MOTHER LODE TRAILS

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.

Desolation Wilderness trails get help from Back Country Horsemen, Mother Lode Unit

1/25/2022

Every year, Mother Lode Unit (MLU) gets a request for pack support from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) to support trail crews working in Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe on two major trails. Usually, MLU receives four or five trip requests annually, but the COVID restrictions in 2020 and the fires in 2021, reduced that to two each year.

The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) share trail tread near the top of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as the trails pass through multiple forests near Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Basin Management Unit integrates the management efforts of the various forest managers. The TRT and PCT Associations coordinate their volunteer maintenance crews and request special assistance from other trail support groups in the area, like BCHC Mother Lode Unit.

The 2021 request focused on a 1.5-mile section of trail between Echo Lake and Phipps Creek. This portion of the two trails is about 6,400 to 8,100 feet elevation and is popular, so it gets heavy usage. The trail crew reconstructed trail tread using native stone for a long-lasting and effective solution to the deleterious effects of high use and erosion on the trail. They improved or replaced water bars and drainages, plus built several more check steps.

The MLU packer contribution was to haul the crew’s heavy gear and sup- plies to their campsite, one trip in July and one in August. This allowed the trail crews more time and energy to work on the trail tread. When the planned work was done, the trail crews hiked out with their much lighter backpack loads of only personal gear.

Packer travel expenses were partially mitigated by a grant from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance.

- by Lucy Badenhoop
Photos courtesy of Tahoe Rim Trail Association

To see the Back Country Horsemen of California news magazine for Winter 2022, CLICK HERE.

ASRA Codfish Falls day hike with Mary West

1/8/2022

With winter rain the waterfalls return. The drive down to the Ponderosa Bridge is the most harrowing part of this adventure.
The Ponderosa Bridge is at the bottom of Ponderosa Way at the American River. It’s here you will find the parking area and trailhead. You can get there with a high-profile vehicle from Foresthill Road at Ponderosa Way. The longer but slightly easier road my low-profile Subaru can traverse is off Interstate 80. Take the West Paoli exit and stay to the right to Ponderosa Way. Take a right on Ponderosa Way. Follow the winding dirt road three miles all the way down to the bridge. With winter rain, erosion of the road continues. Be cautious. This road can washout.

You will see signs as you enter the Auburn State Recreation Area. At the bridge, you find two chemical toilets. The trailhead is directly behind them. The trail follows the river most of the way. There is a rock outcropping you will need to navigate in the beginning, but it’s not too tough.

Areas of the trail are narrow and eroding. Wear sturdy shoes and pay attention. A nice new picnic table has been placed, probably by Eric Peach, in a wide spot about halfway. The table provides a nicely shaded respite from the trail in summer.
You hear the falls long before you see them. Once you arrive, your ears and eyes draw you up to the top of the falls. Taking in the cascading water, your eyes will slowly draw you the length of the first fall. Don’t stop here. Notice the series of falls below.
The pools of runoff are trimmed in lush vegetation. There is a boulder halfway down the falls, perfectly placed for a picnic. On my most recent visit, I sat quietly and listened to the running water, the falling rain, the birds calling and the sound of my own breathing; glorious.

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 Gold Country Media.

The drive down to the Ponderosa Bridge at the American River is one of the more chilling parts of the Codfish Falls adventure. Credit: Photo courtesy Mary West

Nevada County Adopts BYLT’s Hirschman Pond Trail

11/26/2021

Nevada County recently entered into an “Adopt-a-Trail” agreement to support the eastern portion of the well-loved local Hirschman Pond Trail in Nevada City. Hirshman Trail is minutes from the Eric Rood Center and is a source of enjoyment for County staff almost every day. Employees frequently use the trail for walks and lunch breaks to relax and decompress while outdoors. County staff now have an opportunity to give back to the trail.

Over the next two years, County staff will volunteer in non-work-related stewardship, maintenance, and bi-monthly inspections for the Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT). Through BYLT’s program, staff volunteers will individually walk the trail to check for trash, vandalism, safety issues, and general upkeep. Teams from County departments will tackle larger projects such as erosion control, building a retaining wall, spreading gravel to maintain the trail's surface, brush maintenance, and trail route preservation.

