Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Sunshine and warm weather was the perfect setting yesterday for the final field trip for my Peninsula Parks & Trails class with the College of San Mateo.

We met at the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve parking lot near the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Alpine Road. We started our 5.5 mile saunter with a third of a mile loop around Alpine Pond in adjacent Skyline Ridge Open Space. We paused at the Ohlone mortar stone where women pounded acorns centuries ago.

After returning to the Russian Ridge parking lot, we headed north (uphill) on the Bay Area Ridge Trail and then made a left turn on the Ancient Oaks Trail. We saw numerous leafless buckeye trees displaying their fruit. Along the way some of us climbed an ancient canyon live oak beside the trail. Turning right on the Charquin Trail, we enjoyed the bright yellow fall foliage of big leaf maple trees. Along the Hawk Ridge Trail we stopped for lunch near two dead Douglas fir trees riddled with holes used by acorn woodpeckers to store acorns. Nearly every hole contained an acorn, and we saw several woodpeckers at work on their acorn cache.

After lunch we ascended the ridge to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and then headed south. We stopped to view Mindego Hill to the west. This hill is now part of Russian Ridge Open Space, and is expected to be open to the public next year. The high point of our hike was the summit of  2,572-foot

Borel Hill, named for nineteenth century banker Antoine Borel, a Swiss immigrant who once owned this property. From the summit, which is the highest named point in San Mateo County, we could see north to Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, east to San Francisco Bay and Mount Diablo, south to Mount Umunhum, and west to the Pacific Ocean. It was a perfect day for ridge top vistas.

TO GET THERE...from Highway 280, take Page Mill Road west (uphill) and look for the
Russian Ridge parking lot on the right just beyond Skyline Boulevard.

Juvenile Elephant Seals at Ano Nuevo State Park

Only the most intrepid or optimistic of my De Anza College students showed up as a steady rain fell on the Ano Nuevo State Park parking lot yesterday morning. Undaunted by the weather we started our outing with a stop at the visitors center museum in the old dairy barn. From there we headed west toward the point.

Our optimism was soon rewarded as the rain stopped and blue sky and sunshine prevailed for the rest of the day. Our first stop was the reservoir which sits in the little rift valley along the Frijoles Fault. We were surprised to find a few red Indian paintbrush still in bloom. We headed up a sand dune and paused to examine an ancient Indian shell mound left by the Quiroste band of Ohlone Indians centuries ago.  Further on we saw several deer.

At North Point we saw hundreds of juvenile elephant seals lounging on the beach, and a few pre-pubescent males practice battling for dominance. These youngsters arrive at this time of year to molt and build bone density when they have the beach to themselves before the mature bulls arrive in December. A knowledgeable docent on the viewing platform educated us about the life cycle of these amazing seals. With binoculars we were able to see sea lions on the island and a mother sea otter with her baby. Brown pelicans were common.

Because eating isn't allowed in the natural preserve part of the park, we headed to Cove Beach, just south of the reservoir, for a late lunch. Here you can observe the abrupt change in rock in the sea cliff where it is bisected by the Frijole Fault. After lunch we enjoyed bay nut brownies and then headed back to the parking lot.

TO GET THERE... The main entrance is on the west side of Highway 1 about 19 miles north of Santa Cruz and about 23 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

Hiking the Coast at Wilder Ranch State Park

Despite showers the previous night, the weather was ideal for a one-way hike of about 4.7 miles along the spectacular coastal bluffs between Four Mile Beach and the Cultural Preserve at Wilder Ranch State Park.

To avoid the $10.00 park entrance fee, my class met at the parking area along Highway 1 just south of the park entrance. We then organized car pools to take us about two miles north to our trail head at the access to Four Mile Beach. This parking lot is on the left (west) side of Highway 1 just past a green farmhouse (also on the west side of the highway).

From there we walked downhill to Four Mile Beach. There are two outhouses just before reaching the beach. We then ascended to the top of the coastal bluff and headed south on the Ohlone Bluff Trail. On the right are spectacular views of the the churning Pacific smashing into the rocky coast. Though the weather was calm, the ocean was quite agitated, probably because of a storm far out at sea. To the left we saw great fields of Brussels sprouts and artichokes. We took a steep shortcut across Three Mile Beach, where we found a broken surfboard, and then continued on to Strawberry Beach, where we had lunch.

