The Trail Companion

Winter 2000

Along the Trail: Member notes

Trail Center connections were responsible for another wedding this fall, when former Outreach Coordinator, Joan Schwan, married yours truly, Geoffrey Skinner, on Oct. 16th. We have longtime volunteer Jane Kos to thank for setting in motion the chain of events leading to this union - many years ago, Jane was in the Peninsula Conservation Center library and noticed Joan, who was researching internships and environmental jobs. Jane suggested that she might enjoy working for the Trail Center. From working associates, we later became friends and things only got better from there.

At the Sam McDonald trailhead (back: Tim Oren, Rich Allsop; front: Geoffrey Skinner, Joan Schwan, Pat Oren, Bob Kelly, Sue Kelly, Jennifer Jordan, Dave Croker; kneeling: Erica K., Scott Heeschen)

Photo by Lorna Skinner

We were married at the house of friends adjoining Coal Creek Preserve, off Skyline Blvd. in a small ceremony with family and close friends, including a number of Trail Center regulars and associates. Dave Croker was chief photographer, former Office Coordinator Terry Segal sang during the ceremony, Rich Allsop provided invaluable transportation and logistical help, Cathy Sewell ably decorated with bay garlands and pearly everlasting bouquets, and Scott Heeschen brought a super fruit salad (among other things). Inspired by former Trail Center volunteer Angus Miller's wedding in Scotland in May, we led everyone on a Wedding Walk through Coal Creek Preserve following the ceremony and only lost (temporarily) a third of the party to a wrong turn.

On the way to the Hikers Hut (left to right: Tim Oren, Bob Kelly, Joan Schwan, Geoffrey Skinner)

Photo by David Croker

Scott was gracious enough to let me off the hook for supervising the Oct. 23rd trail build at Castle Rock - we took the week off for a honeymoon, beginning with a celebratory hike to the Hikers Hut in Sam McDonald County Park in La Honda with family and more Trail Center friends, including Tim and Pat Oren and Bob and Sue Kelly. We spent a three relaxing days in the park before heading to Yosemite for a 4-day backpack from Wawona to the Valley.

Mapping volunteer Ernst Meissner is the new Chair of the San Mateo County Trails Advisory Committee. He expects the Committee, which advises the San Mateo County Park Commission on trail issues, will keep him busy this year and leave little time for trail building. The Committee reviews Environmental Impact Reviews (EIRs) involving trails and will focus much of its time on the Peninsula Watershed Plan and on other Bay Area Ridge Trail issues.

Along the Trail focuses on our members' and volunteers' activities both inside and outside the Trail Center (is there really a life beyond the TC??). If you have interesting tales to