2/17/08 - Half Moon Bay

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This Sunday, I took the Amtrak from Davis to Berkeley to meet my brother, Matt. The train ride itself is a fun adventure. The Capitol Corridor (www.capitolcorridor.org) trains run from Auburn, though Sacramento and Davis, then south to San Jose. Ticket price varies, depending on destination, but the round trip from Davis to Berkeley trip was $40. It takes you through fields and marshlands, then over the train bridge (beneath the Benecia Bridge) , then along the coast through Martinez. It becomes more urban as it nears Richmond. You can also get off at Richmond and board BART to San Francisco.

After arriving in Berkeley, my brother took me to an awesome hamburger place called Barney's (www.barneyshamburgers.com). We then hopped on the freeway and headed for Half Moon Bay.

Being that it was a 3-day weekend, the roads were crowded. We took Highway 92, though later regretted it after hitting major traffic. The beaches were just as crowded. We almost settled for one area, then flipped a U-turn. We drove a little further south down Highway 1 and pulled off at a gravel pull out (Lat/Long: 37.352608,-122.399068) to stretch our legs. We walked up to the overlook to take a few pics when we discovered a trail. We decided to hike down it to see if it lead to the beach, as you couldn't tell from the road. After a 5 minute walk, we found ourselves looking down on a nearly empty beach, with less than 15 people in 4 groups.

However, to get down to the beach, we had to descend a rather steep incline with the aid of a knotted rope that had seen better days. When we were kids, my brother always used to say "The true adventurer spirit is within us all" right before we did something exceedingly stupid and/or dangerous. Today was no different. So we started down the rope and, luckily, survived without injury.

While on the beach, I was able to talk my brother out of writing "Obama '08" in the sand (I love Obama, but nature should be an apolitical zone), so he instead opted for a large 35 foot diameter peace sign. We hiked the south until the beach dead-ended on some rocks, watched some fisherman and enjoyed the views.

Climbing up was more tiring than coming down, but less of an adventure. We drove back along Highway 1 (which had zero traffic compared to Highway 92). We got to see where they are installing a tunnel to bypass Devil's Slide, an area of Highway 1 which is known for rock slides and road closures. I'm looking forward to a future episode of Modern Marvels on this one.

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Buy a GPS system: You haven't a prayer of finding this place unless you own a GPS system. It's not marked by any signs nor does it look like a trailhead.
  
• Bring gloves: Gloves would've been nice during this climb down, as my hands are still a little raw from the weathered rope. A climbing harness, rope and belaying device would be even better, but probably overkill (unless you're Mike M. or Scott A).
  
• Flip flops and skirts are discouraged: A group of 20-somethings somehow made it down to the beach in flip flops (and one woman had a skirt on), but we thought they were insane.
  
• Do not rappel down with your 4-year-old: Not to take away from our manliness, but a couple did descend the cliff with their 4 year old son (despite our warnings). We stuck around long enough to make sure we didn't have to call an ambulance and Child Protective Services.

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

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Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (33 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Parking Area (37.352608,-122.399068 - near 19203 Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay, CA)

Capitol Corridor Amtrak Web Site

Capitol Corridor Amtrak Route

Amtrak Official Web Site

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

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2/10/08 - Sandhill Cranes

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This Sunday, my Dad and I met in Lodi, CA to view and photograph Sandhill Cranes, as part of a CA Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG) tour.

Sandhill Cranes are one of the oldest species of birds in the fossil record, dating back 2.5 million years ago). They weigh about 11 lbs and are 4 feet in length (with a wingspan of 7 ft!). The groups we were viewing spend the fall and winters outside of Lodi, then fly north into Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Canada.

We signed up for the tour via the DFG web site (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regions/3/cranetour/). The tour is lead by volunteer docents who are avid birders and full of great information. Unfortunately, the tours are currently (2/11/08) booked through the end of the season.

