TREKS in the City - Spring 2011
TREKS offer an opportunity to connect with and learn more about our city’s precious natural areas and wildlands! Whether you were born on a mountain or in a city, enjoyment of nature is independent of age, income, occupation or culture. Nature energizes, restores and brings light to what’s important to us all.
Check out these blog postings by TREK participants Daphne Powell and Jeff Diehl.
To sign up for a TREK email linda@natureinthecity.org or call 415-564-4107.
Note: Please bring some water with you on the TREK.
Sliding Scale Donation of $15 - $45.
Uncovering the Hidden Treasures at Bayview Hill
with Jake Sigg
Saturday, March 12
1:30 - 4 pm
Bayview Hill is about half the size it was 75 years ago. The rest was dumped into the Bay to make way for Candlestick Stadium. The other half is as remote and wild as you can get in San Francisco. There is even a sizable fenced-in piece of private property that is most nearly like what it was 200 years ago which will provide instructive comparison to the more impacted areas. At this time of year wildflowers are a main attraction, although there is no shortage of other subjects, including the wildlife depending on the plants, and the interesting human history.
Where to Meet:
Meet at the pole gate at the upper (east) end of Key Avenue. The Muni T train will take you there.
Explore & Restore: Get Out & Get Dirty in Golden Gate Park
with Chris Giorni - Director of Tree Frog Treks, Dylan Hayes and Christopher Campbell - RPD Natural Areas Program
Thursday, March 24
4 - 6:30 pm
Gather at the enchanting Tree Frog Treks' Frog Hall to meet the animals, slither with a snake, sip hot tea /coffee, & nibble freshly popped popcorn. Then we will venture off to the Oak Woodlands in search of scrub jays, ravens, brown towhees, rolly pollies & slender salamanders. We will then get down in the dirt to help restore a small corner of this wilderness in the city. We will finish up with a flush of fuchsias in the dell & towering redwoods that compel us to stop, look & listen to the nature in the city.
Rain or shine. Ages 4 & up; pre-K through gray!
Where to Meet:
Meet at Tree Frog Treks’ Frog Hall, 2114 Hayes Street.
The Rare Green Hairstreak Butterfly Sleuthing Adventure!
with Damien Raffa
Sunday, March 27
10 am – 12 pm
Start your adventure any time between 10 am to 12 noon at the brilliantly colored community-created mosaic-tiled steps at 16th Avenue & Moraga in San Francisco’s Sunset District. There you’ll receive your URBIA Adventure booklet that will lead you along the Green Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor. Fun detective work will be rewarded by seeing this rare local butterfly in flight during its short season! With a colorful adventure booklet in hand (and adventure pencil!), you’ll follow clues through a hilltop habitat on Golden Gate Heights.
Bring yourself, friends, or your family (ages 3 and up) and experience a deeper San Francisco “sense of place” with URBIA Adventure League and Nature in the City! (Wear comfortable shoes for climbing steps, bring water, and allow 2 hours to complete). This TREK includes an URBIA Adventure Booklet and a Nature in the City child's T-Shirt!
Where to Meet:
Meet at the colored mosaic-tiled steps at 16th Avenue & Moraga in the Sunset District.
Twin Peaks Bioregion & Eco-Corridor
with Peter Brastow
Saturday, April 2
10 am – 2 pm
Have you ever imagined hiking through the heart of the city for 2 or 3 hours only having to cross 2 major busy streets? Nature in the City is partnering with City agencies and organizations to make that a reality! Join Nature in the City's Founder & Director, Peter Brastow, for this extra special 2011 Spring TREK and community exploration through the Twin Peaks Bioregion & Eco-Corridor!
From the native coast live Oak Woodlands of Golden Gate Park, over Mt. Sutro, Twin Peaks and then down Glen Canyon, we will explore the great wilderness in the city, talking about species and habitats but also issues and controversies. Along the way, we'll visit the HANC native plant nursery, the California native garden on the summit of "Blue Mountain", and walk through half a dozen different City government jurisdictions highlighting the ecological and political fragmentation, but also the glorious opportunity, for the city's natural heritage at the top of the city's watersheds.
