Sibley - Fish Ranch Trailhead, Dec. 2 2009

The Full Moon is coming to a sky near you this Wednesday, Dec 2. You're invited to join a hike starting at 7:30pm to view the moon in all her glory in the crisp late fall air. We'll meet up at the fish ranch trailhead in Sibley Regional Park to explore a little known portion of the park only recently opened up to the public. Sibley is actually the volcanic center (from some 10 million years ago) of most of the rock that underlays the easy bay ridge line. It's also the site of a former mining operation which flattened some big chunks of the park and leaves it now with a wide-open otherworldly feel. We'll work our way up towards the former volcanic cone, Round Top Mountain, one of the highest points in the Berkeley hills, and host to a rich display of exposed basaltic lava chunks from flows that date back to the ridgeline's original formation.

This is a relatively easy hike of a mile and a half each way -- mostly on paved fire road -- though with some steady elevation gain. We'll have some refreshments at the top. Dress warm - it's that type of year. Feel free to bring along like-minded acquaintances but do RSVP and let me know if you are looking for/needing a ride.

Directions:
Take Highway 24 east through the Caldecott Tunnel. Make sure you are in the southernmost/rightmost tunnel and lane as you head towards Orinda. Emerging from the tunnel, take an immediate exit to the right at the Fish Ranch Rd/Old Tunnel Road exit. After 0.2 miles, Fish Ranch Road will turn sharply right to cross over Highway 24. Don't cross the highway -- stay straight/slight left onto the much less traveled and narrow Old Tunnel Road. Drive 0.4 miles on Old Tunnel Road until you see gate and adjacent Regional Park sign at a hairpin type turn. Park wherever you can and meet at the big gate.

Muir Beach and Headlands - Nov, 2009

This Sunday Nov 1 at 7pm, please join us for a full moon lit hike up along the headlands above Muir Beach. Late fall gives us a decent chance for a fog-free hike on the coast so cross your fingers that the marine layer will stay away. We'll hike up to Coyote Ridge for some good moon views of the pacific ocean, Mt. Tam, and the headlands and then return back down by way of pirates cove. All in all, I believe it'll be about two hours of hiking, mostly easy but with perhaps a few short steep sections.

Feel free to invite like-minded individuals although do RSVP and let me know if you need/have a ride to share. Please wear warm clothes!

Directions:
From US 101 in Marin County, exit Mill Valley/Stinson Beach. Drive north about 1 mile, then turn left at the light (at the junction with Almonte) to stay on Shoreline. Drive about 4.8 miles to the junction with Pacific Way and turn left. Continue to the signed trailhead at the end of the road. We'll meet at the south end of the parking lot near the picnic area and portable toilets.

Chabot Regional Park Towhee Peak - Oct. 2009

All,

Please join this Saturday night, Oct. 3 for a hike to enjoy fall's first full moon. We'll walk up through the rolling chaparral and eucalyptus covered hills of Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley and make our way to the top of towhee peak just east of Lake Chabot.

Please meet at the Willow Park Public Golf Course on Redwood Rd. on the backside of Chabot . The hike will be about two miles each way with some climbing but not particularly challenging overall. Please let me know if you plan to join and if you have/need a ride. Feel free to invite like minded individuals. Snacks to share always welcome!

Lunarly Yours,

Ben

PS. If you'd like to play a round of golf beforehand, it's $15 starting at 5pm.

Directions:

Take I580 East to exit 26A Redwood Rd. Turn left after the ramp and drive 2.8 miles to 17007 Redwood Rd.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park - Sept., 2009

This Saturday, September 5, please join us for a hike above the Valley of the Moon. No ordinary full moon hike this one; we will be ascending Bald Mountain, high above Sonoma Valley in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park to look out over the valley that Miwok legends suggest is the source of the moon. The hike will be a bit long-ish and a bit steep but worth every bit of exertion. We will see a range of vegetation -- from wide open chaparral of live oak, bay, and madrone to forests of maple and pine and fern-covered ground. From the top of Bald Mountain, we will have one of the more rare and exceptional views anywhere. As the name of the mountain suggests, there is little to obstruct views in all directions -- from Point Reyes Wittenberg to Mount Diablo to Mount Tam and the Golden Gate Bridge to the Desolation Wilderness peaks of the Sierras. And with a bit of distance between us and the bay area, we will escape much of the fog, ambient light, and smog that otherwise plagues our skyward gazing.

