Spring, 2011 activities of the SCMTA

Pinnacles National Monument— Our annual outing to the Pinnacles is always spectacular. Camping on Sat. night 4/2/11 — Hike 9:30 4/3/10. not sure of the route but it will be good — For camping and carpool info. call Robert Spicher (408) 238-9821. Hike Leader Steve Braley (408) 981-9753.

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. Diablo State Park— On the Clayton side, a 10-to 12-mile moderate to strenuous hike. We will hike the rugged back side, see lots of small waterfalls and wildflowers, and hike in and out of several canyons. Carpool from Rengstorff and Middlefield at 8:00. Call Cathy Howard for details (650) 966-1850. Bring a lunch and plenty of water.

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.

April 3, Sunday: San Francisco Stairway Hike— A strenuous all day hike of the stairways of Pacific Heights, both sides of Telegraph Hill, and Russian Hill. Great views, cozy neighborhoods, and lots of stairs. Hike begins/ends in Japan Town, lunch at Levi Plaza (bring your own). Howard and Joan (408) 378-1638
From 280 in San Francisco, take 101 North.
Take the left exit: 434A US-101 N/MISSION ST
Go to the end and proceed on Octavia Blvd.
Turn left onto Fell St
Turn right onto Webster
Cross Geary Blvd and take the next right onto Post
Right on Laguna.
Park on Laguna or on Geary Blvd (the next right).
Meet at the Peace Plaza in Japan Town at the Post St crosswalk.

TRAIL DAYS— Reserve this date for the annual Trail Days. Each year on the fourth Saturday in April Trail Association members give a little back by helping with trail building or trail maintenance. Please, let's have a good turnout today. Meet at Saratoga Gap parking at 9 AM.

Raindate for TRAIL DAYS— An opportunity for those who could not make it to Saturday's Trail Day, or for those who like to do two day's of trail work.

Mt Tamalpais State Park— Marin hike from Pantoll Ranger Station. Hike the Matt Davis Trail down to Stinson Beach and return on Steep Ravine Trail with our lunch at the beach-about 8 miles. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at Page Mill & 280 at 8:15 or Pantoll Ranger Station at 9:30. Mark Bowden (408) 735-8736.

San Francisco— Mutals, Stairs and Slide. Wind around the Mission viewing murals and climbing some stairs, lunch at Dolores Park. Bring $$ for BART and ice cream. Meet 8:15 at Page Mill Park & Drive or outside the 24th Street BART Station, corner of Mission and 24th at 9:30. For questions call Toni 650-948-7344.

4 Open Space Preserves — Carpool from Page Mill and 280 at 9:00. We will begin hiking from the Montebello Parking Lot at 9:30. We'll start at Montebello cross over to Skyline Ridge Open Space, connect with Russian Ridge cross back over Skyline to Coal Creek and end back at Montebello. 8 - 10 miles bring water, lunch. http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_monte_bello.pdf. Leader; Cathy Howard (650) 966-1850.
After the hike we will plan next quarter's hikes over refreshments at the Alpine Inn, so please bring your calendar for July/August/September and your ideas for hikes you would like to lead.

Big Basin Trail Maintenance— Join Jeff Bleam again for some more enjoyable trail maintenance at Big Basin. See April 9 entry for details.

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin at (408) 252-8106 for more information.

Sweeney Ridge starting at Shelldance Nursery— Mori Ridge & Baquiano Loop 7.0 mile round trip with 1400 foot gain to Portola Discovery site and west to Cattle Hill and back. Visit the orchid gardens or do an alternate hike to Mori Point on way back, 3.0 miles RT. Carpool at Meridian & Parkmoor Post Office at 08:30 or 280/Page Mill Park & Ride at 08:45; or meet at trailhead: Shelldance Nursery Parking Lot at 09:30. Valerie Chataignier (408) 292-2725/966-1598 cell.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9:00 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See April 16 entry.

Alum Rock, Boccardo Trail— We will hike up to the Northern peak of Boccardo Trail off the Todd Quick Trail, than continue to North Rim Trail to South Rim Trail. Distance around 10 miles. Meet at the parking lot at Eagle Rock Picnic Area at 9.30. No-host car-pool in front of the Post Office corner of Meridian and Parkmoor next to Food Max supermarket at 9.00. The leader will be at the Eagle Rock parking area. Rain will cancel the hike. Mary Ellen Quinn (408) 885-0184.

Long Ridge Open Space Preserve— A loop of about 10 miles through Stevens Creek Canyon, along Hickory Oak Ridge and Long Ridge with beautiful vistas to the West. Meet at Grizzly Flat parking area at 9:30 AM or at Page Mill & 280 at 8:45. Leader is Martin Donald (650) 966-1984.

SCMTA Annual Picnic— The picnic will start at 12:30 and be held at Mark Bowden's house at 376 South Fernwood Circle in Sunnyvale. Please bring a salad or desert to share, your own beverage, and $3.00. Please RSVP by email (markbowden10 at gmail.com) or phone (408) 735-8736.

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

Trail Maintenance - Skyline to the Sea Trail— Call Al Lisin (408) 252-8106 for more information.

Huddart County Park/Phleger Estate— Meeting and starting at Zwierlein Picnic Area at 9.30 AM. It'll be around 10 miles, hike up to the Fire station on Skyline Blvd where there'll be picnic tables to eat lunch. Carpool at Page Mill/280 at 9.00 AM. Vivian Jung (408) 238-3388.

Castle Rock State Park Trail Maintenance— Meet at Saratoga Gap parking lot at 9 AM. Call Martin Donald at (650) 966-1984. See April 16 entry.

Portola Redwoods State Park and Pescadero Creek County Park— An 11-mile hike along the Coyote Ridge, Tarwater, Canyon, Bear Ridge and Pomponio Trails. Meet at Portola Redwoods SP headquarters at 9:30 or Hwy 280 and Page Mill Park and Ride at 8:45 for "no host" carpool. Leader is Mark Bowden (408) 735-8736. For camping at Portola Fri/Sat 17/18 email Mark at markbowden10 at gmail.com.

Rancho Cañada del Oro— A 7 to 8 mile hike into the territory of the Santa Clara Open Space Authority. This park is located south of the Almaden Valley area. Meet at Cottle/85 Park and Ride at 9:00 or at the staging area on Casa Loma Road at 9:30, or call leader, Ellen at (408) 267-6456 for further carpool information. Directions to park at http://www.openspaceauthority.org/trails/rancho.html.

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