MOTHER LODE TRAILS

Everything Auburn: Endurance capital of the world hosts some of sport's biggest events

4/30/2022

Over the years, Auburn has become the mecca of trail riding, running and ultra running. The city in the foothills is home to three of the biggest trail races in the world, attracting runners and riders from around the globe to come see, “The endurance capital of the world.”

It all started in 1955.
Wendell T. Robie sought to prove horses could endure 100 miles in one day. Robie and five other horsemen rode the Western States Trail from Tahoe City to Auburn. From there, the Western States Trail Foundation and Tevis Cup were born.

The Tevis Cup has been held annually since. Riders from around the world come to test the world-famous Western States Trail and try to complete the race in under 24 hours.
https://teviscup.org/

In 1974,
Tevis veteran Gordy Ainsleigh sought out on his own journey to prove he could complete the Tevis Cup course on foot. He crossed the finish line in Auburn 23 hours and 42 minutes later.
The run gained popularity in the 1970s, growing from one runner to 14 in 1977 and to 143 in 1979. Today, the Western States Endurance Run has become one of the elite trail running events and is the oldest ultra run in the world.

Runners locally and internationally try their luck at the trail every year at the race that begins at Tahoe’s Olympic Valley and ends at Placer High’s LeFebvre Stadium. Western States is an exclusive club, as runners have to either qualify for the race or be selected through a lottery.
https://www.wser.org/

In 2023 another run.
One qualifier begins in Auburn and has grown into one of the elite trail running events in its brief history. The Canyons Endurance Runs is a part of the UTMB World Series and one of four races in the U.S. that has a golden ticket to the Western States.

The 2022 edition took place April 23, when the 100k course records for men and women were broken. The Canyons features 100k, 50k and 25k events and is adding a 100-mile race in 2023.
https://www.facebook.com/runcanyons/

With three major trail events in the city, Auburn has earned its endurance capital title. Many runners in these events flock to Auburn for training, while the locals proudly talk about their advantage from running the race courses.

Auburn has become a home for endurance enthusiasts, by foot and hoof.

-by Jordan Georgeson

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in Gold Country Media.

Canyons Endurance Runs By UTMB® Adds 100-Mile Distance to Event to Western States Trail Beginning In 2023

4/24/2022

AUBURN, Calif. (April 21, 2022) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB® announced today that beginning in 2023 the event will now offer a 100-mile distance. The new route will join the three current courses, that include a 100km, 50km, and 25km and will continue to cross some of the most scenic and challenging sections of the iconic Western States Trail. Registration for all distances at the 2023 Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB, including the new 100-mile distance are now open and available at e3running.com/canyons. The 2023 Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB is set to take place on April 28-29, 2023.

“We are thrilled to bring a 100-mile distance to Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB,” said Chaz Sheya, Founder and Race Director for the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®. “This new offering will provide a uniquely challenging test to our already stellar set of races while continuing to utilize portions of the Western States that have proven to be an unforgettable experience for all that toe the start line at Canyons. We can’t wait to push the envelope and see who steps up to the challenge of conquering 100-miles through the Sierras in 2023.”

The new 100-mile distance in 2023 will be a point-to-point uphill run from Auburn to the China Wall off of Foresthill Road. Testing the limits of the athletes, the route will experience some of the most scenic and challenging sections of the iconic Western States Trail and other classic trails with 24,000 feet of vertical gain.

It all starts in historic downtown Auburn, Calif. before crossing Ann Trason’s White Bridge, up to Robie Point and jumps on the historic Western States Trail for a fast descent to No Hands bridge. From No Hands bridge the race turns up the infamous K2 climb over to Cool, down the Coffer loop to the American River, up to Olmstead loop and back to Cool. Leaving Cool, runners will follow the Western States Trail across Hwy 49 to Quarry trail, up Brown’s Bar to Auburn Lake Trails (ALT), to American Canyon down to the Quarry trail and back to the Western States Trail to No Hands Bridge as they rejoin the 100km route. They will then take the Confluence Trail to Mammoth Bar to Drivers Flat and rejoin the Western States Trail along Cal Street to Foresthill, through Volcano Canyon to Michigan Bluff, down into Eldorado Canyon and up to Deadwood. From there, it will be down the steep Devil’s Thumb descent to Swinging Bridge and back up to Loop 6 where runners will be met with amazing views. As they enter the home stretch, runners will head back to Deadwood with a big drop into Eldorado Canyon before finishing with the final big climb to China Wall. The cutoff for the 100-mile distance will be 36 hours.

