The Trail Companion

Fall 2000

Upcoming Events

Trail Construction and Maintenance

Causeway Trail, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

Although we had earlier announced that we would celebrate Community Impact Day 2000 with a project in the Peninsula Open Space Trust's Cloverdale Coastal Ranch, POST decided the project should be fully ADA-compliant, which meant further permits were needed that wouldn't be approved until the beginning of next year. Instead, we'll celebrate CI Day at Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve on Saturday, Oct. 21 as we join Community Impact in constructing a 300 ft.-long boardwalk over marshland above Searsville Lake This ADA-compliant walkway will allow researchers and visitors to access the wetlands above the lake in winter months; rising water levels have regularly flooded the area in recent winters, making travel to major portion of the Preserve difficult or impossible. We will also construct a retaining wall and raise the tread level on a nearby trail also affected by flooding, as well as trim back overhanging brush.
Note (Oct. 15, 2000): The project is full and no further signups are being accepted.

Slate Creek Trail, Portola Redwoods State Park

We will make one final trip to Portola Redwoods SPthis year on Saturday, Nov. 18, to build a puncheon on Slate Creek Trail near the trail camp. The trail crosses an area that is boggy all winter and most of the spring. We'll install a raised walkway to make the crossing easier and to reduce hikers' tendency to widen the trail as they try to avoid the mud. If we have time, we'll also do a bit more tread maintenance nearby, including repairing a stretch damaged by pigs.

The final project for the year had not yet been finalized by press time, but will take place on Dec. 2. In the event of rain on Nov. 18, we will try again on Dec. 2. Please check the Trail Center website for updates.

Tool Party

Don't miss the first Annual Tool Party, Volunteer Appreciation and Annual Meeting of the New Millennium! It's time to give our tools a little TLC after a season of hard work on the trail, time to reflect on our accomplishments over the past year and time to celebrate the TC's 17th year of building and mapping trails. The action takes place on Sunday, Nov. 5, at Board member Scott Heeschen's house in Campbell, CA (please e-mail for directions) with the tool party beginning at 12 noon. Help sharpen and repair tools (no experience necessary - we train), or just arrive at 4:30 for a pizza/BBQ and a short business meeting, followed by spectacular photos by Dave Croker, Darwin Poulos and Alan Justice at 5:30.
The Board of Directors currently has a number of vacancies. We are especially looking for candidates who have financial, publicity or organizational skills. The Board meets officially quarterly, with optional office work parties on the off-months. If you would like to be considered for a position on the Board or would like to nominate someone, please contact us before the meeting.

If you would like to get involved with any of our projects, e-mail us at info@trailcenter.org or call us at 650-968-7065. See the Trail Building Calendar for dates of upcoming trail events.