The Tau Beta Pi Association California Alpha Chapter
Chapter Project Report Fall 2003
Hiking At Point Reyes
November 1, 2003

PEOPLE TIME BENEFIT TO TBP
Total number to plan & arrange: 1 Average hours per person for activity: 10 Social   X
Number of Members: 1 Average hours per person to plan: 1 Service  _
Number of Candidates: 0     Fundraiser  _
Total number participating: 7 MONEY Candidate Requirement  _
Number of Members: 5 Total Expenses: $10.00 Image  _
Number of Candidates: 2 Total Income: $0.00 Tradition  _
The opportunity to see an area of the coast while getting to know one another better.

Project Description

A day hike at Point Reyes National Seashore. Everyone brought their own lunch, which we ate while overlooking the ocean.

Event Preparation

Kathy Wong prepared the event. No contacts or reservations were necessary; I simply went to the Park's website to get driving directions. The current website for driving directions is: http://www.nps.gov/pore/visit_direct.htm RSVPs were requested so as to obtain an estimate for the number of cars necessary. A $2 toll was required in the Berkeley to Point Reyes direction. The cars met up at the Visitor Center, where maps were obtained. After deciding on a hiking path, we drove to the starting point and set off. The hike was approximately 14 miles long (total). Directions to Site: Directions from the East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area) Follow Interstate 580 west over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Shortly after the bridge, take the Sir Francis Drake exit and follow Sir Francis Drake for approximately 21 miles until it dead ends into Highway 1 in Olema. Take a right turn on Highway 1 and proceed about 100 yards. Take the first left turn at Bear Valley Road. In less than 1/2 mile there will be a big red barn and a sign for seashore information. Turn left past the red barn and proceed to the Bear Valley Visitor Center, the main park contact station.

Problems Encountered

It was slightly tricky to find the red barn and Bear Valley Road. Bear Valley Road comes up really quickly--so watch out. If you get out of town, turn around and go back; you went too far. Some of the hikes out of the visitor center are more picturesque than the one ultimately chosen. The one chosen did have a nice view of the ocean (muddy hollow road and areas near that), however it had many unmarked trails and not as much vegetation. At one point we definitely got lost. While the start time was early, it was necessary to assure a full day hike since it takes approximately 1 hour to get there. Traffic wasn't bad in either direction.

Improvements Suggested

Schedule the hike for a day that doesn't follow Halloween. Some people cancelled late because they couldn't get out of bed. Consider a hike leaving from the Bear Valley Visitor Center. In the past, I've really liked Bear Valley Trail.

Enjoyment

Yes--most people had never been to Point Reyes before and really enjoyed hiking by the ocean. We saw deer, elk and lots of other wildlife.

Appendix

http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/pore/ppMaps/parkmap%2Epdf That's a link to the park map.

Members participating: Sunil Tellis, Kathy Wong, Tracy Ballinger, Peter Masatani, Andy Pascall

Candidates participating: Serouj Oyrishian, Anjuli Appapillai

This report was submitted by Katherine Wong (Activities) at klwong@uclink.berkeley.edu on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at 14:40:06 (PST)