Bryan Conant – Page 18 – Los Padres Forest Association

March Normalcy

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Good Morning Everyone,

It seems each year we leave February praying for a repeat March Miracle and yet once again March came and went with whatever the opposite of a miracle would be, lets call it normalcy. Most of the forest had zero rain after that first storm on March 1. Is it too late to ask for an April Sensation? It does look like most of the Los Padres will be getting some rain throughout today and into tomorrow. Initial estimates are in the 1/2″ – 3/4″ range, depending on geographic locations. They are also calling it a ‘winter weather event’ with snow levels as low as 4,000ft. This might be our last blast of winter weather for a while, enjoy it while you can!

Back to upcoming events:

—————————————————————————————————
April 10-13: Alamar Hill Trail Project, Dick Smith Wilderness
April 11: Wheeler Gorge Open House, Ojai
April 11: Lion Canyon (Sespe) Trail Project, Ojai
April 11: State Trails Day, West Fork Cold Spring, Santa Barbara
April 17-26: Working Vacation Upper Sisquoc
May 2: Stony Creek Celebration
May 15-17: Mono Campground Trail Weekend
—————————————————————————————————

April 11: Lion Canyon (Sespe) Trail Project, Ojai
An All-Star crew of trail volunteers will be leading a project this Saturday to work the Lion Canyon Trail above the Sespe River. The focus will be brushing the West Fork spur trail. Total hiking distance is 4.6miles. The project will start at 8:30 and return to cell range by 3:30pm. Perhaps they’ll even make it to the end of the Wheeler Gorge Open House. If interested contact Ranger Heidi: handerson@fs.fed.us

April 11: State Trails Day, West Fork Cold Spring, Santa Barbara
In recognition of State Trails Day, come on out this Saturday and give back by spending a day working the West Fork Cold Spring Trail above Montecito. We’ll be meeting at Skofield Park at 9am and the work will continue until 3pm. Lunch will be provided after the event for all trail workers. You can learn more by checking out the attached PDF. Also, there will be a Trails and Ales event on Friday night from 5-7pm at SoHo to help kick off State Trails Day and make sure the workers are fired up for Saturday morning. Hope to see you wither Friday, Saturday or both.

Take care, enjoy the weather………

West Fork Lion Canyon Waterfall, photo H. Anderson
LionFalls

Upper Sisquoc Working Vacation

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Hello Everyone,We’re very excited to announce that the LPFA is partnering with the Forest Service to host a 10-day trail project along the Upper Sisquoc Trail within the San Rafael Wilderness. The dates are April 17-26. The Cliff Notes version:

While the project is 10 days in total length, we’ll have a variety of entry and exit dates for those who cannot commit to the entire 10 days. Let us know what works for you and we’ll do our best to figure out a solution.
The project will start by driving past the locked FS gates to Santa Barbara Potrero.
We’ll meet the stock horses and mules at SB Potrero and load them up with gear, food, tools and supplies to haul down to Heath Camp.
From there we’ll backpack the 5 miles down to Heath Camp, which will most likely be our basecamp for the week.
Once at Heath along the Sisquoc, we’ll setup camp and do what we do: trail work, campfires, swim, good food, log out trees, explore, hang out with friends and swing tools.
The focus of the project is to work and clear the trail of the 100 reported trees down from Heath up towards Alamar Saddle.

If you’ve not been on a Working Vacation, I can assure you they are a lot of fun. Having stock support means we eat well and usually have cold beverages to look forward to at the end of the day. Hope you can make it and to sign up or for more information email: INFO@LPFOREST.ORG

SISQUOC WORKING VACATION
April 17-26
Heath Camp
San Rafael Wilderness
http://www.hikelospadres.com/sisquoc-trail-south-fork-to-alamar.html

UpperSisquocWV

BearFalls

April 11: Busy Day on the Los Padres Forest

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Hi Everyone,

The weekend of April 11 is going to be a busy weekend on the Forest. There are quite a few volunteer activities and events scheduled. Of course, our big event is the Wheeler Gorge Open House along Hwy 33. COME TO THAT, OF COURSE. Here is a list of some of the projects and today we’ll be focusing on the Alamar Hill Trail Project, more to come:

