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Backbone Trailwork Near Latigo Cyn Rd – a Job Well Done!

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

This section of the Backbone Trail was pretty overgrown when we arrived.

Five CORBA volunteers and about eight with the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council (SMMTC) trail crew worked together to clear brush on the section of the Backbone Trail from Latigo Canyon Road west to the bottom of Newton Canyon. The SMMTC crew focused on clearing out the invasive thistle and other low brush while the CORBA crew cut out the higher branches that would slap riders in the body and face as they rode down the trail. The SMMTC also cleared out a few drainage dips that had become clogged with dirt. Overall, we cleared out about 0.7 miles of the trail.

This section is always fun to ride down. Now you don’t have to worry about getting a mouth full of leaves and thorns to spoil the experience. Also, the sight distances are significanly improved so we riders should be able to see other trail users sooner, giving us plenty of time to slow down to passing speed before reaching them.

During the trailwork, a number of small goups of mountain bikers came through. Every one of them slowed down and thanked us for helping keep the trail in prime condition.

View our photo gallery of the trailwork.

After claring out the brush, the visibilty was significantly improved.

As in now our custom, CORBA provided prizes to those volunteers who signed up with us in advance. Here are today’s winners:

  • David Turk got to choose first and grabbed the Ergon grips. Congratulations, those will substantially improve your hand and wrist comfort while riding!
  • Jonathan Hayward chose a multi-tool
  • Mark Mitchell chose a $25 gift certificate to Helens Cycles
  • Stephen Turk chose a new inner tube.

Afterwards, we headed to the Urbane Cafe for lunch on CORBA.

Thanks to all the mountain biking volunteers who came out to join the CORBA trail crew, and the other volunteers who worked with the SMMTC crew!

Posted in Santa Monica Mountains, Trail Crew | Comments Closed

Bike Park Project Introduced to Glendale Commission

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Monday afternoon, April 18, 2011 at 2:30pm was the monthly meeting of the City of Glendale, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission. CORBA’s Steve Messer spoke during the Oral Communications period of the meeting. The Commission were introduced by Messer to the Glendale Bike Skills Park project.

The Bike Skills Park wasn’t an agenda item, and oral communications are limited to five minutes for each speaker. After Messer made his quick presentation several questions were asked by the commissioners. They were surprised that there isn’t any other bike park in Southern California. They were also surprised that there are four High School teams using Glendale trails for training.

More questions followed about the land requirement and how this proposal dovetails with the Safe and Healthy Streets Plan, which was to go before City Council the following day, Tuesday, April 19 (see below).  The Safe and Healthy Streets Plan has been developed by Colin Bogart of the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition in partnership with the City of Glendale, under a grant from the County of Los Angeles. It includes a recommendation for a Bike Skills Park in its educational section.

Even though this was not an agenda item, Jess Duran, Director of the City’s Community Services and Parks Department made the recommendation “for the department to do a quick feasibility analysis, to put a group together including Colin Bogart and see what the feasibility might be.”  He also added, “I can tell you that now is not a good time to be requesting new projects given the challenges of the budget and the staff resources, but we could do a quick feasibility analysis. I’d also like to get some background from staff to what extent we’ve evaluated this type of project before.”

(more…)

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Posted in Advocacy, High School League, Verdugo Mountains, Youth | Comments Closed

Friends of the Angeles Formation Meetings

Monday, April 18th, 2011

The Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation (NFF) are planning to host several meetings with existing and potential supporters of the Angeles National Forest to determine public interest in forming a Friends of the Angeles organization. The meetings will be held during the last week of April in three locations. A CORBA representative will be attending, and we hope to see other mountain bikers and multi-use trail advocates attend as well.

During the course of each meeting, there will be talk about the challenges the Angeles National Forest faces–particularly in light of the Station Fire–and how a Friends group could help. There will be a discussion of what form such a group might take, what supportive activities it might take on, and the steps involved in creating the organization.

All users of the Angeles National Forest to attend one of these sensing sessions, both to provide input and also to hear what others have to say. These meetings will provide an opportunity for us to share what we are already doing as “friends” of the Angeles, and how our efforts may be helped by an official Friends organization.

The information gathered at the meetings will be used to shape a Friends group that truly meets the needs and passions of all who care about the well-being of the Angeles National Forest.

