Author: Bryan Conant

Volunteer Season & Pine Valley Legend

Posted on by Bryan Conant
San Luis Obispo Backcountry, March 2016
SLOCamp

NOW is quintessential Los Padres.  Flowers are blooming, grass is green, water is flowing (mostly), days are warm (mostly) and nights are cool.  If you’re not getting out on the trail (or off-trail), you really should find some time for a ride or hike.  When you get back, send us your photos, we’d love to see some good ones and be sure to check HikeLosPadres.com for the most up-to-date trail conditions.

 

VOLUNTEER SEASON

The best time to be in the Los Padres is not limited only to riding/hiking but it’s also the best time for getting out on a trail project, giving back to the trails you love and volunteering.  There are a ridiculous amount of volunteer projects and events lined up over the coming weeks/months across the Los Padres.  We’ll note a few here but feel free to contact us directly for more information or check Facebook/Meetup for updates:
April 8-17: LPFA Madulce Working Vacation, Dick Smith Wilderness

We’re set for a 10-day Working Vacation starting this coming Friday.  There is space available on the project, in particular the second weekend.  We’ll be working the Santa Barbara Canyon, Madulce, Don Victor and Puerto Suelo Trails.  For more information let us know at INFO@LPForest.org, all food will be provided for volunteers.

April 9: ORD Murietta Trail, Matilija
Ranger Heidi of the Ojai Ranger District will be leading this project to brush and clear the Murietta Trail in Matilija Canyon.  The project starts at 0830, email Heidi for more information or to sign up: handerson@fs.fed.us

April 9: SB Trails Council, Bill Wallace Trail, El Capitan State Park

Volunteer with SBCTC as they work the Bill Wallace Trail above El Capitan State Park along the Gaviota Coast.  For more information, click Meetup here.

April 16: Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center 11th Annual Open House
The Visitor Center at Wheeler Gorge will be hosting the 11th Annual Wheeler Open House.  We’ll provide more details soon but there will be booths setup from a variety of local organizations, a guided nature hike, games, food and much MUCH more……..  A super fun event that is a must for families with kids of all ages.

April 16: ORD Chorro Grande Trail, Highway 33
Join Ranger Heidi of the Ojai Ranger District along the Chorro Grande Trail on the south side of Pine Mtn.  The project starts at 0800, email Heidi for more information or to sign up: handerson@fs.fed.us

April 16: Slide Mountain Fire Lookout, Pyramid Lake
This is a cool event focused around California Trails Day.  Slide Mountain is within the Los Padres National Forest but is administered by the Angeles National Forest.  Volunteers will be meeting at Frenchman’s Flat at 0800 and working from there up towards the fire lookout.  Email Chris Fabbro (cfabbro@fs.fed.us) for more information or to sign up.

April 16-17: VWA Santa Lucia Trail, Ventana Wilderness
Join the Ventana Wilderness Alliance as they work the Santa Lucia Trail from Memorial Park Campground.  Meetup here for more information.

April 19: LPFA Wilderness Trails Presentation, Santa Barbara Veterans Hall
The LPFA is hosting a Trails Talk on Tuesday April 19 at the Santa Barbara Veterans Hall.  James Wapotich will give a presentation about the Wilderness Trails of Santa Barbara County and there will be plenty of time to socialize and hang out talking trails – what could be better?  For more information check out Meetup here, event is free for LPFA members.

April 23: Jesusita Trail, Santa Barbara Frontcountry
Another event focused on California Trails Day will be working the Jesusita Trail above Santa Barbara.  The project starts at 0830 and will meet at the water treatment trailhead off San Roque Rd.  For more information see Meetup here.

April 23-24: VWA Pine Ridge Trail, Ventana Wilderness
The Ventana Wilderness Alliance will be hosting a 2 day project along the Pine Ridge Trail working out of China Camp (near Pine Valley, spoiler alert).  Meetup here for more details.

April 29 – May 1: LPFA Alamar Trail Weekend Project, Dick Smith Wilderness
The LPFA will be hosting a 2 or 3 day project based out of Bluff Cabin and working the upper 2.4miles of the Alamar Trail.  All food will be provided and work will involve crosscut sawing, tread and brushing.  This portion of the Alamar Trail is along one of the more beautiful stretches of trail in the wilderness.  Come along…..  INFO@LPForest.org for more information or to sign up.

