Author: Karl Mosgofian

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

Project: Skyline Trail 

Photo Album: Skyline Trail Photos 

On Saturday, January 12, Trail Center returned gave some love to the Skyline Trail, bringing 29 experienced and new volunteers to the task of general maintenance, with a focus on removing accumulated slough & duff to restore tread width and some drainage work. The project spanned a 1.5 mi section starting north of the Molder Trail junction. We were fortunate to catch a break in a series of rain storms that, but it remained chilly with some mist as the day wrapped up.

Volunteers parked at the El Corte de Madera OSP parking lot and either shuttled or walked on the Sierra Morena trail about 0.8 mi to reach the Molder Trail pullout on Skyline Blvd where the trailer was staged. Thanks to Brendan Dolan of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for coordinating a permit for our group that day.

This trail runs between Huddart and Wunderlich county parks just east off the ridge and Skyline Blvd in Redwood City/Woodside areas. This trail is maintained by San Mateo County Parks, but lies largely on California Water Service Company property, and presumably is accessible due to an easement. Our SMCP contact for the project was ranger Rogelio Castaneda.

In order from south to north the crew leaders were…

Hank, who had a group of relatively new volunteers who dug right into the work of removing exposed roots in the trail, brushing, clearing duff from inside edge and removing debris.

Karl and Tim Moore paired up to lead the next section’s crew, also focused on restoring tread width and trimming back some growth of saplings and cutting a dead “widowmaker”.

Bill’s crew tackled some areas where the tread had become uneven before overgrowth had been trimmed back. They did a great job restoring an even bench and outslope, improving drains, and more of that slough and debris removal.

Dave Croker’s crew also cleaned up some long stretches and made a number of well-developed “nicks” for drainage.

At the far end, Woody led a very game group who had to hike out the furthest. They had some of the most challenging sections in terms of the amount of slough to remove and also a fair amount of berry bramble that had grown into the trail. They also had to remove some roots that were hazards after the slough was removed.

Overall, we were able to address nearly all the areas planned for the day. The lesson trail boss Judd re-resolved keep project work areas 1 mi. max in length.

Snacks were served at the pullout. We made due with the coolers as flat surfaces, as the classic folding tables had accidentally been left out of the trailer when we packed up at Hidden Villa last month.

Hank awarded teen volunteer Alex his green hat for his participation in at least 4 work days. Alex and his associates have made strong contributions to projects including Hidden Villa and Sugarloaf Mountain Open Space.

Thanks to Larry for snacks and Dave Croker for bringing the trailer.

Judd Volino
1/22/19