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.
July 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009 1:00pm to 4:30pm
WUNDERLICH COUNTY PARK (5 miles with about 800 ft. elevation change)
Rating: 1A1
Wunderlich is a fabulous park with well-maintained trails, varied terrain, and no bicycles! Kind of a hiker’s dream come true. Well, except for the horses.
Much of the park is well-shaded, so it’s a good choice on a hot day. We will start on the Alambique Trail. Alambique Trail leaves the pure stands of redwoods and climbs through a mixture of many trees and shrubs. We continue on Bear Gulch Trail to the Meadow Trail, Redwood Trail, and Madrone Trail, then circle back to the Bear Gulch Trail for a lovely 5 mile loop.
Bring water, sun screen, and a snack for this afternoon hike. Meet at the Page Mill Park and Ride at Page Mill Road, off Highway 280, at 1 p.m. or at the trail head at 1:30 p.m. Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/wunderlich.html
LEADERS:
Saturday, July 11, 9am-4pm
Nisene Marks, Maple Falls Hike
Rating: 3B2
Nisene Marks State Park is located in Aptos, south of Santa Cruz. We’ll hike among second growth redwoods and on our way to Maple Falls. It’s six miles to the falls and six miles back, so we’ll be hiking twelve miles in total. You should be in good physical shape to come on this hike. We’ll be out on the trails for 5 or 6 hours. Bring a lunch, plenty of water, sun protection, and layers in case it’s foggy and cool in the woods. Also, bring money for the park entry fee. Meet at Tamien Park-n-Ride at 9 a.m. for car pooling. Contact the hike leaders, if you would like to meet us at the park.
LEADERS:
Sunday July 12, 2:00pm-5:00pm
GLS Picnic in Campbell with optional hike at noon
Rating: Fun
Optional Hike Rating: 1A1
We’ll be firing up the BBQ, cooking veggie burgers, and cow burgers, for you. We’ll also provide the drinks and fine china. Bring yourself, a friend, and a side dish to share. The picnic will be in Campbell in Lynne’s wonderful backyard. We’ll soak in the sun and enjoy chatting about hikes and anything else. New members and prospective members are especially welcome! Contact the leaders for directions to the picnic. Cost: $5 for non-members, free to GLS members. There will be an easy hike led by Cathy before the picnic at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve for those that want to work up an appetite. Meet at 12:00 noon. at Fremont Older for the hike. The hike will be three miles long with about 300 feet elevation gain. Bring water and sun protection. Contact Cathy for directions to the trailhead.
LEADERS: Cathy Roberts, glslp-chair@usa.net
Celeste McInerney, glslp-membership@usa.net
Kiersten Shum, glslp-secretary@usa.net
Saturday, July 18th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
SAM MCDONALD/PESCADERO PARKS (NEAR LA HONDA)
Rating 2B2
We’ll take the Heritage Grove Trail through some redwoods that local activism saved; then head up to Towne Ridge for some sweeping vistas of the entire valley containing Sam McDonald, Pescadero, Portola and Memorial Parks. Later we will enjoy the view of Butano Ridge over lunch. Then we’ll traverse The Brooke Trail Loop, pausing at the bottom to savor cool, lush Jones Gulch, which Dave has renamed Five Finger Gulch… before heading up and out. Most of the trail is shaded, but the ridge can be open and hot, so bring sunscreen. Meet at the Tamien Park and Ride, at 9 a.m. or the Sam McDonald parking lot at 10 a.m., but be sure to advise Dave ahead of time that you’ll meet us there. Bring sturdy boots, hat, jacket, lunch, liquid, and a smile.
LEADERS:
Saturday, July 25
South Ocean Beach Survey
Rating: 1A
Join me as I perform a beach survey for the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary. It will be fun, easy and it’s for a worthy cause. In the event of an oil spill, the data we collect may be used to levy fines for damage to the beach and wildlife. We’ll be counting people and documenting wildlife disturbances, identifying and counting live and dead birds and marine mammals, looking for evidence of oil or other pollutants, and enjoying the fresh air on the beach! Likely birds are gulls, cormorants, grebes, marbled godwits, willets, sanderlings, brewer’s blackbirds, and rock doves. We may see a California Sea Lion, Harbor Seal, or something more unusual! Meet at the Sloat Boulevard parking lot on the Great Highway at 10 a.m.. The survey will take about an hour and a half. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather, water, snack, binoculars, field guides, and sun protection. Dogs, on leash, that are quiet and won’t disturb wildlife are welcome. Any rain cancels.
LEADER:
Sunday, July 26, 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PORTOLA STATE PARK, PETER’S CREEK
Rating: 3B2
Portola State Park has a rugged, natural basin forested with coast redwoods, Douglas fir and live oak. It is in southern San Mateo County near La Honda between Skyline Road and the ocean. We’ll hike to a wonderful pristine redwood grove at Peter’s Creek. It’s a long but beautiful hike with a couple of hill climbs. Bring a lunch, plenty of water, and money for the park entrance fee. Wear long trousers if you are sensitive to poison oak ,as there is a lot of it in this park. Meet for car pooling in San Jose at Tamien Park-n-Ride at 8:45 a.m., at the Page Mill Park-n-Ride lot off Hwy. 280 at 9:10 a.m.or at park headquarters by 10:15 a.m..