Other similar groups can be found in the Inyo National Forest (Friends of the Inyo) and the San Bernadino National Forest (San Bernadino National Forest Association). The National Park Service has a web page with information on how to start a Friends group at http://www.nps.gov/partnership/friends_groups.htm.

If you have questions about the meeting, call Kathy Peterson, the partnership coordinator for the forest at 626-437-5789.

Meetings will be held:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Angeles National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 6:30 pm. – 8:30 pm
Big Pines Information Center, Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2), Wrightwood, CA 92397.

Thursday, April 28, 2011, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center, 1990 North San Gabriel Canyon Road (Hwy 39), Azusa, CA 91702

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Posted in Angeles National Forest, Trail Access | Comments Closed

New Riders Join CORBA Kids Club in Cheeseboro Canyon

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

 

April’s CORBA Kids ride welcomed four new riders!  Despite record heat two days prior, the weather was cool and comfortable. We had such a successful ride in Cheeseboro that we are going to ride it again next month.

Before riding, ride leaders David and Larry introduced themselves to the new riders and briefed the group on trail etiquette, speed control, and described the trail.
David agreed to be sweeper with Larry riding ahead with son Elliot on a tow-a-bike. The first stop was the picnic tables on the main trail, where everybody rested, snacked, and Kat pointed out some native plants.  Wildflowers we saw along the trail included fiddlenecks, wild hyacinth, and California Peony.

The plan to ride to “The Rock” or “The Bees,” (as it is commonly known) didn’t materialize due to a fallen tree that completely blocked the main trail about two and a half miles in.  We left our bikes, hiked up to the tree and several of the kids climbed aboard it for another rest stop.  We decided to make this our turn-around point. 

Before heading back, we reminded everyone to control their speed since the majority of the trail would be downhill.  We met a family of riders at the parking lot using a trail-a-bike, and we gave them one of our fliers. 

Next ride is scheduled for Cheeseboro Canyon Saturday May 7th from 9 to noon. Look for the Gray Honda minivan with the CORBA/IMBA stickers; hope to see you there!

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Posted in California, Health, Santa Monica Mountains, Take a Kid Mountain Biking | Comments Closed

Urgent Meeting Regarding MTB Access in Palos Verdes

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Palos Verdes Nature Preserve State Of The Preserve Workshop
Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes will be collecting public input at this workshop to prepare recommendations for amendments to the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Trails Plan. This will include trail use changes and the Filiorum Reserve. The City Council will then consider the recommendations later this summer.

In the past, opponents of off-road bicycling have turned out in large numbers, so it is crucial for lots of cyclists to attend. This is a great opportunity for those who otherwise feel intimidated by public speaking to voice their opinions. Typically, small groups sit at table to discuss topics. No public speaking is needed. See below for more information.

Do you want more trails to ride? Do you want to ride trails in the newly created Filiorum Reserve? CORBA PV will be posting recommendations and suggestions soon.

Please join our mailing list to keep posted on the latest information. info@mtbpv.org.

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Posted in Advocacy, Palos Verdes, Trail Access | Comments Closed

Hikers, Bikers and Equestrians Share Trails

Monday, April 11th, 2011

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Today, Sunday April 10, about one hundred trail users descended upon Sunol Regional Wilderness Park in the Bay Area’s East Bay Regional Parks district. But this was no ordinary group of trail users. Among the multi-use advocates were about 40 mountain bikers, 30 hikers and 30 equestrians, all riding together as a diverse group.

This was a kick-off event for the 2011 California Trails and Greenways Conference, a California State Parks hosted event bringing land managers, planners, trail advocates and trail users together. The theme of this year’s conference is “Engaging Youth and Diversity.”

Today’s ride was a clear demonstration that multi-use principles can work. Cyclists, Hikers and Equestrians can share trails successfully when there is mutual respect from each group. One of the cyclists, a CORBA friend in a CORBA jersey, even swapped “vehicles” with an equestrian (pictured). Events like this bring the trail user community together and everyone wins.

The day started with a fire-road climb to Camp Ohlene, where lunch was served. For the return trip the trail chosen was a very narrow singletrack with some exposure, that is normally closed to bikes and equestrians. It was about six-miles each way, with 1400′ of elevation change. Even on narrow singletrack trails like this, everyone can peacefully co-exist no matter how they choose to experience our open spaces.

