Trail News - by Bev Showalter CLRC Trails Advocate

CATALINA REGIONAL PARK — The board of supervisors were supposed to look at the budget and decide the fate of Catalina Regional Park (CRP) on May 19, but didn’t. They are waiting for the state legislators to send down their budget first. So the decision on the fate of CRP is on hold for now. CLRC sent letters to all the supervisors and County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry , citing reasons to keep our park open, so we can move forward with renovation of the Equestrian Center (eventually) and Hank Rowe and his Coronado Kids to build the bike course in the upper part of the park. If the county closes this park, this will negatively impact all residents of Catalina, but CLRC especially, because we have great hopes of using the Equestrian Center a lot, and building a couple more trails and helping maintain the main trail going thru the park now. Mary Jane and I met with Park Mgr Don Carter and discussed our ideas for an access route from the Park up east to the hill and to the Forest beyond, and for our idea of a trail re-route around Golder Bridge. Don has plans for a new trail from the Pond area up to the 50 yr trail, which we’ll revisit in the fall. Barb Cardinal reported a few problems in the north end of the park. Barb and I will go see, then find out what can be done about it.

TORTOLITA PRESERVE — Wild Bill tells me that the turnaround we built on 4/18 works great. Go riding there, now you can turn around. N. on Dove Mtn Rd from Tangerine, (L) on Moore, go thru gate, drive down dirt road and turn around, then park facing gate on the right side of the dirt road. It’s a nice ride, even in summer, if you get there early.

ADOPT-A-RANCH — April 26 was a success with Kim, Rudy, Bill B, Nadia, Israel, Joy and me riding a full pasture and fixin’ a lot of fence. (Thank YOU all!) We had not ridden this pasture for 2 years, now it is in good shape. Many thanks for a wonderful ride. The weather was perfect. We’ll take the summer off and head back to the ranch in the fall.

OTHER TRAILS: 
BABY JESUS — My daughter Erica and I rode up and cleared the 3rd and final re-route around that huge dead oak tree. This trail is fine for riding (I rate it a 4), but maybe we’ll sneak up there on foot and do some brushing on the first ¼ of the trail. It needs it, but you can get thru just fine until summer rains make it all grow more.

DEER CAMP — Lee, Michael, Nadia and Israel, Nick Thill, Joy and I went back up to work on the spring box. (Thank YOU) The spring is still dripping but there are a couple spots that the silt from the box settles into and that need a perm fix. Also, Don Carter suggested some sort of a Septic Tank design (maybe a large can) we can put into the dirt right below the box to catch the silt that will allow the water to continue on. We’ll try that. We’ll make it back up there this summer; for now, though, water is still dripping into the drinker. The trail is in good shape and I rate that trail a “3”.

SHEEP TANK — This trail is south of Catalina State Park. Linda Welter is the trail steward, and reports no water going into the tank. Last time we were up there it was full. It’s a long way up but we’ll have to ride up there, park the mule, and hike the 1 mile up along the water pipe to the spring box to see what’s up. Best done in winter, but we’ll see.

ADOPT A SEGMENT — All you segment stewards who have adopted a segment of trail to keep maintained, don’t have to work in the summer. Take it back up in the fall, unless there is a big problem, then we’ll take care of the problem quickly. Thanks for all of you who have reported problems along our trails. Keep it up!

PLEEZ REPORT TO ME DIRECTLY ON ANY TRAILS/ACCESS ISSUE. We now have a “hit and run” crew and we can address any issue fairly quickly. THANK YOU for your support and friendship.

(w) 901-1862 (h) 825-4886 (cell) 850-2196 or bevshowalter@comcast.net (email best).