Today we leave our everyday life behind and travel into Marin’s wildest, rawest, least touched land to hike in the area I call the “Big Empty.” Located between Big Carson Ridge and Bolinas Ridge, it is harsh country and magnificent. It is close in distance, but far away from our usual experience.
On our out-and-back hike, we will see Tomales Bay in the distance, stand atop Pine Mountain —Marin’s third highest — and see a broad expanse of Marin’s largest and most hidden reservoir, Kent Lake. Most of the time, we will traverse land seemingly untouched by civilization.
• Hike summary: The hike is difficult because of its climbs, but the footing, except for some spots of loose gravel, is reasonably good. In the first mile, we climb to the junction with Oat Hill Road on the left, but we continue straight. In another .4 miles, we turn left, as signed on Pine Mountain Road. We climb Pine Mountain Road about .8 miles to where the fire road summits. Just past it, you can see a good portion of Kent Lake. This is a good place to return for a round trip of about 4.5 miles.
For vigorous hikers who wish to continue, we will descend and climb another 1.25 miles, past the sign for Poison Springs and to the top of the final steep short hill. From here, you can see a large portion of Kent Lake, for a round trip of about 7 miles.
There is generally no tree cover on the hike, so be sure to take plenty of water and protection from the sun, and avoid the hike in hot weather. Dogs on leash allowed. There are no facilities.
• Getting there: Take Bolinas Road from Fairfax and continue past the Meadow Club about 1.3 miles to the Azalea Hill dirt parking area on your left and park there.
• The hike: From your car, cross the paved road and pass around the gate to take Pine Mountain Fire Road. After you climb a short distance, look back over your left shoulder and see the inviting water of Alpine Lake. As we climb, we are surrounded by untouched and remote landscape, except for the Meadow Club on the right below and occasionally some power lines. We traverse serpentine chaparral evidenced here by chamise, manzanita and yerba santa.
This landscape is typical of Marin’s “Big Empty.” (Photo by Jim Holden)
We climb, sometimes steeply, about 1 mile and then descend and continue straight past the sign on the left for Oat Hill Road. In less than .5 miles, we come to a junction indicating Pine Mountain Road to the left and turn on it to start our climb to the summit. Before we turn, notice the serpentine-loving Sargent’s cypress trees nearby, with seed cones that resemble a three-dimensional geometry exam problem that you couldn’t solve.
We climb uphill and pause at a slight dip, like a horse’s swayback, called the Saddle. From here on a clear day, we see Green Hill rising above San Geronimo Ridge …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
