Photo: John Sumner Habitat Restoration in Point Reyes National Seashore,
California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08079A Price: $395 Deposit: $50 Capacity: 18 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: John Sumner On this trip, we will be working at Point Reyes National Seashore, a national park about 35 miles north of San Francisco. The park has a rugged coastline with blunt headlands, rolling hills, native forests, and fresh water lakes. The Point Reyes area is slowly moving north, a little bit further each year. Someday, in geologic time, it will be an island. For now, it's a place of exceptional beauty on California's coast. The area has changed little since Sir Francis Drake sailed into what is now known as Drake's Bay centuries ago, while looking for the much bigger San Francisco Bay. (In fact, the explorer beached his ships and cleaned their hulls near where we will stay.) Here, you'll find a variety of animals including Tule elk, birds, native flowers, and the bishop pine, which is unique to Point Reyes. Close to the park headquarters in Bear Valley, you can take an easy earthquake walk and see how much the ground shifted in the famous 1906 quake. We will also get a chance to see the regeneration of the forests and plants that have occurred since the Mt. Vision fire, which only burned out when it reached the ocean. The Project  Photo: John Sumner There are many non-native, invasive plants in Point Reyes. Some of these species were planted by the people who lived in the area, primarily on dairy ranches. Some seeds were carried by the wind or birds. Our task will be to remove as many non-native plants as possible. We will choose the plants to pull based on the season, the severity of the problem, and what is blooming. We will probably remove broom, which is a threat to the native plants and therefore to the animals that depend on the native plants for food and cover. In the past, we have pulled broom (French and Scotch), cape ivy, cape weed, fire weed, gopher weed, New Zealand spinach, European beach grass, ice plant, and many kinds of thistle.
The nearest airports are in Oakland and San Francisco. If you wish to carpool from the airport, you will be sent a trip roster, which will allow you to make arrangements with other participants.  Photo: John Sumner We will meet at the boathouse on the afternoon of day one. Participants will be given maps of the exact location off Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, which can be reached from Highways 101 or 1, north of San Francisco in Marin County. We will work four days, and have two days free to explore the area. We'll visit beaches and hike wilderness trails. Point Reyes is a hotbed for birdlife, with nearly 425 species recorded in the region. In addition, the Audubon Ranch is nearby, as are the valleys of Napa and Sonoma.
We will stay in the park's historic boathouse, which is equipped with modern conveniences. The boathouse overlooks Drake's Bay, and is a short distance from the lighthouse. Built in 1870, the lighthouse has been fully restored and sits on the coast of a rugged headland. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The boathouse is set up with bunk rooms for housing. There are no separate rooms for couples. Vegetarians will be accommodated. Please let us know your preferences when completing the required forms.
Because this trip does not involve backpacking, it is a moderate trip. Removing invasive weeds can be moderately difficult, but we will all work at our own pace. The weather should be temperate, with a chance of fog or rain.
The park will provide equipment, but you will need sturdy boots, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. You will also need a day pack to carry your lunch and water bottles, rain gear, sunscreen, etc. We will provide food, but you should come with personal eating utensils: a plastic bowl, cup, and spoon to carry with your lunch. We will also provide a first-aid kit for emergencies, but you should bring moleskin, Band-Aids, aspirin, and any medication you personally require. The leader will provide a complete list of equipment to registered participants.
Maps The Bear Valley Visitors Center at Point Reyes has trail maps, books, and souvenirs. You can also get a topo map from Tom Harrison Maps, 2 Falmouth Cove, San Rafael, CA 94901-4465; (800) 265-9090; http://www.tomharrisonmaps.com Books There are four books that I like:
Websites Point Reyes National Seashore: http://www.nps.gov/pore Conservation
 Photo: John Sumner As the title of this trip indicates, this is a conservation trip. The work, information, and talks will all pertain to conserving this area for endangered birds and plants. You will learn about the continuing efforts by the Sierra Club and other groups to relieve some of the damage that non-native species have caused. The Club has worked at Pt. Reyes for seven years, and we will discuss future conservation plans for the area. Mitigating invasive plant and animal species will be a continuing economic problem to work on at the local, state and national level, and we will contribute to those efforts on this trip.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
Harriet Dhanak has led Sierra Club service trips for several years. She's worked on habitat
restoration projects
with the Club and other groups for about nine years. Michael Griffith has been a Sierra Club member since 1996, and has worked on service trips in Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. He lives in Ellijay, Georgia, and enjoys being creative in the kitchen. His experience include assisting with gourmet cooking classes and testing recipes for Food Network chefs. When not in the kitchen, he produces video and multimedia. E-mail: michael@griffiti.com General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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