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Caution: It’s still a bit treacherous out there for high country hikers

by maryincalaveras, posted in High Country Meadows Trail, Hiking reports, Public safety, Upper Mokelumne River Canyon

Spring Safety Tips. Yes, spring safety tips.

It is not a typical July in California’s Sierra Nevada. The snow pack is so dense that it’s like early May out there, but with July temperatures.

There’s a lot of snow out there. There’s so much snow that it’s still blocking access to some mid to high-elevation trailheads. And in the recent heat we’ve had, it’s melting fast. The snow will melt more readily on a south-facing slope, but then you turn around a little corner and the trail is gone. … And when you get to the snow, it gets deep really quickly,

The hazards are many. They’re out there every spring, but the hikers aren’t, at least not in great numbers. But with July and summer temps upon us, people want to get out and explore. This year, they’re finding downed trees, snow obscuring trails, slippery snowfields to cross, and very, very swollen rivers and creeks. Some streams are running so high that they cannot be crossed safely, and hikers need to be ready to turn around and call it a day if they encounter such conditions. Streamflows can increase as the day heats up, too.

Throughout the mountains, a particular danger is posed by “snow bridges,” where snow that typically might have melted by now covers a stream running underneath, making it “invisible” and capable of easily dropping you 10 to 15 feet into an icy torrent.

Hikers are advised to have good “route-finding skills” and to check updated trail conditions before starting out. They also should carry maps, compass and/or good GPS equipment, and know how to use it. Cellphones can be invaluable in an emergency, but hikers should not expect cellphone coverage in remote mountain areas.

As of July 4th Stanislaus National Forest Ranger Station in Hathaway Pines is not reporting closed trails, opting instead to put out appropriate advisories about the abundant snow on trails in the high country and relying on hikers themselves to take necessary precautions and preparations.

Cell phone service is spotty in the mountains, and that it can take several hours for Search and Rescue to arrive if called. You have got to be prepared to deal with an accident or injury without help for a lot longer than you think.

This is where we plead with you to remain alert. Please, please read our safety tips, even if you are an experienced hiker. Refresh your memory. Forward them to your hiker friends. Always carry the Ten Essentials. Brush up on your wilderness first aid skills.

Be over-prepared this year. Hike extra smart this year.

Decades of trailmaking honored

by maryincalaveras, posted in Trail History

Ranger Naturalist Steve Diers was honored last month at the California Trails and Greenways Conference with a Lifetime Professional Achievement Award.

June 6, 2011
East Bay Municipal Utility District LOG
Vol. 41, No. 11
By: Abby Figueroa, EBMUD Public Information Representative

In 1990, Steve began his career at the District with the Camanche ranger unit. Previously he worked with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) for 14 years where he led equestrian tours and managed trail crews and volunteers.

Two years after starting at the District, Steve launched EBMUD’s award-winning Mokelumne Trailbuster volunteer program in the Pardee and Camanche watersheds. He has worked with volunteers every other Saturday to build a 32-mile segment of the Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest Trail along EBMUD property. He and the Trailbusters have completed 28 miles so far.

“My best memories on the job are working with the volunteers and operating the trail dozer to build the trails,” Steve says. “Putting my energy into this work then watching people use and enjoy the trail – knowing they are seeing wildlife and having a unique experience with the vistas, the Ranger wildflowers, the wildlife – that’s how I know I’ve done my job.”

Photo text: Naturalist Steve Diers leads a group hike.

More than 24 years in the making, the Coast-to-Crest Trail is envisioned as 300 miles of continuous trail that begins on the shores of San Francisco Bay and heads east to Ebbetts Pass in the Sierra. At various points it crosses EBMUD and EBPRD lands. Some sections of the trail are so rugged and remote, California Conservation Corps members had to camp nearby and hike in with Steve every day hauling tools and supplies.

“My goal is to finish the easternmost segment between Middle Bar and Highway 49 before retiring next year,” he says.

“Steve and I started on the same crew 21 years ago,” says Ranger Supervisor Chris Swann. “He has worked tirelessly to make the Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest Trail vision a reality. Through his efforts, progress continues and the public sees another shining example of the District’s commitment to community and the environment.”

Throughout his career Steve says he’s seen 13 mountain lions while on the job.

