Upcoming GLS Outings
All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. For more information about any of the following outings, contact the listed leader or our Outings Chair. You can check back on this page for any last minute updates, and join our electronic listserv. Hikes are rated for elevation gain, distance and terrain. The Wild Side newsletter lists full contact information for all events. We do not list phone numbers or addresses online.
January 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Mission Peak New Years Day Hike
Rating: 2C2
Start the new year off with a GLS tradition, Mission Peak on New Year’s Day. Mission Peak overlooks Fremont and the South Bay with great views on a clear day including 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. Wildlife includes turkey vultures, hawks, wild turkeys, deer and cows.
We'll be doing a loop hike, going up the Horse Heaven trail, which is far less crowded than the more direct Hidden Valley trail which will be our descent route. Horse Heaven is a little longer, but not as steep. It can be quite muddy in places, especially if there has been recent rain. The total distance for the loop is between 5.5 and 6 miles with an elevation gain of about 2300 feet. The way up is a combination of fire road and trail, the descent mostly fire road. The summit area is steep and rocky with little wind protection.
While hiking up, you’ll generate plenty of heat, so dress in layers. The top is almost always windy and cold, no matter how nice it is at the base. Bring layers to keep warm, especially a wind layer for the summit, a warm hat, plenty of water, sunscreen, sturdy boots, snacks and a lunch. Optional items include a thermos with something hot to drink, binoculars, trekking poles, and a camera to document your accomplishment. Rain cancels. Muddy conditions may force us to change our route.
Carpool: Tamien Park and Ride, San Jose at 9:45 a.m. Tamien Light Rail Park and Ride is located about a mile southwest of downtown San Jose. It is well serviced by Light Rail, CalTrain and Santa Clara County bus connections. To get there by car, take Highway 87 (Guadalupe Expressway) going South, get off at the Alma exit. Turn left after you exit and the Park-and-Ride will be on your immediate left. Or meet at the Stanford Ave trailhead off of Mission Blvd. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking at the trailhead.
LEADERS:
January 3, 2010 12:00pm-3:00pm
Portola Valley Coal Mine Ridge
Rating: 1A1
Paul Almazan and I will lead the Portola Valley Old Spanish Trail to Coal Mine Ridge, a 5 mile loop hike. Meet at the Page Mill Park and Ride at 12 for an afternoon of hiking (or meeting at the Willowbrook trail head at 12:30). The trail starts off Willowbrook Road,going gently uphill through an oak glade then into chaparral and oak woodland. After reaching a meadow, we wind down again under canyon oaks to a eucalyptus grove and back to our start. Bring a snack, water, layers for weather variation. Email Meg for her phone number. Steady rain cancels- contact Meg if you are not sure of the hike status that day.
LEADERS:
January 9, 2010 10:00am
The Staircases of San Francisco - Bernal Heights
Rating:1A
Join Ather and Eric on this city walk through the urban oasis of Bernal Heights to enjoy some of the most extraordinary views of the city. This historic neighborhood boasts the most stairways of any San Francisco neighborhood, On this loop hike we will ascend over a dozen of these secluded walkways. We will begin our day at Holly Park and meander the western slope taking in views of the Mission, Noe Valley, and Twin Peaks on the horizon. Ascending to the crest for a relaxing lunch, we will overlook downtown and the bay bridge. After lunch, we will explore the eastern slope enjoying views to the bay and beyond. We will return by way of the charming commercial main street, Cortland Ave.
We will meet on the west side of Holly Park at Appleton Street and Holly Park Circle. A restroom is available here as well as ample parking. To arrive by MUNI, take the Mission 14 Bus to Appleton Street and walk up the hill to the park. Total hike time will vary upon pace and length of lunch break, but plan on at least 2.5 hours. Bring a lunch as well as plenty of water. As weather varies in the city, please wear sunscreen, comfortable layers of clothes, sturdy shoes, and a warm windproof jacket. Event will occur rain or shine. Bring your rain gear in case of rain.
LEADERS:
Sunday Jan 10, 9am-2pm
Henry Cowell State Park Hike
Rating easy 2B2
If you have not been to the Henry Cowell Redwoods, you are in for a treat. We will first experience the magnificent Redwood Grove then continue on to the River Creek Trail for a loop hike. This hike is about 6 miles with about 800 to 1000 elevation gain. Bring a lunch, water, and clothing layers as it can get chilly and damp this time of year. Meet at the Santa Cruz government buildings parking lot at the corner of Ocean and Water Street in Santa Cruz at 9am or trail head at 9:30am. Light rain is ok but heavy rain cancels this hike. For car pooling from the San Jose area meet at the Los Gatos city parking lot at 8:45 a.m.
