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Informationen zum Autor Matt Heid is the author of “One Night Wilderness: San Francisco Bay Area” and “AMC’s Best Backpacking Trips in New England,” and is a contributor to “Backpacking California.” He holds a degree in earth and planetary science from Harvard University and stays busy pursuing a passion for outdoor writing and wilderness adventure in Northern California and New England. He currently lives in Bedford, Massachusetts. Klappentext This updated book highlights the 101 best hikes in Northern California, from family strolls to 22-mile treks. Leseprobe San Andreas Fault Highlights The San Andreas Fault and fossils on a forgotten beach Distance 3.5 miles one-way Total Elevation Gain/Loss 50'/50' Hiking Time 2–3 hours Recommended Map USGS 7.5-min. San Francisco South Best Times September–May Agency Golden Gate National Recreation Area Difficulty * After covering 500 miles overland, the San Andreas Fault dives northwest from the bluffs of Daly City into the Pacific Ocean. North of this tectonic landmark, a beach of surprising seclusion runs for more than 3 miles below cliffs of mud, sand, and fossils. Approximately 2 million years ago, the geography of the Bay Area differed radically. The Point Reyes Peninsula sat directly west of today’s Golden Gate, partially enclosing a shallow basin between itself and the mainland. Sediments poured in from the surrounding landmasses, filling the basin with thick layers of sand, mud, and gravel. In all, a deep reservoir of sediment more than a mile thick was deposited. Layers formed during periods of shallow water include thick beds of fossils—crushed shells make up the bulk of the material, but entire preserved sand dollars and clams can also be found. Within the past 300,000 years, changing geometry along the San Andreas Fault lifted the entire basin and tilted its beds gently north to expose it as today’s Merced Formation. A small piece of the northern basin remained attached to the southeast corner of the Point Reyes Peninsula as it was wrenched into its current position; it is now exposed in the bluffs east of Bolinas, as explained by Ted Konigsmark in Geologic Trips. The Hike follows the beach north from Mussel Rock in north Pacifica to Fort Funston in San Francisco. This trip can become dangerous during high tides, when big waves can wash to the base of the bluffs and suck people out to sea. Do not venture onto the beach if you see waves reaching the bluffs. No tide tables are posted at the trailhead—check in advance. The hike can be made into a round-trip by returning along the beach to the trailhead. Otherwise, car arrangements must be worked out for the return to Pacifica. For those unable to do the full hike, the general flavor and experience of the locale can be had in a short 1-mile round-trip from the trailhead. While the hike can be done year-round, fog is thick in the summer and makes for a cold, low-visibility day at the beach. Crowds are light compared to other area beaches. No water is available at the trailhead. To Reach the Trailhead From San Francisco, follow Hwy. 1 south, take the first Pacifica exit at Manor Dr., and turn right on Palmetto Dr. Go 0.8 mile and turn left on Westline Dr. Bear left toward the Mussel Rock Transfer Station (the dump), keep left again as the road forks right to the dump, and park in the large lot at the road’s end. To reach Fort Funston, take Skyline Dr. (Hwy. 35) 4 miles north from Hwy. 1 in north Pacifica—the parking lot is on the left. Approaching Fort Funston from San Francisco, follow Skyline Dr. 0.8 mile south of the Great Hwy. Description From the parking lot by Mussel Rock, walk through the opening in the fence and descend along roads leading down toward the beach. Looking above you to the west, notice the loose, unconsolidated slopes along the bluffs—the result of m...