CORBA board members Danusia Bennet-Taber and Steve Messer, and CORBA Advisor and founding Director Jim Hasenauer are among the conference attendees, along with representatives from mountain bike advocacy groups from as far away as San Diego and Arcata. It’s a great opportunity to network with trail advocates and land managers and learn from each other, working towards our common goals.

Over the coming days there will be multiple presentaitons on best-practices for trail design, trail maintenance and management. Among the presenters are CORBA founder Kurt Loheit, a nationally-recognized trailbuilding guru, Nat and Rachel Lopes of Hilride, representatives from California State Parks, California Department of Transportation, the Alliance for Biking and Walking, and numerous land managers, trailbuilding experts, advocates and volunteer program coordinators from around the state.

The conference gets underway on Monday, April 11 with a series of day-long concurrent workshops. Over the following days there are over 80 concurrent sessions covering topics as broad and diverse as California’s trails.

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Posted in Advocacy, California, Youth | 1 Comment »

Franklin Canyon Fundraiser

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Reposted from an email sent to CORBA by Ellen Scott. For more information email epaulascott@gmail.com. For additional details click here for a previous article on this blog.

Okay Friends and Preservers of the Hastain Trail in Franklin Canyon!

We are officially ready to fund raise and the kick off for this event is Saturday, April 9th from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. It’s a picnic breakfast, brunch, lunch fund raiser in the meadow by the ranch house in Franklin Canyon.  Bring your own food and/or bring food to share, whatever you like.  Picnic and then hike or hike and then picnic. Come early if it looks like it will be a hot day, come late if it’s cool. Bring your happy selves and your guitar or your harpsichord and your checkbook.  If you can’t make it, send your check with someone who can.  Make it out to Stephen Jones.  His credentials and information follow.
Land Use Attorney Stephen Jones has consulted with us pro bono to this point and is ready to proceed as we have a strong case for ‘Implied Dedication to Public Use.’  (Thank you to those who have come forward with information regarding use of the Hastain Trail from the mid 1960’s to 1972.)  Stephen Jones will continue to work for us at half his normal rate and comes highly recommended.
Mr. Jones’s current information is as follows;
Stephen L. Jones (St. Bar No. 71383)
Overton, Lyman & Prince, LLP
500 South Grand Ave., 19th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Background:    Presently involved in major easement dispute in Malibu
1999-2000  Represented Benedict Canyon Homeowners in defeating
an oversized project.
1976-1983  Atty. with Latham and Watkins  (Land Use and Real Estate
Litigation)
1976 JD from University of Michigan
1967-1969  Member of the Institute of Advanced Studies
1967 PHD in Mathematics from University of Wisconsin
Fun Information:  Stephen Jones has been a U.S. Chess Master since 1962.  He was
the U.S. Senior Chess Champion in 2002 and has held
miscellaneous titles in between.
Pertinent quote: Don Loze of the Benedict Canyon Homeowners Association referred to
Mr. Jones as, “…the best Land Use Attorney in the city… an expert
litigator.”

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Posted in Advocacy, Los Angeles, Trail Access | Comments Closed

MRT Begins Mustard Eradication on the New Millennium Trail

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
New Millenium Trail in 2008, without eradication efforts

New Millenium Trail in April 2008, without eradication efforts

Today, March 28, the Mountains Restoration Trust will begin eradication of the invasive Mustard plants along the New Millennium Trail. Each year by early summer the mustard can choke off the trail and render it near-impassable. This is especially true after above-average rainfall seasons like we’ve experienced this year.

This picture from April 2008 shows how the New Millennium Trail will likely look again if no eradication effort is undertaken.

CORBA has provided funds to the MRT to help support their efforts. This will save many days of brush-clearing trailwork in the early summer, allowing us to concentrate on other trailwork efforts.

We thank the MRT for helping keep this much-loved trail rideable for all.

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Posted in Conejo Valley, Trail Crew, Trail Hazards, Uncategorized | Comments Closed

Potrero Ridge Trail Completed During the COSCA Spring Trailwork Day

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

View of the new trail (green) from the north-west. Other trails in Newbury Park are yellow, Dos Vientos Trails are blue, and the Los Robles West and Rosewood Trails are magenta.