May 20-30: LPFA Middle Sisquoc Working Vacation, San Rafael Wilderness

The second LPFA Working Vacation of 2016 will be set at Sycamore Camp along the Sisquoc River within the San Rafael Wilderness.  We’ll be working the Sisquoc Trail downstream from Sycamore to Abel Camp.  Access will be provided to Painted Rock Camp and down the Jackson Trail to camp.  The water will be perfect in late May along the Sisquoc.  INFO@LPForest.org

LittlePineSunset

Little Pine Sunset, March 2016
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THE PASSING OF A LOS PADRES LEGEND
There is no shortage of legendary Los Padres figures who helped shape the landscape, protect the environment or add character to the geography.  Study any local maps and you’ll see dozens and dozens of unique placenames dotted across the Los Padres revealing many of these characters.  Sadly, we lost one of the LP living legends last month with the passing of Jack English.  Jack was able to purchase a private inholding of land in beautiful Pine Valley surrounded by the Ventana Wilderness in the late 1970’s.  Jack and his family built a small cabin on their land, chose a simpler life and called it home.  You’ll find tons of articles about Jack with a quick Google search, a few articles are linked below.  What you might not find is all the stories from backpackers who had the pleasure of meeting Jack and his family at Pine Valley over the years.  Stories about him sharing pancakes with campers, sharing his cabin during storms and most importantly sharing his time and stories with Pine Valley visitors.  Truly a legend and gentlemen, he will be missed but his legend will live on forever……..


English Cabin 2005, Pine Valley, Monterey County
PineValley

Buckhorn Trail & 20 Years of VWR!

Posted on by Bryan Conant
Upper Buckhorn Trailhead
BuckhornTrailhead
BUCKHORN TRAIL PROJECT
Hello Everyone!  We are beyond excited to announce that the LPFA is partnering with SBMTV to host a weekend trail project along the Buckhorn Trail in the Santa Barbara Backcountry.  The Buckhorn Trail has a rich history dating back over a hundred years.  It was the main means of travel between Little Pine and the Pendola area of the Upper Santa Ynez.  The Buckhorn was famous for its hunting, with hunters-camps throughout the canyon dotting the old maps.  And in more recent times, the Buckhorn was famous as an epic mountain bike ride.  In fact it was so epic that the International Mountain Bicycling Association even named it to their list of Epics.  In recent years the trail has suffered from lack of maintenance and nowadays it’s pretty epic if you can even drag yourself, let alone a bike, down the canyon.  Well, we’re going to change that and we hope you want to join in…..

March 18-20, 2016
We’ll be heading in on Friday afternoon March 18 to setup camp at nearby Happy Hollow Campground.  We’ll be camping there Friday night and then starting the trail work bright and early on Saturday March 19.  We’ll be focusing on brushing the top couple miles of the trail dropping in from the Buckhorn Rd down to the first creek crossing.  We’ll stop work in the mid-afternoon and head back to Happy Hollow for a BBQ dinner, evening festivities and camping under the stars.  After breakfast on Sunday, we’ll wrap up any work that is needed on the trail, pack up and head home.  There will be options for people who want to arrive and/or leave on Saturday as well.  If you are interested in helping or would like more information, let us know:  INFO@LPForest.org
Food will be provided for breakfast Saturday and Sunday and dinner Saturday night.  Bring your hardhat as well as your party hat, gonna be a good time……


VWR Crew, 100 Strong & Growing, photo Humphrey
VWR20th 20th ANNUAL VWR TRAINING

Contrary to popular belief, its not chainsaw-augmented deer that keep the trails of the Los Padres open but rather a group of dedicated volunteers called the Volunteer Wilderness Rangers (VWR). Similar to deer, VWR’s range across the forest from Ventura to Monterey working tirelessly on their favorite trails and camps ensuring they stay open and passable for trail users. In order to be a VWR, one must go through an annual training where volunteers are trained on Forest Service protocol, first-aid, visitor contact, safety, trail maintenance techniques and wilderness ethics. The annual VWR Training is hosted each January in the Santa Barbara Ranger District and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016.

The VWR program was started in 1996 by a group of volunteers and Forest Service staff in order to provide the necessary training for volunteers to lead forest supported projects. One of the chief organizers of the VWR program was named Dave Weaver. Dave was an avid backpacker, a retired teacher and loved ‘talking forest’ with anyone and everyone he could. If you had a backcountry question or adventure to share, Dave not only had an answer but a story of his own as well. He truly characterized the spirit of the VWR program with his commitment to the land and a fun, yet professional, approach to volunteerism. After Dave’s passing in 2013, the VWR program created a lifetime achievement award in his name called the Dave Weaver Wilderness Award. The award goes to the VWR who best exemplifies Dave’s spirit of sharing the stoke for the forest and working to keep the trails open and public educated on the proper way to recreate in the forest.

