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Hooray for the trail crew!
Help us cheer on Trails Council Board Member Kevin Wallace and fellow cyclist Rich Phelps who took off Tuesday (04/19/22) on an epic 800-mile journey through California. Day one began in Sonoma, California, at the Sonoma State Historic Park. The park is the home of Mission San Francisco Solano. Founded in 1823, it was the last of the California missions established.
Kevin and Rich are following the modern-day California Missions Trail. The trail leads walkers and cyclists through some of the most scenic and historic sites in the State, including a string of twenty-one missions that are landmarks representing the earliest architecture in California.
For a quick view of the route, visit the map page for the website:
https://californiamissionstrail.org/explore/map/
There is also an interactive map that allows you to zoom in and see the primary and alternate routes as it passes through 14 counties:
https://bit.ly/cmt-map-01
The California Missions Trail is a project the Trails Council supports in Santa Barbara County. The project was initiated in 1973 when we published a report advocating for a countywide trail system, including a mission-to-mission trail. That was a long time ago, and we relaunched that initiative in 2017 with a grant from the National Park Service RTCA to develop a wayfinding system for three trails that go from one end of the county to the other.
As part of our effort to call attention to the California Missions Trail in Santa Barbara County, we have provided a research grant to a guidebook author, Sandy Brown, to write a book for Cicerone Press. The publication date is in the fall of 2022. The 300-page book has detailed route maps, many photos, and information to aid an adventurer traveling the entire trail or taking it on a segment at a time.
HOORAY FOR VOLUNTEERS...
Join us in thanking Jean, Beth, Richard, Aanjelae, David, Helen, Shelby, Adam, Sylvia, Gerry, Jim, Mark, and Otis for helping out with the Baron Ranch post-fire habitat restoration project. Unfortunately, the trails are still closed until early May, but all on-hand were glad to be outdoors, enjoying ocean views, and making a difference in our community.
If it does not rain in the next couple of weeks, we will host another day of watering, weeding, and mulching on April 2nd. If you want to join in the fun, contact Mark Wilkinson (
[email protected]) or visit
https://sbtrails.org/volunteer/habitat-restoration/
One More HABITAT RESTORATION DAY!
Here is a shout-out to all who came out to help nurture the native plants along the entryway to Baron Ranch last Saturday. Thank you! Due to the Alisal Fire, the Arroyo Quemado Trail will be closed until May, but now is a great time to help the native plant landscape recover from the fire.
We have entered the third year of drought conditions. One of the best ways to help young native plants get a strong start is to add mulch around them to help hold moisture in the ground and cut down on invasive plants.
If you are looking for a way to spend more time in nature, with ocean and mountain views, please join in on this eight-month-long project. We will be watering the native plants every two weeks until the fall rainy season starts.
Our next Watering and Mulch Day is March 19. Contact Mark Wilkinson (
[email protected]) or visit
https://sbtrails.org/volunteer/habitat-restoration/ if you want to volunteer for a half-day or the length of the project.
WEEDS LOSE IN SUNDAY'S PRE-GAME EVENT
Two dozen volunteers came out for Sunday's post-fire habitat restoration day a Baron Ranch. The local Rotary Clubs: Carpinteria Morning, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Sunrise, and Montecito arrived in force, and members of the Santa Barbara Outdoor Volunteers rounded out the group. Trash revealed by the fire was picked up, including a kitchen sink. In addition, the crew was yanking invasive weeds out of the ground to give native plants a chance to survive. They also dug holes and planted native plants in the burn area—all in all, a tremendous accomplishment in a short amount of time on a most beautiful day.
Later this month, we will replace the mulch that burned off in the fire. The mulch is very effective in holding the weeds at bay.
If you would like to volunteer to help water the 100 baby native plants, please send an email message to
[email protected] or visit our website:
https://sbtrails.org/volunteer/habitat-restoration/
NOTICE: The trails at Baron Ranch are now closed due to fire damage to the bridge and for safety reasons. We anticipate the trails to open again in May 2022.
COURT OF APPEALS VOIDS PRIVATE SETTLEMENT
The proposed settlement between Hollister Ranch and the California Coastal Commission and California Coastal Conservancy has been declared void by the Court of Appeals.
In 2018, an ad hoc alliance of coastal and environmental justice community organizations united to form the Gaviota Coastal Trail Alliance (GCTA). The GCTA seized an opportunity to intervene in a Settlement Agreement between Hollister Ranch and the State of California, which excluded the public's interests in public access to the Hollister Ranch section of the Gaviota Coast.
GCTA intervened, objected to the settlement on various grounds, and Judge Sterne ruled the closed-door settlement violated procedural rules protecting the public. The Court of Appeals' decision upheld this ruling.
TRAILS COUNCIL is a founding member of the GCTA along with the Gaviota Coast Conservancy, the California Coastal Protection Network, and Coastwalk California Coastal Trail Association.
The Gaviota Coastal Trail Alliance aims to achieve a community-based solution for the already enthusiastic base of public supporters rallying for access to the coastline -- a right guaranteed by the California Constitution and the California Coastal Act.
