Santa Cruz District
Selected
Articles reprinted from the
Nov-Dec 2002 Issue of The CSPRA Wave
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Santa Cruz District Selected
Articles reprinted from the |
2002 Retirees Rendezvous McConnell SRA
CSPRA Board Meeting, October 5,
2002
Held at the Retirees Rendezvous, McConnell SRA
Santa Cruz District, From Mountains to the Sea
Big Basin Centennial Celebration
Monarch Butterflies Management at Natural Bridges State Beach
2002 Retirees
Rendezvous McConnell SRA
by Retired District Superintendent
Jim Peat
Editor's Note: Retired? check out the GrayBears list server
and see more Rendezvous photos.
On Monday October 7, Kathy & I said our last good-byes of another "storied" weekend at the 10th annual CSPRA Retirees Rendezvous at McConnell State Recreation Area. As always, it was a weekend of renewing friendships within our extended park family, catching up on everyone's activities over the past year (this is a busy group), eating a great variety of food and recalling and sharing stories of our experiences in this park life we all chose and loved.
The weekend kicked off with Wes Cater and Chuck Lyden's Friday morning golf tournament and was followed with Clyde Strickler and crew's road kill barbecue on Friday night which featured boar, salmon, albacore and great potluck dishes. Saturday kicked off with Wes Cater and crew's pancake breakfast and ended with Bob Allen, Herman Schlerf, Jim Neal and Rosemary Stricklers tri-tip and chicken barbecue dinner.
Following the Saturday night dinner, the raffle of gifts donated
and often made by participants was held with the winners leaving
smiling and the losers good-naturedly grumbling, "wait 'til
next year". In between and during all these events there
are the stories. Stories of experiences before, during and after
park careers. The stories range from Clyde Strickler's recounting
of an early Santee family's unique flying firecrackers on the
4th of July to Bud Getty and Doreen Clement's recounting of drinking
fermented mare's milk with a family in a yurt in Mongolia this
past August. There are stories of Anza-Borrego, Big Sur, Calaveras
Big Trees, Pismo, North Coast Redwoods, etc. by rangers, lifeguards,
maintenance workers, resources staff, administrative staff, headquarters
staff and spouses. The stories are enriched with each annual retelling
by the addition of ever larger dollops of humor. Laughter punctuated
every gathering of people throughout the weekend.
One of the most enjoyable features of each rendezvous is the willingness
of all attendees to pitch in and help whenever and wherever help
is needed. This year's event was again fully supported by the
CSPRA Board of Directors and graciously hosted by the Four Rivers
District and especially by the McConnell SRA staff. Thank you
all. A special thank you goes to Kirk & Marie Wallace who
work tirelessly throughout the year to make the rendezvous possible.
This year Kirk and Marie were unable to attend due to a last minute
health problem. Get well soon, Kirk! Jim and Bev Neal ably filled
in for the Wallaces. Thanks, Jim & Bev.
All State Park retirees and retiree wanna-be's are urged to mark
October 4 & 5, 2003 on their calendars and join us for a weekend
of handshakes, hugs, stories, food, fun and renewing park friendships.
These weekends are an annual reminder of the value, importance
and downright fun of the park life and lifestyle we all share.
CSPRA Board
Meeting, October 5, 2002
Held at the Retirees Rendezvous, McConnell SRA
Present: President Kevin Buchanan, Dana Jones, Val
Bradshaw, Bud Getty and Executive Manager Gar Salzgeber.
Absent Hailee Zaldivar and Angie Nowicki
The board authorized Board President to fill the current vacancy
on the board.
June minutes were approved.
Financial report and investment report was given by the Executive
Manager. Our regular savings stands at $5754 at the end of August.
Investment (Domini Bonds) are at $10,647 for the same period.
Gar
indicated that he had deposited $1,000 since he prepared the report.
Gar suggested that we look for advertisers for The Wave. Some
of the exhibitors at last years conference may be likely prospects.
Dana is looking into hats and shirts for resale at next year's
conference.
Val reported that there isn't any change in the affiliation with
the Maintenance Supervisors Association. Gar indicated that he
and Chuck Combs are working out repayment of monies owed by their
association to be guaranteed by CSPRA after the merger.
The board agreed to an appeal to the cooperating associations
to join CSPRA as organizational members. Suggested that a pitch
be made to their conference.