This year’s edition of the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® is set to take place on April 23 and will start in the historic gold-rush town of Auburn, birthplace of mountain ultras in the northern California foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. Over 1,100 runners from more than 15 countries, regions, and territories are registered to embark on one of the three distances offered at the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®.

The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB®, the second ever event in the 2022 UTMB® World Series the world’s leading trail running circuit, is a dual qualifier for the iconic UTMB® World Series Finals taking place in Chamonix, France, and is also a Western States 100 Golden Ticket race.

For more information about the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB® visit e3running.com/canyons. For more information about the 2022 UTMB® World Series visit utmb.world.

Any hike is a great hike on the South Yuba Trail above Nevada City

4/22/2022

The bridges of the South Yuba River State Park are historic, beautiful and of course cross the Yuba River in various locations, making any of them a great day hike. (photos credit: Mary West)

One of my favorites is Edwards Crossing. The drive down the last mile or so might make you think you are driving down a rabbit hole into a wonderland, and maybe you are, as the trailhead is at the bottom, where the green pedestrian arch-truss bridge marks the start of this adventure. Installed in 1904, the bridge is a 114-foot stretch across the river.

Starting from Edwards Crossing, there is a gradual downhill walk for a 5-mile hike to Purdon Crossing, another bridge on the Yuba. As this is an out-and-back trail, you can stop anywhere along the way as your halfway point.

The boulders here are orange and pink, making it unique compared to the brilliant white granite in other areas on the Yuba. Sediment in the soil and mining have left their marks.

There are scenic trails beginning on both sides of the bridge and reasonable but limited parking at the bridge for hikers.

The South Yuba River Trail downstream from the bridge is on the south side of the river. Nice views will keep you company as far as you want to hike. Purdon Crossing will find you at the 5-mile mark, making for a 10-mile round trip.

DIRECTIONS
Take Interstate 80 east to Highway 49 toward Grass Valley. Take the left turn toward Downieville to stay on Highway 49. Take a right on Coyote Street. Turn right onto North Bloomfield Road/Bloomfield-Graniteville Road. You will enter the park and continue to Edwards Crossing on North Bloomfield at the river.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos on Gold Country Media.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (2nd edition available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the series – Day Hiker Gold Country Trail Guide – by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

Placer County Parks and Open Space welcomes Steve Gayfield as first Director

4/22/2022

Auburn, Calif.
Placer County this month welcomed Steve Gayfield as the first director of its new Department of Parks and Open Space. “Steve’s outstanding qualifications paired with his effective leadership style are precisely what our new Department of Parks and Open Space requires in order to advance the county’s parks and open space initiatives and all related efforts,” said Placer County Executive Officer Todd Leopold. “I have tremendous enthusiasm and confidence in Steve’s capacity to build on our many valued relationships and network of community partners including local and regional parks and recreation teams, public works and public utility districts.”

EXPERIENCE
Gayfield comes to the county with more than 30 years of experience working in parks and recreation; previously serving as executive director at Sulphur Parks and Recreation District in Louisiana and superintendent of parks and recreation for the City of Lancaster in Ohio.
“I am impressed with the forethought and planning going into what looks to be continued rapid growth in the county and the need for park services for the county residents,” said Gayfield. “Having worked in rapidly growing communities during my career I am familiar with the opportunities and challenges that such growth can bring to an organization.”

Gayfield also said that he’s looking forward to exploring Placer’s trail systems, highlighting his passion for mountain biking and trail running.

NEW PARKS AND OPEN SPACELast year, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance creating the new Department of Parks and Open Space, which will better position the county to accommodate its expanding park management responsibilities, increased service demands, and ensure the long-term financial viability of the county’s parks and open space operations.

