Sculptured Beach/ SECRET BEACH EXPLORATION / Arch Rock, 14 -18, 2K elev. g

HIKE STATS: Start Time 12.00 noon

Distance 14-18

Moving speed , usually around 3mph. (slow exploring secret beach)

Elevation Change +/- 2000ft

Difficulty Advanced, due to distance

partial night hike

Meetup FEE $1

Organized by Chris J. ** e mail me if you have questions**

Bad weather may cancell this hike

*STOP BEFORE YOU SIGN UP, YOU MUST READ THE DETAILS!!!!

This is not your standard hike to Arch Rock, I am out exloring a little more on this hike, plus another short rock scramble, plus 300-500 feet bushwhacking or off trail.

Here is the plan, we hike out to Sculptured Beach via bear valley trail, sky trail, woodward valley trail, we will be going at a good pace at around 3mph and arrive at the beach at around 2.15-2.30pm. Tide will be low at around -0.2 feet and we can check out the small arches at the beach, take pictures while we slowly make our way down the beach towards the entrance to Secret Beach, I estimate we arrive at the Arch / portal to Secret Beach around 3pm, tide still going lower and be around -0.6 which should be good enough to go through., we check out the secret cave and take our time proceeding down Secret Beach all the way to Point Resistance (don't think we can get around it, I will if we can), Low tide will be at 3.54pm with -1.6 feet which is very low, and we probably see some starfish and maybe some small tide pools, once we checked out the rocks and small arch we will retrace our steps about halfway back up Secret Beach, now that is where the wild card comes in , we will try to find a short cut to coastal trail, going up a short rocks scramble and a little bushwhacking to the trail. We follow the coastal trail for a short distance to the "big tree" where we descend onto Kelham Beach (maybe go up the beach north first) head down south for around 1.2 miles to Arch Rock, go up the rock scramble and return via bear valley trail to parking. (it will be dark for the part from arch rock to parking

** ROADBLOCK** If.....

---we can't get up the rock scramble at Secret Beach we have to retrace our steps all the way back to Sculptured Beach it means we end up closer to 18 miles hike total distance and of course pushes the finish time for this hike back approx. one hour.

**Rock Scrambles,http://img1.meetupstatic.com/816470374029094449829953/img/smileys/devilish.gif 3 short Rock scrambles are required for this hike, one really short one down at Sculptured Beach, the usual Arch Rock one , and one at Secret Beach which should not be any harder than the arch rock one, pic's for the arch rock one are posted below, plus some links.

**Poison Oak,http://img2.meetupstatic.com/1723755200050492932723/img/smileys/biggrin.gifhttp://img1.meetupstatic.com/623261070439030791651234/img/smileys/angry.gif a few trails have it on the side

Bushwhack /off trail *** about 300-500 feet, poison oak is a possibility there looking at the satelite view the area we go through is not very dense with vegetation and shows some "use or deer trail"

A slippery area at the little arch we are going through to Secret Beach

Ticks colder and wet season brings them, out make sure to check and wear long sleeves, pants, at least for the off trail part,, other trail segments have grasses, shrubs etc, close to the trail as well.

Warm Clothing* part will be at night, and the coast can be chilly, dress in layers, bring warm layers, gloves, hat etc. if you get cold easily.

Partial Night hike*, new moon, so don't forget the headlamp / flashlight.

Sunset at sunset we will probably be around Kelham beach / Arch Rock (as long as we can do the shortcut from secret beach)

http://img1.meetupstatic.com/3250963246259337556533/img/smileys/cool.gifONCE IT GET'S DARK WE HAVE TO STAY TOGETHER, PLEASE WAIT UP AND DON'T GO AHEAD TO FAR.*

RSVP for Waitlist answer my questions or you won't be added to the yes list questions will show up once you add to waitlist.

Getting there,http://img2.meetupstatic.com/1723755200050492932723/img/smileys/biggrin.gif **Allow some extra drive timehttp://img2.meetupstatic.com/1723755200050492932723/img/smileys/biggrin.gif*** it will take longer than usual to get there, more red lights, more traffic etc. be early, I usually wait 10-15 min max.

leave home early, arrive early / in time and don't miss the hike.

** Beach walking** overall you can expect to walk on sandy beaches for 3+ miles, typically easy to walk on.

**** WAIVER please read and sign the waiver I will bring to the hike, I will have your name written on it**** http://files.meetup.com/220424/Super_Fabulicious_waiver.pdf

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/2/5/e/event_15569278.jpeg

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/2/5/9/event_15569273.jpeg

Do nothttp://img1.meetupstatic.com/623261070439030791651234/img/smileys/angry.gif !!!! take Hwy 1 to get to Olema, take hwy 101 and Sir Francis Drake Blvd

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/9/f/7/event_15550743.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/b/1/6/event_14431510.jpeg

rock scramble at arch rock, here are some links to pic's https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/88989... (https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/889897/14487911/) (you can see a hiker standing on top, short scramble down on the other side, you can click on all sizes then original to see a bigger pic. https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/88989... (https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/889897/14431953/) (the tide should be low and no waves going into the arch) https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/88989... (https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/889897/14431945/) another shot of the rock scramble we have to go up https://www.meetup.com/SuperFab/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=913920

Location: Point Reyes (Bear Valley) Although Point Reyes National Seashore has plenty of shorter trails, none can beat this long circuit through widely varied scenery. Following the route counter-clockwise - out to the coast through Woodward Valley, back along Bear Valley, the two linked together by the Meadow and Coast Trails - will see almost all the climbing finished in the first hour

Don't forget WATER and SNACKS , ETC

etc. There is no water avail. at the trail, only at the parking lot.[/color] Link to the map http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/upload/map_park.pdf

[b]Directions to Bear Valley / Point Reyes*[/b] http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/direc... (http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/directions.htm#CP_JUMP_120643) Google map, the satellite view will show the parking lot and visitor center. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&a... (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=&daddr=38.040259,-122.799371&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=17&sll=38.040259,-122.799232&sspn=0.004064,0.006609&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17) Recommended way to get there is SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD and not Hwy 1!! Drive all the way to the end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd, you will hit a T intersection with a stop sign in Olema, turn right onto Hwy 1 there, take your next left after around 300 feet, take the next left after about 0.25 miles (the park entrance) .