OHLSON RANCH LOOP and POTLUCK

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Photo credit: Mary Sue Ittner

Meet at 9:40 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Linda Kennedy's house: 37677 White Barn at 9:50. Non-Sea Ranchers will need hang tags. We will leave our food for a potluck at Linda's. Take the bike trail north accessing the Breaker Meadow Trail and taking it north to the Wildmoor Meadow Trail and from there the public access trail to Shell Beach. When you reach the Bluff Trail, walk south exiting at Wild Iris (post 22) and back to Linda's for lunch.
Leader: Linda Kennedy

ECOLOGICAL STAIRCASE, JUGHANDLE STATE RESERVE

ALL Photos by Bob Rutemoeller

Carpool at 8:35 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of the bridge and at 8:45 in Anchor Bay. Anyone joining us from  north of the carpool spot should let the leaders know where we can pick you up or you may want to organize your own carpools. We are hoping to be at the reserve for a 10 o'clock starting time but that's just a guess. "The watershed of Jug Handle Creek holds a rare natural phenomenon, an ecological staircase composed of five terraces, each about 100,000 years older and about 100 feet higher than the one below it." The trail we will follow is 5 miles long with elevation changes. Some of the plant communities we will pass through are North Coast bluff scrub, coastal prairie, closed cone pine forest, riparian, non native invaders, grand fir/sitka spruce forest, redwood forest, and finally the pygmy forest, a bog with low nutrient highly acidic soil, underlain by an iron hardpan where trees that normally grow tall are dwarf. We will then turn around and descend and have lunch on the beach at the end. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.

Leaders:  Mary Sue & Bob

FORT ROSS STATE PARK TO OLD GROWTH REDWOOD TREE

All photos by Bob Rutemoeller

Carpool at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge, and at The Sea Ranch Lodge at 9:30 or meet at Fort Ross State Park at 10:00. We will walk to the Cove and take the trail to the Russian graveyard. Carefully cross the highway from there and take the fire road up the hill for a up close look at one of the few remaining old growth redwoods in the area. Here you will be treated to some life lessons you can learn from a Redwood. We will then have a nice view at the water tanks and then on to the Archaeological Camp. Walking between the last two cabins and looking through the hole in the fence you can see the fault line and where the creek dropped in the big earthquake. Return as you came, having lunch at the Cove or Call House picnic area or in the Fort. We'll decide depending on the weather and interests of the group. There are elevation changes on this hike, but the walking is not difficult. Dogs should be left at home.
Leaders: Mary Sue & Bob

HOT SPOT PICNIC AND HIKE

All photos by Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 9:35 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge and at 9:50 at the end of Verdant View near Twofish Baking Company. 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. Carpool to the Hot Spot and start from there at 10:00. Walk up the Hot Spot Loop Trail to River Beach Road to Deep Woods to East Ridge Rd catching the Ridge Trail from 101 to 102, exiting at Sorcerer Wood and picking up the Spring Meadow Trail at 314 to 316 and then circle the airport (Sea Ridge Rd, trail to Timber Ridge Rd.) Walk down River Beach Road entering the San Andreas Fault Interpretive Trail at post 304 and following it to post 305. Continue on River Beach Road, catching the old road (now closed) to return to the Hot Spot for lunch. Lunches can be left in the car as we'll eat at the end of the hike. Walking sticks advised for this hike.
Leader: Jane Seck

POINT ARENA PIER LOOP

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

photo credit: Bob Rutemoeller

Meet at 10:20 at pullout for Gualala business directory and at Anchor Bay (west side of Hwy 1) at 10:30. Hike starts at Point Arena Pier at 11:00. Hike along bicycle trail to highway one, go up Riverside road admiring the B. Bryan Preserve animals on the way, hike left on Pine Reef road to Linda and Jorge's house, hike around their property, lunch on porch. Then return to PA Pier to collect cars.
Leader: Linda Dorticos