GUALALA ARTS TO GREEN IRON BRIDGE ROAD HIKE

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 10:15 in back part of Gualala Arts parking lot. Start with one of the shorter Gualala Arts trail hikes. Then hike along the road down to the bridge and the end of the county road and back. Along the way we visit the campground this time of the year. There are some mild elevation changes on this hike and nice views of the Gualala River. We can eat our lunches at the Art Center at the end. If you haven't already had the opportunity to add to Harmony and Mary Sue's gratitude list as they try to reach 2013 things to be grateful for before the end of the year you'll have a chance today.
Leaders: Bob Rutemoeller & Mary Sue Ittner

GUALALA REGIONAL PARK NORTH SEA RANCH LOOP

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Christmas miracle Azaleas blooming! photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Start at Hidden Parking Lot at 10:00  (on westside entrance just left after pulling past fee post.)   There is a fee per car. (Or park across the street and cross Highway One if you do not have a pass.)  Cross the highway and pick up the new section of the Badger Trail.  Take the Badger Trail and hike the Pomo Hillside Trail to Deer Trail. Turn left (post 147) and walk along the road, turning right on Halcyon and crossing the highway. Turn right on Leeward, left on Fish Rock, taking the trail through the hedge row to the Bluff Trail. Walk along the trail until you pass post 70. Take trail off to right to 70A and Sea Lion. Walk to the end of the road, turn left and walk along Leeward Road to the end, entering the trail at post 76A. Connect to the Bluff Trail again and then walk to the park taking the first right back to the Visitor's Center and back to the Hidden Parking lot. Our leader may choose to lead us in singing Christmas carols along the way. Optional lunch at the picnic tables at the end.
Leader: Tina Vasavada

ANNAPOLIS ROAD HIKE #1

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge and at The Sea Ranch Business Center on Annapolis Rd at 9:30. Turn right before you reach the Fire Station. We can park along the cul-de-sac by the building supply.  Sea Ranch members please bring along extra hang tags for non Sea Ranchers. Park along side what was once the Old Hollow Tree Store across from the Sonoma County Maintenance yard at 32700 Annapolis Road. Hike east along the road for about an hour or until we reach the wonderful old Madrone tree and return. This is a chance to see the land as it once was and compare it with the parcels that have been converted to vineyards. There is some up and down on this hike, but this stretch is flatter than what comes before or after. Lunch can be on the porch of the old Annapolis School where we will drive after we get back to the cars.
Leader: Gary Sprague

UP & DOWN FROM OHLSON RANCH - THE CLUSTERS

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 10:15 a.m. Start at Ohlson Ranch Center at 10:30 a.m. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers. Take the Blufftop Trail north to post 27. Turn left on Breaker Reach to Vantage, crossing the highway and picking up the stub to the trail and then turning right and then left to walk uphill to post 113 and the cluster homes at Madrone Meadows. Walk up to Redwood Rise where the walk-in cabins are and then left at Pine Meadow Road to Unit 29A. This was planned in 1970's. The 4 model homes #2, #3, #4 (Yuen), #5 as well as a few cabins were completed in 1972. We'll eat our lunches in the leader's home. Afterwards walk down from the forest to the water treatment plant, crossing the highway and back to the Ohlson Ranch and the cars.
Leader: Theresa Yuen

PLANTATION TRAIL - SALT POINT STATE PARK

photo credit: Jane Seck

photo credit: Jane Seck

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 9:30 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 9:45. Drive up Kruse Rhododendron Rd to Plantation and park at Plantation Farm Camp. Weather (muddiness) will dictate our route but we will walk up from Plantation and either enter Salt Point from the top Kruse Road connection or walk on the up the road turning right on Seaview and walking along it until we come the the trail access. We will either make a loop or do a down and back. We will be on the look out for mushrooms but without our mushroom guide we will not be picking any. We will drive to Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve for lunch after returning to our cars. Boots and hiking sticks are recommended. Light rain does not cancel this hike. Dogs are not allowed on the Salt Point trails.
Leader: Harmony Susalla

POINT ARENA PUBLIC LANDS

Photo Credit: Gary Levenson-Palmer

Photo Credit: Gary Levenson-Palmer

Photo Credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo Credit: Mary Sue Ittner

