Ventana Chapter Hikes and Outings for Monterey/Carmel and Santa Cruz,
September and October 2019
(Please contact leader to reserve a space)

Thursday, August 29
Hike: Jacks Peak
Our 5-6 mile loop with about 800 feet elevation gain at a moderate pace takes us along the quiet forested trails of the park with some views of Carmel Bay and Monterey Bay. Bring water and lunch. Meet near the California Pizza Kitchen in the Del Monte Shopping Center at 9:45 am for carpooling or at the West Parking Lot at Jacks Peak after 10 am. Bring water and lunch. Heavy rain cancels. Please, RSVP. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, .

Tuesday, September 3
Senior Hike: Waddell Creek
Approx. 4 mile hike on tree lined dirt roads in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Some uphill. We will hike up the Skyline to the Sea trail to Twin Redwood Camp. Our return will be on the main dirt road. Lunch will be by the horse trail camp. Prepare for sun/heat/fog. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. or beside the levee in the Gateway Plaza on River St, between Ross and Petsmart, before 9:40 am. We will park along HWY 1 after crossing the creek bridge. Restrooms. Bring lunch, water, $4 carpool fee. Leader: Perry Brohmer, 650-793-3987.

Thursday, September 5
Hike: Three Sisters, Fort Ord
Our 7-8-mile loop takes us out to Three Sisters and along ridges with magnificent views of Fort Ord and Toro Park. We climb about 1000 feet total, some on steep and rutted sections of trails. Bring water and lunch. Meet at the Fort Ord Creekside Terrace Trailhead off Reservation Rd. near Hwy 68. Arrive before our 9:30 am departure time. Please RSVP. Leader: Dorothy Denning, .

Saturday, September 7
Hike: Nisene Marks State Park
This is a moderately paced strenuous hike to the Sand Point Overlook via the West Ridge Trail with return via the Loma Prieta Grade. Distance: 14 miles / nearly 2000 feet of elevation gain. Meet at George's Picnic Area at 10AM. For full hike details including carpools please register at https://www.meetup.com/Santa-Cruz-Sierra-Club/events. Hike will be listed there 2-3 weeks prior to the event. Leader: Steve Bakaley, or 831-612-6575.

Sunday, September 8
Hike: Mission Trails
This hike is 2 - 3 miles long and has a 300' elev. gain. We’ll start at the bottom of the canyon on Rio Road across from the Carmel Mission. We will make an elongated loop within the park and on City streets with the Outdoor Forest Theater as a stop near the top. There is a nice view of the Mission's dome. We will make a stop by the historic 1925 Flanders Mansion and the adjacent Lester Rowntree Native Plant Garden. Meet at 9:30 am at the trailhead. Call me to reserve a space. Leader: Martha Saylor, 372-9215.

Tuesday, September 10
Senior Saunter: Levee to Wharf
Casual 4 mile walk along the levee to Beach Hill and Santa Cruz Wharf. Return along beach to other side of river and Ocean View Park for lunch. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. or at Gateway Plaza on River St. between Ross and Petsmart, before 9:45 am. Bring lunch, water, $2 carpool. Leader: Irene Lennox, 831-457-2690.

Thursday, September 12
Coast loop: Pt. Pinos, Asilomar and Pt. Joe
Our 5-6 mile hike with minimal elevation gain at a moderate pace takes us from Pt. Pinos along the coast through Asilomar State Park to Point Joe. On our way back, we will stop for lunch at Asilomar, and then walk back along the former railroad corridor. Bring water and lunch. Meet across the street from the gulf club at 77 Asilomar Ave. at 9:30 am. Bring water and lunch. Extremely strong winds cancel. Please RSVP. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, .

Saturday, September 14
Hike: Forest of Nisene Marks (Aptos) 
Enjoy a largely shaded walk through the redwood forests, with lunch at the scenic Sand Point Overlook. Starting at Porter Family Picnic Area, take the Loma Prieta Grade and Big Stump Gap trails toward the overlook. Return route will depend upon trail closures as of the date of the hike. Somewhat long and strenuous, roughly 7 hours for about 12 miles and 2000’+  Meet at REI in Marina, near the retaining wall at back of parking lot, at 7:45 am, or at 8:45 am at the Porter Family Picnic Area (the gate at the end of paved Aptos Creek Road). There is $8/car parking fee in the state park, so bring your state park pass if you have one. Limit 12 hikers, so please reply to  with your name and phone number, and we will call you. Leaders: Carol Greenstreet & Randy May.

