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Category: Past Events

Events that have already occurred, kept for reference purposes.

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Project (click for directions):Tool Party and Annual Meeting

Tool Maintenance and Trailer Cleanup

Activities:November is that time of year when we get together off the trail to clean and sharpen our tools, and spiff up the tool trailer for the next year of work. Saturday November 16 will be a relaxing day: work starts about 11 am and you may drop in any time to help out. After the trailer is put away, pizza will arrive. Dave Croker will show slides from his backpack into Yosemite from September if folks stay around (he has a projector and screen so we can set up an outdoor theater). For the day, and if you stay, you might want to bring a camp chair since there is no place to sit.

Bring: work gloves, rags, electric drills with brush attachments (if you have them), good spirits, stories and friends.

Tool party location: Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills.
No need to reply if you plan to come. Just show up when you like!

Directions to Hidden Villa 26870 Moody Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022:
From San Francisco and the Peninsula: Take I-280 South to exit 16 towards Moody Rd. Bear left to stay on El Monte Rd for .5 mile until the intersection with Elena Rd. Turn left onto Moody Rd and continue 1.7 mile until the entrance of Hidden Villa on the left. Turn left to take the driveway, let the person at the gatehouse know you are with the Trail Center, continue about .2 mile and turn into the main parking lot on your right. From the parking lot, walk up the road to the staging area where the trailer is parked.
From San Jose and the Valley: Take I-280 North to exit 16 for El Monte Rd. Keep left at the fork for El Monte Rd west, follow signs for Moody Rd/Foothill College and merge onto El Monte Rd. Continue about .7 mile until the intersection with Elena Rd. Turn left onto Moody Rd and continue 1.7 mile until the entrance of Hidden Villa on the left. Turn left to take the driveway, let the person at the gatehouse know you are with the Trail Center, continue about .2 mile and turn into the main parking lot on your right. From the parking lot, walk up the road to the staging area where the trailer is parked.

Volunteer

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Project (Click for directions): PCT miles 1526-1549

Activities: As many of you know, the Trail Center has a summer tradition of working a long weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail. We have worked at Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass, Sierra Buttes, and other locations. This year we go north! We have a preliminary plan for work July 25-28. Access to the PCT will not be available until mid to late June, so we cannot be too specific until we see what the heavy winter snows have brought.

We will work on a stretch of trail in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest (PCT miles 1526-1549). This is an area due west of Mt. Shasta and 20-30 miles west of I-5. We expect there to be a number of downed trees, erosion from the Spring water runoff and other common trail maintenance jobs. There is the possibility of improving a side access trail to a spring which serves as a water source for PCT thru hikers. This section of the PCT has fantastic views of Mt. Shasta, the Trinity Divide and Mt. Eddy. It will be prime time for thru hikers transiting the area.

We will camp at Picayune Lake, a small lake located about 1.5 miles from the PCT trailhead, altitude 6100 feet. The group will be limited to 15 volunteers. Ian Nelson, PCTA Regional Representative for Northern California and Southern Oregon, will supply all tools and hardhats. Eleonore Anderson, PCTA Technical Advisor, will join us along with Ian. There will be no fees for camping and the PCTA will provide all meals for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Volunteers are expected to arrive by Thursday evening, July 25. We will work Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday, July 28. It is about a 6.5 to 7 hour drive from Palo Alto. Access is via USFS roads which can be pretty rough, so high-clearance vehicles are advised. When making your summer plans, you may wish to plan a trip before or after in the general area (NoCal to SoOrg), to make up for the long drive and, if before, to acclimate to altitude. We will be able to accommodate additional camping days at the lake if you wish to arrive earlier or stay Sunday night. Please let me know if needed.

All new volunteers will have to fill in the on-line PCTA volunteer form: https://www.pcta.org/volunteer/volunteer-application/

Volunteer

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Project (Click for directions): Portola State Park

Activities: Clearing a slide on the Lower Escape Trail to restore hiking through-access and brushing on the access road to Slate Creek Trail camp. If time permits and there are sufficient volunteers, we will also work on the Slate Creek connector trail near Upper Escape trail, and Slate Creek Trail near Old Tree Trail.

Volunteer

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Project (Click for directions): Pomponio Trail

Activities: We will return to Memorial Park’s Pomponio Trail for brushing, reestablishing tread width with outslope, removing fallen trees, and improving drainage.

Special Note: Volunteer camping overnight Friday May 10 at Memorial park is approved, likely at part of the Huckleberry Flat picnic area, free of charge, beginning Friday afternoon. Each camper be responsible for their own meals.

Please let us know if you would like to camp.

Volunteer