Archive for the ‘San Gabriel Mountains’ Category

« Older Entries

Trailwork Report: El Prieto Trail, January 2012

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Keenen (front and center) and part of the Day 2 crewAlmost eight months ago, the CORBA was approached by Keenan Koch, a student at St. Francis high school in La Canada, a member of the school’s mountain bike race team, and an eagle scout candidate with troop 355. He wanted to work on El Prieto for his eagle scout project, the closest singletrack to his school. After consulting with Banner Moffat from the Friends of El Prieto and CORBA over the ensuing months, a plan was developed and submitted to the Forest Service.

The section of trail in question was “built” by users blazing their way down the canyon after the Station Fire and subsequent floods ravaged and destroyed the trail.  The original trail through this section was completely obliterated. The resulting user-made trail was on the edge of a cliff that was getting undercut by the stream and was gradually narrowing. It was a hazardous section of trail where several people have reportedly gone over the edge and crashed. It was too narrow and unstable for equestrians, and nerve-wracking for anyone concerned with heights or exposure.

With Forest Service and Boy Scout Council approval, Keenan rallied his St. Francis and San Gabriel Valley Composite mountain bike team mates, fellow scouts, and a few willing parents to come out and rebuild this section of trail.  The trail was flagged out by Banner Moffat and after two days of prep work by him and Steve Messer of CORBA, was ready for the project.

The newly built section of trail, passing between two trees.Initially planned for the weekend of January 21/22, rain forced a cancelation for the work on Saturday. In reality it was a blessing as the dampened earth was much better to work with on Sunday. Crews re-cut the bench away from the cliff edge, filled three substantial drainages with rock supporting walls and rock armoring, and built up rock supporting walls either side of a “split tree,” through which the trail would pass. With 19 volunteers this section of trail, about 45 yards, was restored. An intrepid crew of four stayed on an extra two hours beyond the finish time to ensure the rebuilt section was completely passable for all trail users.

During the course of the work, two generous mountain bikers made on-the-spot cash donations to CORBA’s trail crew fund (and who still need to email Steve for receipts), a sure token of the appreciation all trail users have for the work we are doing. One regular El Prieto hiker has made similar on the spot donations in the past, and came through very much appreciative of how the funds have been applied (new tools and rock slings for the trail crew and for Friends of El Prieto).

 

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in High School League, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Crew | No Comments »

Trailwork Report: Gabrielino Trail

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Gabrielino Trail MWBA and CORBA CrewsOn January 14, 2012, volunteer crews once again tackled the Gabrielino Trail between Switzers and Redbox.  CORBA combined forces with the Mount Wilson Bicycling Association, our neighboring IMBA chapter.

We continued on our work from our last trailwork event in December, working on approximately 2 additional miles of trail. The crews hiked in from the access road halfway between Clear Creek and Redbox. From there, one crew headed down the trail, and another headed up the trail. A third crew of two went to Redbox and worked their way down clearing debris and downed trees from the trail. The crews cleared and rock-armored several drainages, cut back brush, repaired damaged trail tread, and cleared rock and other debris from the trail. Several groups of hikers and cyclists came through as the work was being done, many more than we saw during the last trailwork day in December.

With the trail now over 95% rideable, we anticipate many more users on the trail as we enter spring. However, we must caution everyone to beware of the poodle dog bush. It’s impractical to cut back, but much of the trail is lined with the plant. At least two of the volunteers reported cases of poodle dog a few days after the work was completed.

Everyone had a great time. The Pasadena Mountain Bike Club were well represented, with several first-time trailwork volunteers.  “It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” commented Mike, one of the first-time volunteers. “I definitely want to come back and do more next time.”  A deli-style lunch spread was put on for the volunteers and at least five of the volunteers went and rode the trail immediately after lunch. “That’s the best reward ever,” said Jenny Johnson, “being able to ride a trail you helped restore.”

(more…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Crew, Trail Hazards | No Comments »

New San Vicente Mountain Communications Tower Public Presentation (the Nike Site)

Thursday, January 12th, 2012
A new communications tower is being proposed for the top of San Vicente Mountain, near the location of the Nike site at Westridge and Mulholland in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is a highly popular destination for trail users and visitors to the Santa Monica Mountains.

