The following is just a sampling of upcoming GLS outings in July and August. Make sure to join in order to access our full newsletter- with even more outings listings, special events and interesting articles. Our elist will mail you up to date communication with hike reminders and any last minute detail changes. For further information about specific outings, contact the hike leader.

Friday-Sunday, July 11-13
White Water Rafting and Camping Weekend
Jenna Slovis jslovis@gmail.com
Rating: Fun!
Join GLS and 150 other folks for a LGBT weekend of white-water rafting and camping on the American River (near Colma/Placerville area.) The beginner level is $290 and the intermediate trip is $330. This adventure includes 2 days rafting, 2 nights camping, 5 meals and river use fees. Advance deposit of $75 secures your spot. You can see more info and sign up at www.lavenderevents.com/rafting.

Friday-Monday, July 4-7
Camping Trip to Green Creek
This camping trip to the Eastern Sierras was listed in the previous newsletter and is sold out. To make sure you don’t miss out on the Labor Day weekend camping trip to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, see the article on page 1 of our newsletter in the secure member area.

Saturday, July 12
Hidden Gems of Berkeley #2
David Vásquez davidinberkeley@yahoo.com
Russ Hartman outings@glshikes.org
Rating: 1A
This mostly-flat loop hike along city sidewalks and a bit of woods includes some stairs and will take us to fun things you might easily pass by, such as unique flora, buildings, and a few surprises. Our route from downtown Berkeley BART Station through residential neighborhoods will be short but with lots of reasons to chat up other hikers. Leashed dogs okay. Optional lunch afterwards. Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes and layers. Note: this is a different hike than the “Hidden Gems of Berkley” led in April. Meet at 10 a.m. at the top of Downtown Berkeley BART escalator, accessible via Richmond/Fremont BART, AC Transit #1, 1 Rapid, 7, 9, 15, 18, 19, 51, 65, 67, 79, 800, 851, and the F Transbay. Driving directions: From 80 East or West, take University exit and drive east to Shattuck, then right to Center St.

Sunday, July 13
Muir Woods / Mt. Tam
Carrie Spector cfspector@hotmail.com
Jill Schalet jillonthego@hotmail.com
Rating: 2B
This cool, shaded 6.4-mile loop hike will start in Muir Woods and quickly leave the tourists behind and head up Bootjack Trail into Mt. Tam’s redwood forest. We’ll climb steeply up the canyon to Van Wyck Meadow Total elevation gain is 1,100 feet. Bring lunch & snacks, layers, sturdy shoes, and 2 quarts water. Note: $5 entrance fee per person. Meet at the benches next to the entrance at 10:30 am. Carpools meet at El Cerrito Plaza BART at 9:30 am (at bench in parking lot , west end of station). Driving directions: from 101, take the Hwy 1/Stinson Beach exit. At 2nd stoplight, turn left on Shoreline Hwy (Hwy 1). Drive about 2.5 miles, then turn right on Panoramic Hwy. Drive about a mile to junction with Muir Woods Rd, then turn left and continue to parking area. Golden Gate Transit also operates a shuttle to Muir Woods (Route 66) from several transit stops in Marin: see http://goldengate.org/news/transit/muirwoods.php for details.

Thursday, July 17
Short Hike to Wildcat Peak, Tilden Park, Berkeley
Jenna Slovis jslovis@gmail.com
Rating: 1A
This is a fun hike to do after work. If it's clear and calm, we'll have a wonderful 3 bridge bay view; if not, we will still get in a little cardio workout. Meet at 6:00 pm in the Tilden Nature Area and Environmental Education Center (Little Farm) parking lot. See www.ebparks.org/parks/tna.htm#Map for more information. Directions: In Berkeley take University to Oxford; Turn left on Oxford and go ½ mile to Rose St.; Turn right and go one block, then turn left onto Spruce. Drive 1.7 miles and after crossing Grizzly Peak Blvd., turn left onto Canon Dr. ; Go ½ mile and turn left onto Central Park Drive and follow to parking area. This hike is 3.5 miles with 500 feet of elevation change. It should take about 2 hours. Bring water and a snack to eat at the top. There is no formal carpooling meeting site for this hike but if you email me no earlier than 1 week before the hike, I will compile an email list and send it to those folks interested.

Saturday, July 19
SF Staircase Hike, Edgehill Mountain & Mt. Davidson
Russ Hartman outings@glshikes.org
Rating: 1B
This 3 to 4-mile urban hike will explore two neighboring areas in San Francisco, the first a residential area perched on a hillside whose streets connect via staircases, the other a forested hill laid out with stone-lined paths. Expect lots of ups and downs, rewarded with wonderful city views if it’s a clear day. Wear sturdy shoes and layers as it could be sunny or windy and foggy. Bring water and lunch. Well-behaved dogs on leash are OK. Meet at 10 am in front of Forest Hills Muni Station (accessible by Muni K, L, or M lines) or busses 36, 43, or 44). Hike will end mid-afternoon at same location.

