It’s that time of year. To reflect, to appreciate the trails hiked, old friends, and new connections. I started the Peninsula Hiking Club (PHC) in June 2021, not at the height of the pandemic, but certainly not too far away. We (to be more precise, two of us), hiked Montara Mountain, a 7-mile out and back starting and ending at Gray Whale Cove Trail Parking Lot, in Pacifica, about 15 miles south of San Francisco. Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve followed in July, with a stronger turnout. And, since then, month in and month out, with minor exception we hike the myriad trails of the San Francisco Bay Area. The hikes typically range from 4-15 miles, from relatively flat to calves-on-fire steep. I describe each hike in advance and if a given hike is not for you, simply wait for next month.
Four years in, the itinerary is pretty much set. Yes, we may add a hike or two to the rotation, but the core is as shown below. In case you’re wondering, I am planning to add Mount Diablo, a classic, to the rotation next year. We last hiked Diablo in 2022, and we are long overdue for a visit.
To those who joined me this year on a PHC hike, thank you. To those whose schedules didn’t quite line up with any of the hikes, I hope to see you next year, perhaps in January, when we tackle Mission Peak.
January: Mission Peak (Fremont)
February: Fitzgerald Preserve (Moss Beach)
March: Marietta Falls, Ohlone Wilderness (Livermore)
April: no hike
May: Dipsea Trail (Marin)
June: San Francisco Crosstown Trail
July: Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Portola Valley)
Marin Coastal Trail (Muir Beach to Rodeo Beach)
September: Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve (Redwood City); Bavarian Alps (bonus)
October: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
November: San Pedro County Park and Montara Mountain (Pacifica)
December: Lands End and Presidio (San Francisco)
The Peninsula Hiking Club 