The tour consisted of a short 5 minute drive and no walking. We met at 4:00 PM at the rendezvous assigned by DFG and listened to a brief talk about the cranes. Then we went to one of their viewing areas, depending on where our Tour Guides thought we would have the best chance of seeing cranes.

And see them we did! The sky was filled with thousands of birds (not only cranes, but various species of geese and ducks too). While we were not able to get close to any birds on the ground, we had hundreds fly overhead and land in the fields of the Isenberg Crane Preserve (about 50-100 yards from us).

One of the most unique things about the Sandhill Cranes are their vocalizations. They have a bizarre call that's nearly impossible to describe. It's somewhere between a crow's call, a frog's croak and a lion cub's growl. And when there are thousands of them in all directions, it's pretty amazing.

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Visit during the Late Fall/Early Winter: The number of cranes decreases significantly as spring approaches. Some birds have already begun to move North, in fact.
• Book your tour early: Tours are already booked for the rest of the year, so make your reservations 1-2 months in advance.
• Bring high power binoculars, spotting scope or a 100-300 mm lens: You will not get close to any birds, so some sort of optical assistance is a huge plus.
• Plan to stay until dark: They frown on people leaving early, as it spooks the birds. Plan to stay until it's totally dark.
• Bring mosquito repellant: Sandhill Cranes sleep overnight in flooded fields, so expect swarms of large-type mosquitoes. If you don't want to get eaten alive, bring the bug spray.
• No Dogs Allowed: Definitely best to leave your dogs at home, as they tend to spook already nervous birds.
• Arrive a little early: The location where you meet the tour can be a little hard to find, particularly if you and your father decide to meet at a restaurant in Lodi (without realizing that aforementioned restaurant is 15-20 miles away from the tour location).
• Plan to eat at Habanero Hots afterwards: I found a neat local restaurant in Lodi called Habanero Hots. It looks "dive-ish" from the outside, but the inside is very warm and family-friendly. Food was excellent, authentic and came in large quantities, plus the service was great. See www.habanerohots.com for more info.
  

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

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Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (63 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Viewing Location (W Woodbridge Rd @38.155225, -121.472077)

Dept. of Fish and Game Sandhill Crane Tours and Registration

San Francisco Chronicle Article (September 18, 2005)

Bird Identification Web Site (www.whatbird.com)

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1/12/08 - Tomales Pt./Pt. Reyes

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On Saturday, my buddy Mike R. and I drove to Pt. Reyes National Seashore for a hike. I've known Mike since 7th grade and adventures are nothing new to us. Previous adventures include:

• 2007 - "It's called 'The Blue Ridge Trail'. How steep can it be?" Berryessa trip.
• 1999 - The "2000 Mile, 4-Day Spring Break Road Trip" thru CA, NV, UT, and AZ.
  
• 1988 - The "It's a short hike, so why bring extra water?" Mammoth Lakes trip.
  and, of course,
  
• 1986 - The infamous "Since I've got a rope, why don't you guys lower me down into this abandoned well" Mt. Diablo trip.
  

Given our history, I was pleasantly surprised that Mike's wife allowed him go with me on yet another adventure (particularly since she's expecting baby #3 next month). I did agree beforehand not to ask Mike to lower me into any abandon wells we might find.

We decided to leave Davis at the insanely early hour of 6:00 AM on Saturday (after playing poker with friends until midnight the prior evening). It was raining when Mike arrived to pick me up, which did not bode well. However, the rain soon stopped and turned into cloud cover. After a 2 hour drive from Davis, we arrived at Point Pierce Ranch in Pt. Reyes National Seashore, which is the trailhead for the Tomales Pt. Trail.

Point Reyes National Seashore is a beautiful park and is known for a number of things, including the Point Reyes lighthouse, elephant seals and incredible beaches. We were there to hike the Tomales Pt. Trail and view/photograph the Tule Elk herd. These animals were almost wiped out entirely 100 years ago and only around 1000 survive in California today.