April 10-13: Alamar Hill Trail Project, Dick Smith Wilderness
April 11: Wheeler Gorge Open House, Ojai
April 11: Lion Canyon (Sespe) Trail Project, Ojai
April 11: State Trails Day, West Fork Cold Spring, Santa Barbara
April 17-26: Working Vacation Upper Sisquoc

Alamar Hill Trail Project
April 10-13
The LPFA is hosting a trail project in the remote Dick Smith Wilderness along the Alamar Hill Trail. We’ll be starting the trip by driving in Friday afternoon April 10 through the locked FS gate at PBar Campground in the Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area. This is about a 1.5hr drive from Santa Barbara. From there we’ll drive the Loma Pelona Don Victor Fire Road (4×4 only) out to the Dick Smith and our camp. Starting Saturday we’ll be working the 1.2 miles of trail from Loma Pelona down to Pens Camp along Indian Creek. This is the focus of the trip, to work from the Lomas down to Pens Camp. Work will be primarily cutting brush, reestablishing the tread and logging out any trees across the trail. Work will continue Sunday along the same stretch. Of course, some strategic swimming in Indian Creek will help keep the workers refreshed and there will be time for exploring the nearby trails and features. This is not a backpacking trip, we will be car camping each night. The LPFA will be providing dinners Saturday and Sunday nights. We’ll be returning Monday morning and should be back in cell range by the early afternoon.

This is a great opportunity to explore an extremely wild, rugged, beautiful and seldom visited corner of the Dick Smith Wilderness. If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please contact Rick Humphrey: rhsbsurf@cox.net

Here are some photos to help entice your participation.

Lomas in Spring
SpringLoma

A Loma local
LomaBear

Pens Camp
PensCamp

Area Map, working from Loma Pelona down to Pens camp
DetailedMap

Overview Map
OverviewMap

LPFA Transverse – Buzzy Times

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Don’t spend too much time looking at this, photo Amanda Grandfield

Hello Los Padres,

Busy time in the Forest. Lots going on. Events every weekend. Flowers going off. Trail projects here and there. Good water in the creeks. And yes, our snake friends are awake, out and about. We’ve been getting reports of rattler sightings. While the buzzing sound will startle you, remember that it’s better than the alternative of a snake that doesn’t provide warnings. Rattlesnakes play a crucial role in the LP environment and don’t like seeing people as much as you might not like seeing them. Keep your eyes open while along the trails, watch where you put your feet and hands and be sure to give them their space if you do see/hear them. They really are quite beautiful, once you get over the initial startle.

EVENTS, PROJECTS and VOLUNTEERING, OH MY!!!

MARCH 19
FREE Showing of MULE Living on the Outside
Greater Goleta
The Los Padres Trail Riders are presenting a free screening of the great documentary of Mule’s wanderings around the Western United States. See attached for more details.

MARCH 22
Trails and Tales: A Behind the Scenes Look at Ojai’s Backcountry
Ojai
This is going to be awesome! The Ojai Valley Museum has organized a panel discussion about everyone’s favorite subject: The Ojai/Ventura Backcountry! The panelists are a who’s who, including Rick Bisaccia, John Boggs, Craig Carey and Mike Vaughn. The event starts at 4:30. I know, spend the day in the mountains, stop by Wheeler Gorge on your way back and then hit the Trails and Tales on your way back home. Perfect day! Thank me on Monday with some pictures of your hike. See attached for more information.

MARCH 25
Exploring the Dick Smith Wilderness Slideshow by James Wapotich
Santa Barbara
Join James Wapotich next Wednesday as he takes us on a tour of the forgotten Dick Smith Wilderness. Free event that will leave you wanting to risk bad trails and blood sucking California rose for the solitude and beauty of the Dick Smith. See you there….. More information attached.