Nevada County will be adopting the first mile of the trail on the eastern portion from the parking lot tail head to the Woods Ravine Section, as volunteers have already adopted the other trail portions. Learn more about BYLT’s Adopt-A-Trail Program at www.bylt.org.

About Hirschman Pond Trail
Only a mile from the heart of downtown Nevada City, this trail system, partially constructed by the Land Trust, gets you quickly out into nature with lots of different things to enjoy. The centerpiece is lovely Hirschman’s Pond. In 2021, Hirschman’s Pond was designated a Nevada County Historical Landmark to honor pioneer miner Leb Hirschman and the Jewish community that settled here during the Gold Rush.
The eastern 0.4 miles of trail is constructed to ADA standards, providing barrier-free access to Hirschman’s Pond. Highlighting this section of trail is a 40-foot long trestle that was built to replicate the railroad and flume construction techniques of the late 1800s. West of the pond, the trail narrows and meanders through oak woodlands, pines, and grasslands for an additional 2 miles. Hirschman’s Pond is five acres of water from natural sources at the foot of tall cliffs carved by hydraulic mining of the area in the 1800s. Now people visit to enjoy the tranquil scenery, fish along the shore, and view wildlife, including ducks, geese, and herons on the pond. There is a nice bench on the south shore of the pond for taking in the view.

CLICK HERE to read the original press release from Nevada County.

Mary West: Exploring the Olmstead Loop Trail

11/25/2021

The Olmstead Loop Trail, in the Cool area of the Auburn State Recreation Area, is an 8.6-mile stroll through some wide-open spaces. Nearly nine miles may seem like a lot but have no fear. It seems like every time I venture out this way, a new trail cutoff has been worn into the fields. Some are more pronounced than others. If you do get lost — which is easy enough to do — ask an equestrian, cyclist or fellow hiker the way. I usually keep the radio towers to my south and Highway 49 to the east when hiking in this area.

I love this hike in late fall. It can be muddy but it’s not hot. You need to pick your battles. Off Highway 49 park in the car lot not the trailer lot. Head out on the trail at the south end of the horse staging area. The Olmstead Loop Trail meanders parallel to Highway 49 south behind a few horse ranches before it cuts west and into the oak woodland that makes up much of the area. Ponds dot the area, some more seasonal than others. In winter, it’s best to hike here after things have dried out for a week or two. If you go after a rain, you will find puddles, some quite large, to get around. Follow the trail markers to Knickerbocker Creek. Cross the road and continue on Olmstead or follow the road or the trail that runs parallel to the road back to the horse staging area and parking lot near the Cool Fire Station.

Extend the hike by crossing the road and you will find yourself crossing the Auburn to Cool Trail or Coffer Dam Trail and off to Salt Creek to Pointed Rocks Trail. Past the signs for the Wendell T Robie Trail (Twice), you get to the headwaters of Salt Creek before returning to the Cool Fire Station and the parking lot. Some elevation change down and up from Knickerbocker Creek leads to some more steep hill climbs and down slopes. The hill tops out with some nice views.

Much shorter loops are in the area and provide meadows, ponds and wildflowers in spring. It is worth checking out any time of year. I am always reluctant to send people on the Olmstead Loop. The directions have never been very clear. Maps don’t seem to answer all the questions, especially if a mud puddle has given you cause to go off trail.

To get there from Auburn take Interstate 80 to Highway 49 south toward Placerville. Drive into the canyon and cross the Highway 49 bridge from Placer to El Dorado County. Follow Highway 49 to enter the town of Cool. Just before the stop sign look for the Cool Fire Station on your right. This is also the entrance into the Auburn State Recreation area parking area. There is a $10-day use fee.

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

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

Senate confirms first Native American to lead National Park Service

11/20/2021

The Senate this week confirmed Charles “Chuck” Sams III as head of the National Park Service, making him the first Native American to lead the agency.

“The National Park Service is a very special agency with a timeless mission: to preserve resources and to inspire current and future generations. I am excited to lead that mission,” Sams said.

Sams was confirmed late Thursday evening by voice vote, indicating unanimous support. President Joe Biden nominated him for the post in August.