“This job is like working in a bakery or a candy store. Everywhere there are natural, cultural and historic features you just can’t get enough of! There’s the canal cave with the Native American pictographs; the Wildermuth home, a historic stone house built in 1861; and a portion of the trail between James Bar and Patty’s Point that is famous for the wildflowers,” he says.

Steve says to be a successful ranger you need to have stamina, be a jack-of-all-trades, be self-motivated and be able to work alone in remote locations.

“You have to be committed, interested in nature and want to share the information you have about the outdoors with the public,” he says.

“I do enjoy my job, but I also believe it’s important if you are spending 40 hours a week on a job, you feel you are making a difference.

Photo text: Steve says to be a successful ranger you need stamina and commitment. He is the tenth recipient of the California Trails and Greenways Conference’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

For me that has been working on the Coast-to-Crest Trail, conducting the tours, reaching out to the communities where we live and work, and recruiting volunteers” he says.

He adds, “I work with great people with myriad skills and abilities. There’s a great sense of collaboration and humor in this division.” He says that everyone in the division gets involved in the trails and volunteer program in some capacity.

“There are a lot of people I’d like to thank as I receive this award including my co-workers, the Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest Council and the Trailbuster volunteers. The volunteers, many of whom are retirees and from outside the area, have an impressive commitment and I am humbled by what they do.”

Steve and his wife Stephanie live in Glencoe, a town located 22 miles from Pardee Dam.

— reprinted with permission from East Bay Municipal Utility District

Cancelled for rain! Event: preview trail between Middle Bar & Independence Flat

by maryincalaveras, posted in Guided trail hikes

Here is your chance to preview the Middle Bar to Independence Flat segment, near the “Ore Cart” on highway 49 between Mokelumne Hill & the Mokelumne River. Trail construction will complete in late 2012.

Description: Celebrate National Trails Days by joining Steve Diers, EBMUD Ranger II & special guest, Pat McGreevy, sharing information from his field research on the area’s gold rush history. The potential route for the narrow gauge portion is exceptional but there are some challenges to hiking it now (see “difficulty” below).

Wildflowers viewed this week in bloom on the potential route for the narrow gauge portion include snowdrop bush, fairy lanterns, Chinese houses, larkspur, vetch, wild pea, Indian paintbrush, snake lily, nemophila and woodland star. There is poison oak on the narrow gauge portion. Although it has been cut back please take appropriate precautions if you are susceptible to it.

As a participant you agree to obey EBMUD guidelines and directives outlined in the details of the hike below. Your cooperation will make this tour a success. Hope you can join us.

When: Saturday, June 4th

Length & Duration:  4 miles roundtrip, 9:00am-3:00pm.

If it starts raining we will not travel cross country on the narrow gauge section which is on a very steep cross slope. We will retrace our steps for a total of 6.8 miles round trip.

Meet Up: Middle Bar Take Out Parking Lot – see Google map above

Age: 16 and up. Hikers 16 – 18 year of age need written permission from a parent or guardian, or be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Personal Items: Bring a lunch, water, backpack, sturdy boots/shoes, long pants, water, insect repellent, sunscreen & dress in layers.

Reservations: Required. RSVP Steve Diers at sdiers@ebmud.com or (209) 772-8260. Please provide your daytime phone.

Difficulty: The first 1.2 miles of the hike will be on existing fire roads with an increase in elevation of 400’. The second mile is on a primitive abandoned road with a drop of 200’ in elevation. The third mile is on the remains of an abandoned water ditch with a drop of 120’ in elevation. The last ¾ mile is cross country on a very steep cross slope. The narrow gauge is on uneven ground with obstacles and part of it is cross country on a very steep cross slope. Because the narrow gauge portion is rugged, undeveloped and littered with obstacles and has a steep cross slope that is why this 4 mile hike is rated difficult.  This hike is far more strenuous than the hike to Patti’s Point.

Weather: The hike will be cancelled only if there is heavy fog, moderate to heavy wind and heavy rain. The hike will be held under light rain/drizzle weather conditions. Here is a weather forecast link that I find to be accurate and very useful. You can change the exact location by clicking a point on the map. Additionally, the link on the bottom right under additional forecast and information where it says hourly weather graph is very helpful in seeing the timing and intensity of the events. The hike will cancel for heavy fog, moderate to heavy wind, and heavy rain.