Lobbying will continue to be an important element of CSPRA. Linda
McDonald and Bud Getty will continue to work with Cliff and Monica
to further their efforts. An upcoming activity will be to walk
with Monica at the capitol to meet legislators, particularly the
new ones. The board authorized gifts of our coffee cups to the
legislators. We will let Kevin know the schedule so that he, or
other board members can join us when we contact their legislators.
No big news on the Department's budget. We seem to have a favorable
reputation as we are accountable for the funds that are allocated
to us.
A discussion was held about having an Organization Grant Committee.
This led to a discussion of various candidates that might apply
for the vacancies on the board. Two terms are expiring and the
resignation of Adam Stahnke will mean three positions on the board
will be filled by the next election.
Some of the legislative items that we will work with are lobbyists
are: Toll Road proposal through San Onofre State Beach Crystal
Cove return of property to the public; Salton Sea - plans for
saving the sea and its wildlife and recreational resources; DPR
Budget; Water quality - sedimentation mandates. In general, mandates
that have no funding for staff and related costs.
The new website was discussed. Jeff Price has done an outstanding
job. Links were discussed and the possibility of charging for
the links to offset some of our costs.
A file cabinet was authorized for the organization's historian,
Kim Baker.
Bud Getty reported that he would attend the 4th International
Ranger Conference in Victoria in March of 2003. There may still
be a chance for other CSPRA members to attend but time is extremely
short to apply.
The board expressed regret for Adam Stahnke's resignation and
hopes that his new career with the City of Orange will be fruitful.
We hope also that he will maintain his association with CSPRA
as an associate member.
Office Manager's
Mailbag
by CSPRA Office
Manager Gar Salzgeber
Membership
We have 3 new regular members, Shaelyn Raab Strattan of Acampo,
CA, who is an Associate Park and Recreation Specialist at the
Northern Services Center in Sacramento; Anthony Perez, a Superintendent
III in Sacarmento; and Herbert White, ranger at Los Osos. Al Oliver
of Pinedale, Arizona, joined as a retired member. And new supporting
member Michael Juricich of Sacramento, is currently working at
a Stockton Wal-Mart.
One retirement plaque was presented to Jim Burke. The President's
gavel was updated and sent to Kevin.
As of this date we have 786 members. Of these members 2 are Benefactors,
17 Honorary, 6 Supporting, and 133 Retired.
We have received $498 from Bud Getty's retirement party that are
contributions to the International Rangers Federation.
Roma Philbrook Rentz donated $100 to us.
I'm beginning to get requests on our 800 line for California Parks
Conference registration packets.
Correspondence
Getting personnel notes from our retired members about what they're
doing with their lives warms the cockles of my heart and sends
chills of joy up my spine. I hope everybody else enjoys them as
much.
Clark Dooley writes: Just got back from 3 weeks in Alaska, playing
lots of golf and having lots of Fun!
Harvey Lively writes: I hope to make the Retirees Rendezvous in
October. I also have a reunion with two separate war time squadrons
around that time would be nice to make all three, but there
has to be a decision. I am senior Naval Aviator in both the Squadrons.
Jim Davis writes from Hawaii:..I published my second book the
end of last year and am working on 3 more and a second website.
Wes Cater writes: Just returned from a 9,483 mile trip across
the Southern States including Florida and the Keys, up the Atlantic
to N. Carolina, then west through Tenn., VA., KY, MO, ARK, OK,
CO, NM, 18 states in all. Have a now RVd in all 50 states, most
of Canada and a large portion of Mexico. Visited Tom and Sheila
Miller in Colorado. Stopped by Al & Mickie Olivers in Arizona.
See ya in October.
Keith & Carol Caldwell write: Sorry to decline the Retirees
Rendezvous again, but October is a full month or mouth for us.
We're gagging on trips. After retiring we started a chapter of
Retired Public Employees Association here in our area. It grew
to over 300 members covering El Dorado County and parts of Placer
and Amador. Now, the General Assembly will be held in Las Vegas
the same weekend as the Rendezvous 2002. Hopefully, we'll do some
good for state retirees, thou I'd enjoy the Rendezvous more. We
miss all the good park people.
We're trying to get more trips in this year and still we enjoy
our home lodge work and all the community activities.
Please extend our "Best Wishes to All" and we'll plan
early for 2003.