Sams is Cayuse and Walla Walla and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, with ties to the Yankton Sioux and Cocopah Peoples. He served in the Navy as an intelligence specialist before working in natural resource and conservation management.
“My personal history is deeply interwoven with the fabric of our shared American history,” he said during his Senate confirmation hearing in October.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary, has said Sams would be an “incredible asset” to the agency.

The Biden administration has prioritized the protection and restoration of Native lands. On Friday, Haaland ordered the removal of “squaw,” a derogatory term, from the more than 650 federal sites on which it appears. Earlier this week, Biden proposed a 20-year ban on oil and gas drilling within a 10-mile radius of a national park that holds historical significance to Native American tribes. In October, Biden restored environmental protections to national monuments in Utah and New England that had been stripped by the Trump administration.

The national park system was established in 1916. In recent years, the agency has had significant turnover at the director level. After Jonathan Jarvis served from 2009 until January 2017, former President Trump had four acting directors — all of whom had brief tenures. Shawn Benge has been the acting director under Biden since January.

The National Park Service has a budget of about $3 billion and around 20,000 employees. The agency oversees 423 sites covering 85 million acres.

Sams told senators last month that he plans to bring more Native American voices to the decision-making table and make areas more accessible to the public.

“The National Park Service is a very special agency with a timeless mission: to preserve resources and to inspire current and future generations. I am excited to lead that mission,” he said.

CLICK HERE to see the complete article at NBC News.

Mary West: Exploring Deer Creek Tribute Trail

10/24/2021

If you are looking to avoid the fire scarred areas to our east consider the Nevada City Deer Creek Tribute Trail. The scenic trail is a 4.8 mile in-and-out trail in Nevada City. A shorter trek of 1.8 miles puts you at the trailhead itself and cuts out an urban hike down Nevada City’s Broad Street.

The start of this trail is messy with poorly crafted switchbacks, a couple of benches with dedication plaques, but eventually it leads to a private road where you will discover how this trail got its name. The first tribute is to the Nisenan people. An example of Native American Rock Art is visible if you know what to look for near the suspension bridge over Deer Creek. The bridge offers a good vantage point to enjoy the creek below. A great deal of effort has gone into a decorative rock wall, smooth trail surface and benches with an artistic touch.

Returning to the main trail, you enter private property and follow a canal most of the way until you find a hairpin turn that directs you back to Deer Creek. Follow the switchbacks and you will find a second tribute to Chinese Pioneers and another bridge, information boards and benches. On the far side of this bridge, you can do a short loop trail in the woods that brings you right back to the end of the bridge, not much more than a half mile.

Take Interstate 80 east from Sacramento to Hwy 49 to Grass Valley. Continue through Grass Valley to Nevada City. Take Broad Street into town. Turn left in front of the Nevada Theatre, through the parking lot. Turn right onto the road and follow the road around to Old Downieville Road to Champion Road. The trailhead is located on Champion Road. Champion looks like a driveway, but just after the cut to the left onto Champion you will see a wide spot on the dirt road that will fit four or five cars. Look closely and you will see a sign marking the trail.
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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 ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND PHOTOS IN THE UNION NEWSPAPER.

No Hands Bridge a landmark on Western States Trail – and an easy 2-mile hike

10/8/2021

Below the smoke and close to the river, the No Hands Bridge portion of the Western States Trail is a good choice for hiking in fall.

Through gate 150 in the Auburn State Recreation Area, this is an easy two-mile hike on the Western States Trail (WST). The WST crosses the historic Mountain Quarries Railroad Bridge, dubbed “No Hands” by an equestrian years ago. The rider is said to have crossed the bridge before rails were installed, with her hands in the air, declaring “Look, no hands!”

The North Fork of the American River that runs beneath is a refreshment to many park visitors all summer long, making this area very busy on weekends.
This out-and-back trek leads to Canyon Creek and the wooden bridge that crosses it. The waterfall that feeds the creek has been nicknamed the Black Hole of Calcutta. This nickname also came from an equestrian riding the end of the Tevis Cup in the dark of night. But for locals who know the original story, this is just a more convenient location to send visitors who ask to see the Black Hole of Calcutta. The original black hole, a mud puddle, is not much of a destination to take a selfie and share with friends.