MARCH 28
Wildflower Tour of Figueroa Mountain
Santa Ynez Valley
Helen Tarbet of the Forest Service will be leading a tour of the world famous Figueroa Mountain wildflowers. Helen’s passion and knowledge of the local flora is incredible. She’s great and you will have a terrific time on this tour, trust me. See the attached flier and please send us some photos to share when you get back.

MARCH 28
Santa Paula Canyon Trash Cleanup
Ojai Santa Paula
The Ojai Ranger District will be organizing a trash cleanup along Santa Paula Canyon on March 28. For more information, contact Ranger Heidi: handerson@fs.fed.us

MARCH 28-29
Santa Barbara Canyon Sawyer Project
Cuyama Pine Mountain
Join the UTMC and Wilderness Corp on a sawyer project along the Santa Barbara Canyon Trail in the Dick Smith Wilderness. The work starts Saturday at 9am and lasts through 5pm on Sunday. This is a beautiful trail in a remote corner of the forest. Great opportunity to give back to the forest. If interested click on www.WildernessCorps.com and click on Logging Trips; Santa Barbara Canyon Trail. Looking forward to hearing about all the great work they get done!

APRIL 11
Wheeler Gorge Open House
Ojai Highway 33
The LPFA is hosting our 11th Open House at Wheeler Gorge! This is a great family event. This is a perfect excuse for getting you and your family into the mountains. The Open House is from 10am – 2pm, which gives you plenty of time for an early morning hike or an afternoon swim in the nearby Matilija or Sespe Wildernesses. We’ll have games, arts & crafts, booths, Smokey Bear, BBQ, etc etc… See attached for more details.

I told you there was lots going on. Hope to see you out and about and have a great week……….

Santa Paula Canyon, photo Ranger Heidi
SantaPaulaCyn

LPFA Transverse – Spring Volunteer Season

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Frosty Madulce, March 2015

Madulce

Hello Everyone,

Most of the Forest is experiencing cool, cloudy and hopefully rainy conditions today. That is going to change. By this weekend we are looking at potentially record setting heat across most of the Central Coast. And next week….. who knows. That’s part of the beauty of Spring. If you don’t like the weather, wait a day and you’ll get something different. Hope you’re finding some time on the trails and if you have any nice photos and you want to share, please send our way.

We’ve had quite a few questions of late asking for volunteer opportunities. We’ve outlined a few below. If you’d like us to mention any of your upcoming events, please send our way and we’d be happy to share.

Little Pine along the Santa Cruz Trail

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WEST CUESTA RIDGE TRASH CLEANUP
San Luis Obispo
March 14, 9am
The illegal shooting range off West Cuesta Ridge in SLO has become quite a mess. A combination of LPNF, LPFA, CCCMB and LPFW forces are meeting this Saturday (3/14) at 9am to help clean up the mess. See the attached CCCMB map and Forest Press Release for more details. Hope to see you there……….

POTHOLE TRAIL BRUSHING PROJECT
Ventura
March 14
The Ojai Ranger District is having the last in a series of trail projects along the Pothole Trail outside of Lake Piru. The project is most likely full but if you are dieing to work a remote backcountry trail this weekend, there might still be some room. Contact Ranger Heidi: handerson@fs.fed.us

SANTA CRUZ TRAIL, LITTLE PINE TRAIL MAINTENANCE
Santa Barbara
March 15, 9am
The SBMTV is hosting a trail project along the Little Pine section of the Santa Cruz Trail. The work will mostly be along the southern wall of Little Pine down towards 19 Oaks Camp. For more information contact Chris Orr: chris.orr@sbmtv.org

MISSION PINE TRAIL SAWYER WORK
Santa Barbara
March 27 – 29
The LPFA will be continuing work along the Mission Pine Trail in the SB high country. The project will be based out of Mission Pine Spring Camp and will be focused on logging the trees across the trail between Mission Pine Spring and Mission Pine Basin. The project will be stock supported, which means light packs and good food. If interested please contact Curt Cragg: Curt@LPForest.org

