Blog Archives

Stay in the Saddle

8/28/2013

A short distance into San Bruno Mountain Park from the Crocker Ave. trailhead on the Old Guadalupe Trail is the trailhead for the 1.9 mile Saddle Loop Trail. Pix moving west to east: 1 through 10.

The lone bench that looks across to McLaren Park and down into Visitacion Valley (etc.) was occupied so continued on to the trail's end at the Meadow (picnic area), then onto the part of the Bog Trail with the several benches, pix 11 through 16.

From the Bog, heading out of the park on the Old Guadalupe Trail, noticed a cat cross several yards ahead, and a few seconds later a skunk. He or she wasn't the same kind of skunk seen a couple of years ago on the same trail. This latest one was smaller, younger.

When I got up to where it was, it was occupied with a bug so didn't immediately disappear from view in the offtrail bushes: pic 17. Last pic: Looking south from the Old Guadalupe Trail.

1. Saddle Trail starting up from Old Guadalupe Trail

2. Homes on South Hill Court, Daly City, from Saddle Trail

3. Climbing to the east on Saddle Loop Trail

4. View north: Mount Davidson, Mount Sutro, Twin Peaks

5. Oakridge Dr. stilthouses, Daly City, center.

6. View north: Mount Davidson, Mount Sutro, Twin Peaks

7. Heading up to the lone bench

8. McLaren Park across Visitacion Valley. Cow Palace below right

9. Curving around and heading west towards the Meadow/picnic area

10. Saddle Loop Trail, looking back to the east

11. Bog Trail left, Old Guadalupe Trail right, out from the Meadow

12. Bog Trail

13. Bog Trail

14. Bog Trail

15. Bog Trail

16. Bog Trail

17. Cute critter on the Old Guadalupe Trail

18. View from Old Guadalupe Trail

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Duney Beloved

8/27/2013

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To visit Fort Funston I take the L Taraval to its last stop near the zoo at Wawona/47th, cross Great Highway and head south above Ocean Beach for an estimated half mile to a mile before reaching the dunes at the park's north side. I've asked and observed but no buses stop at the park entrance that's across the busy highway from Lake Merced. I prefer this dunes route so as to climb above the traffic. What is it that smells so good up here (first pic)? Same sweet wildflower aroma as recently noted in the Presidio.

Then I still have a way to go before reaching the eastside stairway that's slightly up from the street. There's a new trailsign at the foot (second pic).

At the top of this first stairway (pics 3, 4) was a Trail Detour sign at about the 73rd step. They're replacing the top part with new steps (fifth pic). There used to be around 173. Must return later to see if they've added more.

Bright-colored caution cones lead to the top of the south Funston Beach Trail/Sand Ladder (sixth pic). On one side is the hang gliding launching/landing area with warning signs here and at the deck (pics 7, 8). The wind was right and they were swooping about overhead, reminding me of giant winged insects.

At the cliffedge the log stairway formerly known as the Sand Ladder starts down, but the steps don't begin immediately. First there's a short but steep stretch of woodchips and sand (pics 9, 10).

At the foot of this curvy, steep, log stairway (roughly 160 steps, pics 11 through 20), the old "Sand Ladder" sign has been removed. There are then various trails to trek, including one leading down to the beach.

This area is also a good place to observe the hang gliders.

Heading back the way I came, but on a different trail, noticed that the second trail down to the beach is now signed "Funston Trail."

1. Northside dunes on Fort Funston

2. Foot of the eastside stairway with new sign

3. East stairway up

4. Lake Merced across the highway

5. Replacement steps in progress

6. New Funston Beach Trail sign

7. Warning sign at the hang gliding deck

8. Hang gliding area

9. Down to the beach on the Funston Beach Trail

10. Starting down

11. Funston Beach Trail

12. Funston Beach Trail

13. Old log stairway

14. Curvy and steep

15. From the side

16. As seen from a side trail

17. Sand and logs

18. End of the stairway

19. Hang glider in distance

20. On a trail beyond the stairway

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Muddy Trails and a Tire Swing

8/27/2013

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Starting up Mount Sutro from the west side, crossed over Seventh Ave. at Lawton for the steep curvy-climb up Warren to the foot of the Oakhurst stairway (353 or so steps to Crestmont, first three pix).

