham [at] yahoo.com.
Ph:
650-799-0989. No need to RSVP. But if you are coming straight to
the?park instead of carpooling from Stanford, you may want to
shoot me an e-mail.
Take me to the top!
August 27 (Friday) 7:30pm Lick Observatory concert, lecture
and telescope viewing (Mohammed)
IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS TRIP, PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR OWN
TICKET(S), PREFERABLY SOON AS THEY OFTEN SELL OUT.
DETAILS BELOW.
Destination: Lick Observatory, Mount
Hamilton
Date: Friday night, 730PM August 27, 2004.
Duration: approx 4 hours, 7:00PM - 11:00PM
Further info.:
http://www.ucolick.org/public/music.html
Driving time: 1 to 1 1/2 hours each way
Cost: Standard
tickets are $40 ($20 tax deductible) for the concert, astronomy
talk, viewing through the 36-inch refracting telescope, and
commemorative wineglass or coffee cup; plus mileage.
Ticket
Office Phone: 831-459-2159
Fax: 831-459-3552
Hours: Tues.
- Fri. 12:00 pm - 6 pm &
Sat. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cancellation: Rain or shine, no refunds.
Plan: Meet at
the lick Observatory and have a simple Potluck at 630PM. Mt
Hamilton has a wonderful view. Or meet at the time of the event
at 715PM. The concerts start on time. Seating is first come first
first serve so it?s much better to get there early.
Meet:
5:00PM at the Bechtel I-Center, Stanford; OR 6:30PM at the Lick
Observatory.
bring: At 4209 feet, evenings at Mt. Hamilton
can be cool, so bring a sweater or jacket. Dinner, appetizer,
something you'd like to share.
Please let me know (via email) if you're planning to go in
order to determine commute/carpool situation.
Friday?s concert is (from the Lick Observatory Website):
San Jose Chamber Players: Led by cellist Peter Gelfand, the
Chamber Players blend popular classic hits with classic pop hits.
This year features more greatest classical music hits, plus
unusually sophisticated arrangements of rock & roll classics.
Astronomy Talk by Greg Laughlin, UCSC professor: "Saturn--Storms,
Rings, and Icy Moons"
Directions to Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory is located on the summit of Mt. Hamilton in
the Diablo Range east of San Jose. To get there from Interstates
101, 280, 680, take Alum Rock Avenue exit from Interstate 680
north. Turn right onto Alum Rock Avenue. Take another right on
Mt. Hamilton Road (California Route 130). Allow at about one hour
from San Jose, and please drive carefully as the road is good,
but winding. There is bridge construction on the way at Smith
Creek.
>From the east, take Interstate
580 west to Interstate 680 south. Then follow the directions
above. Alternatively, you may take take California Route 130 to
Mt. Hamilton from the east, but please allow about 1-3/4 hours
from Interstate 5 to reach the Observatory. The road is long and
winding, but well-maintained. Take the Patterson exit off
Interstate 5, and go west on Puerto del Canyon Road (away from
Patterson.) At the Junction Cafe, turn left to stay on California
Route 130. Area Map (http://www.ucolick.org/public/areamap.html)
and closeup map (http://www.ucolick.org/public/map.html).
I'm leaving from Bechtel I-Center at 500PM but won?t head back to
Stanford afterward. My email is mohammed_bustany(at)yahoo.com and
cell is 415 254 5960.
Take me to the top!
Sept 4-6, Bear Basin Butte Fire Lookout, Six Rivers National
Forest (Paul)
Date : Sat 9/4 to Mon 9/6 (Labor Day Weekend)
Location
: Bear Basin Butte Fire Lookout, Six Rivers National Forest
Driving Time : 6-8 hours each way
Cost : Lookout rental
costs about $25 per person. Split all other costs.
Contact:
paulchan (at) stanfordalumni.org
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first
Outing Club trip to a fire lookout. It has been something that I
have spoken to a number of people about but I never quite got my
act together to make it happen.
Well now, here it is. Finally managed to make a reservation
for the Pierson cabin and fire lookout atop Bear Basin Butte in
the Six Rivers National Forest in the north-west part of the
state. Fire lookouts are mostly a thing from the past, where all
summer, some poor dude is stuck in some lonely outpost looking
out for the first faint wisp of smoke that signals trouble. Of
course, it also conjures up the romantic notion of the strong and
silent mountain man that can survive on a can of Spam and 2
matches all week. I disgress. Anyway, being a fire lookout, it is
situated in a choice location that offers an incredible view over
the surrounding national forest. The cabin is a fairly modern
structure in which there are bunks where we can stay for the 2
nights we are up there.
Links to the Bear Basin Butte lookout homepage is posted
below. Please check it out.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/recreation/smith-river/lookout
I plan to depart from the bay area very early on Sat morning
and get to the lookout sometime in the afternoon. No actual
program for the 2 days there, just an opportunity to get away
from our hectic day to day lives and relax at a nice location.
(For those of you who were on CD I or CD II with Chris and I,
please read last paragraph below!!) I expect to be doing a
cookout, some day hikes and a whole lot of chilling around. We
will probably get back to the bay area Monday evening.
