ASRA - Wendel T Robie Trail  Trail Alert: Tree Down Tree Down on Wendell T Robie Trail Tree is down on Wendell T. Robie trail blocking the trail completely. The tree can be found shortly after Olmsteaf Loop Trail hits Wendell T. Robie as you come from the top of Training Hill or K2.

Always the third Thursday of the month, Folks Trails Hiking Club has free adventure walks through Historic Nevada City and its outlying neighborhoods. (Photo by Erin Thiem)
Folks Trails Hiking Club and Outside Inn/Inn Town Campground invites history and nature lovers of all ages to join them on a series of urban hikes through historic Nevada City and its outlying neighborhoods. Led by Jesse Locks, a California Naturalist, founder of Folk Trails Hiking Club and certified in Wilderness First Aid, these hikes are perfect for both residents and visitors looking for a deeper understanding and connection to this beautiful and unique corner of the world.  
This is the third year that the organizations have teamed up to organize these "micro adventures." Over the last two years the hikes have attracted hundreds of locals and visitors.
"The hikes bring out locals, guests from the motel and the campground, and visitors to the area who are all interested in learning more about Nevada City's rich history," explained Erin Thiem, owner of the Outside Inn and Inn Town Campground, and curator of Visit Nevada City on Instagram. "Because of the variety of hikes over the year, we've had repeat guests as well as a range of folks who join us just once."
A micro adventure is an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap — yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding. Each hike varies in distance from two to four miles, but would be considered easy to moderate (Nevada City is known for its seven hills). Each hike is organized around the time of year to showcase the very best of what Nevada City has to offer. The hikes focus on subjects such as fall colors, architecture, historic figures, cemeteries, bird watching, Deer Creek and the Tribute Trail, and much more.
"The hiking series is a great collaboration of all things Nevada City, both for locals and visitors," said Thiem. "It forces you to stop and appreciate the small details around town that you might otherwise miss."
To prepare for each hike, Locks spends countless hours reading and researching books, websites, and libraries, along with interviewing local old timers.​
"It's a lot of fun for me to do the research and because so many people come back every month, I'm always trying to keep it fresh and new," said Locks. "It's important to both Erin and I, that people learn the history of our community, but it's more important to us that they get outside, meet new people, and build relationships with their neighbors and community. We want people to care about and love Nevada City as much as we do."
From October to April the hikes start at the Outside Inn, 575 Broad Street, in Nevada City. May to September they begin at the Inn Town Campground, 9 Kidder Court, Nevada City. Non-guests of both the Outside Inn and Inn Town Campground should park off-site at either a public parking lot or on a nearby street.
Hikers are suggested to bring water, snacks if needed, and proper footwear, dress in layers and of course, their camera. Each hike happens during the day's "magic hour" when the light is filtered and beautiful, making for perfect photos. The hike is free and open to anyone who's interested in joining. 

2019 Folk Trails & Outside Inn/Inn Town Campground Hikes (Always the third Thursday of the month unless noted otherwise):
Jan. 10, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Tribute Trail along Deer Creek (winter on the trail)
Feb. 14, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – The Hills of Nevada City
March 14, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Hirschman's Pond
April 11, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m – Architecture of Nevada City 
May 9, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m – Trees of Nevada City 
June 13, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Prospect Hill, Pioneer Park & Pine Grove Cemetery 
July 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Tribute Trail along Deer Creek (summer on the trail)
Aug. 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Forged at the Foundry
Sept. 12, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Forest Bathing with special guest leader Wander Pathways
Oct. 10, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Fall Colors Walk
Nov. 1, 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Day of the Dead Hike to Historic Cemeteries co-led with Nevada County Cemetery District's Matt Melugin
Dec. 12, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Holiday Lights Tour and Stories of Christmas' Past in Nevada County

To see the original article in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

More information: http://www.outsideinn.com or http://www.folkstrail.org

Bear Yuba Land Trust is going to be busy, with YOUR help!
​With all this weather we've been receiving, the trails need some extra TLC! Save the Dates for upcoming Trail Workdays -
Wolf Creek Trail on January 9, 2019 9:00 am
Independence Trail on January 10, 2019 9:00 am 
Wolf Creek Trail on January 16, 2019 9:00 am 
Snowdrop Trail on January 17, 2019 9:00 am
CLICK HERE for more information.
BYLT will provide the tools and expertise needed to complete the work. If you have any questions, email Shaun Clark.

