LogoSan Carlos /Belmont Regional Group

Loma Prieta Chapter

Schedule of Events for September and October, 2009

San Carlos/Belmont Regional Group meets monthly (except July and August) usually on the 3rd Saturday or Sunday. We emphasize hikes rated at 1A (less than 5 miles and less than 1000 feet change in elevation) that are usually on the peninsula. Our evening programs are usually on subjects relevant to our area. Our events are open to all.

Carpool for hikes: We meet at the main entrance of the San Carlos Library, at the corner of Elm and Cherry, San Carlos, unless otherwise stated. You may park in the underground parking or on Chestnut Street. Bring water, day-hike items, and gas money for driver. Drivers and riders should know that the Sierra Club's Liability Insurance does not cover transportation to or from a Sierra Club event. You will be asked to sign and note emergency information on the Sierra Club liability release form. Be sure to call the leader to confirm the meeting time and location.


Pot Luck Meetings: Call the host to make your reservation and for the meeting location. Please bring your own table service and food (main dish, salad, or dessert) to serve about six. We customarily contribute $2 per drink serving at the social time to defray costs. Usually social time starts after 5:30pm, dinner at 6:00, business meeting and program at 7:00 until 9:00. Visitors are always welcome, but please call the host.

December 19, 9:30 am.  We predict rain and muddy trails, so there will be no hike.  If we’re wrong (and we are rarely wrong), team up with a friend and walk some neighborhood route that you haven’t walked before.

December 19, 5:30 pm.  Potluck dinner at the home of Camille King  (RSVP and directions: Camille King, 650-593-9898) for our traditional Christmas and holiday party.  

January 16, 9:30 am.  San Carlos City Hike.   Our urban hike this year will explore the history of downtown San Carlos with Tom Davids..

January 16, 5:30 pm. Potluck dinner at the home of Bonnie McClure  (RSVP and directions: Bonnie, 650-591-5057).  Mountain Lion Territories Mapped by GPS Data.  Dr. Christopher C. Wilmers of the University of California at Santa Cruz will present early results from his research of mountain lion territories in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains.  Dr. Wilmers and his students have placed GPS units on collars of both male and female mountain lions.  The scientists have mapped data from these units to show each mountain lion's territory.    This important research should help verify the need for Bay Area wildlife corridors and large contiguous wildlands for native predators and prey alike. Come learn about this fascinating on-going study of an important large predator in our area.

February 20, 9:30 am. Waterdog Lake hike; leader: Gladwyn  d’Souza  (508-8755).- Small wooded bay area canyons shelter more than birds, skunks, raccoons, and deer. They also are generally passed over for development as cities grow. Developers reluctant to build on steep rocky terrain focus their attention elsewhere, and often agencies and towns purchase the land and preserve it for primitive recreational use. Thus we have canyons of open space in suburban and urban areas, such as Mills Canyon in Burlingame, Big Canyon in San Carlos, Glen Canyon in San Francisco, and Waterdog Lake Park in Belmont.  http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/waterdog.html

February 20, 5:30 pm.   Potluck dinner at the home of Gladwyn d’Souza  (RSVP and directions: Gladwyn d’Souza  508-8755).  Trails/Parks with Dave Holland, SMC Parks and Rec Director. This talk will be an update on the County's Trail Master Plan update and the vision for an Urban Trail System.

Tentative - March 19, Friday - March 21, Sunday.   Point Reyes National Seashore car camping and hike/backpack (?) , leader: Gladwyn  d’Souza  (508-8755).   Point Reyes National Seashore offers year-round backcountry camping along Drakes Bay and amongst the hills and valleys of the Phillip Burton Wilderness. Because of its location near the Metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, the campsites at Point Reyes are in great demand. The National Seashore has about 240 kilometers (150 miles) of hiking trails to explore.  http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/camping.htm  Reservations required, call 650-508-8755 or email godsouza@mac.com .

April 17, 9:30 am.  Make a splash by picking up your trash. We'll carpool over to a Belmont Creek: Meet at Twin Pines, City Hall Area at 9:00 AM From 101 take the Ralston Exit and head west toward El Camino Real. 2. Make a left onto Sixth Avenue, City Hall and Twin Pines Park area located mid block behind Safeway. For more info or do a cleanup near you call Ana Clayton, San Mateo County Cleanup Coordinator, (650) 372-6214 closer to day

April 17, 5:30 pm.  Potluck dinner at the home of Camille King  (RSVP and directions: Camille King, 650-593-9898).   California recently formed a fund raising group called the Bay Restoration Authority. Come find out what it means what qualifies and funding sources and the necessity of this new authority. Presenter, Rosmary Foust.

May 15, 9:30 am. Huddard County Park hike, leader is Jody Bradford (650-571-2158).   Beginning at the ranger station parking lot, this semi-loop 4.5 mile hike edges past picnic areas on the way to Phleger Estate. After winding along West Union Creek, the trail switchbacks uphill through tanoak, redwood, Douglas fir, madrone, and pockets of chaparral.
http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/huddart.html  

May 15, 5:30 pm.  Potluck dinner at the home of Gladwyn d’Souza  (RSVP and directions: Gladwyn d’Souza  508-8755).  Belmont's new Parks and Rec Director will update us on this segment of government which is important to the Sierra Club.  Our presentor is Belmont Parks and Rec Director, Jonathan Gervais.

June 19, 9:30 am.  Pescadero Creek hike, our leader is Cecily Harris (650-593-3281).  A remote hike for San Mateo County the terrain is still characterized by well marked and graded trails.  More information in a later Loma Prietan. For more on Pescadero see 
http://www.tommangan.net/twoheeldrive/index.php/pescadero-creek-county-park/ 

June 19, 5:30 pm.  Potluck dinner.  Location and topic to be determined.

Local Trails.  We have built and we maintain two trails in San Carlos: Big Canyon Trail and Eaton Trail.  Interested in participating?  Please contact Harold Drake at 650-591-0482.

Check our website for late schedule changes: http://sierra.club.home.comcast.net    Or call Bob at 650-592-2166.

Invite your friends to join us for fun, food, and fellowship.

Revised 12/16/2009