VIP EVENTS. News for VIP Volunteers in the Montane Sector July 2015

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1 Trails and Tales News for VIP Volunteers in the Montane Sector July 2015 VIP EVENTS For the TMU schedule see the second to last page Please check out the webpage for up- coming events and information! July 4 th Julian Parade: All units! Please consider joining us to represent Cuyamaca Rancho State Park July 26- MAU Fundraising Event Photo by Elizabeth Baker 1 All Patrol Units: Please help out the TMU by giving EXACT details of downed tree location, type of tree, and size. If the information is second-hand, please ride out to the site to verify the information accuracy before submitting the report. A photo with something to reference size helps too. We have had a lot of wild goose chases lately Thanks for your cooperation.

2 CRSP Volunteers I had recently decided to pursue a lateral transfer opportunity. I was successful in my interview, offered the job, and it is with mixed emotions that I have accepted this transfer. In general, it was a decision that I felt offered more flexibility to accommodate my personal life. While I look forward to the upcoming changes, it goes without saying how much I have valued my experiences while at Cuyamaca Rancho and Palomar Mountain State Parks over the last year and a half. Photos by David Canedo I can now say I have worn the hat [or Stetson, if you will] of the Generalist Ranger. And boy what a big hat it can be [ do they make 10 gallon Stetsons?]. My prior experience as a field Ranger was almost exclusively in public safety [medicals and law enforcement]. I had never been involved with Special Events, Resource Monitoring, Collection Permits, Campground Operations, Co-operative Associations, Facilities Maintenance, Signs Program, Interpretive Program, Volunteer Management, and a variety of other projects and programs. When I recently interviewed for my new assignment, I felt there wasn t a question they could ask me in which I wouldn t be able to draw from recent work experience. While the workload here has been great, I met it head on with all the energy I could bring to the table. I did the job as I felt I should, generally got the nod from management, and maintained sincerity and an open-door policy. During my time here I have been nothing short of amazed by the efforts, energy, and time so graciously provided by our park volunteers. All of these efforts have continued unwaveringly as recent changes have been implemented. Changes I enacted were not always received with open arms, but all were received graciously, which is a true testament to the dedication of all of the park s volunteers. In the back of my mind, I have always recognized the volunteer s connection to the park, one that is [generally] deeper than my own, and I have attempted to respect that connection. In short, the professionalism of our park s volunteers has provided me with a new found appreciation for volunteer efforts. My goal was always to give to Cuyamaca more than I took away. While I am not so sure that I have met that goal the consolation prize isn t half bad. I have definitely grown through my year and a half worth of experiences while working at Cuyamaca faster than any comparable period of time during my career thus far. I want to thank all of you who have supported me, questioned me, and tolerated me but most of all I want to thank you all for your selfless commitment to something greater than any one of us this park. Respectfully, Adam Borello Supervising State Park Peace Officer #1384 Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 2

3 MOUNTED ASSISTANCE UNIT By Bonnie Slager As I am packing for the Friends of Clyde camp out I realized that I need to write an article for the newsletter. The MAU has been really busy this month and there is still one more weekend to go. First, an MAU patrol found some bicyclists that were out of water and very thirsty so they gave them all the extra water they had. Then 2 MAU patrols found people on the 100 mile run without water. This was Sunday morning and the people had been on the trail for 24 hours. They were tired, had no water and still had to go up Stonewall Peak. Again, the patrols gave them all the water they had with them. Personally, I cannot see trying to go 100 miles on foot in one day and I know Clyde would put his hoof down if I even thought of asking him to do 100 miles in one day but I really admire people for doing that. The weekend of the endurance ride we saw several riders that were not in good shape. The horses all looked OK but it was hot and people we not aware how easy it is to get dehydrated. Fortunately, one rider was pulled at the second stop because of her condition, not the horse. Another rider, now walker, went by Stonewall Camp but would not accept help from us. She was about 2 miles from the next check point so hopefully they pulled her there. Those rides are very well run and do not let the riders leave the check points unless the personnel there feel that both horse and rider are OK. Photos by Susan Stutz 3