The hike will start at 7:30pm. We'll be meeting at the campground so please look for parking in that area. Wine will be provided at the top but please bring your own water bottles, good hiking shoes, and jackets. Do RSVP in advance as I am not sure my cell phone will be working. Please carpool - let me know if you can drive or need a ride!

Directions:

From US 101 in Sonoma County exit #488b onto CA 12. Drive east on CA 12 toward Sonoma for 1.5 miles, then turn left on Farmer's Lane. After about 1 mile, turn right onto Fourth Street/CA 12, drive southeast about 8 miles, and turn left onto Adobe Canyon Road. Drive east 3 miles to the entrance kiosk and then continue a short distance to the campgrounds. If you arrive late or can't find us, head for the parking lot at the Lower Bald Mountain Trail and start hiking briskly uphill.

Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo State Park - Aug 7, 2009

You are invited to join on a hike Friday (Aug 7) under the light of the full moon. Leaving the bay fog behind us, we will climb a flanking ridge of Mt. Diablo to attain a high spot called "twin peaks". From there we should have some nice views of the East Bay and delta. We will meet at the Mt. Diablo State Park Mitchell Canyon trailhead at 8:15pm. Please park outside the park gates. Feel free to invite like-minded others and do let me know if you plan to attend and if you need/have a ride. While only a mile or two each way, it will be a steep climb so do bring good shoes. Some light refreshments will be provided at the top. Directions:Take Highway 24 east through the Caldecott Tunnel. continue to I- 680 split near Walnut Creek, then exit #46b onto Ygnacio Valley Road. Travel east on Ygnacio Valley Road about 8 miles, and turn right onto Clayton Road. Drive south about 1 mile, then turn right onto Mitchell Canyon Road. Continue to the trailhead at the end of the road, about 1.5 miles.

Sobrante Ridge Regional Park - July 7 2009

Please join Tuesday at 8:30pm for a full moon hike up Sobrante Ridge, an undeveloped piece of land just within the Richmond city limits that is now managed by the East Bay Regional Park System and just off I80 (Sobrante Ridge was formerly used to raise horses and cattle critical in the development of the tetanus and diptheria vaccines). We will take a short hike to the top of the ridge, starting at a parking lot that is more than half way up to the 832' high point. Other than a notable manzanita grove, Sobrante Ridge doesn't have much to offer during hot summer days when the Richmond sun bleaches the hills dry. But at night the hillside comes to life -- cool bay breezes, coastal live oaks casting moon shadows, and wide open views of Mt. Tam and Mt. Diablo and the east bay hills. It will be a short hike given the relatively small size of the park but one well worth attending as we expect special guest commentary from visiting members of the New York full moon hike chapter.

Feel free to invite like-minded friends and acquaintances. If you need/have a carpool opportunity, please let me know, and do RSVP in any case so we know to expect you.

Directions:
From Interstate 80, exit San Pablo Dam Road (exit 18). Drive about 3.5 miles southeast on San Pablo Dam Road to the traffic light at Castro Ranch Road. Turn left and drive 0.8 mile, then turn left (into a housing development) on Conestoga Way. Drive uphill on Conestoga Way 0.3 mile, turn left onto Carriage Drive, drive 0.2 mile, and then turn right onto Coach Drive. Take Coach Drive 0.3 mile to the park entrance at the end of the road.

Inspiration Point, Tilden - June 2009

Hello everyone.

So Ben and Melissa are out of town for the upcoming full moon, so I was honored to be asked to organize our monthly luminescent expedition.