LEADERS:
Sunday, January 17, 2010 10 AM - 1 PM
ST. JOSEPH'S HILL HIKE
Rating: 1A1 (4.5 mi., less than 1000 ft.)
Join us on this moderately paced Sunday hike. We will meet at the Jones Road Trail Head at St. Joseph's Hill - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve. Starting on an old stagecoach road and working our way up to the top of St. Joseph's Hill at 1,253 ft., we will share great views of the Sierra Azul Range and pass through chaparral, woodland and grassland, keeping our eyes open for displays of wildflowers. Take Hwy 17 toward Los Gatos. Exit at Hwy 9 Los Gatos/Saratoga and turn left at the first light, University Ave. Travel to the end of University Ave, turn left on E. Main St., then right on College Ave and then right on Jones Rd. The trailhead is at the end of Jones Rd where you will find street parking only. Wear boots or hiking shoes and bring plenty of water, and a snack. Well-behaved dogs on leashes welcome.
LEADER:
Saturday, January 23rd, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Garin/Dry Creek Regional Parks (Union City/Hayward)
Rating 2B2
We’ll take several of Dave’s favorite routes in these contiguous parks overlooking the East Bay including the Ranch, Dry Creek, High Ridge, and Pioneer Trails, stopping for lunch beneath the oak trees hiding Gossip Rock. (Please bring some juicy gossip to share!) Our meandering will include a snack at Jordon Pond, walking along side the shaded Dry Creek (which should be babbling quite nicely at the time!) and strolling along the ridge with stunning views of the entire Bay. Total distance will be slightly less than 8 miles, with a bit more than 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Meet at the Tamien Park and Ride at 9:00 am, or at the Tamarack Drive staging area just off Mission Blvd at 9:45. Bring lunch, liquids, layers, hat, sturdy boots and a smile. Rain cancels everything but the smile.
LEADER:
Sunday, January 24, 2010 10 AM - 1 PM
ST. JOSEPH'S HILL HIKE
Rating: 1A1 (4.5 mi., less than 1000 ft.)
Join us on this moderately paced Sunday hike. We will meet at the Jones Road Trail Head at St. Joseph's Hill - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve. Starting on an old stagecoach road and working our way up to the top of St. Joseph's Hill at 1,253 ft., we will share great views of the Sierra Azul Range and pass through chaparral, woodland and grassland, keeping our eyes open for displays of wildflowers. Take Hwy 17 toward Los Gatos. Exit at Hwy 9 Los Gatos/Saratoga and turn left at the first light, University Ave. Travel to the end of University Ave, turn left on E. Main St., then right on College Ave and then right on Jones Rd. The trailhead is at the end of Jones Rd where you will find street parking only. Wear boots or hiking shoes and bring plenty of water, and a snack. Well-behaved dogs on leashes welcome.
LEADER:
Sunday, January 31, 2010, 9am-4pm
RANCHO CANADA DEL ORO OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
Rating: 2B2
This relatively new park in San Jose’s south foothills sits on the southern flanks of Calero County Park. The area of former cattle ranches for over 100 years features extensive oak woodlands, native grassland areas, and spring wildflowers. This rugged backcountry offers spectacular views of the Diablo Range and Mt. Hamilton, as well as the Santa Clara Valley Floor. Bring lunch and drinks and dress for February-ish weather. To carpool, Meet at the Tamien Park-and-Ride at 9am. Rain cancels. Contact the leader if you want to meet us at the trailhead.
LEADER:
February 2010
Saturday, February 6, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
GLS Game Night
Rating: fun
Join other GLS members in a revival of a GLS winter tradition: an evening of card or board games in Palo Alto. Bring a snack or drinks to share, and if you have a favorite game, bring that as well. 7PM Please email Meg for directions.
LEADER:
Sunday, February 7, 2010 10 AM - 1 PM
ST. JOSEPH'S HILL HIKE
Rating: 1A1 (4.5 mi., less than 1000 ft.)
Join us on this moderately paced Sunday hike. We will meet at the Jones Road Trail Head at St. Joseph's Hill - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve. Starting on an old stagecoach road and working our way up to the top of St. Joseph's Hill at 1,253 ft., we will share great views of the Sierra Azul Range and pass through chaparral, woodland and grassland, keeping our eyes open for displays of wildflowers. Take Hwy 17 toward Los Gatos. Exit at Hwy 9 Los Gatos/Saratoga and turn left at the first light, University Ave. Travel to the end of University Ave, turn left on E. Main St., then right on College Ave and then right on Jones Rd. The trailhead is at the end of Jones Rd where you will find street parking only. Wear boots or hiking shoes and bring plenty of water, and a snack. Well-behaved dogs on leashes welcome.
