MOTHER LODE TRAILS

Western States Trail Foundation Acquires Robie Equestrian Park to Secure Start for the Tevis Cup 100-Mile Ride

4/11/2025

The Western States Trail Foundation (WSTF) is proud to announce the acquisition of Robie Equestrian Park, a landmark move that will ensure a consistent and permanent starting point for the foundation’s key event: the iconic Tevis Cup 100-Mile Ride.

Robie Equestrian Park is a 160-acre horse camp and outdoor sport staging area previously owned by the Wendell & Inez Robie Foundation. The park is named in memory of Wendell Robie, who founded the 100-mile Western States Trail Ride – or ‘Tevis Cup’ – in 1955.

Acquiring Robie Equestrian Park is a monumental step in preserving the Tevis Cup and the Western States Trail,” said Tony Benedetti, President of the Western States Trail Foundation. “This acquisition ensures that future generations will have access to this historic trail and that there will be a reliable, consistent starting point for this prestigious event.”

Preserving the History of the West
Located east of Truckee, CA, Robie Equestrian Park marks the start of the historic Western States Trail. In addition to the Tevis Cup, the Western States Trail also hosts several ultramarathons including the foundational 100-mile Western States Run, which originated out of the equestrian event.
The trail follows a rugged route from the base of the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe along an immigrant trail that ends in Auburn. It traverses the scenic mountain peaks and valleys of the Sierra foothills and crosses several tributaries to the American River on its way. The Western States Trail Foundation has pledged to preserve the rich history of this trail, hallowed by the Washoe and Maidu tribes and traveled by explorers, settlers, and gold-seekers.

Securing the Future of Endurance Riding
The Tevis Cup is universally regarded as one of the most demanding endurance rides in the world, testing the stamina, skill and perseverance of both horse and rider.

About the Western States Trail Foundation - The Western States Trail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and stewardship of the Western States Trail and – as part of that – staging the Tevis Cup 100 Mile Ride. Founded in 1977, the foundation plays a vital role in ensuring that the historic trail remains accessible for equestrians, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to managing the Tevis Cup, the WSTF supports a variety of educational and preservation initiatives to protect this invaluable resource.

To read the original Press Release from the WST, CLICK HERE.

'Much more difficult': Cuts leave Calif. sections of Pacific Crest Trail in shambles

4/10/2025

Anyone planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail — the famed 2,650-mile hiking route that stretches from Mexico to Canada and typically takes almost half a year to complete — should prepare for an especially challenging trail this year, thanks to repair delays brought on by federal funding freezes.

The PCT will be especially challenging this year due to Trump's funding cuts

Several portions of the trail throughout California are in desperate need of repair, according to Justin Kooyman, director of trail operations for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. In some sections, storm damage has washed away the trail entirely. Complicating the situation are federal funding freezes and staff reductions in several land management agencies brought on by the Donald Trump administration.

Kooyman said it’s left the PCTA’s maintenance backlog severely hampered, causing the association to cancel over 50 weeks of upcoming repair work.

“Hikers should be prepared for sections of the PCT that require them to navigate around downed trees, push through thick brush that has grown into the trail and navigate sections where it is difficult to find the trail tread,” Kooyman told SFGATE via email. “It’s going to be a rougher and more challenging trail experience than many people have come to expect.”

Among the most impacted legs of the PCT in California is a section within the Riverside County desert where Tropical Storm Hilary severely damaged the trail in 2023. Kooyman said hikers need to be “adept with route finding” near Mission Creek.

According to the association’s State of the Trail webpage for Southern California, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management were granted emergency funding to repair trails near Mission Creek, but the work will be delayed until 2026 due to federal funding freezes.

Elsewhere, portions of the trail in Washington’s Glacier Peak Wilderness have been heavily impacted by downed trees. Maintenance projects planned for last year were canceled due to wildfires, according to Kooyman. “Now, in 2025, many of the planned projects to clear the downed trees likely won’t happen due to agency staff layoffs and recent funding freezes,” he said.

Federal funding for trail maintenance projects was historically secured through partnerships with federal land management agencies like the U.S. Forest Service. In February, PCTA wrote in a blog post that the Forest Service had informed it of a delay in federal grant funding due to the Trump administration’s plans to reduce federal spending.

As federal land management units across the country continue to be gutted, the future of the PCT and other thru-hikes are hanging in the balance. “It will be a much more difficult hiking experience that will challenge many hikers,” Kooyman said.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and more photos in SF GATE.

