LPFA Used Gear Sale is Sunday!

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Addison Jerlow

LPFA Used Gear Sale: THIS SUNDAY!

Hi Friends,

In case you missed it, the 9th Annual LPFA Used Gear Sale will be this Sunday, October 19th, from 10am – 12pm at Tuckers Grove Park, site 2. The sale features lightly used outdoor gear including backpacks, tents, sleep systems, cookware, clothes, shoes, skis, snow shoes, surf fins, car racks and more ~ if you need anything for the outdoors, we’ll probably have it! And of course, no LPFA Used Gear Sale would be complete without a ton of backpacking gear too, including a range of new and used packs from Gossamer Gear that will be sold for HALF PRICE.

Don’t miss out, come by on Sunday and check it out! And remember, 100% of the proceeds go directly towards trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest.

See you Sunday ~ and be on time!

LPFA

2026 Los Padres Calendar: Call for Photos!

We are taking photo submissions for the 2026 Los Padres Wall Calendar! Each year, LPFA puts together a calendar featuring all the sights, seasons, and critters of the Los Padres. The past two years have seen some of the best photos we’ve had in the over 10 years we’ve been doing this. So, send in your photos to be featured in next year’s calendar! If your photo(s) gets chosen, you’ll get credited and shipped a free calendar.

Please send up to 15 photos (Google Photo Album link preferred) to INFO@LPForest.org by November 2nd, 2025. Send in those photos!

If you’re ready to order next year’s calendar, you can pre-order them now! All proceeds from calendar sales go directly towards trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest.

2026 Calendar, PLEASE!

Oct 24-26, North Cold Spring Overnight – Join us for a Halloween-themed volunteer trail project based out of Forbush Camp! We’ll be spending 3 days working the North Cold Spring and Blue Canyon Trails. Great camp, great trails, great time. And coming for the day is OK too. This one is gonna be a blast!
Nov 7-9, La Jolla Trail Restoration – We’ll be spending 3 days restoring the La Jolla Trail on Figueroa Mountain that burned in the 2024 Lake Fire. Help us fix the trail, clean up Ballard Camp and enjoy a BBQ dinner after the project! We’ll be car camping at Davy Brown Campground for this one. Join for the day or stay the night, both are OK!
Oct 16, 6:30pm, Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library – The Fire Lookouts & Aircraft Warning Observation Posts of the Los Padres National Forest will be the topic of this month’s Trail Talks at the SBPL. From the first Lookout on Zaca Peak, to the few that still remain today, join our longtime volunteer and LP guru Bob Burtness as he shares images and stories of these unique backcountry structures.
D13 General Deer Hunting season opened this past weekend. D13 is mainly in Ventura and Kern Counties, but does spill a bit into SB, SLO, and LA counties as well. Expect car campgrounds and trailheads to be busier than usual until the season closes on November 9th. Check out a map of the region here.
The Pfieffer Falls Trail in Pfieffer Big Sur State Park has reopened after 2 years of being closed to visitors due to a damaged bridge.
Highway 1 in Big Sur at Regent’s Slide is now expected to open by the end of March 2026. January will mark 3 years since the highway closed to through traffic.
LPFA is raising funds to remove graffiti in the Santa Barbara Frontcountry! Areas will include Lizard’s Mouth, West Camino Cielo and East Camino Cielo. Help us out and donate to the cause!

Volunteers removing graffiti on the Hot Springs Trail last week with LPFA and the Montecito Trails Foundation

LPFA Used Gear Sale, Call for Photos & October Projects

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Addison Jerlow

The LPFA Trail Crew, supported by Montecito Trails Foundation, put the finishing touches on the San Ysidro Trail in September. The trail is now OPEN after almost 3 years of being closed due to storm damage in January 2023. A lot of time, sweat and funding went into the new sections of trail, check out the story here.

Hi Friends,

For those of you wondering what the government shutdown means for the Los Padres, we have a few answers for you:

Campgrounds, Day Use Areas, and gates that were open will remain OPEN across the forest
Visitor Centers at Big Sur Station and Wheeler Gorge will remain OPEN to the public during normal operating hours
Forest Service offices will be CLOSED to the public until the shutdown ends (including their phone lines)

And, LPFA volunteer projects will continue during the closure! We kicked off the fall season with some incredible National Public Lands Day projects over the past two weekends and have a ton of great opportunities and events in store over the next month. Read on below and we’ll see you in the forest soon!

LPFA

LPFA Used Gear Sale: Sunday, October 19th

There’s still time to donate to the Sale!

This Thursday, October 9th we’ll be taking donations at TWO locations: Captain Fatty’s Brewery in Goleta and Topa Topa Brewing on Colt St. in Ventura. Stop by on Thursday from 4-7pm and find the LPFA table to donate your gear!