LEADERS:
August 2009
Sunday, August 2, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
ARROYO SECO RIVER, HIKE-SCRAMBLE-SWIM
Rating: 2A5
Not just a hike, but an adventure. This hike starts on a fire road in full exposure for 3 miles. Then we’ll drop down to the river, and follow it upstream. The trail is the river itself, so we’ll be scrambling over wet rocks and walking in the water as well. As we continue upstream, we will reach deeper and deeper pools. The final portion of the hike includes swimming through the gorge with steep rock cliffs rising up on both sides. The turn-around will be at a small waterfall.
Because this hike is off trail and involves scrambling and swimming, space will be limited. RSVP to the hike leaders to reserve your spot. Preference will be given to GLS members. Participants will need to be strong enough swimmers to swim with clothes and shoes, as well as comfortable scrambling along the wet rocks of the river.
We will arrange carpool locations depending on where folks are coming from.
Bring: Sunscreen, water, lunch, snacks and a floatie. Shoes for river walking/swimming and drybags or ziplocks for keeping your stuff dry are needed.
LEADERS:
Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Butano State Park Hike
Rating: 3B2
Join us for an eleven mile hike at Butano State Park. We’ll do a loop on the Jackson Flats, Canyon, Indian, Doe Ridge, Goat Hill, and Ano Nuevo trails. Butano State Park is a redwood park located north of Santa Cruz and south east of Pescadero in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is more off the beaten path than most parks and well worth a visit for a nice day hike in its lush central canyon. Saturday, August 9, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Rating: 3B2 Butano State Park Hike Poison oak and ticks abound, so dress appropriately. Bring plenty of water and lunch. Meet at the Tamien Park-n-Ride off in San Jose at 9 a.m. and at the Woodside Park-n-Ride at Woodside Road (Hwy 84) and Hwy 280 at 9:40 a.m. to car pool. Otherwise, meet at the park near the entrance kiosk at 10:45 am.
LEADERS:
Sunday, August 16, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
San Pedro County Park Hike
Rating: 2B2
Join Meg and Cathy for a hike through San Pedro County Park. The park is nestled amongst the Santa Cruz Mountain Range and the foothills of Pacifica at the end of Linda Mar Boulevard. The park has two fresh water creeks which flow year round through lush valleys and the south and middle forks of the San Pedro Creek. We’ll hike between 5 and 7 miles. Bring a lunch, sun protection, warm layers, plenty of water, some money for the park entry fee, and a smile! Meet at the Edgwood Park-n-Ride lot for car pooling at 9:30 a.m.. The park and ride lot is located right next to 280 at Edgwood Road.
LEADERS:
Saturday, August 22, 8:45 a.m. -6 p.m.
Berry Creek Falls in Big Basin State Park
Rating: 3B2
Join us at Big Basin Redwoods State Park for what CALIFORNIA HIKING calls the number one hike in the Bay Area. At this time of year, the falls should be at their best. Our looping walk will include the Sunset and Skyline-to-the-Sea trails. Tall trees, a trio of colorful waterfalls, deep woods, and drier exposed ridges make this a memorable walk.
Meet at the Tamien Park-and-Ride in San Jose at 8:45 a.m., leaving at 9 a.m. Alternatively, meet the group at Park Headquarters by 10:30 a.m., and let us know to expect you there. Bring plenty of water, lunch, and sturdy boots.
LEADER:
Saturday, August 22
South Ocean Beach Survey
Rating: 1A
Join me as I perform a beach survey for the Gulf of the Farallones Marine Sanctuary. It will be fun, easy and it’s for a worthy cause. In the event of an oil spill, the data we collect may be used to levy fines for damage to the beach and wildlife. We’ll be counting people and documenting wildlife disturbances, identifying and counting live and dead birds and marine mammals, looking for evidence of oil or other pollutants, and enjoying the fresh air on the beach! Likely birds are gulls, cormorants, grebes, marbled godwits, willets, sanderlings, brewer’s blackbirds, rock doves. We may see a California Seal Lion or something more unusual! Meet at the Sloat Boulevard parking lot on Great Highway at 10 a.m.. The survey will take about an hour and a half. Bring appropriate clothes for the weather, water, snack, binoculars, field guides, and sun protection. Dogs, on leash, that are quiet and won’t disturb wildlife are welcome. Any rain cancels.
LEADER:
Sunday, August 30, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve Hike
Rating: 2B2
This moderately strenuous hike is for people in good physical shape. We will start at the Portola Valley entrance and take the Spring Ridge Trail up to Skyline Blvd. At the top ,we will have an incredible view of Silicon Valley. We will then take Lost Trail to Eagle Trail and return to the entrance. Please bring layers, lunch, sun screen, a hat, and lots of water as the first part of this hike is mostly exposed to sun. This is a joint GLS SF Bay and Loma Prieta Chapter event. Carpooling is encouraged and San Francisco hikers will meet under the Safeway sign at Market & Dolores at 8:15am, leaving promptly by 8:30am. Loma Prieta chapter hikers, wishing to carpool from the South Bay, will meet at the Page Mill Road Park and Ride lot just to the west of Hwy. 280 overpass at 9:00am. If you plan to meet at the trail head, please let the leaders know to look for you there around 9:30am.
LEADER: