Golden Gate NRA
|
Tennessee Valley Loop
Golden Gate NRA |
June 9, 2016
The hometown chapter of the Sierra Club is planning a hike in this very
area two days from now; but not only was the group limit filled, I have a
bit of a problem with such outings. I love being with those folk;
but when a hike is touted as relatively fast-paced, I don't seem to
fit in very well. Should I pause to photograph flowers, I would be deemed
a slowpoke who is holding up the party. So I will go this one solo today.
Getting started
⇔
The first half-mile is paved
As expected, there are tons of flower photo-ops:
Queen Anne's Lace
Yampah
Radish
Cow Parsnip
Tennessee Valley Trail
That would be quite a hike!
Although I am not heading for Oregon, I'll forgo a visit to Tennessee Cove and follow the other hikers up the Coastal Trail to the right.
Steep, but easy
Looking back
Tennessee Cove is over there
Bull Thistle
Cow Clover
Golden Yarrow
When will the fog lift?
Approaching Pirates Cove
Woods' Rose
Coast Mule's Ears
Some trail segments are for hikers only
Apparently I'm being invited to take the kayak down to the water and use it
My erstwhile route
Coastal Morning Glory
Poison Oak
The trail ahead
Cobblestone walk
View to the south
The first hikers I have seen in an hour
One of the group likes the eagle on my sweatshirt.
Graffiti
Around the next corner an interesting scene unfolds. This looks like a good place to stop and munch my standard meal of grapes and gorp.
Muir Beach
My tentative route would visit that beach, then head east; but today the notion of
walking alongside the traffic and noise of Highway-1 doesn't appeal, partially
because it would take me up to a high ridge that currently is enshrouded in fog.
There is another way back, however, on the Coastal Fire Road.
Looking back
Looking ahead
It looks as if the return route will be just a long slog up a roadway.
Equestrians approach
At a five-way junction I still have the option of heading up Coyote Ridge. That would add some distance to the walk, which would be fine; but the ridge top remains in the clouds, so I'll pass on that again and take the more direct Fox Trail.
Richardson Bay to the northeast
Tennessee Valley to the south
Today's wildlife entry is somewhat unusual:
Nature at work
The sun finally comes out, so I finally get to take off my jacket and don my sunglasses.
The end is in sight
§: Well, I guess that Coyote Ridge would have cleared in time
to enjoy the views after all. Next time I definitely will opt for
that, because the Coastal Fire Road was boring.
I didn't venture down to Pirates Cove, thinking that I would do so at Muir Beach. That was a mistake that I'll not repeat.
It seems that all activity around here is best begun as late in the day as possible, to maximize the chance of sunny skies. For me to do that, however, could result in a nightmare of a commute home to Sacramento unless I were willing to wait extra hours.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty | |
| Flowers |  |
| Solitude | |
ADDENDUM
I wish for good weather for the Saturday group. I consider, though, that the leader's published requirement of "very good to excellent fitness" is highly overblown. Of course there are ups and downs on the trail; but compared to some of the stuff one encounters in the mountains, these coastal routes are cakewalks.