FOREST 411

The Los Padres Trail Riders will be presenting a free screening of Mule: Living on the Outside. This is a documentary about Mule and his adventures while roaming the western United States. If you haven’t been following this epic journey, it’s pretty cool stuff. Check it out March 19 at the Santa Barbara Human Society.For those of you interested in mud runs or obstacles races, there is a super fun race coming to the Central Coast on March 28. It’s called the Checkpoint Challenge and will be held at Santa Margarita Lake in SLO County. If you’ve ever been curious about this, check out their website and watch the promotional video. Looks like a lot of fun. Registration is open now, charge on!WILDFLOWERS! It’s wildflower season and Helen Tarbet of the Santa Lucia Ranger District has released her first Figueroa Wildflower Update of the season. See attached. If you’ve not taken the pilgrimage to Fig Mtn to see the flowers, you have to…… It’s incredible when timed right.

The 11th Annual Wheeler Gorge Open House is schedule for April 11. This year promises to be the best Open House yet as we’re focusing the event on recreation as well as education. You’ll hear much more about this in the coming weeks but be sure to put this on your calendar. April 11 – ALL DAY!

Piedra Blanca – Gene Marshall Trail, Mount Pinos Ranger District

So Many Trails, Lets Get To It!

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Greetings Trail Users,

I hope you are having a great week and enjoying the interesting spring-like weather we’ve been experiencing. Today’s message is a bit different than usual. I’m not not providing updates or announcing projects but rather asking for your help. The LPFA has a full slate of trail projects scheduled for the Spring and early Summer and WE NEED YOUR HELP! We have trail projects in the works ranging from 10-day Working Vacations along the Santa Cruz Trail to 1-day projects down the Cold Spring Trail. All these projects take time and money. The LPFA works hard to organize, schedule and complete the work that keeps our trails open. At the same time we love to provide our trail volunteers with the necessary great food, sharp tools and safety equipment that keep them coming back for more and heading home with smiles on their faces (albeit with sore backs). I’m reaching out asking for your support as we get started on the busiest and most ambitious season of trail projects and Forest support in the history of the LPFA. Become a LPFA member and donate to help our trail projects. Listed at the bottom of this email is a quick list of projects we have in the works for the next few months. I always say that every little bit of trail work helps, and similarly all the support we can get helps just as much. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Click the image below and become a LPFA supporter.

Thanks and enjoy your weekend on the trail,

Bryan

Hurricane Deck: Schoolhouse towards Potrero Canyon
Alamar Hill Trail: Indian Creek up to Loma Pelona
Santa Cruz Trail: Little Pine to Santa Cruz Station
Santa Cruz Trail: Kellogg Camp to Mission Pine Basin
Mission Pine Trail: McKinley Saddle to Mission Pine Basin
Cold Spring Trail: Mono to the Emerald Pools
Gene Marshall/Piedra Blanca: Reyes Trailhead to Haddock Camp
Ranger Peak Trail: Shooting Range towards Peak
Franklin Trail: Jameson Lake up towards East Camino Cielo
Blue Canyon Trail: Forbush to Escondido Trailhead
Upper Sisquoc: TBD (trail report coming soon)
Alamar Trail: Alamar Saddle towards Bill Faris
Madulce Trail: Buckhorn Rd down to Madulce Camp

LPFA Transverse – Let it Rain, Please!

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Get Your Rain Dance On!
LetItRain