The trail runs along the ridge of the Pt. Reyes Peninsula, which extends north towards Bodega Bay. Tomales Bay was created by the San Andreas fault, with the peninsula on the Pacific plate and the other side of Tomales Bay being on the North American plate. The hike is moderately strenuous and is about 10 miles round trip if you go all the way to the point, which isn't a requirement. It's fairly hilly country and towards the point, the trail gets sandy. The trail does not, however, get you anywhere remotely near the water, tide pools or beaches.

We lucked out on the weather. It was chilly when we stared, but the sun broke through the clouds around 10:00 AM and cleared entirely by midday. The ocean was also very cooperative, providing some HUGE waves, which were a blast to photograph. You could hear them crash loudly as we hiked along.

As you'll see from the photos, you're able to get fairly close to the tule elk that roam the peninsula. Granted, I'm shooting with a 100-300 telephoto lens, so "close" is relative. The best part about photographing these wild animals was having the backdrop of Tomales Bay and the Pacific ocean. It was hard to take a bad shot and the only difficult part was avoiding "camera shake" using only a monopod (my walking stick converts to a monopod). I have a lightweight tripod, but the term "lightweight" is also relative.

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Dress in layers: I've been here many times and it can be socked in with fog, very windy, sunny and warm and everything in between (all in the same day).
• Visit during the Fall/Winter: Dense fog is more common here in the late spring and summer, so winter is a great time to go.
  
• Don't feel the need to go all the way to the point: The view from the point is quite nice, but not so amazing that you must see it. This hike is about the journey, not the destination. Unless you're like Mike and I, in which case you must go to the point or you are girly men.
  
• Be cautious, but not fearful: Signs warn that male elk can be dangerous during rutting season. However, if they're in the middle of the trail, just approach them slowly and confidently and they will get out of your way. They're very cow-like.
  
• Arrive early: We arrive around 8:00 AM and were one of two cars in the two parking lots.
  
• Make a choice - Beach or Trail: The trail described herein does not go to the beach at any point. If you want a beach hike, choose one of the other trails in the park. And don't plan to do it afterwards. You'll be too tired, unless you're 25ish and in killer shape.
• No Dogs Allowed: Sorry, but dogs aren't allowed on this trail, as they spook the elk. Check the Pt. Reyes web site to see if/where dogs are allowed elsewhere in the park.
  

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

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Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (69 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Tomales Point Trail Map (PDF)

Pt. Reyes National Seashore Web Site

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1/1/08 - Cache Creek Hike

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Happy New Year, everyone! Below is a trip summary and pics of my New Year's Day hike in the Cache Creek Natural Area north of Rumsey, CA. Feel free to skip the Trip Summary and scroll to the bottom if you just want to see the pics.

Trip Summary

I decided to spend the first day of 2008 hiking, as one of my resolutions is to spend more time in the outdoors (particularly after I'm gainfully employed once again). I'd originally planned to hike a trail near the junction of Routes 16 and 20 (north of Rumsey, CA). I'd planned it out using a topographical mapping program. Unfortunately, when I got to the "trailhead", there was a locked gate with a no trespassing sign on it. The problem with maps and mapping programs they're made using aerial/satellite photos and don't differentiate between private and public lands.

I drove a few miles south and ended up at the Cache Creek Natural Area, a small park on BLM land near Cache Creek. After talking to a rather gruff BLM ranger (seemed more cop than ranger), he said my best bet for hiking was to cross Cache Creek and go overland. I was hoping to photograph the resident elk herd, which numbers 150 to 200.

After lucking across an extremely shallow section of Cache Creek, I crossed and went overland across the valley floor. The grass had been heavily grazed, so I knew the elk herd was there somewhere. I hiked to the top of a rather steep hill which gave me a great view of the valley, but still couldn't find the herd. They must've been hiding somewhere out of range. I ended up hiking a little further, then headed back down the hill.