For 2016, the VWR recognized Mike Smith (the Goatman) with the Dave Weaver Wilderness Award for his contributions to the forest over the past 20+ years. Mike has led countless trail projects in the Los Padres, mostly deep within the forest along the Upper Sisquoc Trail in the San Rafael Wilderness. If you’ve spent any time along the Sisquoc Trail you’ve certainly reaped the benefits of his hard work and it’s likely that you’ve crossed paths, hint: he’s the one with five pack goats in tow. We congratulate Mike Smith on his accomplishments and celebrate 20 years of volunteerism through the Volunteer Wilderness Ranger program.

WeaverAwards Weaver Award Winners Rik Christensen, Mickey McTigue, Mike Smith
& SLRD Wilderness Trails Manager Joe Duran


Mission Pine Basin, “the trails that way”, March 2016
MissionPineSCTrail

WHAT’S HAPPENING

March 12, 2016
Ojai plant guide Lanny Kaufer is leading a nature hike at Rose Valley Falls.  For more information email Lanny: lanny@herbwalks.com

March 20, 2016
Lanny is leading another nature walk for the Spring Equinoz along the Gridley Spring trail.  More information here: lanny@herbwalks.com

April 9, 2016
Ranger Heidi is leading a trail project along the Murietta Trail in the Ojai Ranger District.  For more information shoot her an email:  handerson@fs.fed.us

April 16, 2016
Wheeler Gorge Open House.  If you are in Ojai or Ventura, this is a must!  More to come but get it on your calendar.

April 20, 2016
LPFA will be hosting a forest talk in Santa Barbara, more to come but also be sure to put this on your calendar……

LPFA Events Calendar
https://lpforest.org/events-calendar/
And if you have any events you’d like promoted or included, please let us know…..

Falls

 

What’s a WORKING VACATION?

Posted on by Bryan Conant
JasonnSisquoc WORKING VACATIONS
If you check the dictionary or an online source and look up the antonym for the word VACATION, the first response that comes back is the word WORK.  Generally the words WORK and VACATION don’t go together too well, do they?  That’s not always the case though, let me explain…..
Starting about 15 years ago the LPFA began a program called WORKING VACATIONS where VWR Trail Leaders would host a 7-10 day volunteer trail project usually deep in a wilderness area.  Being that it takes a day of travel to even get to most of these remote locations, the WORKING VACATIONS (WV) gave us enough time out there to accomplish a lot of trail work.  The WV’s are always stock supported, meaning we utilize mules and/or horses to bring in camp supplies, food and in some cases all the camping gear.  On a few WV’s the volunteers literally only need to carry in a daypack and the stock team carries in all other essentials for the week – it’s great!  The LPFA pays for all the food for the week and there is usually a designated cook who handles preparing all meals and cleanup.  You wake up and there is hot coffee and breakfast waiting for you and at the end of the day you are greeted back at camp with a cold beverage and dinner already made – it’s great!  (You might be asking how you can schedule a WV at your house?  Can’t help you there…..)  It’s also really nice having a terrific excuse to visit some of the more remote, wild and spectacular parts of the forest.  But the best part about WORKING VACATIONS is getting into a daily rhythm of working the trails and spending time with old friends or making new friends – it’s great!

Heath Camp has never smelled so good…..
HeathBurgers
In Spring 2016 the LPFA will be hosting three WORKING VACATIONS.  Our first is from April 8-18 at Madulce Camp in the Dick Smith Wilderness.  We’ll be working all the trails that radiate from camp including Santa Barbara Canyon, Madulce Trail, Puerto Suelo and the Don Victor Trail.  There are options available for volunteers who can only make it for a long weekend or for those who would like to stay all week.  We can pretty much customize the arrivals and departures around your schedule.  The project will be stock supported and all food expenses covered.  If you are interested in helping either as a trail volunteer, cook or packer, contact INFO@LPForest.org.  Mike Smith will be the project leader.

Log Cabin Pancake Breakfast
LogCabinPancake

Our second WORKING VACATION is May 20-31 based at Sycamore Camp along the middle Sisquoc in the San Rafael Wilderness.  Our focus for this project will be to work the Sisquoc Trail downstream from Sycamore to Abel Camp.  John Franklin and Steve Cypher are co-leading this project.  Volunteers, cooks and/or stock support are needed.  I’ll tell you one thing, jumping into the Sisquoc after a long day of work will not be the worst thing.

The stars of the show: Susie, Otis and Team
PackSupport

The third WORKING VACATION is scheduled for June and the location is TBD dependent on how water conditions shape up the rest of the winter and into summer.

