** RSVP REQUESTED **
Please RSVP below or email to mitcnchikers-owner -at- yahoogroups -dot- com

Distance: 7.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1500' Moderate
Est. Time:  6 hours (including some time at the beach)

$8 per car to park at the Pantoll ranger station, cash only.
This parking lot fills up early on nice weekends, so arriving 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the hike (9:30 to 9:45) is a good idea.

Restrooms are available at the Pantoll ranger station and at Stinson Beach.

Dogs are prohibited in Mt. Tamalpais State Park.

Description:
This hike is a repeat of one the club did 5 years ago, but it is one well worth doing again. Here's a description from the Mt. Tamalpais State Park web site:

Mount Tam's legendary Steep Ravine Trail leads hikers along Webb Creek through a stand of tall redwood trees. The sound of rushing water prepares visitors for the fragrance of damp earth and the sight of ferns along the creek's banks. The redwoods form a canopy above the water cascading over the rocks. Alongside the cascade, hikers must climb a steep ladder to return to the beginning of this beautiful trail.

The hike starts at the Pan Toll Ranger Station at 1500' on Mt. Tamalpais (the main peak of the Marin Headlands, overlooking the Golden Gate).  We will head down the Matt Davis trail, which is not as steep and has excellent ocean views.

This takes us to Stinson Beach, where we can have lunch, spend a bit of time frolicking in the surf and generally cool off before we head back uphill on the Steep Ravine Trail.  This part is the main attraction -- it climbs up through very deep, very beautiful, very prehistoric looking redwoods, ferns and cool shade on a sunny day.

What to Bring:
Although the Steep Ravine trail is very shady, the Matt Davis and the small segment of the Dipsea aren't.  Sunblock and a hat are recommended, along with plenty of water (at least 2 quarts per person) and some snacks.  Bring a bathing suit and towel if you are planning a dip in the ocean. Stinson Beach is our lunch spot. There are picnic tables and restrooms. Pack a lunch or buy one there. Two nearby possibilities are the Stinson Beach Market at 101 Calle Del Mar and The Lunch Box at 15 Calle Del Mar.

Directions:
Take Highway 1 in Marin to the junction with the Panoramic Highway.  Turn right on Panoramic and continue uphill for 5.5 miles (past the turnoff to Muir Woods) to Pantoll Rd.  Turn left at the parking area, where you'll find the Pan Toll ranger station and trailhead.

We will meet in the clearing to the left of the ranger station, near the window where you pay your parking fee.

If the Pantoll parking lot is full, there are a few other areas where you're likely to find something -- just up the hill on Pantoll Road, 1/4-1/2 mile downhill on Panoramic Highway, back the way you came at Bootjack, or -- worse case, you can usually find something at Rock Springs.

NOTE: Cell phone service is marginal at the ranger station.

Google Earth coordinates of Pantoll Ranger Station:

37°54'13.23"N 122°36'14.54"W

Driving time:
Approx. 45 mins from the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Probably 1:45+ from the Valley.  Leave an extra 15 minutes or so for parking issues.

Carpooling:
Carpooling is highly recommended. We plan to set up a carpool site and will send the the link to all who RSVP. We do not assume responsibility for carpool arrangements (we merely do so as a courtesy to help hikers make their own plans).

Rain Policy:
If it's raining significantly, the hike is off. If the weather is ambiguous, we will send out an email to all that have RSVP'd and to the mitcnchikers@yahoogroups.com list on the morning of the hike. You can easily join that email list by going to the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mitcnchikers/ web page and clicking on the "Join This Group!" button. After you're on the list, you'll receive emails about each upcoming hike ~1 week in advance. The volume on that list is very low (~2 emails/month), so spam won't be a problem.

The NWS forecast for Stinson Beach may be found at https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.8985&lon=-122.6392#.XSOIOHt7nrI

Disclaimers:
Joining any hike is entirely voluntary and participants assume any and all risks associated with the activities.  By registering or attending this event, participants agree to the conditions posted at:
http://northerncalifornia.alumclub.mit.edu/s/1314/images/gid25/editor_documents/event_documents/liability_waiver.pdf

Contact:
Paul Kuzmenko
email:  mitcnchikers-owner *at* groups.yahoo.com
phone: 925 four eight seven nine seven one one