Fall, 2011 activities of the SCMTA

Joseph D. Grant County Park— Meet at the parking lot near the ranch house at 9:30. This hike, 10-12 miles. will visit the Los Huecos, Cañada de Pala, Pala Seca and Halls Valley trails. Lunch at the Line Shack. Rain cancels. Mark Bowden (408) 735-8736. Carpool from Rengstorff / Middlefield at 8:30 or and 280 / N. Meridian at 8:45.

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Meet Jeff Bleam at park headquarters at 9:00 AM for some hands-on trail work. This group meets the second Saturday of each month. Call (831) 338-0774.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Al Lisin, (408) 252-8106, leads a group that maintains the Skyline to the Sea Trail. This group also meets on the second Saturday of the month. The group meets at 9:00 AM. Please call Al for meeting place (which changes).

Mt. Sprig Lake/Mt. Madonna County Park— A moderate 9 mile hike with approx 1,800ft elevation gain. Meet at the Sprig Lake parking lot, just off highway 152, at 9:30 A.M. or carpool from the Park and Ride at Highway 85 and Cottle Road at 8:45 A.M. Heavy rain cancels. Call Ed La Pointe at (408) 243-7194.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— The third Saturday of every month Martin Donald leads trail work in the Castle Rock area. Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin at (650) 966-1984. Bring boots and gloves, lunch and liquid. Tools are supplied but bring your own favorites if you prefer.

Marin Headlands— Tennessee Valley, 10 mile hike along Coastal Trail, Muir Beach and Green gulch. Meet at the Tennesse Valley parking lot at 9:30. Rain will cancel. Carpool from Page Mill/280 at 8:15 and Edgewood /280 P&R in Redwood City at 8:30. Esther Ludena 650-508-8372

San Francisco — Crissy Field to Sausalito, return on the ferry— Meet (no host) at Page Mill and 280 at 8:30, or meet at the parking lot of the Crissy Field Cafe by the bathrooms, 1199 East Beach at the Presidio, at 9:15. Walk seven miles to Sausalito and take the ferry back to SF. I plan taking the 12:45 ferry and eating in San Francisco at the Ferry Building. Cost of ferry is $9.25 one way, 65 and older is $4.50. Nancy Davidson cell 650 575-5889

Henry Coe State Park— Starting at Hunting Hollow parking lot to Willson Peak, have lunch at Willson Ranch, round trip about 10 miles. Car pool at light rail parking lot off Cottle Rd off Hwy 85 at 8.45, or meet at Hunting Hollow parking lot at 9.30 which is off Gilroy Hot Spring Road. Heavy rain will cancel but with light rain the hike is on. Vivian Jung (408) 238-3388.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin at (408) 252-8106 for more information. Note the change to the first Saturday in the month

Marin Headlands— Ten mile loop up Morning Sun Trail and meander above the Gerbode Valley down through Fort Cronkhite to Rodeo Beach. Return past Fort Barry up Rodeo Valley Trail. Meet Page Mill and 280 at 8:15 or trail head off 101 in Sausalito at 9:30 a.m. For trailhead, take 101 north, exit Spencer Ave/Monte Mar and go straight, back under 101 to parking lot directly on your right. Toni Bassett (650) 948-7344.

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Join Jeff Bleam again for some more enjoyable trail maintenance at Big Basin. See October 8 entry for details.

Monte Bello Open Space Preserve— Enjoy beautiful views as we go up Black Mountain and along the ridge on this 10-mile, out-and-back hike to the Ridge Winery. Anyone who is interested is invited to participate in a potluck picnic: just bring your choice of finger food or picnic food to share! We will plan our winter hike schedule over lunch, so please bring your calendar and your ideas for January, February, or March hikes. Carpool at 9:10 from Page Mill / 280 Park and Ride. Leader is Cathy Howard (650) 966-1850. Heavy rain cancels.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See October 15 entry.

Castle Rock State Park— A 9-mile loop on the Skyline, Loughry Woods, Travertine Springs and Toll Road Trails. Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:30 or car-pool from back of "La Fondue" in Saratoga at 9:10. Mark Bowden 408) 735-8736.

Palo Alto Foothills Park— A moderate 7.5-mile loop along the Los Trancos Trail. Reservations required, as we are limited to three cars. Call Peter Tsui (650) 838-9333 for car-pooling. Heavy rain cancels.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin (408) 252-8106 for more information. Note the change to the first Saturday in the month

Almaden Quicksilver County Park— 10 mile loop on Wood Road trail, Randol Trail and Mine Hill Trail. Carpool from VTA lot at Camden and 85 at 9:00 AM or meet at the Park entrance on the left side of Hicks Road at 9:30 AM. Rain cancels. Call Carolyn 408-379-1853.

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Meet Jeff Bleam (831) 338-0774 at park headquarters at 9:00 AM. See October 8 entry.

Sunol Regional Wilderness— Great views, 10 to 12 miles, approx. 2500' elevation gain. Meet at 8:15 at Middlefield and Rengstorff, at Meridian/ Parkmoor by the post office at 8:45 or 9:30 at park hdq. Moderate to strenuous, rain will cancel. Perhaps Bosco's after the hike! Mary Ellen Quinn 408-885-0184.

We will hike Indian Joe, High Valley Rd. Vista Grande, Eagle View, Rocks Rd. Cerro Este Rd, Mccorkle Tr. Backpack Rd, Camp Ohlone Rd. Little Yosemite to Cerro Este Rd and lastly Canyon View Trail back to hdq.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See October 15 entry.

Wilder Ranch State Park— Moderate hike, 10 miles. Meet at 8:30 in Los Gatos, municipal parking lot to carpool; or at the main Wilder Ranch parking lot on Highway 1. There is open space and redwoods, also a 3 to 4 mile walk along the ocean cliffs. Call Cathy Howard for details (650) 966-1850.

Merry Christmas — No Hike.