Ventana Chapter Hikes and Outings for Monterey/Carmel April 22 to June 30, 2012

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 SATURDAY, MAY 5 hiking poles. As always, enough water and Hike: Henry Cowell State Park, Walk: Asilomar-Pebble Beach lunch, don’t forget sun hat and sun protec- Fall Creek Unit 4 mile hike loop, starting on neighborhood tion. Call me for a reservation. Meet at the Consider this a memorial for Sheila streets and then thru dunes, out to Point Joe Safeway parking lot near the Chase bank in Dunniway, who routinely did Sierra Club and back along the beach boardwalk. Beach Mid Valley at 8 a.m. Leader: Anneliese Suter, walks as a leader to the barrel mill site in Fall wild flowers, possible wildlife to be seen. 624-1467. Creek. It will be a variation on her standard Meet across from the Fishwife Restaurant walk by going up the Lost Empire Trail from on Sunset Drive and Asilomar Blvd., Pacific SUNDAY, MAY 13 the trailhead just above and fairly close to the Grove at 9 a.m. Back about noon, bring snack Hike: Pinnacles National kilns, turning right on the recently added and water. Call me to reserve a space. Leader: Monument cut-off trail to the Barrel Mill and then loop- Martha Saylor, 372-9215. This 5-mile loop on the High Peaks Trail from ing back. Probably 6 miles and 1200 feet of the West entrance with about 1500’ elevation elevation gain. There is one small log crossing SUNDAY, MAY 6 gain and loss offers spectacular views of this of Fall creek, so be prepared for a maybe wet Hike: Silver Peak Loop remarkable area. There should be flowers foot crossing if the log is no longer there. For strong and adventurous hikers only, and perhaps condors! Bring water and lunch. Call me for meeting time and place, or if you we will make a loop in the Silver Peak Meet at 9:00 a.m. in Monterey to carpool for have questions. Wilderness, signing the summit register atop the 1 hour drive to Soledad. Call for more Leader: Nick Wyckoff, (831) 462-3101. Silver Peak. The Silver Peak Wilderness is information. Leader: DJ Goehring, 277-9908. more open than much of the Ventana, with SUNDAY, APRIL 22 views of cinnamon-colored rocks, stands of TUESDAY, MAY 15 Hike: Pinnacles National Santa Lucia pines, and possibly a still-run- Hike: Maple Falls Monument ning waterfall. On a clear day one can see to This 7 mile Nisene Marks hike with 700 ft. This 5-mile loop on the High Peaks Trail from the Pinnacles and even the Sierras from Silver elevation gain takes us through a lovely for- the West entrance with about 1500’ elevation Peak. A very strenuous, long-day hike - 15 est along beautiful creeks and eventually to gain and loss offers spectacular views of this miles with 4400 ft gain and light-to-medium serene Maple Falls. Some agility is required. remarkable area. There should be flowers bushwhacking over the 0.5 mile “secret trail” Stops to enjoy flora & fauna. Bring water & and perhaps condors! Bring water and lunch. section, depending upon its current condi- lunch. Arrive early; we depart at 8:40 a.m. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in Monterey to carpool for tion. Must call for meeting time and place. from the far end of the parking lot in front the 1 hour drive to Soledad. Call for more Leader: Jack Glendening, 484-6929. of REI in Marina or depart from the park- information. Leader: DJ Goehring, 277-9908. ing lot behind Aptos Station at 9:30 . Call THURSDAY, MAY 10 for a reservation. Leader: Lynn Bomberger, THURSDAY, APRIL 26 Walk: Point Lobos for Amateur 375-7777. Hike: Toro County Park Photographers About 6 miles with about 800 ft. elevation About 5 miles with minimal elevation gain, SATURDAY, MAY 19 gain, moderate pace. slow pace with many stops. Our goal is to Hike: Butano State Park We will hike along the Ollason trail to the find lots of wildflowers and seascapes to We’ll look for the only wild red-flowered view under the oak trees for lunch and will photograph. This is not a workshop. I am Rhododendron trees that I have ever seen return the same way. Bring water & lunch. not an expert, just an avid amateur. Meet on the Central Coast. The location is off the Meet before 9:30 a.m. at the dirt parking area before 9:30 a.m. at the Rio Road Park & Ride Butano Fire Road near the airstrip at the top outside the Toro Park entrance. Please, let in Carmel. Please, let me know if you are of the park. It will be 6-7 miles with about me know if you are coming. Leader: Gisela coming. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, 393-4983 1100 feet of elevation gain. Call me for meet- Nobinger, 393-4983 [email protected]. or [email protected]. ing time and place, or if you have questions. Leader: Nick Wyckoff, (831) 462-3101. SUNDAY, APRIL 29 SATURDAY, MAY 12 Hike: Mal Paso to Rocky Ridge Hike: East Garland to Kahn SUNDAY, MAY 20 We’ll meander up a private road above Mal Ranch Walk: Big Sur Waters Paso Creek, eventually On this mildly strenuous hike of about 10 We’ll mosey around several cool places in Big crossing the Creek, and then up a steep ridge- miles and 2,000’ gain and loss, we will start Sur, and finish up with a treat (bring a bit of back, and finally through from the Little League ball fields in Carmel cash) at the grocery store beside River Inn. some redwood groves to the Rocky Ridge Valley Village. Before, we had to take one Leader will provide a list of options, and we’ll Trail. We’ll end our circuit near Soberanes or two cars up Hitchcock Road to the Kahn see how many we want to include. None will Creek. A beautiful, rugged 5-6 miles with Ranch to take us out at the end of the hike. be very lengthy nor consistently steep. Dress 1000’ of elevation gain. Bring lunch, water, We will go up on Laureles, Vasquez and in layers, bring water and lunch or snack, and and good hiking boots. Call early for reserva- Cougar Ridge trails into the Kahn Ranch meet at 9 a.m. For location, call me before tions, meeting time and place. Leader : Larry where we will do the Hitchcock loop. Better hike date, or between 7-8 a.m. that day, if you Parrish, 622-7455. wear light long pants and a blouse, I don’t must. Leader: Mary Gale, 626-3565. know how the trails will be, and bring Continues on next page THURSDAY, MAY 24 SUNDAY, JUNE 3 THURSDAY, JUNE 14 Hike: Carmel Beaches Hike: Ventana Wilderness Peaks Hike: Nisene Marks State Park About 5 miles with minimal elevation gain, View About 6 miles with about 800 ft. elevation moderate pace. We will walk mostly along For strong hikers seeking a unique experi- gain, moderate pace. the ocean as far as Monastery Beach and ence, we will climb to the top of Mining We’ll hike mostly through redwoods from return the same way. Meet before 9:30 a.m. Ridge, at 4823 ft higher than many Ventana Porter Family Picnic Area along the former at Carmel Beach at the end of Ocean Ave in peaks, for a Ventana panorama. The view railroad tracks past Hoffman Historic Site to Carmel. Please, let me know if you are com- looks directly into the Ventana window and the Bridge Creek and return along the creek. ing. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, 393-4983 or encompasses all major Ventana peaks in- Bring water and lunch. Meet before 9:30 a.m. [email protected]. cluding Junipero Serra, Cone Peak, Ventana at the parking lot in front of the REI Store Double Cone, Black Cone, Ventana Cone, in Marina or at 10:20 at Porter Family Picnic FRIDAY, MAY 25 Black Butte, Pico Blanco, and Pine Ridge - Area in the Park. Please, let me know if you Hike: Veeder Trail and Redwood and on a clear day see the Pinnacles’ North are coming. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, 393- Canyon Chalone Peak and the Sierras. Route will be 4983 or [email protected]. In spring the Veeder trail in Garland Park a loop via scenic Rodeo Flat and Arroyo Seco hosts a profusion of wildflowers. Let’s see if Trails. A very strenuous, long-day hike leav- SATURDAY, JUNE 16 there are some late ones. We’ll meet at the ing Salinas in the early AM and returning af- Marathon Hike: East to West P & R on Rio Road in Carmel at 10 a.m. for ter dark - 12 miles with 2700 ft elevation gain Join me on this fabulous, but very strenuous carpooling to the trailhead on East Garzas over trails which can have some overgrowth all day hike of 24 miles. A shocking early Road. Our loop hike will be only 4 or 5 miles and downed trees. You can view panoramic morning start is required for this unforgetta- but is very steep both up and down hill. photo from this spot at http://www.venta- ble hike experience! You must have stamina Bring water and lunch which we’ll enjoy at nahiking.net/PANORAMAS/MiningRidge- and endurance to continue on when you the wildlife pond at the high point of our glendening.pano360_annotated.quartersize. reach half way and you feel already dead leisurely paced walk. Leaders: Cath Farrant jpg. Must call for meeting time and place. tired! The views are breath taking. If time and Mary Dainton, 372 