Sunday, July 20
Marin Headlands Hike
Jenna Slovis jslovis@gmail.com
Randy Soo-Hoo randyyandy@aol.com
Rating: 1A
This scenic coastal hike in the Marin headlands will be a joint hike with GLS, the SF Hiking Club and SAGA North Ski Club. Starting at the Rodeo Lagoon we’ll hike the Coastal-Wolf Ridge-Miwok trails and have lunch atop Hill 88 with its spectacular panoramic views. This is a moderate 5.5 mile loop with several hundred feet of elevation gain. This route provides a little of everything the Golden Gate National Seashore has to offer: sweeping views of the Pacific, WWII coastal batteries, walking along a scenic lagoon and access to the Pacific Ocean/beach. Carpools: Meet at the Safeway parking lot by Starbucks at Market-Dolores Sts. in San Francisco at 9 a.m. Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers for possible fog, and bring sun and wind protection, water and lunch. Driving Directions: From SF, cross Golden Gate Bridge and take the Alexander Ave./Sausalito exit . At end of exit, turn right and drive about 0.3 miles and turn left on Bunker Road (look for brown sign saying “Marin Headlands Visitor Center”. Go 2.9 miles (including through one-way tunnel with 5-minute signal light) to Y intersection, then bear left onto Mitchell Road (not to right to Marine Mammal Center) and go approx. 0.3 miles to paved parking lot for Fort Cronkite and Rodeo Beach. We’ll be taking the Coastal Trail at the western end of the parking lot. Carpoolers and solo drivers should meet at parking lot at 9:45.

Sunday, July 20
Lafayette Reservoir Rim Trail
Chris Coan ChrisCoan123@comcast.net
Rating: 1B
This is a wonderful up and down hike with great bird-watching opportunities and several high points affording 360-degree views of EBMUD parklands and a reservoir. There is parking at the top of the dam for $6.00 for all day. Meet me at 10:30 am on west side of parking lot near restrooms and concrete stairs. After the hike go down to the boat house and rent paddleboat or rowboat for the afternoon. Bring lunch, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and plenty of water. Directions: From Highway 24 eastbound in Lafayette, take the Alcalanes Road/Mt. Diablo Blvd., exit and go east 0.8 miles on Mt. Diablo Blvd. to the entrance to EBMUD’s Lafayette Reservoir Area. Turn right and go 0.2 miles uphill on the one-way entrance road, then turn left for the main entrance; OR from Highway 24 westbound, take the Alcalanes/Upper Happy Valley Road exit, go south under the highway, turn left on Mt. Diablo Blvd., and then follow directions above.

Saturday, July 26
Corona Heights Habitat Restoration Workparty, San Francisco
Jim Houillion (415) 552-3542
Russ Hartman (650) 355-2243
Rating: Conservation
Join with the Friends of Corona Heights Habitat Restoration in the last Saturday of the month workparty at one of San Francisco’s prime native habitat areas (one of more than 30 in the City’s park system). Some 100 native plant species at Corona have survived the effects of human habitation, but these are only part of the number thought to have once been there. Along with the natives are some 15 very prolific non-natives that can overwhelm them if left unchecked. We’ll weed out these non-natives and check out the summer wildflowers (yes, there are summer wildflowers!). Despite a very dry spring there are lots of weeds to pull (they seem to thrive, no matter what!). So, we need lots of helping hands! Meet on north side (parking lot is south side) of the Randall Museum at the end of Museum Way off Roosevelt Way. Dress in layers, wear hat, sunscreen, & sturdy shoes, and bring water. Tools, gloves, & kneeling mats provided Work will end around noon.

Sunday, July 27
Introductory Hike for New & Potential GLS Members
Russ Hartman outings@glshikes.org
Erica Tucker etucker72@yahoo.com
Rating: 1A
To welcome new, recent, and wanna-be GLS members (as well as veteran members who just want to tag along), this hike will explore a portion of San Francisco’s Presidio, which is being transformed from its former life as a military base to a wonderful urban park, as well as the cliffs above Baker Beach and the trail along Lobos Creek, the only remaining creek free-flowing stream left in the city. Along the way we’ll discuss the variety of outings GLS offers throughout the year, talk about how members can contribute and participate in sustaining our all-volunteer organization, and even cover some do’s and don’ts of hiking. We’ll hike approx 4 miles, starting and ending at the Presidio’s Arguello Gate. Meet hike leaders at 11 am where Arguello Blvd. enters the Presidio, accessible by Muni bus 1 along California St . Wear sneakers or good hiking shoes, hat and/or sunscreen, and layers if it’s foggy. Bring bottle of water and lunch.