After lunch we continued south, pausing to watch harbor seals bobbing in the waves. We then took another shortcut trail across Sand Plant Beach and on to Fern Grotto, which is one of the highlights of the hike. The Grotto is a sea cave that has been uplifted by tectonic forces and watered by a perpetually dripping spring that keeps a lush garden of hanging ferns looking fresh and green all year. One of our group went hundreds of feet back into the cave, where it is quite dark.

We enjoyed many more spectacular scenes of precipitous cliffs plunging into pounding surf  as we finished up the Ohlone Bluff Trail and then took the Old Cove Landing Trail to the Wilder Ranch buildings. I timed this hike to correspond with the annual Harvest Festival at the Cultural Preserve part of the park, which includes a cluster of historical building, including two nineteenth century ranch houses, an adobe built in 1839 by the first family to farm here, a horse barn, a cow barn, a workshop, and a garage that housed the first gasoline powered automobile in Santa Cruz County. My favorite exhibit is the workshop, with its many tools run by belts powered by Pelton Water Wheels. Only on special occasions like the Harvest Festival can you see this workshop come to life.

TO GET THERE... The main entrance is along Highway 1 about 2 miles northwest of Santa Cruz and 42 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

A Tour of the San Andreas Fault

Twenty-five years and one day after the Loma Prieta Earthquake, my De Anza College class toured a section of the San Andreas Fault in Monte Bello and Los Trancos Open Space Preserves.

We started at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking lot on Page Mill Road. From there we followed the Stevens Creek Nature Trail into the oak and bay woodlands along the headwaters of Stevens Creek. We paused to sample berries from two madrone trees with an abundance of fruit. Near the junction with the Canyon Trail we noted a proliferation of galls on an old white oak.

We then headed north on the Canyon Trail, which involved a steep uphill climb in places. We caught our breaths while admiring a large artists pallet fungus on a bay tree. Lunchtime occurred at exactly the right time to stop at a large sag pond on the San Andreas Fault. This pond, which was open water when I first visited in the late 1970's, is now filled with cattails.

After lunch we hiked north on the Canyon Trail and then crossed Page Mill Road into Los Trancos Open Space Preserve. From there we toured the San Andreas Fault Trail, which loops through some evidence of fault movement during the giant 1906 earthquake. We saw benches, pressure ridges, a displaced fence, and two oak trees that were knocked onto their sides by the quake but sent up vertical shoots. The highlight was the sight of a magnificent buck and doe. Being the rutting season, they were inseparable.

TO GET THERE... the main parking lot is on Page Mill Road about 7 miles west from Highway 280 and 1.4 miles east from Skyline Boulevard.

Pescadero Creek County Park from the Wurr Road Entrance

My College of San Mateo class enjoyed a 5.7-mile loop hike through the redwoods in the western part of Pescadero Creek County Park. From Skylonda we carpooled to the Hoffman Flat Trailhead on Wurr Road, which is just south of Pescadero Road and just east of San Mateo County Memorial Park.

From the trailhead we hiked east on the Old Haul Road, which was once used to haul redwood logs long before San Mateo County acquired the land. We then headed north on the Pomponio Trail, which took us across Pescadero Creek. Because there is no bridge across the creek, this route is only feasible during the dry season. Along the way I turned over a log and found a yellow-eyed salamander. The trail passes through a large grassy meadow called Worley Flat and through a forest of coast live oak. We continued on the Pomponio Trail to the Parke Gulch Trail, which passes a massive three-trunk old-growth redwood that was hollowed out by fire over the centuries. We ate lunch beneath this magnificent tree.

After lunch we paused at one of the campsites at the Shaw Flat Trail Camp. From there, we walked south on the Shaw Flat Trail, where some of us climbed into another fire-hollowed giant redwood, and then made our second crossing of Pescadero Creek. Though I encouraged hike participants to bring water shoes or sandals, they were not necessary this year because of the low water level. We saw lots of salmon or steelhead fry in the pools along the creek bed.

