The Trail Companion

The South Skyline Region is about as close to the ultimate "Hiker's Paradise" as you will ever find. Grassy hillsides, wildflowers, expansive views, dense forests, deep canyons, streams, and lakes are within easy reach of a number of trailheads and parking lots. But for the hiker, the ultimate draw is a system of interconnecting trails that form a loop through six open space districts and one county park. Add to this a beautiful spring day and an eager group of family and friends, and you have the ingredients for a perfect hiking experience. By Tom Davids.

The Skyline-To-The-Sea Trail is one of the finest long walks in the Bay Area, one that we try to schedule at least once a year. We usually get sore feet for our efforts and maybe a blister or two, but we are always renewed by this beautiful hike. With trail camps in convenient locations, you can also turn this walk into a leisurely trip of three or four days. The only real complication in completing this full-day hike is the need to arrange for transportation. By Tom Davids.

Looking for a special outing during July? This walk will take you to some of the Bay Area's most interesting historical sites, over the world's most famous bridge, through a former military base, and the list goes on. Enjoy a good walk, great views, a ferry boat ride, food and drink as you please, and all the sights and sounds of San Francisco. By Tom Davids.

Access to the popular "Dish" area of the Stanford campus will be restricted beginning Sept. 1, 2000. Stanford announced in early May that it would institute a three-part conservation and use plan for the Stanford Foothills area to protect and enhance native species habitat. Several hundred acres on the northeast (campus) side of the Dish will be designated as a preserve for long-term habitat conservation, although current and new academic uses may be permitted. Habitat restoration will be carried out in the preserve, including removal of unapproved structures, re-vegetation of compacted ground, and restoration of native biological communities. The third aspect will have the greatest impact on visitors - hiking and jogging will be limited to the service roads, picnics and other social events prohibited, dogs banned, and access limited from dawn until half an hour before sunset.

The MROSD Board of Directors voted unanimously to close seven preserves to bike use, beginning in September, despite great opposition from the mountain biking community. The new policy will close Foothills, La Honda Creek, Los Trancos, Picchetti Ranch, Pulgas Ridge, Teague Hill, and Thornewood Open Space Preserves, with a total of 13.6 miles of trail currently open to bicycles. In addition, the new policy would aim toward a long-range ratio of 60-65% multi-use -- including bicycles (down from roughly 78%) and 35-40% hiking or hiking/equestrian use only. This goal could be met by closing new preserves to bicycle use, at least during a lengthy planning process.

Still not sure where to go on vacation this summer? It's not too late to arrange a few days or more in a beautiful location such as the Klamath National Forest, Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest or high above Lake Tahoe…as a volunteer on the trails or helping protect natural resources. The American Hiking Society and the Sierra Club both sponsor week-long or more service trips across the nation and beyond, while organizations such as Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, Volunteers for Outdoor New Mexico, Tahoe Rim Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail Association typically sponsor one- to three-day projects in their areas.

While a handbook on roads may seem out of place on the trail building reference shelf, this guide is loaded with useful information easily adapted to the world of trails. Bern Smith, former Trail Center President and Crew Leader, recommended this book to me and I recently ordered a copy from the Mendocino Resource Conservation District. The authors emphasize low-impact construction, particularly as it applies to streams and watersheds. Anyone who hikes, bikes or rides has probably encountered poorly designed and constructed roads which have eroded or collapsed into watercourses, whether in the National Forests or in the old ranches which make up many of our regional parks. By Geoffrey Skinner

Pat Oren, of our long-time Crew Leaders, often plays a big part in helping volunteers do the work that needs doing by bringing out a batch of her special Trail Work Motivator Chocolate Chip Cookies. A few of these at lunch are all it takes for the crew to send the dirt flying and finish up the trail section. More than once when Pat didn't bring the cookies along, folks threatened to take her back to her house to make cookies if she didn't bring them the next time. By Pat Oren

In this issue, new poems from two California poets - with surprise encounters.

A Note from the Literary Editor

Meeting with Pan at Midnight - Rachel Oliver

Apogee - Brian Kunde

Tom Davids, our hiking guide for this issue...Coming up in The Trail Companion: History along the trails and some of the many ways you can "give back to the parks."

State Park fees drop...Sempervirens Fund moves to aquire lands adjoining Castle Rock, Butano and Año Nuevo State Parks...Lawsuit aims to modify Castle Rock General Plan...Castle Rock Climbing Plan news...Additions, closures and studies on MROSD lands...Coyote Lake County Park expanded...Alum Rock Park additions and the revived Trail Restoration Program.

Acorn Trail reroute at Arastradero Preserve completed - thank you to all our volunteers!...Sanborn-Skyline Ridge Trail survey...3rd Edition of Peninsula Parklands in the stores... Committee For Green Foothills now sharing TC office...Website additions.

Trail maintenance in Portola Redwoods State Park and in Sanborn-Skyline COunty Park...Wilbur's Watch Trail at Cloverdale Coastal Ranch with Community Impact.

News of Trail Center members' and volunteers' activities both inside and outside of the Trail Center.

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