Our Used Gear Sale features new and used backpacks from Gossamer Gear, as well as donated gear ranging from tents, to clothes, to stove fuel, to skis. This sale has it all!

100% of the funds raised from the sale support trail maintenance projects in the Los Padres Forest.

We’re looking for any outdoor gear and clothing in good condition. If you have any lightly-loved camping, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, really ANY outdoor gear that needs a new home, please consider donating it. Clean out your gear closet and help the trails all at the same time!

The LPFA Used Gear Sale is Sunday, October 19th from 10am – 12pm at Tucker’s Grove Park, site 2.

Got questions? Email us at INFO@LPForest.org.

2026 Los Padres Calendar: Send in Your Photos!

LPFA is taking photo submissions for our 2026 Los Padres Calendar! Each year we put together a high-quality wall calendar featuring all the seasons, wildlife, views, and activities of the Los Padres Forest. Send us your best shots from across the forest (preferably from the last 12 months) for a chance to be featured in the 2026 calendar. Original artwork is great too! We’re looking for vistas, sunsets, mountains, flowers, rivers, wildlife, recreation, waterfalls…. ALL THINGS LOS PADRES!

Please limit your submissions to 15 photos and send a Google Photo Album link to INFO@LPForest.org by NOVEMBER 2, 2025. If your photo(s) makes the calendar, we’ll credit you and send you a free calendar!

Already know you’ll need 1, 2 or more calendars for the LP-lovers in your life? Go ahead and pre-order them through the link below!

2026 Calendar Pre-Order!

Come Out and Volunteer!

Santa Paula Canyon Cleanup: OCT 11

Join us this Saturday, October 11th for a large-scale clean up of Santa Paula Canyon! Thanks to donations from you all, LPFA and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew are making a push to remove trash and graffiti from this incredible canyon throughout the next year. With the rainy season on the way, we want to get as much of the canyon cleaned up as we can. Click below for more details and to sign up for Saturday!

SPC CLEANUP!

Spooky Trail Project: OCT 24 – 26

Ready to Get Spooky with it? LPFA will be leading a spooky season-themed trail project at Forbush Camp the weekend of October 24-26th. Costumes required! We’ll be celebrating the season with some work on the North Cold Spring and Blue Canyon Trails. If you can’t stay overnight, coming for the day is OK too! But, you’ll miss the costume contest and Los Padres spooky storytelling…. Check out more info and sign up below!

SPOOKY SIGN-UP!

La Jolla Trail Restoration: NOV 7 – 9

LPFA will be leading an overnight car camping project to restore the La Jolla Trail on November 7 – 9th! This trail burned in the 2024 Lake Fire and is still in need of repair. We’ll be car camping at Davy Brown Campground and working the trail each day throughout the weekend. If you can only join for the day, same deal! Sign up below and we’ll work out the details closer to the project….

La Jolla Trail, PLEASE!

Anyone else get out into the forest to check out the thunderstorms we’ve had this past month? Anyone notice the green grass popping up? From LPFA’s project on the Reyes Peak Trail two weeks back….

Gifford Fire Closure Revision & LPFA Fall Trailworkin’

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Addison Jerlow

It’s a great time of year for early morning hiking at higher elevations. From up on Pine Mountain….

Gifford Fire Closure Order Revised

With the Gifford Fire holding at 131,614 acres and 97% containment, the Forest Service has issued a revised closure order. This means many areas are now reopening—while some remain closed. Make sure to read the full order and linked map for yourself, but here’s a quick summary of impacted areas:

NOW OPEN

NIRA and the Manzana
Santa Barbara Canyon and the Sierra Madre east of the Aliso Trail junction
Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area
West Cuesta

STILL CLOSED

Entire SLO backcountry east of Cuesta Grade (Santa Lucia, Garcia, Machesna Wildernesses, and East Cuesta)
Santa Barbara backcountry SE of Hwy 166 south to the Sisquoc (including the Sierra Madre between Hwy 166 and the Aliso Trail junction near McPherson)

We know many of you have been waiting for this news—it’s great to see more of the forest reopening. Remember that it’s hot out there, A-Zone South hunting season lasts another two weeks, and water is starting to dry up. And of course, please follow all current regulations for where you’re headed! That being said, the Los Padres fall season is fast approaching and the LPFA has a few projects lined up to kick off the season. Read on to see what’s happening….

National Public Lands Day is September 27th, 2025. This day is about getting out, enjoying the great outdoors and GIVING BACK to your public lands. This is one of the best days of the year, and LPFA will be celebrating with TWO projects on back to back weekends in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

REYES PEAK TRAIL: SEP 26-28

LPFA will be partnering with Ojai Ranger District Recreation Staff to lead a 3-day project on the Reyes Peak Trail. There will be TWO elements to this project. We are looking for folks who want to help brush and crosscut downed trees that are blocking the trail AND folks who want to hike/run gallons of water out to Haddock Peak. Sound like fun? Sign on up!