Sunday, August 3
Purisima Creek Redwoods
Ather Hussain sagsfo@yahoo.com
Tina Mazzei tina_mazzei@yahoo.com
Rating: 2B
Join us for a moderate 7 mile hike in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. This is a joint GLS SF Bay & Loma Prieta Chapter hike. Starting from North Ridge Parking lot, we will take Harkins Ridge trail and descend about 1400 ft to Higgins-Purisima Road parking lot. Lunch will be near the creek. Then we will ascend back up by Whittmore Gulch trail. The ocean views on this hike are spectacular.. Bring lunch, water, layers, a hat and sun protection. Total elevation change will be around 2800 ft with several strenuous uphill switchbacks, so you should wear study boots and be in reasonably good shape. Carpools: meet under Safeway sign at Market & Dolores in San Francisco at 9:15 am. Loma Prieta chapter hikers, wishing to carpool from Peninsula and South Bay can meet at Edgewood Park & Ride in Redwood City at 10:00 am. Driving directions: From San Francisco, take 280 south , then 92 west (toward Halfmoon Bay) and finally Skyline (Hwy. 35) south for 4.5 miles to North Ridge Parking lot on right. Hike will begin from North Ridge around 10:30 am.

Saturday, August 16
Bay Area Ridge Trail – Tilden, Sibley, Huckleberry & Redwood Regional Parks
Seth Adams, outdoorbear@aol.com
Rating: 2B
The Bay Area Ridge Trail ultimately will be a 550+ mile trail encircling the San Francisco Bay along the ridge tops. So far over 300 miles of trail have been completed. Join Seth for a 10 mile hike stringing together a few familiar East Bay Parks along the Ridge Trail from Inspiration Point in Tilden (Berkeley), up to Vollmer Peak, Chaparral Peak and on to Round Top, our only local volcano, in Sibley. Then on to Huckleberry Botanic Preserve, ending at the Skyline gate in Redwood Regional Park. Great views the entire way, might be warm, windy or foggy, or all three. 1800’ gain, 1600’ loss over ten miles. 8 mile car shuttle. RSVP so we can make sure we have drivers; everyone to meet at 9:00 am at Rockridge BART in Oakland. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and lunch.

Sunday, August 17
Stern Grove Festival—San Francisco Opera
Kelly Sandlin kellysandlin@comcast.net
Paget Valentzas pagetsf@hotmail.com
Rating: Simply fun to 2A
Celebrate community, nature, and the arts at this beloved San Francisco summer tradition. Meet at the Stern Grove Concert Meadow between 9:30 and 10:30 to help secure good seating and enjoy a hot drink. Look for red balloon. At 10:30, the energetic will set off on a 6-mile city hike around Lake Merced, Ft. Funston and Ocean Beach while the indolent stay behind to hold our seats and socialize, read, play games, or snooze. The Performance begins at 2:00. Please RSVP for this event by noon on Saturday to help leaders anticipate seating needs. Bring: LAYERS (it’s OFTEN foggy and cold in Stern Grove), blanket or stadium chair (low to ground with back at shoulder height), picnic lunch (preferably gourmet), cards, board games, book, money. Directions: Stern Grove is located at 19th Ave. and Sloat Blvd. in San Francisco. Limited parking on surrounding streets, or take MUNI busses 23 or 28 or MUNI Metro K or M lines (short walk from Sloat & Junipero Serra. For more details, see www.sterngrove.org.

Thursday, August 21
East Ridge of Redwood Regional Park
Chris Coan (925)432-1655
Rating: 2B
If you have the day off join me on a quiet weekday loop hike along East Ridge and Stream Trails. Bring sturdy shoes and plenty of water, lunch and a snack. Last half of the loop has shade and beautiful redwoods but first half will be exposed, so dress for the sun and wear sunscreen. Meet at 10:30 am at the Canyon Meadow staging area at end of parking ($$) lot near the trailhead. Directions: From Interstate 580 eastbound in Oakland, take the 35th Ave. exit, turn left and follow 35th Ave. east into the hills. After 0.8 miles 35th Ave. becomes Redwood Road, and at 2.4 miles it crosses Skyline Blvd., where you stay in left lane and go straight. At 4.6 miles from Interstate 580 turn left into park entrance and go 0.5 miles to Canyon Meadow staging area. Trailhead is at northeast end of \parking area. OR from Interstate 580 westbound in Oakland, take the Warren Freeway/Berkeley/Highway 13 exit and go 0.9 miles to the Carson St./Redwood Road exit. At stop sign at end of the exit ramp, continue straight, now on Mountain Blvd., 0.2 miles, and bear right onto Redwood Road. Go 3.2 miles to the park entrance, turn left and go 0.5 miles to the Canyon Meadow staging area.

