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Kite Hike

7/29/2011

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The whole Twin Peaks East/Upper Market/Eureka Valley area is one vast gardenspot. A walk anywhere in this area will take you past beautiful frontyard gardens, including huge roses.

From the Castro Metro stop, headed up Castro to 19th, a few blocks west to Douglass, then steeply up to where the Douglass stairway begins at 20th (first pic).

The main Douglass stairway has 94 steps. Continuing directly across Corwin to the upper Douglass walk are 15 more, so a total of 109 here.

Turned on Corwin and into the Corwin Community Garden: http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Corwin_Community_Garden_and_Seward_Mini-Park

Just below this little native plant garden is the Seward minipark with its double slide. Continued west on winding Seward, a short street I’m quite fond of, to 19th.

During a visit last year sometime I’d found the short, uneven stairway up (the top part of Clover Lane) between buildings here to be overgrown, so much so that the parks people felt obliged to post temporary signs advising a detour along the trail in the eastern part of park that leads to the stairway.

However, today, I found these steps (38 or so – second pic) up to the east side of Kite Hill Park to be cleaned up and perfectly walkable. The trail at the top of the stairs has also had the grass trimmed around it: steeply up to the welcoming bench.

At the top of the park is the exit out to Grand View Terrace. Turning on Grand View Ave. I came to another non-city-made stairway. You can’t really see this one on Google Maps. On the north side of Grand View Ave. here is a non-city sign that says “Acme Alley.” At the top of this VERY attractive stairway between two residences, another sign says “Neighborhood Play Garden.”

The delightful stairway, the upper part of Acme Alley, is brick and wood and has been extended some since my last visit (about 55 steps). Looks like there may be plans to extend it even more all the way down the slippery-dirt trail that descends to Corwin (just across from the entrance to Corwin Garden). But in the meantime, watch that last step – it’s a doozy.

I’ve got some Webshots pix of it from earlier dates in my “Twin Peaks-Upper Market Neighborhoods: Kite Hill Park” album (close enough to the park to include it within).

From here, a short distance to the west is the dead-end of Corwin where I once again entered the park, then headed south on the trail that leads to the dead-end of Stanton Street (off busy upper Market). When you get to the little white concrete bench at Stanton’s gravel-end part, just continue on the trail into the park.

After Kite Hill it was a brief stroll to the top of the Mono stairway (66 steps: third pic) which descends to Eagle. At Eagle, Mono continues another block but as a narrow bricked walkers’ pathway to 19th.

Crossing 19th and Castro to the bus stop, the nekkid-guy-with-backpack seen before was talking to some (clothed) guys in front of the natural foods store. If you happen to pass by this particular bus stop on the south side of 19th at Castro, look up at the windows of the building here where are displayed an extensive collection of Barbie/Ken-sized dolls in an assortment of Gay costumes.

As the #24 passed the outdoor public sitting area near the Twin Peaks bar at 18th and Castro, there was yet another nude dude lounging in the sun. 

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Douglass stairway up from 20th to Corwin
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Top of Clover Lane up to Kite Hill Park
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Mono stairway, Market down to Eagle
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14th Ave. winding to the Bridge

7/28/2011

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Especially like entering the Presidio via the 14th Ave. trail that’s to the right of the Wyman Ave. homes. This time took the upper trail, the Park, then the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Meandered through the woods up to the Rob Hill Campground area, sitting on a log behind the buildings for a bite to eat.

Noticed that the ancient wood lookout tower in the fenced field just beyond the campground is now lying on its side; looks like maybe they’re planning to demolish it and not restore it for some other use. Guess I’ll move my photo of it to my Webshots Then and Now album.

Took one of the short wooded trails from here to the back of the Fort Scott neighborhood. Love this area.

After wandering through Fort Scott (first two photos) crossed over to the Coastal Trail to head for the bus stop (third pic). Such a difference in crowdedness – trails and buses – as compared to weekends.

