FTA News May 2002 May Meeting: Wednesday, May 15th, 6:30 PM, Forest Service Office, 22830 Foresthill Rd. (parking and meeting room is in rear of the building)

Agenda Items

• Western States Run Volunteer sign-ups
• Patent Road Staging Area progress report
• 4th of July Booth
• Publicity chair
• Work day

FTA has two new Sponsors! The Western States Endurance Run and Western States Trail Foundation. Thank you so much for your support.

Saddle up on May 18th
The annual Fun Ride to raise money for the ongoing and expensive maintenance of the Western States Trail is Saturday. Ride check-in at 8:00 am at the old mill site east of Foresthill. The ride will follow the Western States Trail and there is a choice of two distances. Be forewarned - the trail is not for beginners or green horses. But this is a fun ride, so bring along your sense of humor, smiles and happy horses. For more information, such as parking, times, cost and BBQ, please contact the Tevis office (530) 823-7282 or web site at Tevis Fun Ride.

Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run will start Saturday June 29th - so start training today! (just kidding). For those of us not quite ready to run 100 miles we can participate by volunteering. Every year FTA as a group provides traffic control at Michigan Bluff. This is a very necessary and important task and we are appreciated by the participants and organizers of the event as well as the residents of Michigan Bluff. It is also an enjoyable way to spend three hours. With Incense Cedars, Douglas Firs and Ponderosa Pines providing shade, you meet other FTA members and there are excellent people watching opportunities. Recruit a friend or two. Free T-shirts for all volunteers! We'll need three teams of three people each to work three-hour shifts on the following schedule: 11am to 2pm, 2pm to 5pm, 5pm to 8pm. Our Trails Alliance receives a nice cash donation for the WSER for our efforts. Contact Larry Mobley (367-2325 or lcmobley@foothill.net) if you can work one of the shifts.

Been to the Foresthill Transfer Station Lately???
The Patent Road Staging area has a sign thanking sponsors and announcing to the community our plans for the site. So far lots of positive feedback and words of encouragement. Big thanks to all the members that have sent in donations for the gravel that is needed for the parking area. At the May meeting final grading and trail repair plans will be discussed. It is too early to start predicting an opening date, but with help from trail friends and good weather, the project will soon be completed. The next biggest challenge will be repairing the junction of the Western States Trail and the Staging Area Trail. At this time it is very steep with loose gravel and is definitely not ready to be used by equestrians and hikers need to be very careful. The good news is most of the trail between the Staging Area and the steep scary portion is beautiful. If you have questions about trail construction or route please feel free to contact any of the board members.

July 20th is the date for the 2002 Tevis Cup
For those who don't know, the Tevis Cup is a 100 mile Endurance Ride. Horses and their riders follow the Western States Trail from Robie Park near Truckee to Auburn. For more information: Tevis web site. FTA does not participate as a group, but many members volunteer at various checkpoints. If you are interested in volunteering, look on the web site for more information.

FTA could use your help
We need a Publicity Chairperson
Job Description:

• Write a paragraph or two monthly for the Foresthill Messenger informing the community of our group's news and activities.
• Contact the Auburn Journal to announce meeting dates, etc.

Send in your Trail Scouting Reports
After you take a hike, run or ride, e-mail the editor of this newsletter with your thoughts, observations and recommendations and share with the members of FTA. Just a paragraph or two would be great. How was the trail? How long did it take? Flowers? Hot and dry sections or cool and shady? Okay for children? Did you cross a creek where a dog could get a drink? Good picnic views? Was the trail narrow and steep or wide and flat? Did you see horses, mtn bikes, hikers? Parking? This information would be very useful for members looking for new places to go.

Where are the trails?
This is the most frequently asked question whenever FTA has a booth during community events. Sources for local trails maps and guides