CORMORANT, BREAKER MEADOW, OHLSON BEACH, SHELL BEACH LOOP & POTLUCK

All photos by Mary Sue Ittner

Meet at 9:45 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge and at 10:00 at Steve and Bonnie Coffeysmith's house, corner of Bluff Reach and Cormorant Close. Drop off food for a potluck. Walk to marker 30A and follow the hedgerow to marker 30D. Turn right and follow the trail to 26D and continue on Breaker Meadow Trail to 25D. Take the bike trail from 25D to marker 21, passing by Knipp-Stengel Barn. Turn right to Ohlson Beach, then return to 21, turn left and walk along the bluff to marker 24, overlooking Stengel Beach. Follow the bluff trail from 24, 24A, 25 to marker 31. Check out the cormorant nesting area at the point, then continue along the bluff to Shell Beach and loop back via 33, 33A, and Cormorant Reach to complete the loop. Bonnie promises to make soup and hikers can furnish other food for a potluck after the hike.
Leader: Steve Coffeysmith

KING RIDGE LOOP

Meet at 9:15 at pullout for Gualala business directory north of bridge to carpool and at The Sea Ranch Lodge parking lot at 9:30. From Skagg's Spring Road turn on Tin Barn Road and drive to King Ridge Road and park. Hike King Ridge two miles (up) and return. This stretch is very beautiful in winter with mist, oak trees, and nice views. There is plenty of up and down on this hike. We will eat at an old cemetery.
Leader: Harmony
Mileage: 4.5

POMO TRAILS AND FOREST

All photos by Mary Sue Ittner

Carpool at pullout for Gualala business directory just north of bridge at 9:50. Meet at Dard's (205 Screech Owl, Sea Ranch) at 10:00. It's East on Halcyon (North end of Sea Ranch) North on Deer Trail, West on Screech Owl.  Starting on Screech Owl, do entire Pomo Creekside Trail. Turn left on Deer Trail and walk until you catch the Pomo Hillside Trail. As this trail exits to Deer Trail take the Badger Trail to the dirt road, turn left and after a few hundred feet take unofficial trail to the right through the grass and over a flattened to the ground barbed wire fence to the county campground road. Turn to the right and walk to the campground. At the bottom of hill take unofficial trail heading toward river and explore this beautiful area. Reverse and start back. Cover the route taken inbound to dirt road, turn right to Post 152 turning left on Haversack connector trail. Take it exiting on cul-de-sac which traverse turning right on Deer Trail. Turn in on Pomo Creekside trail and return to beginning. Lunch at Dard's at the end.
Leader: Laura Bridge

ANNAPOLIS ROAD HIKE #1

guest hiker: Kissy Tagalong

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 (the future home of the Annapolis VFD.) Hike east along the road for about an hour hopefully reaching or passing 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. We will drive to the Annapolis Winery after we return to the cars to eat our lunches weather permitting.
Leader: Mary Sue Ittner