Monday Footloose Hiking Series

Michael's flagship hiking series, which began in 1984, is called Footloose. It takes place Mondays 10:00 am -1:30 pm in two 14-week sessions, fall and spring. Discover interesting places in Marin, San Francisco and Sonoma counties, learn the natural history of the Bay Area and meet fascinating, fun people. What a good way to start the week! Warning: there is often a long wait list for this series. Current hikers get first priority; some have been hiking for 20 years in the group! There are two leaders sharing the series -- Michael Ellis and Armando Quintero.

This trip takes place on fourteen Mondays, Fall 2009, Fall 2010 andFourteen Mondays, Spring 2010

The Mojave and Death Valley

The focus of this weeklong car camping adventure is the Mojave Desert. We stay the entire week at a private oasis along the Amargosa River near delicious hot springs, just outside Death Valley National Park. Here Willow Creek bubbles to the surface, attracting a plethora of wildlife. The old T and T railroad (the beds battered by desert floods and home now only to coyotes and rattlesnakes) used to run through here. We head north into Death Valley and surrounding wild lands on day trips. Here the names say it all - Badwater, Dante's View and the Devil's Palette. These areas contain some of the most fantastic scenery this side of Mars. Dramatic sunsets, eerie tree yucca forests, sand dunes, rugged mountains, volcanic craters, desert tortoises, chuckwallas, coyotes, golden eagles, and abundant desert wildflowers are all found here. Exploring on foot and by car we travel the backcountry of this still Wild West. This trip always fills immediately.

DATES:March 28-April 3, 2010 (nearly full) and April 4-10, 2010 (nearly full)

Bhutan = Shangri-La

The little-known kingdom of Bhutan, approximately the size of Switzerland, is one of the last strongholds of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. Although isolated for centuries by its geographical situation, bound as it is on the south by dense tropical jungles and to the north by the mighty Himalayas, in the last twenty years it has slowly opened its frontier to a few privileged visitors and tourists. Last year only 30,000 tourists visited the country. The only way to travel into this untouched peaceful land is with a government-sanctioned travel agency.

This moderate touring trip with numerous day hikes provides a wide, nearly comprehensive overview of the Kingdom of Bhutan, with a particular emphasis on the flowering plants and trees for which the Himalayan region is so well known. Few places on Earth can match the breathtaking splendor of Bhutan -- a region of incomparable biological richness and natural beauty. Its lush, temperate cloud forests of pine and rhododendron provide sanctuary for a great variety of flora and fauna. Bumthang, located in the geographical heart of the Kingdom, is comprised of four high valleys covered in forests that embrace small monasteries, chortens, traditional stone houses and markets.

While this is not a trek, you must be in moderately good shape to participate. We will be hiking at elevations that range between 4500 and 11000' on steep trails that may not be well maintained.

The Lakes Basin

A little known biological region is tucked away in the northern Sierra Nevada and I can take you there. While most people are crowding into Lake Tahoe or Yosemite Valley, the Lakes Basin area of the Feather River is virtually empty. Located near Yuba Pass along Highway 49, this area is home to over 23 lakes. From our comfortable group campsite we are right in the center of numerous streams, lakes and waterfalls. The summer wildflowers literally spill from lake to lake. We hike through the montane meadows and open forests to high mountain vistas. We will visit the nearby Sierra Valley; one of the premier birding spots in California.This is the largest alpine valley in North America; part of the continental crust that was dropped by the same faulting that raised the Sierra Nevada. Here are abundant Sandhill Cranes Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Wilson's Phalaropes, Black Terns, and a host of ducks and other marsh-birds.   Another great highlight is a tour of the Plumas-Eureka State Park, Jamison Mine and historic Johnville. Some of us can take the challenging hike up the Sierra Buttes. Evenings are spent stargazing, sitting in front of a big fire, and at least one night hike. We will spend a week thoroughly discovering this wonderful part of the world. 

Mount Lassen

On this trip, we spend long summer days exploring California's least visited National Park:Mt. Lassen. This geothermal wonderland last erupted in 1917, a blink of a geologic eye, and until Mt. St. Helens blew in 1980, it was the only active volcano in the contiguous US. In many ways, Lassen Volcanic National Park is like our own little Yellowstone: remote high country with sulfur springs, boiling mud pots, steam vents and abundant wildlife and bird activity. Four Native American tribes intersected here (Ishi, the so-called last wild Indian, came from this region). In August there will still be beautiful wildflower displays. The flora is a delightful mix of the Cascade Range and the northern Sierra. The weather will be perfect for incredible stargazing and a lot of hiking. We will have the option to climb Lassen Peak at 10457 '. We are based at one group camp on the peaceful east side of the park, right on Juniper Lake. But if you don't like to camp, there is a motel option.