From the Shaw Flat Trail we took the Old Haul Road 1.8 miles back to the trail head. Across from the trail head parking lot is a large old pear tree bearing lots of fruit. I used my hiking stick to knock pears to the ground. Though they look rather knobby and unappealing on the outside, these pears are sweet juicy, and delicious

.

TO GET THERE... From Skyline Boulevard at Skylonda, take La Honda Road (Highway 84) west, Just beyond the town of La Honda, turn left on Pescadero Road. Turn left on Wurr Road and continue south about a third of a mile to the parking lot. Wurr Road is just beyond Camp Loma Mar. If you pass the entrance to San Mateo County Memorial Park you have gone too far..

Big Basin Hike to Mount McAbee Overlook

Today was one of the hottest days of the year, but it didn't deter my De Anza College hiking class from a 5.5 mile trek through the Big Basin redwoods and on to the the overlook atop Mt. McAbee.

We started with a brief tour of the Big Basin Redwoods State Park park headquarters area, where we paused for a photo op at the "Auto Tree" (which doesn't allow autos inside the tree anymore), and then to the 1930's era visitors center, where we admired a large photo taken by park founder Andrew P. Hill.

Next, we toured the Redwood Loop Trail, which visits some of the most impressive trees in the park, including the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. We then left the city slickers behind as we crossed Opal Creek  and charged uphill on the Skyline to the Sea Trail. At the top of the first ridge we headed west on the Howard King Trail and then uphill on the Hihn Hammond Fire Road, which took us to our lunch stop at the Mount McAbee Overlook. Because there was no fog on the coast, we enjoyed spectacular views of Waddell Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. Because it was so hot we all found shady spots to sit while eating lunch.

After lunch we headed downhill on the Howard King Trail and the Hihn Hammond Road and then followed the Hihn Hammond Connector Trail back to the Skyline to the Sea Trail and on the the trail head.

TO GET THERE... From Skyline Boulevard take Highway 9 southwest and turn west on Highway 236 at Waterman Gap or at Boulder Creek.

A Loop Through Portola State Park & Pescadero Creek County Park

Warm weather made yesterday a perfect day to wander among the shady redwoods of Portola State Park and Pescadero Creek County Park. This was my last College of San Mateo field trip for the season.

Meeting at the Ramada Group Day Use Area, we started off with an in-and-out on the Old Tree Trail to see some beautiful old growth redwoods, including an ancient fire-scarred giant that is one of the biggest in the park. After stopping at  the Shriners monument we then headed south on the Service Road, which crosses Pescadero Creek and intersects the Old Haul Road. We paused along the way at the pile of rotting boards that used to be the cabin of Christian Iverson, a former Pony Express rider who settled here in the 1860's.

Just before reaching the Old Haul Road we entered Pescadero Creek County Park, which is the largest county park in San Mateo County.We continued northwest until we turned right onto another dirt road called Bridge Trail. Along the way to the creek we took a short side trip to view the Snag Tree, which is a large standing dead redwood with a distinctive light and dark spiral pattern. From there we headed on to Pescadero Creek for lunch. A beautiful seep monkey flower was in full bloom just across the creek.

After lunch we crossed the creek and stopped to appreciate the secluded campsites at the Tarwater Trail Camp. Each site is nestled among huckleberry bushes and towering redwoods. This is one of the few trail camps in the Santa Cruz Mountains that allows campfires.

From there we hiked the Pomponio Trail back to Portola State Park. Our total distance was about 5.75 miles. There is an entrance fee to park at Portola State Park.

TO GET THERE... Take Alpine Road west from Skyline Boulevard and turn south on Portola State Park Road..

A Fogless Hike up Montara Mountain

Last Saturday, May 24, I lead my College of San Mateo class up Montara Mountain on a day that was less than perfect for enjoying the spectacular views that stretch from the bay to the ocean, and many points north and south. It was mostly foggy, with occasional sun and a glimpse of Mount Diablo from the summit.

Conditions were very different on May 28 when I joined my Wednesday hiking group up the mountain. There was no fog and lots of sunshine all the way. Because of the moist maritime influence, there are still lots of wildflowers, including the beautiful native cobweb thistle.

