Western States 100 Run Training Camp, Memorial Day Weekend
There will be about 200 skinny runners in town for their big
annual training weekend. This is typically the last hard
training the runners do before the race on June 29th. They will
be camped out at the Old Mill site by Bath Rd. and will be
wandering through town looking for dinner at Memorial Hall. On
Saturday they run 32 miles from Robinson Flat to Foresthill;
Sunday they run 19 miles on California St. to White Oak Flat,
and on Monday they run 22 miles from Green Gate to the finish
line in Auburn. You don't have to be running in the Western
States 100 to participate in these runs. Just show up at the
Old Mill before 8 AM and give Norm Klein $10 for transportation
and aid station supplies. Norm does need help with aid stations
for both the training runs and the race. He also needs help
selling Western States stuff at the Elementary School on race
day (June 29th). If you are willing, please call him at 638-1161.
McKeon-Ponderosa Loop Trail Sign Installation - Saturday, May 25th
We're finally going to install those signs. Meet at White Oak Flat at
9 AM if you'd like to help. We have three signs to install. We also may
be installing a picnic table at Hang Man's tree if we can arrange to get it
from State Parks and Rec.
Trail Scouting, Saturday, June 1st
Sue Hodge is going to show us a couple of trails that connect Todd's Valley
Trail to Foresthill Rd. behind the mobile home park. One of these trails
has been recently blocked by a bunch of bee hives and a fence, but Sue says
not to worry; they do this every year. There is another way through. Meet
at 9 AM on Todd's Valley Rd by the Todd's Valley Trail.
Meadow Vista Trails Association and the FTA will RIDE together
On Thursday, June 6th, at 10 AM, we will be riding the McKeon-Ponderosa Loop.
There is water nearby for horses (thanks to one of our members who keeps a
tub filled for us), but not for people, so be sure to bring water. There is
a tie spot at the half way point for a snack if you wish (thanks to the same
member). The total ride is about 5 miles. You may continue down to the
Middle Fork if you wish, which is about 13 miles round trip.
The trail is "easy" with the exception of a couple of washed out places,
which you can walk and lead if you are concerned. Some single track, with
the return loop section an old fire road. We have seen many turkeys, but no
mountain lions, although I'm sure they're out there.
Please call Lore at 367-3851 if you want more information.
American River Confluence Festival '96, Sunday June 9th, 9am - 5pm
This is the day to join with other people to enjoy, learn more about,
and support the American River Canyons. There will be 100
people with Red Drum's playing "A Change is Going to Come", led
by Stan Padilla, Raku ceramic art, information booths, nature
activities for kids, food, music, live animal shows, guided
ecology hikes, fly tying and casting, kayaking and river
surfing, mountain bike rides, canyon run, solar cooking and a
raffle. The kids can play in a safe for wading area where part of the river
detours around the booth area. Even with all the fun
activities, the beauty of the river, the warm sun, the gentle
breeze (and the good food) are what I enjoy most. You have
to go out there to feel it.
The FTA will have a booth at the festival where kids of all ages
can build mini-rafts and boats out of natural materials to set
sail (race?) down the river. We will also have brochures and maps
available. The Tin Roof Bed and Breakfast joined with the FTA
in donating an overnight stay for a raffle prize. We will also
be donating some T-shirts that didn't get distributed at our
rained-on Snow Play Day. If you'd like to help with the booth,
please call Sherri Osborn, 367-3928.
No-Hands Bridge Update
5500 petition signatures have been sent in and $35,000 raised
for repairs. Barbara Boxer sent a letter to the person in BLM
that closed the bridge asking him to take action to reopen it.
Pacific Bell will help also with repairs because their phone
lines are on the bridge and preliminary estimates for rerouting are more
that $1 million. The Western States Trails Organizations
are increasing their awareness and fund-raising efforts to save
the bridge by putting together a calendar showing historic
pictures of the bridge being built and how it survived the flood
caused by the Coffer Dam break when No-Hands was 50 ft. under
and the HWY 49 Bridge was swept away. The calendars will be
available in June.
Two engineering firms have been designing repairs and associated
cost estimates. The front section of the pillar in the middle
of the river is no longer supporting the bridge and the bridge
might possibly flip over in the down-stream direction if there
were an earthquake or very high winds. High water shouldn't
cause a problem since the force of the water will tend to hold
the bridge in place. The proposal is to use cables and pipes to stablize
the bridge in the short-term until full repair of the pillar can
be made. BLM has indicated they will have to have their engineers
approve of the fix also.
John Doolittle finally responded by having a meeting on May 15th with
some of the interested parties. Doolittle claims that he had no
idea that No-Hands Bridge existed and read about it being closed in the paper.
[I wish I could take him out on the trails with me every weekend and show
him what else would be destroyed by the dam project.
].
He is willing to lend his support for the bridge, even while fighting for
the Auburn Dam [Exactly how's he going to do that?]. He said he
appreciated those who attended the meeting, felt it was a good start and
understands the need to get the bridge open for the races this summer.