Gorillas and Chimps

Hello:
 I am very excited about  going back to Uganda and Rwanda.  My wife, Carolyn, and I had an amazing 10 day experience this past March  and then in October I took a group of 14  kindred spirits. We had a lot of fun. A tremendous amount of healing has occurred in both countries after suffering through some very dark years. All the people we met were warm and generous.  Kigali is one of the cleanest and safest cities I have ever visited not just in Africa but in any part of the world. Our experiences with the local guides, the lodge staff and the wildlife (especially the gorillas) were all awe inspiring. I want the world to know that these two countries are very safe to visit.  By bringing tourists we are helping to preserve the highly endangered wildlife of this part of Africa. And if you have been to other game parks in Africa you will be delighted at the lack of other vehicles in the world-class national parks.

 I have all the details worked out for our journey  next September. There are some significant up front non-refundable fees that are unique to this trip. Basically every visit with a gorilla family costs  $500 and with the chimpanzees is $100. I have booked 3 trips with gorilla families and one trip with the chimps that is part of our collective itinerary.   It is possible to only do two  mountain gorilla treks if you would like to save $500.   Please let me know.

The gorilla visits are limited to 8 people for a total of one hour actually spent with the family group after the gorillas are located. There are no guarantees about sightings but success rate is over 90%. The hike to each habituated primate family can be very challenging – up very steep volcanic slopes in rain and off trail through stinging nettle and dense vegetation. These trips can last from 2 to 8 hours!! One never knows. You need to be in pretty good physical condition to do this portion of the trip. If you decide after the first gorilla family visit that you do not have the ability or desire to do the other ones, you are out of luck. These are non-transferable and non-refundable costs. Sorry, not fair but those are the rules.

The land cost of this trip is  $7000. The non-refundable deposit for the land portion is $1000 and combined with the gorilla and chimp fees the total non-refundable deposit is $2100. And if you want extra gorilla visits add $500 for each one. Checks should be made out Michael Ellis and sent ASAP to insure your space. I need the registration form filled out as well. I need this right now to reserve the visits.
 
Airfare is not included. You may want to use your frequent flyer miles or purchase your own ticket. If you come in or leave at a different time that the group flights then there will be additional charges for transfers. You should plan on arriving in Entebbe on September 17, 2010 on KLM and departing Kigali, Rwanda on Oct. 3 on KLM flight #. I am working with a travel agency Airtrek that  can book this flight for you for about $2000 from SFO directly to Entebbe or for $2300 with overnight in Amsterdam.
 

Madagascar postponed until 2011

The world’s fourth largest island is home to an increasingly threatened population of unique, rare and endangered plants and animals. This 600-mile long island has been separated from the African continent for the last 165 million years and 80% of the plants and animals that evolved in this isolation are found no where else in the world. Madagascar’s most famous mammals are its lemurs – 33 species of primates that range in size from the tiny nocturnal mouse lemur to the huge black and white Indris.  Lonely Planet says: “Madagascar's forests are a shimmering, seething mass of a trillion stems and dripping leaves and slithering, jumping, quirky creatures out of nature's bag of tricks: lemurs, periwinkles and baobabs, aloes, geckoes, sifakas and octopus trees. Sadly, they are threatened by aggressive deforestation.”

This deforestation was done by humans who arrived in Madagascar only 1000 years ago. And they did not come from Africa but rafted west from Malaysia! I spent over two months exploring this country. Our itinerary includes most of the best-preserved areas where our chances of seeing the diversity of bizarre baobabs, changeable chameleons, leaping lemurs, and bodacious birds are best. This trip is limited in number, which makes wildlife spotting (lemurs!) in the dense forest much easier for everyone.

COST:  $6200 land costs and internal air (same price as in 2008!)

The Galapagos Islands, Quito and the Upper Amazon Basin

Not just one but three trips in one! Six hundred miles off of Ecuador, right on the equator, lay the Galapagos Islands. Every person interested in the wild things of the planet must make at least one trip to this amazing place. Giant prickly pear cactus, tree ferns, and monstrous daisies lend a surreal aspect to the landscape. The exotic fauna shows little fear of humans. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, blue-footed boobies, lava lizards, sea lions, fur seals and even the fish are friendly. Our boat, one of the top ships in the Islands, has air conditioning, a fresh-water maker, and even an ice machine.