We will be car camping on Pine Mountain Friday and Saturday nights to get an early start each morning. If you want to come for the whole time, GREAT! If you can only come for a day, that’s great too! Sign up below and we’ll work out the details in the coming weeks….

REYES PEAK PLEASE!

BUENA VISTA TRAIL: OCT 4

LPFA will be leading a day project on the Buena Vista Trail within the Santa Barbara Frontcountry. This lovely trail connects to the Romero and San Ysidro Trails and is in need of some brushing. Parking is tight so we’ll be meeting in Montecito at 8am that morning, then carpooling to the trailhead. Plan to work until around noon before heading back for lunch and some colds drinks.

This is a great project for those interested in learning about trail maintenance and working on a trail close to home. No backpacking gear needed! Plus free lunch. It will be a hoot, so please sign up below and we’ll keep you in the loop as details take shape….

BUENA VISTA SIGNUP!

Even More LPFA Events!

LPFA Talks Condor Trail, Sep 25

LPFA will be presenting on the Condor Trail on September 25th in downtown Santa Barbara! Don’t miss this in person event featuring presentations by the current FKT-holder, Addison Jerlow and the author of the Condor Trail Guide, Brian Sarvis. We’ll also have a raffle, happy hour, and fundraiser for work on the Condor Trail…. Can’t make it? Donate to fund work on the Condor Trail!

Get Your Tickets!

LPFA Used Gear Sale, Oct 19

The 9th Annual LPFA Used Gear will be Sunday, October 19th at Tucker’s Grove Park! This sale is a great opportunity to re-up your gear in time for the Los Padres backcountry season. The sale will feature an array of used gear, plus new and used gear from Gossamer Gear. 100% of the proceeds from the sale go directly towards trail maintenance in the Los Padres. We are looking for donations for the sale this year. If you have any lightly-loved gear, consider donating it! Reach out to us at INFO@LPForest.org.

Donate Used Gear!

Santa Paula Canyon Cleanups, Ongoing

LPFA is still fundraising to keep Santa Paula Canyon Clean! Thanks to the volunteers and the Santa Paula Canyon Crew who have been making these cleanups possible. Please consider donating to graffiti removal and trash cleanups in this beautiful LP canyon! We’ll be launching more large-scale projects once the weather cools back down….

Keep SPC Clean!

Backcountry Ridges for Days… photo RHumphrey

Los Padres Roadless Areas and the Condor Trail

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Addison Jerlow

Looking back along the Condor Trail a few hours before reaching its northern terminus in March 2025. photo, AJerlow

Public Comment Period Opens for Rescinding Inventoried Roadless Area Protections

A view down Agua Caliente Canyon, part of the Los Padres Inventoried Roadless Areas. photo, AJerlow

A 21-day public comment period has opened for the USDA Secretary’s plan to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This rule was passed to establish prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. There are over 635,000 acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) in the Los Padres National Forest, including familiar areas such as Grade Valley, Pine Mountain, Agua Caliente Canyon and Mono-Alamar Canyon. IRAs help protect critical wildlife and habitat, as well as provide recreational opportunities for hikers, bikers, OHV users and equestrians. The last day to comment is September 19, 2025. Submit your public comment today (include your name and zipcode!).

Submit a Comment

Lots of dodging (or rather, embracing) storms on the Condor Trail in early spring. But between-storm views are hard to beat! photo AJerlow

LPFA Talks Condor Trail

We’ll be hosting an event discussing the Condor Trail in downtown Santa Barbara on Thursday, September 25th! The Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the 420-mile Condor Trail was set this past spring by none other than our very own Program Manager, Addison Jerlow. Addison will be sharing photos and stories from his journey, including info on gear and logistics for planning a successful thru-hike of the Condor Trail. We’ll also hear a presentation by Brian Sarvis, repeat Condor Trail thru-hiker and author of the Condor Trail Guide, on the sections and history of the Condor Trail.

This event will also be fundraising to support trail maintenance on the Condor Trail! Tickets and donations raised will go directly toward work on the Piedra Blanca and Reyes Peak Trails in the Ventura County section of the Condor Trail. So if you can’t make the event, but want to support work on the trail, consider donating to the cause! Check out the link below to get more info, grab your tickets, or donate today….

Details & Tickets!

