5th Spirit Walk on for Saturday, January 12th

5th Spirit Walk Coming Up on Saturday, January 12th

The last and most difficult outing in the Spirit Walks series will occur on Saturday January 12th. It will follow the Cataract Gulch Trail in the Mt. Tamalpais watershed from Alpine Lake to Laurel Dell, then follow the trail to Rock Springs. We will return to Laurel Dell via the Simmons and Mickey O'Brien Trails, then retrace our steps down the Cataract Gulch.

The steep ascent involves climbing almost 400 steps; the roundtrip hike is about 5.5 miles in length and will take approximately 4 hours. Hikers will meet at 10 am.

Hikers are advised to bring appropriate, layered clothing, sturdy boots, water and a lunch. Heavy rain will cancel a hike, which will be rescheduled. Each hike is limited to 25 participants and will be by reservation only. The hikes are free. However, following each hike, participants will have the opportunity to make a donation to a local land conservation organization.

Sonoma hikers who wish to car pool will meet at the Sonoma Methodist Church on Patton St. at 9:15 am. In Marin we will rendezvous at the west parking lot of the former Lucky Market in Fairfax, between Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Center St. at 10 am. Look for the Java Hut coffee stop. Hikers coming from the coast may wish to join us at the Alpine Dam on the Fairfax-Bolinas Road at about 10:30 am. For other hike details or to register, call 707-939-8402.

Hacker has spent many years exploring the Mt Tamalpais watershed, Pt Reyes and the parks and open space lands of Sonoma County. “Each hike has a gift to offer,” Hacker said of the Spirit Walks. “I want to share them now with people who will enjoy taking some time apart from their busy lives to experience the peace and harmony of nature.”

This series of hikes will continue indefinitely if there is sufficient interest.


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Recap of 4th Hike - Saturday, 12/29 - Pt Reyes

An intrepid group of ten hikers braved thick fog and drizzle to take the 4th Spirit Walk at Pt Reyes National Seashore. We met at the Bear Valley Visitor's Center parking lot at 10 am. Leaving some cars there, we shuttled over to Limatour Beach, left a few cars there, and then returned to the Sky Trail parking lot where the hike began. During the long uphill trek to Sky Camp the fog thickened. The hike along the Innverness Ridge through old growth forest was magical. Fog partially obscured the trees creating a serene landscape worthy of a Japanese print. The fog also dampened sound. All was quiet, shrouded, mystical. We turned onto the Woodward Trail and wound our way through dense forest. The grass beneath was a lush, psychedelic green. As we emerged on the open hills we saw three chalk-white Fallow deer across the way on a hillside. We descended to the Coast Trail and followed it north to Coast Camp where we had lunch. A raucus group of sparrows and Towhees gathered around us. Proceeding on we left the Coast Trail as it bends to the right to go up the ravine to the Youth Hostel. We turned left and walked along the beach, returning to the Limatour parking lot about 3 pm. We shuttled back up the hill to Sky Trail parking lot and parted company, a somewhat damp and weary group, but in high spirits after a very special hike under special conditons. The entire hike was about 7.5 miles and lasted about 4 hours.

Recap of Sugarloaf Park Hike of 12-15

A small but hardy group of seven hikers met at Sugarloaf State Park on Saturday, December 15th. It was cold, but clear. We followed the Lower Bald Mountain Trail through woods and chaparral until it ended at the Bald Mountain Fire Road. We briefly followed the road up until we turned off on the Vista Trail. This trail is aptly named. It traverses the mountain, weaving in and out of ravines, but keeping a fairly level course. It rewards the hiker with some magnificent views of the meadow below and of the Sonoma Valley to the west. We stopped at several points to refresh ourselves with the view. We then turned off on the Headwaters Trail and made a brief detour to commune with a majestic Western Maple sitting in a bowl of moss covered boulders. This gigantic tree is now devoid of its canopy of large yellow leaves so prominant in the fall, but its spread is still breathtaking. We ate our lunches there and lingered awhile. Returning to the Vista Trail we began a steep descent, which we agreed was preferable to climbing up. (The Vista Trail is, I believe, most enjoyably traveled from west to east.) Emerging on the valley floor we splashed through several small creeks and then followed the Meadow Trail back to our starting point. On this last leg of the hike we practiced mindful walking in the Buddhist tradition for a time and then returned to the parking lot. The hike took about three hours and covered four miles, a leisurely, sauntering walk through some beautiful, quiet places.