California's national forests targeted for commercial logging

4/8/2025

Parts of national forests along the Sierra and near Lake Tahoe are also highlighted as priorities for logging activities.
A memo from the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture released last week outlines the Trump administration’s plans to quickly expand logging operations in the country’s national forests, which could dramatically reshape the landscape of popular recreation areas in California.
A month after President Donald Trump released an executive order calling for the “immediate expansion of American Timber Production,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has laid out what steps the U.S. Forest Service will take to do so. This includes lifting protections on more than half of the land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, expediting the process for logging in these areas.
“The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources,” Rollins wrote in the memo, dated April 3.
The memo serves as an emergency situation declaration that designates 112,646,000 acres, or 59% of all national forest lands, as a priority for immediate logging. The memo indicates wildfire risk, declining forest health and the risk of increased tree mortality from insects or disease as some of the reasons for the new emergency declaration. The memo notably does not list climate change among the risks facing the nation’s forests.

The declaration exempts the designated forest areas from an environmental review step that allows for objections from outside groups and limits the number of alternative actions that the agency can review when considering logging projects. The declaration also directs the Forest Service to streamline “all processes related to timber production” and “issue new or updated guidance to increase timber production.”

Trump’s March executive order called for a 25% increase in timber production from the nation’s forest, and a map released by the USDA last week suggests that much of this might come from California and elsewhere in the West. The majority of Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests in Southern California are highlighted in blue as priority landscapes for logging on the map, as is much of Los Padres National Forest, which stretches from near Ojai up the Central Coast and also encompasses the mountains along Big Sur. Parts of national forests along the Sierra and near Lake Tahoe are also highlighted as priorities for logging activities.

“More logging will cause widespread devastation of our public forests locally and across the country,” said ForestWatch executive director Jeff Kuyper in a news release.

“Trump’s order won’t protect us from wildfire, but it will most certainly line the pockets of timber industry executives, undermine science and environmental protection laws, and bring us one step closer to privatizing our public lands.”
Opening up California’s national forests for commercial logging in the immediate future is just the latest change to public lands in the state during the Trump administration. National parks like Channel Islands and Yosemite are in a state of chaos and crisis due to federal funding cuts and job terminations, and the future of two national monuments designated at the end of the Biden administration also seems uncertain.
To see the complete article and photos in SF Gate, click here.
www.sfgate.com/la/article/california-national-forests-logging-20263873.php

What You Need To Know About 4,000 Campsites Closing across California

4/2/2025

The National Park Services (NPS) and U.S. Forest Services (USFS) are currently short-staffed following mass layoffs under the Trump Administration's federal budget cuts. The sudden firings began on Valentine's Day and have since posed concerns about shutdowns of national parks.

A month after the terminations, more park service sites announced hour reductions and campground closures. About 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer, with layoffs expected to continue until April.

Here's everything you should know about these adjustments and the uncertainties behind them, so you can plan your camping trips accordingly.

About 4,000 Campsites Are Set To Close Across California Alone
Many California campsites may close partially or the entire summer
On March 5, the New York Times reported that about 4,000 campsites are set to close this summer in California. 18 national forests could close for parts or the whole season. Yosemite National Park has also resumed advanced limited campground reservations for summer.

Some of the USFS areas affected by the campsite closures in California this summer:

Financial limitations and understaffing are a recipe for maintenance chaos, making the impacted areas "unsafe" in the upcoming high season. Other recreational activities, like hiking, may also be affected by these federal decisions.

For instance, the Pacific Crest Trail—a 2,650-mile trail spanning from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington—faces safety concerns amid funding delays as its $667,000 federal grant is reportedly frozen. One million hikers take this popular route each year.
Over 4,000 NPS And USFS Workers Were Fired Under Trump's Federal CutsU.S. national forests and parks are losing important personnel3,400 USFS staff (10% of its total workforce) and 1,000 NPS employees (5% of the agency's crew) were laid off under the Trump Administration's hiring freeze. 5,000 significant seasonal workers were also let go.
California was hit hard by the cuts, with at least 84 valuable NPS personnel fired during the sweeping reductions. According to the POTUS, the downsizing is necessary as the government is "bloated" and "sloppy" with "a lot of people that aren't doing their job."
The White House released a memo, claiming: "The federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt. At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public."

However, conservation experts anticipate these terminations could cause irreversible damage to protected natural areas. Joshua Tree National Park faces near-future wildlife extinctions following the removal of 400 Fish and Wildlife Service members.

