Author: Karl Mosgofian

Project: Shasta/Trinity 

Trail Center volunteers travelled to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Northern California this year for our annual weekend in the mountains. A total of eight Trail Center volunteers accompanied by four personnel from the Pacific Crest Trail Association formed a crew to work on portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in an area due west of Mt. Shasta.

Volunteers arrived at our camp location on Thursday evening the 25th, and we worked all day Friday, Saturday and finished our projects Sunday morning. The majority of the work was near PCT mile 1531, where access to Porcupine Lake, a very popular rest stop and water source for PCT thru-hikers, was improved. On Sunday morning one crew worked on tread repairs, fixing about 400 feet of trail at mile 1527 and another crew was active in clearing trees that decided to block the trail.

The end of each day featured a refreshing swim in Picayune Lake followed by drinks on the deck of the cabin that was our base of operations.

A very special thanks goes to Julia Kazaks who organized all the food purchases and meal planning and who served us 5-1/2 star meals throughout our stay.

The trail work was organized and funded by the Pacific Crest Trail Association and we thank Ian Nelson, PCTA Northern California Regional Representative, and Eleanore Anderson, PCTA Technical Advisor, for their involvement and leadership in this project.

Of course, without these dedicated volunteers the work wouldn't have gotten done: Dave Croker, Bill Farrell, Richard Feldman, Hank Magnuski, Judd Volino, Lucy Volino, Mark Waters, Reed Waters and George Willis.

It was a unique and beautiful area to visit.

Hank Magnuski
Project Supervisor

Project: Portola Redwoods 

Photo Album: Portola Redwoods Trail Photos 

Portola Redwoods State Park - Lower Escape, Slate Creek Trail, Slate Creek Trail Camp Access Road
Work Day Report
June 29, 2019

Prepared by Judd Volino/Trail Center

Trail Center returned to one of our regular sites, Portola Redwoods State Park to help with a diverse array of projects for this work day. Kent brought the trailer on his first try at that duty. Staging was at the Ramada group picnic area. The working conditions were wonderful, with cool 70s temperatures, no precipitation, and work areas mostly shaded by the awesome canopy in this park. We had a turnout of 6 TC staff, including crew leader trainee George. There were 16 other volunteers, including 11 on their first work day with Trail Center.

Bill’s crew, and a group supervised by trail boss Judd, took on the creation of a pathway through the very large slide that occurred on Lower Escape Trail in the winter of 2017, just about 75 yards from its south trailhead. Helpfully, before the work day State Parks staff were able to crosscut a 30” diameter log that blocked the most viable route. Judd’s crew, including experienced volunteer Jerel, widened and brushed the path leading to the slide to start the day, but soon turned to working on clearing debris to make the bench at one end. Kile, from the State Parks crew, joined in and provided feedback.

Meanwhile on the other side, Bill’s volunteers, with key help from Ken, Larry, and Neil, began carving a trail in a ramp of dirt and soft rock and removing debris in the heart of the slide.

Both of the crews above created some small retaining walls with redwood logs stripped of bark and keyed in to help widen the bench in key places. The wall on Bill’s end was hidden nicely by backfill. In the middle portion, large rocks were used to form some cribbing. To finish, the crews sprinkled duff on the new tread and the downhill side of the trail to restore a more natural appearance.

As the heavy work was done on the new path, some volunteers were sent north to do general maintenance on the remainder of Lower Escape, including brushing. removing rotted logs in the travelway, and cutting some small tan oaks that had tipped over across the trail. Dan from State Parks was able to cut a 10” dia. tree that was at face level across the whole trail. Another small group of brand new volunteers (all sporting beards) went with Kile to crosscut a section out of the very large tree that was across the Slate Creek Connector just off Upper Escape trail (site A on original work plan). Due to its size, actually moving the round will have to await rigging by State Parks staff.

In addition, Bill took a few volunteers to address two large logs that were impinging on the trail in another area on Slate Creek Trail. There were successful clearing the loose log and trimming back the immovable one to restore tread width, and repaired the tread a bit (site C on work plan).

Dave Croker, assisted by George and Kathy, and his crew shuttled in the State Parks’ “classic” Econoliner van with staffer Dan to the park boundary on Slate Creek Trail Camp Access Road. This portion of the road needed heavy brushing to make it passable by State Parks maintenance vehicles. When Dave C’s crew completed this work, they hiked the Slate Creek Trail to return, doing more brushing and some tread work along the way. They encountered a pair two very large (30-36” dia.) downed trees across the trail. We recommend State Parks address these trees because hikers must make their own off-trail routes around the trees currently. Regrettably, one of Dave C’s crew members hit a yellow jacket nest at one point on Slate Creek Trail, which did result in her and another volunteer receiving multiple stings.

Feedback from the new volunteers was overwhelmingly positive. One, who had learned of us at the recent Sunnyvale Library Outdoor Expo, commented “This is just what I was looking for!”

Two volunteers, Neil and Kent, received their well-deserved green Trail Steward shirts at the end of the work day. Volunteers snacked on the items brought by Larry back at the Ramada.

Judd Volino
Trail boss
6/29/2019

Project: Windy Hill 

Photo Album: Windy Hill Trail Photos 

On National Trails Day about 20 volunteers, five crew leaders, two staff and Rangers from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District gathered to complete work on the second half of the Lost Trail.

The weather was clear and dry, but the trail was very wet and muddy in spots due to the unseasonal rain throughout most of May. This led to some interesting challenges.