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Walkway over Dragonfly Creek, Fort Scott
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Fort Scott neighborhood, Presidio
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Coastal Trail
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Viz Valley to McLaren SE

7/27/2011

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While on the T-Third Metro on my way to hike from the Arleta stop in Visitacion Valley up to McLaren Park’s SE grassland area, this guy got on, obviously mentally disturbed, drunk, stoned, or all three.

He was armed with a few bananas and a couple of whipped cream containers, the latter dripping on the floor of the packed train. Plopping himself down on the floor near the door, he then began a loud, offensive, rambling monologue, using the “N” word more than once and letting everyone know about several illegal drugs he’d been selling.

Some passengers thought it was funny; I did not as I was in the direct line of fire of the aforementioned leaky containers and a very short distance from him. So how come the conductor didn’t call this in and have the guy put off the train? This was offensive and disruptive behavior; no one can know for sure what people acting strangely and belligerently are liable to do next. If they can’t conduct themselves properly, they shouldn’t be allowed to stay in the vehicle. There needs to be more security on our trains and buses and I think I’ve got a legitimate complaint here.

Got off at Arleta and started uphill to the west. There’s a dead-end for vehicles at Alpha that leads up to Campbell near Holyoke, a dirt path that could use a short  stairway with a garden on either side.

Taking this route meant I didn’t pass through the first four Greenways as I usually do when I take the route up from the Sunnydale (last) stop. Came up alongside Greenway 5, then up to #6, the Native Plant Garden Greenway, tied with #3 as my favorite.

This time took the shorter of the two southside stairways up into the park. After exiting at the top of Greenway 6, uphilled to the corner of Delta and Tioga, the mural house on my left. Turned right up to Wilde, then Ervine, a vehicle dead-end; here can be found a winding, steep, paved trail up into the now very dry park.

Partway up the trail (with its glorious view of big sister San Bruno Mountain across Vis-Valley to the south) is the stairway. The third foto was taken at the top of the steps. 

Today the public restroom by the tennis courts just across Mansell was padlocked. Another legitimate complaint –- a large park like this, and in the early afternoon, should have its restrooms unlocked.

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Stairway and trail up from Ervine in Visitacion Valley into McLaren Park
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Stairway and trail up from Ervine in Visitacion Valley into McLaren Park
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Top of the steps
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Battery East and Batteries to Bluffs

7/24/2011

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Steps to trail on the BTB
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View Point to the right. Partway down the east side of the BTB.
Remind me never again to take the #28 GG Bridge bus to and from on a weekend. Traffic crawling slowly; buses super-packed. 

The trails weren’t that overwhelmingly crowded except for View Point on Batteries to Bluffs – had never before seen so many people in this tiny space. Having read that improvements are to be made in both the Battery East area and the Batteries to Bluffs, decided to do both trails. As quoted from the Presidio’s Webpage: 

“Batteries to Bluffs Trail Repairs and safety improvements will be made to the trail, including handrails on steeper sections of trail.”

(My first thought here was “Don’t disturb the resident lizards anymore than they already have been.” Saw one this time scurrying off the steep westside steps.)

and…

“Battery East Bay Trail, Phase 2. Both the trail and vista points will be improved. The parking lot will be upgraded and a new trailhead installed. Historically appropriate plantings will be used to landscape the military earthworks.”

Did the Battery East first. The stairway (152 or so steps) at the east end descends to Crissy Field near the Warming Hut. Back up again, continued west on the trail and under the low-overhead walkers’ bridge once more to continue on the windy and wildflowery Coastal Trail to the Batteries to Bluffs.

Didn’t notice anything new from when I last did these trails; will continue to check their progress.

After reaching the top of Battery Crosby at Batteries to Bluffs’ west trailhead (about 475 steps), decided to take the quicker way up to Lincoln Blvd. from here. This trail’s fenced on one side and zigzags up with tree roots as steps. I like looking down at the BTB from Lincoln.

After reaching BTB’s east trailhead, continued east on the Coastal Trail back to the bridgeview area, this time on a trail behind one of the batteries. At the top of the battery was looking down at the battery next door, people swarming all over it.