 Meet at 9:50 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at 10:00 at Anchor Bay (West side of Hwy 1) to carpool and start at Point Arena City Hall at 10:30. Walk the new section of Point Arena Public Lands to the end and return. This is shorter than our usual hikes which will give us a lot of time to linger and look at the views of the ocean, the rocks, the Arena Cove, etc. This is mostly coastal grassland so there isn't much elevation change, but the ground is uneven and there are gopher holes like we find in the Stornetta Public Lands. Lunch is optional, but we hope many of you will join the leaders who plan to have lunch after the hike at the Rollerville Cafe. I had already called them to tell them there would be an unknown number of hikers coming for lunch on that date so we felt we should keep that part of the hike and drive there (which isn't very far) after the hike.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller

LODGE TO SMUGGLER'S COVE AND PEBBLE BEACH

Carpool at 10:00 at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge or meet at the Sea Ranch Lodge at 10:15 am. Walk the bluff trail north, turn right at post 7, then right again onto Sea Meadow Dr. Upon reaching Sea Gate Rd. turn north. Cross Clipper's Reach and take the bike link straight ahead which leads to Sculpture Point Dr. Follow this to Navigators Reach, there turn right and find the continuation of the bike trail. Just before the hedgerow go left on the trail connecting to the bluff trail. Return to the lodge.
Leader: Jim Suhr

UP AND DOWN SCENIC GUALALA

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 10:00 in the Community Center Parking lot.  On this walk there are many scenic views. We will see views of the ocean from many different vantage points, interesting and diverse architecture and drought tolerant entry gardens, walk on the Gualala Bluff Trail, pass the houses of several members of our group and see Gualala in a way most of us have never seen it, on foot. This hike is not level, but none of the "elevation changes" are very long. We will eat our lunches on the Gualala Bluff Trail near the end of the hike, but close to Trinks for all the gelato fans. We will walk the rest of the trail, exiting at the new southern access and back to our cars.
Leaders: Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller

EAST SIDE WOODSY TRAILS AND HUGEL RAVINE LOOP variation

Meet at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge and at 10:00 at end of Verdant View near Two Fish. We will leave as many cars as possible there and carpool to the end of East Ridge Road. Hang tags needed. Start hiking at post 101. Hike south along the trails until post 116, head down to the walk -in cabins and walk Pine Meadow Road to meet up with the Hugel Ravine to Seabird Road, turn left on Schooner Drive and follow it to the end where we will pick up the trails back to our parked cars.  There is some elevation gain, both up and down, and a walking stick would be helpful. The trails are very pretty and hopefully not yet too muddy.   Lunch at the end at 2Fish (which was closed today).

Leaders: Diana and Dave Bower

STILLWATER COVE/GLEN FORBES MEMORY HIKE

Carpool at the pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:25 and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 9:40. Hikers with County Regional Park passes should drive. We will first walk to Glen Forbes bench overlooking Stillwater Cove. Afterwards we'll hike the interesting bluff section of Stillwater Cove and then return back to our cars. We will drive then to the day use area and park.  We will hike through the beautiful forested canyon, cross a small stream, then up along the ridge until we reach the old Fort Ross schoolhouse and then through the Canyon and down to the Cove for lunch. After lunch we'll return to our cars.  Dogs allowed on leash and hiking sticks helpful for a few steep spots and river crossing. Parking in the first section could be a challenge as there are only room for about three cars so we may have to drop people off and do a shuttle.
Leaders: Harmony Susalla

MONARCH GLEN/WALK-ON BEACH LOOP #2

 

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Start at 10:00 at the paved parking area at Piper's Reach. Hang tags needed for non Sea Ranchers.  Walk to the bluff and then walk south to post 31. Continue east to Cormorant Close and through the hedgerow intersecting the trail that is adjacent to Highway One. Walk north on it until you reach the Monarch Glen Trail. Do that loop and then walk back to Bosuns Close and carefully cross the highway taking the road to the Chapel. Walk the first part of the Chapel Trail with its great views to post 128, turning left to Leeward Spur, crossing the highway again. Turn south onto Leeward Road. Take a right to get to the bluff trail. Lunch at the Harbor Seal docent area.
Leader: Tina Vasavada

NOTE: Last week's hike there was rerouted by the leader and participants. No pictures were taken.