(Published to the Fediverse as:
Fort Funston #hike#fortfunston#sanfrancisco#ggnra Great Fort Funston loop hike, just under three miles in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (San Francisco, California).)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Monday, February 15, 2021.
Las Trampas (the Traps - for elk apparently) is a steep climb up to a gorgeous
ridge followed by a slow wind back to the staging area. We wimped out of adding a detour to Devil's Hole due to the heat and the advice of a fellow hiker.
Rudy and Gill with Mt. Diablo in the background.
Rudy, forced to walk up the hill again just for a photo.
(4.86 miles, total elevation gain 2,920 feet, 2 hours 7 minutes (average 2.29 mph), view in Google Earth)
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Point Reyes - Drakes Estero #hike#pointreyes#crab A 7.7 mile hike along Drakes Estero to Sunset Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore, California.)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
Hill 88 is a favorite walk when the Marin headlands are free from fog. Starting from Fort Cronkhite
the Coastal Trail winds up to Hill 88 at 960ft, past various WWII era coastal defenses. Cross the ridge and descend down Wolf Ridge Trail and
Miwok Trail to complete a 4.5 mile loop.
Rodeo Beach viewed from the Coastal Trail. As you ascend there are views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.
Battery Townsley, one of several coastal defenses passed on the walk.
View of Mount Tamalpais as you begin to descend Wolf Ridge Trail.
(4.56 miles, total elevation gain 1,142 feet, 1 hour 38 minutes (average 2.79 mph), view in Google Earth)
Having done this walk many times I would now recommend doing it counterclockwise. You get a nice flat stretch to warm up, a fairly steady climb to the top and then can enjoy the ocean views on the way down if the fog is cooperating.
This panoramic photograph offers an expansive view from Hill 88, showcasing the undulating terrain of the Marin Headlands with the sprawling cityscape of San Francisco in the hazy distance. The foreground is a tapestry of rolling hills, painted in muted earth tones of greens and browns, interspersed with patches of wild shrubs. The midground reveals the glint of a waterway catching the light, possibly the entrance to the San Francisco Bay, its surface a mirror to the softly veiled sky above. The distant city is shadowy against a palette of diffused sunlight and cloud cover, creating a gentle contrast between nature's ruggedness and the urban sprawl. A vast sky, dappled with tendrils of clouds, stretches endlessly above, adding a sense of infinite possibility to this serene landscape.
The composition of the photograph adheres to a beautifully balanced panoramic style, capturing the sweeping scope of the scene from left to right in a continuous flow. The use of leading lines formed by the ridges of the hills guides the viewer’s gaze naturally across the landscape and toward the distant shore. The asymmetrical placement of the horizon enhances the sense of openness, allowing the sky to occupy a significant portion of the frame and imparting an airy quality. However, one minor drawback is the slightly muted color tones, which, while adding subtlety, might benefit from a bit more vibrancy to bring the natural textures into sharper focus. Despite this, the photograph successfully captures the serene majesty of the landscape, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the tranquil expanse that stretches from the hills to the sea.