UltraSystems, a company specializing in environmental planning, will be conducting a public  presentation on the project for interested parties:

7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2012, West Los Angeles City Council Office, 1645 Corinth Ave., Second Floor Hearing Room, LA, CA 90025.  

The presentation will help the public and the trail user communities understand exactly what the impacts of this new 200′ tower will be.

While this meeting will concentrate solely on the the San Vicente Mountain project, at least four other sites are being proposed for similar projects.  Mount Lee is within Griffith Park, behind the Hollywood sign and is off-limits to cyclists.

The other peaks are Mount Lukens in the Angeles National Forest, Verdugo Peak at the top of  Hostetter Fire Road (AKA “La Tuna”), and the Baldwin Hills.  The Mount Lee and Baldwin hills projects are for new equipment buildings within existing facility boundaries. Mount Lukens and Verdugo Peak are both slated to have existing towers replaced and upgraded. These projects will be discussed at a later meeting.

Tags: ,
Posted in Advocacy, Environment, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Trail Access, Verdugo Mountains | No Comments »

Santa Clarita Trails Public Hearing Announced

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

From the Santa Clarita Valley Trail Users:

Dear Friends,

Our fight to re-open The Canyon Trail and Vasquez Rocks to mountain biking continues.

As a part of the “trail assessment process” the County is undertaking, a “first” public hearing will be held on this matter on Wednesday, February 15 at 7PM at William S. Hart Park in the “Hart Hall” building.  This is a very important meeting and we need all hands on deck.  So please mark your calendar and plan on bringing your spouse and kids and maybe a few “Share the Trails” signs.  More information will follow as we plan for this meeting.

Additionally, next week, some of our committee members will be meeting with Russ Guiney to discuss the status of our request to re-open these trails and to express our concerns about the process and approach they are undertaking to address this issue.  Mr. Guiney is the Director of LA County Parks and Rec and the buck does stop with him.  Ultimately, this is his decision.  Wish us well.

Thank you for your support and letters to Supervisor Antonovich.  We would not have made it this far without it.

See you on the trials!

Please sign our petition:  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/canyon_trail_mtb_access/
Join our Facebook Group:  http://www.facebook.com/groups/saveplaceritatrail/


SCV Trail Users
Safe and Equal Access for All Trail Users
SCVTrailUsers@gmail.com
To add your name to our email list, please email SCVTrailUsers@gmail.com with such a request.

Tags:
Posted in Advocacy, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Access | No Comments »

Trailwork Report: Gabrielino and Rim Trails, Angeles National Forest

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Over the first weekend in December, 2011, CORBA trail crew volunteers came out to help restore the fire-damaged trails of the Angeles National Forest.

Gabrielino Trail, December 3, 2011

On a cool and mostly clear Saturday, CORBA and Mount Wilson Bicycling Association volunteers teamed up to work on the Gabrielino trail. The Gabrielino between Switzers and Redbox was opened to the public back in May 2011, though the trail has had little attention and was in very poor shapte. Through many sections the old trail is simply non-existent.  Starting at Switzer’s Day Use area, the volunteers worked their way up the trail.

At the outset, two large trees were removed from the trail. These had toppled in the ferocious wind storm of November 30, 2011, and were not present when the trail was surveyed for work a week earlier. A third tree remains and is too massive to move with hand tools. The yellow warning signs greeting trail users on trails that pass through burn zones has a clear message: That trees, weakened by the fire, pose a considerable hazard and may fall at any time. Especially now, more than two years after Station Fire, dead trees are beginning to rot and weaken. Falling trees will continue to be a danger for years to come.

The volunteer trail crews, led by Mitch Marich of the MWBA, and Hans Kiefer and Steve Messer from CORBA, rebuilt two severely damaged drainages that required extensive rock retaining walls and rock armoring. In addition, tread was outsloped and widened along many narrowed sections and the brush was cut back. The crews worked on approximately 1.3 miles of trail, from switzers to the second stream crossing and switchbacks. Some sections of the trail now run along the alluvial wash at the base of the canyon. This was created by the tremendous water and debris flows of the past two winters. However, all of the trail worked on by the crew is now easily negotiable for trail users (with the exception of the one large downed tree that remains). With another day’s work in January, we hope to have the entire trail clear of significant obstacles and seeing regular use once again.