The Department of Parks and Open Space manages and maintains over 35 parks and recreational facilities throughout the county, including Hidden Falls Regional Park, Loomis Basin community parks, Sterling Point equestrian staging area and trail, and Speedboat Beach, to name a few.
Learn more about the Department of Parks and Open Space at https://www.placer.ca.gov/parks.

CLICK HERE to read the complete article in Roseville Today.

Mountain bike group to establish 600-mile trail with the first 10 miles built just east of Truckee

4/15/2022

A Quincy-based nonprofit of trail builders is set to break ground on 10 miles of new trail just east of Truckee in North Lake Tahoe this spring. It’s the southernmost leg in a much larger project that aims to hook up 15 rural Sierra Nevada communities to a 600-mile network of multi-use, singletrack trail, a project called Connected Communities.

Connected Communities is a far-reaching $40 million vision. The group leading this plan, the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS), is not to be underestimated. They have a proven track record of getting trails put down on the ground, trails that go on to become a stimulus for rural economies. Since 2003, SBTS has built 114 miles of new trail, maintained nearly 1,500 miles of existing trails, logged more than 100,000 volunteer hours. To date, the list of completed projects throughout the Lost Sierra numbers 121.
The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is also the group behind one of the most grueling and famous downhill mountain bike races in the country, the Downieville Classic, where hundreds of riders compete on a route that descends nearly 6,000 feet from the Sierra Crest to downtown Downieville, in 26.5 miles.
Connected Communities is one of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s most ambitious projects yet. It’s rooted in twin goals: creating more access to public lands and building a sustainable economy in the mountain communities that dot a forgotten, overlooked swath of Northern California.

Historically, towns in the Lost Sierra were built on resource extraction, first gold mining and then logging and timber. In recent decades, as the logging industry faded, tourism in the Lost Sierra grew. Over the past few years, however, the Lost Sierra has been hit by forces of nature, both the pandemic and wildfires burning through the land. Last summer, the Dixie Fire razed an entire town on the Connected Communities map, Greenville, and went on to become the largest single-source wildfire in California history. In total, the Beckwourth Complex and Dixie fires burned about 272 miles of the proposed Lost Sierra Route, the centerpiece of the Connected Communities plan.

Greenville took the heaviest loss in the Dixie Fire. Trails can help them rebuild and perhaps even come back stronger with a recreation-based economy, says Alex Terry, Connected Communities coordinator. Outdoor recreation is an $887 billion industry in the United States. Just building the trails mapped out with Connected Communities would create 150 jobs, according to SBTS.

“[Local residents] want trails and they want to rebuild a town that people want to go to and want to visit,” Terry said, talking of conversations he’s had with local residents.
“It’s still epic up here,” Terry said. “It’s still beautiful. Even though the largest single wildfire in U.S. history came through, it’s still an incredible place to live, an incredible place to come and recreate.”

As SBTS has proven that trails attract people from across the globe — bringing travelers who will then support local businesses. They’ve also shown how trails can become a centerpiece of local life, giving residents a means to engage with the surrounding public land. In a survey of 1,179 local residents and visitors to the Lost Sierra, SBTS found that the vast majority of respondents, some 94%, want more trails near their town centers. And about 88% of respondents said they’d volunteer to build and maintain new trails.

“In phase one of this project, we went out and did surveys and got public input,” said Mark Pecotich, development and marketing lead for SBTS. “Had people draw on maps, you know, where they wanted the trail to be in each town. We were very active with each of these communities to make sure the focus was about bringing people into town. And then, when they’re around town and they want to go out, the community members, they can have these recreational zones and they can go out and have different experiences, whether it’s motorized or not.”

The Lost Sierra is home to an already established through-route, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). But in many ways, Connected Communities seeks to offer a completely opposite experience from the Pacific Crest Trail. Unlike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Lost Sierra Route would be a motorized, multi-use singletrack, open to mountain biking, e-biking, motorcycling.

