Blog Archives

High Tide and Trail Detours

8/31/2011

Started this hike along the Coastal Trail from the bridge area, soon running into construction machines and trail detour signs, but hikers and bicyclists are able to pass through okay on Lincoln.

One thing that stands out most right now regarding the ongoing Batteries to Bluffs Trail’s facelift (that I could see from Lincoln) is that a bunch of trees have been cut down all along the trail. Though I liked the trees there, one can see the trail much better now from above on Lincoln as it snakes along up and down the hillside. For sure I’ll have some “Then and Now” photos after this reopens.

The Batteries to Bluffs is not the only stairway trail in this area, so off I went down the nearby Sand Ladder to Baker Beach.

It was difficult to tear myself away from the hypnotic waves and the way some would curl around on the beach searching for unsuspecting shoe-wearing beach strollers. The air here is so refreshing.

Some of the Sand Ladder’s top steps were so completely covered with sand you couldn’t be sure there were any steps down there or not (first pic); then the logs were all sand-covered except for thin strips at the edges; then towards the foot the logs were mostly uncovered (second pic).

After climbing back up again from the beach, continued up the Connector Trail’s 208 or so curvy wood steps (third photo) to Immigrant Point Overlook. Then downhill past a particular residential area I like so much I just wanna grab the residents and say, “Do you realize how lucky you are to live here?” These particular viewhomes are above the Baker Beach Apts. just off Washington.

Past the stark dunes to my right, then onto the new boardwalk trail this time from Battery Caulfield Rd. and down the 103 or so steps of the park’s newest stairway.

The Sand Ladder

The Sand Ladder near the foot

Connector Trail to Immigrant Point Overlook

Seven Lands End Stairways

8/28/2011

The "Merrie Way" stairway (128 steps) down from the lower parking lot overlook was today’s first stairway. Continued to the cavetop viewplace and the west trailhead for the Coastal Trail (first photo: 142 or so steps), up to the winding paved trail at the top (Sutro Baths Upper Trail sign). These two long oceanview stairways are especially highly recommended.

Round the horn and up the third stairway (58 or so steps) to the upper parking lot, headed east on the El Camino del Mar Trail to the uppermost stairway (second pic) that climbs to the west edge of the Legion of Honor parking lot and the golf course.

The Battle of the Bulge Trail is still walkable from the parking lot up to behind the VA Hospital, but construction’s still going on around here so you’ll be walking under a scaffolding.

Back down and across the footbridge, descended on the curvy wood stairway (about 88 steps – third foto) that connects the El Camino del Mar with the Coastal Trail.

On the Coastal Trail again, this time didn’t continue to the Painted Rock stairway, but up a steep paved trail to the golf course, moving along the cliffedge a little way, this time without being bugged by any golfers.

This time didn’t take the more obvious trail down from the golf course’s north edge the short distance to the stairway that descends to the east from the top of the Painted Rock steps. Curved round a few yards further to the top of my “berry trail." This trail is more difficult to see; if you don’t already know where it is, you’ll walk right by it. It’s steepish, short, secluded, overgrown, and also comes out at the east stairway, back again on the Coastal Trail.

The last stairway was the Lincoln Park steps at the west dead-end of California St. and out of the park.

West trailhead for Coastal Trail up from the cavetop

Up to Legion of Honor parking lot and golf course from El Camino del Mar Trail

Stairway connecting Coastal Trail with El Camino del Mar Trail

Presidio Blvd. Gate to 14th Ave.

8/26/2011

Entered the park at the Presidio Blvd. Gate where almost immediately I could see Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line curving ahead. This stretch of forest is between Presidio Blvd. above and the Lovers’ Lane Trail below.

This was actually my first time walking Wood Line in its entirety since its completion. The last time was a day or two before its official opening; a couple of Trail Closed signs were still in place alongside and a few workers at the south end. Hope he continues to create art/nature works in the park.

Up to the Blvd. at the north end of Wood Line, crossed to walk behind the homes in the Sumner Loop ‘hood. Downhill and across MacArthur to the Lovers’ Lane’s footbridge where there’s an unmarked trail I frequently take just below the vehicle street.

Up the short stairway to the Main Post area, past Pershing Hall (soon to become a small hotel). Continued west, admiring the newly planted Main Post lawn, and up the Post Chapel stairway (first photo).

A well-defined trail here meanders uphill from the south side of the chapel through the forest to the Cemetery Overlook. This trail’s been a favorite of mine for years, before the Overlook existed.

At the Overlook a wood stairway (98 or so steps – second foto) winds to the west down to the Park Trail (third pic) where a couple of Presidio Habitats exhibits beg to stay permanently in the park.

The Park Trail continues alongside the golf course, but hikers won’t be approached by a golfer complaining that they aren’t supposed to walk there. This has happened to me in another part of the Presidio golf course and at the Lincoln Park course (Lands End).