In the Highlands of Ecuador is dramatic Quito, 9200' and surrounded by the Andes. We shop at colorful Indian markets and clamber on the slopes of snow capped volcanoes. Next we fly into the upper Amazon Basin for a stay at a comfortable lodge—you will swear you are on a Hollywood set. There are jaguars, crocodiles, piranhas, monkeys, sloths and more exotic tropical plants and birds than you can imagine. We will venture daily into the surrounding jungle on foot and by canoe. What a trip!

DATE: January 12-29, 2011

COST: $6775 land cost

Baja by Boat

This was the first international trip I ever lead way back in 1980 and it remains one of my favorite natural history experiences. This 12-day tour includes hiking and birding on remote islands and whale watching with the gray, blue and humpback whales of the Pacific Ocean side of Baja California, plus an extension into the southern Sea of Cortez where blue, humpback, fin, and sperm whales are found. Up to a dozen different species of whales and dolphins, four species of pinnipeds, and scores of sea and shorebirds are possible on this itinerary. We snorkel with tropical reef fishes, invertebrates, and sea lions at a variety of island and peninsula locations in the Sea of Cortez. Passengers board The Searcher in San Diego and fly home from Cabo San Lucas.

DATE: Wednesday, March 9 to Saturday, March 20, 2011
COST: $3800 (est.). $500 non-refundable deposit

Mojave Desert and Death Valley, April 2011

The focus of this weeklong car camping adventure is the Mojave Desert. We stay the entire week at a private oasis along the Amargosa River near delicious hot springs, just outside Death Valley National Park. Here Willow Creek bubbles to the surface, attracting a plethora of wildlife. The old T and T railroad (the beds battered by desert floods and home now only to coyotes and rattlesnakes) used to run through here. We head north into Death Valley and surrounding wild lands on day trips. Here the names say it all - Badwater, Dante's View and the Devil's Palette. These areas contain some of the most fantastic scenery this side of Mars. Dramatic sunsets, eerie tree yucca forests, sand dunes, rugged mountains, volcanic craters, desert tortoises, chuckwallas, coyotes, golden eagles, and abundant desert wildflowers are all found here. Exploring on foot and by car we travel the backcountry of this still Wild West. This trip always fills immediately.

DATES: April 3 to 9. April 10-16, 2011

COST: $475

The Torquoise Coast and Exotic Turkey

 The Eastern Mediterranean was the cradle of civilization almost 10,000 years ago. To travel in Turkey is to explore the roots of modern day civilization itself. The alphabet and our numerical system originated in these crossroads as well as most of the great religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This exotic country, at the junction of Europe and Asia, boasts magnificent Greek and Roman antiquities as well as the extraordinary legacies of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Now it is a dynamic, modern, democratic nation with friendly people, delicious cuisine, fantastic shopping and beautiful scenery. In addition to visiting Turkey's most important historical and archeological landmarks, we will spend five days sailing the famed Turquoise coast. The sea is crystal clear and the coast is lined with pretty fishing villages and pristine beaches. Our local guide is my dear friend, Yasemin. She is currently writing a guide to the wildflowers of her remarkable country. She is also one of the cultural highlights of this trip!

DATE: May 15 - June 3, 2011

COST: $6900 (est.) Non-Refundable Deposit $500

The Pantanal and the Amazon

In southwestern Brazil lies one of the world's most extraordinary natural areas: the Pantanal. It is an enormous wetland the size of South Dakota. Some biologists compare it to the African savanna with its vast prairies divided by lazy meandering rivers, forested at the water's edge. This area teems with life and is a refuge for many of South America's largest mammals: tapirs, jaguars, capybaras, marsh deer and giant anteaters.  It is a true gathering ground for South American ecosystems. The flora and fauna of the Amazon and Atlantic forests of the north, the Chaco grasslands from the east and west and the pampas to the south all intersect in the Pantanal to create one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. 

Next we fly north into the Amazon Basin and stay at beautiful Cristalino Jungle Lodge, nestled in a private forest reserve which borders the Cristalino State Park and is part of an extensive protected area that extends northward into the adjacent state of Pará. This unique region includes pristine forest and aquatic habitats that support a very rich fauna and flora, and contains many species found only in this part of the Amazon The lodge is internationally known for its diversity of birds and butterflies, and the number of tourists visiting Cristalino is limited to ensure a minimal environmental impact.