The Pacific Crest Trail is a point-to-point trail, built mostly for through-hikers. It’s non-motorized, non-mechanized, meaning motorcycles and mountain biking are both prohibited on the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT is designed to immerse hikers and equestrians in a wilderness environment, far from towns and civilization.

Instead of a single line running north to south, the Connected Communities trails will be a network sprawling across some 600 miles, from Truckee and Reno to Sierraville, Portola, Downieville, Quincy, Greenville, Chester, Susanville — with more towns between.

The entire point is to showcase what makes each one of those towns unique and bring people to main streets where gorgeous, quiet forests meet small town markets and restaurants.

In a survey of 1,179 local residents and visitors to the Lost Sierra, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship found that the vast majority of respondents, some 94%, want more trails near their town centers.

Courtesy of Sierra Buttes Trail StewardshipThe biggest thread, where the whole plan comes together, is the Lost Sierra Route.

The Connected Communities map also features non-motorized multi-use trails that will branch off the Lost Sierra Route, giving hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians quieter, motorcycle-free options, too.

“We want to be able to let people choose where they want to travel and then bring people into the downtowns of those locations,” said Terry.
The whole idea is to build a trail for everyone, Pecotich said.

Connected Communities is one of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s most ambitious projects yet.
Courtesy of Sierra Buttes Trail StewardshipThe East Zone project in Truckee is located near Prosser, Boca and Stampede reservoirs, close to Hirschdale and the California-Nevada state line. The northern end of the East Zone trail will link up with the Lost Sierra Route. In addition to building new trails, the Lost Sierra Route intends to use historic and existing routes, including old mining paths, railroad grades and logging flumes, according to SBTS. Some 71 miles of trail are “shovel ready,” and while the SBTS works on the first 10-mile segment this summer near Boca Reservoir in Truckee, the Tahoe National Forest will be building another 9-mile segment in the same zone. They’re hoping to make substantial progress on building the trail this summer.

Connected Communities received grant funding to make the progress it has. SBTS is seeking out more philanthropy and individual donations to support the project. SBTS is also looking ahead to bringing back the first of its signature events — huge fundraisers for trail building — since the pandemic.

Its biggest event, the Downieville Classic, was canceled in 2020 and 2021. The 2022 Downieville Classic has been postponed but is on the calendar for 2023. However, the Lost and Found Gravel Festival is coming back this year, the first weekend of June in Portola. The Lost and Found is a gravel bike ride — participants can choose between 35-, 60- and 100-mile routes. But it’s also a festival that brings families and communities together around a shared love for bikes. The event is also a chance to bring visitors back to Portola after the Dixie Fire charred the surrounding forests.

“We’re optimistic we’re going to have a great turnout. There’s been a lot of buzz in the gravel community about the event coming back,” said Pecotich. “They’re still trying to not only recover from the COVID experience, but also these massive wildfires which took out large swaths of forest.”

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mary West: Exploring Canyon View Preserve

4/7/2022

I first visited the Canyon View Preserve the day Placer Land Trust celebrated its grand opening to the public. Volunteers, media and local dignitaries gathered to get a first look at the native plants, trees, grasses and wildflowers that call the area home. Placer Land Trust acquired the land at the end of 2003 and has since worked to restore and preserve the property.

I was thrilled to have a new trail so close to town with a new fantastic view of the Foresthill Bridge and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Since that day more improvements have been made including benches and picnic tables. More restoration projects are planned for the area including connecting this trail to the Auburn State Recreation Area.

The 50-acre property, now in trust for public access, contains a 1.25-mile loop at the rim of the canyon off Lincoln Way in North Auburn. Take the Bowman Road exit off Interstate 80 and park in the park and ride under the Cal Star helicopters. The trail runs along the guardrail across Lincoln Way from the parking lot and down into the preserve.

With the heat of summer, you may be looking for a shorter hike, close to home. This is it. This trail is also a great location to get in a quick run or walk the dog. There is plenty of shade and a bench along the way, but you will get plenty of vitamin D as there are exposed areas along the route, so bring water, wear sunblock if you need it, and a hat and glasses if that’s your style.

