Sonoma West Times and News from Sebastopol, California • 17

Trailhead To summit or not to summit by Bert Williams The hike along the crooked stick eventually arrives at the candy: a 2.65-mile loop around the perimeter of Lower Tubbs Island. It's mostly tidal marsh, with open channels twisting through tangles of pick-leweed. The water is usually on the move through the channels, either coming or going with the tide. It's good to check tide tables, and go when the tide is low. It appears that birds are the primary reason many people hike the trail.

That statement assumes, however, that many people do, in fact, hike here an assertion for which I have no direct evidence. I was there on successive weekends, and I was completely alone both times. That may be changing with the fall bird migration, however. The free brochure that I found in a canister attached to a post says that migrating ducks and shorebirds are there in peak numbers from November to January. Raptors are also hunting in the fields and marshes during those months.

I was more than satisfied with my experience, even though it apparently was not yet prime time when I was there. Besides a bunch of jack rabbits, I spotted double-crested cormorants, willits and marbled godwits, two or three species of egrets, two or three species of herons, white pelicans, flocks of American avocets and long-billed curlews, several American kestrels, a northern harrier, a white-tailed kite, and other birds I couldn't identify. In addition to the wildlife, the view out over San Pablo Bay includes Mare Island, the Carquinez Straits, Mt. Diablo, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the San Francisco skyline and Mt. Tamalpais.

A good set of binoculars is standard equipment on this hike for both bird watching and distant vistas. To get to the Lower Tubbs Island trail, travel east oh Highway 37 past Infinion Raceway, and watch for a sign announcing wildlife viewing. Reach Bert Williams at Bert Williams MARSH AND BAY Tolay Creek winds through the marsh in lower Tubbs Island, by a levee from San Pablo Bay. call the Greenbelt Alliance at (415) 255-3233 or visit www.greenbelt.org. Here's a lineup of challenging fall summit hikes scattered about the Bay Area, and then in complete and utter contrast a trail that has no discernable high spot in more than eight miles of hiking.

First, the fall 2004 "Peak Experience Series" sponsored by the Greenbelt Alliance. Three of these events have already happened hikes on Mt. Tamalpais, Angel Island, and Montara Mountain in San Mateo County but there's still much more to come. The opportunities include: Sunday, Oct. 1Q Barnabe Peak in Samuel P.

Taylor State Park, a few miles inland from Point Reyes. It's a challenging hike from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 East Bay watershed hike.

A strenuous hike, with great views, along Rocky Ridge between Moraga and Las Trampas in Contra Costa County. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 Rocky Ridge Trail near Marinwood.

A new addition to Marin Open Space trail system. A challenging hike from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are required for this one. Call (415) 255-3233.

Saturday, Nov. 6 Maguire Peaks in Sunol Regional Wilderness near Fremont. A strenuous 10-mile hike from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov.

7 Bike San Francisco's historic shoreline. A change of pace from the others on the list: an easy bike tour with "fun facts" and eco-history presented at sites along the way. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov.

21 "Diablo Double." A chance to ascend both of Mt. Diablo's peaks, starting halfway up the mountain. Moderate pace, but a strenuous hike from 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec.

4 Bald Mountain loop in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park near Kenwood. A challenging hike from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County.

A moderate hike where rare and endangered butterflies and plants live. It also includes an Ohlone shell mound. A moderate hike from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec.

12 "Best of Berkeley." An urban nature hike starting near downtown Berkeley and winding through neighborhoods into the hills, then descending again through city streets. A challenging hike from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information and directions, So, OK; what if you don't want to climb a mountain you just want to look at one? Or what if want to go for a hike, but you don't want to change elevation more than, say, eight vertical feet? Well then, do I have a deal for you, I recently went on such a hike, and I was so captivated that I went again the following weekend. The trail is in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, near Infinion Raceway.

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