Special Guest at November Meeting - Brian Diebold
Please join us for an evening with Brian Diebold who will be bringing some of his collection of old maps from the 1800's showing trails and mines that more recent maps no longer show. He has done a lot of research into the history of local trails, including the old Ralston trail.

Christmas Potluck, Saturday Dec 13th
For our Christmas party this year we will be having a potluck at the Foresthill Elementary School multi-purpose room. The party will begin at 6 PM. People are asked to bring plates, utensils and a dish to share. We will be raffling off miniature, live Christmas trees decorated by the FTA Youth once again and are planning some special entertainment. We will not be having a regular meeting in December.

Trail Work Days
We are invited to join State Parks and the FATTRAC mountain bikers on two trail work days from 9AM to 12 each day. Tools are provided and there will be a tool demostration before work. Bring water, gloves and work clothes. Snacks will be provided, but you may want to bring a lunch for afterwards. There will be an optional mountain bike ride after lunch for those interested -- intermediate level, about 10 to 15 miles.

Nov 23 - Sunday	Culvert Trail, re-route and maintenance Meet at dirt parking lot at the Mammoth Bar access road
Dec 6 - Saturday	New Foresthill Divide Loop Trail Meet at Upper Lake Clementine Rd

Bridge Repairs
The water-worn pier under No Hands Bridge is being shored up now The steel forms are in place and concrete/hardener is being injected to repair the pier. The final work will be done next spring, but No Hands should have a much better chance of suriving El Nino.

Ponderosa Bridge is also scheduled to be shored up before winter. State Parks has recieved some FIMA funds to help do the work and will be undergoing some pier reinforcement as well. We are very grateful for the effort that has gone into getting these bridges repaired. Let's hope that El Nino holds off until the work is done.

Picayune Valley Outing

Seven of us hiked into Picayune Valley on October 26th. The weather was fantastic and it is a very pretty place. Tom Birch served as trail guide for us and pointed out the old tree carvings made by lonely Basque shepards. We ate lunch at a great spot on a rock outcropping overlooking a waterfall and pools. It was a memorable hike and we're looking forward to going back next spring.

New Board Candidates
We are very pleased to have two new volunteers to run for board positions for next year -- Russ Melanson and Lori Lundsford. Russ has spent years getting to know the local trails, has finished the Western States 100 Run ten times and also does a lot of mountain biking. Lori is an equestrian who moved here just over a year ago and has been exploring the trails ever since. Sherri Osborn and Mike Winslow plan to run for board positions again. If anyone else is interested in being on the board, please contact Sherri at 367-3928. Since we are not going to have a regular meeting in December, elections will be held at our meeting in January.

Next Youth Outing - Friday, November 14th
We're going to hike part of the California St section of the Western States Trail from Baltimore Mine Rd to the hydroelectric power plant. It will be about 4.5 miles round-trip and we'll cross Dardonelle's creek a couple of times. Meet at the Middle School at 3PM. If you'd like to join us, please call Sherri.