Read More:
https://www.gaviotacoastaltrailalliance.org/court_of_appeal_voids_private_settlement
For the umpteenth year, Carpinterians are rallying their support for the Franklin Trail with a celebration. Always a fun event and a great way to herald a cherished community resource for hikers, bikers, runners, and equestrians.
During this giving season, we know there are a lot of worthy organizations vying for your attention. As a trail supporter, we hope you’ll demonstrate the value trails add to your life by donating today.
Needless to say, our work is never done. Our new trail projects are ongoing, with some in the planning phase, others going through permitting, and still, others pursuing funding. We work year-round with programs and projects to
➔ Protect, maintain and restore Santa Barbara County trails.
➔ Connect people and communities with outdoor recreation.
➔ Advocate on behalf of trails and trail users.
➔ Promote new trail access.
The ALISAL FIRE burned across the six-mile-long Arroyo Quemado Trail at Baron Ranch that opened seven days a week this spring. The damage from the fire is beyond imagination. We encourage you to support our work to repair both the trail and our trailhead habitat restoration area.
DONATE TODAY
https://sbtrails.org/our-work/donations/
Would you please help us continue building new trails, maintaining existing trails, and providing access to nature by donating to the Trails Council during the giving season?
EXPERIENCING NATURE
At this time of year, we always pause to count our blessings and accentuate what we are grateful for.
In Santa Barbara County, we are fortunate to enjoy our continually expanding trail network that provides access to the wild and scenic landscapes in our inspiring and ever-changing environment.
But we acknowledge that these trails and our access to them would not be possible without support from community members. New trail construction and habitat restoration are only possible with hands-on help from many volunteers and generous donations from trail users like you.
Please consider including a donation to support the work of the Trails Council in your holiday gift-giving and volunteering in 2022.
Photos from Trail Run...ON DISPLAY
Special thanks to photographers Lilly Pendergast, Fiona Casbarro, Cheney Caldwell, and Rosana Swing for memorializing our first event in two years. As noted in the full-page article in the Sports Section of the Coastal View News (
https://issuu.com/coastalview/docs/cvn7/30), over 100 people queued up on October 30th to participate in the uphill running events covering 4, 10, and 16 miles.
The event, held on FRANKLIN TRAIL, was made possible through the efforts of dozens of volunteers. Kudos to Nancy Kaplan and Matt Scranton for coordinating all aspects of the year-long planning and promotion needed for the annual half-day event. As you might imagine, the event received tremendous support from community organizations, government agencies, and the business community.
Many runners were vocal in their praise for the condition of the trail. Community organizations overseeing the maintenance of the eight-mile-long route include Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Los Padres Forest Association, and Montecito Trails Foundation. Proceeds from the Island View Trail Run fund the annual maintenance of the Franklin Trail.
Thousands of dollars worth of prizes and material support for the event came from Mountain Air Sports, Santa Barbara Running Company, Rabbit Running Apparel Company, HydroFlask, Patagonia, Florabundance, Starbucks in Montecito, and others. They helped to make the event fun, rewarding and successful.
View photos here:
http://islandviewtrail.run/photos/
Event results here:
https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=86948
(Click on "2021" under the word "Results." )
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BELOW: Text from the article in the Coastal View News
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Runners from Near and Far Take on Franklin Trail
At daybreak, on Saturday, a steady stream of cars began arriving at Carpinteria High School for the 5th Annual Island View Trail Run. The event attracts trail runners from all across Southern California, and over a third of the 115 participants arrived from locations outside Santa Barbara County. The event tested runners' stamina and speed at three distances.
An overcast morning set the stage for the 4-mile, 10-mile, and 16-mile events. Those running the longest distance burst through the marine layer at 1000 feet and had sunshine to the top of the 3800-foot high Santa Ynez Mountains. Carpinteria's Travis Madden completed the 16-mile course in seconds over 2 hours and 24 minutes for a first-place finish in the men's division. Annie Larsen from Orinda, California, covered the 16 miles in 3 hours and 30 minutes to take first place in the women's category.
Kathleen Baker of Ventura took first place in the women's division for the 10-mile event traversing the course in just over 1-hour and 40 minutes. To win the men's ten-miler category, Zach Schrock from Santa Barbara logged a time of 1-hour, 24 minutes, and 36 seconds. Below the marine layer, the 4-mile event provided an eerie Halloween eve atmosphere for the 50 people who raced up and down the popular trail.
Hailing from Riverside, California, Kalista Tibbels-Guerrero took top honors in the women's division for the 4-miler in a scant 35 minutes and 11 seconds. Carpinteria's Cian Figueras blazed through the four-mile course in 29 minutes and 18 seconds.
"After skipping last year's event, it is reassuring to have so many people participate this year," said Nancy Kaplan, Event Director. "We especially want to thank the runners who, along with the government agencies, the local businesses, and dozens of volunteers, make this event possible.
Many of the runners commented that the trail was in excellent condition. Organizers overseeing the maintenance of the eight-mile-long route include Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Los Padres Forest Association, and Montecito Trails Foundation. Proceeds from the Island View Trail Run support maintenance of the Franklin Trail.
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