Joe McCall writes from Florida: Here is my check for dues. A little
run down on retirement living. Started off with a visit with my
brother and his wife in Live Oak, Fl. Wound up taking care of
five cats & four dogs while they attended a wedding in Tampa
Area. Ugh, August, to Biloxi for a spin at slots. No luck. September,
10 day Caribbean Cruise. At Grand Cayman on 9/11. Needless to
say security was tight getting back aboard ship. Same at Cozemel,
Can Cun, New Orleans and Tampa. Got back to Jacksonville in time
to do laundry and off to San Antonia & Fredricksburg for six
days. Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg excellent for South Pacific
during WW II. November off to Branson, Mo. Big Christmas celebrations
so all the bands were playing Christmas music, the country groups,
also Andy Williams & Yakimof Smirnoff. Good show.
In February gall bladder surgery. My wife to be TMarie, spent
every night at the hospital with me. In March TMarie & I to
New Orleans for USS RALEIGH Reunion for a week. April 25th TMarie
and I got married. O Happy Day. In May, TMarie and I off to Sacto
for the Jazz Festival. It was my 23rd year of volunteering. We
spent 12 days, visited Railroad Museum, Folsom Lake, Gold Discovery
Sight. The only Ranger I ran into that I knew was Shirley Mraz.
Spent on day around Tahoe and one day in San Francisco. Left off
wine country for next Jazz Festival. We both will be volunteers.
Hope to attend Retirees Rendezvous in October.
What's on Tonight?
Exerpt from Ranger Harriett "Petey"
Weaver's, "Me and the Mother Tree"
"Your campfires are too good," I was told at the
end of my second Big Basin tour, and my nineteenth year, in the
service of the California State Parks. "We've got to tone
them down. Keep everyone's mind on conservation. That's what's
important for them while they're here."
Another expression was that fun campfires were attracting too
many people into the park, some just for the evenings more than
the ecology could stand, more than the crew might some day be
able to handle. We would have to pull back.
I saw many unforgettable summers before entertaining ourselves
became something verboten. Rarely did we have real difficulty
finding volunteers in camp. Although now and then a professional
turned up, almost all the talent was the homespun variety, given
in good spirit and received the same way. Some of it came forward
timidly, even fearfully at first, until the participant felt the
appreciative response of the crowd; until he sensed that they
were with him. Then to watch his nerves and self-consciousness
disappear was a joy everyone shared; and whoever had given went
home with fresh confidence and sense of achievement.
For thousands upon thousands of people of that time in our century,
before television and let planes and travel trailers and motor
homes turned thought and mobility into a national restlessness,
such outings and activities highlighted the family year.
Amassing far flung lands had not yet become a status thing. Campers
liked to go to a favorite spot and stay. Between vacations they
kept in touch with one another and arranged to be in the park
the same weeks or months. Those who chose to help at campfires
checked the strings of their guitars and banjos, wrote more skits,
assembled more funny stories and stirring adventures and experiences
to tell; learned more readings and tap steps, bought more sheet
music, and offered new songs for community singing. Happily they
reminisced about summers past, their vacation neighbors, both
human and wild. No mountaintop lodge or rocky point aerie beside
the sea could ever have been more cherished than their campsite
among the giant redwoods.
Tourists who pass through the groves often view the trees with
awe bordering on worship. But for those who returned season after
season, the impact was much more than that. It added up to the
comfortable warmth of looking forward to the same trees and bushes,
the same creeks and hiking trails -another rendevous with beloved
friends; a continuation of a way of life that had long been special
and deeply satisfying.
At campfire, one could count on plenty of bobbles, none ever leading
to disaster, but lending extra spice to the evenings -a handcrafted
touch akin to a potter's fingerprints in his clay.
Santa Cruz District, From Mountains to the Sea
by Santa Cruz District Superintendent David
Vincent
Several impressions probably come to mind when you think
of Santa Cruz. Redwoods, beautiful beaches, quirky politics, a
university town, and the like. You name it and we probably have
some element of it somewhere. This makes for a very interesting
environment to carry out the business of stewardship and public
service. Santa Cruz is actually a fascinating place to work and
live.
One of the things that makes Santa Cruz what it is, is the level
of involvement and commitment the community puts into most issues.