Reinstated NPS And USFS Employees Are Not Getting Their Jobs BackRehired U.S. forest and park workers are being placed on leaveMany "illegally" fired national park employees have been reinstated following a judge's order in mid-March. However, some rehired workers revealed that they were either placed on administrative leave or offered an early retirement upon return.
On March 25, Fortune published a story about those who decided to leave their government positions despite the legal reinstatement. While there were "full pay and benefits" in those leaves, many of the workers opted out as they truly believed in the significance of their jobs.
Eric Anderson, a biological science technician in Indiana Dunes National Park, was excited to get his job back. However, he admitted to hearing about "weird" changes within their crew.
"I've heard that some people's positions have changed from doing what they normally do to doing something completely weird and different," Anderson explained. "It'll be interesting going back and seeing if stuff still changes by the day."

In light of these unpredictable operational changes, visitors are advised to keep themselves informed of the USFS and NPS announcements. For those planning to camp during the busy summer season, make sure to make reservations in advance (if available) and keep yourself updated with your chosen park's warnings.

CLICK HERE to see the original article and photos in TheTravel.com

More than 300 western leaders call on Trump Administration and Congress to protect, fully fund public lands

3/30/2025

Report from the Tahoe Daily Tribune newspaper - March 29, 2025
More than 300 current and former Western local elected officials, including mayors, county commissioners, and city council members, today sent a letter to the Trump Administration and Congressional offices urgently calling for a more balanced approach to the management of our public lands; calling on them to oppose the sale of public lands in the Budget Reconciliation Package; and asking them to reject any attempts to change the Antiquities Act or reduce the size of our national monuments.

“Local elected officials know firsthand that protected public lands sustain our communities, power our economies, and serve as the cornerstone of our outdoor way of life,” said Anna Peterson, executive director of The Mountain Pact. “Protected public lands are the backbone of our mountain communities – but right now they are under threat. That’s why The Mountain Pact and more than 300 local elected leaders from across the Western U.S. are fighting back, so we can ensure these critical resources are protected and preserved for generations to come.”

Included in the list of signatories are several leaders representing the Truckee-Tahoe region, including Nevada County District 5 Supervisor Hardy Bullock, Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, Truckee Mayor Jan Zabriskie, Truckee Vice Mayor Anna Klovstad, Truckee Councilmembers Courtney Henderson and David Polivy, Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill and Washoe County School District Board President Beth Smith.

The local officials also called on President Trump and Congress to increase support for public land management which would improve access and help protect some of our most important wildlife habitat, migration corridors, treasured recreation areas, critical water resources, and Indigenous cultural sites.

“Our town council rarely involves itself in federal matters, but we have unanimously adopted resolutions expressing our strong opposition to recent federal funding and staffing cuts affecting public lands and essential services. Our community is surrounded by the national forest. The funding cuts and staffing reductions put our local economy and safety at risk. Our community members are deeply concerned about federal wildfire responses, campground closures, reduced monitoring of dispersed campfires, the availability and cost of property insurance, tourism impacts, and reduced services on public lands. We oppose the funding and staffing cuts for public lands and urge the federal administration to reverse course,” said Mayor Zabriskie.

The letter comes as the Trump Administration has made several moves to decrease funding and staffing for public lands, including at National Parks and key scientific agencies like the EPA and NOAA. Last month, Secretary Burgum issued secretarial orders targeting America’s national monuments and positioning drilling and mining interests as the favored users of America’s public lands. Trump has also fired thousands of employees and slashed millions in funding from public land agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and waged an all-out assault on renewable energy in favor of more drilling and resource extraction.

“Mountain communities depend on healthy and accessible public lands to survive,” the leaders wrote in their letter. “But increased fossil fuel development on public lands, weakened environmental regulations, and fast tracking or eliminating environmental reviews for proposed projects jeopardizes both our public lands and public health while contributing to the climate crisis by causing the release of vast amounts of potent greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Now more than ever we must continue to take and support meaningful actions to both address the climate crisis and protect our public lands. We urge you to continue to support the protection of healthy public lands and take strong climate action. We ask you to fully fund our public lands, oppose the sale of public lands in the Budget Reconciliation Package, and oppose any attempts to change the Antiquities Act or reduce the size of our national monuments.”

Protected public lands are important economic drivers for Western communities. A recent report from the National Park Service found that “325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands across the country. These expenditures supported a total of 415,000 jobs, $19.4 billion in labor income, $32.0 billion in value added, and $55.6 billion in economic output in the national economy.”

The threat to national monuments is pressing: on March 14, a White House fact sheet said Trump had signed an executive order that terminated proclamations declaring two new national monuments designated in the waning days of the Biden Administration, Sáttítla Highlands and Chuckwalla. However, the line disappeared by the afternoon of March 15, and the final status of these new monuments remains uncertain.

