In this issue:

1. Post Fire – the after effects

2. The defacing of our 2008 Warrior’s Society Event Sign

3. Endurance Training and Nutrition Seminar this Tuesday, 11/27

4. Next “Newbie” ride this Sunday, December 2nd

5. Trail work event on Saturday, December 8th

6. Let’s let the Great Park Design Team know we want a VELODROME in Orange County!!!!!!!!

1. POST FIRE – THE AFTER EFFECTS

Although many gave a sigh of relief after these devastating fires we will not be out of woods in regard to the after effects for five years, and it is not fire that is the threat…

The fire destroyed thousands of acres in the Modjeska, Harding, Williams and Silverado Canyon Watersheds. The soil has been stripped of vegetation and made unstable by the tremendous heat, which evaporated any moisture in the soil and glazed/semi-seal the soil with the oils of the burnt chaparral; in effect creating a water barrier. Rain events as small as 1/4 inch an hour will cause severe problems; heavier rains could create hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of tons of debris flows into the watersheds and onto the canyon residents in the burn areas.

As stated in last Thursday’s edition of the Orange County Register “All areas near the 28,464-acre fire are at risk, but risk is the greatest in Modjeska, Williams and the upper reaches of Silverado Canyon, according to the Burned Area Emergency Response report for the blaze.”

Unfortunately there is not much the county or Forest Service can do to protect property affected by the fires and the subsequent debris flows. Aside from MAJOR debris dams set in deep footings and sheet piles being built on private property or on Forest service land they will be at the mercy of nature. Walls of sandbags and rows of hay bales will only become part of the debris flows in a major downpour.

The cost and time needed for such construction would be tremendous, not counting the time needed to do NEPA and other environmental studies for the permitting process. You must understand that many of the homes have had acres and acres of steep slope hundreds of feet high behind their houses burnt and as previously mentioned, the soil is severally destabilized.

Many people who live on the opposite side of the canyon may feel somewhat safe – but the debris flows down the creek and the possibility of “damming” in narrow parts of the creek – or under bridge crossings from the debris flows – and the resulting flooding of creek side property or damage to Silverado Canyon Road by the creek jumping its bank due to blockages – is something many have not considered.

The residents of lower Modjeska should remember that the Harding Canyon watershed up to the Main Divide, thousands of acres, has had the vegetation destroyed by fire. This major watershed eventually drains into a narrow portion of Harding Canyon before entering an off-shoot drainage in lower Modjeska Canyon that begins at the fire station. This narrow section actually had a dam built in it in the early part of this century to capture water but it has silted in to the top of this dam. If debris block this narrow section causing a damming effect – and this water lets loose – It could cause a lot of destruction. The public agencies responsible for addressing this possibility are cooperatively involved in finding a solution to it.

I’ve hiked to the upper reaches of this canyon to about 1/4 a mile from the Main Divide after an El Nino rain event, places very few have been. The damage from just the boulders that were undermined from above the creek and dropped into the creek was amazing. One huge boulder was straddling a side drainage entering the canyon.

The agencies involved in post-fire assessments considered dredging behind the dam (the dam is owned by the IRWD) in an area owned by the county, to remove the built up sediment/debris accumulated since the dam was built in
1919 – thus allowing it to act as a debris barrier. But the age of the dam, and the fact that it was constructed almost 100 years ago (under construction standards that in no way would be accepted today), ruled out this option.

The sediment behind the dam (by the friction resulting from its mass and compaction against the bottom of/and the canyon walls) built up and compacted by rain over the almost 100 years relieves much of the pressure placed on the dam. By dredging behind it you would direct intense debris flows and the energy behind these flows directly to the dam unimpeded or slowed down by the loss of surface area and friction built up by the sediment deposited behind the dam.

The truth of the matter is even if the dam was never built the problem would still exist, if not worsened, by the fact that the canyon would be even narrower without the dam to artificially raise the elevation of the canyon creating a grade stabilizer and a larger water flow and energy dispersal area behind it; the dam’s existence probably assisted in the development of this offshoot of Modjeska canyon.