Ticks: You will be taking part in an outdoor activity in an area that ticks may inhabit. The following are suggestions that will help protect you from tick-borne diseases. Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves so you can easily see any ticks. Do thorough tick checks after the event. Now there is clothing that comes pretreated with repellant that the manufacturer claims will be effective even after 40 washes. Insect Shield(R) apparel and accessories are available now from top brands such as L.L. Bean, Orvis, ExOfficio, REI, Sloggers, RailRaiders, Outdoor Research, Tilley, Zorrel, Carolina Manufacturing, Buff and others. The University Of North Carolina Gillings School Of Public Health reported that the incidence of tick attachments was reduced by 93 percent among workers wearing Insect Shield Repellent Apparel. The report was published online March 11, 2011 in the journal Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. Another option is to spray one pair of pants and one shirt with a repellent containing Permethrin (at least 2 hours before use). The manufacture claims the treatment should remain effective for 6 weeks or 6 launderings of the garment. Spraying pesticides containing DEET, Pecardin or Lemon Eucalyptus oil on your skin is not as effective as treating your garments with Permethrin products. Spraying pesticides containing DEET on clothing is NOT effective against ticks. There is a risk of skin reactions when applying DEET so use caution, especially on children. The Centers for Disease Control lists Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil as an organic product as an effective repellent for ticks that can carry Lyme disease. In a 2010 Consumer Reports study a commercial product called Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Repellent, from Spectrum Brands rated just as effective as DEET. Insect Shield(R) apparel, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Pump Insect Repellent and Sawyer Permethrin Pump Spray are available at REI.

Poison Oak: You will encounter poison oak. Please take appropriate precautions (long pants are recommended).

Please no pets or alcoholic beverages

Postponed: explore a possible new trail alignment

by maryincalaveras, posted in Uncategorized

Our desire is to hold our bike ride on a warm and sunny day, and while we’re sorry we won’t be out on the trail for National Trails Day, we are happy to wait patiently for spring or even summer to arrive. A good chance of rain and cool temperatures is expected Saturday on our route. A late-season snowstorm visited this week as well.

Thanks for your support as we plan and build new trail to connect our Upper Mokelumne River Canyon segment to its lower altitude neighbor, the Camanche-Pardee segment.

 

Mitigated Negative Declaration for last piece of Camanche-Pardee segment

by maryincalaveras, posted in Trail Construction, Trail Status

East Bay Municipal Utility District released its notice of intent to adopt a mitigated negative declaration for the Middle Bar Segment project this week. They released the Negative Declaration too. The Middle Bar segment represents the one remaining piece of our Camanche-Pardee segment, and is located  from just below the hwy 49 bridge to the Middle Bar bridge.  Read the Cover Letter and Notice of Intent or check out the mitigated Negative Declaration and on file at EBMUD’s offices until 6/9/2011:

5883 East Camanche Parkway
Campo Seco, CA 95226
Contact: Kent Lambert 209-772-8340

Event: Explore a possible new trail alignment — postponed for a warmer, drier day

by maryincalaveras, posted in Guided trail hikes, Upper Mokelumne River Canyon

We have postponed this event due to wet & cool weather. Stay tuned for a new date!

Biking along the North Fork of the Mokelumne River
                           — National Trail Days June 4th, co-sponsored with REI, Inc.

Description: Celebrate National Trails Days by joining REI and other like-minded explorers on a service trip to assess a possible route for the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail between Moore Creek campground and Tiger Creek Reservoir. This route is on a  series of roads passing through a rugged and wild section of the Upper Mokelumne River Canyon segment of the trail. We’ll travel along a mostly paved road suitable for a hybrid or cyclocross bicycle.  The route starts along the banks of the river at Moore Creek Trail head and gradually heads uphill 1400’ before gradually heading downhill to our destination at the Tiger Creek Reservoir and PG&E powerhouse picnic area. Along the way we’ll introduce you to the Mokelumne River’s land and water recreational opportunities, scenic canyon views, the route’s natural history, timber harvest history, and take in the river’s tremendous role delivering power and water to California and East Bay water customers.

How your National Trail Days participation benefits the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail:

  • Be the first to travel a possible new trail alignment in the Sierra Nevada
  • Document features & concerns
  • Offer your suggestions to the MCCT Trail Council

Length & Duration: 21.5 miles. We will meet up at 8am and begin our ride at 8:30am sharp. We expect several unscheduled stops along the way to comment, take notes and snap photos.