On Saturday March 26, about 55 Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) volunteers, including a dozen from CORBA and a half dozen from the Santa Monica Mountains Trail Council (SMMTC) trail crew, gathered to complete the eastern end of the Potrero Ridge Trail. This completes the multiuse trail that connects Newbury Park to Dos Vientos by dirt. Now when makling a loop of the trails in Newbury Park, Dos Vientos and Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, the section between Wendy Drive and Reino Road can be done on dirt. Before, we needed to use 1.35 miles of road/sidewalk.

Construction on this 1000 feet of trail began in the fall of 2009. Originally, there were plans to work on this trail during the 2009 COSCA fall trailwork day, so the brush was cut out along the path of the future trail. However, all the volunteers worked on the nearby Mountain Creek Trail instead, and it was mostly completed, with only one or two rocky or otherwise difficult sections still needing work. (That trail was finished during the 2010 Spring trailwork day.)

The fallback plan was for the COSCA rangers to rough the trail in with a sweco during the winter of 2009/2010, but the weather did not cooperate. The large amount of rain we had that winter kept the rangers busy fixing up other trails that were damaged by rain runoff. The rest of the year was too dry to effectively use the sweco.

During the 2010 COSCA fall trailwork day, the connector trail between the Santa Rosa Trail and the Lower Santa Rosa Trail (AKA Baseline Trail) in the Santa Rosa Valley was constructed.

Finally this trail’s time had come! Volunteers worked for three hours on Saturday morning with near-perfect weather. It was cloudy and cool, and it had rained a couple of days before so the soil was moist, making it easy to dig and pack without making any dust.

Some of the hillside that the trail traversed was quite steep, so the trail had to be dug deep into the hillside to reach the desired width of three to four feet. And parts of the hillside were very rocky, requiring the liberal use of rock bars in some places. But the volunteers worked hard, taking breaks as they liked, to complete the work in less than three hours. On average, each volunteer was responsible for building 25 feet of trail!

See photos of the work in our 2011 COSCA Spring Trailwork Day photo gallery.

After the work was completed, volunteers gathered at the top of the hill for grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers. CORBA gave out 15%-off coupons from REI to all attendees. After lunch, those who signed up through CORBA gathered for a drawing of prizes, ranging in value from $2 to $20. Everyone won a prize, and everyone who wanted one got a patch kit, tire levers, and a bell.

Thanks to all the volunteers and COSCA staff who helped get this new section of trail on the map and on the ground!

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Posted in Conejo Valley, Trail Crew | Comments Closed

March CORBA Kids Ride: Single Track, Stairs, and Turkey Vultures

Friday, March 25th, 2011

The CORBA Kids Club had another successful fun ride Sunday March 6 in Malibu Creek State Park. We met in the lower parking lot because the upper lot was full due to the marathon.  We scouted  around the upper lot looking for additional participants, and by 9:30 we began our ride.

We started with a mini skills clinic, reviewing the importance of speed control, body positioning, and trail etiquette. The adults demonstrated descending the stairs, and those kids who were comfortable doing so also gave it a try. A few of them wanted to do it again and again.

We then descended down the small dirt path leading to the pavement and led the kids up the hill leading to the Grasslands trail. Once we made it up the first big hill (some riding, most walking), we continued riding until we reached Mulholland Highway.  There we waited for the rest of the group to catch up and catch their breath. During one of these break-and-waits, the older kids attempted to climb off-trail, and we pointed out the erosion and how hiking a non-designated area could damage the terrain. We assured them that there would be an opportunity for
a good climb later.

One at a time, we walked the bikes and the kids across Mulholland where we resumed our ride on the North Grasslands Trail. While riding the single track Grasslands Trail, we saw a member of the Equestrian MVP.  The kids knew to go off to the side and let the horse pass, and the rider complimented us on our trail etiquette. We continued past the power station and determined our turn-around point shortly thereafter.

On the way back, We stopped at the trail leading to the water tower, so the kids could hike up to it and enjoy the views. Two adults were with the kids at all times and the other adults watched the bikes. We then rode back to the cars, while some Turkey Vultures hovered overhead. The two vultures actually landed on the grass near the parking lot, and then took off again, so kids and adults got to see their wing span as they took flight.

You can view the photo gallery for this ride.

Our next ride is scheduled for Saturday April 2. Meet at Cheeseboro Canyon in the upper parking lot. Hope to see you there!

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Posted in Environment, Health, Santa Monica Mountains, Take a Kid Mountain Biking, Youth | Comments Closed

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