Whether it's a general plan, a trail issue, or a proposed project
we can rely on receiving a wide variety of inputusually in vast
quantities! The feedback we receive ranges anywhere from self-interest
to very constructive input. Generally, interest groups are very
sophisticated in communicating with one another and us via web
sites, e-mail, and all other conventional methods.
Coast Dairies is a good example of this. The district has been
involved for many years in the possible acquisition of a portion
of the Coast Dairies property that surrounds the town on Davenport
on the county's "North Coast." This is a beautiful 7,000-acre
parcel that includes about 7 miles of beaches and goes inland
approximately 2 miles. At the first public meeting conducted by
the Trust for Public Lands (current owners), about 200 300
people showed up. One of the county supervisors started the meeting
by empowering those present with the task of developing a management
plan for the entire property.
The sentiment was that this property deserved a plan befitting
its resources whether or not there was someone actually capable
of carrying out such a plan! While attendance of the Coast Dairies
meetings has dwindled during this lengthy process, the level of
community involvement has not. There is one university-based group
that has put a tremendous amount of time into developing a "model
plan" for the property. Every decision point in the process
of conveying this property to the public agencies has been scrutinized
and often challenged. With general plans also taking place for
Big Basin and Nisene Marks, we have a lot of input to consider.
While District staff did an incredible job, we could not have
done it without the support of the Mountain Parks Foundation.
From the initial stages, MPF helped plan and execute this lengthy
celebration. Their help with marketing, developing community and
volunteer support, and the like was invaluable. Similarly, the
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks recently helped the District
develop its web site. I invite you to visit www.santacruzstateparks.org
to see the quality of their work. Without FRIENDS constant support
we would not be able to staff many of the visitor centers that
they helped develop! In fact, you should stop by the Wilder Ranch
visitor center to see our newest visitor center funded largely
by FRIENDS.
Our cooperating associations are not the only ones passionate
about helping us. The Santa Cruz District, for example, has approximately
250 miles of trail. Even though we recently created a very effective
Roads, Trails and Equipment team, they cannot possibly maintain
all of our trails throughout the District. Fortunately, a group
of dedicated volunteers recently stepped forward and created an
organization to assist. Visit Trailworkers to get an idea of what these
wonderful people do for us. You will see that nearly 1,500 hours
has already been contributed to trail work this year. The organization
not only maintains a volunteer base, but they are very active
in educating others about trail etiquette and in building community
support for the Santa Cruz District. Trailworkers is an excellent
complement to our other volunteer trail crews at Big Basin, and
Castle Rock.
It is interesting that the District was born out of community
passion when citizens became concerned about the preservation
of our ancient redwood forests. This passion has not diminished
over time. While this level of involvement can be daunting at
times, it speaks well for State Parks. We are obviously relevant
to many folks in our community and it brings a level of diversity
in thinking and participation that only strengthens our efforts.
Julia Butterfly Hill concluded the Big Basin 100th anniversary
with an eloquent talk on being passionate about things you feel
strongly about and about becoming involved in issues to which
you are committed. In this case, I believe she was speaking to
the choir with a message that resonated well.
On a personal note, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work
with such dedicated and passionate staff, volunteers and community
members. While this can make life interesting at times, I would
not want it any other way.
Big Basin Centennial Celebration
by Ranger Kim Baker and Seasonal Interpreter
Chris Spiller, Big Basin Redwoods SP
Visionaries, volunteers and valued workers came together on September
13th, 14th & 15th to celebrate 100 years of preservation and
stewardship of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
The weekend-long event was a culmination of 100 days of celebration
which began on June 9th with the inauguration of Clint Eastwood
as park commissioner.
Special events continued throughout the summer and included diverse
activities and venues. A speakers series, various art and history
exhibits in Santa Cruz and the Silicon Valley, a community quilt
and weekly concerts in the amphitheatre were just a few of the
many offerings.
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by Senior State Park Resource Ecologist George Gray, Santa Cruz District
In 1985, tanoaks in Marin County were found to be dying, but
it was not until 2000 that plant pathologists from UC Davis and
UC Berkeley identified the cause as a previously undescribed Phytophthora,
a fungus-like species. This species was a known pathogen of rhododendrons
in Europe and was called Phytophthora ramorum. Sudden Oak
Death is presently found in a 'Zone of Infestation' in 12 coastal
California counties from Humboldt County south to San Simeon.