4 The weekend I was on patrol I was at Azalea Spring on Saturday and met 2 people that were planning on hiking to Cuyamaca Peak but were already on the verge of having heat related problems. They had water with them but the heat was bothering them. I told both of them to take the Azalea Loop trail back t the camp ground and find a tree to sit under as it was too hot for them to make that hike. I hope they both listened to me. You have probably seen the ads on TV for Honda and their random acts of helpfulness. Well the MAU should start doing those ads too. In addition to all of the water given out by MAU members this past month there was another act of helpfulness several months ago that I forgot to report. Two MAU members were done patrolling and just leaving the Visitors Center area when they met some park visitors that wanted to park by the visitor s center to go for a hike but did not have the $8 needed to pay for the parking. These MAU members dug into the wallets and purses and paid the $8 so the visitors could park and go for their hike. Thank you Doreen and Kandhy. For those of you that do not know, all the water is purchased and brought to the Park by MAU members so that we will have water to give out to Park visitors. We carry it in our saddle bags so we can pass it out to those that need water. Just part of our way of helping visitors have a positive experience in the Park instead of having to be rescued and carried out. Thank you to all of you, I know you make a difference. The MAU sponsored fund raiser is coming up in July. July 26 th is the date of the ride and raffle. Please get raffle and silent auction items for the event as that is how we raise the money we donate to the Park. Volunteers from other units are welcome and I hope you will join us for dinner and the raffle. Raffle items are not all horse-related so you may find something there that you have to have. Please join us that day. 4 Photo by Susan Russo

5 2015 San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run 14 th Annual by Scott Mills The 14 th Annual San Diego 100 Mile Endurance Run was held from June 7-8 and traversed many trails within the CRSP jurisdiction. The event is a long distance trail run (or an Ultramarathon) that not only covers many trails with in the Rancho Cuyamaca State Park but also includes trails in Anza Borrego State Park and the Cleveland National Forest lands in the Mt Laguna Recreational Area and Noble Canyon lands. The race start and finish is located at Lake Cuyamaca Recreational Area. The race started at 6:00 am on Saturday, June 7 and the last finisher arrived at Lake Cuyamaca finish line just before the 32 hour cut off time at 2:00 pm on Sunday, June 8. The winner of the race was Bob Shebest from Santa Rosa, CA who completed the 100 mile course in just over 17 hours. The significance of the event is impressive with regards to what the What is that growing out of the dead tree? I runners give back to the CA State Park and US Forest Service trails. A climbed through the brush, only to discover requisite for participation requires every runner to volunteer a Poison oak! Photo by Elizabeth Baker minimum 6 hours of trail maintenance work with the hopes and expectations that most greater San Diego participants will accomplish their work on the trails they use for the race. The organization and leadership of this trail work program falls under the management and leadership of Ken Bonus as a part of the San Diego Trailfit: Ken Bonus, Ken Mcintyre, Ken Marsh and Howard Wiggins also work on these event trails nearly every Wednesday as well and account for a phenomenal amount of clearing and maintenance in conjunction with CRSP. 5

6 Ken scheduled and supervised work parties nearly every weekend leading up to this year s San Diego 100. Nearly 100 runners worked on trails such as Sugar Pine, Conejos, Burnt Rancheria, Stonewall Peak (front and back), Minshall and along sections along the Pacific Crest Trail. While this was a runner requisite to participate in the event, most runners commented on how satisfying and fun it was to give back to the trails and the organizations that maintain them. Next year s San Diego 100 is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend in June and the Race Director for San Diego 100 intends to again use SD Trailfit as the organization to coordinate and maintain trails that are constantly in need of repair or clearing. 6