Where to Meet:
Meet at Glen Park Bart Station at the Plaza in the front.
This will be a moderately strenuous one-way hike, going over the top of Mt. Sutro on the way to
Twin Peaks and Glen Canyon, with easy access to BART and MUNI lines.
Tune Into Spring on Twin Peaks
with Josiah Clark
Sunday, April 3
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join local Ecologist Josiah Clark to explore one of San Francisco's most prominent yet misunderstood natural landmarks, to focus in on the plant and associated breeding bird communities of Twin Peaks & Mt. Sutro. Seeking and finding dozens of native and introduced organisms, we will consider the specific opportunities and limiting factors of each. Josiah will help the group to interpret and decipher signature natural resources, combining fundamental principles in landscape ecology with an intimate knowledge of the needs and status of San Francisco's unique and disappearing wildlife species.
We will make a special effort to listen to the unique song dialects of San Francisco's last Nutall's White-crowned Sparrows as we look for the reintroduced, endangered Mission Blue butterflies, which will be just hatching out. Also, we'll keep a sharp eye out for signs of breeding birds and migration. Blink and you will miss it. Tune into the ephemeral, vibrant beauty of spring!
Where to Meet:
Meet at the base of UC Medical Center Way at Parnassus Ave.
Medicinal Plants in Glen Canyon
with Allison Budner
Sunday, April 10
10 am - 12 pm
Come out and meet some of your local medicinal plants on a walk through Glen Canyon Park -- one of San Francisco's jewels and well-kept secrets. Western herbalist, Ali Budner, will introduce you to a number of medicinal allies in the plant world, that are growing beneath our feet right here in the city! As we walk beside Islais Creek, the largest remaining creek above ground in San Francisco with public access, you'll learn to identify plantain, yarrow, stinging nettles, horsetail, figwort, cleavers, elder, and many others. We'll discuss medicinal and edible uses of the plants, their histories, and where they like to grow. The trails in Glen Canyon are easy to moderate. Can be muddy after rains. Kids are welcome. Bring layers, a notebook, water and camera if you like.
Where to Meet:
Meet at the entrance to Glen Canyon Park, which is at the intersection of Sussex and Elk. There's a stairway that leads down into the park. Parking can be tricky around there (it's all residential side streets, with hills) so if you're driving include extra time.
Green Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor
with Liam O'Brien
Sunday, April 17
11 am -1 pm
Take a captivating walk with lepidopterist Liam O'Brien as we seek a glimpse of the stunning iridescent green, locally endangered Green Hairstreak butterfly. Walking through some of its last island breeding areas, we will discuss its life-cycle, plant associations, and efforts in the neighborhood to increase its habitat and to create a connected habitat corridor. We will have Liam's expert eye on the lookout for other butterflies and their host and nectar plants as well, and learn how to plant for the Green Hairstreak and other local butterflies in your own neighborhood.
Where to Meet:
Meet at the dead end of Rivera, below Hawk Hill. If you are driving, park near Rivera and 14th.
Green Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor
with Liam O'Brien
Saturday, May 7
11 am -1 pm
Take a captivating walk with lepidopterist Liam O'Brien as we seek a glimpse of the stunning iridescent green, locally endangered Green Hairstreak butterfly. Walking through some of its last island breeding areas, we will discuss its life-cycle, plant associations, and efforts in the neighborhood to increase its habitat and to create a connected habitat corridor. We will have Liam's expert eye on the lookout for other butterflies and their host and nectar plants as well, and learn how to plant for the Green Hairstreak and other local butterflies in your own neighborhood.
Where to Meet:
Meet at the dead end of Rivera, below Hawk Hill. If you are driving, park near Rivera and 14th.
