When Sunday, August 22nd, 2010. Meet at 8:45am for a 9:00am start.

To join the carpool, meet at Baseball field parking lot, 2499 Geng Rd, Palo Alto (off Embarcadero, two blocks east of Hwy 101) at 7:25am for departure no later than 7:35am.

Where Old Mill Park, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Free, street parking is available, but can be in short supply on weekends. More park info can be found here.

How Take 101 through San Francisco and cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Exit at the Mill Valley / Stinson Beach exit. Proceed westbound on Highway 1 for about 0.6 miles to the traffic light at Tam Junction; bear right (this becomes Miller). Follow Miller Ave. for about 2.5 miles to Throckmorton. Just after crossing Sunnyside, turn right at the stop sign and continue for about half a block (still Miller Ave). Turn left on Throckmorton and go three blocks to Old Mill Park (on your left). Parking is on the left side of the street. Don't park in a restricted space. It's about 60 minutes driving time from the car pool location. Here is Google's version of the route.

What An intermediate run of 7.1 miles with 2300 foot elevation gain. Some runners may then opt to run back to the start, thus doubling the distance and a bit more than doubling the elevation gain. Otherwise it's a sorta fun bus ride back to the start. Exact change required for the bus. So if planning to ride the bus back, bring two crisp dollar bills to use in the on-bus fare machine.

This is a remote trail run and each runner should carry two water bottles (or equivalent hydration bladder). There's water at the 2 mile point, at Muir Woods, then not again for 5 (hilly) miles.

To avoid having to search for lost runners we ask every runner to find other runners of approximately the same running ability to form a group. The runners in each group must be able to account for their partners to make sure nobody is lost.

No post-run pot luck for this event. But good ole American fare is available at the Parkside Cafe in Stinson Beach. Even those running back to the start may like to indulge. Also, a good idea to carry a long-sleeve as it's often cool and windy at the beach.

Why Because everyone should get a chance to run the Dipsea Trail site of the oldest trail race in the US. Also, several Western States Endurance Run finishers (Don 4 times!) will be on hand to answer questions and relate Ultra-running adventures.

More Info Contact .
Or after August 10th, stop by Zombie Runner and ask for Don or Gillian.

The course goes thru several jurisdictions and as of right now, we don't have a single consistent map to refer you too. You can get a general idea of the terrain from Google's Terrain view of the area.

7.1 miles with 2300 foot elevation gain. Trail directions courtesy of the Quad Dipsea event.
SEGMENT	MILES	TOTAL
Starting from the intersection of Throckmorton and Cascade Drive in Mill Valley:

Proceed southwest on Cascade Drive. Old Mill Park is on your left. At the end of the block, Cascade bears to the right, but go straight up what looks like a driveway. About 50 yards up the hill, you'll see the bottom of the infamous stairs (there are 676 of them).

At the top of the first set of stairs, turn right onto the street. At the first corner, turn sharply left. Look for the next set of stairs on your right.

At the top of these stairs again turn left and look for the next stairs on the right.

At the top of these stairs, turn right (uphill) onto the trail that parallels the road (Sequoia Valley Rd). Bear to the right on Walsh through the open gate into the sub-division.

Stay on the cul-de-sac until the end. Go straight out the back - the trail briefly becomes dirt. After about 100 yards, it becomes paved again. This is Bay View Drive. Follow it to the end of the street.

At the intersection with Panoramic Highway), cross the street to the trail (at about 1 o'clock).

About 150 yards down the trail take the left hand fork (downhill) and follow it to the street below.

Note: in the winter of 2006 there was a slide and washout that closed this section of trail. Turn right on Muir Woods Road and follow it down the hill for about half a mile (be careful of traffic). Look for a bunch of mailboxes on your left and the trail head immediately west of them to pick up the trail again.

As you approach the mailboxes, you'll see the trailhead directly across the dirt road. Follow the trail down the hill. At the bottom it widens, and you make a hairpin turn to your right. You'll see some a park maintenance building on your right and a road (Muir Woods Road again) straight ahead.

Cross the road into the parking lot on the other side. On your right hand side you'll see a railing and some steps leading down to a Redwood Creek. There's a drinking fountain here (this is the only water until you get to Stinson Beach, so top off your bottles). You're at approximately mile 2.

Cross the creek and follow the trail on the other side up the hill through the redwoods.

After about a quarter mile of uphill you'll come out to Deer Park Fire Road. The trail and the fire road criss-cross several times over the next couple of miles, essentially parallel to each other. The Dipsea Trail always follows the single-track trail.

After being out in the open for a while, you will go back into the deep woods again and cross the Deer Park fire road one last time, climbing a big hill (known as Cardiac) to the top, where it comes out into the open again.

At the top there is an intersection with a fire road (Old Mine Road). Go straight across. This is approximately mile 4. If it's clear, you'll get your first view of the ocean here.

The next mile or so follows a section of trail that was refurbished in 2008 and is now a very smooth and slightly downhill trail that locals are calling the "Freeway."

The trail eventually cuts off to the right into some trees. After about 200 yards you'll see a fence straight ahead, where the trail bends to the right.

After about a half-mile, the trail turns left and you go down a stretch of uneven steps called Steep Ravine. Be careful here. At the bottom, there is a wooden bridge. Cross it and turn left.

After about 100 yards there is a fire road. Follow the trail which goes straight across the fire road and up the hill (nicknamed Insult Hill).

This brings you out into an open section called The Moors. From here you can see Stinson Beach for the first time. The trail crosses a couple more fire roads, but just keep your same bearing and stay on the single-track trail.

You drop back into the woods for the last time and come out to a road (Panoramic Highway). Cross the road and follow the dirt trail. You'll quickly come to another road (Highway 1).

Cross Highway 1 (watch for traffic), veer right, and take a left on Arenal Ave. Follow it for about two blocks. You'll see a small cafe/snack stand on your left.

Congratulations, you made it.

If you'd like to go all the way to the beach (of course you would!), cross the bridge and follow the path.
Want more?
SEGMENT	MILES	TOTAL
7.1 miles not enough for you? Some of us will run back to Mill Valley. Otherwise enjoy yourself at Stinson, eat some food, and catch the bus back with others who will be doing the same.