7427. Leader: Jack Glendening, 484-6929. allows, we can soak in the hot springs for a short relief of our aching feet. Call me only SATURDAY, MAY 26 TUESDAY, JUNE 5 if you are a long distance hiker. Car shuttle Hike: Big Creek/Canogas Falls Hike: Pebble Beach will be provided for the first people who The UCSC Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve We’ll hike a figure 8 through serene pine call in advance. After the shuttle is full, you gave us a reservation to hike up to the High forests and open meadows of Pebble Beach. still can join us, but you must arrange for Camp where we will have our lunch break. Bring water. Lunch gives us the option of your own transportation. Leader: Esperanza From here, just with water and a snack, purchasing a Poppy Hills sandwich. 6 ½ miles, Hernandez, (831)678-8538. we’ll hike down 1,000’ to the Canogas Falls, 850 ft. elevation gain with flora & fauna the largest waterfalls deep in the Ventana stops. Arrive early; we depart at 9:30 a.m. from SUNDAY, JUNE 17 Wilderness. Back up to High Camp to get the “Haul Road” Gates on Highway 68 in Walk: Jack’s Peak fresh water and then down over the mead- Pebble Beach. Call for a reservation. Leader: Jack’s Peak gives us both great views out over ows with the ocean shimmering beneath us. Lynn Bomberger, 375-7777. the Monterey Peninsula and cool canyon Just wonderful! A strenuous day with about walks in the depth of this special forest. We’ll 14 miles and 3000 feet elevation gain/loss. SATURDAY, JUNE 9 talk briefly about the proposed zip line; Bring a hearty lunch and lots of water, hiking Hike: Fort Ord Dunes then explore, first starting from the Jack’s poles and a hat. Call for a reservation. Meet An easy hike through the Dunes and along Peak parking lot where we’ll check out the at Rio Road P & R in Carmel at 7:30. Also the ocean, about 4 miles. views from the top, and then driving within some $$ for entrance fee and carpool gas help. We’ll go first to the new parking lot and the the park to the East Picnic Area to walk the Leader: Anneliese Suter, 624-1467. look out where in former times the Military Madrone Trail below the zip line. Dress in clubhouse was. You remember, it had been layers, bring water and snack, and meet at site SATURDAY, JUNE 2 taken down before it fell into the ocean. We of MPC Farmer’s Market (southwest corner Walk: Point Lobos might find a few blooming sand flowers and of MPC campus on Fremont St.) at 9:30 or at We’ll start this 4+ mile hike around beauti- will watch birds and high waves. Bring water Jack’s Peak Parking lot about 10 a.m. Don’t ful Point Lobos at the highway, walk down and a sandwich, hiking sticks, binoculars and forget small bills for the Iron Ranger! Leader: to Whaler’s Cove, go north to Ixchenta wear layers; it may be windy from the ocean. Mary Gale, 626-3565. Point and the bedrock mortars, back to visit Meet in Seaside at Home Depot near the gas the Whalers’ Cabin, then on to the top of station at 10 a.m. Leader: Anneliese Suter, MONDAY, JUNE 18 Whaler’s Knoll and return via south coast 624-1467. Hike: West Molera trails. There will be wild flowers to see and We shall hike up Hidden Trail and Ridge wildlife to watch. Meet at the Rio Road Park SUNDAY, JUNE 10 trail, enjoying views of Pico Blanco and Post & R just east of Hwy 1 at 9 a.m. There will be Hike: Kahn Ranch Summit. After lunch we descend via the a short carpool to start of the outing. Bring For those who haven’t visited this portion Panorama trail and Bluff trail, with views snack, water, and binoculars if you like for of Garland Park, this mildly strenuous hike of the ocean and Point Sur. Meet at the P close-ups of the animal life. Call to reserve a will be worth the effort. Exploring the outer & R Lot on Rio Road at 9:30 a.m. for this space. Leader: Martha Saylor, 372-9215. limits of the little jewel that is Kahn Ranch, moderately strenuous hike of almost 8 miles we will encounter some small waterfalls, with elevation gain of 1200 feet. Bring lunch, abundant wildflowers (hopefully still), and water, and a sweater or windbreaker as the elevated views of the Carmel River. Also ocean breeze can be cold even at this time of expect some poison oak and possible ticks. 8 year. Optional: bring sandals or aqua shoes miles with 2500’ of sometimes steep eleva- for a possible river crossing. Leaders: Cath tion gain/loss. Limit of 20 hikers. Call for Farrant and Mary Dainton, 372 7427. a reservation. Leader: Larry Parrish, 622-7455.