I have included a few pictures just to give you an idea of what it was like.

Fog and Sun on Montara Mountain

Montara Mountain rises out of the Pacific Ocean just above Devil's Slide south of Pacifica at the northern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's steep granite peaks form an ecological island of biological diversity that includes plants found nowhere else. It is also a great place to see an amazing variety of wildflowers late in the season when inland areas have already entered the dry season.

The source of moisture on Montara Mountain is fog. Yesterday I lead my College of San Mateo class on a field trip through sun and fog to the summit of Montara's North Peak. Because of the fog, and despite the drought, the mountain is still lush green, with lots of wildflowers. Unfortunately, the fog prevented us from enjoying most of the spectacular views of the ocean, mountains, and bay that are one of the big attractions on a clear day.

Starting near the visitors center in San Pedro Valley County Park, we headed uphill on the Montara Mountain Trail and then walked the Montara Mountain Road to the 1,898 foot summit of North Peak.
Along the way we saw sweet peas, ferns, bright orange fungus on the eucalyptus, Douglas iris, yerba santa, morning glory, sticky monkey flower, Indian paintbrush, lizard tail, madrone, lots of manzanita, pitcher sage, blue blossom ceanothus, lupine, chinquapin, stonecrop, salal, red elderberry, blue elderberry, silk tassel, and many others.

As we ascended the mountain blue sky and fog took turns dominating the sky. Near the summit we burst into the sun, and at the top we could see an ocean of white all around. The fog, however, was so close to the summit, that the only Bay Area landmark we could see was Mount Diablo to the east. We then retraced our route on the Montara Mountain Road and Trail until we reached the intersection with the Brooks Creek Trail, which we followed to the Old Trout Farm Loop Trail. From there we headed back to the parking lot.

This is the longest and most strenuous hike I lead for my CSM and Foothill College classes. The total distance is about 7 miles, with a climb and descent of about 1,600 feet.

TO GET THERE... take Highway 1 to Pacifica and head southeast on Linda Mar Boulevard to Oddstad Boulevard. From there, drive into San Pedro County Park.

El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve

I tried a new route today with my College of San Mateo class in Corte de Madera Creek Open Space. We met at Skeggs Point, as we have in the past; but then we carpooled south a couple of miles to the new parking lot along Skyline Boulevard near the south end of the preserve. This allowed us to walk one way for about 5.4 miles while visiting all the sights I wanted the class to see. Be aware that this preserve is very popular with mountain bikers. We had to step aside to let them pass a few times.

First we took the Sierra Morena Trail north to where it approaches Skyline Boulevard. We saw lots of banana slugs and some spotted coral root as we passed through a Douglas fir and second-growth redwood forest. We then crossed Skyline to visit the ancient old Methuselah Tree.

From there we hiked the Methuselah Trail to where it intersects the Manzanita Trail. (Un)fortunatlly I misinterpreted the map and guided our group the wrong way on the Manzanita Trail. The good part of this mistake is that we saw loads of chaparral pea in full bloom, magnificent manzanita loaded with berries, and golden chinquapins. After making our way back to the previous intersection, we sat on rocks for lunch and a tasty baynut brownie treat.

After lunch, we headed north on the Manzanita Trail and then east on the Fir Trail and on the Tafoni Trail to the turnoff for the Sandstone Formation. We viewed the amazing shapes and texture of the large sandstone outcropping. We also paused to admire some striped coral root, which is a saprophytic orchid. Then we walked south on the Fir Trail to the memorial to those who died on October 29, 1953 when a DC3 named Resolution crashed into the mountain nearby. From there we ascended to the Vista Point, though fog on the coast obscured much of our view. On the way we enjoyed the sight of many Douglas Iris and a few of the rare hairy star tulips.

From Vista Point we walked about 1.1 miles back to Skeggs Point via the Fir Trail. We stopped to look at a field of blooming flax and a dead Douglas fir that is used by a colony of acorn woodpeckers as a granary and nesting tree.

TO GET THERE...Skeggs Point is on the east side of Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) about 4 miles north of Highway 84 and 1.5 miles south of Kings Mountain Road. There is a new parking lot a couple of miles to the south on the west side of Skyline Boulevard.