Though we need the rain – the continuation of the drought may be a blessing in disguise for the residents severally affected by the fires.

I am constantly amused by the Disney-ficaton of nature where the big male bear finds the orphan bear and decides to protect it. In nature the blunt truth is the big male bear would eat the cub. I sometimes find this same “emotional” viewpoint/sentiment in those that profess a love of nature.

Nature is not kind; it shows no mercy based on emotion. She has destroyed environments and habitats over eons, neither unimpeded nor aided by the actions of man – and truth be told in the case of the dinosaurs, before man ever existed.

Nature will dictate the fate of the canyon residents – there is very little the County, State or Federal Government can do to prevent her will – and the only rule she lives by:

“Only the strong survive.”

It is not what people want to hear. My advice to the residents affected by the burn areas is to leave their houses during rain events for the safety of their families and to store valuables in a safe location.

There is no “magic” solution to the wrath of Nature for the residents of the canyons – but only to offer our help – and to pray for their safety.

2. THE DEFACING OF OUR 2008 WARRIOR’S SOCIETY EVENT SIGN

As some of you know, we have a fairly large sign announcing our 2008 Events at the intersection of Silverado Canyon Road and Santiago Canyon Road.
Unfortunately this sign was vandalized with a big red paint stating that “events are canceled.” Rather than repair the sign (and fight an on-going battle to keep it clean with those defacing it) we have notified Peltzer Pines to put a sign over it directing people to their Christmas tree farm off of Black Star Canyon Road. They may not get the chance to as those who defaced the sign might resort to removing it altogether once they find out about this email.

A small minority of residents of Silverado are upset that the Forest Service has permitted our events to go on despite the closures, yet they are not allowed to access the forest for 1 year. The course of the Pow Wow is not in the areas affected by the fires; there will be no impact or degradation of the burned areas. But this is not what is bothering them.

There are even a few that live outside the canyon that have criticized the Warrior’s Society for continuing with our events. I also find their motivation to criticize the Warrior’s Society more self-serving than “altruistic” in purpose.

As we stated in last week’s news, the Forest Service’s main concern is that the public not access these areas without supervision, (especially the Harding Trail because the fire severely destabilized the slopes), for their own safety and to protect the burned areas from illegal access. There were many fire breaks done as defensive shields in case fire fighters were trapped – and there is a real concern that unauthorized use of these temporary fire breaks, mainly by heavy motor vehicles such as motorcycles and automobiles, will delay or stop the rehabilitation efforts.

It is unfortunate that due to the 5-10 percent of the population that is irresponsible and does not follow the rules – the public at large has to pay the price of no access for 1 year.

One resident of Silverado who complained directly to our event director about us being able to continue with our events was the same person who last year during the Pow Wow – lifted his motorcycle over the gate at Maple Springs along with another motorcyclist – despite the road being closed to motor vehicles (except those supporting the event) – and gloated about his actions to our support staff.

I tried to stop him when I first saw him ride past me on Maple Springs Road and yelled to him that he was not supposed to be on the road – but he just glared at me. He knew that it was the policy of the Forest Service to close the gate to motor vehicles, not to hikers or mountain bikers, after rains for safety reasons (our event insurance policy protects the Forest Service from lawsuits). He is part of that 5-10 percent of the population that breaks the rules and ruins it for the rest of us.

Apparently he and his fellow poacher felt that, unlike the “Flatlanders” that live outside Silverado; they and their motorcycles are above the law. This resident is aware that the majority of fire fighters who fought to protect their property were “Flatlanders” and that our event director Sherry Panttaja, also a “Flatlander,” was a volunteer evacuating horses from Silverado Canyon during the fire and placing them on her property until the fires were out and they could be returned safely to the canyon.