Saturday, August 23
Birding? In Castro Valley?
Cate Steane csteane@sbcglobal.net
Erica Tucker etucker72@yahoo.com
Rating: 2A
It ain’t wilderness, but this 6-mile loop has an incredible density and variety of birds. We'll start out in the Don Castro Regional Recreation Area. The San Lorenzo Creek Reservoir attracts a large variety of water birds. From there, we’ll cut through some developed areas to get to the open hills and creek side canyons of the little-known Five Canyons Open Space. This area is habitat for everything from red-tailed hawks to turkeys to songbirds. We’ll hike at a birder’s pace. Meet for carpooling at Rockridge BART at bottom of escalators for 10 am departure. Alternatively, AC Transit bus #95 goes from Hayward BART directly to Don Castro. Driving directions: From I-580 East from San Leandro, take Center St. exit in Castro Valley, turn right on Center to Kelly St., left on Kelly, and then left on Woodroe to park entrance. From I-580 West, take Castro Valley exit and continue west on E. Castro Valley Blvd to Grove Way, turn left on grove, left on Center, left on Kelly, and left on Woodroe to park entrance. All should meet at bus stop at park at 10:30 am. Bring layers, sun protection, lunch, water, binoculars, and bird books. Dogs that will not disturb the birds are welcome. Parking fee is $5 and fee for dogs is $2.

Sunday, August 24
Huckleberries and Redwoods
Ruth Lorenz srlorenz@fastmail.fm
Rating: 2B
We'll start in shaded Huckleberry Preserve, one of the loveliest spots in the East Bay hills, and then hike into neighboring Redwood Regional Park, where the creek and redwoods make a welcoming late summer hiking destination. Bring lunch, two liters of water and sturdy shoes. Be prepared for a couple steep climbs and a fairly brisk pace. Hike is up to 8 miles. Carpool: Meet at 9:05 at Rockridge BART. Hike departs at 9:30 from the Huckleberry Preserve parking lot. Parking is limited; carpooling encouraged. Contact hike leader for driving directions.

Tuesday, August 26
San Francisco Extravaganza Tour
Jenna Slovis jslovis@gmail.com
Rating: 1A
This tour was so popular last year, we are doing it again. Meet the group at Peet's inside the Historic Ferry Terminal Building at 6pm. Our whirlwind tour will take us in a loop from the Embarcadero through the Financial District, Chinatown, North Beach, over Nob, Russian, and Telegraph Hills, and back to the Ferry Building -visiting little-known gems along the way. Whew! If you could read that, then join us and get ready to leave your heart in San Francisco! Be prepared for a number of steep hills and staircases. And, as always during summer in San Francisco, dress in lots of layers! Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.

Saturday, August 30
Workparty at Golden Gate Park Native Plant Nursery
Jim Houillion (415) 552-3542
Rating: Conservation
Join with the Friends of Corona Heights Habitat Restoration in the monthly workparty. This month we’ll be working at the native plant nursery in Golden Gate Park instead of Corona Heights, transferring seedlings from flats into individual containers so they can grow large enough to be set out at Corona Heights next winter. These seedlings have been propagated from seeds collected at the Corona Heights Natural Area. Meet at 10:00 am at the entrance to the nursery, located at 100 Martin Luther King Drive. MLK Dr. starts at Kezar Dr. just inside the park from Lincoln & 3rd Ave. Go along MLK Dr. to the first street on the right (Bowling Green Dr.). Just across this intersection, on the right, is the nursery entrance. Remember: dress in layers, wear hat, sunscreen & sturdy shoes, and bring water. Tools & gloves provided. Work will end around noon.

Sunday, August 31, 2008
Golden Gate Park Loop Hike
Salvatore Manzi SalvatoreManzi@mac.com
Rating: 1A
Once just rolling sand dunes, Golden Gate Park has nooks and crannies that are an adventure to be discovered and rediscovered through the seasons. This fairly easy hike around the Eastern half of the park will visit the historic McLaren Lodge, the Dahlia Garden, the Concourse and it’s many gems, Stow Lake & Strawberry Hill, The Botanical Gardens, AIDS Memorial Grove, and the Children’s playground. Meet at 10:30am at the Park Entrance at the western most end of Haight Street. Bring: layers, plenty of water, food/lunch, and snacks (choc-chip-cookies are a good idea), sturdy shoes and sunscreen/hat.