If you are interested in learning more or to sign up, let us know:  INFO@LPForest.org

 

The Working Vacations are great fun and I think I can speak for all the previous participants and say that they are some of the best volunteer experiences you can have in the Los Padres.  Hope to see you out there…….

PotholeWorker

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SURF & TURF

And while I have you, don’t forget about the Surf & Turf event TONIGHT at Surf Brewery in Ventura.  Information is attached.

Surfing Los Padres

Posted on by Bryan Conant
Surf&TurfPromo

Greetings Everyone,

Hope you are getting some trail time in this spring-like February we’ve endured.  Big news from the LPFA this week is a partnership event we are hosting next week at Surf Brewery in Ventura.  On Thursday the 25th we’ll be at Surf Brewery sharing suds and talking forest stories.  There will be a raffle, prizes, a few fan favorite games, stunning LP photos and best of all 20% of all beer sales will go towards a Ventura trail project of our choice.  We’re helping launch a new Adopt-A-Trail program and the funds raised will go towards Surf Brewery adopting a Ventura County trail.  Should be a great time!  We’re calling it Surf & Turf, but don’t come expecting lobster and steak, come expecting great beer, good fun, forest support and a Mexican food truck parked outside.  See attached flier for more information and hope to see you there……

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IMBA CENTRAL COAST TRAIL SUMMIT
IMBATeach
The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) in conjunction with the Forest Service is hosting a 4-day trail summit this week focused on teaching advanced trail maintenance practices both for volunteers and land managers.  The class runs from Thursday to Sunday of this week.  Day 1 was excellent with representatives attending from across the forest and from many trail organizations and government agencies.  The instructors are from across the Western US and have incredible knowledge to share.  It’s great to not only learn new techniques from these experts but also getting everyone in one room to talk about their challenges and share stories is invaluable.  The brush and slough should be shaking in their boots, cause we’re coming……..

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ODDS & ENDS
PJohnWater
Potrero John, Photo, Ranger Heidi

Trail Projects Upcoming
As mentioned last time, there are a ton of LPFA projects scheduled this spring.  Anything from day projects to 10 day Working Vacations.  We’d love your help and we’re sure you’ll have a great time giving back to the trails.  Check our calendar for more information and email INFO@LPForest.org to sign up!

Wheeler Gorge Open House
Speaking of calendars, you’ll want to put this on yours for sure.  On April 16 the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center will be hosting the 12th Annual Wheeler Open House.  This event kicks off the summer season of interpretive events at Wheeler Gorge.  The Open House will have exhibits from local organizations and persons-of-interest, as well as food, games and guided outdoor recreation opportunities.  We’ll share more soon but get it on your calendar!

Potrero John Trail Project
The Ojai Ranger District will be hosting a trail maintenance project along the Potrero John Trail off Hwy 33 on February 27.  For more information contact Heidi Anderson at: handerson@fs.fed.us

Backpacking Fundamentals Class
Looking to learn how to backpack, take that next step from weekend-warrior to section-hiker or perhaps fine-tune your gear, there are a few backpacking classes open this spring that will no doubt help your backpacking experience.
• Santa Barbara: Curt Cragg is teaching his third class starting March 1 and lasting 5 weeks.  It’s great!  Information
• Ventura: The Sierra Club Wilderness Basics Course, starting February 24, also great!  Information
• Santa Barbara: James Wapotich Backpacking Made Easy starts March 26, great too!  Information

SLO Condor Reintroduction
Over the past year 7 condors have been reintroduced along the North SLO Coast.  If all goes according to plan there will be 5 additional condors released later in 2016.  Don’t take my word for it though, read it here.

Sundowners Fire Crew Hiring
Are you interested in a career with the Forest Service or in fire?  If so you might want to check out the Sundowners Fire Crew based out of Ojai.  See attached PDF for more information.  The deadline is 2/19, sorry for the short notice.

HikeLosPadres.com
There have been more and more reports being posted to HikeLosPadres about camp/trail conditions and water availability.  If you are venturing out into the forest, take a few minutes and explore HikeLosPadres.com.  It never hurts to be as prepared as you can and then please share on HLP when you get back.  The more information we can share the better.  Not only is it good for 2016 trail users but it also creates a historical database of forest events and conditions.  History repeats itself and this will help trail users for decades to come.  The site is easy to use and you don’t have to create a username or share any personal information.  Check it out…….

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And one last photo……
WilletDoor  Topatopa Cabin View, photo Hulbert

Los Padres Events, Yeehaw!