One of the most coveted Santa Barbara Backcountry views….. photo ECarroll

Representative Salud Carbajal reintroduced the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act in August. If approved, the act would add 250,000 acres of wilderness to the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument, as well as designate the Condor Trail as a National Scenic Trail.
Tunnel Trail will be closed from the Tunnel Road Trailhead until Jesusita Trail for an SCE Stream Restoration Project starting September 8th. Upper sections of the Tunnel Trail may still be reached via East Camino Cielo, Jesusita or Rattlesnake Canyon Trail. For more information and a map of the closure visit sce.com/MissionCanyon.
There is one more closure of Highway 33 scheduled for September 19 – 22 as CalTrans works to repair a bridge near Wheeler Gorge.
The Wheeler Gorge Campground will remain closed until January 2026 as the Forest Service constructs effective stream crossings for the roads in the campground to reconnect 13 miles of habitat for endangered Southern California Steelhead. Check out some alternative car-camping options nearby during the closure!

The annual LPFA Used Gear Sale is right around the corner and we’ll be collecting donations for the sale in a few weeks! If you have any lightly-loved gear you no longer need, consider donating it to LPFA….

LPFA Used Gear Sale, D13 and Call for Photos

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Addison Jerlow

THE LPFA USED GEAR SALE

HAS ARRIVED!

THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH

Greetings Friends,

The annual LPFA Used Gear Sale is THIS SUNDAY, from 11am to 1pm at Manning Park, site A/2. This year’s sale features ridiculously discounted NEW backpacks and tents from Gossamer Gear, tons of lightly used outdoor gear (tents, sleeping pads, clothing, cookware, you name it), as well as a sweet selection of LPFA swag. You don’t want to miss this one! Come get yourself some new-to-you gear to fill out your next Los Padres adventure, all while supporting the trails you love. All proceeds from this event go directly towards maintaining trails in the Los Padres.

See you Sunday,

Team LPFA

CALLING ALL LOS PADRES

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

It’s LPFA Calendar Season!

It’s that time of year again when we ask for submissions to our 2025 Los Padres Wall Calendar! The submissions last year created what many have deemed our best calendar yet….can we do even better this year? Let’s see what you got….

All photos or art (paintings are good too) must be of or from within the Los Padres National Forest
Preference given to photos from within the past year or two, but historic photos are okay too
We’re looking for photos of scenery, mountains, valleys, canyons, trails, local flora & fauna, waterfalls, all forms of recreation and activities from across the forest (action shots are great) and anything else that would be awesome to see within a Los Padres calendar
Please limit your submissions to 15 photos and send them in by NOVEMBER 3, 2024. Google Photo Album link preferred. Email to INFO@LPForest.org.
If your photo is selected, we’ll credit you for the photo within the calendar and mail you a complimentary 2025 Los Padres calendar sometime in December

We see so many great photos on Instagram and Facebook, if you have any to share, please do so!

If you already know you need 1, 2 or more calendars for the LP enthusiasts in your life, you can PREORDER them now. And remember, all proceeds go directly toward the LPFA Trail Care Fund, focused on maintaining trails across the Los Padres.

ORDER YOUR 2025 CALENDAR!

D13 Deer Season, and More Volunteer Days:

D13 Deer Season, Oct 12 – Nov 10

D13 general deer season begins Saturday, October 12th in the southeastern Los Padres and will last through November 10th. This is the second busiest hunting season in the LP. Click here to see a map of Zone D13 but it’s basically the Ventura Backcountry north of Sespe Creek, east of Hwy 33 and west of I5 including most of the Mt Pinos Ranger District. If you are headed into D13 over the next couple weeks, expect to see quite a few hunters and busier trailheads than normal. Stay safe everyone and enjoy the fall colors!

Schoolhouse Overnight, Oct 18 – 21

There are still a few spots left on our Manzana Schoolhouse Project next weekend, October 19 – 21! LPFA will be spending a few days at Manzana Schoolhouse Camp working on the Hurricane Deck and Sisquoc River Trails. Details are still taking shape but sign on up and we’ll follow up soon! It’s not often we get to CAR CAMP at Manzana Schoolhouse….

Agua Blanca Trail, Oct 26

Alan Coles is leading frequent day-long trail projects on the Agua Blanca and Pothole Trails starting SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH! This is an awesome part of the forest, as well as the southern terminus of the Condor Trail. Sign on up if you want to join on 10/26, or if you want to hear about the other weekend projects on these trails throughout the fall/winter season….

Alder Creek/Cow Spring

Working Vacation: Nov 16 – 25

Did we mention this is Condor Country?

Join LPFA in the Sespe Wilderness out of Dough Flat as we continue our work on the Alder Creek Trail, November 16th-25th! If you haven’t joined an LPFA Working Vacation yet, they are a TON of fun. We’ll be backcountry camping at Cow Spring Camp and working down towards Alder Creek. Meals, drinks, and tools are provided by LPFA pack support for the entire ten day project. Volunteers only need to carry in their personal gear. If you can’t make the full time, no problem! Sign on up and we’re happy to have you for as long as you can join…..