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Bees, Birds, a Butterfly and Two Boardwalks

7/14/2011

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Commenced this pleasant walk at 12th Avenue at Mountain Lake Park. Curved round the lake (first photo) to the dunes stairway and boardwalk -- including the wide steps on the boardwalk itself: 104 steps (second photo; to the right are homes on Wyman Ave.) It's difficult to make myself get up and move on when I sit at one of the built-in dunes viewbenches up here (third pic: looking back the way I came).

Crossed Battery Caulfield into the Presidio Forest. Rarely take the same trail twice when walking through this thick-sand woods.

Thumbtacked to the lone bench at the east trailhead for the Lobos Creek Boardwalk was a note:

“Follow the steps
 between the hills of sand
 Reach down to the ground
 hold some in your hand”

Continued on to stroll the Lobos Creek Boardwalk Trail out to its north trailhead at Lincoln and Bowley, enjoying multiple bees and birds and a large butterfly amongst the native plants. 

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Mountain Lake Trail curves around the lake.
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Wyman Ave. homes to right off stairway.
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Looking back at the boardwalk from the viewbenches.
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Corona Trail Improvements

7/13/2011

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Took the stairway from Douglass up to States (37 steps), then the end-of-States stairway (46 steps) to Roosevelt to enter the park at its west end. That’s where trail improvements were happening several months ago when I last visited.

There were already steps snaking up the west slope but they’ve been added to and improved upon. Starting up the stairway from the SW side (opposite the dog play area),

counted around 100 from the foot to near the summit rocks (see first foto). Approximately 41 more curl around up here.

Several rustic, wood-and-wire fences have been added throughout the park.

A wood-railed short stairway has been replaced with a new set of wooden steps (about 22 – second pic). These lead to a new walkway that nicely connects the main westside stairway with this shorter one (third photo).

Didn’t count the eastside steps from the summit today, but started from the upper bench: 109 to the lower bench. The east side steps are still steep and uneven, but there’s now a replacement for the last set of stairs (about 19). This part descends from the lowest bench to near the foot of the Randall Museum, making it 128 steps all the way down from the top bench.


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Top of westside stairway up to near summit rocks
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Replacement for an older westside short stairway
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short replacement stairway meets new walkway meets long stairway
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Batteries to Bluffs Trail: Always a Good Hike

7/10/2011

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After meandering a half-mile or so along the wildflower-enclosed Coastal Trail west from the bridge (first pic), noticed that the parking lot at Langdon off Lincoln is now fenced off for construction. One can still get to the Batteries to Bluffs easily from the Coastal Trail, however.

Counted 473 steps for the BTB today, a small lizard darting off the steps into the bushes as I ascended to Battery Crosby. Second pic: about midway, down from View Point. Third: looking down the west side.

Crossed Lincoln and started up the Connector Trail. There are 38 steps just to the footbridge, then a short stretch of trail before the steps continue up to Immigrant Point Overlook.  

Stayed on the regular trail that will take you to the east edge of the Baker Beach Apts. Didn’t feel like going down to Lincoln yet though, so picked my way E to W partway through the maze of apartment buildings and their walkways. 

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Coastal Trail west of the bridge
Picture
About midway on the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, just down from View Point
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Down from the west side on the Batteries to Bluffs Trail
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A Few Favorite Lands End Trails

7/9/2011

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Entered Lincoln Park today the way the cars do, off 34th Ave. and Clement; there’s a trail along one side. This road leads to the Legion of Honor Museum and the parking spaces. 

Towards the west dead-end (for cars) of the parking lot is the Battle of the Bulge Trail, short and with a few steps at each end, that leads up to the VA Hospital parking area behind the buildings. The area is currently undergoing construction all along the north side: “North Slope Stabilization.”  The trail and its plantings were unmolested on the north side and I was able to continue up to the parking lot. But unable to continue around the edge of the lot; it’s fenced off.

Decided to check on the two old “hidden” stairways that descend from the far west side of the VA parking lot (see first pic). You’ll see a pedestrian trail down to the Fort Miley area; instead turn right to the end of the concrete circle up here.

If you go down the stairs all the way you’ll be at the Fort Miley ruins near the picnic area. The trail I like continues to the north from the first of these short stairways for a little way (between the parking lot and the top of the Fort Miley ruins). This area was also unharmed.

