In this issue:
1. Santiago Oaks Update:
2. Baggin’ the Peaks: Plants of the Modjeska – Santiago Peak Region
3. 19th Annual MWBA Pancake Breakfast
4. Report on National Bike Summit
1. SANTIAGO OAKS UPDATE:
All the hard work and efforts of the users of Santiago Oaks with being persistent about getting their trails back….has been a SUCCESS! Over the last few weeks the Rangers have allowed SHARE and volunteer’s to re-establish the trails that had been closed after the fires last March. There have been three days of trail work done and with lots of volunteers and SHARE showing up most of the work has been accomplished. The names of the trails have been changed but they are still our same ole trails that we all missed. In addition, the back loop to Weir Canyon that had been closed due to a land slide earlier this winter has now been re-opened as well.
The County was faced with the fact that the trails we had all been riding in the Barham Ranch acquired property has never been put on the map with the County with the land transfer…but after the fire they were faced with the issue that now since these trails were not on the map they were considered “illegal” trails. But because of the many Multi User Groups at Santiago Oaks voicing their opinions, the County was forced to deal with the issue.
The new Ranger at the Park is Jim Simkins and he is a great asset to the park. He understands the user group’s needs and he does the best he can to make sure they are addressed.
There is a final meeting to discuss the trails at Santiago Oaks this Wednesday April 16th at Santiago Oaks. If there is a trail you still wish to be open (since there are two that are not planned on being re-opened) you will want to come to the meeting and address the County. This will be your last opportunity to address them because after this the Final Report will be made. Once the Final Report is done…there will be no more changes or opportunities to get a trail re-opened. So make sure you attend the meeting on Wed. if you wish for “widow maker”, “bobcat” or the “waterfall section” on Goat to remain trails in the park.
Check out www.ocparks.com for the latest proposal that is to be made final after the 16th meeting.
Here are a few pics from the trail work at the park this past Sunday:
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-talk/17143-oaks-trail-work-big-thanks.html
2. BAGGIN’ THE PEAKS: PLANTS OF THE MODJESKA – SANTIAGO PEAK REGION
This is a plant-centered trip, with the goal to locate rare, unusual, & beautiful species of plants that have grown after the Santiago Fire of late 2007.
We’ll attack the peaks by vehicle from the Silverado Canyon region, stopping at interesting places along the way. Once on North Main Divide Road, we’ll follow it eastward, around to the southeast side of Santiago Peak, and a little ways down the Coldwater Trail. It was here in 2007 that a population of pink-bracted manzanita was discovered!
Local biologists have been searching for that species since a single specimen of it was collected in 1935 and never seen again in the Santa Ana Mountains.
We’ll also search for the rare, elusive, and beautiful Santiago Peak Phacelia, a strict fire-following annual wildflower that has only been seen by 6 living people. It was first discovered in 1922 at 4000 foot elevation along the Coldwater Trail, then seen again in 1923, 1943, 1980, 1988, and 1992.
Next, we’ll turn around and retrace our path to the summit of Santiago Peak, for a view and study of the plants atop it. There, we will be greeted by a population of Poodle-Dog Bush, the focus of many misleading media reports of late. We’ll savor its unusual growth form, aromatic scent, and stunning flowers. And, contrary to the multitude of inaccurate media reports, we will all live to tell about it. From there, we will continue our retrace around the flanks of Modjeska Peak, and back down Silverado Canyon.
Meet at 8 am at the Silverado Canyon Fire Station which is about 1 mile inland from Santiago Canyon Road. Parking is limited, so please carpool. Park in the eastern-most end of the parking area. Only vehicles with higher-than-average clearance will be allowed to drive on this trip, 4WD/AWD preferred. Attendees should arrange their own ride prior to the meeting date. No guarantee is made that we can find everyone a place in an adequate vehicle.
Each attendee should wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt. Long pants are suggested but short pants are fine. Running shoes or boots are strongly suggested; sandals are not protective and are discouraged.
Bring about 1 gallon of clean water to drink, plus snacks, and/or lunch. We plan to return to the meeting place about 2 pm.