I heard one of my mentors say the other day, “Remember when it used to rain in February?” No doubt we’ve all been reading and hearing about the drought that has engulfed California. It got me wondering, just how bad is it? So I did a little research (note: I’m no scientist, there are countless experts and bloggers who can provide much more substantiated and in-depth analysis). Currently the annual rain totals across the Los Padres are about 67% of average, give or take depending on geography. Throughout history we’ve endured years much worse than this one, but what’s different about this drought is that we are now in year 4 of well below average rain totals. Throughout local history, droughts generally don’t last more than 3 seasons. One of the worst droughts in our history occurred in 1989-1991, two seasons. Those years were really bad but it lasted only two years. We’re in year 4, including 2013-14 which was by most accounts considered THE WORST single rain season of all time. This is not good. While there is a chance for the much needed March Miracle that could boost this season to above normal levels, we are working out of a 3 year deficit that in all likelihood won’t be replenished this year. We’re dealing with reservoirs across the state being below 50% capacity, snow-free mountain ranges, San Francisco recording no rain in January for the first time in nearly 200 years, water rations, expansive swaths of dead trees, large ranches “harvesting water” to sell to municipalities and Big Sur getting 16% of normal rain during the 2013 season – however you break it down, we are up to our necks (or perhaps better, up to our ankles) in scary scary lack of water. I hate being pessimistic but its pretty hard to spin any positives out of the situation we find ourselves in. The best we can do is enjoy the creeks while they are flowing, conserve water the best we can, know that Mother Nature does this in cycles, hope for the best and get your rain dance on……
We need it all!

Mission Pine Pano, photo Nick D’Incelli
MPPano

MISSION PINE UPDATE

The LPFA has focused much energy over the past year logging and reopening the Mission Pine Trail within Santa Barbara County. The Mission Pine Trail is one of the most spectacular trails within the Los Padres. The trail covers nearly 15miles across the San Rafael Mountains from McKinley Saddle to Windy Gap, all above 5,000ft and covering mostly pine terrain. The channel islands can be seen to the south and most of the time the Sierras can be seen to the north. According to legend, the area got its name after the timbers used to build the SB Mission were harvested from up along this ridge. The trees were cut and carried nearly 30miles up and down mountains on their long journey to the Mission. Anyway, volunteers have led 6 projects over the past year to work on the trail and we have another one planned for later this month. If you are looking for a great multi-day backpack across some fantastic terrain, this trail should be on your short list. If you have any questions about the trail, camps or loop/shuttle options – feel free to let us know: INFO@LPForest.org

Crew Training, photo provided by Burtness
SawyerTraining

FOREST FOUR ONE ONE

Bob Burtness sent in this photo from 1929 showing the University of Washington crew team training through the use of crosscut saws. No doubt it is hard work – we could use them. If you’d like to volunteer for a project, we could use your help too. Check the calendar of events on LPForest.org and come on out. If you can’t make a project, we could certainly use donations to help feed the hungry sawyers. It all goes to helping the trails and keeping access to the Forest open…….

TRAILS & ALES, GOLETA, CAPTAIN FATTY’S
TODAY, FEBRUARY 19
Last minute reminder that we’ll be having a Trails & Ales event this evening at Captain Fatty’s in Goleta. Come one, come all! Talk trail, win prizes, say hello, cheers with your friends, all of the above.

FIRST AID / CPR / BBP CERTIFICATION
FEBRUARY 28
We have a few spaces still available for a First Aid / CPR class in Ojai on February 28. The cost is around $50 and you’ll walk away with great knowledge and certifications for First Aid. Contact the LFPA to sign up or for more information.

GENE MARSHALL – PIEDRA BLANCA TRAIL PROJECT
MARCH 20-22
The LPFA is teaming up with UTMC and the MPRD VWR to host a three day trail project along the Gene Marshall Trail. We’ll be starting from the Reyes Creek Trailhead and working up and over Pine Mtn eventually coming out at the Piedra Blanca Trailhead. Most of the work will be logging fallen trees from the trail corridor. We’ve had recent reports that nearly 20 trees are across the trail with quite a few in the 40″ diameter range. If interested in helping, contact Mark Subbotin.

BACKPACKING FUNDAMENTALS CLASS
STARTS MARCH 10
The LPFA will be teaching a 6 week class on the fundamentals of backpacking. We’ll be covering everything from what gear to bring, how to choose a trail, what to do if you get PO, map reading, wilderness first aid and much more. The classes will be in Goleta starting Tuesday March 10. If you would like more information, contact Curt Cragg. Hope to see you there!

That’s it for today everyone! Hope you get out on the trails this weekend and have some great stories to share afterwards…….