Sunday, September 15
Afternoon Walk: Ft. Ord Dunes State Park
On a windy day it may feel like autumn, but fall is still a week away, so we can enjoy a late summer stroll on the strand, and check out some photos of the future campground. It’s a short downhill walk to a usually uncrowded but often chilly beach, with views of the whole bay. You could walk miles here, but your leader is up for very few, so we won’t start before 1 pm. Call me for meeting place: Leader: Mary Gale, 626-3565.

Tuesday, September 17
Senior Saunter: Wilder Cliffs North
Three mile walk on the more northern part of the cove trail. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. or beside the levee in the Gateway Plaza on River St, between Ross and Petsmart, before 9:40 am. To go direct, meet group in Wilder Ranch State Park parking lot one mile north of Santa Cruz on Hwy. 1. Bring lunch, water, $2 carpool plus share of entrance fee. Leader: Steve Bakaley, 831-612-6575.

Thursday, September. 19
Hike: Garland Ranch
Our 5-6 mile loop with about 900 feet elevation gain at a moderate pace takes us along wooded and meadow trails: Waterfall, Vaquero, and La Mesa trail to the Mesa Pond for lunch, then to Fern Pond and Maple Canyon back to the visitor center. Bring water and lunch. Meet at the Rio Road “Park and Ride” parking lot near Starbuck’s at 9:30 am or at the Garland Ranch parking at 9:50 am. Should it be very hot, we will pick a different hike. Please RSVP. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, .

Saturday, September 21
Hike: Mount Madonna County Park
This beautiful more than 3000 acre park has several different landscapes from redwood forest to oak woodland, chaparral and grassy meadows. We’ll walk about 8 miles with 1300 feet of elevation gain at a moderate pace. Bring food and water. Meet at Home Depot in Seaside at 9 am or drive to the lower parking lot of the park when coming from Santa Cruz at 9:45 am. Call for more info. Leader: Anneliese Suter, 624-1467.

Sunday, September 22
Hike: Jacks Peak, Another Way
Let's approach Jacks' Peak from Carmel Valley.  A short but delightful hike of 6 miles and 1000' of elevation gain.  Through a meadow and up a fairly steep, shaded trail through the pines and oaks. Possible poison oak, so come prepared.  Meet at Save Mart/Bagel Bakery Call for time.  Rain cancels.  Leader:  Larry Parrish, 622-7455
 
Tuesday, September 24
Senior Hike: Point Lobos North
Two routes for different abilities will be available in this beautiful Park to the south of Carmel. Hikers will park at a picnic spot called Piney Woods and make a loop of about 3 miles around the northern part of the park to Whaler &#39’s Cove and back to Piney Woods. Terrain is hilly but not strenuous. Scenery is spectacular. Dress for windy cool weather. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. Bring lunch, water, $6 carpool and share of Park fee. Restrooms. Leader: Perry Brohmer, 650-793-3987.

Thursday, September 26
Hike: Reopened Trails 61 and 62 in Fort Ord
Our 7-mile loop takes us out to Trails 61 and 62, which were recently re-opened following munitions cleanup. We’ll climb about 500 feet total on gentle, chaparral-lined trails. Bring water and lunch. Meet in the parking lot on Inter-Garrison Rd. at the Jerry Smith Trail near Schoonover Rd. Arrive before our 9:45 am departure time; back by 2:00 pm. Please RSVP. Leader: Dorothy Denning, .

Sunday, September 29
Bicycle Ride: Jack’s Peak, Monterey
10 miles round trip, sea level to about 1000 ft. Short but steep, extra 100’ elevation for short hike to views of Monterey Bay and Point Lobos. Lunch in beautiful thick forest setting close to restrooms on picnic tables at west parking lot. Total time: 2 to 3 hrs. We’ll meet across from “Dennis the Menace Park”, Monterey for a 10 AM start, and ride on roads with paved designated bike lanes all the way. Tire patch kit or extra tube and bike lock recommended. Bring water, lunch and wind breaker for cool-ish decent. No entrance fees for bikes. Ends back at the cars where we started. For questions call ride Leader: Steve Jackson, (831) 320-4561.

Tuesday, October 1
Senior Hike: Chaminade
2+ miles fairly easy walk through the redwoods, some uphill. Hikers may add a hike down into the canyon. Lunch at the picnic area. Beautiful views. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave or go direct and park behind tennis courts at Chaminade before 9:45 am. Bring lunch, water, $2 carpool. Restrooms. Leader: Perry Brohmer, 650-793-3987.