I only saw one other person hiking all day and that was some guy stretching out a long, red sheet on the other side of the valley. Couldn't figure out what it was, even through my long lens, but I took a few shots. After zooming in on the computer at home, it appears to be some sort of paraglider. If I'd known that, I'd have stuck around long enough to watch him get airborne.

On my way back, I stumbled across a strange, hollowed-out area of dense undergrowth underneath some dead trees. It almost looked like something's shelter or "den". Being a typical guy, I had to go inside and take photos. Then I realized that being either mauled by a mountain lion or trampled by a panicked elk would not start off 2008 well, so I left.

Overall, a good trip. I'd have liked to have seen some elk, but I got some exercise, fresh air and solitude, which were my primary goals. After finding the BLM web site for this area, there are a number of trails I might take in the future.

Let me know if you have any questions! Take care and happy 2008!

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Individual Photos (26 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Cache Creek Natural Area BLM Web Site

11/17/07 - Green Gulch Farm Zen Center

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Below is a trip summary and pics (end of email) of Saturday's day trip to the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center near Muir Beach, CA. Feel free to skip the narrative stuff and scroll to the bottom if you just want to see the pics.

Trip Summary

I've wanted to check this place out for about a year now, after finding it on the web. I had originally planned to get a hotel in Inverness and spend the weekend here and hiking Pt. Reyes. However, the threat of rain and the dense fog made me decide to make it a day trip. I'm glad I did, as hiking Pt. Reyes would have been about as scenic as hiking in cloud bank (and many of the beaches were closed due to the oil spill).

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center is located near Mur Beach, CA (along Highway 1, north of the Golden Gate). It's a small Zen temple and organic farm. The web site (http://www.sfzc.org/ggf/) describes it as "a Buddhist practice center in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition offering training in Zen meditation and ordinary work. It is one of three centers that make up San Francisco Zen Center, which was founded by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi."

It is made up living quarters, a guest house for visitors, a zendo (or meditation house), a conference center, and an extensive organic farm. Everyone is welcome to wander around the facility. One can stay overnight in the Guest House. The nice practitioner at the office likened it to a Buddhist Bed and Breakfast (just with very small, simple rooms). They do have a public program every Sunday morning, which includes meditation instruction, meditation, a lecture, tea and a vegetarian lunch ($8 donation requested). I'm definitely planning to go back in the near future to stay overnight and attend the Sunday program.

Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy the photos below!

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Photo Slideshow (recommended): http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelmacintosh/GreenGulch111707/photo#s5134291315259275938

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Photo Album (47 photos): http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelmacintosh/GreenGulch111707

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Route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr=Davis,+CA&daddr=1601+Shoreline+Highway,+Muir+Beach,+CA&sll=37.979928,-122.394562&sspn=0.43515,0.920105&ie=UTF8&z=9&om=1

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center Web Site: http://www.sfzc.org/ggf/

9/7/07 - Crater Lake/Oregon Coast Trip

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Below is a trip summary and pics (end of email) to my recent camping trip up to Crater Lake, OR and along the Oregon Coast. Feel free to skip the narrative stuff and scroll to the bottom if you just want to see the pics. I won't be hurt, honest!

Trip Summary

I'd originally planned to head to Montana/Wyoming and visit Glacier NP and/or Yellowstone NP. However, after looking at the distances on Google maps, I decided it was a bit further than I wanted to travel. So I decide to go to Crater Lake National Park instead.

I left Friday (9/7) and arrived at Crater Lake that evening. I got a camp site at Mazuma Campground and stayed for tow nights. Crater Lake is absolutely beautiful. It was formed when a volcano (Mt. Mazuma) erupted 7,700 years ago, emptying it's huge magma chamber and causing the top of the mountain to collapse in on itself. This created the 1,943 ft deep lake we see today. It is made up entirely of rain and snow run-off, which sounds shocking until you hear that the average snowfall is 44 ft. The extreme blue color of the lake (no, I did not Photoshop these pics!) is caused by it's depth, as light is absorbed color by color as it pass through clear water and the last color absorbed are the blues. The sky is blue for the same reason.