There is some elevation change so sturdy shoes will be your friend. The Harrigan Loop adds the ¼ mile. A wooden footbridge crosses Sierra Canyon Creek at the top and is a nice spot to pause.

If you are short on time, but want to stretch your legs, need a spot for lunch, or just want to enjoy a relaxing view, check out Canyon View Preserve Trail.

Community support is the Placer Land Trust’s greatest asset. Members and partners support all aspects of the organization through their passion, involvement and contributions; without them, Placer Land Trust could not operate. Learn more about Placer Land Trust at Placerlandtrust.org.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (2nd edition Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the series-Day Hiker Gold Country Trail Guide by the Outdoor

CLICK HERE to see the original article and more photos in The Union newspaper.

Due to cheap grazing, 54 million acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management aren’t meeting the agency’s own land-health standards.

3/15/2022

According to the agency’s own standards of land health, 54 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management are failing to hit the standards. Overall, BLM oversees 246 million acres in the Western United States. In Nevada, 83 percent of allotments don’t meet standards, in Idaho only 78 percent do, and in four other states — California, Colorado, Oregon and Wyoming — all have over 40 percent of their assessed lands failing. Livestock grazing was a major cause of failing land health, responsible for 72 percent — 42 million acres — of failing and overstressed land. (The price to pay BLM for one cow per acre grazing fee hasn't increased since 1981. Federal grazing fee for 2022 will be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.35 per head month (HM) for lands managed by the USDA Forest Service.) Fees charged for non-irrigated private grazing lands in the California averaged $24.10 per AUM.

Article in High Country News today:
"Data released today reveals that 54 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management fail to meet the agency’s own “land-health standards.” While standards vary between states and bioregions, they generally measure biological conditions, including soil health, water quality, plant species diversity and the quality of habitat for threatened and endangered species. The standards define the minimum benchmarks land managers need to achieve and maintain in order for landscapes to function and be used sustainably.

The BLM oversees 246 million acres of land — the vast majority of it in the Western U.S. The agency’s mission is to “sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations,” but according to records obtained by bipartisan watchdog organization Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), it is failing to do so on nearly a quarter of the land that’s leased for grazing. “We must all work together to improve conservation practices on public lands,” said Chandra Rosenthal, PEER’s Rocky Mountain Office director. “This map is a wakeup call for the BLM to not only improve and modernize their data collection and mapping efforts, but also to take action to address the vast amounts of degraded lands.”

PEER obtained 78,000 records spanning three decades through Freedom of Information Act requests. The data, which covers 13 Western states from 1997 to 2019 and holds information from every BLM field office in those states, plots 21,000 allotments on one interactive map. “This map is useful for individuals to be able to see what’s going on around them, become active and really work to hold the BLM accountable in the areas that are important to them,” Rosenthal told High Country News. “It’s really empowering for people to be aware of what’s going on on their public lands.”

The data shows that vast areas of the land are degraded. Some acreage isn’t assessed at all, and of the roughly 109,000 million acres that are, half fail to meet rangeland health standards. Struggling allotments, while documented across the West, are predominantly found in cold desert ecoregions, often in the rain shadow of mountain ranges. These areas are characterized by lack of moisture and extreme temperature swings.

In six states — California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming — more than 40% of assessed lands are failing land-health standards. In Nevada, 83% of assessed allotments do not meet standards, while data from Idaho recorded that 78% of assessed allotments failed rangeland health standards. In New Mexico, however, only 2% of assessed allotments are failing.

High Country News reached out to the BLM with questions prior to publication, and the agency responded with a written statement after the story originally went to press: "While we disagree with some of PEER’s conclusions as the analysis was at a large scale and missed some on the ground improvements, we acknowledge there is work to be done in the face of a changing climate and other challenges," according to the statement. "The BLM will prioritize assessments for areas where land health standards have never been evaluated or where standards are not being met and is also working to improve how it reports land health data."

