Visitor Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Visitor Frequently Asked Questions Is Pepperwood open to the Public? General access to the preserve is limited to our diverse and frequent public educational and volunteer programs. Unscheduled visits and drop-ins are not allowed. Although a number of classes and workshops held at the preserve are open to the public, the preserve is not open to individual or group recreational access. Prior attendance in classes or participation in hikes does not qualify visitors for future automatic open access. Please note that entry onto Pepperwood Preserve is restricted from the entrance at Franz Valley Road. Unauthorized visits via vehicle or on foot are prohibited. Where is Pepperwood Preserve? Pepperwood is located between the towns of Santa Rosa and Calistoga in Sonoma County, California. Our main entrance, and our private driveway, Pepperwood Preserve Road, are located at 3450 Franz Valley Rd. Our physical and mailing address is 2130 Pepperwood Preserve Rd. Santa Rosa, CA How do I get to Pepperwood from Hwy 101? Pepperwood is approximately 8 miles from the River Rd Guerneville/Calistoga exits off 101. Highway 101 divides River Rd (to the west towards Guerneville) from Mark West Springs Rd (to the east towards Calistoga). As you drive up Mark West Springs Rd, just past Mark West Lodge (5.4 miles from Hwy 101), there is a direct transition to Porter Creek Road. You go 1.6 Miles further to make a left onto Franz Valley Rd (where Safari West is located). Go past Safari West and one mile up Franz Valley Rd. Just before the final crest of the hill on the left you will see the Pepperwood Preserve entrance sign and our green Pepperwood Preserve Rd sign. From there it is.5 miles to the red barn parking lot and another.5 miles to the Dwight Center and Bechtel House. How long does it take to get to Pepperwood? Depending on traffic, weather, and road conditions it can take 15 to 20 minutes to reach Pepperwood from Santa Rosa and Calistoga. Mark West Springs Road has both steep and narrow variations with speed limits between 25 and 45 MPH. Traffic can be congested during commute hours. Porter Creek Rd straightens between Mark West Lodge and Safari West. Franz Valley Road is a steep and narrow country lane with a couple of blind turns (not unlike many hillside roads in Sonoma County). As a courtesy to other drivers and especially our neighbors please observe the appropriate speed limit and respect the road s unmarked two-lane nature. Keep in your appropriate driving lane and pay close attention to possible oncoming traffic. To protect yourself, our wildlife, our pedestrians and especially children, keep to our 15MPH maximum speed limit when you enter Pepperwood Preserve Rd on your way to your

2 destination. If you must check your mobile phone device please stop safely up the driveway and pull to the side but not onto the soft, unstable gravel shoulders. Where do I go when I get to Pepperwood? When arriving at Pepperwood pay attention to your odometer. Our two-lane driveway leads for about half a mile until you pass by a driveway to the right marked for the Hume Observatory. Carrying on straight, passing that, you will come to our first building, the red Barn building and parking lot, at the second intersection, at.5 miles from our entrance. If your final destination is the Dwight Center or Bechtel House stay on the road you came in on, not turning left or right before the red Barn. You will see the sign to the Dwight Center and Bechtel House in front of you as the road continues uphill curving to the left. Drive up that road following the signs. After a couple of curves the road will divide. Go right towards the Dwight Center and Dwight Center parking lot. Go left uphill for the Bechtel House which will lead you to a gate. Leave the gate as you find it as you drive through. If it is closed, open the gate and drive through and then reclose the gate behind you to ensure cattle remain in their appropriate pasture. Follow the road around a couple of bends until you see the green Bechtel House on the right (a sign will be visible at the driveway). What about gates? If you encounter a locked gate while on your way to the Dwight Center or Bechtel House you ve most probably arrived too early for an event. Park your car and a staff person or volunteer will unlock it. If you encounter a closed gate on the way to the Bechtel House, open it, drive through and close it again to ensure cattle don t wander out of their pasture. Where do I park? Classes and activities currently meet in one of three places, the Barn, the Dwight Center, or the Bechtel House. Parking at the Barn is available in the large lot to the west of that building. The Dwight Center has a large parking lot to the east of the center. After you have parked, to enter the Dwight Center walk the small gravel route adjacent to the wall north of the parking lot. The Bechtel House has a small gravel parking lot. Overflow parallel parking there is available on the adjacent gravel road. If you arrive and see no attendant, find a parking spot and be prepared to follow the direction of a staff person if you are asked to re-park. Is it okay if I come early and explore Pepperwood before a group hike or event? No, for your safety, sight-seeing drives, picnicking and/or unsupervised hiking before an event is not permitted. During our seasonal public lecture series we open the Dwight Center to visitors one hour before our lectures begin. Visitors for these events must stay on the grounds of the Dwight Center, walkways and the parking lot and may feel free to utilize the many picnic benches and seating areas on the premises. 2

