Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach 2004

Tennessee Valley. This is the trailhead for hikes to Tennessee Beach, Muir Beach, and other destinations in the Golden Gate Recreation Area. It is located in Marin County, near Sausalito, be ...

2009-02-21T18:51:07Z

Frank Farmer
Tennessee Valley. This is the trailhead for hikes to Tennessee Beach, Muir Beach, and other destinations in the Golden Gate Recreation Area. It is located in Marin County, near Sausalito, be ...

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2009-06-05T04:24:08Z

Frank Farmer
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2009-06-05T04:40:01Z

Frank Farmer
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2009-06-05T04:32:25Z

Frank Farmer
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Our group, well along on another of Rich's (Unofficial) County Hikes. From left: Larry, Brian, Rich, Chris, Chip, Kelly, Bonnie F, Mike, Bonnie H, Arlene, and Frank

2009-02-21T18:58:54Z

Frank Farmer
Our group, well along on another of Rich's (Unofficial) County Hikes. From left: Larry, Brian, Rich, Chris, Chip, Kelly, Bonnie F, Mike, Bonnie H, Arlene, and Frank

Looking back to the Tennessee Valley Trailhead

2009-02-21T18:54:11Z

Frank Farmer
Looking back to the Tennessee Valley Trailhead

Hiking up the ridge on the Fox Trail. The overlying fog and cool breezes felt good! I did the hike with just a short sleeved shirt.

2009-06-05T04:28:00Z

Frank Farmer
Hiking up the ridge on the Fox Trail. The overlying fog and cool breezes felt good! I did the hike with just a short sleeved shirt.

Tennessee Valley

2009-02-21T18:56:35Z

Frank Farmer
Tennessee Valley

Fox Ridge, Wolf Ridge

2009-06-05T04:31:29Z

Frank Farmer
Fox Ridge, Wolf Ridge

Wolf Ridge. Tennessee Valley and the trail to the beach is below. We would return that way.

2009-06-05T04:55:41Z

Frank Farmer
Wolf Ridge. Tennessee Valley and the trail to the beach is below. We would return that way.

Ocean View toward Tennessee Beach

2009-07-20T01:10:06Z

Frank Farmer
Ocean View toward Tennessee Beach

Hiking along the ridge top on the Fox Trail. The smooth graded trail surface is a fire break

2009-07-20T02:03:38Z

Frank Farmer
Hiking along the ridge top on the Fox Trail. The smooth graded trail surface is a fire break

Wind-swept pine tree on Wolf Ridge

2009-07-20T01:18:55Z

Frank Farmer
Wind-swept pine tree on Wolf Ridge

Bonnie F kept dropping her sun glasses. Happily, she never lost them permanently.

2009-06-05T21:43:08Z

Frank Farmer
Bonnie F kept dropping her sun glasses. Happily, she never lost them permanently.

Climbing higher, a broader ocean view. The San Mateo coast south of San Francisco is now in view.

2009-07-07T10:23:22Z

Frank Farmer
Climbing higher, a broader ocean view. The San Mateo coast south of San Francisco is now in view.

Wolf Ridge

2009-07-20T00:49:07Z

Frank Farmer
Wolf Ridge

Fox Trail. Looking back toward Tennessee Valley

2009-07-20T02:33:43Z

Frank Farmer
Fox Trail. Looking back toward Tennessee Valley

San Francisco skyline peeking through. The Transamerica Pyramid and other tall buildings are coming into view

2009-07-20T01:48:17Z

Frank Farmer
San Francisco skyline peeking through. The Transamerica Pyramid and other tall buildings are coming into view

Marin-East Bay view. Looking toward Richardson Bay, Tiburon Peninsula, and cloud-shrouded Mount Diablo above the East Bay

2009-06-05T04:46:16Z

Frank Farmer
Marin-East Bay view. Looking toward Richardson Bay, Tiburon Peninsula, and cloud-shrouded Mount Diablo above the East Bay

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2009-07-20T00:59:58Z

Frank Farmer
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More San Francisco Skyline

2009-07-20T01:23:28Z

Frank Farmer
More San Francisco Skyline

Opening view of the San Mateo coast. The Monterey Peninsula is in the distant view at the far right.