Passing the foot of the new dunes boardwalk stairway below the Wyman Ave. residences and out at 14th Ave. near Park Presidio.

Stairway from Main Post up to Post Chapel

Steps through the forest from Cemetery Overlook to Park Trail

Park Trail

Crooked Street and Community Garden

8/21/2011

81 sidewalk steps descend on 22nd from Rhode Island to Vermont. On the east side of Potrero Hill’s twisty Vermont (first photo) are 88 sidewalk steps (second pic). On the west side is McKinley Square Park (third photo).

The Community Garden at San Bruno & 20th looked better today than I’ve ever seen it: lots of healthy looking flowers and veggies, including some tall, fat sunflowers. Highly recommended for garden lovers.

You can go inside; the garden gate has always been unlocked when I’ve visited. One can walk around or sit at the picnic tables in front. There’s this incredible view to the west with nothing in the way; the garden is on the edge with a freeway down below. Warning: It'll be difficult to tear yourself away.

Vermont, the Other Crooked Street

Vermont Sidewalk Stairway

Steps down from McKinley Square Park

Mount Sutro = Heaven on Earth

8/20/2011

Was even more impressed with the Lower Historic Trail today than on my earlier visits. Heaven does exist – right here in mid-city San Francisco.

Started up via the Farnsworth stairway (149 steps – first photo) and south a couple blocks to the vehicle dead-end for Edgewood Ave. and the trailhead for the Edgewood Trail (second pic). Pleased this time to see that here and at the Stanyan trailhead “Significant Natural Resource” park-rules signs have been added.

Did the Edgewood, a bit of the Fairy Gates Trail, then around to check out the progress of the Aldea Community Center, a gorgeous building that appears nearly finished.

Up to the summit on the East Ridge Trail (third pic); down the North Ridge Trail; and onto the Lower Historic Trail out to Stanyan. This mountain’s trail system should be praised to the skies in every hiking magazine/article, all nature mags, etc. if this hasn't already been done.

Farnsworth down to Willard from Edgewood Ave,

Edgewood Trail

East Ridge Trail

Eucalyptus Fogdrops

8/19/2011

Part of one San Bruno Mountain slope was so totally blanketed by the white stuff yesterday that it looked like a thick layer of snow. Today I knew it was gonna be super-foggy again but I wasn’t buffeted about quite as much where I was hiking this afternoon.

Had planned to do the Summit Loop Trail’s long western part, but there was a Trail Closed sign at the lower trailhead warning that the April Creek area was impassable. After all this time?

I’d started down from the summit on the west side a few months ago, during rainy season, but had to climb back up as there was a Trail Closed sign up there. Thought it’d be walkable by now.

So instead (after the usual Bog Trail – first photo), headed up the Eucalyptus Loop (1.1 mile long – last two fotos), a pleasant wildflowery hike even though, again, visibility wasn’t the best.

The second bus I have to take to get home was too packed when it finally showed up, and no one was allowed on. We waited for the next one, but it was standing room only, so I waited for the third, finally able to get a seat (sore knees).

Bog Trail

Eucalyptus Loop Trail

Eucalyptus Loop Trail

Visibility Nil

8/18/2011

Until partway along the upper Bog Trail, didn’t know what trail I was gonna take from the Meadow (picnic area). Then found myself heading up the Saddle Loop Trail (the trailhead sign says it's 1.9 mile long). This trail's wide enough so two people can walk side by side.

This wasn’t a good day to appreciate the vast views from San Bruno Mountain. Most of the time the blowing fog was so thick I couldn’t see the summit -- or anything else more than a few yards from me.

'Twas an invigorating and refreshing hike, being buffeted about by the wind up here. Better this coolness than overly hot weather.

Though much of the park is quite dry now, there are abundant wildflowers throughout to appreciate.

Part of this trail normally looks down upon houseroofs (see first pic –- that’s McLaren Park across the valley), but it was difficult to see much of them today.

Below are a couple more pix of this trail from earlier visits .

A view from Saddle Loop Trail. McLaren Park in distance.

Milepost on the Saddle Loop Trail

Saddle Loop Trail

Wildflowers, Views, and Long Stairways

8/11/2011

What most impressed me about today’s Lands End hike (west to east) was the profusion of wildflowers. Especially on the west side of the park, the winding paved trail, passing the top of the Sutro Baths Upper Trail (first pic, about 141 steps) and on each side of the renovated stairway to the upper parking lot overlook (as you turn the corner at the first overlook on the north side). The plantings on this slope have really taken hold.

My intent was to do the Mile Rock Beach stairway (about 262 steps), and so I did, down and back up again to the main Coastal Trail. Spent a few minutes walking on the rocky, secluded beach at water’s edge (always get caught by waves and get my shoes wet) and sitting on a log, in no big hurry to climb up again. About halfway up, a sandy trail leads off the main stairway; continued a little way along the cliffedge trail here (second pic taken from above, looking down at the foot of the stairway).