Posted on by Bryan Conant
Cuyama Badlands Below, Mt. Pinos Above, January 2016; photo Humphrey
Pinos

Good Evening Everyone,

Most of the forest saw a good dose of rain today.  While the Southern LP is forecast to get less than an inch, the Big Sur backcountry is getting hammered with as much as 6 inches falling over the past 12hrs.  The recent rains along Big Sur have caused periodic Hwy 1 road closures.  If you’re headed that way, be sure to check road conditions before you go, take your time and it’s a good idea not to drive after dark.  Be safe and after the skies clear we’d love to check out any of the great forest photos (like the one above from earlier this month) you might be capturing.

There are a few upcoming events that we wanted to share in addition to the list of trail projects announced last time.  Check em out below and hope to see you there.

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FOREST 411 & SPECIAL EVENTS
Backpacking Introduction Classes

Santa Barbara: Led by Curt Cragg, the LPFA will be hosting a 6-week Backpacking Fundamentals Class starting on March 1.  This is the third time Curt has led this course and it’s been received incredibly well.  If you are a beginning backpacker or have looked for a reason to get into backpacking, this is a must for you.  Not only will you learn from the best-of-the-best about the latest in backpacking gear, wilderness safety and how to plan backpacking trips, but perhaps the best part is the friendships that come as a result of the class.  We’ve seen great friendships develop in these classes and there’s no better way to get into backpacking than with a friend or two to share the experience with.  For more information check the link here or contact Curt at: Curt@LPForest.org

Ventura: The Sierra Club also leads a Wilderness Basics Course designed to teach backpacking and wilderness appreciation for those looking to get into backpacking.  The Sierra Club has been offering a WBC for many years now, it’s a great program.  Classes start in late February, for more information please check this link.

 

 

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USFS / IMBA Central Coast Trail Stewardship Summit: February 20-21

IMBA, in conjunction with the Los Padres National Forest, LPFA, CCCMB and SBMTV, is hosting a weekend trail building/maintenance workshop at the Los Prietos Compound in Santa Barbara County.  The summit will start on Saturday 2/20 with an in-depth classroom workshop focused on sustainable trail construction and maintenance, focused water control and tread repair methodologies.  Sunday 2/20 will be a field class showing how to walk the walk, or in some cases ride the ride.  This is an opportunity to get incredible training from world class trail managers and crews.  Camping will be available at nearby Sage Hill and there will be a plethora of social and fun activities built around the trail instruction.  The cost is $150 per person and limited scholarship funding is available through the LPFA.  If you are interested in signing up or learning more, please contact INFO@LPForest.org.


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January 21, Santa Barbara: The Los Padres Trail Riders are hosting a presentation by Otis Calef about a group of Los Padres horse/mule riders who recently completed a 1,200 mile ride along the Old Spanish Trail from San Bernardino, Ca. to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  For more information see the attached PDF.

January 24, Santa Paula: The Ojai Ranger District is organizing a cleanup along Santa Paula Canyon.  For more information contact INFO@LPForest.org or call the Ojai Ranger Station at (805) 646-4348.

January 25-26, Los Olivos: NatureTrack is hosting a two-day nature stewardship program in Los Olivos.  Sounds pretty neat!  See attached PDF for more information or contact NatureTrack directly.

February 6, Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez: The LPFA is hosting a First Aid / CPR training at the Los Prietos Fire Compound along Paradise Rd.  If you are in need of First Aid/CPR certification or want some additional training, let us know at INFO@LPForest.org.  Space is limited.


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January 15 – March 1, Figueroa Mountain: The FS announced earlier this week that there will be a series of prescribed burns in and around the Fig Mtn area over the coming months.  See attached for more information.

January 19, San Luis Obispo: The FS announced that the maintenance and repair along West Cuesta Rd will continue this month and that the area is closed to public entry due to safety.  See attached PDF.

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And last but certainly not least, there was a great training event this past weekend at the Mt. Pinos Ranger District.  Headed up by United Trail Maintainers of California (UTMC), over 40 volunteers were certified to use chainsaws for trail clearing projects.  Beth, with UTMC, led the charge and as a result the LP has a fresh crew of certified sawyers to assist with trail clearing projects outside of wilderness areas.  Great stuff and no doubt the trails in and around MPRD will see more action as a direct result of the training.  Hip hip hooray……

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Final mini-descent into Madulce Camp
Madulce

