In this issue:

1. The “Mary Thomas Bridge” project on the San Juan Trail completed

2. Registration for the 2011 Toad Festival will be delayed until January 1, 2011

1. THE “MARY THOMAS BRIDGE” PROJECT ON THE SAN JUAN TRAIL COMPLETED

Despite the cold and wet weather a decision was made to go through with the “Mary Thomas Bridge” project on the San Juan Trail. We originally were going to name the bridge after Debra Clarke, the Trails Manager but we found out that after 30 years of dedication to the U.S. Forest Service Biologist Mary Thomas will be retiring next year. To honor her service, we thought appropriate to name the bridge after Mary and for short reference we will call it “Mary’s Bridge.”

The project was conceived by Rich Julien with the San Diego Mountain Bike Association (SDMBA) and after approval by the Forest Service the Warrior’s Society provided a grant to pay for the bridge materials.

The bridge was designed by designed by SDMBA and Warrior’s Society member Andy Darragh to Forest Service Specifications to hold the weight of two horses. Rich pre-drilled the material so the construction would go quickly.

We needed a lot of people to carry the pieces of the bridge (including three large joists) and once there about 10 of us assembled the bridge while others carried river rock up from the creek to anchor each end. They used a contraption provided by SDMBA that they called “Spartacus,” which was a home made four foot in diameter “basket” carrier made out of chain with 6 rubber handles on the outside chains. You laid down “Spartacus” and you rolled a big 200 pound or more rock into it and six people could carry it to the location where you intend to place it.

Others did earthwork around the area and provided fill for the bridge or did brushing on the trail.

Gene Frial, the Warrior’s Society co-director of Trail Work, posted the full write up on STR here:

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/54832-old-san-juan-trail-bridge-project.html?pagenumber=

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to complete this project!

2. REGISTRATION FOR THE TOAD FESTIVAL TO BE DELAYED UNTIL JANUARY 1ST 2011

We will delay registration for the 2011 Toad Festival until January 1, 2011

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

O’Hara’s Pub at the Orange Circle is the Official Watering Hole of the Warrior’s Society

Hammer Nutrition is the official Nutrition 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. Joplin Trail Work Recap

2. San Juan Trail Bridge Project

1. JOPLIN TRAIL WORK RECAP

First off: Hats off to everyone for giving up a beautiful Saturday (11/6) to come out and clean up Joplin and “BUCK-thorn” (aka Upper Joplin). “BUCK-thorn” is a very appropriate name in my opinion.

We met @ 7am at the Maple Springs gate and everyone piled into the vehicles and we were at the top of Joplin in 45 minutes. After a quick briefing on the day’s work we headed down Joplin with the Power Tools, Loppers and a few McLeod’s and it was apparent quickly that we had plenty of manpower.

It was decided to break off into two groups after about an hour on Joplin. Half the Volunteers and headed back up Joplin to the Main Divide and began working on BUCKthorn which is now clear. The Chevy blazer on Buckthorn is still there and there are still a few spare parts that haven’t been scavenged ………….. yet

For those of you who don’t know Buckthorn: It connects the Main Divide in two places on either side of Saddleback peak. One point is just after Joplin on the left going up to the peak and the other point is a 180 degree right hand turn on the Main Divide (on the left side of the Main Divide) about a 0.75 miles down from the peak.

We finished right around 1pm. 20+ of us headed over to Carmelitas in Rancho Santa Margarita for food, refreshments and chip & Salsa all courtesy of The Warriors Society. I would say that the Pork Carnitas were popular but that would be an understatement.

Y’all did a great job and it’s a pleasure to work with each and every one of you. no matter how small or large your contribution is to the Warriors Society just keep coming out and Volunteering.

2. SAN JUAN TRAIL BRIDGE PROJECT

This Saturday, November 20th, the Warrior’s Society and the San Diego Mountain Bike Association (SDMBA) will be installing a bridge over a washout on the San Juan Trail about 1 mile from the Blue Jay Campgrounds. The project was initiated by Rich Julien of the SDMBA. The bridge will be called the “Debra Clark Bridge” after Debra Clark, the Trails Manager for the Trabuco District of the Cleveland National Forest.

If you are interested in helping out, email Chris at:
avargas714@ca.rr.com

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

O’Hara’s Pub at the Orange Circle is the Official Watering Hole of the Warrior’s Society

Hammer Nutrition is the official Nutrition 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