The News Blog is a place where updates to the guidebooks are posted. It is also a repository for news and information related to the state and national parks of the Bay Area, including upcoming events, benefits, and rallies to support our parks.
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Way Out There Press Newsletter
The current newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter Archive. The next newsletter will be sent out September 30, 2010. Sign up now to have the newsletter emailed directly to your inbox.
News Blog Archive:
June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009
July 20, 2010
The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 has now been designated as Proposition 21 on the November 2 ballot. The measure, which has broad support among environmental, labor, tourism and travel groups, would provide a reliable source of funding for the 279 California state parks. The beleagured parks, which have seen cutbacks and closures over the past several years, are also suffering from years of delayed maintenance. The new funding, provided by an $18 increase in the vehicle license fee, would immediately create hundreds of jobs throughout the state, while pproviding for considerable improvement in our state park infrastructure. For more information, or to find out how to become involved in the campaign, go to the Yes for State Parks website.
July 17, 2010
This is one of my favorite signs in the Presidio. It seems to represent one of the last vestiges of the old Presidio, a part of San Francisco that was a military base for 218 years, under Spanish, Mexican, and American control. The Presidio was an Army base in the last years of the Cold War, and planning was done here in the event of a nuclear war. The Dead End sign points out the irony of a nuclear strategy - how is the military advantage of nuclear annihilation going to result in anything but a dead end? Will the world ever get to place where the threat of a nuclear winter ever disappears? A new documentary film is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival called Countdown to Zero, dealing with the complex idea of the abolition of all nuclear weapons. Is it possible that we could reach a place in this world in which the nuclear threat could be a thing of the distant past? Funny to imagine that in the early days of the Cold War, we were advised to hide under a desk to protect ourselves from a nuclear attack.
Right next door to the building where this sign is posted is the Presidio Nursery, where I work as a volunteer. The Presidio Nursery is the heart of the environmental restoration that is taking place right now in this very different kind of national park. The Nursery grows plants that are used in projects throughout the Presidio, such as the old toxic military landfills that are currently being cleaned up on the hill above Tennessee Hollow. The Presidio is also host to Swords to Plowshares, a group that provides low cost housing to veterans of wars. A large number of other non-profit organizations are housed in the many historic buildings around the old base, as are for-profit businesses such as LucasArts. Private residences also add to the mix, including the large new condo complex that is opening up this summer in the old Public Health Services Hospital. The Presidio is truly a unique kind of national park, one that brings together a combination of urban and historic architecture, forested and coastal wilderness, and a sense of hope for the future.
July 16, 2010
Sometimes the news is so comical, it seems like somebody is making it up as a joke. A controversy is swirling around serpentine, the state rock of California. The beautiful aquamarine colored rock, which has played a pivotal role in the geology of California, is under attack because it is composed partially of naturally occurring asbestos. State Senator Gloria Romero has introduced SB624, a bill that would not only strip serpentine of its title as state rock, but take away the entire category of state rock altogether. The issue pits victims of cancer and other diseases against geologists and academics in a bizarre battle that seems to trivialize the seriousness of all the other compelling problems faced by the state of California today.
I have to admit a bias in favor of serpentine and wish no disrespect to people who have lost loved ones to asbestos-related cancer or other ailments. The beautiful serpentine outcroppings on Mount Tamalpais or at Inspiration Point in the Presidio are unique environments that play host to a collection of rare plants. The smooth greenish blue stone has a mesmerizing quality to it, and poses no danger to the public in its natural state. Let's keep our state rock!
July 15, 2010
Hot summer day, good day for a walk through Sausalito to Rodeo Meadow, one of my secret places. Open and grassy, the meadow is surrounded by eucalyptus, with openings to the south overlooking Angel Island, and to the north toward Mount Tamalpais. The grass is brown and bone dry like straw at this time of year, radiating the heat from the sun in all directions. Looking across the Bay to Angel Island, the marinas of Sausalito are spread out before me and my eyes are protected from the afternoon sun. Turning to the other direction, the sun is blinding, but the cool breeze comes over Mount Tam, whose profile of a sleeping maiden dominates the horizon. The open meadows of her western flanks look like bare feet dangling above the Pacific Ocean.
I'm reading an autobiographical novel by Kenneth Rexroth, one of the older Beat poets, who spent much of his life wandering the trails of Tamalpais. Rodeo Meadow is a great place to get lost in a book. A good day, the birds are hiding in the eucalyptus and the heat is tempered by the breeze. I lay down in the straw grass of the meadow and forget about the troubles of the world.
July 11, 2010
Had a great day today working as a docent at the Gravity Car Barn at the top of Mount Tamalpais. The Gravity Car Barn is a great little museum that tells the story of the old Mount Tamalpais Railway, which was described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Our Second American Adventure:
There is Tamalpais, the one and only Tamalpais, which should be ascended by the traveler if he has only a single clear day in the city of the Golden Gate. Our whole party went up it on the day after our arrival, and we were agreed that in all my wanderings, we had never had a more glorious experience.
It was a somewhat quiet day on the mountain. It was cold and foggy when I left Sausalito, and I even brought a jacket. I got above the fog by the time I passed Rock Springs and the top of the mountain was hot and dry. I was amazed to see the parking lot mostly empty. I guess people down below couldn't see the mountain, so they assumed it would be cold and gloomy. On the contrary, it was a gorgeous day, looking out over a whole sea of fog surrounding the mountain.
Look for Way Out There Press on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=346012300719.
Become a fan and get news and updates on your News Feed.
Way Out There Press Newsletter
The current newsletter can now be viewed in the Newsletter Archive. The next newsletter will be sent out September 30, 2010. Sign up now to have the newsletter emailed directly to your inbox.
