And Another Ring Mountain Sunset - 1/14/12

          Now I know I've been posting about Ring Mountain a lot lately but to be honest, the days are short and when I get off of work I'm really not too keen on driving any more than I have to. Ring Mountain is just a few minutes from San Rafael and is a great place to catch sunset because no matter which direction the clouds light up there is always some cool rock you can sneak into the foreground.
          I arrived at the parking area at the top of Taylor Ave. just in time to jog up to the ridge top and catch the setting sun.

Ring Mountain Sunset

Sunset

          A White Tailed Kite flew toward the ridge top and fluttered in place as it scanned the hillsides for pray. It dove at the grass several times but I did not see it come up with any dinner.
Lichen' the Sunset



Fire in the Sky



Twilight Zone
          I hung around well after sunset and played around with some long exposures, experimenting with using my headlamp to light-paint some rock features.

Light Painting
          One thing I've realized over the past few adventures to Ring Mountain is how much I like it up there after dark. Especially on a moonlit night, as there are not many trees and the open hillsides and trails are easy to traverse. As I walked back to my car I stepped quietly and carefully seeing if I would come across any wildlife. Indeed I came across two black tailed deer who seemed caught off guard as I popped onto the scene.

Another Ring Mountain Sunset - 1/8/12

          Late in the evening I decided to drive the short distance to Ring Mountain to watch another sunset. Besides China Camp, it is one of the closest nature get-aways to my home, therefore I utilize it often.

Sunset from Ring Mountain

Ring Mountain Pathway

Ring Mountain Ridgetops

Moonrise
          Again I stuck around until after dark and was once again swooped by an owl.

Light Painted Rock

Looking West
          As I walked back to the car under the light of the moon, I was suddenly overcome by the loud sound of what I thought was rushing water. It turned out to be a passing flock of birds overhead with their rapidly beating wings emulating the sound of a rain stick. It happened once more before I reached the car and I was very curious as to what type of birds they were.

Ring Mountain Sunset - 1/2/12

Ring Mountain Sunset
          With the days being shorter I don't really have enough light after work for a decent hike. But I have been able to take advantage of getting out to watch several sunsets which has it's advantages too; Besides being the time where nature puts on its best displays of light and color, I find that most hikers end their treks before sunset, leaving most trails vacant offering greater serenity. If you read my blog postings you'll recognize I use the word serenity quite frequently. For me personally, serenity is most profound when I'm away from other human beings and surrounded by a relatively unmolested environment in nature. That is not to say that I do not enjoy hiking alongside my fellow man, it is just that there is an innate calling in each and every one of us, whether conscious of it or not, to be one with nature. Immersing oneself in nature and solitude is a great way to satisfy or fulfill those innate desires.
          Parking my car at the top of Taylor in Corte Madera, I hiked to the top of the ridge and then followed the fire road past Elephant Rock to the next rock studded hilltop. Precariously stacked rock features are plentiful as are the vistas from the San Francisco Skyline to Mt. Tamalpais and Marin Headlands to the East Bay Hills and San Pablo Bay.

Rock Cairns atop Ring Mountain
          As the sun set, right on Que the few people that were nearby headed back to the trailhead. Although most of the clouds faded before sunset, I enjoyed the sky change colors leaving one barrel cloud scorched bright pink.

Rockin' Ring Mountain

Jumbles of Rocks
          Again, Like a few weeks ago, I heard the coyotes yelping and was even lucky enough to have an owl swoop nearby a few times. I believe it was a burrowing owl, although not 100% positive.