"The Old Gordenker Quarry"

Mary & Martin Hikes

Join us for a hike on June 8^th

On Sunday, June 8th we’ll meet in Annadel State Park for a hike to the old Gordenker Quarry. If you haven’t visited this quarry site, we think you’re in for a surprise! Even many of Sonoma County natives do not know about Annadel’s rich history in the quarry business. Though many of the volcanic rock quarry sites are now overgrown and obscured from sight, at one time there were several hundred active quarry sites in the Annadel area. Join us for a walk on Two Quarry Trail and then to the end of Rhyolite Trail where we’ll stop to view an old quarry site.

This fairly shaded 7 mile hike will have an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet. We’ll stop for a lunch break after we view the old quarry site. Plan to spend nearly fours hours on the trail, as parts of this trail are rocky and may take a bit longer than usual. Wear sturdy footwear due to the uneven trail surface.

Plan to arrive at 9:45 a.m. for a prompt 10:00 a.m. departure. We’ll meet at the horse trailer parking lot at the end of Channel Drive. Remember to pay the $4.00 entrance fee (bring exact change) at the park pay station, then continue 1 mile further on Channel Drive to the main horse trailer parking lot. Dress in layers, bring lunch and plenty of water. As always, please take all valuables with you rather than leaving them in the car. Remember, no dogs are allowed on the trails. We hike rain or shine, so dress accordingly.

Anyone who wishes to carpool can meet at the St. Francis Shopping Center near the corner of Calistoga Road and Highway 12 in Santa Rosa at 9:30 a.m. Meet in the parking row closest to Calistoga Road. Since this is a “leaderless” carpool, it is up to those who are there to organize it. If this site doesn’t work for you, we encourage you to make connections with other people on your own.

If you’d like more information about Annadel State Park or need directions, visit their website at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=480.

"Some parts of the trail are rocky... Some parts are not!"

Mary & Martin

In November, 2007, we completed the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association and California State Parks volunteer training, and are delighted to offer these free hikes as park volunteers! We have been Sonoma County residents for over 20 years, and both enjoy hiking in our local parks for exercise and simply for their natural beauty. Martin is a Bay Area native, while Mary escaped from the bitter cold of Wisconsin quite a few years ago. We both enjoy and look forward to hitting the trails on the weekend to counterbalance our busy 8 – 5 work lives.

We have many hikes planned for 2008, and hope you can join us each month as we discover new trails in our local parks. Our hikes will be on Sunday mornings, beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. (Our one exception is a Sat. evening hike in August). We will generally hike around 5 - 7 miles, with moderate pace and elevation (under 1000 feet in elevation climb). Along the way, we may have opportunities to interpret some of the park’s history, resources, and hidden treasures. Hikers will have an opportunity to exercise, socialize, and enjoy the scenery in Annadel, Sugarloaf, and Jack London State Parks. Our upcoming hikes for 2008 are: July 20 at Annadel and Sat. evening, Aug. 16 at Sugarloaf (we’ll soon add the dates for our hikes through the end of 2008).

Please email us at mamhikes@sonic.net to join our email list, or call Martin Wobig or Mary at (707) 539-2984 for more information.

"Volcanic Rocks found near the Quarry"

Mary and Martin Hikes

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Jack London State Park
Annadel State Park

Our hikes are sponsored by the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association
and California State Parks.