Polling has consistently shown protections for public lands hold overwhelming support from both the public and local elected officials. According to the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll, 72 percent of Western voters oppose removing protections on existing national public lands to allow more drilling and mining. The same poll found that 85 percent of voters in the West – including 74 percent of Republicans, 87 percent of Independents, and 96 percent of Democrats – say issues involving clean water, clean air, wildlife and public lands are important in deciding whether to support an elected official.

“In Washoe County public lands are a key driver of our economy, and the backbone of our outdoor way of life. They provide our communities with clean air and water, create and support good-paying jobs, and give people space to be with nature. We should be doing more to protect and support our public lands, instead of starving them of badly-needed resources and exploiting them for short-term gain,” said Commissioner Hill.

Similarly, national monuments that maintain public access to public lands and protect ecosystems and wildlife for future generations are also exceptionally popular with the American people. The same poll found that more than four-in-five western voters support the creation of additional public lands like national monuments, and that 89 percent of Westerners believe existing national monuments protected over the last decade should be kept in place.

“Sufficient funding and thoughtful management are key to successfully balancing conservation, access, and enjoyment of our public lands. By gutting our public land agencies and starving them of resources, the Trump Administration is putting our most cherished public spaces at risk. Make no mistake: if these actions aren’t reversed, our communities will face severe consequences. I urge President Trump to stand up for our public lands before it’s too late,” said Supervisor Bullock.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE.

To see the complete article and photos in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, CLICK HERE.

Bike shop owner wants the Hwy 20/Pioneer Trail system to be the bike hub for all of California

3/29/2025

Quotes from the article in The Union newspaper today:
"New ownership of bicycle shop in Nevada City preserves the passion for cycling culture"
"Electric bikes or e-bikes make up approximately 70 percent of sales at Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop located at 457 Sacramento Street in Nevada City."

“We have what we call the Outpost, and originally it was kind of a few rental bikes, but we just invested in 30 plus bikes up there to turn it into a demo center,” Greene said. (Map below)

"A lot of bikes Greene sells are high performance, full suspension mountain bikes, and most of them are electric."

“The Outpost is sitting right at the trailhead … It’s one of only two places I know of in North America where you can try out a whole variety of full suspension bikes and actually get immediately on the trail.”

“We’re really tightly involved with the local bike team, the Miners, which are the NICA team. They’re a great development program,” Green said. “They’re incredible. These kids are ten times faster than I ever was at their age."

"BONC, which is the Bicyclists of Nevada County, maintains the trail system has got such passion and effort put into it, according to Greene." **
** Note from MLT: It's not just the bicyclists of BONC who maintains the Pioneer Trail, but also the equestrians from Gold Country Trails Council who established the Pioneer Trail in 1981. Their 700+ active members continue to maintain it with other trails groups, including Nevada County Woods Riders, with oversight from Tahoe National Forest.

“The Bay Area doesn’t even have anything that touches this,” Greene said. “I think this is going to be a hub for cycling in all of Northern California, if not all of California. We get people coming over from Nevada, Oregon, Washington. They’re traveling all over the place to get here these days.”

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

Cronan Ranch Regional Trails deliver solitude and epic scenery on the American River

3/28/2025

Pilot Hill, Calif. – Expansive vistas of California’s gold country, rolling hills, mountain lions, horseback riders, and Class IV rapids along the South Fork of the American River offer a glimpse of what makes Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park, a California treasure.

Located in Pilot Hill, just off scenic Highway 49, Cronan Ranch is an idyllic place to get away from it all in our estimation, at least for a few hours of outdoor bliss. A singular, modest sign marks the rather nondescript rutted dirt entrance to the park. We are always taken aback at the display of immense beauty that at times reminds us of vast central coast ranches and East Bay Area hikes.

The undulating green hills of spring that soon give way to golden hues of summer are dotted with majestic oaks and patchworks of greenery. Seasonal creeks babble and wildlife coalesce in celebration. It feels like classic California. Trails sprawl up and down in all directions. Hikers and horseback riders stage here before disappearing into the wild.

Springtime
As the weather begins to warm and snowmelt flows intensify, Cronan Ranch shines brightest as the hills and trees light up in full, green grandeur. The powerful growl of the South Fork offers a reminder of the importance of our region’s sustaining natural resource as it weaves it way toward Folsom Lake. There is much to appreciate here.

Weekdays
Like most places, weekday visits offer the best opportunity for some solitude. With the exception of the infrequent hiker or horseback rider, you’ll have plenty of time and space all to yourself. In the distance, you may catch a sheepherder on horseback managing his singing flock.

