Save the date for a hike and trail celebration on Little Black Mountain, a Sonoma Land Trust property near Cazadero. Be one of the first to explore the trail (recently upgraded by SCTC) to the “Lone Antler Lookout” and experience the unfolding panoramic vista of Sonoma County’s beyond. Bring a bag lunch and day pack for a picnic along the way. Additional refreshments provided.
This is the trail project SCTC worked on last year (under contract).This is our chance to get out there and see the product of all that hard work. It’ll also be a good time to catch-up with each other and meet some SLT folks. This is special event open to SCTC and SLT members — a perk since this property is generally not open to the public. For more information or to sign-up, please email Sonoma Land Trust
Sonoma County Regional Parks is pleased to announce the kickoff of expanded public access at Tolay Lake Regional Park with the new Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Permit Program.
The new IP Day-Use Permit Program allows the public to visit the park during posted hours once they’ve completed an hour-long orientation and obtained a permit. Regional Parks is offering these mandatory one-hour orientations, free of charge, which cover permit procedures, and rules & regulations. After the orientation, participants receive Tolay IP Day-Use Permits, along with maps, park rules & regulations, and gate access cards. Permit holders may use the park for a variety of activities, including hiking, bicycling, picnicking, or horseback riding. Regular day-use parking fees apply.
Orientation sessions:
ORIENTATIONS START PROMPTLY – LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED
LandPaths, the Sonoma County Ag Preservation & Open Space District, and Sonoma County Regional Parks are offering an interim Permit Program at Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa, similar to the one in place at Willow Creek and Tolay Lake. After a one-hour orientation on the property, you will receive a free permit allowing biking, hiking and horseback riding on the 1000+ acre preserve. Contact LandPaths to make a reservation (RSVP required). Orientations will be be held on the following dates:
January Saturday, January 9 (11 AM) Monday, January 18 (11 AM) Saturday, January 23 (10 AM)
En Español: Domingo, 31 de enero (1 PM)
February
Wednesday, February 3 (10 AM)
Saturday, February 13 (2 PM)
Sunday, February 21 (11 AM)
March
En Español: Domingo, 7 de marzo (1 PM)
Sunday, March 21 (1 PM)
The Stewards’ Docent and Community Education Programwill continue for 2010 and they are sponsoring the first of three State Parks Volunteer Orientations onJanuary 9th at 9:00amat Armstrong Redwoods.The new year is a great time to learn how you can volunteer in our State Parks. Stewards manages a wide variety of education and stewardship volunteer opportunities in our parks — check the Stewards website for more information on this and other volunteer opportunities. Join the fun and make a difference!
The Sonoma Land Trust announced on Dec. 17 that escrow closed on the stunning 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands — a nationally significant project and the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County. This $36 million purchase from willing sellers Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc., and Russian River Redwoods was completed due to the extraordinary efforts and collaboration of 10 public and private funding partners. Sonoma Land Trust is now the proud steward of this incredible coastal property.
Eventually the property will include a section of the California Coastal Trail as well as other trails. While the interim public access plan is being developed, the Land Trust will begin conducting guided hikes in January 2010. From January–March, SLT will offer a hike each month along the coastal headlands. This strenuous 3.5-mile roundtrip hike will ascend more than 700 feet in elevation to a rocky hilltop within the coastal prairie portion of the Headlands. Along the way, hikers will be greeted with dazzling views of the Sonoma Coast (on clear days!). Although this route will follow old ranch roads, some sections are especially rough with uneven footing. This hike is not for inexperienced hikers — you must be in good physical condition and sturdyhiking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended.
The Laguna Foundation is in the midst of their first ever Tree-A-Thon fundraiser and volunteer tree planting event. On January 9th over 100 volunteers will meet at Sebastopol’s Meadowlark Field (next to Chevron Station on Hwy. 12) to plant over 750 valley oak and other trees and plants. This is an exciting project on so many levels. The Foundation is stretching tight dollars to restore a riparian forest in a highly visible field adjacent to the Laguna. A restoration of this kind has multiple benefits: increasing biodiversity and habitat connectivity, mitigating global climate change and let’s not forget restoring natural beauty!
If you would like to volunteer or pledge for this effort, please see the Foundations’ Tree-A-Thon pages.
The Sonoma Land Trust announced on Dec. 17 that escrow closed on the stunning 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands — a nationally significant project and the single largest conservation land acquisition in Sonoma County. This $36 million purchase from willing sellers Sonoma Coast Associates, Gualala Redwoods, Inc., and Russian River Redwoods was completed due to the extraordinary efforts and collaboration of 10 public and private funding partners. Sonoma Land Trust is now the proud steward of this incredible coastal property.
Eventually the property will include a section of the California Coastal Trail as well as other trails. While the interim public access plan is being developed, the Land Trust will begin conducting guided hikes in January 2010. From January–March, SLT will offer a hike each month along the coastal headlands. This strenuous 3.5-mile roundtrip hike will ascend more than 700 feet in elevation to a rocky hilltop within the coastal prairie portion of the Headlands. Along the way, hikers will be greeted with dazzling views of the Sonoma Coast (on clear days!). Although this route will follow old ranch roads, some sections are especially rough with uneven footing. This hike is not for inexperienced hikers — you must be in good physical condition and sturdyhiking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended.
See the Land Trust Jenner Headlands pages for more information on hikes and the property.
Mark Your Calendar –Wild Steelhead Festival, February 6 & 7, 2010.
Stop by the Healdsburg Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 6 and see the Lake Sonoma booths sponsored by the Friends of Lake Sonoma (FOLS). Be sure to check out the Department of Fish and Game – Steelhead Demo Tank. Sunday, take the beautiful dive up Dry Creek Road to Lake Sonoma; enjoy free family-friendly activities from 10 till 3, including: hatchery sortings at 10, 11:30, 1:30 and 3, a fish maze, Gyotaku Fish Painting, bird and reptile demonstrations and Ranger led tours.
A big thanks to everyone who came out for The Trails Council’s annual membership meeting on Nov.17! Attendance on Nov. 17 was a little lower than we’d hope — perhaps due to the heavy rain — but those who made it had a good food and drink, great door prizes and heard an excellent presentation, “Maximizing the Community Value of Trails” by Randy Martin, professional trail designer and builder.
Swoopy Trails
Randy’s firm, Trailscape, has completed trail projects in the Sierra foothills, Susanville, CA, and most recently, Jamaica. Randy spoke on how well designed and built trails provide value to communities as they satisfy the growing demand for outdoor recreation while providing an experience with nature that feeds the heart and soul. In Randy’s experience, trails with a relatively low overall grade (4-6%) and short, steeper grade reversals create undulating trails that are durable and more enjoyable for all users. Through slides and videos, he demonstrated how this design worked in a number of settings, with a focus on a single track trail recently completed near Susanville and his project in Jamaica.
Randy has more videos from these and other projects on YouTube.
Elections and Swag
After a brief presentation of the year’s accomplishments and events, accompanied by trail project photos courtesy of Tim Mayer, the entire Board of Directors was reelected (thank you!). And thanks to our sponsors, REI, Sonoma Bicycle Company and Fly Goat Coffee, almost all attendees came away with a door prize, including a Giro helmet and Sonoma Bicycle Company gift certificates, a sleeping bag, backpack, jackets, premium coffee and more. Finally, a big thanks to all the members of the Board for putting together a great evening!
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