June 16 – Hiked with Linda up Fish Grade to Lake Lagunitas. We hiked around the Lake and came back down on Eldridge. Beautiful day and my body felt okay after doing the Dipsea.

June 15, 2013 Martha Giblas 2013 Dipsea Trek – 7.4 miles with a climb of 2,000 + feet.

Climbing up Dynamite – root stairs in places

For about 30 years my friend Martha has inspired her friends to hike from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach for her birthday. We start at the Depot in Mill Valley and walk over to Old Mill Park. Then it is a bun-burning climb up three flights of stairs for a total of 672 steps, as tall as a 50 story building. After climbing some more, we headed down into Muir Woods across Redwood Creek. This begins a hard climb up Dynamite and Cardiac through gorgeous woodlands.

Water Fountain at top of Cardiac Hill

     Over the years we have picked a spot after we crest Cardiac to take our water and chocolate break. Imagine our surprise to see a beautiful water fountain standing in our favorite rest stop.

Martha and Salvador wearing previous year’s Dipsea Trek shirts

We met up with others from the party and they passed on by heading towards Steep Ravine and Stinson Beach at a much quicker pace. Tony also passed by us on his way from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley. Earlier he had dropped us off in Mill Valley and then drove to Stinson Beach where he was going to start his hike to Mill Valley and then back again!

On the trail before our descent into Steep Ravine.

We had cool temps with the fog drifting through spots and sunshine warming us too.

Steep Ravine before it gets treacherous.

Steep Ravine is cool, lush, very green and often damp. However, it is also a very steep descent which made me glad I was using my hiking poles.

View of Pacific with fog still along the coast

Once out of Steep Ravine you climb up a bit and then you can see the Pacific Ocean!

As Tony, my husband, has often said, “Just one more hill!”

Once I can see the Pacific I know that I have it made, but the trail still goes on for longer than it looks. Although Insult Hill is still ahead, the birthday party with good food and friends awaits.

Rochelle on the trail

Down hill through another magical path of greenery before you hit Highway 1 and Stinson Beach.

Met up with my friend, Paula, who had hiked up from the beach. It was a nice walk down into Stinson Beach where the birthday girl had already arrived.

The birthday girl (wearing her Martha Giblas Dipsea Trek 2013 T Shirt) and friends at Stinson Beach

Good food, old and new friends, my decadent S’More Bars were all waiting for me at Stinson Beach Park.

For more info about doing this hike yourself go to:

http://www.dipsea.org/course.html