WORKING VACATION SIGN UP!

Even More LPFA Fall Events!

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Addison Jerlow

LPFA has a few more awesome projects this month in need of a few more awesome volunteers. From Manzana Schoolhouse to Santa Barbara Canyon and on to Agua Blanca, we’ve got options quite literally across the Los Padres looking for some volunteer support….COME ON OUT!!!

OCT 10-13: SANTA BARBARA CANYON TRAIL

LPFA, under the leadership of LP Legend Mike Smith, will be constructing a reroute of the “Heartbreak Hill” section of the Santa Barbara Canyon Trail. Cutting new trail in the wilderness DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN! DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! If you can’t make these dates, we’ll have another project Oct 24 – Nov 4. Think about how it’ll feel to say, “Oh yeah, I built that trail”……

SB CANYON ALL THE WAY!

OCT 18-21: HURRICANE DECK & MANZANA

Our trip to the Schoolhouse this week was postponed due to the extreme heat affecting most of the county. But that won’t stop us from finishing our work on the Deck! Now we just need some help from awesome volunteers like you. Join us for a car-camping trip based out of Manzana Schoolhouse Camp and help us tackle the last bit of trail work on the Western Deck!

HURRICANE DECK LET’S GO!

OCT 26th & BEYOND: AGUA BLANCA TRAIL

Join the LPFA and local trail steward Alan Coles as we continue our regular trail maintenance along the beloved Agua Blanca and Pothole Trails within the eastern Sespe Wilderness outside of Lake Piru. The first project of the season is Saturday, October 26th. If you can’t make that one, don’t worry! There will be several projects throughout the season as weather allows. Sign up and stay tuned….

AGUA BLANCA PLEASE!

OCT 12: SANTA PAULA CANYON CLEANUP

Join LPFA in Santa Paula Canyon on Saturday, October 12th for graffiti removal, litter cleanup and trail maintenance: the trifecta of LP stewardship. We’ve had our eyes on this project for a while and can’t wait to get out there and Clean It Up! Check out the link below for more details…..

SPC CLEANUP!

And don’t forget the Used Gear Sale…..

The LPFA Used Gear Sale will be at Manning Park in Montecito on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th from 11am to 1pm, Area A/2. And we’re still taking donations…. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to learn how to donate your gear!

LPFA National Public Lands Day(s)!

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Addison Jerlow

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is Saturday, September 28th this year. To celebrate, LPFA is holding not one, not two, but SIX PROJECTS across the Forest to support our Public Lands here in the Los Padres. Check out these awesome volunteer opportunities and sign up for any and all that peak your interest. If you can’t make one, chances are you can make another one. Hope to see you out there over these coming weeks! And don’t forget, the annual LPFA Used Gear Sale (which supports these trail restoration efforts) is right around the corner too….

Team LPFA

SATURDAY, SEP 28: POTRERO JOHN TRAIL

Join LPFA on Potrero John Trail in the Sespe Wilderness on 9/28! We’ll be brushing the trail up towards Potrero John Camp. If you haven’t been to this part of the forest, this is a great excuse to check it out. And if you have…a great excuse to return!

SUNDAY, SEP 29: MATILIJA CANYON TRAIL

Busy on Saturday? No problem! Join LPFA on Sunday, 9/29 on the Matilija Canyon Trail! LPFA has been working weekly on this trail to bring it up to standards in time for the road reopening. Come help restore this trail and enjoy some time in the forest this weekend….

MORE INFO PLEASE!

TAKE ME TO MATILIJA!

SATURDAY, SEP 28: RATTLESNAKE CANYON TRAIL

If the Santa Barbara Frontcountry is more your speed, then come out to Rattlesnake Canyon Trail! LPFA will be joining the City of Santa Barbara for a day project followed by lunch in Skofield Park. Check out more info below….

THURSDAY, SEP 26: SANTA CRUZ TRAIL

Join us for an early NPLD celebration this Thursday, 9/26 on the Santa Cruz Trail! LPFA will be hosting several volunteer days here this fall, so if you can’t make this one, there will be more! Sign up to get on the list for weekly projects…..

RATTLESNAKE SIGN UP!

SANTA CRUZ FOR ME!

OCT 3-6: MANZANA SCHOOLHOUSE OVERNIGHT

Last time we were at the Schoolhouse, we put on a new roof. This time we’ll be putting in some great trail work on the Hurricane Deck, Sisquoc River and Manzana Trails. And in case you missed it, we will be DRIVING into the Manzana Schoolhouse from NIRA. Does it get much better than that….?