LEADER:
Sunday, February 14
Montara Mountain Hike
Rating: 2B2
This 8-mile hike on Montara Mountain in Pacifica will begin on Brooks Creek Trail in San Pedro Valley County Park, passing through a eucalyptus forest with good views of wispy, three-tiered Brooks Falls and surrounding granite outcrops. Continuing up to San Pedro Ridge for picture-perfect views of the coast and the Farallon Islands, we cross into McNee Ranch State Park, and eventually reach the North Peak of Montara Mountain at 1,898 feet, with long-distance views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and off-limits San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge to the other. We'll return on the Montara Mountain trail, with different scenery for the last couple of miles on the way back. Bring lunch, sunscreen, hat, water, sturdy boots, and warm layers. Sorry, but no dogs allowed. Rain cancels this hike.
San Francisco hikers meet under the Safeway sign on Market & Dolores at 8:45 am for 9:00 am departure. You can also meet us at the trail head around 9:45am.
Driving directions: From SF, take 280 south past Daly City BART and then follow Hwy. 1 to Pacifica. Freeway ends after 5 miles, then continue 2 miles to 4th light and turn left onto Linda Mar Blvd. (Denny’s on left). Go on Linda Mar until it ends at Oddstad Blvd. Turn right and then immediately left into the park. Parking is $5 in the park but you can park for free on Oddstad Blvd & the nearby roads.
LEADERS:
Andrew Hollingsworth
Sunday, February 21, 9AM-4PM
Sanborn-Skyline County Park
Rating: 2B2
This lushly wooded park in Saratoga connects Sanborn Creek with Skyline Ridge, covering some 2,850 acres of mountain terrain in between. Also, the San Andreas Fault cuts diagonally through the park. We’ll ascend about 1000 feet on the Sanborn Trail joining the Skyline Trail and reaching Indian Rock, where we’ll have a splendid view of the Santa Clara Valley below as we enjoy lunch. We’ll return along the same trails, but loop down the San Andreas Trail for the last 1.5 miles of the 7.2 mile hike. Bring water and lunch. There will be some sun, but we will mostly be in shady forests. Rain cancels the hike. Meet at the Tamien Park & Ride.
LEADER:
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 8:30am-5:00pm
Murietta Falls Hike
Rating: 3D2
Join us for a challenging butt kicker hike to beautiful Murietta Falls in the Ohlone Wilderness area. Hopefully by the end of February the waterfall will have lots of water flowing over it. We'll start our hike at Del Valle park near Livermore. We'll climb up one big hill, descend down to another valley, and then ascend another hill and have about one and a half miles left to get to the waterfalls. We'll spend an hour at the falls enjoying the view and eating lunch. Then we'll retrace our steps back to the trail head at Del Valle. Bring plenty of water, layers in case it gets cold, a lunch, sun protection, money for the Del Valle entrance fee, and a set of sturdy legs for all the hill climbing we'll be doing! Meet at the park-n-ride lot at I-680 & RT 238 (Mission Blvd), for car pooling at 8:30 a.m. Contact the leaders for information on meeting at the trailhead. Rain cancels the hike.
LEADERS:
Sunday Feb 28, 9:30am – noon
Wilder Ranch (East Side ) Hike
Rating: 1A1
Please join GLS for the breathtaking views along the coastal bluffs at Wilder Ranch State Park. This hike will take us on a lesser known path on the east side of Highway 1. We will climb up a fire road reaching a vista of the ocean and farms below. We will then drop down into the Enchanted Forest which is really stunning in contrast the wide open bluffs. Once we circle our way though the forest we will re-emerge back on the coastal bluff and loop back to the original fire road which took us up to the vista. On a clear day you can see across the bay to Monterey. Please bring layers, as the weather is unpredictable, sturdy shoes, water and good cheer. This is an excellent for those looking for a more casual day. Birds and sea mammals can been seen from the bluffs so bring your binoculars. For those who want to carpool, we will meet at the Santa Cruz Government Buildings at the corner of Ocean and Water streets at 9:30am. For those who want to meet at the trail head, please call leader for instructions.
Leaders:
LEADERS:
March 2010
Friday-Monday, March 5-8, 2010
Death Valley Camping Trip
Ratings: Varied
Join Loma Prieta GLS for our thirteenth annual Death Valley Campout. We have reserved a group campsite at Furnace Creek and can accommodate up to 25 campers.
Death Valley offers countless opportunities for exploration and adventure. Hike Golden Canyon, climb a peak, explore old mining sites, take a starlight stroll through the dunes or just hang out at the pool. We plan to offer a variety of hikes from easy to strenuous.
The cost for three nights of camping is just $30. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Members of all GLS chapters are invited to join us. Certified hike leaders from any GLS chapter are welcome to lead or co-lead hikes.
The trip is full.
Contact Tina Schiffman to get on the waiting list (in case of cancellations).
LEADERS: