Category: California

All photos © copyright 2011 Deborah M. Zajac.  All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in Pacifica, CA. I hiked a new to me trail. I started on the Coastal Trail. My goal was to connect to the  Mori Ridge Trail which would lead me up to Mori Point. There were several side trails but none of them were marked. After about half mile I started asking people who were coming down the opposite way where the trail to Mori Point was.  The second person I asked knew where it was. I had passed it!

I had to go back to the side trail with the 3 viewing benches. Taking that trail led me up. That felt right! Climbing up and rounding a corner was the first marker I saw that said I was on the Mori Ridge Trail.  Once you make it onto GGNRA property I think you’ll find more markers.

Not long after I took the turn onto Mori Ridge Trail I saw an old bunker or storage shed.

It looked pretty cool set back into the hillside.  A quick look inside told me it’s been used for a party or two in the past. There wasn’t anything remarkable in it.  A bench ran along a side wall, and it was filled with a lot of rubbish. The best view was definitely from outside. This bunker got me wondering what this land used to be. In the late 1800’s an Italian immigrant Stefeno Mori purchased 19 acres here and farmed the land.  He raised Brussels Sprouts, and artichokes. He built a huge 21 room guesthouse with a bar, dancehall, restaurant, and an Italian deli.  From the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy I read that The Mori Point Inn had quite the reputation during Prohibition days. The Inn was operated by the Mori family until the 1940’s.  The farm went into decline and in 2000 with the help of the community, and a Land trust, Mori Point was purchased by the Trust for Public Land and added to the Golden Gate National Parks.

This bunker/shed must be left over from the Mori farm.

From here the trail leads up to Mori Point. Once I got to the top I saw a Para-glider just about to jump off the Point. I quickly grabbed my camera and took this photo.

I have seen para-gliders soaring in the air currents before, but have never seen them actually preparing for their flight or JUMP!  As you see several hikers stopped

to watch the Jump. I was really too far away here and there was another Para-glider who was laying out his sail- glider? Not sure what it’s called, but I changed position and cameras then went

much closer to get a better shot of him jumping off the Point.

Here he is doing his pre-flight rope check,

Then he did something and WHOOSH! The wind caught the sail and it was up and the glider was struggling with the wind, and to get in position to take off.

On the runway,

He’s struggling with the wind which has caught his glider. He’s really pulling hard to run toward the cliff face. It must have felt like pushing against the worst head wind ever.

He got going, but they don’t run. I don’t think they can.  This was tough!  The jump wasn’t really a jump. He just sort of lifted his feet and let the current take him up.  Then he was airborne!

I spoke to him a minute while he was preparing for his flight.  He said it’s the Ridge winds they sail in. Thermal winds are further inland. I hadn’t known that before.

I watched with awe as the two soared high above me and the Pacific Ocean.

Soaring up in the light fog and above me I kept thinking these two were nuts, but at the same time I thought what a thrill it must be!   It was exciting to watch, but I have no desire to try this. Do you?

I left the para-gliders to the ridge winds and headed back toward Rockaway Beach along a trail with no name and no markers. The Ranger at Mori Point told me going this direction would take me out of GGNRA boundaries.

The trail is rugged with loose soil, and lots of ruts from rain runoff.  I stopped at an old foundation that might have been from the Mori guesthouse or Inn to have a look back at Mori Point.

That’s the second paraglider still riding the ridge winds. From here the trail gets pretty steep. You climb another 75-100 feet here to the top. Nearly at the top and before my decent I stopped one more time to look

back.  From up here I can see Pacifica Pier and beach too.

On my descent I had hoped to hook up with the trail I climbed up on making a neat little loop.  Since the trails were unmarked I was guessing and going by sight and feel. Fortunately, it worked just as I had hoped.

I caught the Coastal trail then went over to Pacifica Pier for the sunset.  The beach was nearly empty. I found a pretty view and set up to wait for sunset.  The fog was creeping in and the waves here were huge.  I wondered why there were no surfers here. I’ve seen them here before, but on this Saturday there were none.  There were gulls to watch instead.  They would run from the waves or fight for a bit of food. Gulls are always entertaining, and today was no exception. Then all to quickly I witnessed the day surrender to the night.

I left Pacifica with the sound of the surf in my ears, and the words of  Henry Beston  in my head. He said, ” The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach the adorner and refresher of the world.”

Nikon D300s, Nikon D90, Nikkor 17-35mm and 80-200mm, Tripod, and Remote Release Cable, B+W 3 stop Neutral Density filter