3 How early should I arrive for a public event or hike? Please be on time, at least 10 minutes before an event or hike to allow for parking, signing our release forms, getting your gear organized, using the restroom, and checking out our displays. As a courtesy to our manager and the land stewards monitoring vehicles coming onto the property we discourage extremely early arrivals prior 20 minutes before an event. We understand that it is at times difficult to gauge traffic driving times. Should you arrive early to an event and no one is present we request that you stay in the vicinity of your car. If you are an early bird, please give us the space we need to set up for our event or hike. We welcome your questions about Pepperwood and our programs. We will best be able to serve you once we are finished setting up and our event team is assembled. Can I leave early from a hike? No, we require hikers to stay with the group for the duration of the trip. Hike leaders will bring the group back on time. As a courtesy to our instructors and those people have may have been wait-listed and wanted to attend a class please don t sign up for a class or hike unless you can stay for the designated time. Hike leaders may only decide on the day of the walk which exact route they will be taking a group so our staff will not be able to provide you with such information prior to a hike. Can I stay after a class or hike and go for a walk on my own? No, for your safety, unsupervised walks are not allowed. Can I bring my dog, even if it stays in the car? No. Visitors are strictly and absolutely prohibited to bring any pets to Pepperwood Preserve. Leaving pets in your car is not an alternative. Service dogs in service of special needs visitors are allowed. In order to better serve such visitors it is helpful to notify our staff prior to bringing a service dog to one of our programs. Service dogs in training and not supporting a dependent visitor are not allowed. Is there cell phone reception? Cell phone reception is typically not available 1 mile up Mark West Springs Road from Hwy 101 until the entrance of Pepperwood Preserve at Franz Valley Rd. Cell phone reception can be spotty at all of our main facilities. It is more or less excellent on ridge tops and slopes especially in sight of Mt. St. Helena. What s the weather like? Wind, temperature, and precipitation can be quite different here than what is happening in Santa Rosa, Calistoga, or elsewhere. Fog can occur throughout the year. It is very often cooler or warmer and windier here than in the valleys. Dress in layers and depending on the time of year. Have rain gear and warm clothes, a hat and sun protection available in your car in anticipation of variable weather. 3

4 Is there drinking water available? Potable is available water at the Dwight Center and the Bechtel House. Bring ample water for you and any dependents for whom you are responsible. Are there restroom facilities? Restrooms are available at the Dwight Center and at the Bechtel House. There are no toilets available out in the field. Porto-potties are located at the Hume Observatory and Barn. How difficult are the hikes? Pepperwood Preserve encompasses a series of ridges with adjacent slopes and canyons. Hikes can include 500 ft to 1000 ft inclines or declines. We have ranch road routes, well established trails, rustic paths, and at times off-trail excursions. Summer hikes and classes can involve intense day time temperatures in both shade and full sun. If you have a particular concern about your condition feel free to contact us prior to an event. Can I bring young children to a lecture or workshop? Young children and infants are welcome at Pepperwood. We trust that the parents or guardians of young children will judge the appropriateness of the length, time, season and subject matter of each event and choose whether or not the child s attendance is appropriate. As a courtesy to our speakers and audiences we ask parents bringing children to assist us in keeping disturbances to a minimum. Parents are not permitted to leave children unmonitored to play outside during lectures. Can I bring my child on a hike? Yes. In some cases hike routes can accommodate trail worthy strollers. We recommend you also bring an alternative child carrier backpack as routes may be too steep, rough, or narrow for strollers. Please keep in mind that our terrain can pose challenges for children too large to carry yet small enough to lack stamina to handle 2-4 mile hikes with inclines. Hiking routes taken are determined by the instructor, group size, and weather. Please contact us at events@pepperwoodpreserve.org if you would like more information. Open public hike routes are only determined on the day of the hike so specific information about such routes cannot be provided ahead of time. I have a health condition, mobility issues, or am physically challenged; can I attend a hike or event? Feel free to contact us at events@pepperwoodpreserve.org or call us at (707) so we can provide you with information and see how we can assist you with your visit or determine whether or not an event is appropriate for you. What can I do to prevent hiking injuries or contact with ticks and poison oak? 4

5 Hikers occasionally encounter ticks and poison oak along trails at Pepperwood. Long pants and long sleeved shirts can be useful for preventing tick bite and contact with poison oak. Appropriate hiking foot wear (boots vs. sandals) is recommended for exploring Pepperwood s topography which can include steep, rocky, brushy, and otherwise rugged terrain. Consult your doctor or health professional for tick and poison oak prevention tips and remedies. Can I collect specimens or forage for edible fruits, plants, fungi or wild crafting products? No. Collecting anything in any form is prohibited without prior written consent from the Preserve Manager. I have ed for more information but have not received a response? Please ensure your internet Spam settings are not blocking s from getting to your mailbox. Our confirmation from our general address or from one of our staff members could go into your Spam folder without giving us a bounce alert. How can I Volunteer? Pepperwood offers an array of volunteer opportunities with flexible ranges in time, project type, and commitment level. Please visit our volunteer page for more information about volunteer opportunities at Pepperwood Preserve. Can I rent the Bechtel House? Use of the Bechtel House is available when the purpose is in alignment with the mission of Pepperwood Preserve. Please contact us at (707) if you are interested in the use of the Bechtel House for the purposes of research, education or conservation. Classes and Hikes Checklist: 5 Day Pack Water bottle Snacks and lunch Notebook Hiking Boots (sturdy and trail worthy) Weather appropriate clothing (layers, long pants, windbreaker, hat, rain gear) Sunglasses Sunscreen Insect Repellent Field guides Walking Stick Binoculars NOTE: If you know you are allergic to insect stings please come prepared with your physician recommended or prescribed medication. Hikers concerned about poison oak may bring decontaminating soap to wash hands.

6 I am interested in signing up for an overnight event. What are the facilities/sleeping arrangements? Overnight events take place at the Bechtel House which provides: A full kitchen with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenware, dinnerware and utensils Two bedrooms with a total of eight bunk beds (bedding is not provided) A large living room with a wood burning stove Two bathrooms with showers A large wrap-around deck providing open air sleeping areas Tent spaces in adjacent meadow Potable water 6