Montara Mountain – February 2007

February 17, 2007
Brooks Falls Trail to Montara Mountain Summit
7.3 miles
Total hiking time: 5 hours (lots of photo stops)
Graciela, Barbara, Mary, Julie

Another amazing hike. We drove to Pacifica where the trail began in San Pedro County Park. We started a little after 11:30. It was a beautiful clear day – not a cloud in the sky so rain jackets were left behind. The trail began with some mild switchbacks though a large eucalyptus grove. As you climbed higher you could see more and more of Pacifica below.


The trail was on the edge of the hill with a bit of erosion – but well maintained and signed. As we climbed we began to get views of the coast; the Marin Headlands, Mt. Tamalpais and eventually we could see the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. When we came to the first viewpoint you had a clear view of the north coast from Pacifica all the way up the peninsula. We had a great view of the Farallon Islands through Mary’s binoculars.

We started on the Montara Mountain Trail which now entered the Sam McNee State Park. Our original plan was to do a car shuttle with one car in Montara and the other in Pacifica. This didn’t make sense with just the four of us, but it would definitely be doable with a larger group. The trails were well marked.

We heard from other hikers that Brooks Falls was just a trickle – which is what we really expected. We decided to wait until our return to take the waterfall path. We came out on a fire road leading to the top of Montara Mountain. The views kept getting better – you could now see the Oakland skyline, Mt. Diablo, the San Mateo Bridge and a lot of the bay. To the south you could see down the coast to Ano Nuevo. We noticed by the time reached the summit the Farallon Islands had disappeared into a mist off the coast.


At the top of the Mountain is satellite equipment, but the view was spectacular in so many directions. You could see the San Francisco skyline and almost all the way around the peninsula. I really started to better understand the geography of the Bay Area. There was a summit journal in a container, but the journal had gotten wet. We wrote a quick entry and left it in the sun and wind to dry. We asked the next group of hikers to put it away.

Although it was a three day weekend – the trail was not too crowded. There were other hikers, a few bicyclists and two motorcyclists (don’t know where they came from). We had lunch in a secluded shady spot. We looked at the view through binoculars and watched the crows catch the air currents.


As we headed down we could see a blanket of fog rolling in. It was still fairly far out to sea, but by the time we reached our trail junction we were engulfed. If we hadn’t just seen the spectacular views we would never suspect they were there. Everyone pulled on long sleeve garments and Mary even put her gloves on.

Now the landscape was transformed into a lush mysterious trail bearing no resemblance to its earlier rendition. We stopped to take a picture in the fog where earlier that morning had been a panoramic viewpoint.

We took the Brooks Falls trail – but never saw the Falls. We peered into the fog, but couldn’t see across the canyon. This trail and the Old Trout Farm Trail had giant eucalyptus trees and followed the creek.

By the time we got back to the car and drove out to Highway One – the fog had cleared. It took a long time to get back to Santa Cruz – we made several stops and hit holiday traffic in Half Moon Bay. Mary kept us entertained with stories from her travels sailing around the world. It was a wonderful day and a great hike.


Lesson Learned: Seize the moment – take the picture when it strikes you and don’t wait until later – the opportunity may be lost in the mist.

North Coast - February 2007

February 2007
Gazos Creek – Table Rock – Again!
9 miles
Super Bowl Sunday
Graciela, Barbara, Tim, Julie

We decided to repeat the same hike as the week before- which is not like me. I wanted coastal views and it had been such an empty and wonderful hike. I figured on Super Bowl Sunday it would be really deserted. Not so.

When we got to the Gazos Creek parking lot, it was already crowded. There was what we suspected was a Sierra Club hike with about 20 people heading out. We let them pass.

Even though we had done the same hike the week before – we couldn’t find the same trails. Again we ended up bushwhacking through the brush, grasses and possible poison oak until we reached Franklin Point. It was hotter then the previous week and slightly humid. We were stripped down to sleeveless tops in no time.

At Franklin Point, Tim pointed out a murre nesting in the sand. Tim led us onto an “illegal route” that came out back on the main trail. The beach where the elephant seals were the week before was filled with families with babies. Babies seemed to be everywhere on this hike.