Age: 16 and up

Please bring a lunch, water and personal items & dress in layers. Additional driving and parking details provided after registration.

Make your reservation here!

Group Size: 25

———————————–

Required Legal Form:

This Trail Days event requires the participant to read and sign a liability release form before participating. You will need to print, sign and bring the form with you. Stay tuned for the form.

Enter a caption

 

MCCT welcomes Everytrail.com

by maryincalaveras, posted in Operations

Note: AllTrails.com replaced EveryTrail in 2018. 

Along with the California State Parks Foundation and other high profile internet trail venues, we would like to announce our partnership with Everytrail.com to produce downloadable MCCT trail guides to your computer & downloadable apps for Android and iPhones.

Look for Everytrail here on our website, then click and connect to see our trail guide listing! It’s that easy. Research your next day hike or your summer vacation and when you’re ready, download your chosen guide app(s). New trail guides are added in each week, as fast as we can put them up.

EveryTrail is the fastest-growing online community for GPS trip sharing and is exactly the kind of service we think trail users need to find the trail and then reach their destination. EveryTrail runs on GlobalMotion’s geo social platform, which gives businesses the power to provide a full-fledged social network focused on creating, sharing and exploring travel stories to their customers.

Besides easily showing MCCT trail users how to get on the trail safely and have an enjoyable hike, Everytrail.com helps travelers find and visit California’s state parks. Everytrail.com offers:

  • Read about a park’s highlights and history
  • Easily find the best hikes in the park
  • Navigate hiking trails using detailed maps, descriptions points of interest, photos, and audio
  • Share a trail experience by tracking your hikes, taking pictures and uploading to EveryTrail, Facebook and Twitter

Screenshot examples from an Android State Park app:

A Kodak moment: MCCT opens for business in East Bay-Contra Costa

by maryincalaveras, posted in Diablo Foothills Regional Park, East Bay-Contra Costa County, Trail Status
an early 1990s photo with Mt. Diablo in the background

Diablo Foothills Regional Park will always hold a special place in our collective MCCT heart — for it is the first of the East Bay Regional parks to publish their website map showing the MCCT passing through it.

We’re so thankful and excited travelers will soon be able to hike from Martinez or Berkeley to the Antioch Bridge or Brentwood, following MCCT trail signs for almost the entire way.

MCCT invited to present to CA State Recreational Trails Committee

by maryincalaveras, posted in Funding, Publicity, Trail Status
Presenters l to r: Jennifer Tripp, Maryanne Vancio, Mary Boblet, Laura Thompson

California State Parks holds an annual Trails & Greenways Conference that brings in all the major trails managers and builders from around the state as well as the various and dedicated interest groups who use and maintain them. It truly is a great learning experience.

4 of the state’s major trail organizations were invited to speak on their trail’s progress and challenges at the annual CA State Recreational Trails Committee meeting held in conjunction with this conference last year.

Pacific Crest Trail — Jennifer Tripp with the Pacific Crest Trail Association reported on the founding, partners and length of this National Scenic Trail and the mission of the Association.

Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail — Mary Boblet with Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail Council reported on the organizational structure, location, goals, partners, and challenges of completing this 300 mile long route.

San Francisco Bay Trail— Laura Thompson from the Association of Bay Area Governments reported on the partners, funding and challenges with this trail.

High Country Meadows trail: a nice day hike

by maryincalaveras, posted in High Country Meadows Trail, Upper Mokelumne River Canyon

Unlike our lower altitude trails in the Camanche-Pardee segment, this trail, at 7200′, is buried right now under mounds of snow. But it’s a great trail to visit in mid to late summer. A nice 9.2 mile round trip is in store for you, with a couple challenging ridges to conquer. A less challenging option is the meadow meander, offering plenty to occupy an explorer, a family with children, or birdwatcher.

 

a kiosk, one of several installed in the high country in 2010. Very sturdy!

 

This trail works as a day hike or as a jump off spot to head into the Mokelumne Wilderness (get a permit first before going). We’re thinking of calling it the High Country Meadows trail, but if you have a better suggestion, just holler. Details at the link.

Geo-tagged photos here.