It is not all the Silverado Canyon residents that have this attitude or resentment and jealousy – and I don’t want to paint them so; as a matter of fact, one of them called me personally to let me know that our event sign had been vandalized. This person knows the amount of work we do to maintain the trails in the Cleveland National Forest. The signs put up on the Maples Spring gate by the Forest service announcing the closure have also been vandalized / removed.

Do the person(s) who defaced our 2008 Event sign realize that the events support good causes?

The Pow Wow supports our trail maintenance activities in the Cleveland National Forest as well as the SOARA Ham Radio Club, which provides assistance at community events and will provide emergency communications during natural disasters. SOARA will be given our new hi-tech digital communications equipment when not in use for our events. SOARA and the Warrior’s Society will be providing volunteers and our event trailer set up with the Communications equipment and first aid/trauma kits for the upcoming “Rwanda Ride” that will be raising funds to provide bicycles for the impoverished citizens of Rwanda.

“The Traverse” will be a fundraiser to provide scholarships for the children of our vets wounded or killed in action.

And the Toad Festival will be a fundraiser to help children affected by Autism.

Is the resentment and jealousy of those opposed to us continuing with our events so great and overwhelming that they believe these petty feelings are more important than supporting the maintaining of our public trails (which keeps them clear and maintained for fire fighters to access during future fires), assisting other organizations with communications/first aid support such as those promoting the “Rwanda Ride,” providing scholarships for the children of our vets wounded or killed in action, and helping children affected by Autism?

Perhaps it would have been more honest to spray paint “Our feelings of resentment and jealousy are more important than:

A. Supporting the maintenance of our trails, providing communications equipment to be used to support community events or in a natural disaster and to support other community organizations.

B. Assisting the children of our vets wounded or killed in action.

C. Providing the resources for the parent’s of children afflicted by Autism.”

Unfortunately as it is now – our 2008 event sign is a testimony of the worst that humans have to offer – and not the best.

And if the 2008 event sign is further vandalized or removed altogether it will be further testimony of worst in human nature.

What a pitiful life they lead, a life driven by resentment and jealousy – and not by what is best for the greater good.

I find no pleasure dealing with confrontation, but I have found purpose. I do not let the petty feelings of resentment and jealously of others to distract me.

I have a Vision where mountain bikers no longer have to fight to protect their access, where our efforts can instead be directed to a greater goal of helping others outside the mountain bike community. This was supposed to be the year that this goal of contributing to the greater good happens, with our events supporting non-profits like those I mentioned.

We have gotten to the point where we can devote funds outside of the trail maintenance of (and advocacy to protect our access to) the multi-use trails of the Trabuco District of the Cleveland National Forest.

I don’t feel anger towards the individual(s) who defaced our sign; I feel pity that they are so caught up in their resentment and jealousy that they cannot see the bigger picture, a Vision far beyond their grasp.

My thanks go out to the majority of canyon residents who – despite the tragedy they have faced – can look outside themselves and support these causes – and the greater good they provide.

And we also gratefully thank the Forest Service for allowing us to continue with the events and for supporting the good to the community that will come of them.

Chris “Dances With Hornets” Vargas
Executive Director of Advocacy, Trail Work and Event Support

The non-profits that will benefit from our 2008 Events:

A. The Mountain Bike Pow Wow:

The SOARA Ham Radio Club; SOARA, a non-profit corporation, was founded in March, 1974 to serve current and prospective licensed radio amateurs in the southern area of Orange County. The purpose and objectives of SOARA, as stated in the constitution and by laws are:

. To promote Amateur Radio and advance it’s causes.

. To provide a communications capability and a source of technical support for the benefit of its members and the community

. To promote fraternalism and cooperation among its members.

To this end, SOARA and the members actively support and participate in ARES, RACES and other sanctioned organizations. We provide communications support for many public service events throughout the community:

http://www.soara.org/

B. “The Traverse” event:

A fundraiser for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund; the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund honors the bravery and dedication exhibited by Americans in our Armed Forces who have sacrificed life or limb defending our country by providing educational scholarships to their children.

http://tinyurl.com/2rotck

C. The Toad Festival:

A fundraiser for “Talk About Curing Autism” (TACA):

TACA has been VERY important in helping parents navigate the world of autism
– education, therapy, biomedical information and emotional support.