It's not especially creative but I've never been to Inspiration Point in Tilden on one of these, so that seems like a good spot. I'll be coming from a weekend away at Desolation Wilderness, but perhaps RSVP.

Meet at the parking lot of the Inspiration Point Trail in Tilden Park at 8:30. Hope to see a good first days of summer turn out.

Here are some directions:

Once you're In Berkeley take Martin Luther King to Marin. (MLK turns into "the Alameda.")

Go RIGHT up Marin.

It's a little tricky when you hit "the Circle", but stay on Marin

Right on Grizzly Peak

Left on Shasta

Then shortly after, inside the park gate, RIGHT to stay on Shasta Rd.

Veer LEFT on E Park Drive (About a mile)

At Wildcat Canyon Rd. slight left and you should be there.

Hopefully there's no curfew, but we've worked around that before. Even if there is our cars won't get locked in. Refreshments will be provided.

umm, Lunarly yours,

Will

Alpine Lake, MMWD - May 9, 2009

You are invited to join a full moon hike this Saturday. We will meet at 8:00pm for a hike along the shores of Alpine Lake and up into the hillsides of the Marin Municipal Water District. The green hills, redwood groves, and spring wildflowers will be soaked in the full moon's light. Sweeping views of a moonlit lake, Mt. Tam and the Marin mountains can be expected. The weather forecast calls for warm, clear skies. What more could one ask for?

The hike will be on the long-ish side (~5 miles) but the pace will be leisurely and a comfortable stopping point midway will afford an opportunity to rest, reflect, and refresh. Good walking shoes and a jacket or long sleeves are encouraged. Feel free to invite like-minded individuals but do RSVP with your need-a-ride/have-a-ride information.

Directions:
Take Highway 101 North to the Central San Rafael Exit. Make a left turn on Third Street. Stay on Third. It will turn into Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Stay on Sir Francis Drake until you get to Fairfax town limits. You will go over a small hill and as you head down look for a “Valero” gas station on your left. Make a left immediately after the gas station at the wooden “Fairfax” sign (the cross-street is Pacheco). At the stop sign make a right onto Broadway. At the next stop sign make a left onto Bolinas Rd. Go up Bolinas road approximately 1.5 miles (you will pass the Deer Park Villa restaurant). At 700 Bolinas Road there is a wooden sign on your left saying “Lake Lagunitas”. Make that left turn onto Sky Oaks Road; go up approximately 1/4 mile (If you miss the Sky Oaks Road turn-off and you get to the Meadow Club golf course you have gone too far). Once past the entrance kiosk, drive about 0.4 mile, and turn right (to Bon Tempe) at a signed junction onto a gravel road. Drive about 0.3 mile to the trailhead and parking. If access at the entrance kiosk is blocked, seek parking wherever convenient.

Marin Headlands - April 8, 2009

The moon's light is fast gathering strength; we expect it to be full this Wednesday night. You are invited to join in a hike to enjoy the Moon's luminescence over the sweeping landscape of Marin's Headlands. Meeting at 6:45pm at the Headlands Center for the Arts, we will hike up the Miwok trail from the lagoon towards Gerbode Valley. If lucky, we may be able to catch both celestial orbs in the sky at the same time. The hike will be a stiff climb with sweeping views of the coastal spring -- green hillsides and flowering lupines, monkeyflower, and paintrush -- as well as views of moonlit Marin and the San Francisco Bay.

The Headlands offer an open yet rugged landscape where earth meets sea. This month's hike will be part of the proJECT Space Walks series curated by Genine Lentine with the Headlands Center for the Arts and will include a demo and presentation of the Civil Twilight Collective's Lunar Resonant Streetlight. Bring warm clothes as it is often windy. A pad of paper and pen are also encouraged on this hike for those interested in reflective writing or moon-lit sketching. Feel free to invite like-minded individuals but do RSVP with your need-a-ride/have-a-ride information.














