Trail News, December '96

Christmas Party Instead of our Regular Meeting

Please don't show up for the meeting and do come to the Christmas Party on Friday, December 13th, 6PM at the Forest House. Feel free to invite family and friends. Erin McChesney is going to talk about dressage (whatever that is) on the trail. We are going have a raffle to offset the party costs and there will be great prizes, including decorated live Christmas trees and gift certificates. We are also having a book exchange, so even if you don't win the raffle, you can take something home to read while you're sitting around during the holidays at your in-laws. If you want to participate bring a book you think someone will like. Kids are encouraged to bring a book too. Our next regular meeting will be Wednesday, January 8th, 6 PM at the Courthouse Cafe.

Trail Ride at the Silver Dollar Pony Ranch, Thursday Dec 5th

The Richardsons have invited the FTA and the Meadow Vista Trails Association for a ride on the private trails on the 60 acre Silver Dollar Pony Ranch. Bring your horse and meet at 10 AM at the ranch. The views from these trails are not to be missed.

Robinson Flat Environmental Assessment

The Forest Service has published this report before it takes steps to enhance recreation opportunities at Robinson Flat. The report includes some very interesting historical information. The four alternatives that were discussed a year ago are again presented, with a fifth alternative of leaving things as they currently are. If you would like to review the information, please call Sherri at 367-3928. Comments are due back to the Forest Service by Dec. 12th.

Cleaning Foresthill Road (again)

It was pouring last Sunday so we rescheduled picking up trash for Sunday, Nov 24th. The County made a mistake and gave us a section that some other group has, so now our section is the two miles starting at Baker Ranch and heading East.

New Years Day Run

For the past several years many runners have celebrated the first day of the new year by running the 16-mile California St. section of the Western States Trail. This tradition was started by Tim Twietmeyer and friends and is attracting more people each year. It's not an official run, no aid stations or fees. You can start anytime you want, but most people start around 8 AM. If you want to leave a car at Driver's Flat Rd and get a ride to Foresthill, be there at 7:30. This year the FTA will be putting water at the Peachstone aid station at the 8 mile point.

Gordon Ainsleigh* trying to keep a trail open in Meadow Vista

Part of one of Gordy's favorite trails, actually a gravel canal access road, has been gated and he has been yelled at and charged with trespassing for continuing to use it. He's been fined $150 and told he has to take a class on how to be a good citizen. He and many other people have been using this access road for many years and feels that it is a candidate for dedication since it has been openly used by the public for so long. He asked us and the Meadow Vista Trails Association for help. Bob Schuster has been talking with him about the legal options and we talked a lot about trying to avoid a court battle. Talking to the property owner to find out why they are shutting down the trail and if there are any workable alternatives should always be tried first, but it's uncomfortable approaching a pissed-off property owner. It's a lot easier if someone they know and trust can initiate the conversation. The trails really depend on our personal networks and reputation in the community. Being a multi-use trails group also helps because of the diversity of our connections. Networking with other groups throughout the region can be very valuable too. We'll all be learning from this experience and are glad that Gordy has included us in the loop.
* Gordy is the person who first did the Tevis without a horse and thereby initiated the Western States 100 Mile Run

Community Plan Surveys - One more data entering Session - 11/30

A lot of FTA members have been helping enter the answers from the surveys into a computer database. We've had two all-day sessions so far and will be having one more on Saturday, November 30th from 9 AM - 4 PM in the computer lab at the Middle School. Some students at the Middle School built the database for the results and many High School and Middle School students have been helping input the data. We've had very good turn-out and people seem to be driven to get this project done. A lot of us are very curious to see what our community wants in our future. Don Ryan, owner of Pomphret Estates and the Forest House, is understandably interested and joined in the data entering. Thank you to everyone who has helped out. The results will probably be presented at a community event in March. We'll be planning that at our next Community Plan team meeting on December 5th, 7 PM in Rm. 15 at the Middle School. Everyone is invited, as usual.

Internet Connections

As most of you know we have a web page on the Internet at http://foothill.net/fta. We have our newsletters out there, some maps and other information. Sometimes I wonder if anyone ever reads it, but this month has been particularly gratifying. One person sent email asking for more detailed maps of the Western States Trail because he and his wife are planning to hike it next summer. He wanted to know if there was a store at Robinson Flat where they could get supplies. I sent him the maps and we corresponded a bit about how they could backpack the 100 miles. It turns out he is president of a trail group in Virginia and real active in the American Discovery Trail effort to create a national trail from the West to the East Coasts. The Western States trail is going to be part of that national trail. I discovered another connection when a women who just moved to Foresthill called me to ask about the Christmas party and said she had been reading our newsletters on-line for months and felt like she already knew everyone in the community. Then another woman sent email asking about trails and it turned out that she is buying the property next to the property we just bought. We plan to join together and build some nice trails around our places. Hey, this Internet stuff is fun.

Thanksgiving

There is a lot to be grateful for. The fall color was incredible this year. The rain has been plentiful. We didn't lose a single trail, that we know about anyway. Many, many people have helped us. We are helping to build new trails and the old trails are just as beautiful as ever. No-Hands bridge is still standing. The elections are over. We have a brand new year ahead of us that will bring new friendships and adventures. This is a good trail that we are on. Thank you for sharing it.

Also, a special thank you to Gerri Grant for the Scenic and Historical Guide to Foresthill Rd, Erika Holm at the Auburn Journal and the staff at the Foresthill Messenger and the former Foresthill Observer for covering our activities, and to Tim Twietmeyer for entertaining us at the last meeting.

Previous Newsletters

November '96
October '96
August '96
July '96
May '96
April '96
March '96
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Foresthill Trails Alliance
P.O. Box 468 Foresthill, CA 95631
916-367-3928
e-mail: fta@foothill.net
Web Address: http://foothill.net/fta