Saturday, April 15, 2017
Meet at 8:00 a.m. Trip will take all day
At 4,265 feet, Mt. Hamilton is the highest peak in the Bay Area and part of the Diablo Range that extends south to Orchard Peak in Kern County. Mt. Hamilton is typically much drier and has a great variety of habitats not found in our outer coast ranges in Marin. As a result, it has a rich flora and is home to many species not found in Marin County. Showy flowers like Lindley’s blazing star (Mentzelia lindleyi) and the wind poppy (Papaver heterophyllum) are some of the spring beauties we will likely encounter. Some of the plants are restricted to Mt. Hamilton and endemic to the mountain such as the Mt. Hamilton Lomatium (Lomatium observatorium) found only around Lick Observatory and the Mt. Hamilton jewelflower (Streptanthus callistus) found in Arroyo Bayo. We will look at native herbs, trees, and shrubs in this picturesque area.
This will be a full day trip. We’ll make several stops along Mt. Hamilton Road and do a bit of walking at a couple of places. It would be best to have only three or four cars to make sure that we can pull off the road at all the good spots. Parking at the various stops along the road up Mt. Hamilton is limited and we want to maximize the number of people in the cars so we will have enough space for everyone at each stop up the mountain and down the other side into Arroyo Bayo and Del Puerto Canyon.
Appropriate for ages/degree of difficulty: All are welcome but as this is an all day event it may be too long for children. Easy walking
Attendees should wear: Walking shoes and hiking clothes in layers and a hat.
Attendees should bring: Water and lunch. Camera gear is optional.
Event leader will supply: Map and directions.
Maximum number of attendees: 20
Preregistration required: Yes. Contact Susan Schlosser at scschlosser52@gmail.com, or cell phone: 707-834-6525. We will carpool to the site.
Fee: No
In case of rain: Preregistered participants will be contacted if the field trip is cancelled.
Carpool meeting location: Manzanita Park and Ride, Sausalito
• From the North: take US 101 south, exit on CA-1, exit number 445B from US-101. Continue on CA-1 to Manzanita Park and Ride Lot.
• From the South: take US 101 north to Marin County, exit on CA-1, exit number 445B from US-101. Continue on CA-1 to Manzanita Park and Ride Lot.