Ventana Wilderness Alliance Meetup

The rains may or may not come but the conditions under the Oak are still favorable for some Genista/French broom removal. We are asking everyone at the Ventana Wilderness Alliance to join us in helping our wilderness neighbor. The Wildland Conservancy's Rana Creek Preserve is hosting an invasive plant species removal on the 2nd Saturday of April. This is a great opportunity to see a piece of the Preserve that is not yet open to the public. Rana Creek Preserve is over 14,000 acres of newly preserved land connecting areas immediately north of the Ventana Wilderness, through Carmel Valley to the Salinas Valley.
We will be removing a limited "patch" of an invasive plant species called Genista or commonly French/Scotch broom. There is work for all abilities. We will be working on some hillside and occasionally in brush. Be sure to wear long sleeves, pants, and sturdy shoes. We will provide tools and gloves. Bring water and a lunch or snacks for our breaks. Extra water will be available. We will meet at the west gate before 10am on Saturday and then drive to the work sight. The route is fully paved. Here is our meeting site.
36.4360932, -121.6297949

You can benefit the VWA's Volunteer Wilderness Ranger program by joining them in support of the Big Sur International Marathon on Sunday, April 26. Here is how it works. The VWA recruits and provides volunteers to unload and store race items at their warehouse in Sand City. In return for this volunteer work, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation provides VWA with a grant which is used to fund the Volunteer Wilderness Ranger program for the purchase of tools, equipment, and training.

Our task is to meet at their warehouse. As trucks arrive with race items (pylons/banners/signs/sandbags, etc), we will assist the staff with unloading these items and storing them as directed. This is always a fun day and rewarding day!

We are looking for around ten participants. As you RSVP yes, I will send you a link to Big Sur Marathon to register yourself with them.

Meet in front of their warehouse a wee bit prior to 1pm.
Location is 570 California Ave in Sand City.
Our hours of participation begin at 1pm and end around 5pm.
Dress in your favorite work clothes, solid shoes, and bring gloves.
Suggest bringing drinking water.
Parking is no problem (on street near warehouse)
Restroom on site.
Pizza served at some point during our work day.

TRIP TITLE / DATES / IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

Back Pack brushing trip Three Nights Tan Oak Camp work on the Marble Peak and South Fork Trails

VWA TRAIL CREW LEADER:

Betsy MacGowan

OVERVIEW:

BACKPACKING TRIP

MEET 7 A.M. at Big Sur Station. At the ten minute spots right in front, not in the main parking lot.

HIKE 4.3 miles from the trailhead at Marble Peak to camp at Tan Oak Camp. We will work on clearing brush and fallen trees on the Marble Peak Trail in Strawberry Valley. We may get to the South Fork Trail.

WORK on the Marble Peak Trail

This will be a good introduction to backpacking and trailwork. You must join for the full trip.

THE WORK:

There is work for all abilities. Beginner to expert. Tools and instruction provided for brushing/tread work. The work location has some poison oak and it is possible to avoid it. Cotton clothing with long sleeves and long pants can be helpful to avoid poison oak.

MEET: Big Sur Station

LOCAL WEATHER:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-121.65295600547591&lat=36.224809934257394#.Y3LFsYLMKOY

FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE DETAILS:

Betsy MacGowan using the Meetup messaging feature.

WHAT TO BRING:

All of your personal gear for a backpacking trip: sleeping bag, tent, cooking system, utensil(s), food, clothing including layers. Sturdy work clothes with long sleeved shirts and long pants; sturdy footwear. A daypack to carry your water and lunches for each day. Bring enough containers to carry a minimum of 3 liters.

ALL FOOD for 4 days/3 nights

WATER There water at the camp and on the hike in.

Tecnu lotion for poison oak protection if you need it. There is some poison oak on this trail.

Your favorite work gloves, safety glasses, loppers, hand saw and hard hat if you have them; otherwise tools and hardhats will be provided.

TRIP TITLE / DATES / IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

Trail Work Trip Backpacking Three Night Bear Basin Trail from Pine Valley Start from China Camp on Tassajara Road

Partial attendance for those familiar with this trail may be an option. Contact leader for details.

VWA TRAIL CREW LEADER:

Betsy MacGowan

OVERVIEW:

BACKPACKING TRIP

Hike 6 miles from the Pine Ridge Trailhead at China Camp to Pine Valley on the Carmel River Trail. We will camp at Pine Valley, working up the Bear Basin Trail to the Bear Basin Connector. Our focus will be on brushing but we also want to clear a couple of fallen trees.

WORK on the Bear Basin Trail. We will hike up to 2 miles to our work locations. This will be a good introduction to backpacking and trailwork.

THE WORK

Use hand tools to clear brush, and crosscut saws to clear fallen trees from the trail. Clear ceanothus, manzanita, and yerba santa from the brushy sections of the trail. Touch up tread. Come join us! There is work for all abilities. Beginner to expert. Tools and instruction provided. The work location has some poison oak but you could avoid it.

MEET: China Camp on Tassajara Road, at the trailhead not in the campground, 08:00 A.M.

IMPORTANT: Meetup directions may not be the best. In your mapping program, search for:
China Camp Campground, Tassajara Rd, Greenfield, CA 93927

If your mapping program wants you to turn on Cachagua Road from Carmel Valley Road, DON'T. This way takes much longer. Continue on Carmel Valley Road to just past the 23.2 mile marker, then turn right on Tassajara Road. Drive ~1.5 miles, turn left to stay on Tassajara Road.

LOCAL WEATHER:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.211186929941974&

FOR QUESTIONS OR MORE DETAILS:

Betsy MacGowan using the Meetup messaging feature.

WHAT TO BRING:

All of your personal gear for a backpacking trip: sleeping bag, cooking system, utensil(s), food, clothing including layers and rain gear. Sturdy work clothes with long sleeved shirts and long pants; sturdy footwear. A daypack to carry your water and lunches for each day. Bring enough containers to carry a minimum of 3 liters. There is water near our camp area but not at the work locations.

Consider a headnet for bugs.

ALL FOOD for 4 days/3 nights

WATER Filtering is recommended.

A DAYPACK for your lunch and water for each day.

Tecnu lotion for poison oak protection if you need it. There is SOME poison oak on this trail.

Your favorite work gloves, safety glasses, loppers, hand saw and hard hat if you have them; otherwise tools and hardhats will be provided.