Throughout the years, humans have not had a successful record
in controlling Phytophthora pathogens. Species of Phytophthora
have caused the potato famine, seriously attacked Port-Orford-cedar,
decimated oaks around the Mediterranean Sea, devastated eucalyptus
forests in Australia, and are common agricultural pests worldwide.
Because spores are easily transported by anything that moves around
in the forest (including wildlife), the likelihood of containing
Sudden Oak Death is bleak. Regardless, one control technique which
has acceptance is to avoid moving firewood around in Zones of
Infestation.
'Sudden Oak Death' is a misnomer because death is not 'sudden',
and oaks are not the only plants impacted. Once you know what
to look for, the onset of symptoms is really quite gradual; someone
tried to change the name to 'gradual' oak death a while back but
it did not catch on. Rhododendron, California huckleberry, manzanita,
madrone, California buckeye, big-leaf maple, California bay laurel,
and California coffeeberry are also known to be infected by the
disease. Recently, Phytophthora was found in coast redwood
and Douglas fir, a development that could have serious economic
impacts if the health of these trees is affected. To date, only
oaks (tanoak, coast live oak, California black oak, and Shreve
oak) appear to be dying in significant numbers. Redwood and douglas
fir mortality due to Phytophthora has yet to be documented.
We can continue to expect 'globalization' to provide challenges
to managing our wildlands. The 'pitch canker' fungus which arrived
in California in the 1980's is still having its way with Monterey
pines and other conifers in the Santa Cruz District. We all remember
astronauts returning from the moon and being placed in quarantine
in case they carried a pathogen back to earth. Unfortunately,
we cannot expect that to occur to the planeloads of visitors from
throughout the world who land daily in California. We need to
buckle up and 'wait and see'.
Some of the best plant pathologists in the world are working on
the management of these diseases. In our parks, some researchers
are washing hiking shoes and bicycle tires to determine the extent
to which humans spread Phytophthora. Others are-mist netting birds
to find how they carry the Phytophthora spores. At this
point, we are trying to learn as much about the pathogen as possible.
The next few years will be the test as to the extent and severity
of this disease.
Monarch Butterflies Management at Natural Bridges State Beach
by Assoc. Resource Ecologist Tim Hyland, Santa Cruz District
Natural Bridges State Beach has long been thought of as the
premier site for viewing overwintering monarch butterflies in
Santa Cruz County. Because of the popularity of butterflies as
symbols of transformation and the attractiveness of the story
of migration, thousands of visitors come to the park each year
to view these insects. In recognition of the uniqueness of the
mass aggregation of Monarch Butterflies at this park, a 16-acre
Natural Preserve was created in 1988. The Preserve contains a
boardwalk and viewing platform located in the center of the eucalyptus
grove most commonly used by the butterflies.
The management of butterfly populations often presents conflicts
for resource managers. Although many butterflies rely on a few
select native plants as their larval food source, the adults may
feed on the nectar of plants that invade native plant communities
and degrade the habitat found there. This is the case with monarchs.
The female monarch lays eggs on plants in the genus Asclepias,
commonly referred to as milkweed, because of a milky sap found
throughout the plant. This sap contains compounds toxic to most
animals, and so imparts at least some level of toxicity to the
catapillars that eat it. When they pupate and emerge as adults
they retain some of this toxicity that acts as a deterrent to
predation.
As the weather cools in the fall, monarchs drift towards the coast
and concentrate in areas protected from the wind, typically in
drainages. In some of these drainages they find thick stands of
eucalyptus that provide not only protection from the wind but
also a winter-time nectar source. It is in some of these groves
of non-native trees where they form the large clusters so attractive
to visitors. In addition to both red and blue gum eucalyptus trees,
Natural Bridges has large patches of English and cape ivy, fall
and winter blooming species which attract monarchs and are used
by them to refuel on sunny winter days. Like both species of eucalyptus,
they are aggressive wildland weeds.
In all of our other park units we are actively eradicating all
of these species, and restoring the native plant communities that
they have been degrading. However restoring the community at this
park would, without a doubt, eliminate the phenomenon for which
it is best known and loved. Because the phenomenon of large clusters
of monarchs is so closely tied to the introduction and propagation
of non-native plants by Euro-americans, the eucalyptus grove at
Natural Bridges is best viewed as a "historic garden"
whose most attractive feature are these clusters of butterflies.