Leader: Bob Allen, Research Associate with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Nature Photographer, Author, & Instructor.
For more information contact Debra Clarke, Trabuco Ranger District Wilderness / Trails Manager at 951-736-1811×3227.
www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland
www.freewebs.com/santaanamountains
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Debra Clarke – Wilderness / Trails Manager District Volunteer Coordinator Cleveland NF, Trabuco Ranger District
1147 East Sixth Street
Corona, CA 92879
(951) 736-1811 x 3227
(951) 736-3002 fax
email: drclarke@fs.fed.us
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3. 19TH ANNUAL MWBA PANCAKE BREAKFAST
SUNDAY APRIL 27TH
RIDE: 7 a.m. JPL Lot to Breakfast
BREAKFAST: 8 A.M.
RAFFLE: 10:30AM Don’t Be Late!
BIKE RIDE BEFORE AND AFTER EVENT!
Come Dine&Ride with Keith Bontrager and GARY FISHER Three Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Inductees &
Alan Armstrong Head MWBA Cheerleader at the fabulous COBB ESTATE-LAKE/LOMA ALTA DRIVE
BBQ on Saturday April 26, 2008- $12 Donation at Pasadena Cyclery
Supported by Pasadena Forward. For more information go to:
http://pasadenacyclery.com/index.cfm
Until next time,
Dave
Some words to live by…
“Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it. If you live.” – Mark Twain
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, beer in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
“LIFE MAY NOT BE THE PARTY WE HAD HOPED FOR, BUT WHILE WE’RE HERE, WE MIGHT AS WELL DANCE”
4. REPORT ON THE NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT
On March 4-6 Candace Oathout, the Warrior’s Society’s National Representative, attended the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. hosted by IMBA. Here is Candace’s report:
The focus of the National Bike Summit this year was primarily on ways to raise the level of consciousness of Federal Legislators regarding bicycles as a legitimate form of transportation for commuters and others who prefer to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. To that end the following issues were brought to individual members of both Houses of Congress through personal visits with either the member personally or key members of their staff.
A request to the member of Congress to join the Congressional Bike Caucus as a bi-partisan way to promote federal policies that;
• Encourage cycling as a valid mode of transportation
• Improve cycling opportunities for people who commute
• Organize and lead informal recreational rides for Members and staff
The Caucus is both an informal and formal organization that forms a platform for Congressional Members to address the challenges America faces with regard to the following
• Energy security
• Traffic congestion
• Global warming
• Reducing American obesity through promoting clean, safe transportation alternatives and healthy recreational opportunities
• Burn calories, not fossil fuels
There were currently 177 House members and 16 Senate members of the Caucus as of February 12th, 2008. Advocates who visited Congressional members and their staff issued personal invitations to all members who have not yet joined the Caucus. Of the seven members of Congress I visited four currently belonged to the Caucus and the others promised to look into it with the intention of joining.
Additionally, each member of the House was asked to sign on to House Congressional Resolution 305 as a tool to heighten the role bicycling plays in meeting our nation’s transportation, health, energy, recreation, and environmental goals. The Congressional Resolution documents more than 20 specific, quantifiable benefits that cycling brings across a wide spectrum of policy issues. This Congressional Resolution establishes a “Sense of Congress” that will result in establishing the importance of cycling as an issue of national importance. It elevates this method of transportation as Congress debates the appropriate Federal role in transportation funding and priorities as part of the funding re-authorization process.
This is extremely important in increasing funds available for dedicated bicycle facilities by stressing biking as a viable alternative for commuters. When discussing this issue we took the opportunity to point out to each member the growing importance of bicycling as an alternative method of commuting. As a side note, here in Minnesota 30% of those who commute by bicycle do so year around. There are plans currently developing to create a bike center that will offer showers, lockers, bike racks and food service on a major bike corridor adjacent to downtown Minneapolis.