Summer scorchers
Summer heat in Gold Country can be unforgiving, be well prepared. Much of the trails are exposed to the sun, the ridge hikes and Up and Down Trail can be extra strenuous during summer, yet offer some of the parks most stunning views. The roundtrip to the South Fork of the American River is under 5-miles and you’ll be exposed to the sun. A good hat, sunscreen, and water are essentials.

American River Cool Down
The stroll down to the river offers an ideal midway break point for modest hikes. You’ll often find you have the place to yourself. During summer, when the water temps warm and flows slow, use extra caution to seek out safe spots for a cool down. It’s quite the reward on a hot summer day.

Always be on the lookout for mountain lions who use the same paths to grab a drink. Fresh scat on top of rock pilings is a telltale sign a mountain lion is near and likely aware of your presence.

A treasured locationCronan Ranch is a splendid place to hike and explore, all within a relatively, short drive from Roseville and South Placer County. Soak in the beauty and enjoy the cool waters of the roaring South Fork of the American River. Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park bursts with excitement during spring and throughout the year and remains one of our most treasured destinations.

For the complete article, photos and map in Roseville Today, CLICK HERE.

Auburn State Recreation Area trail closures March 18-19, 2025

3/14/2025

Upcoming Temporary Trail Closure Alert
Due to overhead powerline work by PG&E in the area of No Hands Bridge, the following areas of Auburn SRA will be closed to all public access on March 18 & 19, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.:

- Stagecoach Trail from Russel Road to Old Foresthill Road
-Upper Stagecoach Trail
-Flood Trail
-Manzanita Trail
-Tinkers Cut Off Trail
-Mossy Rocks Trail
-Western States Trail from Robie Point to Cool Staging Area
-Shortcut Trail
-Cool Staging Area Parking Facilities (LONGER CLOSURE: 3/17-19 ALL HOURS)
-Northern portion of Olmstead Trail from Salt Creek to Cool Staging Area
-Pointed Rocks Trail (Training Hill)
-No Hands Bridge Trail
-Mt. Quarries Bypass Trail

This closure is for the protection of the public at Auburn State Recreation Area. These closures will expire at 4:00 PM on March 19, 2025, at which time all areas listed will return to normal access.

We suggest checking out the China Bar area or the Foresthill Divide Loop as alternatives during these closures. Please reach out to our sector office or go to our website for additional information.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=954209763463938&set=a.268959168655671

Navigating Uncertainty and Ensuring the PCT’s Future

3/13/2025

From the Pacific Crest Trail Foundation:
As we face financial and operational challenges because of uncertainty around federal funding for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), I want to be transparent with our community about the impact this may have on our mission. The U.S. Forest Service has let us know that our future federal grant funding may be delayed while it is under review as part of the new administration’s efforts to reduce federal spending and staffing. We are unsure when or if this funding will be cut, reduced or fully restored.
...
This possible funding disruption is deeply concerning, as without it, we risk losing the capacity to fund essential projects and crews needed to care for the 2,650-mile PCT. As a result, we’ve already significantly reduced our 2025 program of work.
We’ve canceled 56 weeks of planned projects--more than one full year’s worth of trail crew maintenance—and likely cancelled hiring six seasonal trail crew leaders who are experts in trail building and repair and provide crucial support and supervision for trail crews. Cutting back needed trail maintenance will directly affect the PCT experience this year and in the future, and surely will increase the amount and cost of work we will need to address later. Hikers, equestrians and local trail communities will feel this as they traverse the magnificent lands through which the trail passes.
...
Contact your Senators and Representatives in Congress and voice your support for the trail. Tell them how much you love the PCT and how trails impact your life, health and well-being. Voice support for our federal land management agencies and the public lands we all care about. Remind them that making America great also means taking care of our beloved outdoor spaces, which improve American lives by creating jobs, supporting rural economies, generating clean air and water, and providing places for rest and reflection.
...
Uncertainty can be challenging, but like PCT adventurers, we at the PCTA always adapt to change. We are deeply grateful to be able to do this work alongside such a passionate community of members, volunteers, hikers, equestrians, agency partners, advocates, supporters, and so many more. Together, we will continue to protect and maintain the Pacific Crest Trail for generations to come."
To read the complete blog post from the PCTA, CLICK HERE.

March 29 through April 6, 2025 - Spenceville closed for annual turkey hunt

3/8/2025

A reminder to all Spenceville visitors...unless you have a hunting permit, you can't access Spenceville Wildlife Area from March 29 through April 6 CLICK HERE for more information on this area from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife..
(Nestled in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California, Spenceville Wildlife Area consists of roughly 11,900 acres of blue oak and gray pine woodland and riparian forest. Among the many popular activities here are fishing, hiking and equestrian trail riding.)

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