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Hiking notes
Apr. 5th, 2004 10:04 amSaturday:
Back to Muir Woods, to check out variations on the Oceanview Trail.
Alas, Oceanview Trail is closed. In the middle of last week, a crack split up the back of a 250 foot Douglas fir, it started to lean, and dropped enough widow-makers from the crown to almost completely block the trail. Until it's done toppling, the trail is closed (it being a Nat'l Forest, it's against policy to cut it down). An arborist will be coming to check it out on Monday. One ranger said it's the size of the Kent Tree (a trail landmark), which took 3 months to fall, and is taller than I am (5'7") lying on its side. There's some question about whether or not it will take out part of the original Bohemian Grove (where the U.N. was created, I understand) when it comes down. It will hit all the boardwalks from what I can tell.
So. I took the Hillside Trail to Ben Johnson Trail, up and over Cardiac Hill, and then down the Dipsea Trail to the overflow parking lot. BJ trail is a heck of a work out, but a steady climb mostly. Heart Attack Hill is about 200 feet of stairs up to the ridge. The # of wild iris blooming along the Dipsea is fabulous, but I don't ever want to take anyone on this trail who has knee problems. Good grief, it's a nasty trail - hecka steep, rocky. eroded. It's hard to believe one of the most famous local races is on this trail. http://www.dipsea.org/ Total distance? 4 or 5 miles. [Huh. The exBF who I ran into over a month ago who said he hasn't been doing too well in the Dispea came in #181 out of 1324 last year. I guess he means he hasn't won it yet!]
Sunday:
Annadel State Park in Sonoma. Holy cow, this is one beautiful park. It's my first time there. We did a 5-6 mile loop, up Springhill trail to the Ilsanjo lake & around it, then down Rough Trail, which was aptly named - not for anyone with weak ankles or knees. There's a species of oak up there that we don't have in the Bay Area. I'm in love. I want one. The unnamed oak is decidious, with a small lobed leaf. It's mixed in with live oaks, and the usual bay laurel & manzanita (hmm, I don't think I saw any madrone), but is predominate at least on the Springhill trail. The leaves are out now and looking down into the valley is green, green, green. I was stunned at how beautiful the vistas are there. The wildlflowers are in bloom, too.
Back to Muir Woods, to check out variations on the Oceanview Trail.
Alas, Oceanview Trail is closed. In the middle of last week, a crack split up the back of a 250 foot Douglas fir, it started to lean, and dropped enough widow-makers from the crown to almost completely block the trail. Until it's done toppling, the trail is closed (it being a Nat'l Forest, it's against policy to cut it down). An arborist will be coming to check it out on Monday. One ranger said it's the size of the Kent Tree (a trail landmark), which took 3 months to fall, and is taller than I am (5'7") lying on its side. There's some question about whether or not it will take out part of the original Bohemian Grove (where the U.N. was created, I understand) when it comes down. It will hit all the boardwalks from what I can tell.
So. I took the Hillside Trail to Ben Johnson Trail, up and over Cardiac Hill, and then down the Dipsea Trail to the overflow parking lot. BJ trail is a heck of a work out, but a steady climb mostly. Heart Attack Hill is about 200 feet of stairs up to the ridge. The # of wild iris blooming along the Dipsea is fabulous, but I don't ever want to take anyone on this trail who has knee problems. Good grief, it's a nasty trail - hecka steep, rocky. eroded. It's hard to believe one of the most famous local races is on this trail. http://www.dipsea.org/ Total distance? 4 or 5 miles. [Huh. The exBF who I ran into over a month ago who said he hasn't been doing too well in the Dispea came in #181 out of 1324 last year. I guess he means he hasn't won it yet!]
Sunday:
Annadel State Park in Sonoma. Holy cow, this is one beautiful park. It's my first time there. We did a 5-6 mile loop, up Springhill trail to the Ilsanjo lake & around it, then down Rough Trail, which was aptly named - not for anyone with weak ankles or knees. There's a species of oak up there that we don't have in the Bay Area. I'm in love. I want one. The unnamed oak is decidious, with a small lobed leaf. It's mixed in with live oaks, and the usual bay laurel & manzanita (hmm, I don't think I saw any madrone), but is predominate at least on the Springhill trail. The leaves are out now and looking down into the valley is green, green, green. I was stunned at how beautiful the vistas are there. The wildlflowers are in bloom, too.