OCT 12: SANTA PAULA CANYON CLEANUP

LPFA will be leading a day project removing graffiti and performing trail maintenance on the Santa Paula Canyon Trail! If you are familiar with this canyon, you are unfortunately likely also familiar with its ongoing issues with graffiti vandalism. It’s getting bad out there again. Come help us clean it up!

COUNT ME IN!

CLEAN CREEKS PLEASE!

LPFA USED GEAR SALE:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH

The LPFA Used Gear Sale will be at Manning Park in Montecito on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th from 11am to 1pm, Area A/2. This annual event features a variety of lightly used outdoor gear that is looking for a new home. We’ll have backpacks from Gossamer Gear, tents, sleeping bags and all the odds and ends to set you up for some great upcoming outdoor adventures!

As always, if you have any lightly-loved gear that you aren’t using anymore, WE’D BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT OFF YOUR HANDS and see if we can find it a new home on October 13th. Email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org to learn how to donate your gear!

Lots and lots of happy folks with great gear finds at last year’s sale…..

LPFA Hiring & Fall Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Bryan Conant

How cool were all those amazing clouds this past week? Photo Ron ‘always in the’ Noe.

Hello Friends,

It sure has been hot this past week or so. Hopefully, despite the heat, you’ve been able to find some strategic trail time and ideally a visit or two to cool off in your favorite LP creek, river or swimming hole. It’s been a treat having so much plentiful water again after all those scarce drought years. Fortunately, we’ve got much cooler weather on tap in the coming days and beyond that autumn is just a few weeks away. All the ingredients are coming together for an epic fall and winter trail season here in the Los Padres. Now’s the time to start planning your next adventure. As always, HikeLosPadres.comremains an excellent source for forest information or you can always email us as well for any tips, advice or recommendations. They say that planning your adventure is half the fun, might as well get started on that right away!

Speaking of planning, the end of summer also marks the start of the LPFA busy season. Over the next few months, before it starts to really rain, we generally aren’t living ‘weather forecast to weather forecast’ and have the somewhat rare ability to truly set and schedule trail projects. As we ramp up for a busy fall trail season we are hiring for our Trail Crew and sharing many upcoming volunteer trail projects. Be sure to check out those opportunities below and we hope to see all of you out on the trails with us for what is shaping up to be a great fall season.

The LPFA is now in our 45th year of helping the Los Padres Forest and helping people enjoy the forest in a responsible and sustainable manner. While we’re mostly known for all the volunteer work we accomplish around the forest, we do also have employees who help grease the machine and make sure all the moving parts move. We are hiring right now for the two positions listed below. Please share with anyone who might be interested or email us with questions.

LPFA Trail Crew

For the past 6 years the LPFA has employed a professional Trail Crew who work year round on both trail and forest support projects. The Trail Crew works mostly within Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties and we work a schedule that includes both day projects as well as week-long car-camping and backpacking hitches. It’s very hard physical work but also very rewarding at the same time. Lots of time outdoors. For more information click the link below.

SBRD Information Specialist

This is a new position for us that we’re really excited about. This position will be based at the SB Ranger District office and assisting forest visitors who might have questions about the forest. At the same time this position will have flexibility to help with a variety of LPFA projects. Since this is a new role for us, there will be lots of opportunities to help steer the responsibilities and direction of this position. If this sounds like you, click below:

Trail Crew Heck Yeah!

Totally Want to Learn More!

The LPFA will once again be hosting a Used Camping Gear Sale on Sunday October 13th at Manning Park in Montecito. More details to come. We would be honored to receive any gear donations you might have in the hopes of finding a new owner for your old gear. Let us know. All proceeds go to our Trail Restoration Fund. Thanks….

Sunset Valley after a National Trails Day project in June 2022 (left) and the same Sunset Valley after the Lake Fire in September 2024 (right)

So many trails, so little time. As mentioned, the LPFA has a full schedule this fall of day projects, multi-day car-camping projects and our famous 10-day Working Vacations. Feels weird to say this but we get this question surprisingly often: all our trail projects are free, we don’t charge for food or anything else. We love all the volunteers and try our best to make the trail projects fun, rewarding, adventurous and even more fun. We hope you’ll consider joining us and please let us know if you have any questions……

NPLD is our favorite nationally recognized volunteer day of service. For us, it marks the start of the fall trail season, which is reason to celebrate for sure. While NPLD is technically September 28th, this year we’ll be stretching NPLD into October by hosting and participating in multiple NPLD projects. Come join the party!

Rattlesnake Canyon Trail: September 28
Matilija or Potrero John Trail (Ojai): September 28
Manzana Schoolhouse: October 3-6
Santa Paula Canyon: October 12

For a full list of our projects, click here….

