Trailside Happy Hour Series: Secret Slacker Hill

Hey Everyone! For this meetup, we’re introducing the Trailside Happy Hour Series, a fun twist on our traditional hike-then-happy-hour model. We’re going to setup an informal outdoor bar in the middle of our hike this time. We’ve chosen a short, rarely used trail in the Marin Headlands with outstanding views and zero tourists.

We want to show you one of the best secret spots for an outdoor drink in the Marin headlands. And, since our first 2 hikes hit our 20-person maximum very quickly (with a waitlist), many of you couldn’t partake in the fun. Hiking an unmarked trail and celebrating outdoors lets us increase our event limit to 30 (so we can meet more of you).

THE HIKE
You’re in for a treat. This is an overlooked gem of the Marin Headlands called Slacker Hill that lets you get away from, and above, all the tourists below. The trail starts off steep and steady for 20 minutes. You’ll be huffing and puffing. When we reach the top of Slacker Hill, we will scramble down a short and steep section with loose rock. Not a problem if you go slow and have good footing.

But the reward is worth it: in another 10 minutes of a beautiful ridge walk, we find an old WWII lookout building embedded in the hill (just the concrete walls remain). It has a front-row view of the GGB and the entire bay, from Tiburon to Angel Island, all the way around to Ocean Beach. And no one ever goes here - the perfect place for a private happy hour.

Facts & Figures:

• 1.7 total miles and 350 vertical feet
• 30 minutes each way
• There is no cover from wind, sun, or rain up there, so just bring a wind layer and something for warmth.

THE HAPPY HOUR

• Important! This is a BYOB event, and we have a simple theme to make it fun. It's the last day of March, so bring a favorite beer/cider or wine that starts with M. You've got merlots, malbecs, Modelo, Mt. Tam Pale Ale, milk stout, etc. Let's skip the hard stuff since we have a steep hike up then down.

• Brian and I will have some bar essentials like cups, a cooler/ice, wine/beer openers, snacks, a few extra drinks, and music, too. Nothing beats a pop-up private trailside bar with a world-class view :)

• Use the meetup message board to carpool (we’re about meeting fun strangers after all). Post your open spaces and needs for a ride. There is limited parking. And please use designated drivers. Safety first.

PARKING

• The lot I have listed for the meetup location will be filled. Look for spots on Conzelmon drive east of the traffic circle, and you can also park on the shoulder of the road going downhill away from the water.

IMPORTANT NOTES
*Only RSVP if you are sure you can make it, and update your RSVP asap if plans change. This is important! We limit the number for each hike for everyone's enjoyment, so if you no-show, other people can't go. :(

• We will leave at 2:15 sharp. But, if you want to arrive late and meet us, take the Coastal trail east across McCullough road to a gated fire road that says Slacker Ridge Trail. Head up the fire road, bear right at the fork, right again near the top. You will summit and think the trail ends. But you can scramble down the slope heading south and follow the ridge south to the end, a concrete structure where we'll be.
• There is a bathroom at the parking area, but no water.
• If you want to bring guests, they must join the group and RSVP for the event, too, so we can know who's coming. Thanks!