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Tuesday, November 22, 2011 Very high tides accompany the holiday weekend: on Thursday, November 24, the morning high will be 7.0 feet at 9:22 a.m. and again on Friday, November 25 at 10:07 a.m. If we have heavy rain, this height may bring up water along Highway 1 in Olema, so drive carefully as you go over the hill and through the woods! Rain may bring up the first coho salmon and steelhead trout out of Tomales Bay up Papermill Creek for the winter run! The Leo Cronin viewing area on Sir Francis Drake near downtown Lagunitas reopened for potential viewing for the winter. There is an abundance of mushrooms in the pastures and pine trees. Fourteen species were noted in just a short walk along the Woodpecker Trail: big slabs of rust colored Beefsteak Polypores; slimy Witches Butter! Mark your calendars for November 30. Everyone is invited to the park open house at Bear Valley Visitor Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Stop by for some holiday cheer and to visit with park staff. On Thanksgiving Day, the Bear Valley and the Lighthouse Visitor Centers will be open until 2:00 p.m.; the Ken Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach will be closed. Roads and trails will remain open after the 2:00 p.m. visitor center closures. Regular hours are scheduled over the holiday weekends. Saturday, November 12, 2011 More sparklers in the sky for late night folks--the Leonid meteors peak on Friday, November 20 around midnight. They are known for being speedy without long tails! The air is filled with Ladybird beetles (or Ladybugs) flying around as winter arrives! They mass to share warmth and hibernate together and will disperse in spring. They also like to spend coastal winters tucked into oak leaf litter. Acacia trees--also known as wattle trees in their native Australia--are a tropical species and have been removed from Millerton Point near the parking lot as a part of habitat restoration efforts. Coast Trail, where the creek rose up and flooded the north end, is now providing habitat for frog species! Repair efforts are under consideration but further study of the new residents will delay repairs! As winter storms begin, here's the annual reminder about downed tree reports. Please provide: a good description of where the tree is on the trail; the type of tree (bay, fir, etc.); the diameter (how big around so we know what kind of saw to use); and whether a hiker or horse can get under it or around it. Reports can be brought into the visitor centers or email us a report. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015