Welcome to the California Alpine Club's Outings e-bulletin. Look here for details about upcoming outings and our monthly Saturday Sorties to trails of interest throughout the Bay Area. We'll also tell you about new trips in the planning stages and other Outings-related news. So read on and enjoy! |
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Redwood Regional Park Ladybug Hike: Jan 12 |
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Amid the much-needed storms the Bay Area has been receiving lately, the January Saturday Sortie landed on a brisk, mostly sunny day. Fifteen hikers gathered in Oakland's Redwood Regional Park for a stunning walk through the mixed wood forests of this lovely park. Hike leader Ernie Castiaux knew just where to go to find large clusters of ladybugs known to hibernate among the trees and bushes during the winter months. It was a great group with wonderful ideas for future outings, so stay tuned for exciting new opportunities to explore the Bay Area and beyond!
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A note from your Outings Committee:
Many of our adventures fill almost as soon as we publicize the event. So first, thank you for your enthusiastic response to our outings! If the trip you want to attend is already full, we encourage you to send your deposit and join the wait list. Cancellations do occur and we frequently are able to confirm most if not all members on the wait list.
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Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Nevada City - January 18-20, 2019
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Join Mary Cahill for a very special weekend in Nevada City during the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Experience the adrenaline of adventure films from around the world and learn how individuals and communities are taking action. The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to make a difference in your community and your world. We've blocked 5 rooms at the Grass Valley Courtyard Suites at a special rate of $140 plus tax that includes breakfast and an evening reception. Mary and friends will organize a series of hikes and walks to add to your experience during this wonderful weekend. For information, contact Mary Cahill at 530-798-9601 or a_childs_view@yahoo.com. Learn more about the film festival and secure tickets at: www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org.
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NEW! Save the Date! Join Ernie Castiaux and Arlin Weinberger for a very special hike and tour of Slide Ranch, one of the many beneficiaries of your generosity when you donate to the California Alpine Club Foundation. Slide Ranch's innovative programs have been fostering future generations of environmental stewards by connecting children to nature since 1970. Our hike and private tour is still in the planning stages, so stay tuned for details. In the meantime, save the date!
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Beginner Backpacking Class
March 23 (and May 4-5)
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In collaboration with the Sierra Club, CAC has scheduled a beginner backpacking class and field outing designed for those with little or no backpacking experience. The course consists of an all-day class and a weekend overnight outing where you will put into use the outdoor skills that you learned. The cost is $110 per adult or $55 for ages 12-22. The class will be held on March 23 at Nature Bridge conference center in the Marin Headlands. Ernie Castiaux will co-lead an overnight backpacking trip to Sky Camp in Point Reyes on May 4-5. Early registration is recommended as space is limited and the class usually fills quickly. Additional California Alpine Club backpack summer outings are being planned for both beginners and experienced backpackers. To register, download the application at sierraclub.org/sfbay/backpacking.
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Death Valley
March 27 - 31, 2019
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The four-night camping trip to Death Valley with Mary Larkin-Berlinski is now full. The cost is $100 plus a vehicle entry fee to the park of $20-30 per vehicle. To join the waitlist, please send a $50 deposit to Mary Larkin Berlinski, PO Box 776, Moss Landing, CA 95039. For information, contact Mary at: mlarkin804@sbcglobal.net or 831-345-6963.
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Vasco Caves
April 13, 2019
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NEW! Save the Date! One of the East Bay's hidden gems, the Vasco Caves Regional Preserve protects endangered plant and animal species, Native American rock art and beautiful landscapes. Due to the delicacy of the terrain, the preserve is accessible only by guided tour. Reservations open at 8:30 a.m. January 29 for the April 13 tour, and will sell out quickly. A special bulletin will be sent soon with instructions how to sign up for this exceptional CAC outing.
Stay tuned!
More information to come.
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Ernie Castiaux at Russian Gulch State Park |
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Point Cabrillo Lightkeeper's House Rental
May 17-20, 2019
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All rooms in the two lightkeepers' homes and cottages have been reserved. The cost for lodging is $120/night/room (queen bed) and all three nights must be booked. Meals (3B/3L/2D plus happy hour snacks) are included at $50/person. To join the waitlist, please send a deposit of $150 to Renee Hamilton, 1 McIntosh Court, Novato, CA 94949. Waitlist fees will not be deposited until you are confirmed on the trip. Deposits, less a $15 cancellation fee, are refundable until April 1, 2019. Final payment is due April 1, 2019 and is non-refundable unless your place can be filled. PayPal (rdmhamilton@gmail.com) is also accepted for payment. For further information, contact Renee at 415-686-3966, or rdmhamilton@gmail.com.
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Our inaugural 3-island journey to the Channel Islands aboard a chartered live-aboard boat is full. Information to join the waitlist is found below. We'll board Sunday night and motor to the first of three islands, where we'll hike the following day with a naturalist guide and picnic on the island. Other options include kayaking along the shore, snorkeling, scuba diving or just relaxing on board and enjoying the view. The cost of $575 includes 3 nights aboard ship, all meals aboard and on the islands, guided hikes on San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands and assistance by the crew. Kayak, snorkel and dive equipment are available to rent by the day. The cost does not include gratuities for the crew. To join the waitlist, send a $200/ person deposit to Renee Hamilton at 1 McIntosh Court, Novato 94949 (PayPal also accepted). We will not deposit your waitlist check until you are confirmed on the trip. Final payment is due March 1. For more information, contact Renee at rdmhamilton@gmail.com or 415-686-3966. To learn more about our operator, Truth Aquatics, go to https://truthaquatics.net.