A sandy, steep, enclosed zigzag trail takes me down to the El Camino del Mar Trail.

The main stairway that connects the El Camino del Mar with the Coastal Trail crosses a short footbridge and continues down to the Coastal Trail with 89 wood steps in all (second pic).

Was now close to the second overlook on the main Lands End Trail (Coastal Trail) and very soon after that came to the new (replaced) stairway that climbs to the upper parking lot overlook: 59 steps (third foto).

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Old stairway between W side of VA Hospital and Fort Miley ruins.
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Stairway connecting El Camino del Mar Trail with Coastal Trail
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Top of new (replaced) stairway from Coastal Trail overlook to upper parking lot overlook
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Forest Hill Gardentrek: Montalvo Staircount

7/8/2011

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The Forest Hill Station -- originally Laguna Honda Station -- was built in 1916-18 as part of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. All Metros except the J and N stop here. To one side of the station is a short, curvaceous stairway that will take you up into the neighborhood (Magellan and Sola) to start your hike. 

Curved around the east side so as to descend the three-block-long Montalvo stairway from its top at Mendosa and 10th Avenue. There are 101 steps down to 9th Ave. for this first flight.

From 9th Ave. to Santa Rita and San Marcos: 122 steps to the street. Santa Rita is the top part of this divided street and San Marcos the bottom part; there’s a continuation stairway in the middle with 24 steps (see first photo). So a total of 146 steps for this second flight down from the top. 


At the south side of San Marcos the third stairway descends to Castenada near Montalvo. For this last flight to Castenada's sidewalk -- and then a few steps more down to the street -- 62 steps. Walking east on Castenada the first street sign seen is 100 San Marcos and 300 Castenada, about a block away. 

So there are 309 steps for this continuing stairway if you count the steps that uniquely divide Santa Rita from San Marcos (upper and lower). San Marcos is my favorite street in the ‘hood. Hawk Hill Park is at the west dead-end of San Marcos and you can climb up from there (second pic: a view west from Hawk Hill openspace).

Forest Hill homes are large and uniquely different from one another -- no “little boxes” to be seen in this upscale gardenhood. The winding, narrow streets tend to have Spanish names. The neighborhood is one huge, shady gardenspot with an awesome array of beautiful trees and flowers. Squirrels love it here.

Don’t see as many street signs here as in other parts of the city. The graceful, curving stairways didn’t get named either.

The grand stairway at Pacheco that leads up into the neighborhood from Magellan (just above Dewey) has to be walked to be believed (third photo). You'll see a shorter echo of this stairway, also named Pacheco, to the south across Dewey Blvd. that will lead you up into the Edgehill Heights neighborhood. 

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Stairway dividing Santa Rita and San Marcos. Partway down the long Montalvo stairway.
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Hawk Hill Park. One way up is at W end of San Marcos, Forest Hill.
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The grand Pacheco stairway up into the Forest Hill 'hood
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Simonds Loop to Arguello Gate

7/6/2011

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Enjoy walking in back of the houses on Sumner Loop; the residences’ back yards are below with short stairways down and garages across the street on the west side.

This downhill route from Presidio Blvd. at Simonds Loop (first #43 bus stop inside the park) took me past Lovers Lane (first pic: Lovers Lane in the foreground) and up the 38 steps (second pic) to the Main Post area across from Pershing Hall, soon to be renamed “Inn of San Francisco.”

Built in 1903, this Georgian Revival style building housed bachelor officers. When it reopens in 2012 it’ll have 22 guest rooms, a guest lounge, several meeting rooms, and a dining room.

The trailhead for the Ecology trail is directly behind this building. Further along this shady, popular dog-walking trail, the area down to El Polin Springs is still fenced off due to construction. The completion date for this huge project is around late fall of this year.

Around and up to Inspiration Point Overlook: 45 steps (third photo). There’s now a trail marker at the top of these curvy wood steps.

PictureLovers Lane in foreground

PictureSteps to Main Post area and Pershing Hall

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Ecology Trail up to Inspiration Point Overlook
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    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

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