LPFA Transverse – Time for Backpacking & Ales

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Cuyama Badlands, Don’t adjust your vision, that’s how it looks.
CuyamaBadlands

Hi Everyone,
Lots to cover this week. For those of you who can’t get enough of these email updates (you know who you are), they are archived at www.LPForest.org. We also post much of this information and more on the LPFA Facebook page. Check em out!

FEBRUARY 19, 5PM,

CAPTAIN FATTY’S, GOLETA

Do you know what ‘Trails and Ales’ is? A few years ago the Santa Barbara County Trails Council dreamt up a great event to bring trail enthusiasts together by sharing ales. Since then, there have been a handful of these events across Santa Barbara County. The latest installment is being hosted by the LPFA on Thursday February 19th at Captain Fatty’s Brewery in Goleta. Captain Fatty’s opened up just a few months ago, if you haven’t visited, this is the perfect time to come out and check it for yourself. The event is from 5-8pm with all proceeds going to support LPFA trail projects we have lined up for this Spring. This includes work scheduled on the Mission Pine, Cold Spring North, Santa Cruz, Ranger Peak, Hurricane Deck, Gibraltar, Buckhorn and Gene Marshall / Piedra Blanca trails. We’ll also have a silent auction and raffle featuring local maps, guide books, REI and Patagonia products. Come on out, enjoy a cold ale, talk trail, we’ll be BBQing tritip sandwichs and meet some new friends. No better way to replenish your stoke for the trails.

Almost forgot, we’ll be playing a NAME THAT PLACE game. Send us a photo (INFO@LPForest.org) of your favorite Los Padres Camp or recognizable feature and we’re going to organize a great game out of the photos. See you there…….

Motivation to Explore

BACKPACKING FUNDAMENTALS COURSE

The LPFA is super happy to announce a new program we are hosting to introduce and share the love of backpacking. Driven by Curt Cragg and Paul “Beeman” Cronshaw, we’ll be hosting a 6 week course on the fundamentals of backpacking. We’ll be covering everything from what to bring, where to go, how to read maps, what to do when things go wrong and how to be confident along the trails. The classes will be held in the Santa Barbara Area starting mid-March. For more information see the attached document or email: Curt@LPForest.org

We’re very excited about this. It’s going to be really fun. Please share with anyone you think might be interested in learning how to backpack.

FOREST 411

OJAI RANGER DISTRICT – HIRING
The ORD is hiring a Visitor Services Information Assistant to work out of the Ojai Ranger Station. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in working with the Forest Service. Attached is a PDF with more information. GOOD LUCK!

POTHOLE TRAIL PROJECT: February 14
What better way to spend Valentines than on the trail with your sweetheart doing trail work. Join Ranger Heidi as she continues working the Pothole Trail in the Southern Sespe Wilderness and along the Condor Trail. Email Heidi for more details. Great job everyone!

JESUSITA TRAIL PROJECT: February 15
SBMTV is hosting a trail project on the 15th to continue work along the West Jesusita Trail. They’ve been working specifically on some switchbacks that are having trouble knowing what to do with any water that comes down the trail. For more information email Mike Tarpey.

FIRST AID and CPR TRAINING: February 28
Reminder that the LPFA has organized a First Aid/CPR/BBP training for Sunday February 28 in Ojai. We have a few spaces left, please hurry! To sign up or for more information please email: INFO@LPForest.org

ARROYO BURRO CLEARED
Late last week we got a report from an equestrian that the North Arroyo Burro Trail was impassable due to a large downed oak tree. In the words of the great Craig Carey, “TO THE HILLS!”. The LPFA Trailwork Tuesday bunch organized and spent most of yesterday removing the tree. It was a particularly dangerous tree with most of the weight uphill of the trail. Slowly and methodically the volunteers removed the tree piece by piece, ultimately freeing the trail back up for hikers and riders. If you know of any downed trees or trail hazards along your favorite trail, let us know.

Super Volunteers Ranger Rik and The Chief, Before and After

Enjoy the week everyone, take care……

Join the LPFA today!