Volunteers and tools were shuttled by MROSD staff to the trailhead of the Razorback Ridge Trail and then proceeded northward to their assigned worksites. At the end of the day tools were dropped off at the central access road and volunteers walked the remaining distance to the north parking lot where we had refreshments and a raffle.

The majority of work for the day was recentering the tread, moving it uphill and widening it to meet standards. Fixing some of the muddy spots involved a variety of approaches and tactics including adding new drains, removing berms, outsloping, and scraping off organic matter that was blocking water flow. The crews worked hard at these tasks and made some amazing transformations in the quality of the surfaces in many locations.

All of the assigned tasks were completed and the crew leaders were able to do a number of bonus projects, including some remedial work on the northern half of the trail which was not scheduled for the day.

My assessment is that the Lost Trail work is complete for now and the trail is in pretty decent condition overall.

I wish to thank Karl, Lisa, Bill, Judd and Dave T. for excellent crewleading, Kathy for coordinating volunteers and Larry for arranging snacks. We also wish to thank Brendan Dolan and the MROSD Staff for great logistics support and for the donation of raffle items to end the day with fun rewards.

And, of course, special thanks to all the volunteers who came out and spent their day working on the trail.

Hank Magnuski
Trail boss
6/3/2019

Project: Pomponio Trail 

Photo Album: Pomponio Trail Photos 

On Saturday, May 11, we returned to San Mateo County’s Memorial Park’s recently reopened Pomponio Trail to continue the work begun on October 13, 2018. The Trail Center was thrilled to participate in this important work, and its crews brought this enthusiasm to Saturday’s workday. The SMCP rangers were delighted for the trail to receive much needed TLC just before Mother’s Day, the traditional beginning of the park’s peak season.

The weather was clear, with unexpectedly warm temperatures in the low 80’s by workday’s end. The trail tread is a mix of organic, sandy, sandstone soil, nicely workable after last season’s rains. That same rain brought significant overgrowth onto the trail, poison oak flowering everywhere, and even a rattlesnake! While occasionally shaded by Douglas fir trees, the work area was mostly exposed to full sun. Our 34 volunteers, including 9 staff and crew, were a largely seasoned crew plus a few VERY energetic first time volunteers.

As before, we staged the trailer and volunteers in the pull-out area immediately before the park entrance kiosk. Dave C got a head start on the group Friday afternoon, hitching a ride from Ranger Brian to the western end of Pomponio Trail, and Tom Morse joined Dave early Saturday morning. Both wielded the Shindaiwa weed-whackers like skilled samurai warriors to clear a path through the underbrush. In their wake, the volunteers hiked in two miles (and several hundred feet elevation gain) via the Mt Ellen trail network.

Lisa and Karl’s crew began at the most remote western end. They quickly repaired winter damage on the previously worked section before advancing on hundreds of yards of brushing, benching, tread width restoration.

Hank’s crew had the best opportunity to work on their suntans. Entirely in full sun, they brushed, benched, stumped, and proved no match for the abundant holly and coyote brush.

Judd lead the Palo Alto High seniors on the next section. An experienced and tireless crew, they expertly rerouted and flattened a previous impossibly steep section. Their work was nothing short of artistry. Most dramatic was when they flushed out an adolescent rattlesnake (far more dangerous than the shyer, more sensibly discrete adults). Happily, the viper and the volunteers all lived to tell the tale. Who could asp for more?

One would be stumped to find a crew to rival Woody’s for removing madrone and ceanothus roots. They also performed unscheduled (but needed and welcomed) log-out of winter blow-down on the Mt Ellen trail approach.

The Trail Center looks forward to returning to Pomponio Trail, possibly later this Fall, to complete the portion between Flag 15 and the Mt Ellen trail network. The Trail Center Projects Committee will coordinate with the Memorial Park rangers to plan this next phase.

Thanks to Judd for driving the tool trailer, to Kathy for coordinating and signing in our glorious volunteers, and to Larry for catering the snacks and beverages at the end of the day. Special thanks to Ranger Dave Vasquez for his assistance in coordinating the work and for graciously offering and preparing the beautiful Huckleberry Flat area for the Trail Center Friday night campers.

Bill Farrell
5/14/2019

Project: Craig Britton Trail 

Photo Album: Craig Britton Trail Photos 

For our Earth Day project we worked on the Craig Britton Trail in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. This trail is also part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

About twenty volunteers attended and were led by crewleaders Dave Croker, Judd Volino and Bill Farrell. Hank Magnuski was supervisor for the day.

In the morning the precipitation exceeded expectations and we were all standing in the rain waiting for our shuttles. Fortunately, the worksites were reasonably sheltered in the forest and the rain dissipated as the morning progressed. There were a few spots with a little more moisture in the soil than we needed, but most of the trail was quite workable.

We staged from the North Lot and shuttled to the Purisima Creek Trailhead where MROSD staff drove us and the tools to the Craig Britton Trailhead. We thank Brendan Dolan and his assistant ranger for these rides because they tremendously helped to increase energy and time available to work on the trail. While riding the ATV Mules down to the trailhead some of the volunteers felt like they were in a scene straight out of Jurassic Park with a windy, wet road and dark forest all around.

We were able to finish a lot, but not all, of the southern half of the Craig Britton Trail. The majority of the work done was widening tread and reestablishing the inside edge. From the original plan the centrally located markers CB216-CB220 were not assigned because of the distance involved and due to the earth already being hard-baked. All work was completed up to CB235, but CB236 and higher remain to be done.

The crewleaders estimate that there is one more day's work left on this trail and we should probably re-survey and possibly plan a revisit for the November BART Service Day.

Many thanks to all involved for these repairs,

Hank Magnuski
12-May-2019