Mill Valley Most Romantic Hike

This is Sarah and Patrick who had something to talk about.

This is mid-hike, going down to Pirate's Cove.

Merry Christmas!  Kirsty got us going on a new Christmas tradition.  The Most Romantic Hike as a family. This is fresh on the trail.  Or at least the first day.  We've settled into being out there.  I can tell we've been on the trail because Pog has taken Kirsty's pack, with all the snacks and food.  It's always a little rough at first, and this was no exception, that is, getting the family all going in the same direction.  Back to the hike:

Plan on some uphill to begin.  Take it slow.  Trust me.  I've added more logistics and details below.

See Fort Cronkite down on the right?  The photo almost looks like it's from the forties or fifties.  Likely not much has changed from this perspective.

This is (hopefully) our new family tradition, making the Most Romantic Hike from Marin Headlands / Fort Cronkite to Stinson Beach.  It was some work to get here, though everyone said it was worth it.  From Fort Cronkite look for the Coastal Trail.

Coastal Trail
The whole first day is on the Coastal Trail.  Don't be fooled, it twists and winds quite a bit, above Fort Cronkite, and several times it seems like it's going the wrong way.  Don't worry, it'll straighten out, and actually does once you get to the top of this ridge.

This is shortly after Fort Cronkite.  There are some steep sections!

Patrick and Sarah still had something more to talk about.   After the first bit of climbing, now there is some downhill into Tennessee Valley.

 Are we there yet?  We've just finished the first section.  Below is Tennessee Valley and beyond that is Pirate's Cove, followed by Muir Beach.  Lot's of ocean views.    It's like our own little slice of mother nature, shared just for us.

 We could have brought Ellie?!  We hardly saw any people, and I don't remember seeing any dogs, but you can bring them!  I think they aren't allowed on our second day, the Dipsea.  Somehow we did not notice this on our last trip.  In fact, are these new trail signs?

Moira studying rock formations.

I think they are still talking...  Pog is concentrating.  We hardly saw any other hikers, but I see a couple behind us here, along with a view back to San Francisco.

This is heading down after Tennessee Valley, now into Pirate's cove.  It's like our own little slice of mother nature, shared just for us.

I love the rugged coast here.  It's so amazing, and beautiful.

Not finished yet... Pog and Sarah are still discussing.

Muir Beach and the few houses surrounding it.This is heading into Muir Beach.

First Glance at Muir Beach

Poggy at the top with his mom.
We picked up the car at Muir, and high-tailed it to Mountain Home Inn for the sunset.  It's hard to tell, but that's the ocean in the background.  From here, you can see the Pacific and San Francisco bay, down through Mill Valley.  Exceptional spot.

 Patrick and Sarah hugging.  We can all relax!

We had a tremendous meal at Mountain Home Inn, Dungeness crab was king.  Best ever.  Super fresh, sweet, straight up- still in the shell.  So so good.

Logistics:
Day 1 - Start at Fort Cronkite/Marin Headlands.  Hike from the Headlands to Muir Beach along the Coastal Trail.  To cut the hike to two days, we drove from Muir Beach to Mountain Home Inn, on the Panoramic Highway, about 5-6 miles away.

Getting there:
It's the first exit north of the Golden Gate bridge, or last exit before, heading south on 101.  Take the signs to Fort Cronkite.  It's about 5 minutes from the exit.

Parking:
Fort Cronkite:  There's lots of it, and it's free and you can park overnight.
Muir Beach:  Plenty of parking.  We left a car here, for the end of our hike.

The trail:
The Coastal Trail.  It's well marked, but don't worry when it wraps back around on itself, you are headed in the right direction.  It's about 5 miles to Muir, and takes about 3 hours with a stop for lunch. 

Hiking Options:

Pelican Inn is at the end of Muir Beach.  An English Pub and Inn.  Totally awesome people, pub, restaurant and about 5-6 rooms.  The hike from here takes you to Muir Woods and finishes at Mountain Home Inn.

We stayed at  Mountain Home Inn last year, but it was just Kirsty and I.

The best thing about MHI is the view.

This is the view from our room from lucky number 7.  It had the fireplace like last year, and the tub with this view, as well as the balcony and double doors to this view.  We had a fire at night, and another in the morning.  :-)

Day Two- The bar turned coffee bar.