Directions:
Take Highway 101 North to the Alexander Avenue exit just after the Golden Gate Bridge. Bear right, toward Sausalito. Take the first left turn to the tunnel. Follow Bunker Road for 2 miles. Fork left onto Field Road. Take the first left onto Bodsworth Road and another left onto Simmonds Road. Headlands Center for the Arts, Building 944 is the second building on the left hand side of the road.

More info:
Civil Twilight Collective
ProJECT Spacewalks

Ring Mountain, Tiburon - March 10, 2009

This Tuesday, those among us who are willing and able, are invited to join in a hike up to the top of Tiburon's Ring Mountain. Soaring 600' above the bay, Ring Mountain affords one of the better moon views of the inner bay area, with solid 360 degree views of Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo, the San Francisco skyline. The hike will wind its way up a jeep road past open grasslands with oaks and manzanita arriving at an open perch on a ridgeline ringed by gigantic serpentinite boulders. It's a relatively short hike but with a good steep pull up the hill. This outcrop of wilderness in the middle of the bay area is the relic of an impressive anti-development campaign on the part of local citizens and the Nature Conservancy in the early 1980s. Local neighbor Shira Katz will lead the hike and be available for Q & A.

We'll assemble at 7:30pm in the parking lot of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church of Tiburon. Bring warmclothes as it's often windy; feel free to invite likeminded others; and please do RSVP if you plan to attend to let me know if you need/have a ride. Drinks will be served at the summit.

Directions: Take 101 North over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County. Exit at Blithedale Ave/Tiburon Blvd/Highway 131. Turn right on 131/Tiburon Blvd and travel 1.7 miles. Turn left on Trestle Glen Blvd and travel .5 miles. Turn left on Shepherd Way and look for the church parking lot immediately on your right.

Fort Funston, SF - Feb 9th, 2009

You are invited to join on a full moon-lit hike along the beach at Fort Funston this Monday, Feb 9th. Fort Funston is located along a rugged stretch of coastal headlands, sand, and dunes south of ocean beach in San Francisco. Formerly a battery emplacement and Nike base, it's now a part of the GGNRA. We'll hike through the Fort south toward San Mateo County onto the beach to enjoy the ocean air and moonlit waters. Please plan to arrive at 8:30pm; our hike will not be long -- probably a mile each way with little to no elevation gain. Refreshments will be served at the turnaround spot. Feel free to invite like minded individuals. The weather forecast calls for some cloudiness, some winds, and perhaps some light showers so dress appropriately. However, despite the inclement weather, the moon is scheduled to make an appearance and we will look forward to finding a good spot to enjoy that view.

Directions: Take I280 southbound from San Francisco to Exit 49 for Junipero Serra/John Daly Blvd. Turn right (west) on John Daly Blvd and drive 1.4 miles to CA 35 (Skyline Blvd). Turn right (north) on CA 35 and drive past John Muir Drive, then take the first right (signed Fort Funston). Bear right and continue to the parking lot. click here for Google Map

Purisima Creek OSP - January 10th, 2009

All,

You are invited to join on a full moon hike this Saturday evening. We'll meet at 7:30pm at Purisima Creek Redwoods in the mountains above San Mateo to hike, talk, and enjoy the light of the full moon on the mountains around us. "Purisima" means most pure; the early spanish believed this area to have a purifying effect and named the creek and associated canyon to honor the virgin mary. As for us, we will walk moon-shadowed by towering redwoods and enjoy occasional views of the coast and Half Moon Bay.

There will be a few miles of hiking and some elevation climbing so bring some good shoes and some warm clothes for our ridgeline restbreak. Feel free to bring like-minded others. Drinks will be provided at an appropriate half-way point. Please RSVP to let me know if you need or can offer a ride.

Directions:
Take Highway 92 west from the San Mateo Bridge (if coming from the east bay) or from I280 (if coming from SF) to the Skyline Boulevard, highway 35 exist. Travel south on Skyline for 4.5 miles. Turn right into the parking lot at Purisma Creek Redwoods Preserve (if you get to the Redwood Trail turn off or Tunitas Creek Road junction you've gone too far).