The mostly level trail follows the river back to the Canyon Creek Bridge, where the small falls are located. Early mornings or late afternoons are best for me, as most of the crowds have gone so it is easier to park near the trailhead. I can never resist scrambling down to the river to do some rock hopping to the perfect perch just to watch the river roll by.

The history of the bridge and trail is long and storied. Auburn, the self-proclaimed Endurance Capital of the World, is home to the annual Western States Trail Foundation 100-Mile One Day Tevis Cup Ride and the 100-Mile Endurance Run, both starting in Squaw Valley and making its way to Auburn.
Both events are inspirational feats of physical and mental strength. Athletes come from all over the world for the privilege to run the WST and compete with the world’s best equestrians and trail runners. Still more come out for the training runs and fun rides just for the chance to experience parts of this historic path.

Exposed areas of the trail will make you wish you had your sunscreen, hat and glasses. Always take a bottle of water, and I never leave home without a camera. Although not as thick, you can still find poison oak here, and ticks, too.

There are few trails that make me feel at home more than this part of the Western States Trail.
Get to this part of WST by taking Interstate 80 east to Auburn. Take the Elm Avenue exit to Highway 49 toward Placerville. Follow Highway 49 into the canyon. Take the right over the river toward Cool. Just over the bridge on the El Dorado County side, you find gate 150. Park as close to the trailhead as you like and get ready for a great day hike.

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 Mary's original article in Gold Country Media.

BYLT and State Parks ‘cobble’ funding together for Independence Trail restoration

8/21/2021

One year after the Jones Bar Fire, the west leg of Independence Trail remains barred to the public pending rehabilitation. Efforts to restore the 5-mile trail to it’s former glory — voted best trail in Nevada County in 2013 — are underway, said Erin Tarr, with the Bear Yuba Land Trust. But the complexities of the physical infrastructure damaged, as well as the issue of land ownership, have slowed progress.
If the project’s details are approved, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75% of the $6 million total cost, Tarr said.

According to Dan Canfield, the Sierra District superintendent in the State Parks Department, the entire sum required from the federal government will ultimately go to two different entities — State Parks and the Bear Yuba Land Trust. “The Independence Trail, as it runs along the river here, crosses different land ownership,” Canfield explained. “The federal government treats it differently depending on whose land it’s on.” Because one owner is a public agency and the other private, FEMA treats their applications differently, Canfield said. “We’re in one process on the state side for the damages to state parks, and our neighbors are in another,” Canfield asked.

Tarr said that neighbor is the land trust, which inherited seven interspersed parcels in the South Yuba Canyon in 2012, after the previous owner, John Olmsted, died. Tarr said Olmsted bequeathed the 207-acre parcel — the Sequoya Challenge Preserve — to the trust with the intent that the state would eventually take it over.

When the Jones Fire began Aug. 17, 2020, and burned 705 acres over the course of 11 days, flames indiscriminately incinerated flora and fauna on parkland and the preserve. It burned 40 acres on the Sequoya Challenge Preserve (BYLT land) and about 150 acres on State Parks property.

There were six flumes, one wheelchair ramp to Rush Creek, and an overlook platform destroyed. Four of the flumes and the wheelchair ramp were on BYLT property. “The fire was all on the west side of the 49,” Canfield explained. “It was lightning — caused with the ignition point very close to the confluence of Rush Creek and the Yuba River. Surprisingly, it did not burn the footbridge, but it then burned up to the canyon.”

Tarr said even though the majority of the structures destroyed during the Jones Fire belonged to the trust, the request for federal support was denied because private nonprofits are ineligible for FEMA funding on behalf of “recreation features.” BYLT submitted an appeal to FEMA in June to deem the organization eligible for funding. “That’s kind of the big challenge for me and Erin, to work through and bring the rest of the bureaucracy along with us,” Canfield said.

Tarr said she and Canfield have been working closely with the California Office of Emergency Services, an agency she trusts to see the work to be done as one project. Canfield said it’s “incumbent upon the state” to recognize and distribute the money required, so that the two landowning entities can work together on one unified project. “If we’re going to be successful, we have to work together,” Canfield said. “Who wants a bridge to nowhere, a half a trail?”