We lunched a little further down the bluff from the cypress trees. Lovely view of the coast. We continued on to Ano Nuevo. We walked past the many “No Trespassing – Entering Ano Nuevo” signs until we couldn’t go any further.

I found a very unusual rock – a big blonde quartz with unusual formations. It was fairly heavy – probably about five pounds. Walking back I alternately carried it in my backpack or did bicep curls with it. Everyone laughed at me – but I’m glad I brought it. It’s a rock that looks special even

On the way back we came across two different kinds of clay in the cliffs one earthy and one black. We joked up taking a mud bath and dip in the ocean. We shortly came across two seal carcasses with their heads bit off and giant bites taken out of their sides, which convinced us we wouldn’t be going into the ocean after all.

We also ended up seeing another Elephant Seal. He was lying up in the sand dunes and it would have been easy to walk by thinking he was a log. Tim spotted him. He wiggled a bit at us and we moved on quickly.

We found even more heart shaped rocks on the beach. We figured they would make lovely Valentines Day gifts (or Anniversary gifts as the case may be). Barbara and I came back on Bonny Doon road. We stopped at Bonny Doon Winery – but although the lights were on and people were still tasting it was after 5:00 and the door was locked. Oh well. We tried. Another great hike.

Lesson Learned: The hike on Super Bowl Sunday because it will be empty, doesn’t always hold true.

North Coast - January 2007

January 2007
Gazos Creek – Table Rock, Ano Nuevo
8 miles, no elevation gain to speak of
Josephine, Graciela, Tara, Jane, Julie

The weather was iffy for this hike – it was raining at 4:30 a.m. that morning. I personally love to hike in the rain and knew at least Jane would come, even if it was raining. There were phone calls the night before talking about other possible destinations or cancelling the hike. In the morning we decided to go for it.

We gathered at Safeway and then moved the cars to Western Drive. Everyone squeezed into my Honda, because I wanted to drive and no one else did – and I didn’t want to move all my stuff out of the car. It was a tight fit with the five of us in the car, but the company was good. In retrospect, we should have taken two cars since folks were on different time frames.

When we got to Gazos Creek parking area there were just a few cars in the lot. We got bundled up and prepared for rain, even though the sky kept getting clearer and clearer. We started down to the beach. There was a stream crossing that we cobbled together with logs. The hike starts with a beach walk. Gazos beach is wide and open.

I knew the bluff trail came off the side somewhere, so we left the beach and did a bit of bushwhacking along a deer trail. Eventually, we saw white poles, which we hoped were trail markers rather than “restricted area” poles.

We arrived at Franklin Point where there was a platform and bench with a beautiful view. Franklin Point is named after a clipper ship that went down there in the 1800s. The trail was clearly marked from this point forward.

It had turned into a beautiful day. We stopped at a bluff and Jane spotted whales. Jo brought out the binoculars, but they were close enough to see without them. Our timing was perfect, since we didn’t see whales for the rest of the trip.

Our next exciting adventure was sneaking by two elephant seals on a very small beach. Elephant Seals can move very fast when they want to and can be aggressive. Jane went first, but then the rest of us followed Josephine up a brushy “not-quite-a-trail”. Jane was waiting on the other side, not realizing until too late that the rest of us had detoured off. The elephant seals hadn’t even opened an eye.

We lunched in the sunshine on a bluff by a stand of cypress trees. Several had been cut down and others burned. It was a gorgeous day. We were slightly pushed for time, so we headed back briskly.

Graciela found all sorts of beautiful heart shaped rocks which seemed a specialty at this beach. We loaded back into my car and as we headed back into Santa Cruz. The horizon was a sea of black clouds. When we reached the cars it started raining. Our timing had been perfect. We had great weather for the whole hike. Jo, Jane and I celebrated with Bloody Marys at the Watering Hole – a dive bar on Mission Street. It was a glorious day.

Lessons Learned: A day of stolen sunshine is all the sweeter. Be prepared for poor conditions, but expect the best.

