Duney Beloved

8/27/2013

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."