LPFA Transverse – Wildling and Gates

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Sespe Glow, photo Dan Hall
SespeGlow

Good Morning Los Padres,
Lets get right to it, shall we?

W I L D L I N G

W I L D E R N E S S

P A N E L

The LPFA is honored to be partnering with the Wildling Museum to host a panel discussion about the history, impact, spledor and future of the Santa Barbara County Wilderness areas. The event is Saturday February 7 at 5:30pm in Solvang. We are fortunate to have a fantastic panel assembled to talk about the Wilderness. Joining us will be James Wapotich, Bob Burtness and Kerry Kellogg. You can read their bios and more information at the following link:

http://www.wildlingmuseum.org/home-new/calendar/wilderness-panel/

Space is limited for the event, it will sell out. If interested, get your tickets ASAP. Make a day out of it. Go for a dayhike at nearby Figueroa Mountain or the San Rafael Wilderness and come back in time for the panel event. It’s going to be really fun and chock full of great stories about the SB Backcountry. See you there………

Ranger Peak Gate, usually open, but not always

F O R E S T G A T E S

If you’ve not checked out HikeLosPadres.com and you are reading this, you probably should set aside a few mins (or more) to explore the website. For the past few years the LPFA has been working with web designer extraordinaire John Ziegler to create this fantastic tool and resource for LP Forest users. The site is literally being improved every day. It’s been a huge undertaking and there remain bugs throughout the site that are on our todo list – but we are hacking away and as mentioned making it faster, better and more user-friendly each day.

One of the new features we’ve added is a page dedicated to the gates across the Forest. We just launched this feature earlier this week and it’s still very much a work in progress. Our hope is that we can work with the Forest Service and the public to have as up-to-date information as possible as to if the gates are open or closed. Did I mention its still a work in progress? Check it out:

http://www.hikelospadres.com/district-gates.html

At the moment we only have a handful of gates included on the site but we will be adding them regularly over the coming weeks. If you can think of any gates to be added, have information on any closures or have any ideas/opinions about the gates page, PLEASE let us know. INFO@LPForest.org As the winter moves on, we’ll be updating information as we get it so please share or come back and check on the status of a gate before your next journey into the Forest. You can update the status of a gate by clicking on the comment section on the gate page as well.

VDC, Pine Ridge Trail, photo Tim Bills
VDC

N E W S & N O T E S

PINE RIDGE TRAIL UPDATE
– The Pine Ridge Trail and parking lot at the west side of the Pine Ridge Trail is scheduled to open again today, this is the parking at Big Sur Station.
– While the trail remains in poor shape, especially for the first couple miles, it is passable for hikers.
– Please be careful along the trail. For more information contact the Big Sur Station at (831) 667-2315

WHEELER GORGE
– Wheeler Gorge is ramping up for another busy season of interpretive events.
– Our summer schedule of events is filling up and we’ll be sure to share them with you as summer approaches.
– For starters, Wheeler is hosting a Trail Boss program on February 7.
– Trail Boss is a Forest Service supported program that teaches the techniques and safety involved with trail maintenance.
– The program is open to anyone 12 years or older and is usually a huge hit amongst the scouting communities.
– Topics include: first aid, trail terminology, introduction to trail tools and history of trail work.
– This is a great program for teaching respect for the trails and introducing the next generation of trail users to the art and science of trail building and maintenance.
– For more information contact Gordie: WheelerGorge@LPForest.org Hope to see you there!

Enjoy the weekend everyone and see you on the trails……..