Because the threats posed by the plants composing this garden
are manageable, the decision has been made to leave them in place
and manage this particular grove for the monarchs.
This management decision presents challenges of its own. In the
last ten years, Monterey pines planted on the edge of the grove
have died due to pitch canker. The red gum lerp psylid, a sucking
insect that feeds on the phloem of this tree, has infested the
grove resulting in an overall thinning of the canopy. Several
large trees in key areas have fallen, leaving holes in the grove.
In addition, the grove is maturing, resulting in an overall thinning
of the understory and its ability to block winter storms. As a
result, Natural Bridges State Beach no longer attracts the largest
number of monarchs in the county and they don't stay as long as
they have in past years.
In response to this degredation of monarch habitat we have created
a management plan and begun taking steps to improve the situation
for the monarchs. The first step is to implement a planting program
using Monterey cypress. Although this species is not native to
the site, it is fast growing, provides good wind protection, and
is less aggressive than some eucalyptus species. A parasitic wasp
that attacks red gum lerp psylids was released in the grove this
year. However considering the reduction in the numbers of the
psyllid this year, those in charge of the release program believe
it may have found its way there on its own.
Finally, we have initiated a monitoring program to assess the
efficiency of our efforts. This program combines observations
made by volunteer docents with weather data collected using a
series of data loggers and a weather station mounted in the trees
at the level where monarchs cluster. We hope to use the information
gained from this program to assure that Natural Bridges State
Beach continues to be a favorite place for monarchs to spend the
winter, and for visitors to enjoy them.
Bob Kirsch,
Trailblazer
by Sylvia Lang, Mountains Trail Association
A trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park has been named after
Bob Kirsch, longtime trail-maintenance crew leader at California's
oldest state park. The trail, which was built by Bob and his trusty
crew over one-and-a-half years, leads to a bridge over Sempervirens
Creek near park headquarters, off the Sequoia Trail.
At a recent volunteer awards picnic at Big Basin, Bob was recognized
for more than 35 years of volunteer service. He also received
a special plaque with "Bob Kirsch Trail" printed on
it. Remarkably, this hard-working, rugged man will turn 80 on
Oct. 21.
A born leader and motivator, Bob - a former geologist who has
sold life insurance for the past 41 years - enlists several hundred
people a year to help him with trail building and trail maintenance
at Big Basin. A nucleus group of about 30 people show up regularly
to help out. In fact, for a time, one volunteer commuted from
San Diego to Big Basin for monthly trail projects. Another worker
commutes from near Yosemite National Park. "Most of the people
that stay with us a long time are Silicon Valley types,"
says Bob, of his crew of volunteers. "I get presidents of
companies, engineers - a lot of engineers."
During the week, most of them are sitting behind a computer, Bob
explains, and they jump at the chance to do physical work in the
redwoods.
Bob and his crew have built many miles of trail, including the
Eagle Rock Trail, the Eastman Trail, the Basin Rim Trail and the
Basin Easement Trail (which connects Big Basin to Portola Redwoods
State Park). The volunteers also have built vital trail structures,
such as the Eagle Rock Bridge, which required toting 72 sacks
of cement and numerous gallons of water up hill to the construction
site.
Bob's outdoor leadership skills became legendary in 1969 when
he coordinated the construction - in one weekend - of the Skyline-to-the-Sea
Trail through Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin. He says he
got the idea from Dr. R. Maurice Tripp, a national scout committee
member. Bob acknowledges that he thought the idea was crazy at
the time. But he ended up coming up with a workable plan and then
recruiting about 2,700 scouts and other volunteers to complete
the trail over one weekend in April.
Bob had a lot of practice prior to the event, having worked as
a scout leader and organizing long hikes/trail projects involving
hundreds of scouts starting in 1963. In essence, Bob and his scouts
built trails as they hiked through the woods, often with the permission
of private landowners.
Bob's family got into the act, too. His son was in the scouts,
and his daughter also took an interest in trail building. Construction
of the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail in 1969 was a milestone in volunteerisim
on behalf of public trails. It led to the formation of the Santa
Cruz Mountains Trail Association, which is the umbrella organization
for Bob's trail crew as well as other crews that maintain the
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, the Basin Easement Trail and trails
at Castle Rock State Park. It also spurred the establishment of
Trail Days, a weekend devoted to trail maintenance and building
each April. In fact, Trail Days has expanded to become a statewide
event.