7 Photos by Elizabeth Baker TMU News by Michele Hernandez June has been a warm and sweaty month for the TMU. Super busy? No. Trail maintenance aid, Josh moved back to Colorado so John has been working on his own. He's been doing a lot of weed whacking plus other work. TMU Gothic has been on poison oak control patrol working on Kelly's Ditch and Westside trails trying to keep the itchy vine from becoming more of a nuisance. The hike and hack worked on Cold Stream north of Paso brushing on a hot day. Milo, Ebake, SR and Mark Campbell went adventuring and were treated to lunch by camp hosts, Al and Jan in site 62A. It looks like the hospitality of Milo and Janet is being adopted by others. Milo and Janet hosted their monthly trail work. Where did Milo and his fellow volunteers work this month? No idea. I know they worked somewhere in the park. I think they were trail ninjas that Saturday and working in a stealthy manner. Janet's lunch, as usual was yummy. She provided turkey sliders, fixins and chips with guacamole for volunteers and park staff to munch. Work continued on the Cold Spring re-route and materials have been purchased for the puncheon that is needed on the trail. Every work day on the re-route brings it closer to completion. Thanks to everyone who has been working on this project for so long. Someday in the near future the project will be done and you and the rest of us will be able to enjoy a trail that is going to be spectacular. Until next month stay safe, stay hydrated and enjoy the park. 7

8 Cuyamaca Green: IAU photos by Bob Nuttmann Usually April showers bring May flowers. But since we got little rain in San Diego in April, we had to wait for some sizable rain in May to get a green and colorful June in Cuyamaca State Park. Last Saturday I took a few pictures to show you what I am talking about. 8 The left picture is the Azalea trail just before getting to the parking lot. The above scene is about half way from the parking lot to the large rocks with the morteros in them.

9 Here is a nice rose in front of the fallen log. There was a bit of water in one of the stream crossings. Columbine by the stream 9

10 Another rose. And whole fields of these purple flowers. 10

11 Visitor Center Store News by Jo Fritschel Yikes! Sales of our higher end books have been brisk lately, which sent me into a restocking 'frenzy'...that's when I discovered that our back stock supply of Lee Fetzer's iconic tome "The Cuyamacas" is dwindling. I have now opened our last box... Since this book is out of print, we have the last remaining few. The publisher informs me they are not considering a reprint in the near future, but, maybe, someday. If you've thought about owning a copy of our mountain's story, but have been putting it off (for whatever reason), I urge you to reconsider and purchase your own copy before it is too late. When the books are gone, they're GONE! Your store is open most Saturdays. When staff is available, we're open Sundays, too. Volunteers willing to keep the store open longer are most welcome. 11

12 Trails Maintenance Unit Work Party Schedule for June 2015 Cuyamaca Rancho State Park We meet at the Paso Picacho Maintenance Yard at 8:00am on most Saturdays & Wednesdays Our volunteer Hosts for each Saturday are as follows: Saturday, July 4 th Enjoy the park! Happy Independence Day Saturday, July 11 th with Milo and Janet (MMMM, lunch afterwards!) Saturday, July 18 th Hike and Hack with Elizabeth and Susan Saturday, July 25 th Enjoy the park! Please contact me at nebulae3sma@hotmail.com to let us know you will be joining us. Don t forget to record your hours and leave them in the tool shed for Janet to track. There is a binder with timesheets. If it is raining or snowing or too hot! it is probably cancelled 12 Photos by Steve Boland

13 Contacts: Palomar TMU-Jim Zevely- MAU- Bonnie Slager- MBAU- Chad Leptich- IAU- Greg Meckstroth- TMU- Dave Hernandez- Or Susan Russo- Visitor Center Gift Shop Manager- Barbara Visitor Center Museum Scheduling- Greg Meckstroth CRSP Park Headquarters (weekdays only) Paso Picacho Kiosk (for weekends) Green Valley Kiosk Palomar Headquarters Send articles and photos (Please, include photographer s name) for next month BEFORE noon of the last day of the month to- Susan Russo - nebulae3sma@hotmail.com 13

14 A Few Things to see on Cold Spring Reroute By Susan Russo 14