The next stairway was the Painted Rock (138 steps: third pic). This is the one with the two stone benches alongside the stairs.

At the top of the Painted Rock, veered off (south) onto my favorite berry trail for a few minutes before continuing down the eastside steps. The steps here (around 116) are both wood and concrete.

Top of Sutro Baths Upper Trail down to west trailhead for Coastal Trail at the cavetop

Mile Rock Beach stairway from a trail above

Painted Rock stairway

Mountain Lake Trail / SE Presidio

8/10/2011

Uphill from California & Baker this time, turned left at Baker for the Broadway entrance into the park (first photo). This is just a few yards from the top of the long Lyon Stairmaster.

A new addition since my last visit is a marker for the Mountain Lake Trail’s east trailhead. Went up through the forest as I’ve done many times, however, the Lyon stairway below, through the gate to Rawles (behind the Upper Simonds Loop homes, to Shafter). Down to Upper Simonds Loop: the top of the stairway dividing Upper and Lower Simonds and a heavenly view: second and third pix.

Out at Presidio Blvd. where traffic just keeps coming along the curvy street, there’s fortunately a crosswalk at Lower Simonds Loop. Near the top of the Sumner Loop residences descended a familiar trail into the forest.

Came out below Liggett at Lover’s Lane which was too far to the north for Andy Goldsworthy’s “Wood Line,” so headed back up a bit to the south. The artist has indeed extended this installation but it’s not yet finished. It’s so cool snaking along through the forest as I followed along. There were a couple of “Trail Closed” signs and some workers but no problems continuing.

At the small parking space/overlook near the top of Lover’s Lane, continued westward partly on the Mountain Lake Trail and partly winding about off this main trail. In a popular dogwalking area on the south side of a playing field, paused to check out some berry bushes. Most berries I collect are used for morning smoothies, but when I barely touch some of the really juicy ones that are so ripe they fall right into my hand, especially enjoy scarfing some out-of-hand.

Continued leisurely to the east side of and just behind Julius Kahn Playground where I sat on a log and gazed out over the valley below.

The new El Polin Springs boardwalk being constructed is visible from up here. Gonna be gorgeous!

So peaceful sitting there for a while watching the earthmoving machines below, warm and sunny with the fog just beginning to come in. I never tire of the attractive clusters of residences in the park’s various neighborhoods, surrounded by forest and rolling hills with waterviews beyond.

At the front of Julius Kahn is an opening for walkers in the low Presidio Wall at Spruce and Pacific; the block between Jackson and Washington’s a good steep one.

Broadway Gate near Lyon stairway

Steps dividing Upper and Lower Simonds Loop

A View from Upper Simonds Loop

Cayuga Playground Visit ...

8/5/2011

… after a hiatus of a few years.

From the M-Oceanview Metro I exited at the Farallones & San Jose stop. You can’t miss the old pedestrian skyway that crosses the freeway. At the end of this, continue on the steep switchbacked walkers’ ramp down to Alemany.

Along the slope down to the freeway there’s all sorts of dumped trash. BART speeds by frequently but too fast to see much of the park below from its windows. The park is between the Balboa Park and Daly City stations.

There’s an enclosed sidewalk here leading from the rather secluded ramp to the street and I’d be leery of taking this route at night.

At the foot of the short stairway (28 steps) down from busy Alemany at Naglee is the first park entrance I came to. Along Alemany, though one can peer through the chainlink fence at the sculptures and garden, the gates are padlocked. One of the climbing structures seen from here had one of those caution cones atop it (see first photo – taken around 2007). The second and third photos are also of carvings still in existence but taken in earlier years.

This is a little oasis of a park in a rather nondescript neighborhood not far from the Daly City line. There didn’t appear to be any restroom facilities in the park, but the inviting green lawn, flowers, and other plants are well cared for.

A number of the artworks have either been moved someplace else or recycled. Was disappointed I didn’t see certain favorites that remain in my Webshots Cayuga Playground album.

Of the ones still in the park, some could certainly use loving hands to retouch and repaint them as they’re faded, chipped, and some have been graffitied-upon.

The artist, whom I met once, Demetrio Braceros, retired several years ago. I’d like to see someone who lives nearby take over and care for these unique and delightful sculptures; it’s sad seeing them so neglected, those that are left.

In an Examiner article, the Arts Commission assessed that only about half of the more than 300 artworks were in fair condition and the rest in poor condition. See: http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/under-dome/cayuga-park-playground-get-facelift

So what’s going to happen to the remaining sculptures?

Another article said some of the carvings would be treated to prevent decay and returned to the park after construction; however, this article was apparently written in 2008:
http://www.feastofweeds.com/cayuga

One more I found of interest:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8MH4

Is there anything more recent than these articles to let people know what’s going on currently with the park and these sculptures?

Taken about 2007

Taken about 2007

Taken about 2007