TACA provides emergency financial assistance to families with a child with autism to cover costs associated with housing, utilities, automobile repair, insurance premiums, food, medical care, prescriptions, daycare, and other items.

http://www.tacanow.com/about_taca/taca.htm

3. ENDURANCE TRAINING AND NUTRITION SEMINAR THIS TUESDAY, 11/27

Rock N Road Cyclery will be holding an Endurance Training and Nutrition Seminar from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Mission Viejo store on Tuesday, the 27th of November. The Store is located at the shopping center on the northwest corner of Rancho Santa Margarita and Margarite.

For more information contact the Rock N Road at: (949) 859-5076

4. NEXT “NEWBIE” RIDE THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND

On a more positive note the next Newbie ride is being held Sunday, DEC 2, in San Diego Co. We chose Daily Ranch as the venue. This ride is a joint ride with the “sladnas” firestorm ride. Mark aka Sladnas on STR lost everything in one of the San Diego fires. The members of STR pitched in and bought him a new bike and it will be presented to him on this ride. Here is the link to the ride.

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trailhead/9699-sladnas-firestorm-sd-newbie-ride.htm

Be sure and paste the whole link into your browser if it does not activate.

“Guides New Warriors” Frial

5. TRAIL WORK EVENT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8TH

The Forest Service is not yet ready to start installing water bars and grade stabilizers on the Silverado Motorway so we will be brushing the trails in the Trabuco Canyon area, starting with the Trabuco Trail. The work will start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m. and we will be meeting at the Holy Jim Trail Parking Lot.

Please RSVP if you plan on attending and bring gloves, snacks and water for on the trail when you are working. Pizza will be provided after the end of the event.

Please RSVP to:

countingcoup@warriorssociety.org

6. LET’S LET THE GREAT PARK DESIGN TEAM KNOW WE WANT A VELODROME IN ORANGE COUNTY!!!!!!!!

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND ATTEND THE GREAT PARK OPEN HOUSE. MAKE THE GREAT PARK YOUR PARK!!!

The City of Irvine and the Orange County Great Park Corporation invite you to attend a public open house at the Orange County Great Park Balloon site.

When: December 1st and 2nd, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Great Park Balloon Site
Meet the Great Park Design Team and give us your feedback on programs related to:

. Sports and Recreation
. Festivals and Events
. Ecology and Nature
. Historic Preservation
. Cultural and Social Institutions and Activities

If you are unable to attend the open house you can still participate in the planning process by taking an online survey. The survey will be available from December 1st – 8th.
For more information, please call (949) 724-7420.

Manitou and Shimano are the Major Component Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops and Sho-Air Racing are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Cytomax is the Official Fluid Replacement Drink of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. Cleveland National Forest Closure Order Update – parts of the Forest will be closed for 1 year

2. Fourth Annual Tour de Tryptophan/24 Hours of the Fullerton Loop to benefit Tara Llanes

1. CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURE ORDER UPDATE

The part of the Cleveland National Forest affected by the fires, include the Main Divide from Black Star the Santiago Peak, the Silverado Motorway, the Harding Truck Trail, the Upper Joplin and Santiago Truck Trails and Maples Springs Road: these are the trails/roads that will be closed to the public for 1 year (until November 9th 2008).

This will NOT affect our events. Existing permit holders will be exempt from the closure as stated in the announcement “(1) Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.” The Forest Service’s main concern is that the public not access these areas without supervision, (especially the Harding Trail because the fire severely destabilized the slopes), for their own safety and to protect the burned areas from illegal access. There were many fire breaks done as defensive shields in case fire fighters were trapped – and there is a real concern that unauthorized use of these temporary fire breaks will delay or stop the rehabilitation efforts.

