Point Reyes Day Hike

When plans for big trips fall through, and plan B also fails, it's time to improvise. I've wanted to see Point Reyes for a while so I made a quick decision and went. I left the house just after 6 am and began hiking at 9 am. I had a minor problem once I grabbed my backpack: my Camelbak had leaked water all over my back seat. Luckily it didn't totally empty, but I did run out of water a couple miles before returning to the truck. 

The weather was much warmer than I anticipated and didn't need the extra sweatshirt or the warm up pants I was wearing under my hiking pants. By the end of the hike I was in a t-shirt. So much for the freeze warning in the bay area. It really warmed up quick and the lack of wind only made it better.

Start: Palomarin Trail Head - Alamere Falls.  That's the only solid plan. The trails I take would be chosen on the fly. I had a map, but would later find that trail names and locations don't match. The map did have the main trails and general layout, so I wouldn't get totally lost.

 Trail snack? Maybe not.

Nice pond. Let's swim.

I think this is Bass Lake. A fellow hiker told me there are a plethora of newts in the lake. (He snorkels here in the summer.) Sweet.

Bass Lake. Even out here idiots feel the need to be "creative." I have no idea what this sign says.

"Dangerous conditions." Don't mind if I do. Don't tempt me with a sigh that has "falls" on it.

At this point I thought I was in a totally different spot, but soon found myself on the map.

Above Alamere Falls are a few smaller falls; this one hidden in the shade of the cliff.

No tripod? Rocks and a precisely folded camera strap work just fine.

Turn around and you see this. I'm pretty glad I took this detour.

 This one must be Alamere Falls. It's the biggest, and you can see where it lands;
ON THE FLIPPIN' BEACH, BRO! 

 In the distance is Wildcat campground, and as long as the tide isn't too high you can hike the whole way on the sand.


 The first fall is above these in the shady spot.

 The hike down was a sketchy, but everyone else managed just fine so I didn't hesitate.

I stopped here for second lunch on my way back, and I counted 40 people. Between here and Wildcat Camp I hardly saw anyone.

Alamere Falls, Point Reyes. (I erased some people from this image.)

 On the beach at Wildcat Camp.

I could have just kept walking.
All I needed was a girl next to me. Finding my zen.

 Old Out Road trail. I took a trail that had a name not on the map and ended up here. Lucky detour. It was this or walking the beach back to Alamere Falls from Wildcat Camp. Lucky me. I saw nobody for a few miles, and it was nice.

An empty beach + sunset = pretty fucking cool

All I needed was a girl next to me. Finding my zen.

About 13 miles in 8 hours isn't bad. I did stop for pictures and take two lunch breaks. The quiet time on the beach at sunset would have lasted longer if I hadn't run out of water.

Start: Palomarin Trail Head

Coast Trail  - Alamere Falls (out and back) - Coast Trail - Wild Camp - Stewart Trail - Ridge Trail - Old Out Road - Coast Trail - Alamere Falls (out and back) - Coast Trail - Palomerin Beach Trail (out and back) - Coast Trail - Finish

Bolinas Lagoon. It was hard to drive and focus on the road when this was happening right next to me. The passenger door makes a good tripod.

 I've never seen the Golden Gate from this perspective. I took the last exit before crossing and ended up here without knowing where I was going. Horseshoe Bay, north side GG Bridge. On the drive out I finally was able to watch the light show on the Bay Bridge. All I needed was a girl next to me. Finding my zen.