Botswana and Zimbabwe

This is one incredible journey.  We begin with a two-day visit to the Kalahari Desert, one of the richest deserts in the world. There is no landscape like it—a bizarre saltpan the size of Switzerland. It is home to ostriches, Oryx and brown hyenas. Then we leave the dry behind and fly into the Okavango Delta and the game parks of Botswana! Check out this abbreviated animal list: cheetahs, lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, wild dogs, Cape buffaloes, Red lechwes, the largest concentration of elephants left on the continent, zebras, rare Sitatunga antelopes, crocodiles, hippos and more birds than you can possibly imagine. Our mobile-tented safari offers a journey that is unrivalled in its intimacy with the Botswana wilderness without compromising on comfort or safety. Our camps are exclusive to our small group. The spacious tents have en-suite toilets and showers as well as shaded verandas; meals are served in our dining tent. We will have the same highly trained guides for the duration of our safari; they will take us through the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and the Savuti region of Chobe National Park, some of the most famous wildlife areas in Africa. Well-trained camp staff and the finest bush chefs, all of which makes for a relaxing atmosphere, accompany the guides.We finish the trip with a visit to one of the world's most spectacular natural phenomena:Victoria Falls.

Extension: The Cape Region

An extension to the Botswana trip is a visit to the Cape Region of South Africa, one of the richest botanical areas in the entire world!The Cape is considered a global epicenter of biodiversity, and we will be there in austral springtime at the peak of the wildflower bloom. There are 8600 species of plants, 5800 of which are endemic! With its dramatic Table Mountain backdrop and inspiring ocean views, Capetown is one of the world's most beautiful cities—the San Francisco of the Southern Hemisphere.  The restaurants are superb and the views are stupendous from the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Just south is the Cape of Good Hope, a ruggedly spectacular area where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve is home for baboons, antelopes, birds and many indigenous plants. We visit the Jackass Penguin colony at Boulders Beach and we will even have the opportunity to watch the Southern Right whales that are mating and calving this time of year. We will drive through the dramatic Cape wine lands to taste the famed South Africa wines, visit homesteads, and view the magnificent Cape Dutch architecture. In the Cederberg area we see the ancient rock art of the indigenous Bushman (San people). There is so much to do in such a small area!  The people of South Africa are warm and gracious, and it is a fascinating country undergoing historic change. 

Namibia

In southern Africa, Namibia is a country of startling contrasts that straddles two great deserts.The Namib (after which it is named) is the oldest desert on the planet, and its sea of red sand lies along the Atlantic coastline; in the eastern interior lies the Kalahari, a vast and sparsely vegetated savannah that sprawls across the border into neighboring countries. Namibia is celebrated for its vast open landscapes, an abundance of space in which to inhale deeply and bask in an infinite supply of blue skies, sun-drenched weather and tranquil starry nights.

 This safari explores five distinct regions: the sands and red dunes of Sossusvlei; the chilly, life-filled coasts at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay; the stark plains of Damaraland, with their desert-adapted elephants; and the amazing wildlife abundance on the Etosha savannah. The trip concludes with a breathtaking scenic flight over dramatic desert landscapes for a 4-day stay at the exclusive Skeleton Coast Camp situated in a private concession in the Skeleton Coast Park. This is one of the most inhospitable but hauntingly beautiful places on the planet: desolate and uninhabited. It has everything, from roaring sand dunes, windswept plains, towering canyons and saltpans to seal colonies and shipwrecks. Full-day explorations in 4x4 Land Rovers will take all these in, with picnics on the way. One day includes a cultural visit to a remote village of the Himba people.

BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS

The return of the waterfowl to California’s Great Central Valley has been described as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, and it happens every winter. We’ll visit the famous Gray Lodge Refuge to see thousands of Snow Geese joining Canada and White-fronted Geese. Around the defunct volcanic Sutter Buttes we’ll see aerial displays of the sandhill cranes and tundra swans. We’ll hike around the Colusa Wildlife Refuge and then drive to the Sacramento Refuge for more avian delights: ruddy ducks, pintails, shovelers, bitterns, night herons, mallards, harriers, rough-legged hawks, gallinules et al. Not only will we learn how to identify these birds, but also we’ll learn about their evolution, behavior and physiology. Discover why so many people make this an annual trip. It’s fun! You’ll need to arrange your own lodging after you receive a list of the area’s accommodations. 

DATES: Nov.30- Dec. 1, Dec. 2-3, Dec. 4-5, 2010

Greatest Show on Earth: The Serengeti

(see earlier description)