During both the Pow Wow and Traverse events there will be increased security to insure that riders/individuals not associated with or in the event access the forest. Those attempting to ride along unauthorized will be subject to arrest and/or fines by Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers who will be supervising the event in the areas affected by the closures. The Forest Service may require us to have participants show photo ID to in the morning check-in to prevent past participants with old number plates from attempting to ride along with those entered in the event.

In the mean time, the Warrior’s Society will propose to the Forest Service that volunteers from the Santa Ana Natural History Association (SANHA), the Sierra Club, CORVA or any other off-road organization and our own organization be permitted by the Forest Service to patrol the areas affected by the closure and lead group rides/hikes/road tours. These “guided” access rides would focus on the rehabilitation efforts, the need for volunteers and the impact illegal off-trail access has on the environment’s ability to recover from fire.

This would also allow us to educate the public on the need for controlled burns and other fire safety efforts that can reduce the effects/severity of wildland fires. For too long we have disrupted the cycle of fires and failed to educate the public on the benefits of fire to the chaparral environment as well as the detrimental effects of too many fires in the chaparral environment; we are now paying the price for this failure.

Others, such as the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental organizations, have advocated limiting the use of fire breaks and restricting/eliminating the use of fire retardants because of their effects on the environment:

http://www.warriorssociety.org/News/ForestPlanAlert5-16-04.html

My answer to them is how much worse would this fire have been without the use of them? I agree that in the long run many portions of the Cleveland National Forest need to burn to return them to the natural cycle of fires, but to allow ALL of the Cleveland National Forest to burn with out the tools of firebreaks and chemical retardants is foolish; after artificially being prevented to burn for over 100 years, it would be devastating to allow fire to burn unimpeded with the amount of fuel that has built up.

I have seen steelhead trout deep in canyons in the Santa Ana Mountains that many would have never imagined to be able to exist there. It breaks my heart to know that their continued existence, and the survival of other species, will be jeopardized by the tremendous debris flows caused by the thousands of acres burned by these fires; and it motivates me to not let the threat to their existence go unchallenged.

We must responsibly allow the remaining unburned areas of the Cleveland National Forest to burn to return them to the natural cycle of fire. We must allow these areas to burn and control these burns with every tool available to get us to the point where active fire prevention tools are used in a limited fashion – or not at all.

Many will be quick t6 blame the Forest Service or the County for the after-effects of the fire, but the failure can truly be placed on the lap of the public. WE have neglected our forests, we have developed in areas near our forests/wildlands, which I have no problems with, – but because of this development – we have pushed polices that focus on preventing fire rather than managing it; and organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Center For Biological Diversity have advocated limiting “Active” management of our forest by the use of fire breaks and fire retardants, seeking to take important Active Management tools out of the hands of firefighters.

The management of our forests should not focus on stopping fires – or on letting them burn.

It is not black and white – it is somewhere in-between.

And if we deny nature/fire her/its natural cycle – the PUBLIC – as current conditions have proven – will pay the price. And if we limit our ability to actively ATTEMPT to manage fire – we will only increase the devastation.

Below is the announcement from the Forest Service:

DECISION MEMO

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – FOREST SERVICE

FOREST CLOSURE ORDER
SANTIAGO FIRE AREA
02 07 11

CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

DECISION

It is my decision to issue a Forest Order authorizing a temporary closure of a portion of the Trabuco Ranger District in the Santiago Fire burn area and adjacent area, with the addition of a class of persons exempt from the Order
(1) Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. (2) Owners or lessees of land in the area, (3) Residents in the area; 4) Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

The area affected is described on Exhibit A and shown on the attached map, marked as Exhibit B. The closure will be in effect from November 15, 2007 through November 09, 2008 and will address public health and safety concerns related to the fire. The order will also serve to protect forest resources and critical watersheds located within the fire area.

NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION

There is a need for this action because of the threat to human life, and resource values due to this wildfire. An emergency situation has been identified as existing as a result of this fire. There are hazards known and unknown within the fire area that threaten public health and safety.

