WEEKLY

WALKER

By Tom Davids

A Visit to Tafoni Plus a Panorama

El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve

"There is all the difference between seeing things and seeing nothing. Many travelers who see things really see nothing, and many who see nothing see a great deal."Lin Yutang

Directions: On Skyline Boulevard, 9.3 miles south of Highway 92 or 4.4 miles south of Kings Mountain Road. Park at the rest stop at Skagg's Point on the east side of Skyline. Note: A left turn from Skyline southbound to Skagg's Point is not allowed, so go beyond the rest area, turn around, and double back.

Grade: Moderate. Elevation loss and regain is several hundred feet.

Distance: About four miles

Time: Plan two hours or so.

Special Conditions: The main trails are wide old logging roads, well marked. No dogs. No poison oak on marked trails. Watch for bicycles. The preserve is operated by the Midpeninsula Open Space District (650 691-1200).

Our walk begins at the Skagg's Point rest stop on Skyline Boulevard. From the parking area, walk north a few hundred feet to the marked trailhead (Gate CM01) on the west side of Skyline. The Tafoni Trail is a well-graded former logging/ranch road that leads westerly through the headwaters of the El Corte de Madera Creek and along scenic ridgetops overlooking deep valleys that are rich in second-growth redwoods and Douglas fir.

After 1.2 miles of gentle walking, you are at a four-way trail intersection. To visit the sandstone formations, continue right on the Tafoni Trail, and after a short distance, turn right again on the signed trail, which is restricted to hikers only. Continue a few hundred feet to the formations.

These unique formations are known as "tafoni." They are formed by years of weathering that, according to geologists, is quite rare. The erosion process is caused by rain water and carbon dioxide joining to dissolve the calcium carbonate that holds the grains of sandstone together. As the dry weather draws moisture from inner parts of the rock, the capillary action sucks out the cement, the sand falls out, and interesting honeycomb depressions and shallow caves result. The hard rock in the sandstone is made up of concentrations of calcium carbonate that has formed a water-resistant cement. The geologists call this process "cavernous weathering," and it is rare, occurring in only a few places on earth. (For more information on tafoni, see "The Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Book," sixth edition, by Tom Taber.) Watch your step as you scamper around the formations, as the trail is poorly defined, and don't crawl into the formations. Pictures only, please.

Returning to the main trail, turn left to the junction, then right on the Fir Trail for one-half mile to Vista Point. From there, enjoy views to the south and west to the ocean. There are sitting areas in the sun and a tree for shade. We enjoyed bagels, cream cheese, and smoked salmon in the warm sunshine while contemplating the panorama around us.

The return hike to Skaggs Point can retrace your steps on Tafoni Trail, or you can take Fir Trail for a change of scene. Fir Trail is about the same distance, but it's a bit more strenuous as it continues east. The trail connects with two trails to the south--Manzanita Trail and an unnamed trail that parallels Skyline Boulevard connecting Fir and Methuselah trails. As you approach Skyline and pass the unnamed trail, continue left. A short distance ahead are a series of antennas and support buildings. Pass through the gate and continue on the asphalt road to the left of the antennas for a short distance to the trail head.

This was our first visit to the El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve in several years, and we were impressed with progress made by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in managing the preserve. The District adopted a Trails Plan in 1996 and have already constructed four miles of new trail in the northern part of the preserve. Future issues of the Weekly Walker column will visit other trails and scenic attractions in the preserve.

Correction: An informed reader points out that the Crystal Springs Trail between Edgewood Road and Highway 92 is NOT open for dogs. This trail is managed by the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Department, which has a strict No Dogs Policy for all trails in its system. If any of you have favorite dog trails, let the editor know, and we will publish a list.