Fire Restrictions Lifted & Trail Project Schedule 2016

Posted on by Bryan Conant

Lucky Pooch Recharging by the CampfireJackson

FIRE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!  The big news across the forest this past week has been the change in Fire Restrictions.  Effective January 9, the fire restrictions dating back to May 5, 2015 have been lifted.  While this is exciting news for those of us who have spent freezing nights in the forest of late, please PLEASE remember to be safe with your campfires.  Only build campfires in cleared spaces, preferably in designated campground campfire-rings and most importantly be sure to completely put out your fires before you leave camp.  It may seem like a pain to spend those extra minutes soaking your fire but it’s so important – think about the alternative.  Take that extra time to run trips back and forth from the creek.  For those of you looking for an easier solution, REI sells a collapsible bucket made by Sea to Summit which carries 10 liters and can easily soak down a campfire with only a few trips to the creek.  Also be sure to get your California Campfire Permit.  Permits are available at any of the Ranger Stations or online at this link.  Just takes a few minutes and it is the law to have a permit.  Enjoy the warmth and be careful.  The change in fire restrictions also reopens shooting ranges across the forest.  Contact your local Ranger District for information on shooting ranges near you.

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Happy Trail Workers Along Mono-Alamar Trail, photo Beeman
WorkersHappy VOLUNTEER TRAIL PROJECTS

The LPFA and friends have a bunch of volunteer trail projects scheduled over the coming months, a BUNCH!  We wanted to get the dates out to you now so that you can hopefully find a free weekend (or longer) to help the trails.  If you have any questions or want to sign up, please email INFO@LPForest.org:

February 7: Deal Trail, Dick Smith Wilderness

This is the 4th Annual Super Bowl Sunday trail project hosted in conjunction with UTMC along the deal Trail.  Meet at 8:30am and home in time for the second half of the game.  Lots of fun and you’ll feel great sitting on your couch that evening knowing you deserve it, Mark Subbotin is the project lead.

February 19-21: Location TBD
This is going to most likely be a 3-day car-camping project in the Santa Barbara Backcountry led by Curt Cragg.  We are finalizing the location based on weather and road access.  More to come soon……

March 4-6: Potrero Trail, San Rafael Wilderness
Led by Mike Smith, this will be a 3-day backpacking project based at Potrero Camp along Manzana Creek.  Work will be up the Potrero Trail towards Hurricane Deck.  The project will be stock supported so expect tasty meals.

March 18-20: Buckhorn Trail with SBMTV, Santa Barbara Backcountry
Led by Curt Cragg and cosponsored by LPFA and SBMTV, we’ll be working the legendary Buckhorn Trail down from the top towards the first creek crossing.  We’ll be camping at Happy Hollow Camp with opportunities for day volunteers as well.  Gonna be a fun one!

April 8-18: Madulce Working Vacation, Dick Smith Wilderness
This is the first of 3 LPFA Working Vacation scheduled for spring 2016.  We’ll be based at Madulce Camp and working the network of trails radiating from the old guard station.  Our main focus will be working the Madulce and Puerto Suelo Trails.  While we’ll be up there for 10 days, there will be opportunties for shorter stints.  Backpacking 7 miles to camp is required and there will be stock support.  April is a great time of year in this part of the forest.  Mike Smith will be the project lead.

April 29-May 1: Alamar Trail, Dick Smith Wilderness
This project will be based at Bluff Cabin and focused on completing the final mile of trail down Alamar Trail from Alamar Saddle.  Curt Cragg will be leading this project.  This was a project we started in September 2015 as part of National Public Lands Day.

May 5-8: Lost Valley Trail, San Rafael Wilderness
Mike Smith will be leading a gutsy (Mothers Day) extended weekend project along the Lost Valley Trail.  This will be a backpacking / stock-supported project based somewhere along the trail with the goal of working from the Manzana up to the Hurricane Deck.

May 20-30: Middle Sisquoc Working Vacation, San Rafael Wilderness
This is going to be a fun one as well.  We’ll be based at Sycamore Camp along the Sisquoc River and working the trail down-canyon to Abel Camp.  The Sisquoc should be epic this time of year with deep pools and green slopes.  Access will be along the Jackson Trail.  The project will be stock supported with shorter length stays possible as well.

June 3-5: National Trails Day, Location TBD
We’ll be partnering with REI to host a 3-day project in the Ventura or Santa Barbara Backcountry.  Location and specifics are in the works.  Stay tuned…….

June 11-19: Mission Pine Working Vacation, San Rafael Wilderness
There have been quite a few projects over the past few years attempting to reopen the Mission Pine Trail from McKinley Saddle to Big Pine.  Talk about epic trails, this Working Vacation will be focused on completing the work across Mission Pine and down the top mile of the Santa Cruz Trail.  There is lots of potential for this project as far as where it is based and all that.  In the works and we’ll share when we know more……..