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Kidd Lake Car Camping
July 12-14
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Dogs welcome! Last year's Kidd Lake dog-friendly camping trip was so successful, we've decided to do it again! Kidd Lake offers an expansive group campsite with plenty of space, nearby lakes that are refreshing but warm enough for swimming, and wilderness trails where our pooches can accompany hikers off-leash. Of course, non-dog owners are welcome too. The cost of $75 includes the campsite and all meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. All dogs must be well-behaved with other dogs and up-to-date on all shots. To reserve your place, please send full payment of $75 to: Renee Hamilton, 1 McIntosh Court, Novato, CA 94949. Payment is also accepted via PayPal. For more information, contact Renee at 415-686-3966 or rdmhamilton@gmail.com.
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Piute Lake Mule Pack
August 11-16 and August 18-23
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Both departures of the mule-pack trip to Piute Lake are full. Mary Larkin-Berlinksi will co-host the first trip with Renee Hamilton, August 11-16. Mary and Stefan Berlinski will co-host the second mule-pack trip to Piute Lake, Aug 18-23. The cost of each trip is estimated to be $400, which includes the wilderness permit, mule outfitters to carry our gear out and back, and all meals including Sunday night prior to meeting the outfitters Monday morning. Group size is limited to 15. To join the waitlist for either departure, contact Mary at 831-345-6963 or mlarkin804@sbcglobal.net.
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Willamette Water Trail Canoe Trip
September 7-14
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Get ready to soak up the beauty of the Willamette Water Trail on a six-day, 85-mile canoe trip through urban and native habitats, enjoying beer and wine tasting along the way. Meet Saturday, 9/7 at the Best Western in Eugene, OR and depart the following morning for the put-in at Armitage County Park on the McKenzie River. After 5 nights along the river, haul out at Wallace Marine Park on Friday, 9/13 and shuttle back for one more night at the Best Western in Eugene. The cost of $400/person includes meals from Sunday lunch through Friday lunch, canoe rentals, river fees, shuttle fees and two nights hotel accommodations (shared occupancy). Cost does not include transportation to Oregon, Saturday or Friday dinners. To sign up, send a $100 deposit to Mary Larkin-Berlinski, PO Box 776, Moss Landing, CA 95039. For information, contact Mary at mlarkin804@sbcglobal.net or 831-345-6963.
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In recognition of the far-flung nature of our membership as well as the beauty that the entire Bay Area has to offer, the Outings Committee has launched Saturday Sorties. Our goal is to bring the warmth and camaraderie we experience during hikes on Mount Tam to all our members, wherever they live, and create more opportunities for all to enjoy Nature’s bounty throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
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Deer Park
Saturday, February 2, 2019
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Celebrate Ground Hog Day with a walk in Deer Park with Madeleine Pearce.
We will hike approximately 8.5 miles through meadows and wooded areas and enjoy beautiful views. After lunch, we will walk around Phoenix Lake before looping back to the Deer Park trail head. The hike will begin at 9:30 a.m. From Fairfax take Bolinas Road, left on Porteous Avenue to the Deer Park trail head parking area at the end of the road. More information is on the CAC Outings meetup site. https://www.meetup.com/CAC-Outings/members/
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Presidio Redux
Saturday, February 23, 2019
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Following the cancellation of our November Sortie to the Presidio, we have rescheduled this popular hike. Join Ernie Castiaux on a walk through the Presidio of San Francisco. On an 8-mile loop through forests and Pacific overlooks, we will immerse ourselves in the 200+ year history of this historic military facility. Trail highlights include the overlook at Immigrant Point, the National Cemetery, Crissy Field, and views of the Bay, Pacific Ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The hike will begin at 9:30 am at the Presidio Visitor Center located at 210 Lincoln Blvd.
There is a coffee shop next door at the Presidio transit center for those arriving early.
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Cancellation Policy: Unless otherwise noted in the trip description,
all outing deposits become non-refundable two weeks
prior to the trip’s departure.
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And just a reminder: Amazon Smile |
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The California Alpine Club Foundation is now a registered charity with Amazon Smile. When you shop through Amazon Smile, you have access to all the same Amazon products at no extra cost, but .5% of your purchase will be donated to the Foundation. To sign up with Amazon Smile, copy this link and paste it into the search bar: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/30-0263904. You will be automatically asked if you wish to support the CAC Foundation. It's a wonderful way to grow our foundation's good work of promoting conservation and environmental education in the Bay Area and Tahoe region.
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What’s on your bucket list?
Your CAC Outings Committee is eager to expand and enhance your opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. But we need your help! Is there an activity you would like us to offer? A destination that you've always wanted to explore? Please tell us! Send your ideas and/or wish list to Renee Hamilton at rdmhamilton@gmail.com (415.686.3966) or Ernie Castiaux at ecastiaux@hotmail.com (510.909.3301).
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