Thursday, October 3
Hike: Soberanes Canyon and Point
We’ll first hike the Soberanes Canyon Trail at Garrapata State Park. Then we’ll cross over Hwy 1 to the coast and hike around Soberanes Point for a total of 4-5 miles and about 400-500 feet of climbing. Bring water and lunch. Meet at the Rio Rd. park & ride lot for carpooling to the park at 9:30 am. Please RSVP. Leader: Dorothy Denning, .

Tuesday, October 8
Senior Saunter: Palm Beach
Pleasant 3 mile walk along the slough by Pajaro Dunes community of vacation homes, then down to the beach and walk on hard sand along the ocean 's edge back to the beginning. Good opportunity for birders. We 'll lunch at the end of the hike in the picnic area. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. To go direct, drive past main Watsonville exit on Hwy 1 and take Riverside exit, turn right and right again. At West Beach traffic light take a left, drive to the end of the road and park. We 'll meet on the road near the entrance to the parking lot. (Lot requires a fee.) Bring lunch, water, $3 carpool. Leaders: Irene Lennox, 831-457-2690; Ann Brohmer, 650-793-3987.

Thursday, October 10
Bus Hike: Carmel to Monterey
This will be a different outing: 7-8 miles walking and about 1,000 feet elevation gain. We meet at the Monterey Transit Center at 9 am. At 9:15 am, we take the MST bus to Carmel, and walk to the Carmel-Pebble Beach gate. We follow the Redondo Real Trail and some others to trail 20, walk past Poppy Hills Golf Course and catch trail 4 to Hwy 68, which we cross carefully and enter Huckleberry Hill Preserve. Lunch on the back deck of my house. Then we continue to Veteran’s Park and into Monterey. Bring water and lunch. All day parking can be found along Jefferson Street. Limit: 8 hikers. Please RSVP. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, .

Saturday, October 12
Hike: Julia Pfeiffer Burns to Tin House
We’ll hike from Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park up and through the park, then over on trails to the Tin House for lunch. It is a beautiful way high through the hills with gorgeous views down the coast. After lunch, we’ll walk down on the Tan Oak Bark trail to the Highway where some of our cars are parked, pick up the first cars from Pfeiffer Burns and drive back. About 12 miles with about 1,500’ elevation gain/loss at an easy going pace. Bring lunch and lots of water, some $ for park entrance share. Don’t forget a hat and your hiking poles. Reserve time for a long day. Meet at Park & Ride on Rio Road in Carmel at 8:30 am. For more info, call me. Leader: Anneliese Suter, 831-624-1467.

Sunday, October 13
Hike: Asilomar-Pebble Beach Forest & Coast Loop
4 mile hike loop through Pebble Beach neighborhood, sand dunes and then to the coast trail. We go out and back to Point Joe and back along the beach boardwalk to Asilomar Blvd. Beach wild flowers, possible wildlife to be seen. Meet across from the Fishwife Restaurant on Sunset Drive and Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove at 9:30 am. Back about noon, bring snack and water. Call leader to let me know that you are coming. Leader: Martha Saylor, 831-372-9215.

Tuesday, October 15
Senior Hike: Nisene Marks Hoffman
Approx. 4 1/2 mile shady hike starting at the Porter Picnic area, the last parking lot before the iron gate. Narrow trails, with some uphill, to Hoffman site. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. or at the dirt parking lot before park entrance. Primitive restroom. Bring lunch, repellent, $2 carpool and share of entrance fee. Leader: Bev Meschi, 831-475-4185.

Thursday, October 17
Hike: Marks Ranch
Our 6-mile hike takes us up the lovely Marks Canyon and back through meadows with about 900 feet of climbing. Big Sur Land Trust purchased the 816-acre ranch in 2007, protecting important wildlife corridors. BSLT later transferred a portion of the property to Monterey County Parks which expanded Toro Park and its back country open space. BSLT continues to care for 73 acres of the property and its beautiful rolling hills, woodlands, meadows, grazing lands and 90 species of wildflowers. Bring water, lunch, and hiking poles. We’ll start hiking at 9:30 am from the BSLT gate. Reservations required. Leader: Dorothy Denning, .

Sunday, October 20
Hike: Happy Trails & Fort Ord National Monument
We'll explore the lands adjacent to the Fort Ord National Monument known locally as 'Happy Trails'.  And we'll venture into the FONM and take in some of the sites along the way.  Expect 6-7 miles of easy sloping oak woodlands with less than 1000' of elevation gain.  We can adjust according to the temperature and group sentiment.  Map included.  Call for meeting time and place. Leader: Larry Parrish 622-7455.