The fire has been contained at approximately 28,400 acres; however, firefighting and resource rehabilitation efforts are continuing. Movement of personnel and equipment pose a threat to public safety as the road and trail systems within the burn area are narrow and hazardous. There are also aerial operations that pose a threat to persons within the burn area. Additionally, there are numerous natural hazards created by the fire, such as tree snags, staubs, root holes that have been created by roots burning beneath the surface of the soil, etc…

An additional threat to public safety created by this fire is flash flooding caused by loss of vegetative resources. The time frame of this closure has historically had severe monsoonal thunderstorms that result in some flash flooding; however, the loss of the vegetative resources increases the probability of severe flash flooding in the burn area and adjoining areas.

In addition to the public health and safety aspect of the Santiago Fire there numerous archeological, historical, and culturally relevant sites have been exposed by the fire. Many of these sites are recorded; however, numerous other sites have not been surveyed.

The topography of the area is steep with sensitive soils. The topography combined with sensitive soils invite erosion when traversed by either mechanical means or by primitive means.

The Closure is felt to be the most immediate and effective method to reduce the potential for loss of life, and loss of significant physical, and cultural resource values on the forest.

The Closure also includes areas that were heavily impacted by dozers during
fire suppression efforts. These areas include a portion of North Main
Divide Road (3S04) between Bedford Peak and Santiago Peak; Silverado Trail
(5S03) and the area around Modjeska Peak.

This order needs to be in place for one year because the Forest Service needs time to remove the known hazards, such as falling hazard trees and repairing roads and trails. Also during this closure, the land will have a chance to rest: this will allow time for the native seeds to germinate, take root and grow; the chaparral vegetation an opportunity to re-sprout; and the soil and hillsides an opportunity to stabilize.

REASONS FOR CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION

This decision is categorically excluded from documentation under Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 31.1b(1) – Orders issued pursuant to 36 CFR Part 261 – Prohibitions to provide short-term resource protection or to protect public health and safety.

As a result of the above-mentioned analyses, I find there are no extraordinary circumstances that might cause the action to have significant environmental effects; therefore the proposed action is excluded from documentation in an Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment. Extraordinary circumstances would include but are not limited to negative impacts on the following:

1. Steep slopes or highly erosive soils.

This action will promote retention of natural vegetation that will help stabilize the steep slopes and highly erosive soils located within the closure area and protect the public from rolling rocks.

2. Threatened and Endangered species or their critical habitat.

One of the reasons for this action is to protect threatened and endangered species, and their habitats, located within the closure zone.

3. Flood plains, wetlands, and municipal watersheds.

This action will minimize impacts on flood plains, wetlands, and municipal watersheds within the closure area.

4. Inventoried roadless areas.

There is an inventoried roadless area within the closure area. Protection of this area will be enhanced by the closure area.

5. Native American religious or cultural sites, archaeological sites or
historic properties or areas.

One of the reasons for this action is to protect Native American religious or cultural sites, archaeological sites or historic properties located within the closure area and new sites exposed by the fires.

2. FOURTH ANNUAL TOUR DE TRYPTOPHAN/24 HOURS OF THE FULLERTON LOOP TO BENEFIT TARA LLANES

Ride and Donate to the Fourth Annual Tour de Tryptophan/24 Hours of the Fullerton Loop Spread Some Holiday Cheer for the Tara Llanes Recovery Fund

Fullerton, CA – November 14, 2007 – – Did you hear that Tara Llanes moved her left leg yesterday? For those who don’t know, Mountain Bike legend and sweetheart Tara Llanes was injured in a racing accident at the beginning of September, resulting in what is hoped to be a temporary paralysis. A fund has been set up to help in her rehabilitation, and this year’s Tour de Tryptophan is a benefit for the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund.

From high-noon on Friday the 23rd of November until high-noon on Saturday, riders from far and wide will be donating to the cause and doing fun laps on the legendary Fullerton Loop in Fullerton, California.