2009-07-20T01:43:17Z

Frank Farmer
Opening view of the San Mateo coast. The Monterey Peninsula is in the distant view at the far right.

Sutro Tower peeking below the fog. The tower is located on San Bruno Mountain, just south of San Francisco.

2009-06-05T21:39:42Z

Frank Farmer
Sutro Tower peeking below the fog. The tower is located on San Bruno Mountain, just south of San Francisco.

Picture time

2009-07-20T02:30:31Z

Frank Farmer
Picture time

Thistle, not quite blooming. We saw a lot of thistle in this area.

2009-07-20T00:58:44Z

Frank Farmer
Thistle, not quite blooming. We saw a lot of thistle in this area.

On the Fox Trail

2009-07-20T02:12:56Z

Frank Farmer
On the Fox Trail

First view of Muir Beach

2009-07-20T03:49:40Z

Frank Farmer
First view of Muir Beach

Cloud-shrouded Mount Tamalpais

2009-07-20T01:56:09Z

Frank Farmer
Cloud-shrouded Mount Tamalpais

The Richmond-Sunset district in San Francisco, Daly City to the south.

2009-06-05T04:21:36Z

Frank Farmer
The Richmond-Sunset district in San Francisco, Daly City to the south.

Mike zeros in on a photo subject

2009-07-20T00:54:10Z

Frank Farmer
Mike zeros in on a photo subject

A constant parade of container ships

2009-07-20T01:40:18Z

Frank Farmer
A constant parade of container ships

Massive container ship, outside the Golden Gate

2009-07-20T01:18:50Z

Frank Farmer
Massive container ship, outside the Golden Gate

Two crows struggling over a piece of food

2009-07-20T03:02:54Z

Frank Farmer
Two crows struggling over a piece of food

Two crows on a rock. San Francisco Peninsula in the background

2009-07-20T02:38:34Z

Frank Farmer
Two crows on a rock. San Francisco Peninsula in the background

Along the Fox Trail to Muir Beach

2009-06-05T04:38:43Z

Frank Farmer
Along the Fox Trail to Muir Beach

The Farallon Islands are visible on the foggy horizon. These are the tops of granite peaks, poking out of the ocean. They are the northern-most extent of the same granite body making up the ...

2009-06-05T04:27:01Z

Frank Farmer
The Farallon Islands are visible on the foggy horizon. These are the tops of granite peaks, poking out of the ocean. They are the northern-most extent of the same granite body making up the ...

Coast panorama looking south

2009-06-05T22:46:12Z

Frank Farmer
Coast panorama looking south

Container ship approaching the Golden Gate

2009-06-05T04:40:13Z

Frank Farmer
Container ship approaching the Golden Gate

San Francisco view, below the fog

2009-07-20T01:32:15Z

Frank Farmer
San Francisco view, below the fog

Pacific view

2009-07-20T00:58:47Z

Frank Farmer
Pacific view

Our trail wove around the grassy headlands. Photo courtesy of Bonnie H.

2009-07-20T04:53:10Z

Frank Farmer
Our trail wove around the grassy headlands. Photo courtesy of Bonnie H.

Fans of thistle would enjoy this hike! We saw a rare white-colored thistle, but sadly, my photo was out of focus 8-(

2009-06-05T04:42:17Z

Frank Farmer
Fans of thistle would enjoy this hike! We saw a rare white-colored thistle, but sadly, my photo was out of focus 8-(

Grassy sillouette

2009-07-20T02:28:24Z

Frank Farmer
Grassy sillouette

Curvy trail meets a rise, just before ocean view. Photo courtesy of Bonnie H.