Space is strictly limited to 12 due to lookout regulations.
Please respond to me if you are interested of have any questions
about the trip. If the trip fills, preference will be given to
drivers with 4WD/AWD vehicles.
(CD = Camp Decadence on the slopes
of Mt Shasta and Kings Canyon. I am sure those of you on those
trips remember it. It has been a while since we last did anything
like that and I think the time is due. For sure, the grills are
coming along for this trip! What else? I leave it to your
imagination. I will have a little prize for the most creative.)
Take me to the top!
Aug 22 (Sun) - Old La Honda Road Bike Ride to Skyline(Eric)
* MEET: Bechtel, 9:30 am
* DISTANCE: 22 miles
*
ELEVATION CHANGE: 1650 ft
* BRING: bike, water, bike kit
(extra tube, repair kit, pump, etc)
* RAIN POLICY: It's not
going to rain
RIDE ROUTE AND DESCRIPTION
Ever wanted to ride all the way up to skyline? So have I and
I've decided to do my first attempt as an Outing Club trip. We
will start from Bechtel find out way to Sand Hill road, ride from
there to Old La Honda and take this all the way to Skyline. Ride
will be similar to
http://graphics.stanford.edu/~lucasp/grade/oldlahonda.html
Worried about it being steep. The main steep climb will be Old
La Honda for 3.3 miles, and is one of the easier routes to climb
to skyline.
Max. grade: 15% (18% inside switchbacks)
Avg.
grade: 7.3% (elev. gain/dist)
http://graphics.stanford.edu/~lucasp/grade/oldlahonda.html
This ride should be for folks who are fit, but you don't need
to be a bike racer.
Please RSVP so I had an idea how many people are coming, but
you can always show up at the last minute.
-Erik Peterson
erik.peterson'at'gmail.com
Take me to the top!
September 28 (Tues): Fall Quarter Potluck!!
Meet other outdoor enthusiasts and help plan our activities
for the Fall Quarter by attending our meeting and potluck dinner
on Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00 PM in the dining room at the
Bechtel International Center. Please try to be on time, and bring
some food item or beverage to share.
The tentative agenda for this meeting is as follows:
1. Food and introductions
2. Trip planning tes, depending on intermediate stops."?
Our description:
We will carpool to San Francisco and we will take the 9:30am
Blue and Gold Ferry in Pier 41 to Angel Island. On the Island, we
will take a paved perimeter road that is about 4-5 miles long.
Then as we get closer to the center of the island (which is
higher up the mountain), we will take a hiking trail that leads
to the peak. The view from the top is magnificent, if the weather
is clear (unfortunately, there is a not-so-low probability that
it'll be foggy). We should also have time to investigate the
historical sites, for those with any interest.?
We will return in the last ferry at 4:40pm. Optional dinner
afterwards in San Francisco.?
Trip leader: Craig Foster,
cfoster01 (at) yahoo.com
Take me to the top!
Caribou Wilderness (lake-blessed mountain wilderness), Sept
30 through Oct 3 (Lily)
*Signup required. See below for details.
Depart: Leave Thursday evening and camp along Hwy 36
(Battle Creek Campground).
Return: Early Sunday evening
Distance: 12.3 miles over three days
Elevation Change: A
loop trail with maximum elevation 7,100' and minimum elevation
6,580'
Cost: Mileage and campground fee
Maximum Group
Size: none
Web:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lassen/recreation/wilderness/caribou.shtml
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/ca_carib.htm
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Caribou%20Wilderness
We will leave the Bay Area around 5pm on Thursday and drive to
Red Bluff(about 4.5 - 5 hours) and camp at "Battle Creek"
along Hwy 36. Friday morning we will make the short drive to the
Caribou Wilderness trailhead. From there, it's an easy 5.4 miles
and 250' to Triangle Lake.
Along the way, we will pass many lakes including Jewel Lake,
Turnaround Lake, and Twin Lake (depending on how the group is
doing, we can also set up base camp at Turnaround Lake or Twin
Lake). Sat is a rest and play day; there will be plenty of time
to hanging out at the base camp, go fishing, swimming, or
exploring other nearby lakes. On Sunday, we'll make the
relatively flat 6 mile hike back to the car and drive home. Along
the way, we will pass many lakes again including Black Lake,
North Divide Lake, and the very pretty Emerald Lake. The route
may change slightly based on ranger recommendations.
Notes: temperatures at night can be low 40's or upper 30's.
Trip may be cancelled at leader's discretion if there is not
enough interest.
If you're interested, send an email to Lily with the following
information:
* Name:
* Email:
* Are you willing to
drive?
* If yes, how many people can your car fit with gear?
* Do you have:
A backpacking tent (number of people)?
A
stove?
A bear canister?
A water filter?
* Have you
had prior backpacking experience?
* Have you lead an Outing
Club trip in the past year?
* When and where would you prefer
to leave?
* Do you have a cell phone number that you would be
willing to share with the group?
Please send in your replies to Lily
Wang (lily_wang (at) stanfordalumni.org) by Friday, Sept 24.
Take me to the top!