On Saturday, I drove the entire road around the lake. It takes 2-3 hours, more if you stop and hike like I did. The views from each area is different, as you'll see in the photos. You need at least one full day to appreciate the park fully. One thing I didn't get to do was take the boat tour. This requires getting tickets the day of and a long, steep hike down into the crater. It looks neat, but it's a half day excursion.

On Sunday, I headed west to the coast via the Umpqua/Rogue Scenic Highway (138). Beautiful, but very curvy and tiring to drive. Would've loved to fish, but didn't have room for fishing gear in the ol' Accord. I got to the coast around 6:00 and camped at Bullards Beach State Park that night (9/9). I didn't get to take a photo of the camp site, but we were packed in like sardines. One plus was that it encouraged me to meet my neighbors (one of whom, Chuck, I got to ask about his jet boat and crab pots).

On Monday, I headed down the coast on 101 to Crescent City. By the time I got there, I was tired, dirty and didn't feel like setting up the tent a 3rd time (only to have it get soaked by the fog, which makes packing up difficult). So I wimped out and got a hotel room. After a shower and a meal of Cajun ling cod at the local seafood place, I watched the 49er's on Monday Night Football and sleep in a comfy bed. It was nice.

On Tuesday, I headed home. According to Matt-Matt (similar to a Tom-Tom, only less expensive and consists of me on the phone with my brother sitting at his computer on Google Maps), the drive home was 6.5 hours. With a half hour lunch and occasional stops for pics, I was home in 9 hours. I did spend 45 minutes at Sundial Bridge in Redding. It's a 700 ft. pedestrian bridge that is supported by cables stemming from one massive column. It's a beautiful work of architectural art and well worth the short stop.

All in all a great trip that I'd recommend to everyone. Let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, just enjoy the photos below!

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Photo Album (there are 180!): http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelmacintosh/OregonRoadTripSept2007

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Photo Slideshow: http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelmacintosh/OregonRoadTripSept2007/photo#s5109548227766919090

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Route: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Davis,+CA&daddr=Crater+Lake,+OR+to:43.012681,-122.379456+to:OR-138+%4043.297200,+-122.636660+to:OR-42+%4042.962590,+-123.840660+to:coos+bay,+OR+to:Crescent+City,+CA+to:Davis,+CA&mrcr=1,2&mrsp=2&sz=9&mra=dpe&sll=43.074907,-121.920776&sspn=0.880738,1.867676&ie=UTF8&ll=40.688969,-122.838135&spn=7.312869,14.941406&z=6&om=1

Lassen Volcanic National Park

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Here is another trip with some of my best photos from the Pre-Blog days:

In late June of 2005, my father and I camped for 4 days in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is a remarkably beautiful park and rich with history of one of only two volcanoes to have erupted in recent geologic times in the continental US. It also has all the facilities of a well-funded National Park (good trails, rangers, visitors centers, campgrounds, etc) without the usual throngs of visitors you contend with at most National Parks, like Yosemite.

Late June is probably one of the best times to go, since the park has been snowbound for the entire winter and it's not very crowded. Again, crowded is a relative term. By then, the snow has cleared out of the campground area, but you can still experience it at the upper elevations. You can climb to the peak of Lassen, though it's an all-day affair. It's do-able by non-mountaineers (no ice axes required).

Fishing was fairly good at Manzanita Lake and various small streams throughout the park. My dad and I did some bushwhacking to get back to some of the streams and were rewarded with a few small, but beautiful fish.

Sorry for the abbreviated trip report, but this was almost three years ago and my memory isn't as good as it used to be. I definitely recommend Lassen for anyone who has never been. It's truly one of the forgotten jewels of our National Park system.

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Best Time To Visit: I recommend late June, as that's when we went. Crowds are relatively light and it's a good mix of snow at the higher levels and no snow in the campground. However, in a really good snow year, all parts of the park may not be open by then (so there is some risk).
  