2009-07-20T05:38:43Z

Frank Farmer
Curvy trail meets a rise, just before ocean view. Photo courtesy of Bonnie H.

The clouds are lifting!

2009-06-05T04:23:50Z

Frank Farmer
The clouds are lifting!

Mike is a great digital photographer!

2009-07-20T00:50:20Z

Frank Farmer
Mike is a great digital photographer!

Heading downhill to Muir Beach

2009-07-20T01:56:10Z

Frank Farmer
Heading downhill to Muir Beach

The orange tape marked the route for a 31-mile trail run taking place this day.

2009-02-21T18:49:00Z

Frank Farmer
The orange tape marked the route for a 31-mile trail run taking place this day.

Steep cliffs on the southern coastal view

2009-07-20T02:25:15Z

Frank Farmer
Steep cliffs on the southern coastal view

Muir Beach. The Pelican Inn, our destination, is located near the large group of dark green trees in the middle right.

2009-06-05T06:37:04Z

Frank Farmer
Muir Beach. The Pelican Inn, our destination, is located near the large group of dark green trees in the middle right.

Marshy area near Muir Beach. Mount Tamalpais looms above, still covered by fog.

2009-06-05T05:39:17Z

Frank Farmer
Marshy area near Muir Beach. Mount Tamalpais looms above, still covered by fog.

Looking down on CA Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. We headed down to a picnic area to eat our lunches, then off to the Pelican Inn for a pint to wash it down. Alas, no pictures were take ...

2009-06-05T04:31:36Z

Frank Farmer
Looking down on CA Route 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. We headed down to a picnic area to eat our lunches, then off to the Pelican Inn for a pint to wash it down. Alas, no pictures were take ...

We had lunch on the beach, after having a pint at the pub.

2009-07-20T01:36:02Z

Frank Farmer
We had lunch on the beach, after having a pint at the pub.

Brian checks out the view offshore

2009-07-20T01:38:16Z

Frank Farmer
Brian checks out the view offshore

Watching the ships from beach level

2009-07-20T01:50:50Z

Frank Farmer
Watching the ships from beach level

Chip naps, while Brian looks offshore

2009-07-20T01:22:38Z

Frank Farmer
Chip naps, while Brian looks offshore

Bonnie H. She provided some nice photos to include in this album.

2009-07-20T02:06:17Z

Frank Farmer
Bonnie H. She provided some nice photos to include in this album.

Alas, this would be our last hike with Kelly, before she moved to Colorado.

2009-07-20T01:27:48Z

Frank Farmer
Alas, this would be our last hike with Kelly, before she moved to Colorado.

Bonnie F., Chip, Brian.

2009-07-20T02:08:36Z

Frank Farmer
Bonnie F., Chip, Brian.

Larry keeping an eye on everything. It's just about time to head back. We'll take the Coastal Trail, which has more climbing and descending than the way we came in.

2009-07-20T01:45:56Z

Frank Farmer
Larry keeping an eye on everything. It's just about time to head back. We'll take the Coastal Trail, which has more climbing and descending than the way we came in.

Departing from Muir Beach

2009-07-20T01:42:13Z

Frank Farmer
Departing from Muir Beach

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2009-07-20T02:04:21Z

Frank Farmer
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Brian takes a breather on the way up.

2009-07-20T00:58:13Z

Frank Farmer
Brian takes a breather on the way up.

Looking down on a boat just offshore

2009-06-05T04:33:46Z

Frank Farmer
Looking down on a boat just offshore

Last chance to turn back and take an easier route!

2009-07-19T15:39:00Z

Frank Farmer
Last chance to turn back and take an easier route!

So far, so good ... contouring around some easy ridges

2009-07-20T02:02:02Z

Frank Farmer
So far, so good ... contouring around some easy ridges

Yikes! We are heading up and down the next several ridges, above these cliffs. Our trail didn't have much exposure, just a lot of up and down!