Flourishing landscapes are integral to the public and economic health of the West’s communities and Indigenous nations, particularly those whose ancestral lands are involved. Research by Headwaters Economics and the Center for Western Priorities extensively documents the tremendous value that public lands hold for nearby gateway communities. But a prolonged megadrought in the Western U.S. poses an ongoing threat to already stressed landscapes and the communities that depend on them, as do overlapping issues, including climate change, the spread of invasive species like cheatgrass, and the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.

PEER’s analysis finds that livestock grazing is the primary culprit behind land degradation. The BLM leases more than half of its acreage to ranchers as grazing allotments for cattle, sheep and other livestock. Although everything from drought and wildfire to off-road vehicles can impact rangeland health, livestock grazing is a significant cause of the failing land-health standards of 72% of the public land. That’s about 40 million acres.

PEER’s analysis finds that livestock grazing is the primary culprit behind land degradation.This finding is consistent throughout the West, sometimes at a large scale: A massive, over 950,000-acre allotment in the Rock Springs area of Wyoming is just one of the areas that identifies livestock grazing as a significant cause for declining land health. Other stressors such as invasive species, wild horses and extreme stream degradation account for the poor health of an additional 15 million acres.
BLM grazing lands that fail to meet standards overlap substantially with greater sage grouse breeding areas and habitat. Ecoregions like the Wyoming Basin, Northern Basin and Range and Snake River Plains owe their failure to the presence of livestock on more than 40% of the lands assessed to date. Other animal species are implicated too; for example, some allotments in the home of the threatened desert tortoise are also failing to meet standards.

PEER shared its findings in a meeting in early January with top agency officials, including BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning and Deputy Director of Policy and Programs Nada Culver. “It was surprising to us that a lot of them didn’t even know there was grazing within wilderness areas,” Rosenthal said. “I feel like there’s a lot of unfamiliarity with the rangeland health standards data.” But Rosenthal also categorized the meeting as a “positive step” and said that she felt the leaders were “curious and interested in making change.”

Note: This story has been updated to add comment that was submitted by the Bureau of Land Management after this article originally went to press.

To see the original article in High Country News, CLICK HERE.

Martis Valley Trail funded among others approved for $3.2 million Placer County tourist funds

1/28/2022

The Resort Triangle trail network, Martis Valley Trail and a scenic overlook were among 12 projects* approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for approximately $3.2 million in transient occupancy tax funding to support community priorities in eastern Placer County.

This year, the Capital Projects Advisory Committee reviewed and evaluated 13 grant applications totaling over $4.5 million in transient occupancy tax funding requests.

“The funds raised through tourism are vital to both the local economy and the quality of life.”

“Residents and visitors are drawn to Eastern Placer County by its natural beauty and the region’s unique and historical attractions,” said Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson.

"The funds raised through tourism are vital to both the local economy and the quality of life. Our transient occupancy tax program is essential to fund projects and programs that both visitors and local residents can use. These projects improve the environment, provide capacity for the demands on our region, while supporting innovation and collaboration.”
-Cindy Gustafson, District 5 Supervisor

MARTIS VALLEY TRAIL
The Martis Valley Trail, a proposed 9-mile trail connecting Northstar Village with the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Town of Truckee, was awarded $1 million. Resort Triangle trail projects received an additional $900,000 to advance a regional initiative to connect Placer’s lakeside communities, mountain resorts and the Town of Truckee for alternative transportation and recreation options.

VAN NORDEN
The Van Norden Meadow Restoration and Recreation Project, which will provide enhanced recreation opportunities to the community as well as bring back the natural streams and floodplains to the Van Norden Meadow on Donner Summit, was awarded $500,000.

VAN NORDEN
The Tahoe Vista Recreation Area Marina Trail and Scenic Overlook Improvement Project, which will construct a new lake access trail.

CAPITAL PROJECTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Capital Projects Advisory Committee – a 13-member group representing the broad economic and geographic interests throughout eastern Placer County – evaluates project proposals based on how well they advance key priorities outlined in the Tourism Master Plan for the region. The committee is co-chaired by Placer County and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and includes members appointed by community organizations representing resorts, small business, residents and visitors.

