January 22, 2000 By 7:45 a group of twelve enthusiastic scouts, nine weary caffeine deprived adults, and one eight year old Girl Scout formed to attempt a 20 mile walk along the San Francisco waterfront, across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back. Several of the adults had previously hiked this particular route. Some of the youth were experienced in 10 mile hikes but none had attempted a 20 mile hike before. The hike started by boarding a Richmond bound BART train at 8:00 a.m. At the Bay Fair station our group transferred to a San Francisco bound train. We arrived at the Embarcadero station by 8:45 a.m. By 9:00 a.m. we were walking in front of the San Francisco Ferry Build starting our hike in earnest. The weather cooperated by providing a light cooling fog in the morning, burning off to high altitude clouds and blue skies by noon. When the last of the group returned to Union City at 8:00 p.m. the first hint of a light sprinkling of rain started to fall. During the trip the weather was perfect. Our first rest was at Pier 39. Here the caffeine deprived adults were able buy their favorite Java Juice. We started again walking past Fisherman's Wharf, the Hyde Street Historical Ships pier, The Cannery, and Ghirardelli Square. The elevation now increased to about 150 feet as we climbed a small hill walking through Fort Mason. At the base of the Municipal pier we stopped to regroup. Once everyone had caught up this was the first view of our ultimate destination across the bay looking toward Yellow Bluff in Sausalito. Several of the scouts felt this was our lunch stop but we had only hiked for 5 kilometers or approximately 3 miles. Our next destination was the northern end of Crissy Field. Reaching Crissy Field one scout and his father decided to turn back. Our group pushed on up to the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge reaching an elevation of 185 feet. By 12:15 we had reached the Golden Gate Bridge north side visitor center for a planned lunch stop. The lunch stop was at 11.5 kilometers or approximately 8 miles. While eating lunch we reviewed how to read a USGS Topo map completing several items for all Second Class Scouts. Several scouts commented that the trip across the bridge took 45 minutes. The return crossing took 40 minutes. After a 40 minute lunch break we all departed in single file out of the visitor parking area down Alexandra Drive against the on coming traffic. The mile and a half stretch down Alexandra Drive probably was the most dangerous stretch of the entire hike. Reaching the water front we tool a short 20 minute rest and started the journey back by the same route. After crossing the bridge some of the group found it difficult to stop and rest. After a rest it was difficult to get your body moving again. Our group of twenty now split into two groups. Three of the adults, one Girl Scout, and three scouts stayed back with two of the slowest hikers. This group of nine never saw the other eleven hikers. The slower group reached Pier 39 by 6:00 p.m. and stopped for a much needed rest and dinner. After renewing their energy a game of tag formed along the last section of the Embarcadero. By 7:00 everyone reached the BART station exhausted and worn-out but filled with a sense of achievement for completing a day long 20 mile hike. The highlight of our hike was walking through what was once an the largest Army air field on the west coast, Crissy Field. Before the Army acquired the land it was a natural lagoon border by sand dunes and native plants. This soon changed when the politicians in San Francisco proposed the site for the Pacific Pan American Exposition. Mud from the bay was pumped into the lagoon to turn it into a building site for the many pavilions that would be needed. When the exposition closed the Army found the site perfect for their newly formed Army Air Core. The Army continued to manage the Crissy Field until 1984 when it was turned over to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 1998 a plan was started to restore Crissy Field back to it's original condition. In doing so the old lagoon was dug out where it originally formed. On November 9, 1999, San Francisco Bay waters were once again allowed to flow in reclaiming the lagoon. A major restoration of the surrounding sand dunes and the re-planting native plants is currently under way. If you would like to help the San Francisco Bay Conservation District in their effort to restore Crissy Field call 415-4 Crissy. Today this valuable piece of San Francisco Bay is returning to the magnificent gem of land the Ohlone Indians lived, hunted and fished on. Pete Godfrey

More City Hike Pictures by Marvin Williams
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