Trails and Tales VIP EVENTS. Please check out the webpage for up- coming. events information!

Transcription

1 Trails and Tales News for VIP Volunteers in the Montane Sector December 2013 VIP EVENTS Please check out the webpage for up- coming Photo by Michele Hernandez events information! Cold Spring Reroute Trail work- Dec 7th Correction: Last month the Article about Kelly s Ditch incorrectly listed the size of chainsaws we were using as S. 1 Russo packing 32" saw &Jim D. on the 34". In reality, Jim had the 32 and I had the 24. I was wondering why it seemed so light.

2 MBAU Article by Alonzo Martinez Hiking such a simple activity that has so many benefits; and yet I had neglected to spend time with my friend hiking. I figured that there had been enough excuse making, and that it was time for me to go on a hike. Since I was going on this hike alone, I chose an area I was familiar with. Looking for some variation, I chose a new trail. I parked my car in the volunteer parking lot near the school camp. I was familiar with the trails on this side of the highway, so I crossed the highway looking for something different, and set foot on West Side Trail via the trail head across from the school camp. I set off on my journey about 8:30 a. m. The sun was out and was guiding me along the trail. I followed the trail up to Japacha Fire Road. Not being a seasoned hiker, I used my Google maps app on my cell phone as my gps device. I could hear the light roar of cars driving by on Highway 79, so I knew that I was within civilization's reach but I felt like I was hundreds of miles away. Continuing up Japacha Fire Road, I could feel myself starting to sweat. It was then that I felt good about going on the hike, and led me to think more deeply about the benefits, particularly the health benefits. I did not see much wildlife, but the scenery from up here was amazing, so I decided to take a few photos (more on this later). I stayed on Japacha Fire Road, and according to the map there was supposed to be a creek. I did see what was a creek bed but there was no water. I continued up the trail until I reached West Mesa Fire Road (known to most as West Mesa). I was pretty well acquainted with West Mesa as a result of mountain biking at Cuyamaca, but I had never reached it from this side of the park. 2 Photo by Michele Hernandez

3 I took this opportunity to stop and enjoy the view, eat a Clif bar, and hydrate. I took some pictures of the view of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the surrounding areas. I sat there for a few minutes taking in the panorama, but I didn't want to sit around for so long that it would make getting back on the trail difficult (I think we have all been there). I continued down the trail the same way I came back up. I was tempted to continue hiking up West Mesa Fire Road, but having plans to meet someone that afternoon, I decided not to. This appointment also served as a reminder that out there past the reaches of the state park existed a whole other world... but with simple strides of the legs, one can leave the complex world behind, even if for a few hours. As I thought about the benefits that hiking provides, I started making a mental checklist of what is required to partake in the activity. A good pair of hiking shoes is really the only necessary equipment, which makes it very costeffective. I own hiking-specific clothing, and I recommend purchasing similar clothing; especially if you plan on hiking frequently. However, you could easily get by with everyday articles of clothing. Simply said, hiking can be as simple or as complex as a person chooses to make it. Photo by Michele Hernandez 3

4 Cold Spring Reroute Photo by Steve s camera Photo by Steve Boland Photo by Jason DeMendonca Photo by Jason DeMendonca 4 Photo by Susan Russo Photo by Susan Russo

5 IAU News & Photos by Shannon Svensen, IAU Coordinator Fall was off to a busy start for IAU as we gathered on October 4 th and 5 th at Paso Picacho Campground for a weekend campout, potluck, and quarterly meeting. The weather was perfect, and good food was abundant at the wellattended potluck. At our quarterly meeting, we discussed branching out from the museum into specialties, starting next spring. For example, IAU volunteers on a weekend day could be setting up a table with pictures and information at the Stonewall Mine to provide additional info to visitors. Green Valley Falls Day Use area could be another place for IAU volunteers to interact with visitors, with a table set up with the animal skins and antlers. Stonewall Peak from Paso Picacho Campground Several IAU members enjoyed the annual Volunteer Banquet on November 9 th, where Greg and Phyllis Meckstroth were honored as IAU Volunteers of the Year, and where I shared with everyone that IAU VIPS collectively volunteered 1,945 hours from November 1 st Oct. 31 st Wow! IAU VIP Steve Maynard, enjoying the Annual Banquet. We re pleased to welcome new IAU members Charlene Bradbury, Dierdre Carter, and Helen James, who are enthusiastically completing their training. We also warmly welcome back Marc Arndt, who returns to us after a brief absence. Heading into winter, IAU members remain hard at work in the store, the museum, and hiking the trails. The museum is nice and warm on weekend days, so stop in and say hello before or after a patrol! 5 Helen James, Steve Maynard and Charlene Bradbury on Milk Ranch Road.