The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on which projects should receive funding allocated from the TOT tax collected from lodging guests in eastern Placer County.

CLICK HERE to see the complete article in Roseville Today.

* COMPLETE LIST OF PROJECTS:

Exploring Black Swan Preserve

1/28/2022

by Mary West
Be patient, this trail is worth it. I was a bit skeptical when I saw the sign for the Black Swan Preserve right off Mooney Flat Road near the Nevada and Yuba county line. How great could it be, so close to Highway 20? I was pleasantly surprised.

The Bear Yuba Land Trust opened this 50-acre preserve to the public in 2014. Building trails isn’t easy and it’s an ongoing effort by the many volunteers and trail staff to maintain new trails until they “take hold” and stand on their own. I appreciate the Bear Yuba Land Trust for opening so many new trails to the public. You can learn more at bylt.org.

From the small parking area just off the road you hike a series of switchbacks that take you past some nice rock formations to the top of the hill. Much of the trail is exposed so remember your sunblock and hat. Just past the half-mile marker you will see a short trail to the right. This is an excellent spot to take in the view of the pond and surrounding foothills. I thought this view alone would be the payoff for this short two-mile hike but this trail had more to offer.

Beyond the hilltop view, the trail heads back downhill. Keep an eye out for the remains of foundations and signs of an old homestead. It looked like they may have even had a fruit orchard of some kind, many years ago. The blackberries were nice and ripe during my July hike. Blackberries right off the vine are a perfect trail snack.

Once at the pond I just stood for a while taking in the view. Being patient and taking a closer look, I found a wealth of wildlife. The buzzing bees on wildflowers, dragon flies, turtles, butterflies and the geese all call this pond home. I wouldn’t suggest taking a dip in the pond, although my advice didn’t convince Stella. Even though we were geographically so close to a highway, the pond provided a solitude and peacefulness to transport us to a sanctuary only found deep in the wilderness.

To get there take Highway 49 from Auburn north toward Grass Valley. Take the Highway 20 exit toward Penn Valley. Continue on Highway 20 to Mooney Flat Road. It is also the road to Englebright Dam. Just a quarter mile up the road you will see the green sign on your left for the preserve.

Park, be patient, and enjoy.

Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (2nd edition Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the series-Day Hiker Gold Country Trail Guide by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram

CLICK HERE to see the complete article and photos in The Union newspaper.

ACE to change organization, mission

1/26/2022

Action Coalition for Equestrians (ACE) 501c3 organization's new Board of Directors has decided to change the name, make up and mission from a state-wide equestrian associations' advocacy group into a local group of non-motorized, non-mechanized, trail users. The Board's plan is to focus to an emphasis on local trails, trail use and trail safety. The membership and Board had difficulty achieving a focused plan during the past two years, so decided to concentrate on what was most important.

ACE has had a long and active history. It filed to be a nonprofit organization in 2002. In 2003-2006, it assisted developing the California Horse Council which later became the CA Equestrian Trail and Land Coalition. ACE was instrumental in several California State Park trails plans, including Oroville State Recreation Area. Realizing there was a need to have a centralized database and reporting function for trail safety and usage, ACE funded the software development for Park Watch Report. It was implemented in three state parks with success and in 2014 was sold to be a for-profit entity. For over 10 years, Park Watch Report gathered data as well as providing trail safety and usage data to land managers. ACE also funded many worth while organizations and projects, such as rebuilding the horse barns at Placer County Fair, Safe Trails Alliance, and partially funded Mother Lode Trails to be a local resource website for all trail users.

The change of ACE's mission corresponds with the increasing and active local membership of equestrian and trails organizations. All trail users, including equestrians, care about safe trails and equal access to public lands, and have established local trail advocacy organizations rather than funnel their energy and donations into national or state groups which may lack action in their own backyards.
You can see the links to all our local organizations, click here.

As for state-wide influence for equestrians and stock use on public lands, since 1981 Back Country Horsemen of California has been extremely effective and continues its valuable mission.

We can say goodbye to ACE as it was, and are looking forward to its success in what it plans to become.

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