Wild Flower Power in the Dunes of the Presidio
with Lew Stringer
Saturday, May 14
10 am - 12:30 pm
Join local ecologist, Lew Stringer, to explore the lost lands of San Francisco’s once mighty sand dunes. For the past 15 years, Lew has been working to restore and recreate the sand dune ecosystem of the Presidio. We will explore the wildflowers of Lobos Creek Valley and the newly created dunes built atop old Army landfills and a secret Merchant Marine cemetery. You will hear stories of Ansel Adams childhood amongst the Presidio oak trees and tales of mercenaries in pursuit of water and wealth. We will also hike the newly created Mountain Lake trail.
Meeting Location
Lobos Creek Valley Trail Head at Presidio Building 1750 parking lot off Lincoln Blvd. near Baker Beach.
Spring Bird Migration at Mt. Davidson
with Dominik Mosur
Sunday, May 15
8:30 am - 11:00 am
Join experienced local birder Dominik Mosur for a beautiful morning seeking out spring migrants at one of San Francisco's premier birding locations, Mt. Davidson. Birds we are likely to see include Black-headed Grosbeaks, Bullock's Orioles, Western Tanagers, wood warblers, Empidonax flycatchers, a variety of sparrows, and there is always the chance of an unexpected vagrant as well. Mt. Davidson is also host to dozens of species of native plants and insects as well as several species of reptiles. Depending on conditions, and the number of birds present, we may also check nearby Glen Canyon Park. Remember to bring your binoculars and bird guides!
Where to Meet:
Meet at the trailhead behind the #36-Teresita bus stop turnaround, at the end of Myra Way. For those who don't drive the Muni-36 is an option to arrive at the site.
If you are driving, from Teresita Street head uphill on Reposa, at the end of Reposa take a left onto Myra. At the stop sign continue uphill on Myra (slight right) park anywhere along the street after the bus shelter. The trailhead is visible from the street.
Exploring Yerba Buena Island
with Ruth Gravanis
Saturday, May 21
9:15 am - 11:30 am
Join us for a lively, somewhat strenuous walking tour of a little-known treasure, visiting remaining indigenous Bay Area ecosystems right in the middle of San Francisco Bay! We'll discuss the cultural and natural history of the island and its restoration needs while observing vegetation, critters, geologic features, cultural landmarks, and great vistas. This trip is for folks in good physical condition; there are lots of stairs and steep, uphill, unmaintained trails.
Where to Meet:
Meet at 9:15 AM at the Muni 108 bus stop on the west side of Beale Street between Howard and Folsom Streets, a short walk from the Embarcadero BART/Muni Station. The bus will depart promptly at 9:20 and drop us off at the corner of Treasure Island Road and Macalla Road at 9:27. The tour begins with our bus ride and includes expansive bay views on the way over.
If you prefer to drive, parking is available in front of the Administration Building on Treasure Island. Allow ten minutes to walk back over the causeway to Yerba Buena Island. Look for us in the grassy area on the left near Treasure Island Road and Macalla Road. Please join the tour by 9:30 am.
Spring/Fall 2010 TREKS
Tune Into Spring on Twin Peaks
with Josiah Clark
March 28
Explore Yerba Buena Island
with Ruth Gravanis
April 3
Mt Sutro in Bloom
with Craig Dawson
April 10
Walk at a leisurely pace along the dappled trails of Mt Sutro, with founder of the Mt Sutro Stewards, Craig Dawson. We will focus on the abundant native flowers in bloom at this time, as well as learn what to look for on future visits with the changing seasons. Craig will share from his vast knowledge and stories about the rich history, flora, and fauna of this mountain that he has known since childhood, and become its greatest steward today.
URBIA Adventure League in Green Hairstreak Corridor
Family-fun event!
April 10
Twin Peaks Watershed and Botany Walk
with Amber Hasselbring
April 17
Taking a new look at Noe Valley as a watershed, we will explore the natural topography of the land, observing how water has shaped the urban landscape above and below ground. We will trek to find the remnants of Precita Creek, and continue along stairways and walking paths to the summit of Twin Peaks, stopping at viewpoints along the way as we climb to 922' elevation. As we walk through urbanized spaces, we'll also discuss sidewalk and habitat gardening, botany, history, geology, birds & insects, and ecologically sensitive ways to improve San Francisco's ecosystem.