We also discussed the need to re-establish the Interagency Task Force formed in 1986 to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies to increase bicycle use through policies, such as, Complete Streets that are essential to ensure wise use of Federal investment in transportation infrastructure. Complete Streets, S. 2686, encourages that planning processes require that the safety, interests, and convenience of all users including motorists, pedestrians, transit users, bicyclists and those who travel with mobility aids are considered in the design and construction of transportation projects. Since accommodations for all users are incorporated into projects at the design stage, any additional costs are minimal.
A companion concept to Complete Streets is the rapidly growing bike sharing movement modeled on the Paris, France “velib” bike rental program which opened last July and registered 2 million trips in its first 40 days of operation. In April 2008, the first serious fast bike-rental facility will open in Washington D.C. It will provide bicycle rental service in the downtown area and will be readily available for use by Members of Congress and their staff. This concept was quite popular with congressional staffers. My personal opinion is that it will prove to be very popular as an adjunct to the superb Metro service that Washington provides.
The final issue that we spoke with Members of Congress about is the National Park Service Centennial Initiative. We were excited to share our vision for the 21st Century with the National Park Service (NPS). The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) has signed a partnership agreement with MPS to improve riding opportunities for the nation’s mountain biking enthusiasts by building new trails and opening existing, appropriate dirt trails and roads. While we acknowledge that not all NPS trails should be open to bicycling, we see increased biking opportunities in Parks as a solution to many of the current negatives facing NPS. Visitation numbers are down in many NPS units, which we attribute to the following issues;
• Visitors to Parks do not wish to see them only through the windows of buses, cars and RV’s.
• Many parks lack relevance with today’s youth. Bicycling is a fun way to help kids fall in love with parks, which is essential in encouraging them to become future stewards of them
The Centennial Initiative addresses these negatives in the following ways;
• The Centennial Initiative stresses the importance of working with the private sector, the bicycle industry and its retail network opening a pathway for skilled volunteers to assist in trail construction and maintenance. There are economic benefits for both NPS and gateway communities.
• Bicycling offers visitors exercise, better connection with the natural world, and its fun. This will increase visitors, help to address obesity issues and re-introduce kids to their natural world.
• 200 NPS signature projects have been identified in the first year of the initiative that include some that would improve conditions for biking, hiking, and equestrian use. This helps demonstrate that there is a tremendous volunteer pool to help build and maintain environmentally-sound, model trails. This will be a great resource for the NPS.
Currently 44 parks allow some measure of mountain biking. 22 allow mountain biking on roads and 22 provide single track trails. The biggest challenge to increased access is that, in many instances, the introduction of biking to a park will require changes to the federal regulations governing the park. We, as bike advocates, need to be organized, professional and outspoken in order to inspire our elected officials to support such changes. We recognize that this is an uphill climb; however; this is a concept whose time has come.
NPS staffers requested “a little more time” to allow NPS to complete the formatting of a comprehensive Bike Program Guide and template. Needless to say we must be vigilant and persistent in encouraging this process. Making changes to policy in D.C. is a long slow process. Persistence is the key.
Susan Law with the Federal Lands Highway Program discussed the need to develop a guide to promoting biking for Federal Land Managers as none currently exists. The challenges we face are that there is a serious lack of management policies that support biking as alternative transportation.
• Up to now, consideration for alternative transportation has focused on transit with any form of biking being marginalized as a purely recreational activity.
• We need to strongly encourage that this focus change.
• We know that most land managers prefer to contain and control visitors to prevent “perceived damage” to natural lands.
• It is our role to help change this perception.
• We need to build upon recent trends that support bicycling as a viable alternative method.
• It is important that we establish valid values for “in kind” contributions that volunteer trail work provides.
The currently pressing public policy issues include;
• Health
• Economy
• Energy
• Climate Change controversy
• War in Iraq
• Children in Nature Movement
All but one of these issues can be used to address our interests in promoting biking as a significant part of the solutions.
I am most appreciative of the opportunity to represent the Warrior’s Society at the 2008 National Bike Summit. I believe we have increased our visibility on the national stage and gained a great deal of information that will add to our tool kit as we move forward.
Respectfully submitted,
Candace D. Oathout
Warrior’s Society National Representative
Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society
Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery 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
