Blog Archives

Trekkin McLaren

1/30/2017

Used to take the #29 to and from McLaren Park as it conveniently runs E-W on Mansell and down to the Balboa Park BART.

Due to a recent route change, coming back down to the Balboa Park BART one now has to cross the street on the north side of the BP BART and I really don’t like doing this.

So alternatively can take the #54 and #52 that stop close to the park’s north side. The #52 is especially convenient as I can take it directly from/to the Glen Park BART at Bosworth. Its last stop is the school at La Grande & Dublin in the Excelsior neighborhood: first two pix

The only downer re the #52 is that it only runs every half hour. This is the same bus I sometimes take to/from Diamond Heights and upper Glen Canyon.

From the La Grande/Dublin stop, east to Brazil, then south, curving round at the west edge of the park several blocks, green slopes above, to Mansell.

Street dividers are in place up to Mansell: 3, 4, 5, 6

Mansell’s entire lower part is now closed off to motor vehicles. This new pedestrian- and bike-friendly area was supposed to have its grand opening on Jan. 21 but got delayed due to rain.

The whole W-E length is walkable now with a new park infosign (pic 7), a new bench at Brazil, and new plantings all along the now car-free lower road: 8

Slopes above Mansell on the north side: 9, 10

This is new, near the eastside tennis courts: 11

Mansell is a median-divided street. Vehicles now run along the upper part only. The #29 turns near University at the east park boundary (Portola neighborhood) and Visittacion to continue on upper Mansell.

West to east, starting off along the lower part of the park: 12 thru 25

Now for my favorite trail (in this park) that has six switchbacks down to Lake McNab.It was still slick and muddy in places. Down to Lake McNab, then back up: 26 thru 37

When I take the #54 (across the street on the west side of the Balboa Park BART), there are a few stairways in this upper Excelsior neighborhood. This beauty of a stairway minipark, the Athens Avalon Greenspace, has 99 steps: 38, 39, 40.

1 West edge of McLaren in distance

2 La Grande & Dublin

3 South on Brazil up to Mansell

7 New plantings and park map at Brazil & Mansell

8 Plantings along Mansell

11 New, near the tennis courts

12 Succulent fountain

20 48 steps

22 Wood and concrete

24 One of 14 Philosopher's Way musing stations

25 Local history/info public artworks

26 Top of zigzag trail down to Lake McNab

33 Lake McNab

35 Back up again

36 Muddy=slick

38 Athens Avalon Greenspace

39 99 steps

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New Year Sausalito Trek

1/6/2017

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To start an all-the-way-up Sausalito trek, several blocks south on Bridgeway from the ferry landing to the first flight of 120 steps up to Josephine/North: first two pix

On the way up to Southview Park for lunch, passed the top of the double Second St. steps, 70-something each (wih the garden in the middle): 3

Southview Park: 4

After the park, passing the top of the West Ct. stairway (103 steps), pic 5, on my way to Cable Roadway.

Lower Cable Roadway (love the name) has 193 steps: 6 thru 9

When you get to the top of this, hang a right (west), around the corner, for upper Cable Roadway, 93 steps: 10 thru 17

At the top of this flight, the stairs turn into a steep vehicle street for Cable Roadway’s uppermost block.

At the top of this last part of CR, turn left on Prospect.

A short walk will take you to the foot of the shady Prospect stairway, 204 streps up to the freeway area: 18 thru 21

You’ll see a freeway overpass and pass the upper dead-end of Cloud View.

Ahead are 45 more steps down to Spencer: 22, 23

For the GGNRA’s Morning Sun Trail, Pkeep going straight instead of descending on Spencer. Look out for cars (pic 24).

Passing a bus shelter and small parking lot, there’s an underpass (pic 25) a block or so ahead. Cross the street and walk under this to get to another parking lot.

The Morning Sun trailhead would be nearly hidden if it were not for the familiar GGNRA trailsign: 26, 27

This one is part uneven old wood stairs (about 220) and part narrow dirt trail. Going up: 28 thru 34

At the top, to the right, there’s a viewbench.

Descending the same way: 35 thru 43

Up from Bridgeway on the west side: 44

This time instead of Spencer (where several blocks downhill there’s another stairway with around 184 steps to Santa Rosa), west to Monte Mar for the long downhill.

Winding round for a while, the first street sign noticed was Currey (at Monte Mar). It’s a beautiful scenic walk but I took too long with this route, missing my boat.

Had to wait another hour for the next to the Ferry Building.

The Blue and Gold Fleet goes to Fisherman’s Wharf and does not take Clipper Cards; you can buy tickets on board.

This was the most crowded ferry trip ever taken; apparently a huge number of after-Christmas shoppers and even more tourists than I usually see.

Lots of bike riders who had to wait for the next one too. Watching as two people with electric bikes were turned away from the one I took. They had to wait another hour for one that would take electric bikes.

1 120 steps to Josephine/North from Bridgeway

3 Top of the Second St. double stairway

4 Southview Park

5 Top of West Ct. stairs

6 Lower Cable Roadway

8 193 steps

9 Top of lower Cable Roadway steps

10 Starting up upper Cable Roadway stairs

14 93 steps for this part of Cable Roadway

18 204 steps for the Prospect stairway up to the freeway

22 Down to Spencer

23 45 steps

24 Now west a short distance - look out for cars

25 Under the freeway to a parking lot

26 Trailhead for Morning Sun Trail

27 Wood steps and dirt trail

28 About 220 steps

30 Freeway below, center

32 Head;amds trails

35 Starting back down

44 Up from Bridgeway - just passed this time

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Top of Lands End

1/3/2017

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Up thru the Fort Miley forrest, first two pix.

Old Fort Miley: 3, 4 ...

And a couple of old stairways. 22 steps for the first: 5, 6 ...

And 19 for the second. 7

At the top if the second short flight, near the VA Hospital parking lot: 8, 9

Curving round to the northeast along the north VA Hospital parking lot, passing the helipad: 10

To the picnic area below the north parking lot.

72 for the first stairway: 11, 12, 13

Between the longer stairs: 14

78 for the second stairway: 15, 16, 17

Continuing the curve-around, 22 steps for the Battle of the Bulge Trail that will take you down to the Legion of Honor parking lot: 18 thru 22

A THEN from 2010 of the old Eagles Point Overlook at the east Lands End trailhead: 23

East on the road and out to the Lincoln Park tiled stairs. Some THENs from 2009 before any of the steps and benches were tiled: 24, 25

NOWS for the Lincoln Park steps: 26, 27, 28, 29

A few THENs from the now straight stairway (59 steps) when ir used to be curvy.

First, from 2006, the old stairs down to the Coastal Trail before there were any overlooks here: 30 thru 34

Next, from 2008, with the lower Coastal Trail overlook now in place and a new, but still curvy, stairway: 35, 36 and from 2009: 37

Last, the stairs as they look today, between the lower and upper overlooks: 38, 39, 40

More park pix:

Westside near the Cliff House and Sutro Baths: 41

Top of Mile Rock Beach stairs (262 steps): 42

Mid-Coastal Trail westside (138 steps): 43, 44

Eastside, 120 steps: 45, 46, 47

Trail below Lincoln Park Golf Course between east Lands End trailhead and Lincoln Park steps: 48