Fourth Annual Tour de Tryptophan Benefit Ride The Fullerton Loop is an 11-mile network of suburban trails that pass through city parks, horse trails, hidden pathways and creekside wilderness. Originally pieced together by Richard Cunningham of Mantis Bikes and Mountain Bike Action fame in 1983, hundreds of people ride and train on the famed loop every week.

One of the people that has graced the loop is the inimitable Tara Llanes, and many riders are getting stoked to help her cause this Thanksgiving weekend.

T-Shirts, Silent Auction and Raffle The ride will start and end at the Brea Dam Park, which is approximately 1 mile north of Chapman Avenue at 1700 North Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton. You can show up at any time to donate $40 and receive the Commemorative T-Shirt. When the original order of shirts runs out, we will print more as needed.

If you cannot attend and want a shirt, send a check for $40 made out to Tara Llanes to: Tour de Tara, 414 N. California St., Orange, CA 92866 before Thanksgiving, please state shirt size and quantity.

Donate Directly to the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund If you are NOT interested in a shirt, and just want to contribute to Tara’s recovery fund, you can send a check to Tara Llanes – Tour de Tara:

4068 Green Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA 90720. Paypal donations can go to:

tlroad2recovery@aol.com

Product Donations Still Needed If you can send products for the silent auction and raffle, that would be most appreciated. Send product to arrive at Tour de Tara, 414 N. California St., Orange, CA 92866 by Wednesday the 21st (i.e. Ship ’em Today!)

Give it up for a friend in need… What you give will come back to you tenfold. Peace. CFE PR+ Steve Boehmke

E-mail: chunkyflyrite@gmail.com

Manitou and Shimano are the Major Component Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops and Sho-Air Racing are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Cytomax is the Official Fluid Replacement Drink of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. Fire update – Harding Truck Trail and the Silverado Motorway

2. Portions of the Cleveland National Forest to re-open November 10th

3. Vision Quest training ride this Saturday, November 17th.

1. CORRECTION ON THE DOZING OF THE SILVERADO MOTORWAY

I spoke at length with Mary Thomas the Forest Service Biologist on the fires effect, estimated length of closure and projected rehab. They have asked Sue Zahn (a good friend and past trails manager) to return on a temporarily assignment to help with the rehab of the Silverado Motorway (Trail) and I’ll be arranging a meeting with her (hopefully on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday) to discuss rehabbing it. There was some confusion as to whether they “dozed” the trail or cut a separate firebreak but Mary confirmed they did “doze” the trail. Hopefully, if we get the rehab done that trail will not be closed too long, but heavy rains and the possibility of illegal trail building/off road activity in the affected areas could change that assessment.

They do not plan on reseeding the burned areas because due to the severe loss of vegetation and steep slopes there is nothing to hold the seed on the ground. Basically, the land will have to heal itself. Harding and Upper Santiago Truck Trail will be closed indefinitely until they can address the landslide(s) caused by the fires destabilization of the slopes. The most detrimental effects will be to the various watersheds caused by debris flows when the rains hit. The county estimates event minor rains such as a ¼ inch an hour will cause problems with debris flows and heavier rains will cause severe if not devastating flows.

As soon as the Forest Service notifies us that they are ready for our help we will put the call out for volunteers.

Here are some amazing pictures and radio traffic narrative on the firefighters who were overcome by fire off of Santiago Canyon Road and had to deploy their fire shelters:

http://www.latimes.com/la-burnover-f,0,732907.flash?coll=la-home-center

2. PORTIONS OF THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST TO RE-OPEN NOV. 10TH

Forest Use Restriction Level Returns to EXTREME

San Diego, CA –November 8, 2007…The Cleveland National Forest (Forest) will re-open portions of the Forest, on Saturday, November 10, 2007, after an emergency closure October 21, 2007, due to the recent and ongoing fires.