At Crestmont, continued to scramble up the steep and muddy West Ridge Trail to the Historic Trail: fourth pic.

The Historic (5, 6, 7) was equally muddy, complete with bicycle ruts and the occasional puddle. Turned at the South Ridge Trail up to the summit (eighth pic). Near the Rotary Meadow sign a tire swing has recently been added: ninth pic: No, I didn't try it out.

After lunch at the summit benches, began my descent on the East Ridge Trail (pics 10, 11, 12). From the foot, it was a short distance on upper Medical Center Way's pedestrian walkway to the trailhead for the Fairy Gates Trail (pic 13). On the way, the welcoming wood bench that's a shuttle stop for Aldea residents now has a plastic seat attached to it: pic 14.

Climbed back up from the Fairy Gates to take the Medical Center Way steps down from the parking lot (pics 15 through 20, about 138 steps), enjoying the feel of the sunwarmed wood of the railings. From the foot of these, a short walk behind the hospital buildings took me out to Parnassus to once again grab the crosstown #43.

1. Oakhurst stairway at Oak Park, Forest Knolls

2. Near the top of the Oakhurst steps

3. Near top of Oakhurst onto Crestmont

4. West Ridge Trail. Historic Trail above

5. Historic Trail

6. Historic Trail

7. Historic Trail

8. South Ridge Trail

9. Summit Tire Swing

10. Down from the Summit on the East Ridge Trail

11. East Ridge Trail

12. East Ridge Trail

13. Fairy Gates Trailhead at Medical Center Way

14. Bench on Medical Center Way. Fairy Gates Trail below

15. Top of the steps down from the parking lot on the north side

16. Stairway to lower Medical Center Way

17. Long stairway on the north side

18. Behind the hospital buildings

19. Near the foot of the stairway out to Medical Center Way

20. Side of the stairway from the foot

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BART in the Forest

8/11/2013

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The part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail in the Presidio alone is 2.5 miles, starting at the Arguello Gate and running to the bridge:

http://www.presidio.gov/explore/trails/Pages/bay-area-ridge-trail.aspx#.UgLbplM4VfQ

A stroll around Mountain Lake took me under the highway overpass to the other side of Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd. Up the 103 steps to the Marine Cemetery Vista (pics 1 and 2), then to the top of Battery Caulfield Road at Washington.

Just before reaching Immigrant Point Overlook, ascended the Anza Trail to curve round on the south side of Rob Hill Campground a short distance.

At the southeast edge is a short stairway down. Directly across (at the yellow hydrant) is a short trail to Fort Scott and its community garden. Pics 3, 4.

A few yards to the right of the steps is the trailhead for the new BART extension (fifth pic).

Hadn't hiked this particular area in a while; was impressed with the nice job they've done with this area. A little way in is a trail fork with a sign (sixth pic) and a slightly higher trail for both bicyclists and pedestrians (pic 7). The one I continued on the first time is posted for pedestrians only (pic 8). Current pix of this beautiful, secluded, forested trail: 9, 10, 11.

My planned destination the first time, a familiar route to the east out to the Park Trail, was closed because of "tree work," so doubled back to the west up a familiar trail section (12th pic), sunny and open for a few yards. The also-familiar end of this wasn't far from where I'd started up off Washington, the old wine bunkers, kids' playground, residences, and community garden just ahead on Compton.

Later checked out the multiuse trail. Both these short trails come out at the same place, the end of Compton (pix 13, 14). From here one can also walk over to Washington, a short distance alongside the residences to Battery Caulfield Rd.

A couple of current pix (15, 16) of the replacement steps up to Inn at the Presidio/Main Post sans the orange flexifences.

Including here also a few of the Batteries to Bluffs Trail (473 steps) from a week or so ago: 17 through 20.