ESCAPE to Alamere Falls 2017

A hike in Point Reyes to a magical waterfall right on the beach…

For the 17th year in a row, the ESCAPE Club made its annual venture up the California coast to Point Reyes, and hiked to Alamere Falls. But we’re really reconsidering an 18th trip. Once again, we are encouraged to see beautiful places outside growing in popularity. However, as we are already a large group, it is becoming more logistically difficult to enjoy this hike the way we once did.

Nevertheless, we pressed on with the hike, because after all, it is probably the most magical spot in the Bay Area. (Don’t tell anyone!) It’s a longer hike now–probably closer to eight miles round trip–since we have to park so far from the trailhead, and there aren’t nearly enough bathrooms in the parking lot! It looks like more may be being built, and they are advertising for trail docents, so something is being done about the increased popularity.

We crouched through the brambly short cut near the falls, leapt (or waded) across the stream, and scrambled down the cliff to the falls. Unfortunately, it was the peak of a high tide, so the beach itself was pretty narrow, with the seawater coming all the way up to the falls at times.  We splashed in the falls, played in the sand, and even spotted harbor seals and a few dolphins out in the distance.

The weather was warm enough to get in the falls, but cool enough so we didn’t suffer from heat on the hike back.  There weren’t as many wildflowers as we hoped to see, but the hike and views were beautiful as ever. Everyone made it the whole way, despite some minor discomfort.  We were proud of our accomplishment.  

As has become our custom, we enjoyed tamales back at the cars, with some cold drinks.  We were watched by a pair of gray foxes that have taken up residence in the parking lot, hoping for some scraps!  And we enjoyed a quick, impromptu tug of war before it was time for the drive home.

Yosemite, here we come!

Videoooooooooooooo!!!

ESCAPE to Elkhorn Slough 2017

ESCAPE to Elkhorn Slough

Kayaking among the sea otters and harbor seals…

Some of you may remember that a while back, we were awarded a three-year grant to go kayaking.  After a ton of haggling and wrestling paperwork, we were finally able to make the trip happen in March!  

About 40 of us arrived in Moss Landing (halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey) at Elkhorn Slough on a cool, foggy morning. The kayaking company offers wetsuits and raingear, for any who wish to borrow.  And of course we all wear life jackets.  After a brief training session, we paddled out onto the water.  

Paddling upstream into the slough was challenging, but not impossible.  There was some choppiness near the outlet to the bay, and the current was headed out, so kids (especially the smaller ones) had to work hard.  And by the time we got going, the sun had come out, giving us a great day to be on the water.

We got to see lots of wildlife up close–several sea otters (one with a baby!), lots of harbor seals, and shore birds.  We paddled about a mile into the slough, and then rode the current back to the harbor.  We were grateful for the weather, and the experience.  And none of the kids fell in!

On our way home, we stopped to splash on the beach in Santa Cruz at Natural Bridges.  The sun was bright and warm, and the water calm and cool.  I think there were a thousand people on that little beach.  It was so hard to leave, but we faced 2+ hours of traffic getting home, so we pulled ourselves away.

As the end of the year approaches, we’re preparing for Alamere Falls and camping in Yosemite.  Let us know if you’re coming!

 

 

The video.
Yes, you should watch it. A much better use of time
than scrolling through Facebook or Instagram.

 

ESCAPE to the Snow 2017

ESCAPE to the Snow!

Plenty of white snow, blue skies, and smiling faces

Sorry for the delayed update here.  Our Communications and Community Relations Department is a little behind on things. We need an intern!

February’s trip to the snow was a memorable one.  For the first time in several years, we didn’t have to worry about where to find snow–it was whether or not the snow would actually stop in order for us to get up there!  After a solid week of rain, snow, and mudslides over freeways, we ventured east into the Sierras.  The closest and most convenient place for us to go is in Cisco Grove, so we were glad to be back there again this year.

We filled a 53-seat charter bus with kids from DeJean, teachers, parents and chaperones.  There was a little traffic on the way from the recent weather and freeway closures, but it had mostly cleared by the time we headed home.  We got to spend the day under blue skies, and really enjoyed the time there.  It was so nice out, we didn’t even bother with hot chocolate!  

Plenty of sledding on our trusty plastic discs, as well as the newer inner tubes we invested in last year.  Snowmen, snowball fights, and a tamale feast for lunch.

On the way home, we made our usual stops at In’N’Out in Auburn, and the state capitol in Sacramento.  It was a full and fantastic day, which just seems to be what we’ve come to expect in the ESCAPE Club!

Check out the video below to see more pictures, videos, smiles, and good times.  We’ll be back soon to tell you all about our recent kayaking trip.

Warning:  Do NOT click here if you get envious easily.  We had an amazing time!

ESCAPE to Ano Nuevo 2017

ESCAPE to Ano Nuevo

A trip to see the elephant seals and Pigeon Point Lighthouse

The sky was blue as we left DeJean Saturday morning.  We were grateful for every moment that the inevitable rain delayed its arrival. Just in case, we brought a dozen extra umbrellas as there would be no shelter where we were headed.  About 40 of us made our way south down the coast to Ano Nuevo State Reserve, where every year, the elephant seals return from feeding in Hawaii, Alaska, and all over the Pacific.  

Ano Nuevo is one of the special places that the seals choose to haul out and compete for females, give birth, and mate for next year’s offspring.  We get tickets to take this tour eight weeks in advance, and always feel so fortunate to be this close to the wildlife.  It’s definitely a unique experience.

The hike out to the beach is a little more than a mile, and the weather was cool, but not unbearable.  It felt like a nice day for a good walk. We saw pups nursing with their moms, alpha males threatening the younger males getting too close to their harems, and lots of sleeping, snorting, and sand flipping.  We saw the deserted house/research station out in the distance on Ano Nuevo Island from years past.

Most years, we take time after the hike to walk down to the beach, just south of the Reserve.  But this year, storm winds and king tides made the beach not just wet, but even dangerous.  We also feared that our other planned destination, Pacifica Pier, would be closed due to the storm.  So we wandered up the road a few miles to Pigeon Point Lighthouse.  From there, we could safely look down on the huge waves and watch them crash into the shoreline.  We caught a little of the history of the lighthouse, and saw the old lamp and lenses.  It was a worthy replacement activity for the afternoon.

The gray skies finally relented to raindrops on our way home, but we’d already seen so much, and we counted the day a success.  We’re grateful for so many chaperones who showed up to drive our kids, for those who support us financially so we can get so many tickets, and for students brave enough to get out of the house on a gray, rainy day.

And unlike recent years, we don’t have to wonder if there will be snow in the mountains next month!  Enjoy the photos and the video, and we’ll see you again soon.

Check out the video if you have a few extra minutes!