Last Sunday at Tomales Beach Don mentioned he had seen the elk and they were bugling. This reminded me of one of the many reasons I live here so this morning I was out at Tomales Point before sunrise. If you have never been out to Tomales Point (aka Pierce Point) you should go now while the elk are still in rut. You can see the elk up close (and hear them bugling) without even getting out of the car. This is cowboy TV at its finest.
The best time to go is sunrise and sunset when there are few people around (like none) and the elk are most active. If they are near the road just park and shut off the motor but don’t get out. Within a few minutes you will be part of the scene. Can the elk be dangerous? Yes, I think so. I keep my distance and have never had a close call.
There is an 8 mile round trip hike to the point. On a clear day this is one of best hikes in the bay area. About 20 minutes out notice the old rock wall that traverses the point. To the south the rocks point to the Farallon Islands and to the north Mt. St. Helena. No one seems to know the origin. Was it the first settlers? Perhaps the Miwoks? Aliens?
A few photos from this morning:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ptreyeshiker/ElkAtTomalesPtSept12010#
If I have enough energy it’s sunset with the whales tonight at Bodega Head.
Joe
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