6 MOUNTED ASSISTANCE UNIT BY BONNIE SLAGER Well it is now definitely fall in the Park. The trees are changing color and losing leaves. It is really a pretty time to ride in the Park! Those of you that missed the annual banquet missed a really nice evening. There was more food than the tables could hold and wonderful homemade goodies. We had some laughs over funny things that have happened this past year. Bill has an award coming from me because he was sick and could not attend. His horse bit him when he was trying to feed him a carrot and he required first aid by Lee. Walt is now famous for his secret chili recipe that took 6 hours to cook for the chili cook off. I found a can of Walt s Chili at the grocery store. Now that it is becoming winter, watch the weather. Last weekend patrols were cancelled due to rain and more importantly high winds. We still have dead trees falling. I will try to let you know on Thursday if patrols are cancelled. Sometimes the weather will look good and then turn bad. If you are on patrol and see the weather changing, get back to camp. I don t want you out on the trail in the rain or snow. Ice is a big factor when it is cold so watch for slippery places. There are some places on the trails that are shady and the ice stays most of the day. The fire roads are usually the safest trails in the winter so stay on them when possible. Don t forget to take a blanket or two for your hooved buddy as well as an extra blanket for yourself if you are camping this time of year. Enjoy your rides in the Park; winter can be the prettiest time of the year in Cuyamaca. Photos by Michele Hernandez 6

7 TMU Article & Photos by Michele Hernandez November was a good month for trail maintenance. Nice weather was only interrupted by some much needed rain. Mike Curtis and John Sproule once again went out and took care of downed trees on the trails. John also helped Dave McClure take in the recyclables. That required loading the one-ton with all the bins full of glass and aluminum cans and taking them down the hill to town. It s a long, heavy, and messy job. Thanks guys! Also getting in some work was Jason DeMendonca, who brought up his high school History students for a special edition of the, Hike and Hack. The students were overseen by parent volunteers, and guided in their pruning and brush-dragging by a cadre of TMU veterans. The students trimmed back the bushes (AKA brushed ) the connector loop that goes from GV campground up to Arroyo Seco Fire Road on the West side of the arroyo. They then continued on across the fire road onto Monument Trail, and then back down around to the campfire center to finish up. They were guided by Mike Hamm, Dave McClure, Ron & Erin Robillard, and Michele & Dave Hernandez. Afterward the group was treated to a BBQ lunch cooked by Jason. Jason says that he now has to limit the number of students because coming up to do TMU stuff is very popular with his students. Susan Russo and the MBAU and SDMBA and other mountain bikers continue their work on the Cold Stream reroute. I saw a photo of Skip Davis, Steve 7

8 Boland, and Susan working with Gardner Grady, and I know lots of others have been hitting it HARD. Thanks to them, and my apologies to those who have helped that I did not mention. Hopefully all their hard work will be rewarded, and the trail can be opened soon. It s a great reroute with wonderful views of Stonewall to the north and of West Mesa across the highway. I think park users will be pleased with the change. Welcome Back Halliburtons! This is just a note to welcome back Joy and Ron Halliburton of the MAU. Joy suffered a serious health challenge this summer, and has been working on recovering with the help of her husband Ron. Now that she is doing better, the Halliburtons are back at the park. Ron is riding patrol for the MAU, and Joy is volunteering in the Visitor Center Museum until she gets released to ride a horse again. It s great to have them back! Cuyamaca Bottled Water Company bottle and crate donated. Has anyone heard of the Cuyamaca Bottled Water Company? Cathleen Sommermeyer delivered a 5 gallon glass carboy to the VC museum in November. Her family owned a ranch by Mataguay Scout Camp, and the bottle had been sitting in the yard there since the 1960 s. After so many years in the yard Cathleen was afraid it would be broken so she decided to donate it to the museum at CRSP. Jo and Barb were in the store at the time Cathleen came by, and they were excited to see the blue glass bottle with its matching shipping crate. Dave Hernandez was in the CRSPIA office at the time, and he accepted the donation to CRSPIA, intending to pass it on to the state, if it can be kept and displayed at Cuyamaca as the donor wished. Hopefully it can be shown here in our park with more information about the company. I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 8

9 Contacts: Palomar TMU-Jim Zevely- TMU- Dave McClure - CuyamacaTMU@cox.net MAU- Bonnie Slager- slagerb@sbcglobal.net MBAU- Chad Leptich- leptich@juesd.net IAU-Shannon Svensen- shannonsvensen@mac.com Visitor Center Gift Shop Manager- Barbara McCoy- bmccoy2008@yahoo.com Visitor Center Museum Scheduling- Greg Meckstroth greglm@sbcglobal.net 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 between the 24th and the 30th to- Susan Russo - nebulae3sma@hotmail.com 9