News Blog Archive:
June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009
July 20, 2010
The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 has now been designated as Proposition 21 on the November 2 ballot. The measure, which has broad support among environmental, labor, tourism and travel groups, would provide a reliable source of funding for the 279 California state parks. The beleagured parks, which have seen cutbacks and closures over the past several years, are also suffering from years of delayed maintenance. The new funding, provided by an $18 increase in the vehicle license fee, would immediately create hundreds of jobs throughout the state, while pproviding for considerable improvement in our state park infrastructure. For more information, or to find out how to become involved in the campaign, go to the Yes for State Parks website.
July 17, 2010This is one of my favorite signs in the Presidio. It seems to represent one of the last vestiges of the old Presidio, a part of San Francisco that was a military base for 218 years, under Spanish, Mexican, and American control. The Presidio was an Army base in the last years of the Cold War, and planning was done here in the event of a nuclear war. The Dead End sign points out the irony of a nuclear strategy - how is the military advantage of nuclear annihilation going to result in anything but a dead end? Will the world ever get to place where the threat of a nuclear winter ever disappears? A new documentary film is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival called Countdown to Zero, dealing with the complex idea of the abolition of all nuclear weapons. Is it possible that we could reach a place in this world in which the nuclear threat could be a thing of the distant past? Funny to imagine that in the early days of the Cold War, we were advised to hide under a desk to protect ourselves from a nuclear attack.
Right next door to the building where this sign is posted is the Presidio Nursery, where I work as a volunteer. The Presidio Nursery is the heart of the environmental restoration that is taking place right now in this very different kind of national park. The Nursery grows plants that are used in projects throughout the Presidio, such as the old toxic military landfills that are currently being cleaned up on the hill above Tennessee Hollow. The Presidio is also host to Swords to Plowshares, a group that provides low cost housing to veterans of wars. A large number of other non-profit organizations are housed in the many historic buildings around the old base, as are for-profit businesses such as LucasArts. Private residences also add to the mix, including the large new condo complex that is opening up this summer in the old Public Health Services Hospital. The Presidio is truly a unique kind of national park, one that brings together a combination of urban and historic architecture, forested and coastal wilderness, and a sense of hope for the future.
July 16, 2010Sometimes the news is so comical, it seems like somebody is making it up as a joke. A controversy is swirling around serpentine, the state rock of California. The beautiful aquamarine colored rock, which has played a pivotal role in the geology of California, is under attack because it is composed partially of naturally occurring asbestos. State Senator Gloria Romero has introduced SB624, a bill that would not only strip serpentine of its title as state rock, but take away the entire category of state rock altogether. The issue pits victims of cancer and other diseases against geologists and academics in a bizarre battle that seems to trivialize the seriousness of all the other compelling problems faced by the state of California today.
I have to admit a bias in favor of serpentine and wish no disrespect to people who have lost loved ones to asbestos-related cancer or other ailments. The beautiful serpentine outcroppings on Mount Tamalpais or at Inspiration Point in the Presidio are unique environments that play host to a collection of rare plants. The smooth greenish blue stone has a mesmerizing quality to it, and poses no danger to the public in its natural state. Let's keep our state rock!
July 15, 2010Hot summer day, good day for a walk through Sausalito to Rodeo Meadow, one of my secret places. Open and grassy, the meadow is surrounded by eucalyptus, with openings to the south overlooking Angel Island, and to the north toward Mount Tamalpais. The grass is brown and bone dry like straw at this time of year, radiating the heat from the sun in all directions. Looking across the Bay to Angel Island, the marinas of Sausalito are spread out before me and my eyes are protected from the afternoon sun. Turning to the other direction, the sun is blinding, but the cool breeze comes over Mount Tam, whose profile of a sleeping maiden dominates the horizon. The open meadows of her western flanks look like bare feet dangling above the Pacific Ocean.
I'm reading an autobiographical novel by Kenneth Rexroth, one of the older Beat poets, who spent much of his life wandering the trails of Tamalpais. Rodeo Meadow is a great place to get lost in a book. A good day, the birds are hiding in the eucalyptus and the heat is tempered by the breeze. I lay down in the straw grass of the meadow and forget about the troubles of the world.
July 11, 2010Had a great day today working as a docent at the Gravity Car Barn at the top of Mount Tamalpais. The Gravity Car Barn is a great little museum that tells the story of the old Mount Tamalpais Railway, which was described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Our Second American Adventure:
There is Tamalpais, the one and only Tamalpais, which should be ascended by the traveler if he has only a single clear day in the city of the Golden Gate. Our whole party went up it on the day after our arrival, and we were agreed that in all my wanderings, we had never had a more glorious experience.
It was a somewhat quiet day on the mountain. It was cold and foggy when I left Sausalito, and I even brought a jacket. I got above the fog by the time I passed Rock Springs and the top of the mountain was hot and dry. I was amazed to see the parking lot mostly empty. I guess people down below couldn't see the mountain, so they assumed it would be cold and gloomy. On the contrary, it was a gorgeous day, looking out over a whole sea of fog surrounding the mountain.
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July 2, 2010 The latest edition of the Way Out There Press Newsletter was just sent out and can be viewed now in the Newsletter Archive. This addition of the Newsletter includes news and updates from the Presidio, Angel Island, Mount Tamalpais, and the Marin Headlands. A lot is happening in the state and national parks of the Bay Area, and this is a great time of year to get out and explore. The newsletter also includes an update on the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, which has qualified for the November ballot. This initiative, if passed, would set up a trust fund to provide a stable source of funding of $500 million annually for the operation and maintenance of the 279 state parks in California. The fund would be generated through an $18 surcharge on vehicle registrations. At the same time, Californians will be able to visit any of the state parks and beaches, without having to pay entrance or parking fees. |