NEW FELONY LAW AGAINST BIKERS LEAVING SCENE OF ACCIDENT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1.
Bicyclists could face felony hit-and-run charges if they leave the scene of an accident where someone was injured or died. The Legislature proposed this bill that subjects a person operating a bicycle on a Class I bikeway* to all of the accident-related Vehicle Code provisions that apply to the driver of a vehicle on a highway. When the final bill was ordered to the Assembly, this law passed unanimously with Ayes 37, Noes 0. 

OVERVIEW  - Bicycle hit-and-run on bike path (AB 1755) 
The provisions of the felony hit-and-run law are extended to cyclists riding on paths and bikeways. Currently, in the California Vehicle Code, a driver involved in a collision resulting in death or injury to another party is required to stop at the scene. This law clarifies that the same vehicle code also applies on Class I bikeways and allows law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for reckless behavior.

BACKGROUND from the SENATE
In June of 2017, a Sacramento runner was hospitalized with serious injuries after being hit by a bicyclist on a local bike trail. The bicyclist fled the scene, leaving the injured runner on the trail. The bicyclist did not report the accident or render assistance to the runner. Under current law, if this accident had occurred on a public roadway, the offender would have been subject to prosecution for a hit-and-run offense. However, since this accident occurred on a Class I bikeway (a trail with a completely separated right of way that is exclusively reserved for bicyclists and pedestrians), it was theorized that the bicyclist - had he or she been identified - could not been charged with hit-and-run. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office noted at the time of the incident that their investigation was hindered because the California Vehicle Code is not clear on whether the case would qualify as a hit-and-run. While current law generally subjects bicyclists to all of the “rules of the road” and treats them in the same manner as vehicular drivers, those rules do not clearly apply to bicyclists operating on Class I bikeways. This bill removes any ambiguity about the responsibilities of bicyclists on these Class I bikeways. 

*CLARIFICATION OF CLASS I BIKEWAY AND PATH
Paths are not "paved" in the cited Code section:"California Code, Streets and Highways Code - SHC § 890.4
(a) Bike paths or shared use paths, also referred to as “Class I bikeways,” which provide a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized."

"AB 1755, Steinorth. Bicycle operation.
Existing law regulates the operation of bicycles and pedicabs. Existing law defines a Class I bikeway as a bike path or shared use path that provides a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians. Under existing law, a person riding a bicycle or operating a pedicab on a highway has all the rights prescribed in, and is subject to the requirements in, the Vehicle Code that are applicable to the driver of a vehicle.

This bill would subject a person riding a bicycle on a Class I bikeway to those rights and requirements of the Vehicle Code that apply if that person is involved in an accident resulting in injury or death of a person other than himself or herself, as specified. Because a violation of those provisions of the Vehicle Code by that person would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

NEW LAW
"The people of the state of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 21200 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
21200. (a) (1) A person riding a bicycle or operating a pedicab upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to, provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section 20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000), Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18 (commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.

(2) A person operating a bicycle on a Class I bikeway, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle pursuant to Section 20001, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application."

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL TEXT OF THE LAW.

Audubon's 119th Christmas Bird Count will be conducted between the dates of Friday, December 14, 2018 through Saturday, January 5, 2019. 
A map view of the circles expected to be included in the 119th CBC can be found here. (GRASS VALLEY, AUBURN AND OTHER AREAS CLOSE BY ARE OPEN)
If you're interested in participating next season, check out the map to find a count near you; more circles will be added as they are approved. Green and yellow circles are open for new participants, and red circles are full.

Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers like you. 
Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.
If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler. 

Can I just do my own CBC and send you my data? No. Since each CBC is a real census, and since the 15-mile diameter circle contains a lot of area to be covered, single-observer counts (except in unusual circumstances) cannot be allowed. To participate in the CBC, you will need to join an existing CBC circle by contacting the compiler in advance of the count day.