2006 Hiking Summary

What an amazing year for hiking it was! It’s been fun to think about all the hikes I did last year. Each one was special. Looking back – the tough ones always come to mind: Murrieta Falls and Mt. Carmel. I think the most beautiful was Eagle Lake in Mineral King – but Andrew Molera was gorgeous as well. Hiking gives me such joy. I enjoy the company of my friends even more when sharing nature together. I look forward to lots of new adventures with the ever expanding Hiking Group in 2007

Julia Pfeiffer - November 2006

November 2006
Ewoldsen Trail, Julia Pfeiffer State Park, Big Sur
4.5 miles, 1,500 foot elevation gain
Josephine, Julie

The Ewoldsen Trail has always been one of my favorite Big Sur hikes. Josephine and I decided to go the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Not recommended. I have never seen the parking lot so crowded and this is a popular spot. We had to park outside the entrance and walk in. Most people are parking and doing the short walk under the highway to McWay Falls – the trails themselves are usually not crowded. Not so on that day. LOTS of hikers on the trail.

Ewoldsen is a loop trail. First you hike along the creek past some lovely picnic sties which are rarely used. Then the climb begins. After hiking for awhile you reach the fork of the loop. Unfortunately someone had taken the signpost down and we ended up doing the loop backward. I like to go through the forest and then come out to the panorama of ocean views.

I was surprised that even here the trail was overgrown. I decided for all Big Sur hikes I will bring clippers. (I should have learned my lesson from the last hike, but Julia Pfeiffer is usually well maintained). When we finally reached the overlook – which seemed to take forever in this direction – there were at least six groups of people in space that would ideally have room for two. We retreated to a different vantage point, not as panoramic but more private.

We decided to go back the way we came – since I like the ocean views. It wasn’t worth completing the loop. On the way home we stopped at Rocky Point Restaurant for appetizers and celebratory drinks. We were racing to catch the sunset from the restaurant with has magnificent views – but just missed it.

Lesson Learned: Don’t hike at Julia Pfeiffer on the Thanksgiving Weekend.

Andrew Molera - October 2006

October 2006

Andrew Molera, Big Sur
9 miles, 1100 elevation gain
Tara, Paula, Julie

This was Tara and Paula’s first hike with the group and their first hike in Big Sur. What a treat to share a place I love so much with them. I was so busy talking when we drove in that it wasn’t until I got to the River Inn that I realized I had driven right by Andrew Molera! It was a gorgeous day – blue skies. It was a bit of a climb up to the top of the ridge but we were rewarded with wonderful views of the coast.

We descended to my favorite beach – which is almost always deserted. I had forgotten my sarong (when have I EVER gone hiking without a sarong?) and in spite of another couple on the beach decided to get naked and into the surf. I know about Big Sur riptides, so I couldn’t get to deep – but the water was refreshing.

We were finished with our lunch when other hikers started arriving, so I got dressed and we headed out. I haven’t ever seen so many people on the trail. Don’t know if October is a popular time to hike Big Sur – you definitely get spectacular sunsets. We hiked back along the bluffs and came out at the beach. We decided to wade across the river rather than doubling back to the bridge. It was an easy crossing. I have pictures from the hike and will post them if I ever get them developed.

Lesson Learned: Always bring your sarong!

Big Sur - September 2006

Soda Springs and Lower Buckeye Trail – Big Sur

3 miles, 750 feet elevation gain

Josephine, Julie

Jo and I did this hike while camping at Kirk Creek. This hike has some beautiful views of the coast from the bluffs. Then we descended down towards Salmon Creek Falls. The trail kept getting more and more overgrown with branches that you had to push through. We had lunch at Salmon Creek Falls – which was more of a trickle than a fall. Salmon Creek had lots of algae and was barely flowing.

We decided to hike back along Highway One rather than facing fighting our way back up through the jungle. There was a spectacular farm or complex with a swimming pool and outbuildings perched on the cliffs Walking against the traffic was a little scary – we had to carefully time a few of the narrow spots – but it gave you a different perspective than driving in a car. You still got great views of the coast.

Lesson Learned: Bring your clippers when hiking in Big Sur.