On May 17, CAC members took over the entire complex at the Point Cabrillo Light Station, that included the two lightkeepers' homes and two cottages. The weather tried to cooperate, sending various levels of fog and rain on Saturday and sun and some clouds on Sunday. Highlights included hikes to the roaring waterfalls; a visit to B. Bryan Preserve, dedicated to the breeding and preservation of endangered African hoofed animals (and a chance to kiss a giraffe...or several!); plus time to explore Mendocino and Fort Bragg. The experience was made all the better by the magnificent cooking of Ken Judy! Food was plentiful and outstanding. This wonderful locale will be added to the CAC outings rotation for future trips.

On June 2, 30 CAC members gathered in Santa Barbara for our inaugural exploration of the Channel Islands aboard the Vision, operated by Truth Aquatics. To quote Nancy Emerson: Our boat, the Vision, was just about perfect--great crew, food, itinerary. The one small downside was the cubby beds, but we made the best of them. With fewer than the max number of passengers, not many had to crawl in at floor level, and those of us with upper bunks could climb up as needed.

We will definitely do this trip again, so if you missed it this year, stay tuned!

Join Arlin Weinberger and Renee Hamilton for a special hike and tour of Slide Ranch, one of the many beneficiaries of your generosity when you donate to the California Alpine Club Foundation. Every year, Slide Ranch provides field trips and overnight camps to over one hundred schools and community groups from around the Bay Area. The CACF donates funds for scholarships so that low-income students can attend these programs. Our 5-mile hike starts at the Muir Beach parking lot and will provide vistas of the ocean and spring wildflowers. Please allow enough travel time to the starting point. The hike will start at 9:15 am sharp and we do not want to miss you. More information can be found on Meetup.com (meetup.com/CAC-Outings).

Our planned June 8 river trip had to be canceled due to dangerously high water flow. We have rescheduled our raft trip to July 21 and look forward to a wonderful day with water temperatures that will be perfect for splashing and swimming! Join Ernie Castiaux on the South Fork of the American River for a great day of rafting class II and III rapids with our friends at Peak Adventures. The cost is $95 and includes all rafting equipment and an experienced river guide. The minimum age is 9. Splash, laugh and swim on the American River. To sign up for the raft trip, please send $95 to Ernie Castiaux, 5747 Shadow Ridge Drive, Castro Valley, CA 4552.  Paypal is also accepted (ecastiaux@hotmail.com).

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.

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, lakes that are refreshing but warm enough for swimming, and wilderness trails where our pooches can accompany hikers off-leash. There are a variety of hikes within a short distance from camp, from easy rambles to nearby lakes to more challenging adventures with some elevation gain and more lakes for a refreshing dip. Not a dog owner? No problem! Join us for a great weekend in the woods with fellow CAC members and a few furry friends. The cost of $95 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.

There are five spaces left on the six-day, 85-mile canoe adventure along Oregon's Willamette Water Trail. Our route takes us through urban and native habitats, and we will enjoy beer and wine tasting along the way. We 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.

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.

Join Ruth Tretbar and CAC hikers for a San Francisco city walk, exploring Telegraph Hill, North Beach, Russian Hill and Pacific Heights. Find hidden gardens and interesting small streets and alleys. Climb San Francisco stairways, admire small cottages and distinguished houses, and catch views of the Golden Gate. This will be a moderately paced hike, about 7-8 miles. Bring a sack lunch and plenty of water. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Levi Plaza, near Union and Battery Streets. Look for the group at the base of the falls just off the Embarcadero near Filbert. Parking is available on street and in nearby lots.

Mary Larkin-Berlinski will lead a hike through the backwoods of Castle Rock State Park. We will meet at 9am for

a 6-mile moderate hike with some challenging pitches through redwoods, oaks and madrones. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy from an overlook pavilion. And don't forget to bring plenty of water. More information can be found on the CAC meetup.com site. Please sign up to attend this hike on meetup. com by visiting http://www.meetup.com/CAC-Outings/members.