The Santa Barbara Highcountry on a clear spring day. A view that never ceases to inspire. Always good to take a moment to remember how lucky we are to have a place like the Los Padres in our backyard….
Hi Friends,
LPFA will be hosting a Volunteer Working Vacation at Pine Mountain Lodge Camp on the Piedra Blanca Trail in the Sespe Wilderness May 29 – June 7! We attempted a Working Vacation at this location in April, but had to pivot to the Pothole Trail due to inclement weather. That was a great trip, but we REALLY wanted to get up to Pine Mountain Lodge this year and continue our ongoing work on the Piedra Blanca Trail (part of the Ventura County Condor Trail). Plus, this is a great location to spend late spring in the Los Padres – over 6,000ft high, mixed conifer forest, good water, and panoramic views.
We often say that Working Vacations are what LPFA does best. And if you haven’t joined one before, they are an absolute blast. We spend 10 days at a *usually* backcountry location working trail, exploring the forest, and enjoying good food and cold drinks brought in by pack animal support. It’s a great way to meet new folks, spend time with friends, give back to the trails, and find your flow in the forest. And if 10 days is too long to get away from life, shorter stints are OK too. Come on out and see what we’re all about….
LPFA
Scenes from across the forest on LPFA’s recent Working Vacations. Pack mules, campfires, and clear trails abound…..
Looking down the rerouted section of the Pothole Trail toward Lake Piru….
Pothole Trail Ribbon Cutting
After nearly two decades of planning and five years of boots-on-the-ground trail work, the newly reconfigured Pothole Trail and Trailhead off Lake Piru is open and ready for business. We’ll be celebrating this accomplishment on Sunday morning May 17 at 9am with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by some volunteer trail work as we put the finishing touches on the trail. The Pothole Reroute project has been a terrific collaboration between the Forest Service, United Water and the LPFA with funding provided by SCE and NFWF. We’re all very excited about the new trail and new forest access. We hope to see you Sunday morning but even if you can’t make it over the weekend, you’ll have to come check out the Pothole Trail soon.
May 23, Potrero John Volunteer Day – If you’re looking for a scenic LP canyon bursting with wildflowers and rugged views, look no further. This trail is just up Hwy 33 from Ojai and offers up some of the best the LP has to offer. We’ve spent several days this spring working the trail up to Potrero John Camp and are almost there! Come out and help finish the job….
May 30, Santa Paula Canyon Cleanup – LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew have been hard at work keeping this over-loved canyon clean and free of graffiti. Somewhat sisyphean but always rewarding, this day will focus on removing the graffiti that comes with the increased visitation of swimming season. If you haven’t joined before, it’s pretty fun! And much needed. Come on out!
June 6, National Trails Day, Santa Barbara – The City of Santa Barbara and partner groups (yes, LPFA!) will be hosting a volunteer event on Rattlesnake Canyon Trail for National Trails Day! Meet at Skofield Park at 8:30am and stay afterwards for lunch and cold drinks! These are great projects for volunteers of all skill levels and a fun way to spend a Saturday. Check out the details and RSVP here.
June 18 – 21, Reyes Peak Trail Overnight – We’ll be camping high up (over 7,000ft!) on Haddock Peak and working this incredibly scenic trail over a long weekend in June. It’s a great way to get above the fog and give back to the trails. And yes, this is also part of the Ventura County Condor Trail. Come out and join the party….
And a Few More Events….
- May 21, 6:30 – 7:30pm – This month’s Santa Barbara Public Library Trail Talk will be on the Sespe Wilderness: Backcountry Wonders at the Intersection of Nature, Adventure, and Politics.
- May 28, 10am – 2pm – The Ventura County Weed Management Area is hosting a Bioblitz at Chuchupate Ranger Station to document native and invasive plants in the region. The event runs from 10am – 2pm and includes an overview of the species of the area and a guided walk to ID them in the field. You can join in person or virtually. Check out the details here.
Blue skies, green trees, and rugged rock formations. A Los Padres specialty…. photo, RickH