The next hike will be at Pt Reyes National Seashore on Saturday, 12/29. Details on our rendezvous point in Sonoma to follow.

Happy Holidays!

Recap of Second Hike

A small group of hardy adventurers braved arctic cold to take this hike. Starting from the horse trailer parking lot (where we saw a flock of over 50 turkeys) we walked up the first part of the Richardson Trail, then took the Two Quarry Trail on a long, gentle ascent through a Douglas Fir forest. It was still and cold with patches of frost on the ground. Finally, we reached open meadows and followed the Marsh Trail over to Buick Meadows. It was faintly warm in the sun and quite cold in the shade. We returned via the North Burma Trail, encountering only a few bicyclists and one or two other hikers. We completed our loop taking the Richardson Trail to Steve's Trail and descended to the parking lot. A lovely, quiet hike on a brisk day.

Fourth Spirit Walk at Pt Reyes on 12-29

Fourth Spirit Walk at Pt Reyes on 12-29



The fourth Spirit Walk, scheduled for Dec. 29 at Pt Reyes National Seashore, will involve car pooling. Hikers will initially meet at the Bear Valley Trail parking lot across from the Visitor Center at 10 am. The group will drive to Limatour Beach parking lot, leave some of the cars there and then return to the Sky Trail parking lot, where the hike will begin. We will take the Sky Trail from the trailhead to the Woodward Trail, follow it down to the Coast Trail and return to the Limatour Beach parking lot. From there the participants will shuttle back to the Sky Trail parking lot. This walk is moderately strenuous and 7.5 miles in length. It will take approximately 4 hours.

Hikers are advised to bring appropriate, layered clothing, sturdy boots, water and a lunch. Heavy rain will cancel a hike, which will be rescheduled. Each hike is limited to 25 participants and will be by reservation only. The hikes are free. However, following each hike, participants will have the opportunity to make a donation to a local land conservation organization.

To register, call 707-939-8402.

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Third Spirit Walk at Sugarloaf State Park

Third Spirit Walk on 12-15


The next hike will be held on Saturday Dec. 15th at Sugarloaf State Park in Sonoma Valley, near Kenwood, beginning at 10 am. The hikers will meet in the main parking lot just beyond the entrance to the park. The route will follow the Lower Bald Mountain Trail up to the Bald Mountain Fire Road, which it will follow briefly. The hikers will then turn onto the Vista Trail and follow it two-thirds of a mile to the Headwaters Trail, following the latter a short distance to a majestic Western Maple. Returning to the Vista Trail the hikers will continue on, descend to the valley floor, and then follow the Meadow Trail back to the parking lot. The entire hike is about 4.5 miles and will take approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours.

Hikers are advised to bring appropriate, layered clothing, sturdy boots, water and a lunch. Heavy rain will cancel a hike, which will be rescheduled. Each hike is limited to 25 participants and will be by reservation only. The hikes are free. However, following each hike, participants will have the opportunity to make a donation to a local land conservation organization.

“Each hike has a gift to offer,” Hacker said of the planned Spirit Walks. “I want to share them now with people who will enjoy taking some time apart from their busy lives to experience the peace and harmony of nature.”

To register, call 707-939-8402.


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Press Release on 2nd Hike - 12-1-07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Contact: Richard Hacker - (707) 939-8402


Local Leads Spirit Walks


Veteran rambler Rich Hacker will lead a series of “Spirit Walks” in various North Bay parks and protected lands in December and January. The goal is to link spiritually-minded hikers with natural settings that evoke a strong sense of beauty, peace and harmony and to allow ample time for communing with nature. “Each hike has a gift to offer,” Hacker said of the planned Spirit Walks. “I want to share them now with people who will enjoy taking some time apart from their busy lives to experience the peace and harmony of nature.”
Hikers are advised to bring appropriate, layered clothing, sturdy boots, water and a lunch. Heavy rain will cancel a hike, which will be rescheduled. Each hike is limited to 25 participants and will be by reservation only. The hikes are free. However, following each hike, participants will have the opportunity to make a donation to a local land conservation organization.
The next hike will be held on Saturday Dec. 1 at Annadel State Park in south Santa Rosa, beginning at 10 am. After car pooling to the trailhead, the hikers will follow an easy to moderate loop of 7.4 miles from Two Quarry Trail, then on to Buick Meadows via the Marsh Trail. They will return to the parking lot via South Burma, Richardson’s and Steve’s Trails.

For hike details go to http://www.spiritwalks.blogspot.com/. To register, call 707-939-8402.

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