Want more…?

In addition to NPLD, here are some other LPFA trail projects in the queue:

While Matilija Canyon remains closed due to storm related road damage, we are working with the FS to maintain the Matilija Trail so that it’ll be ready to hike by the time the road reopens in summer 2025. We lead regular weekly projects along Matilija.
We’ll be making a push this season on the Santa Cruz Trail located off Paradise Road. We’re hoping to lead at least one volunteer day per week over the coming months. Our first project will be this Friday 9/13.

Alder Creek / Cow Spring Working Vacation: Nov 16-24

Last fall the LPFA maintained approx 5 miles of the Alder Creek Trail out from Dough Flat above Fillmore in the Sespe. This year we’ll be picking up where we left off and trying to punch the trail through down from Cow Spring to Alder Creek Camp. We’ll be out there for 10 days in November just before Thanksgiving and would love some company. As usual, food and supplies will be packed in to camp thanks to mule support and we’ll be spending our days in condor country fixing the trail. Last year we saw condors every day we were out there. So cool. To learn more or to come along, click here.

In case you missed it, many of the roads and camps impacted by the Lake Fire have been reopened. This includes Davy Brown Campground. Check it out here.

LPFA Working Vacations: Hammers, Pulaskis and Friends!

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Bryan Conant

Manzana Schoolhouse Re-Roofed

The LPFA just wrapped up an incredibly successful 5-day Working Vacation based at the Manzana Schoolhouse. In addition to the usual top-notch trail work, our volunteers also replaced the decrepit roof on the Schoolhouse itself. The previous roof was last replaced in 1990 and was breaking apart and littered with holes. The structure was at risk of falling over and potentially being lost forever. We’ve been working with the Forest Service for most of the past decade trying to get the necessary approvals to replace the roof and at long last it finally all came together. Bravo! and just in time as we have rain coming in just a few days!

We want to thank everyone who participated but especially Greg J and Mark B who have sat through years of planning meetings and had the patience and expertise to pull this off. We’ll be sharing more about this project and other planned historic structure repairs in the coming weeks as well. Stay tuned…..

As mentioned, there was more accomplished in addition to the awesome work on the Schoolhouse. Our stupendous volunteers were able to repair tables around the campground and restore approximately 1.5 miles of the incredibly overgrown western Hurricane Deck Trail. If you know the Deck, you know how much work was needed to just get it cleared that far. (round of applause please) For those of you who missed out on the fun, don’t worry, we’ll be back soon with plans to finish the Deck up to the Potrero Trail junction. STAY TUNED!

Dough Flat, Alder Creek, Sespe Working Vacation

Tis the season for volunteer Working Vacations and we’ve got another great one planned for December, this time in the Sespe Wilderness! We are planning a Working Vacation based at Dough Flat from December 1-10 working the Alder Creek Trail. The plan as of now is to have both a car-camping option as well as a backpacking option. The car-camping portion of the project would be based at Dough Flat working the first 4 miles of the trail out towards the Bucksnort junction. The backpacking portion would be based at Cow Spring Camp and working down from there. Lots of details need to be worked out ahead of time and we may even have a combo option where half the project is at Dough Flat and half at Cow Spring. TBD.

If you are interested in learning more or to sign-up, email us at VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org or click the link below. As usual, the LPFA is planning on providing all food and tools. We’ll likely do some cleanup at Dough Flat as well and could use help with painting, cooking, etc… Sign up if interested and we’ll provide details in the coming week or two. THANKS!

Alder Creek – SIGN ME UP!

It’s always great to hear from trail users who use the trails we help maintain. Here is a group of backpackers from Midland School enjoying a section of the Sespe River Trail that the LPFA Trail Crew restored over two hard weeks in May 2022. Many thanks to all of you who donated as part of #GivingTuesday so that we could repair this trail. Looking forward to #GivingTuesday 2023! photo Dan Susman

FOREST 411

The big news across the forest right now is the impending rain stormset to hit the Los Padres next week. Forecasts are showing significant rain that will likely initiate the seasonal gate closures across the forest. Don’t shoot the messenger…..

Thanks to all of you who helped support yet another successful LPFA Used Camping Gear Sale! We were able to set records for both most money raised as well as most happy forest-users leaving with awesome gear. Cheers to Gossamer Gear and Rik’s everlasting spirit.