It is being reported that the roads in Spenceville Wildlife Area are being graded and smoothed.  As of December 18, the road crew said they had done from Camp Far West to the campsite, and had worked back to the bridge and about half way to the shooting range.
After fighting these washboard roads all year, their hard work is like a Christmas present to the trail users!

Photo of Bill Newsom and son, governor-elect, Gavin Newsom.
Placer County Judge William Newsom, Dutch Flat resident with roots in Placer, Nevada counties - Obituary from Auburn Journal newspaper
Placer County judge in the 1970s, a legal counsel to the Getty family and the father of California's governor-elect, Dutch Flat resident William Newsom is dead at 84.
Newsom, whose family roots include gold mines in Nevada County and leasing the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics site, was a resident of Dutch Flat from the late 1970s.
He was appointed to the Placer County Superior Court bench in 1975 by Gov. Jerry Brown, having served as co-chairman of his Placer County election campaign the year before.
Newsom and Brown's links stretched back to San Francisco in the 1940s, when Newsom's father, also named William, ran Jerry Brown's father's first two district attorney campaigns in San Francisco. Pat Brown would go on to become governor, with the elder William Newsom serving as treasurer of the California Democratic Party Central committee.
After the Winter Olympics in Placer County, the senior Newsom secured the lease on the site and the family operated the Squaw Valley Improvement Corp. until 1974. At the same time, Bill Newsom Jr. established a law practice in Tahoe City in 1968.
Serving as attorney for the two sons of oil billionaire J. Paul Getty, he successfully sued on their behalf for a share of $385 million they felt they were entitled to.
And Newsom was the trusted advisor the Gettys turned to when J. Paul Getty III was kidnapped in 1973 in Rome. Fluent in Italian, Newsom delivered the ransom in person to Italy.
Newsom was 41 when he was appointed Placer County judge. His son, Gavin was 7 and lived in San Francisco with his mother and sister. In 2016, Gavin Newsom would name a son "Dutch" in honor of the community he recalled spending summers at, enjoying the mountain and swimming at the community pool.
The Newsom home in Dutch Flat wasn't just a home away from home for the future governor, it was also played host in 2005 to actor Ed Asner, who would return to the area the next year to film a Christmas movie.
Newsom strongly supported and generously donated to the community of 300 full-time residents’ Golden Drift Historical Society, North Fork American River Alliance and Dutch Flat Community Center.
“He was a supporter of anybody who needed help,” Dutch Flat Community newspaper editor Marybeth Blackinton said.
Dutch Flat resident Jim Ricker, of the North Fork American River Alliance, said that while Newsom was considered a V.I.P., he was a humble caring person - who had his own table always reserved at the local Monte Vista Inn.
“That was Bill’s,” Ricker said. “But he wasn’t just a V.I.P, he was a wonderful guy.”
In ill health and under hospice care, Newsom died Wednesday in San Francisco, where he had an apartment. He is to be buried at the family plot in the Historic Dutch Flat Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dutch Flat Community Center, P.O. Box 14, Dutch Flat.
During the three years with the Superior Court in Placer County, Newsom would lock horns with Squaw Valley Ski Corp. founder Alex Cushing and win a battle over whether he was unbiased in cases concerning the resort. Cushing maintained in court documents that Newsom was as an "avowed and practicing ecologist."
Newsom would also order the Placer County Board of Supervisors to upgrade its substandard jail or face having it shut down.
In 1978, Newsom would be elevated to the 1st District court of Appeal in San Francisco. But he would never leave the county and an area that his father had first found riches in mining for gold in the first half of the 20th century.

One mile of the Pioneer Express Trail in Folsom Lake SRA will be closed for maintenance for five days from December 17 to 21, 2018. The segment affected is between the Granite Bay Horsemen's Assembly area to the gravel road near the corner of Twin Rocks and Boulder Roads.

This 5-day closure does not apply to the entire Pioneer Express Trail, only this one-mile trail segment. 

The Center Trail and the Middle Trail will remain open for all non-motorized trail users.