Green Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor
with Liam O'Brien
April 24
Earth Day in the Twin Peaks Bioregion & Eco-Corridor!
with Peter Brastow
April 24
Spring Bird Migration at Mt Davidson
with Dominik Mosur
April 25
Green Hairstreak Butterfly Corridor
with Liam O'Brien
May 2
Get out & Get dirty in GG Park
Family-fun event with Chris Giorni
May 29
Sunset Trek in the Twin Peaks Bioregion & Eco-Corridor!
with Peter Brastow
June 5
McLaren Park Discovery Tour
with Charlotte Hill
November 6
We will walk over hill and dale to explore McLaren Park. Depending on weather we might find some interesting mushrooms, see some owls and wood peckers, and definitely enjoy the beauty of this great park! Bring your own lunch and eat at the beautifully restored Yosemite Marsh. Then we hike back to our meeting point at the corner of Mansell and Visitacion.
Presidio Emerald Corridor, the Tennessee Hollow Watershed, Crissy Field to Inspiration Point
with Lew Stringer
November 13
Ecological Restoration Specialist, Lew Stringer, will lead you on an inspiring hike tracing the Presidio's Ecology Trail, including stops at the rich serpentine grasslands, habitat for the federally listed Presidio Clarkia, and at El Polin Spring, legendary fertility-giving waters. Your adventure will continue "downstream" through the watershed to Thompson Reach, a rich riparian restoration project, next to the Main Post, and then through the site of the upcoming Quartermaster Reach restoration, and finally to Crissy Field marsh, wetland and dunes.
Frogs in the Fog
with Chris Giorni
November 13
Come meet, greet, hold and feed the Frogs at Frog Hall and add a few lizards, snakes and turtles too for good measure. After making acquaintance with poison dart frogs, golden bell frogs, native tree frogs and toads, dragons, geckos and king snakes we will snack on a slice of Panhandle pizza to fuel our feet for a wild walk in the park. Armed with dip nets and binoculars (provided) we will hop on over to Golden Gate park's prehistoric pond hidden in the thick of tree ferns and bamboo forests in search of herons, hawks, turtles and frogs. Then, we can try to sip a drink from a Redwood frond laden with fog as the water drips down before it hits the ground in the Aids Memorial grove. We will ascend the creek channel through bay laurel and madrone to find hand quarried, bizarre and ancient monastery stone table tops offering apples, eggs and fresh seeds to all animals passing by. So, come on let's go on an adventure in search of a frog in a bog in the fog.
The Watersheds of Laguna Honda
with Joel Pomerantz
November 14
Thinkwalks water guy, Joel Pomerantz, will take us on a one mile trek (one way) to explore the little-mentioned watershed of 7th Avenue. Until sewers took over the task, the dunes of Golden Gate Park absorbed the runoff from the valleys west of Twin Peaks, but not before it pooled in one of SF's original lakes, Laguna Honda. Please join us, along with your knowledge and spark, at the front entrance of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. The walk will end near Laguna Honda Hospital.
Twin Peaks, Preparing for Winter
with Josiah Clark
November 14
As the first breaths of winter pass over mountains and lands to the north, songbirds retreat south for winter. The wild and densely wooded slopes of Mt. Sutro are a winter refuge to thousands of birds including Varied Thrushes, Red-breasted Sapsuckers and Cedar Waxwings. In late fall birds are active and work hard to put on fat for leaner times ahead. During this TREK we will hope to become familiar with some of the common and not so common sights and sounds of Mt. Sutro's native avifauna. And with rarities surely hidden among the flocks, we will keep an eye out for those too, just in case...
As we walk the forest Josiah will interpret the complex ecology and history entangled among the rioting layers of vegetation- native and non-native, contributors and "dead-weight", beneficial and invasive. During our quest for feathered species we will explore some little known trails and hidden nooks of the mountain and take time to explore other natural wonders we encounter along the way.
Hidden Treasures at Bayview Hill
with Jake Sigg
November 20
Exploring Yerba Buena Island
with Ruth Gravanis
November 21