LPFA 2024 Calendar Update

Wow, did we get a bunch of great photos for this years 2024 Los Padres wall calendar! We actually have 517 photos submitted ~ it’s going to make selecting the photos really really hard. Good problem to have and the calendar is going to be something special this year. The calendar is currently for sale, if you’d like to reserve your copy and/or copies for all your friends and family, please click here to order. Thanks. this photo Wayne Spada

LPFA Trail Work Updates

With the temperatures falling and water still flowing, the LPFA Trail Crew and LPFA Volunteers will be busy working trails this fall and winter. We have work scheduled on the following trails: Pothole, Agua Blanca, Alder Creek, Sespe, Matilija, Santa Barbara Cyn, Sisquoc, Sweetwater, Manzana, Hurricane Deck, Santa Cruz, Aliso, Matias, Arroyo Burro, Cold Spring, Blue Cyn, Franklin, Davy Brown, Trout Creek and anywhere else trail work might be needed. Click here if you’re interested in learning more about the Trail Crew.

Volunteer Help Needed

In addition to the larger scale Working Vacations mentioned above, we have the following volunteer projects scheduled as well:

November 12: Agua Blanca Trail, Sespe – this will be the first of many regularly scheduled and weather dependent trail days along the Agua Blanca Trail. Led by local trail steward Alan Coles, we’ll be driving out beyond locked gates and strategically chipping away at both the Agua Blanca as well as the Pothole Trail. We’ll be out there this Sunday with future dates to come. If interested click here or email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org.
November-December: Matilija Trail – Led by another local legendary trail steward named Peter Wilder, the LPFA has continued to work the Matilija Trail on most Thursdays and Saturdays since August. Our work will continue tomorrow and then we’ll likely change schedule a bit due to Thanksgiving. If interested click here or email VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org.

Come Volunteer!

Before, During & After photos showing trail repair work the LPFA Trail Crew completed this summer along the West Fork Cold Spring Trail in support of Montecito Trails Foundation. This section of trail was severely damaged during the January 2023 storms and needed a complete overhaul. Please remember to share any trail damage you might find either with the local Forest Service Ranger Station, on HikeLosPadres or email us directly and we’ll forward to the appropriate persons – thanks!

Calling All Los Padres Photographers

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Bryan Conant

Hello Trail & Forest Friends,

Like it or not, the clock keeps ticking and the calendar pages keep turning. In order to help with this Sisyphean cycle, the LPFA will be once again produce a Los Padres themed wall calendar. Originally conceived by LPFA President Jasonn, the LPFA calendars have become a staple for Los Padres enthusiasts to not only keep track of time but to also have twelve months of Los Padres wall candy to look forward to. This will be at least our 10th year of producing Los Padres calendars and we’re hoping to make 2024 the best to date…..

CALLING ALL LOS PADRES PHOTOGRAPHERS

We are currently looking for photo submissions for the 2024 Los Padres Calendar. We’re sure most of you have some great Los Padres photos that hopefully you’d like to share. Interested? Here’s the details:

All photos or art (paintings are good too) must be of or from within the Los Padres National Forest
Ideally the images would be from within the past year or two but historic photos are okay too
We’re looking for photos of scenery, mountains, valleys, canyons, trails, local flora & fauna, waterfalls, all forms of recreation and activities from across the forest (action shots are great) and anything else that would be awesome to see within a Los Padres calendar
If you have any photos or images that fit the descriptions above, please email them to INFO@LPForest.org for consideration
If your photo is selected, we’ll credit you for the photo within the calendar and mail you a complimentary 2024 Los Padres calendar sometime in the middle of December

We see so many great photos on Instagram and Facebook, if you have any to share, please let us know. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

More Calendar Information

Order Your 2024 Calendar

Used Outdoor Gear Sale: Sunday Oct 22

The LPFA Used Outdoor Gear Sale is this Sunday October 22 at 11am, Tucker’s Grove Site #2. This event is a great way for LPFA members and supporters to pick up some really sweet deals on lightly used outdoor gear from Gossamer Gear and others including backpacks, tents, sleeping systems and all the fixings you might need for your fall journeys here in the Los Padres. See you there….

Manzana Schoolhouse Working Vacation

We are now just over a week away from the Manzana Schoolhouse Working Vacation! We’ll be out at the Schoolhouse from Nov 1-6 working to restore the roof at the Schoolhouse and maintain the nearby trails. If you are interested in helping, there is still time to sign up. If you’ve not been on a Working Vacation before, they are A TON OF FUN! Please email Volunteer@LPForest.org for more information…..

D13 Hunting Season

D13 general deer season has started in the southeastern Los Padres and will last through November 12. This is the second busiest hunting season in the LP. Click here to see a map of Zone D13 but it’s basically the Ventura Backcountry north of the Sespe Creek, east of Hwy 33 and west of I5 including most of the Mt Pinos Ranger District. If you are headed into D13 over the next couple weeks, expect to see quite a few hunters and busier trailheads than normal. Stay safe everyone and enjoy the fall colors!

Tag: Used Gear Sale