Crossing the Grand Canyon, Rim to Rim to Rim

It's getting close.  As you can see from the picture above, I've started the panic purchasing, wondering all what I will need.  One thing you don't want to do, and I am doing, is to try stuff during the event, for the first time.  A couple items in this pile will be new, including all the gel, goo packs.  Also the Hammer powder, before, during and after.  I love the marketing on it...:-)  Before is Heed, during is Perpetuem, and after is Recoverite.  What do you imagine when you hear those names??!

Actually, today is an important day.  I'm late, but I think it's still okay.  I'm shipping some of the above and clothes to the South Rim, El Tovar hotel.  We couldn't get a reservation there, but we stayed there before.  It's a totally awesome historic hotel, on the South Rim.  They said they would receive our package and keep it, and we can pick it up from the bell stand when we arrive.  We're starting from the North Rim next Friday, so I need it there by Friday and I am shipping Saturday, today.

Getting There
I'm flying in to Denver Wednesday night, and we'll drive down to the North Rim on Thursday.  It's quite a drive.  I think in the order of 10-12 hours, but most of it is incredibly beautiful scenery, and it's great catching up, and relaxing time, with my best friend.  I'm really looking forward to that.  We stay in the cabins at the North Rim, and eat at the Lodge, an amazing building, right on the edge of the Grand Canyon, so you can eat and look out at the Canyon, as the sun sets.  One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.

Photo from the National Park Service
The hike
Here's where the fun begins.  We have done this hike before.  It's a big hike.  Basically all day.  Last time we took a particularly slow pace, with a really fun break at a waterfall.  The hike took 12 hours, almost exactly.  This time I am thinking it will be closer to 9-10 hours.  I think 9 hours would be pretty quick, so 10 hours is maybe closer.  We will see.  So, the hitch this time, is we are going in summer.  We've been watching the weather, and Phantom Ranch is showing 108 degrees for the high.  Youch.

There's stuff we can do, to minimize the impact, the most interesting is to adjust our start time.  Last time we started at 5 am and finished at 5 pm.  I am thinking if we start around 3 am we will be passing Phantom ranch at breakfast time, like 8-9 am and out around 12 or 1 pm.  My guess, Phantom Ranch will still be in the 80's when we make it through.  Also, we will have a new moon.  I think that's a euphemism for no moon.  :-)  Last time we used headlights.  We maybe didn't need them, but we will this time, for sure.  Aside from that, I'll wear a hat and a soaked bandanna around my neck.  Drink lots of water, salt, potassium (as shown above...)  There's water about every 4-5 miles, so that's nice.  It'll be great.

The other trick is the return is obviously the same distance, but the North Rim is about 8,000 foot elevation, and the South is about 7,000 feet.  It's not a huge difference, but after hiking 20 some miles, adding another 1,000 feet is a bit of a doozie. 

Jib Jab
I gotta get my stuff in the mail.  More later.  Stinson Beach this weekend, Seattle Monday Tuesday, Denver Wednesday, Grand Canyon Thurs-Sun, Monday Denver to SF, Tuesday-Friday Chicago.  Busy days ahead.

Photos of the Canyon I got from here.
The park's Digital Photo Archive contains 100 public domain photographs from Grand Canyon National Park that may be selected from a thumbnail gallery - then downloaded (4x6 inches @ 300 dpi)

GI Jane, Grand Canyon rim to rim to rim, Gerbode Valley - Pelican Inn Ride

Yes, thank you all, my patient followers and not-so-patient followers.  I am now busy with work.  Needless to say, life goes on, and so should the Jib Jab.  There has been lots going on.  It's not that.  I just haven't had the luxury of so much blogging time.  It may even mean, Jib Jab gets more concise.  Heaven forbid.

Jib Jab and Swimming
So, getting to it, GI Jane.  One of my swim buddies, (starts with a D, ends with amon) sent an email to us, Zola swimmers, saying his inspiration for us is GI Jane.  Remember when she pulls master chief out of harm's way?  Remember her one-arm push-ups?  So, that's our inspiration for the Trans-Tahoe swim, coming up this summer.  I swam with this tight-knit group, as the new kid on the block, which is an oxy-moron because I am about 15 or more years older than everyone else on our team...  Anyways, there is a legendary battle with 'the girls' team.  I forget their name.  They always seem to win.  Last year, it seemed like the tide was turning.  As we were about 10 miles into the swim, we were gaining on them, about 100 meters every 30 minutes or so.  We were virtually neck and neck at 11 miles, and in the last mile, they disappeared.   I hoped it was behind us, but alas.  They beat us again.  We are sure they are cheating.