• Camping: We stayed in the Manzanita Lake campgrounds, which were some of the nicest we've ever stayed in. Highly recommend that as a good launch point for all park activities.
  


• Bears: There are bears in the parks, though not as many as in Yosemite and other parks. Precautions are still recommended (and bear lockers are provided).
  


• Fishing: Special regulations apply to Manzanita Lake: within 150 of the Manzanita Creek inlet is closed to fishing, the rest of the lake is catch and release only; artificial lures and single, barbless hooks must be used. Manzanita Creek is closed above Manzanita Lake year-round.
  

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

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Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (33 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Lassen Volcanic National Park Web Site

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McCloud River Preserve

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These photos were taken at the Nature Conservancy preserve along the McCloud River, north of Redding, CA (near the town of McCloud). My dad and I visited her in 2004 as part of a camping trip. It was the first time I chose to photograph instead of fish, as I felt I could either do both poorly or do one well. It was, as it turned out, a great decision. These photos are some of the finest I've ever taken.

The day started out beautiful. We drove through winding dirt roads to arrive at the McCloud River Preserve parking area. From there, we followed the foot trail one-third mile to the preserve headquarters. This is where you sign in and start your hike back along the McCloud.

The wildlife and scenery were amazing, as you can see from the photos. The photos have not be retouched in Photoshop in any way. I think this is an example of what's possible when an organization like the Nature Conservancy limits the amount of human impact.

I continued to snap photos throughout the day and into early afternoon. When we arrived at the park boundary, 3 miles from the headquarters, I stopped to do some reading while my dad fished. about an hour later, I noticed the sky getting darker and the clouds more numerous. Then we heard the ominous sound of thunder in the distance. We decided it was probably time to get back to the vehicle, as the only rain gear we had were emergency ponchos we carry. We were only a few minutes into our return hike when the sky opened up. Thankfully, the cheap emergency poncho's kept us relatively dry. We eventually had to seek shelter in a grove of trees when the heavy rain turned to pea shaped hail. I'd say the rain lasted at least 45 minute before it finally stopped, leaving us hiking through a dripping, misty forest.

Ironically, the most beautiful scene we witnessed that day was not captured in a photograph. As we hiked through the misty trail along the river, my dad turned to say something to me and suddenly pointed skyward. A lone bald eagle flew slowly and majestically above us, following the McCloud, as he searched for dinner. My camera, of course, was stowed safely in my backpack, underneath the poncho, so there was no chance of capturing it on film. But part of me was glad to have been able to enjoy that moment without worrying about shutter speeds or f stops.

The Nature Conservancy (a nonprofit group whose purpose is to preserve and protect various ecosystems in their native form) operates this conservancy. It is open to the public for day use and up to 10 catch-and-release fishermen per day (see web site below for reservations).

(For more information and directions to the preserve, click on the link below:
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/california/preserves/art9786.html

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Make reservation if you plan to fish: If you're not a fisherman, no reservation is required. If you plan to fish, reservations can be made through the Conservancy's San Francisco office: 201 Mission Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105; phone (415) 777-0487.


• Haul a log or two: At the parking area, there is a pile of firewood. Be kind and haul a few piece back to the headquarters 1/3 mile down the trail. Everything must be packed in, so they really appreciate it.
  


• Bring Rain Gear: Given my experience on this trip, I highly recommend packing a small, emergency poncho on this or any trip in the sierras. I carried mine for years before ever needing it, but it saved me from being soaked to the bone this time.
  


• Cars Not Recommended: The roads going back to the preserve are muddy and I probably wouldn't risk it in a car. Four wheel drive isn't a must, but sure wouldn't hurt.
  


• Be Wary of Mountain Lions: While we didn't see any, the visitor book mentioned numerous sitings. This is a very wild areas, so definitely a good idea to be aware of your surroundings.
  

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

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Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (33 photos)

Driving Directions (see McCloud Preserve site for more precise directions)

McCloud Preserve Web Site

Nature Conservancy Web Site

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