Wheww, that is a lot, isn’t it?  We hope you can make it on at least one of these projects.  We’ll be covering many different types of trails at many fantastic locations.  There is really something for everyone on these projects.  If you haven’t been on any LPFA project, try to make it this spring, you’ll have a great time!

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Snowy Hwy 33 Pine Mountain Winter Wonderland, photo Humphrey

 

Tis the Season

Posted on by Bryan Conant
HappyNewYearLPFA
Hi Everybody,

You’re probably not quite finished with your holidays shopping, right?  Well, if there are any Los Padres lovers on your list, we wanted to remind you that nothing says        fill in the blank      like giving a 2016 LPFA Membership.  We’ve revamped our Annual Membership this year and are now offering 15% discounts on all products at the Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers across the forest.  We also have signed books/maps and a Ventana Wilderness pint glass, which is the second in our series of Wilderness pint glasses.  Lots of good stuff and best of all you’ll be helping to support the LPFA and all our initiatives on tap for 2016:

  • Los Padres Adopt-A-Trail Program
  • Forest Digital Archiving Project
  • Continued Trail Work
  • Backcountry Cabin Restoration
  • Programs at Wheeler Gorge and Big Sur Station
  • Sharing the news and stoke from across the Los Padres
  • and much much more……

Your support is greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance and have a spectacular last few weeks of 2015 and an even better 2016!

Happy Holidays,
The LPFA Crew

LPFASupportForest

First Six Days of Trailsmas

Posted on by Bryan Conant
Trailsmas
The LP Forest Service has made it a priority to focus on the restoration of the lands affected by the 2007 Zaca Fire.  The highlight of 2015 for the LPFA was being able to team up with the FS and focus our trail work efforts on many of the trails that were affected by the 2007 Zaca Fire.  Lots of great work was accomplished on some pretty overgrown trails and we wanted to share these accomplishments with you.  We all know about the 12 Days of Christmas and most of us should know about advent calendars where each day in December you open another window on a countdown to Christmas, right? Well, we decided to try a combination of the two as we highlight each of these trail projects:

TWELVE DAYS OF TRAILSMAS

So, every other day in December we’ve posted on Facebook a small report highlighting one of the 12 trail projects within the Zaca Fire perimeter we helped accomplish this past year. As cheesy as it may sound, think of it as a special present for each of us, every other day. And for those of you who like to frequent the trails that were affected by Zaca, this should provide fuel for dreaming up your next backcountry adventure.  We’ve made it through the first 6 days of Trailsmas, below are links to each of these projects:


1st Day of Trailsmas: A Working Vacation on the Sisquoc Trail
2nd Day of Trailsmas: Logging Madulce Trail
3rd Day of Trailsmas: ACE Clearing Santa Cruz Trail
4th Day of Trailsmas: Alamar Trail National Public Lands Day
5th Day of Trailsmas: Buckhorn Trail Logging
6th Day of Trailsmas: Mono-Alamar with the CCC

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–2016 LOS PADRES CALENDARS


As mentioned last time, we are compiling a 2016 calendar featuring photos from around the Los Padres.  Thanks to all of you who contributed, we received a great assortment of really nice photos.  Each district is well represented with photos ranging from the Big Sur Backcountry to the SB Frontcountry, and from Mt. Pinos to the Santa Lucia Wilderness.  It looks really good!  While the calendars will eventually make their way to the Ranger Stations, they are available for pre-order online as well.  We’re planning to go to print early next week with the hope that calendars will be mailed before Christmas.  For more information check the link below:

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FOREST FOUR-ONE-ONE

– Some additional road and campground closures in the Ojai Ranger District, see attachments.  These include Middle Lion, Nordhoff, Sisar, Dough Flat, Reyes Peak, Rose Valley Camp and Cherry Creek.

– The Forest Supervisors Office is looking into moving from it’s Goleta office to another locations elsewhere in Santa Barbara County.  They are asking for input from stakeholders and other interested public.  See attached PDF for more information.

– We’ve been getting lots of questions about when the fire restrictions will be lifted.  The general rule is that the forest needs to receive at least 2 inches of rain.  While some areas have received well over 2 inches, most of the forest is still below the 2 inch threshold.  Rain is forecast across the forest this next week, lets hope there is enough to lift the restrictions.  We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything………

– The Ojai Ranger District is hosting a trail project tomorrow (Saturday December 12) on the Howard Creek Trail. I know it’s short notice but if you are interested, meet at the Ojai Ranger Station before 8:30am with the usual necessities for a day of trail work.  For more information contact Heidi Anderson: handerson@fs.fed.us

Enjoy the weekend everyone, hope to see you on the trail………..