Jib Jab - continued - The Grand Canyon
On another note, my best buddy, and friend since college was out last week for work.  We got together, and did a little hike around my house, which is actually, a pretty amazing hike [note to self.  add pix]  You can see San Francisco, Stanford, east bay, the San Francisco bay, and bay trees.  Lots of them.  It's both wooded, and open fields, and very hilly.  It's an awesome trail, anyways, Mike is my favorite adventurer.  Just a super short list of some of our adventures, on the top of my mind; camping, fly fishing, Wind River, Wyoming.  Heli-skiing, Banff, Canada, Grand Canyon, rim to rim to rim, twice.  Numerous ski trips, and other fun stuff.  So, always wanting to take it one more level, Mike has been talking about rim to rim to rim, all in one day.  He has said it before, so this time he says, so, are you in?  I can't help myself.  I smile, and start laughing.  I know I can't say no, even though it's ridiculous.   So, I am like, okay, so, it's 50 miles, which, on a flat surface is probably a 15 hour hike at a fast pace.  The Grand Canyon adds about 35,000 feet of elevation change, both up and down, just guesstimating (nice word!).  So, yeah, all said, maybe a 20-22 hour hike, if all goes well.  With any hiccups.  Well, disaster.  So, he says, we better start training.  I love him. [i will add some pics]

Jib Jab -extreme - Mountain Biking
I think last section is the extreme, and this is continued, don't you think?  :-)
So, a new arena I have thrown myself into, and am loving is mountain biking.  I have some great new friends, and re-acquaintances, who I have been totally enjoying riding with, and getting educated on riding and trails to ride.  So, another friend and brother in law[starts with P and ends with ete] has been graciously and generously including me into his circle of life-long buddies he has been riding with, well, his whole life.  I have missed a couple of the rides, and especially missed going on the last one, as it sounded like a real adventure into areas uncharted by me [Tennessee valley].  So, he also sent, or forwarded another ride of another of his good friends, who lives by me.  I need to study it, but it's within 15 minutes of my house.  All these other rides are across the Golden Gate bridge, and beyond.  About an hour plus from my house.  So, that is good news, and it doesn't stop there.  The newest ride, I think is a long one.  Maybe 4 hours?  Gerbode Valley to Pelican Inn.  You may remember Pelican Inn from a previous post.  Awesome spot.

Good beer.  Super beautiful area.  Can't wait.  [another note, Matt essentially called me a sissy, until I do something called Alpine mtn, or something...more later....apparently, a long ride, 4 hours, and some hard hard sections...]

Jib Jab - PS Happy Birthday Sis!  [That's mom and Kathy].  We had my family, including Sarah's room mate and boyfriend, mom, Kathy and Mark down to Kabul's in San Carlos.  This is our local family Afgan restaurant.   We regularly get the same waiter, who we love, and who showers us with wisdom, sometimes at awkward lengths.  It's a great place.  Very good kabobs, of every meat, and always get the Kadu (is that how you say it?  - it's this amazing, delicious pumpkin with yogurt and meat sauce.  It's great with or without the meat sauce).  They have a whole veggie section of the menu too.

I guess it has been a while since I posted!!  We have been celebrating my sister's birthday.  Mom's in town.  Sarah's in town, her dear friend, Ann and Michael were in.   We went to one of my sister and Mark's favorite hang outs in San Francisco.  It's great food, super people, very cute place, newly spruced up.  It's called Ideale, at the corner of Columbus and Broadway- basically in the thick of North Beach, San Francisco.  [That's Kathy and Ann in the picture at Ideale.  Ann is Kathy's friend from Cherry Hills, going back to probably elementary school.]

What's next?  I am going to ABQ/ Santa Fe in April, next Friday.  I get to see some cliff dwellings, my sister and brother, and their families.  So, to all who have read to here, thanks!  Come back, I will post pictures.  Thanks for hanging in.  I am hoping to keep this up, even as my work schedule tightens...
That's mom and my sis.