Post by sfskier on Jan 26, 2012 20:36:25 GMT -8
The map and directions need to be updated for the Steep Ravine Half Marathon course.
Several parts around the Pantoll Ranger station are incorrect. I have hiked and run the trails for years and I have a Tom Harrison Mt Tam Trail Map in front of me - there is no way to turn "right" onto the Ben Johnson trail from the Dipsea. You need to take a left off the Dipsea to a short 0.2 mi downhill segment to get you over to the Ben Johnson trail before you can turn right on to it - but not from the Dipsea. Is this what you mean?
From Pantoll, if you take the Stapleveldt Trail, it does not veer into the TCC, it stays the Stapleveldt to the Dipsea (thats what the trail map says). There is a confusing 4 way trail intersection when the Stapleveldt/Ben Johnson/TCC meet. The map nor directions are clear at this point. A fat marker over sections with multiple intersections and optional routes is confusing. A detailed map is needed with accurate directions.
Also from the bottom of the Ben Johnson, you are highly simplifying the directions by saying "turn left on the Sierra". You hit a T at the bottom of the Ben Johnson, can turn left or right and still get to the Sierra. If you turn left (onto the Bootjack), you need to turn right at the next intersection. The Sierra Tail is actually 1.0 miles not 1.7miles. The 0.7 missing is actually the Eastwood Trail. I ran this 2 weeks ago and stopped at this T intersection before figuring out which way to go. You cannot simply turn left onto the Sierra, which doesn't even exist until another 0.7 miles on other trails. There is another intersection not covered 0.4 miles up from the Ben Johnson where left leads you to Sierra on a dirt road and veering right goes up a trail. Do we stay on the Eastwood dirt road? Once you get to the Alice Eastwood Camp, the Sierra Trail start is actually tucked behind a building and getting to the head of it is not explained.
Again by saying you take the Troop 80 trail 1.2 miles to the TCC is over simplifying the directions where at 0.9 you need to take a left or right, left takes you to an open field where you need to cross the Bootjack Trail to find the TCC trail - which is not 1.9 miles to the Dipsea but again involves the same previous intersection where it hits and becomes the Staplevedt Trail. The intersection occurs at 1.4 miles into the TCC. Is this what the "zigzag left, then right" part is suppose to cover?
This coupled with the fact that some single track parallels dirt roads (Dipsea and near Sierra) makes for 1) wrong directions, 2) over simplified directions, 3) various routes/options one could take. Even as someone who has been on these trails many times, I'm not sure which is the EXACT route, as there are many trails/options.
Biggest complaint is I don't see how you think you can turn right onto the Ben Johnson Trail from the Dipsea. The Dipsea runs East/West. Right off the Dipsea would turn you south towards SF in the middle of nowhere. The Muir Woods is to the left of the Dipsea while headed East on it.
Also, the top of the Steep Ravine dumps you into the Pantoll parking lot, so it could be clearer as to how to get to the Stapleveldt.
Please update your maps and directions. I hope the course will be HIGHLY marked as there is no doubt people could go the wrong way.
Thanks,
Blaine
Several parts around the Pantoll Ranger station are incorrect. I have hiked and run the trails for years and I have a Tom Harrison Mt Tam Trail Map in front of me - there is no way to turn "right" onto the Ben Johnson trail from the Dipsea. You need to take a left off the Dipsea to a short 0.2 mi downhill segment to get you over to the Ben Johnson trail before you can turn right on to it - but not from the Dipsea. Is this what you mean?
From Pantoll, if you take the Stapleveldt Trail, it does not veer into the TCC, it stays the Stapleveldt to the Dipsea (thats what the trail map says). There is a confusing 4 way trail intersection when the Stapleveldt/Ben Johnson/TCC meet. The map nor directions are clear at this point. A fat marker over sections with multiple intersections and optional routes is confusing. A detailed map is needed with accurate directions.
Also from the bottom of the Ben Johnson, you are highly simplifying the directions by saying "turn left on the Sierra". You hit a T at the bottom of the Ben Johnson, can turn left or right and still get to the Sierra. If you turn left (onto the Bootjack), you need to turn right at the next intersection. The Sierra Tail is actually 1.0 miles not 1.7miles. The 0.7 missing is actually the Eastwood Trail. I ran this 2 weeks ago and stopped at this T intersection before figuring out which way to go. You cannot simply turn left onto the Sierra, which doesn't even exist until another 0.7 miles on other trails. There is another intersection not covered 0.4 miles up from the Ben Johnson where left leads you to Sierra on a dirt road and veering right goes up a trail. Do we stay on the Eastwood dirt road? Once you get to the Alice Eastwood Camp, the Sierra Trail start is actually tucked behind a building and getting to the head of it is not explained.
Again by saying you take the Troop 80 trail 1.2 miles to the TCC is over simplifying the directions where at 0.9 you need to take a left or right, left takes you to an open field where you need to cross the Bootjack Trail to find the TCC trail - which is not 1.9 miles to the Dipsea but again involves the same previous intersection where it hits and becomes the Staplevedt Trail. The intersection occurs at 1.4 miles into the TCC. Is this what the "zigzag left, then right" part is suppose to cover?
This coupled with the fact that some single track parallels dirt roads (Dipsea and near Sierra) makes for 1) wrong directions, 2) over simplified directions, 3) various routes/options one could take. Even as someone who has been on these trails many times, I'm not sure which is the EXACT route, as there are many trails/options.
Biggest complaint is I don't see how you think you can turn right onto the Ben Johnson Trail from the Dipsea. The Dipsea runs East/West. Right off the Dipsea would turn you south towards SF in the middle of nowhere. The Muir Woods is to the left of the Dipsea while headed East on it.
Also, the top of the Steep Ravine dumps you into the Pantoll parking lot, so it could be clearer as to how to get to the Stapleveldt.
Please update your maps and directions. I hope the course will be HIGHLY marked as there is no doubt people could go the wrong way.
Thanks,
Blaine