In April the FTA Youth conducted their own examination of
No-Hands Bridge. There is a little trail going down to the
river from the bridge. The bridge looks huge from the rocks
below. We discovered the remains of many other bridges that
have not survived as long as No-Hands. We saw many bird nests
on the pillar in the water and lots of butterflies along the
shores of the river. We tested the water temperature at the
Confluence and found it chilly, but warm enough for the first
wading venture of the year. We walked upstream on the North
Fork towards Lake Clementine and found many nice and secluded
picnic spots. It was hard to turn back since the kids always
wanted to see what was "just around the river bend".
Community Plan
We helped come up with questions for the survey that
will be sent out in the fall. Initial questions were presented at the
May 23rd Community Plan meeting.
The community plan team would also like us
to come up with a map showing the deeded and non-deeded trails
we know of in the community plan area and our recommendations
for a long-term trail plan that would provide for recreation and
transportation.
Good News (Maybe) on Trail Blockages
Morningstar Trail -- Nanci Gabri reported that the person who
blocked the trail unblocked it and said he found out he didn't
own that part of his driveway where the trail crosses and
wouldn't be liable. He doesn't know if Eaglecrest homeowners
will allow long-term use. They are going to install
anti-motorcycle bars across the trail for now. The trail does
go right through the middle of a property that was just sold and
also through another 2 acre parcel that is for sale.
Peachstone Blockage -- It is on Peggy Wilson's property and she
gave us permission to clear it. Bob is supposed to call her to
talk about legal options for allowing use. Danny Tom (Rufoe) was
arrested for brandishing a weapon. He held two people at gun
point for 45 minutes and wouldn't let them leave without giving
him their driver's licenses. He may be charged with more
serious crimes. The D.A. is investigating it. Even after being arrested he
was still patrolling Nugget Dr. He stopped three of our members on Peggy
Wilson's property and told them they were on private property. They responded
that they knew it was private, but it wasn't his property and they had
permission from Mrs. Wilson to be there. He then backed down. He was in his
truck wearing his helmet, but no gun was displayed this time.
Trail Projects
California Trail Days was fun. We had about 20 people work on
the new trail and built another quarter mile of trail. This
time we managed to avoid the poison oak. Another 10 people
worked on the rest/picnic spot at Francisco's, building a side
trail around the swampy meadow and installing some hitching
posts and a picnic table. We had a most yummy feast after the
work was done.
Larry Jordon and Larry Clarke modified the
McKeon-Ponderosa gate to allow horses and carts to pass through.
It turned out to be a lengthy and difficult project when the
welder gave out mid-stream, but they managed. We've asked State Parks and
Rec to tell us if they like the modification before we work on
any more gates. There are pictures of the gate on the web.
Dale Courville also fixed the vandalism on the sign on Todd's
Valley Trail by Hickory.
On Saturday, June 22nd we will have a work party to clear the Peachstone
trail blockage. Meet at 9 AM on Todd Valley Rd by the Todd's Valley Trail.
Todd's Valley Pond Park is Not For Trade
There was a large crowd at the May Forum meeting to express
vigorous objection to the proposal made by Richard Ryan to trade
1.2 acres of the park land at Todd's Valley Pond for land
required for the Foresthill Rd. improvements along his property.
It was heartwarming to see people standing up for our public
park and open space land. Larry Clarke mentioned that none of
other people who had to give up land for the road had the option
of trading it for property. Larry Jordon said that some people
were talking about using private efforts to enhance the park.
There is a beautiful and well-used trail all around the pond
with connections coming in from each side. This might be an
opportunity for us to help get this project rolling. Please
bring suggestions to the next meeting. There were so many other
people wanting to speak against the trade that some of the FTA
members didn't feel the need and just enjoyed listening. No one
at the meeting supported the trade. After hearing comments, the
Forum voted to oppose the trade. However, the final decision
was not theirs to make, but belongs to the Board of Supervisors.
Rex Bloomfield said that Mr. Ryan has successfully lobbied with
the Supervisors in the past and encouraged us to write to the
Board individually to express our opinions.
Other hot items at the Forum meeting were two development
projects, an apartment complex and a mini-storage facility, both
in the area above the Elementary School. There are some great
trails that kids use to get to school going through that area
and we were able to ask that those trails be preserved in both
development plans. The developers seemed receptive to the
request and the Forum seemed supportive of the community making that kind
of request of developers.
The WSTF Fun Ride
Everyone enjoyed themselves and they raised more money than they
do during the 100 mile Ride. 114 people paid. They
made $4700 and expenses were $500. They were allowed to use the
Old Mill Site for free. During the WS Ride it costs them $500.
Most of the money will be used for trail projects.
Foresthill Road Trail
Sherri Osborn contacted Foresthill PUD to ask about putting a trail along
Foresthill Rd. on their pipe easement. They said they have no
easement, but are allowed to put the pipe within the County
Right of Way. There is another big pipe owned by the Federal
Bureau of Reclamation that does have an easement, but we would
have to negotiate with each land owner to get permission to use
it for a trail. PUD does use the Bureau's easement for part of
their line. They have a nice map at the office showing where
the pipelines go and which pieces are going to be moved/redone as
part of the water upgrade project.