LPFA Transverse – Potholes and Superbowls

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Bryan Conant

Hello Everybody,

Hope you’ve been getting out and enjoying the unusually warm weather we’ve had of late. It’s been nice, sometimes too nice. WE NEED RAIN. Good news is the LP is looking like we might get a few storms within the next week or so. Fingers crossed! We’ve got quite a few updates from across the Forest, lets get to it:

P O T H O L E W O R K I N G

V A C A T I O N

We were just reminded that this project was never shared. Back in July, the Ojai Ranger District reached out to us and asked if we’d be interested in hosting a ‘Working Vacation’ on the Pothole Trail. I don’t think the words had fully left their mouth and we’d already responded with a “HECK YEAH!” The Pothole Trail is a rarely hiked trail within the Sespe Wilderness that connects Lake Piru with the Agua Blanca drainage. It’s the southern most trail along the Condor Trail, right next to the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and is extremely wild and scenic. Great spot! After a few scouting missions by the Forest Service and LPFA, we set off and spent a week clearing the trail from Log Cabin Camp up towards the ridge line. Working Vacations are projects where the LPFA provides food for the volunteers in exchange for volunteers spending their days hacking away at brush. Three daily meals and morning/evening beverages were more than enough encouragement for our team of 13 volunteers. We ended up clearing nearly 3 miles of trail that was extremely overgrown at the start of the week. Good times had by all and a great opportunity to spend an extended time in the Sespe Wilderness. More photos can be seen on the LPFA Facebook Page.

Bluff Storm Clouds, photo Beeman
BluffStormClouds

U P C O M I N G P R O J E C T S

Tis the season and there is a storm of trail projects on the horizon at the moment. Hopefully you can make a couple of these.

January 31: Pothole Trail Clearing
The Ojai Ranger District is hosting a trail project along the Upper Pothole Trail January 31. It will be mostly brushing with some light tread work. For more information, contact Ranger Heidi: handerson@fs.fed.us

February 1: Mine Camp Trail Project
What better way to spend Super Bowl Sunday than doing some trail work in the morning. The LPFA, UTMC and Mt. Pinos Volunteers are teaming up for the 3rd Annual Super Bowl Trail Project. This year the work will be up the Mine Camp Trail up from the Deal Canyon Connector Trail in the Mount Pinos Ranger District. The work will start early and end in time for you to at least make the second half of the Super Bowl. As if that isn’t incentive enough, all volunteers will walk away with a commemorative drink koozy. How can you beat that. For more information, get a hold of Mark Subbotin: msubbotin76@gmail.com

Koozy

February 27-March 1: Mission Pine Trail
In a continued effort to open up the Mission Pine Trail, another project will be hosted from February 27-March 1 starting from McKinley Saddle and heading to Mission Pine Basin in the San Rafael Wilderness. We’ll send some additional updates but if you’d like to sign up, reach out to Curt Cragg: Curt@LPForest.org

Shrouded Cachuma Peak
CachumaPeak

F O R E S T 4 1 1

First Aid / CPR Training
There is a forest-centric First Aid and CPR Class on Sunday February 28 in Ojai. This is a great opportunity to get re-certified for your crosscut or chainsaw certification. If interested contact: Bryan@LPForest.org

Wildling Wilderness Panel
The LPFA is partnering with the Wildling Museum to host a Wilderness Panel event in Solvang on February 7. The panel will feature some local Forest historians and key figures as they talk about their experiences in the Los Padres and how the wilderness designations have affected the Forest. Should be a really fun night. We’ll post more information in the coming days. Seats are limited so put it on your calendar.

California Fire Permit
We were reminded that now is the time to get a CA fire permit. It’s free and only takes a few mins. Use the link below and share with your friends and camping buddies.
http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/

Middle Lion Campground OPEN
Middle Lion Campground in the Ojai has been reopened. It was closed for about a month due to hazard trees. The FS removed the hazard trees and it’s good to go now.

Los Padres Biodiversity Workshop
The LP is hosting a workshop to encourage women to get into fire fighting. The classes are in Santa Barbara over Super Bowl Weekend. For more information check the link below:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/lpnf/home/?cid=STELPRD3827043&width=full

Franklin Trail Fundraiser – January 28
Trails and Ales is back! Drink beer and help the Franklin Trail? What could be better…..
http://sbtrails.org/events/trails-and-ales/

Lots of information…….If we missed anything or you have any updates you’d like us to forward on – send our way. Be safe everyone and enjoy your time in the Forest.