 

 

Alcove
Alcove Potrero calendar submission, by Christian Maurer

2016 Los Padres Calendar

Posted on by Bryan Conant

CalendarBack by popular demand, the LPFA is producing 2016 calendars featuring the spectacular sights from around the Los Padres Forest.  We produced 4 years of calendars from 2008-2011 highlighting waterfalls, this time around we’ve opened it up a little and have a variety of themes and photos from across the LP from Big Sur down through the Sespe.

OctoberCalendarEach calendar is printed on high quality gloss stock with full color photos and special date information within the calendar dates.  Great as a gift for the LP lover in your life or for yourself to help inspire your next Los Padres adventure.

AprilCalendar

The Los Padres Calendar will be printed in mid-December and shipped as soon as they are available.  Each calendar is $19.95, which includes shipping and tax.  Any proceeds will go to the Los Padres Forest Association Trail Care Program.  You can purchase the calendars online at the PayPal link below or send a check to the address mentioned below.



Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays!

Los Padres Forest Association

6755 Hollister Ave #150

Goleta, CA – 93117

Giving Thanks for the Los Padres

Posted on by Bryan Conant
A Thankful Los Padres Ursus
BearBear
Most of us will celebrate Thanksgiving this week.  While historically Thanksgiving was a day to give thanks for a successful harvest, today it is used to celebrate anything and everything we are thankful for – which is great.  Turkey Day is a fantastic excuse to take some time and reflect on all you have to be thankful for.  Then after that, stuff your face and watch football…..   Kidding aside, we all have much to be thankful for.  The above photo was sent to us earlier this month showing a Los Padres black bear traipsing across a small meadow during his/her daily rounds.  It got me thinking how thankful we all should be to have wild spaces and enough room in the Los Padres for great animals to roam.  Be it the condor, elk, fish, bear or humans; we’re very fortunate to have vast spaces to wander and explore in the LP.  There’s a billion other reasons to be thankful, almost all of them are more important than this one, but it’s really cool thinking of that bear and all his neighbors doing their thing out there right now.

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FOREST 411

Couple tidbits from across the Forest, if you have anything to add, please send our way:

• The 20th Annual Volunteer Wilderness Ranger Training will be January 23-24 at the Los Prietos Compound, Santa Barbara Ranger District.  Much more information to come but we wanted to make sure you all get it on your calendars.  20 years is certainly reason to celebrate.

• The Mt. Pinos Ranger District has announced their seasonal closures which start today.  See attached document for specifics.

• Franklin Trail Fundraiser on December 2.  The Santa Barbara Trails Council is hosting a Happy Hour to help raise funds for the Franklin Trail and thank the Sierra Club for their contributions to the trail.  More information here.

• A cold front is crossing the LP over the coming days.  Freezing temps are expected across most of the forest.  While rain is expected in the northern LP, not much is expected to fall south of the Santa Ynez Valley and Sespe Creek.

• In October, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance headed up an effort to bring Leave No Trace to the Pine Ridge Trail in order to evaluate the impact along the trail and recommend a course of action to help alleviate the impacts.  While out there, LNT came across Flyin’ Brian Robinson, the famous thru-hiker.  He gave a nice short interview on LNT and why it’s important.  Worth checking out here.

• Yeti Coolers released a great short video talking about the Los Padres Outfitters and some of their history between Tony Alvis and Graham.  You can view it here.

• While the Los Padres Charter Sierra Club Condor Call has been out now for a few weeks old, if you haven’t checked it out, it’s certainly worth a read as well.  Click here.
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Yes, it’s Calendar Season
Calendar
Back by popular demand, the LPFA will be producing 2016 calendars featuring pictures of the spectacular sights from around the Los Padres Forest. AND WE COULD USE YOUR HELP. If you have a great photo or two that you think is worthy of being included within the calendar, please send it to INFO@LPForest.org. We’ll need your name and what month you think it best represents – no need to include the location, we don’t want to spoil your secrets. If we use your photo, we’ll credit you and send you a calendar. Sound okay?

The LPFA produced 4 years of calendars from 2008-2011 highlighting waterfalls. This time around we’re opening it up to anything Los Padres related. Could be an epic sunset, a photo of wildlife, a view from your favorite trail or even a waterfall. If you have something great to share, we’d love to see it. All photos need to be sent and finalized by December 10. We won’t use your photos for anything other than the calendar without your permission. We’ll have information on how to get a calendar by mid-December, just in time for the holidays. If you have any other questions, let us know……. Thanks, looking forward to seeing some great photos.

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The window, barely open….. photo Slattery
PuertoSuelo
Happy Thanksgiving everyone and hope you find some trail time over the long weekend………