2009-07-20T01:32:10Z

Frank Farmer
Yikes! We are heading up and down the next several ridges, above these cliffs. Our trail didn't have much exposure, just a lot of up and down!

Impressive shoreline

2009-07-19T15:39:00Z

Frank Farmer
Impressive shoreline

Sea stacks offshore

2009-07-20T01:04:50Z

Frank Farmer
Sea stacks offshore

Thistle!

2009-07-20T02:05:21Z

Frank Farmer
Thistle!

Do you like switchbacks?

2009-07-20T01:05:20Z

Frank Farmer
Do you like switchbacks?

Check it out! This is the toughest climb of the day ... about 400 feet straight up.

2009-07-20T01:47:11Z

Frank Farmer
Check it out! This is the toughest climb of the day ... about 400 feet straight up.

Stairs!

2009-07-20T01:57:14Z

Frank Farmer
Stairs!

Looking out to sea

2009-07-19T15:39:00Z

Frank Farmer
Looking out to sea

Chip climbing up the stairs

2009-07-19T15:39:00Z

Frank Farmer
Chip climbing up the stairs

Northern view down the coast. Muir Beach is behind the large hill on the skyline.

2009-06-05T21:48:15Z

Frank Farmer
Northern view down the coast. Muir Beach is behind the large hill on the skyline.

Broader view north along the coast. Point Reyes is in view on the horizon.

2009-07-19T15:39:01Z

Frank Farmer
Broader view north along the coast. Point Reyes is in view on the horizon.

Ridge below Mount Tamalpais. Muir Woods National Monument is near this ridge.

2009-07-20T01:39:17Z

Frank Farmer
Ridge below Mount Tamalpais. Muir Woods National Monument is near this ridge.

Mount Tamalpais. This is the sleeping lady that Dave Alvin sings about in "Out in California."

2009-06-05T04:41:01Z

Frank Farmer
Mount Tamalpais. This is the sleeping lady that Dave Alvin sings about in "Out in California."

Wolf Ridge Panorama

2009-07-20T01:22:54Z

Frank Farmer
Wolf Ridge Panorama

Peeking out toward Tennessee Beach

2009-07-20T02:09:32Z

Frank Farmer
Peeking out toward Tennessee Beach

Tennessee Beach, and ... another container ship!

2009-07-20T02:13:34Z

Frank Farmer
Tennessee Beach, and ... another container ship!

Our route back to Tennessee Valley Trailhead

2009-07-20T01:47:21Z

Frank Farmer
Our route back to Tennessee Valley Trailhead

Mike ahead on the Tennessee Valley Trail

2009-07-20T01:37:30Z

Frank Farmer
Mike ahead on the Tennessee Valley Trail

Wolf Ridge Panorama

2009-07-20T00:57:37Z

Frank Farmer
Wolf Ridge Panorama

Last view toward Tennessee Beach

2009-06-05T21:39:42Z

Frank Farmer
Last view toward Tennessee Beach

Sharply folded rock layers in Tennessee Valley

2009-06-05T05:01:02Z

Frank Farmer
Sharply folded rock layers in Tennessee Valley

A pair of quail ... see 'em? Kelly said, "Frank quick ... get out your camera!"

2009-07-20T01:33:57Z

Frank Farmer
A pair of quail ... see 'em? Kelly said, "Frank quick ... get out your camera!"

One of the quail ducked out of view

2009-06-05T22:06:18Z

Frank Farmer
One of the quail ducked out of view

Park sign

2009-07-20T02:00:33Z

Frank Farmer
Park sign

Nice design

2009-07-20T01:55:53Z

Frank Farmer
Nice design

Tennessee Valley's Natural Riches. A very cool place! Thanks to Rich for suggesting this location, and for leading the way. Thanks to everyone for the great company! Our next destination was ...

2009-07-20T01:52:14Z

Frank Farmer
Tennessee Valley's Natural Riches. A very cool place! Thanks to Rich for suggesting this location, and for leading the way. Thanks to everyone for the great company! Our next destination was ...