MEANDERING  IN  MARIN  ON  TUESDAYS     “WINTERIM”  2013-­‐2014  HIKES     Heavy rain cancels. In case of questionable weather, call Wendy at 457-3949 after 7 AM or email her at [email protected]. Tuition: $17/hike (cash or check payable to Wendy Dreskin). These  are  all  one-­‐way  shuttle  hikes,  so  CALL  WENDY  AT  457-­‐3949  or  send  her   an  e-­‐mail  her  at  [email protected]  if  you  are  coming!     DECEMBER 17 - SKY TRAIL TO BEAR VALLEY, POINT REYES Note  the  earlier  than  usual  meeting  time  at  Bear  Valley.     Directions  to  trailhead:  We’ll  meet  at  Bear  Valley  at  9:20  a.m.  and  carpool  to   Sky  Trail.  We’ll  need  some  people  who  are  not  in  a  rush  to  drive  people  back   to  Sky  Trail  after  we  reach  the  Bear  Valley  Visitor  Center  and  parking  lot.     Take  Sir  Francis  Drake  Boulevard  west  through  and  beyond  Samuel  P.  Taylor  State   Park.  Turn  right  at  Olema  and  make  an  immediate  left  onto  Bear  Valley  Road.  From   Bear  Valley  Road  turn  left  to  the  Visitor's  Center. When we get to Mt. Wittenberg instead of taking Z Ranch and Horse Trail to make a loop, we’ll go down Old Pine to the Bear Valley Trail. Maybe by this time the mushrooms will be up!   Restrooms  at  Bear  Valley,  none  at  Sky  Trail  trailhead,  but  some  as  we  pass  Coast   Camp.     50  minutes  from  College  of  Marin.  Carpool  leaves  St.  Rita  Church  in  Fairfax  at  8:45   a.m.   JANUARY 7 - PINE MOUNTAIN/ELLIOTT NATURE PRESERVE, FAIRFAX This hike starts in oak/bay/madrone woodland, passes through chaparral, then heads down to a valley with a stream, passing some serpentine rock areas. We'll check out birds and mushrooms as we go. Little Carson Falls is a detour which is steep in parts and can be slippery if it rains. We may or may not go to the falls depending on the group’s decision. Due to a lack of good places to stop on the Repack fire road, lunch will be early (around 11:30 am) or late (around 1:00 pm). We need two people to meet at the end of Cascade Drive in Fairfax at 9:20 am. If you have time pressure after class go there as well, since the car shuttle won’t get us back until a little after 2:00 pm. Wendy will drive those drivers to the start of the hike.

Meandering  In  Marin  On  Tuesdays  “Winterim”  2013-­‐2014  Hikes    

 

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Other hikers should follow these directions to meet at the trailhead: Take Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Fairfax. Turn left at the first gas station, and make an immediate right in front of the movie theater. Turn right on Bolinas Avenue. Parking for Pine Mountain and Azalea Hill will be a dirt parking lot on your left. If you start going downhill and see Lake Alpine you've gone too far. No restrooms. 25 minutes from College of Marin. Carpoolers not going to the end of Cascade Drive can meet at St. Rita Church at 9:30 a.m. JANUARY 14 - ALPINE LAKE TO BON TEMPE DAM, MMWD We hike along a creek with lovely cascades and ferns. The start is uphill with some stairs (but we’ll find lots to look at on the way), the end is level - and in between it’s up and down! We end up at the Bon Tempe Dam. We’ll need people who don’t need to be somewhere in a hurry to take the drivers back to their cars at Alpine Lake (about 35 minutes, round-trip). Take  Sir  Francis  Drake  Boulevard  into  Fairfax.  Jog  left  and  make  an  immediate  right   in  front  of  the  movie  theater.  The  first  left  puts  you  on  Bolinas  Avenue.  Follow  this   until  you  see  the  sign  on  your  left  for  Lake  Bon  Tempe  and  Lake  Lagunitas.       Follow  the  road  to  the  tollbooth  by  Sky  Oaks  Ranger  Station.  Then  continue  past  to   toll  booth  until  you  reach  the  end  of  the  road. After the ranger station at Sky Oaks (but before Shaver Grade) there is an unpaved road to the right. Take this to Bon Tempe Lake and park. We’ll carpool from there to the trailhead. If you are going to leave your car at Bon Tempe, you’ll need either an MMWD Watershed pass or a day use ticket purchased from the kiosk at the Sky Oaks Ranger station. You won’t need either if you are going to take hikers to the Alpine Lake trailhead. Portable toilet at Bon Tempe, but none at Alpine Lake trailhead. 25 minutes from College of Marin. January 21 - SKY OAKS TO DEER PARK- FINAL EXAM! Downhill and level! Maybe we’ll see the first Indian Warriors of the season! Meet at Deer Park to carpool to Sky Oaks. Take Bolinas Avenue in Fairfax, turn left on Porteous. Go to the parking lot at the end. (If you see Deer Park Villa you’ve gone a bit too far, turn around.) Drivers leave food in cars at Deer Park where we’ll have lunch at the end of the hike. Restrooms at Deer Park and Sky Oaks, and portable en route. 20 minutes from College of Marin. Those carpooling to Deer Park can meet at St. Rita Church at 9:30 am.