Tuesday, October 22
Senior Saunter: Pleasure Point
A pleasant 2+ mile walk along the cliffs at Pleasure Point to Lake Moran Park, returning by a route through the neighborhood. Meet before 9:30 am at Sears on 41st Ave. To go direct, park in the small surfers’ parking lot at the bottom of 41st Ave or at the roadside on Opal Cliff Dr. Bring lunch, water. Leader: Perry Brohmer, 650-793-3987.

Thursday, October 24
Hike: Toro County Park
Our 6-7 mile hike with about 800-900 feet elevation gain at a moderate pace takes us along the Meyers Loop and Ollason trial to oak dotted grasslands to my favorite lunch spot. We will return along Ollason or Gilson Gap trail. Bring water and lunch. Meet at 9:30 am in the last parking lot after driving into Toro Park and paying the entry fee ($2/person). Heavy rain cancels. Please RSVP. Leader: Gisela Nobinger, .

Saturday, October 26
Hike: Timber Top
This out-and-back walk offers outstanding views of the Big Sur coast and at the top rewards your efforts with 360 degree views out to the remote reaches of the Santa Lucia range.  Strenuous 5 -6 hour hike of 7 miles and 2600’ elevation gain.  Meet at Rio Road Park & Ride at 8:15 am.  Bring lunch, 2-3 liters water, and rain/wind/cold gear. Heavy rain cancels. Limit 12 hikers, so please reply to with your name and phone number, and we will call you. Leader: Randy May & Carol Greenstreet.

Sunday, October 27
Bicycle Ride: Seascape Village to Wilder State Park
32 to 35 miles round trip. Twisty-turny, up and down coastal route northbound. Return same way or a more or less direct route thru Santa Cruz and along Soquel Ave/Drive back to our cars at Seascape Village. I’ve ridden this route many times but never bothered with stats, so estimate total elevation gain as 400 to 500’. Possibly 2 hours each way plus whatever stops at points of interest. Tire patch kit or extra tube and bike lock recommended. Bring water, lunch. Lunch at Wilder. Meet at the dirt lot below Seascape Sports Club tennis courts by Seascape Village at 10 AM. For questions call ride Leader: Steve Jackson, (831) 320-4561.

Monday, October 28
Hike: PG Shoreline and Monarch Sanctuary
Have the Monarch Butterflies returned to Pacific Grove? Let’s find out on this easy 6 mile coastal walk. Meet at 10 am outside the Fishwife restaurant, 1996 Sunset Drive. We’ll walk around Spanish Bay and along the coast to Rocky Shores, looking for birds and sea mammals. Then we’ll head up to the Butterfly Sanctuary, returning via the old railroad trail. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the leaders’ back yard (or indoors if it’s cool) near the end of the walk. Heavy rain cancels. Leaders: Cath Farrant and Mary Dainton, 372 7427.

Thursday, October 31
Hike: Lookout Ridge, Fort Ord
Our 10-mile loop takes us up to and along Lookout Ridge in Fort Ord for magnificent views of the area. We climb about 1500 feet total. Bring water and lunch. Hiking poles are also useful for steep sections of trails. Meet in the paved parking lot at the Badger Hills Trailhead off Hwy 68 across from the Toro Café. Arrive before our 9:15 am departure time. Please RSVP. Leader: Dorothy Denning, .

Saturday, November 9
Hike: Mission Peak from Ohlone College
This is a moderately paced nine mile / 2500 ft elevation gain day hike in Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont. Meet at 9:30 am at the Mission Peak trail head adjacent to the parking structure. $4 parking fee. For full hike details including carpools please register at https://www.meetup.com/Santa-Cruz-Sierra-Club/events. Hike will be listed there 2-3 weeks prior to the event. Leader: Steve Bakaley, or 831 612-6575.

Saturday, December 7
Hike: Henry Cowell Fall Creek
This is a moderately paced nine mile / 2300 ft elevation gain day hike. Portions of the uphill are quite steep, i.e. strenuous. Meet at 9:30AM at the Fall Creek Trail Head on Felton Empire Road (Bennett Creek). For full hike details including carpools please register at https://www.meetup.com/Santa-Cruz-Sierra-Club/events. Hike will be listed there 2-3 weeks prior to the event. Leader: Steve Bakaley,   or 831-612-6575.

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