The Forest Use Restriction Level will return to EXTREME. Those restrictions that were in effect prior to the fires will be continued. Under this level, the closure of all national forest lands south of Interstate 8 and a general prohibition on campfires, except for Laguna Campground, will also be in affect.

Forest Service officials reevaluated current conditions for the four southern California Forests, and based on a variety of criteria including the moisture level in vegetation, weather conditions and firefighter staffing/equipment needs, they concluded that portions of the four southern California Forests, the Angeles, Los Padres, San Bernardino, and the Cleveland National Forests could re-open to visitors.

The recently burned areas of the Forest will be closed with regard to the Santiago Fire area in the Santa Ana Mountains; the Poomacha Fire in the Palomar Mountains; and the Witch Fire, that burned all the national forest lands south of State Highway 76 and north of Ramona, and portions of the San Diego River watershed east of Ramona.

”We are going to try and keep as much of the forest land open to visitors. Forest visitors should keep an eye on Forest Use Restriction Levels, as they can change at any time,” said Will Metz, Forest Supervisor for the Cleveland National Forest.

Closures of recently burned areas and adjoining lands are routinely implemented to protect the public from a variety of hazard such as rolling rocks, flash floods, and falling trees. There are also firefighters continuing their work in extinguishing fires in these areas and the discharge of firearms related to hunting poses a threat to their welfare.

In the Orange County portion of the Cleveland National Forests the Forest Service will have a closure map ready on Tuesday and we will carry it in our next issue of our Warrior’s Society News. At this time all roads (Main Divide and the Harding Truck Trail) and trails in the burn areas (Upper Joplin and the Silverado Motorway) will be closed for rehab.

The public can call (619) 593-2183, the Forest Use Restriction Level hotline for a recorded message, or check the website at www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland on November 9, for maps and for current conditions.

Forest offices are open Monday – Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cleveland National Forest Supervisor’s Office, contact (858) 673-6180.

Alpine, Descanso, and Laguna Mountain Areas contact the Descanso Ranger District at (619) 445-6235.

Palomar Mountain, Henshaw, Ramona and Oak Grove areas contact the Palomar Ranger District at (760) 788-0250.

Ortega Hwy area, San Mateo and Corona area contact the Trabuco Ranger District at
(951) 736-1811.

-CNF-Anabele Cornejo
Assistant Public Affairs Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service- Cleveland National Forest

p.858-674-2985
f. 858-674-2967

3. VISION QUEST TRAINING RIDE THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH.

With Thanksgiving next week and the Sladnas/firestorm newbie ride the following weekend, I thought I’d squeeze in a Pow Wow training ride before then. Here is the route, park at Live Oak/Trabuco wash area (VQ/CC finish line). Ride in, climb Lower HJ to Main Divide, then over to Trabuco and descend, swing up and climb, hike, ride, crawl up West Horse Thief and back over toward Holy Jim. We can ride up to Upper now that it’s open and come down that before coming down Lower HJ.

There are some bailout points. You do not have to go up WHT or if you do then you do not have to do Upper HJ. You can even do just the first climb up Lower HJ and then head back down. Even that would be hard for beginners. Those that do will put in over 40 miles and about 9000 ft of gain. How’s that for a training ride? Hope you can join me.

Meet at the wash area on Trabuco/Live Oak at 7:30am Ride time: 8:00am

Choices, sure..,

Ride #1- Holy Jim out and back (approx 19 miles) Ride #2-Holy Jim to Trabuco (Toad Course-27 miles) Ride #3- Same as #2 but going up WHT then back to Holy Jim and down.
Ride #4- Full Tour, Ride #3 plus up to upper HJ then down LHJ

You’ll have to let me know which ride so I know where you are. I don’t want to leave anyone behind.

Sorry, this is not a newbie or beginner/intermediate ride. This is a training ride for intermediate/advance riders. Know your limits. There is a lot of distance that has to be covered, this is to insure that it does not hold up the group too long. Thanks.

Contact Gene “Guides New Warrior’s” Frial to RSVP:

genus5surfrider@yahoo.com

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“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

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