Moving rocks and re-building the trail:

Moving Rocks on the Gabrielino

(more…)

Tags:
Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Crew | No Comments »

San Gabriel Watershed – CORBA Supports Alternative D

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Rescource Study CoverThe process of determining the future of the San Gabriel Watershed region started in 2005 in a series of initial scoping sessions. In 2009 the first draft alternatives were presented for public comment, as we reported in 2009. After the 2009 series of public hearings, the alternatives were revised and released In October 2011.

In October and November of 2011, the National Park Service (NPS) held another series of public meetings to discuss their preliminary study findings about the San Gabriel region, and present their revised draft alternatives. There were between 75 and 150 stakeholders at each meeting, a clear indication of how important the San Gabriel Mountains are to Southern California residents.

The report is an extensive 300 page document. It discusses a broad spectrum of the natural, cultural and recreational resources in the study area. For those interested in the geologic, cultural and natural history of the San Gabriels it is a handy reference, well worth reading. The document further describes the national significance of the resource, and ultimately finds the region suitable for NPS protection. It discusses the feasibility of NPS involvement, then presents the alternatives as to how the NPS may be involved.

As we reported in October, one of the original Alternatives, B, had been dropped, and one, D, added. The three remaining Alternatives, A, C and D were summarized and outlined by Barbara Butler, who is leading the study for the NPS. The presentations essentially recapped the Executive Summary. Members of the audience were then invited to ask questions.

Many of the questions were very specific, addressing the current shortfalls in maintenance, funding, staffing and infrastructure within the Angeles National Forest. People asked for more rangers to patrol for litterers and graffiti, funds for trail restoration and maintenance, more staff to handle volunteers and funding for recreation facilities.

Some were concerned that there may be an increase in bureaucracy and red tape if the NPS were to come in. The presenters again assured everyone present that all land use decisions would continue be made by the current land managers. They defined the NPS roles more as “Management Partners,” sharing resources with the Forest Service and other agencies, as well as facilitating better coordination and cooperation between agencies.

(more…)

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Advocacy, Environment, San Gabriel Mountains | 1 Comment »

Trailwork December 3/4 – Angeles National Forest

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Gabrielino Trail

Join the CORBA trailcrew to help restore the Gabrielino Trail between Switzers and Redbox on Saturday, December 3.  You don’t need any experience, and you’ll be helping get a great trail back to a rideable condition.

We will be working with the Mount Wilson Bicycling Association and other groups to get this section of trail re-established. There are a number of sections of the trail that need to be rebuilt from washed out drainages, some brush that needs to be cut back and cleared, and a lot of debris on the trail. The work will be weather permitting, so if there is a threat of rain, check here the night before. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeved shirt, long pants, and bring gloves if you have them. We will supply gloves, hard hats and lunch. RSVP or send any questions to trailcrew@corbamtb.com or on the MWBA Facebook Event.

Where: Switzers Day-Use Area Upper Parking Lot (Map), Angeles National Forest. Carpool from the Angeles Crest Highway just north of the 210 freeway. (Map to Carpool Spot)

What to bring: You MUST wear long pants, long sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves (if you have them). We will supply hard hats and tools, along with instruction and supervision.

Please RSVP to trailcrew@corbamtb.com.

 

————————————

Rim Trail

On Sunday, December 4th, we’ll work on the Rim Trail off Mt. Wilson.  We will clear the trail of brush, re-establish the bench and clear slides in several places. The work will be weather permitting, so if there is a threat of rain, check here the night before. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeved shirt, long pants, and bring gloves if you have them. We will supply gloves, hard hats and lunch.

Meet at Mt. Wilson parking lot near the Cosmic Cafe (map) at 9:00 a.m. on December 4th. Carpool from the ACH just north of the 210 freeway at 8:00 a.m. (Map to Carpool Spot)

RSVP or send any questions to trailcrew@corbamtb.com.

Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Crew | No Comments »

Mueller Tunnel Contract Awarded

Friday, November 18th, 2011
Extensive Damage to Mueller Tunnel

Mueller Tunnel will be repaired 2012

Back in January 2011, we reported that the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) was seeking public comment on the rebuilding and restoration of the Mt. Lowe Truck Trail adjacent to Mueller Tunnel. We submitted our comments, fully supporting the rebuilding and re-opening of the road, and encouraged CORBA members and other trail users to do the same.

At the November 2011 Angeles National Forest Volunteer Meeting, the Forest service announced that the contract for the repair project has been awarded by the FHA. This is great news for the trail community and for safety, as the Mt. Lowe road is needed for both fire fighting and as an alternative escape route from Mt. Wilson. Mt. Lowe Truck Trail provides mountain bikers and hikers access to the Mt. Lowe trail, Sam Merrill Trail, Idlehour trail, and was a popular shuttle option from Mt. Wilson road. It was originally constructed in 1942. It also provides volunteer trail crews like CORBA’s convenient access to those trails for trailwork.

While the contract has been awarded, the work has not yet been scheduled. Winter weather will dictate when the work can begin, but it is expected to start sometime in the spring. Once completed, the Forest Service expects to re-open the Mt. Lowe fire road. We hope to be riding through the tunnel in Summer 2012.

Tags:
Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Hazards | 3 Comments »

San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study – Revised Draft Released

Friday, October 28th, 2011

The National Park Service is conducting a “special resource study” of portions of the San Gabriel River watershed and the San Gabriel Mountains. CORBA attended the previous round of public input sessions and reported on the process in 2009.  In the original study proposal there were three alternatives presented, A, B, and C.  We supported and recommended a combination of the areas proposed in Alternative A and the management strategies proposed in Alternative C.

In the recently released executive summary, the NPS reports that it has made the following determinations about the study area:

  • Natural and cultural resources of the San Gabriel Mountains and Puente-Chino Hills are nationally significant, in that they meet all four of the NPS criteria for national significance.
  • The study area is suitable for inclusion in the national park system because it represents natural and cultural resource types that are not already adequately represented in the national park system or protected by another land managing entity.
  • The NPS determined that a collaborative partnership based park unit which respects the complex mix of land use, ownership, and regulatory authority in the study area would be a feasible addition to the national park system. A large traditional national park unit, owned and operated solely by the National Park Service, is not feasible.
  • Need for NPS Management: NPS management in partnership with existing agencies and organizations is the best option for enhancing protection of significant resources, for improving access to recreational opportunities in the region, and for providing coordinated interpretation and education about significant resources.

Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Access | No Comments »

Multi-Use Signs on El Prieto

Monday, August 29th, 2011

Since the trail re-opened in May this year, El Prieto has seen heavy use by cyclists eager to get back to the trails Friends of El Prieto, Banner Moffat mounts the multi-use sign to the newly installed post.they love. Recently there have been a few complaints from hikers being startled by bicycles on El Prieto.

Multi-Use SignCORBA donated to the Forest Service a set of IMBA multi-use trail guideline signs to be installed on El Prieto. Signs are needed to help inform and remind cyclists to be aware of other trail users and slow down and yield to hikers and equestrians. If cyclists want respect on the trails, we have to give respect to other trail users. IMBA’s “Rules of the Trail” are the standard to which we need to hold ourselves and our fellow riders.

Banner Moffat of the Friends of El Prieto and Steve Messer from CORBA spent Thursday afternoon, August 25, carrying in the signs, posts and tools. They installed the first sign near the picnic bench mid-trail that afternoon. The remaining signs at the top and bottom of the trail were installed by Banner and volunteer Ben Bertiger the following day.

All of the trails open to bicycles in Southern California are multi-use, and hikers or equestrians love the trails as much as we do. We urge riders to be respectful of other trail users, to help ensure that these trails remain multi-use, and to strengthen our case to open new trails to bicycles.

 

Banner and Steve with the newly installed sign

 

Tags: , ,
Posted in Angeles National Forest, San Gabriel Mountains, Trail Crew | No Comments »

« Older Entries