Canfield said FEMA ought to offer support to the trust not only to ensure the entire rehabilitation of the trail as opposed to partial rehabilitation, but also because “the trust has a longstanding desire to transfer the property and the trail to the state.” Part of the nonprofit’s appeal included the fact that the Independence Trail was the first handicapped accessible trail in the United States.

“When it was first created in the 1980s, people traveled from Japan to hike on this trail,” Tarr said.
An integral part of the trail’s accessibility were its flumes — wooden structures first employed by settlers to convey gold and water across ravines along steep mountain slopes, Canfield said.
According to Canfield, the flumes located on the Independence Trail were made in the 1980s and therefore not considered historical. The Excelsior Ditch, which runs alongside and even becomes the trail on the east side of Highway 49, is.

“Whenever the Excelsior Ditch encountered a canyon, the pioneers would build these wooden flumes, which are wood boxes to convey water so the ditch could continue to run alongside the cliff,“ Canfield said. ”The flumes that got burned up by the fire aren’t that old, but they are an important trail feature that accommodate lots of different types of hikers. The flumes were not historic, but the ditch is.“
When Olmsted rediscovered the rock-lined ditch in 1969, he thought the former water conveyor seemed wide enough for wheelchair use, Tarr said. “His step daughter was in a wheelchair and she just said she wanted to go out in the wilderness and touch nature,” Tarr said.

Tarr said John Olmsted’s son, Aldon Olmsted, created a film to help raise the remaining $1.5 million FEMA will not cover to complete the project. Tarr said the film will be called “Wild Independence,” and is expected to be submitted to Nevada City’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival this year. Grass Valley’s Fable Coffee just did a special roast, calling it Independence Trail blend. According to Tarr, BriarPatch donated $2 for every bag sold.

Canfield said his team is still deciding on the best materials — metal and wood — to use to execute the restoration. State Parks was awarded funding for debris removal and the rebuild. The entire Independence Trail is closed, because cutting it off halfway through would promote noncompliance, Canfield said. Regular patrols ensure that cautionary signage is respected but generally let trespassers off with a warning instead of a legally warranted $250 fine.

Canfield said the State Parks Department and land trust anticipate the project will have the funding to begin on the ground sometime next summer.

Rebecca O’Neil is a staff writer with The Union. She can be reached at roneil@theunion.com

To see the complete article and accompanying photos in The Union newspaper, CLICK HERE.

Nevada Co Board of Supes approves funding for non-motorized Pines to Mines trail without addition of motorized e-bikes

8/15/2021

Submitted by the Gold Country Trails Council:

On August 10, 2021, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $100,000 to fund the Pines to Mines trail project Environmental Assessment (EA), a major move forward for this spectacular non-motorized trail that has been in the works for over six years. The Pines to Mines trail is a non-motorized, single track, multi use trail for hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians.

The Tahoe National Forest will process the Environmental Assessment for the project with funding provided by Nevada County for the non-motorized trail project.

Gold Country Trails Council (GCTC), who represents over 450 members, has supported the Pines to Mines non-motorized trail plan and applauds the Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote to fund $100,000 for the trail's Environmental Assessment.

In 1981, the Gold Country Trails Council was the lead group who created the multi use Pioneer Trail for hikers, equestrians, families, cross country skiers, and mountain bicyclists, and the Council has donated funds and maintained the trail since. In the new plan, the Pioneer Trail will be part of the 80+ mile Pines to Mines trail.

Gold Country Trails Council has been an integral part of the Pines to Mines diverse alliance of trail users who have met regularly to get the non-motorized Pines to Mines trail plan to this point. The committed constituency, made up of the Bear Yuba Land Trust, Bicyclists of Nevada County, Truckee Trails Foundation, and Gold Country Trails Council, formed around the project to seek support, fund raise, create a sustainable trail alignment on the ground, provide trail building expertise, and perform ongoing trail maintenance and support going forward.

If all goes to plan, the non-motorized multi use trail may start construction as early as 2023, across lands owned and managed by the Tahoe National Forest, PG&E, CalTrans, and private landowners. At its completion, it will connect the communities of Truckee and Nevada City while transversing some of the most breathtakingly beautiful back country in the world.

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