CORBA’s eTerraTimes newsletter for July was posted today, July 5th. If you don’t get it by email, you can view the online version on our website.
The July 2018 eTerraTimes newsletter was posted July 5
July 5th, 2018Report on the COSCA Spring Trailwork Day, June 16, 2018
June 17th, 2018
Last month, we started building a new trail that would lead 1.3 miles from Westlake Village Community Park and YMCA up to the Saddle Pass Trail on the ridge above it. This past Saturday we had a larger work day and hoped to finish the trail, but rough terrain made for slow progress, and with only about 70 volunteers, half of what was hoped for, we didn’t make it to the top. But we did compete 0.4 miles of trail, doubling its length. There is a half mile left to connect to the Saddle Pass Trail.
The new trail work areas had a very steep cross-slope. That meant that we had to dig out a lot of dirt to create a trail with the standard 4′-wide tread. On top of that, the dirt was mixed with lots of rocks that made the digging difficult. But the volunteers persevered and we ended up with some sweet new trail!
Lunch was catered by Billy D’s BBQ in Newbury Park. There was lots for everybody!
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out! To see more photos, visit our photo gallery of the Spring trail work day.
Sapwi Trails Bike Park Fundraiser on Thursday June 14!
June 5th, 2018The Conejo Valley’s first bike park is nearly a reality. Help us with our fund raising efforts. Get your tickets (link below) to join us for a progress update on the Sapwi Bike Park, our fundraising campaign kick-off, and viewing of movie “The Moment“. The event will be held at Giant Bicycles North American Headquarters in Newbury Park.
Ticket price of $15 includes admission to movie, light snacks, and a raffle ticket! Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the venue; must be present to win.
Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sapwi-bike-park-movie-night-the-moment-tickets-45814979838
CHECK-IN & MINGLE: 6:00pm
PROGRAM START: 6:45pm
Q&A plus RAFFLE: Immediately following movie
Stay up to date on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SapwiBikePark/ or our website sapwibikepark.com
Report on the COSCA Bonus Trailwork Day, May 26, 2018
June 5th, 2018
37 volunteers came out to start building the newest trail in the Conejo Valley on May 26th. We completed about 0.4 miles! When finished the trail will extend from the Westlake Village Community Park and YMCA up to the Saddle Pass Trail, a distance of 1.3 miles. Another trail, to be built after this one is complete, will return to the other side of the community park and will bring the total to 2.5 miles of new trail.
After trailwork on Saturday, we were treated to submarine sandwiches, soft drinks, chips, fruit, etc. by the COSCA rangers.
Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help! To see more photos, visit our photo gallery of the bonus trailwork day.
June Skills Clinic photos posted June 4
June 4th, 2018We had another large group of 15 riders this month. Graham took over the photography for Steve again this month – Thanks! There were several events going on in addition to the Skills Clinic.
The Basic Skills Clinic is always held the first Saturday of the month at Malibu Creek State Park.
You can see the photos in our June photo gallery.
Caution: SoCalGas Working in Sullivan Canyon through May
May 18th, 2018
Sullivan Canyon, Photo by Bryan Gordon
Please use caution riding or hiking Sullivan Canyon through the end of May.
Since 1960, Southern California Gas Company (“SoCaIGas”) has owned much of the land that comprises Sullivan Canyon (more than 4 miles in length). It’s a popular area for mountain bikers, runners and hikers, and we all appreciate being able to use the area for recreation.
SoCalGas is planning to conduct yearly maintenance activities trimming overgrown vegetation in Sullivan Canyon, starting next Wednesday, May 23rd. The work should not take longer than 8 days. Work hours are 7 AM to 2 PM.
There will be Bio-monitors on site with the workers. A “Bird Survey” assessment will be performed prior to starting the work. SoCalGas has a current programmatic permit in place to cover this environmental work.
All trails will remain open to pedestrians and bikers, but please use caution. Watch for changed conditions, workers and equipment. They will have 2 people dedicated to trail user safety. They are there to help keep the area open for the week the work is conducted, so please follow their direction.
Kali Protectives Donates Helmets & Gloves for Youth Adventures Program!
May 16th, 2018
At our April public monthly CORBA board meeting at REI last month, we learned that one of our vital programs, CORBA Youth Adventures Program, was in need of helmets and gloves.
“Youth Adventures was implemented as a way of reaching out to groups of children that have had limited exposure to public parklands. Mountain bike rides are scheduled with organizations that serve disadvantaged, inner-city or at-risk youth from ages 8-17 and are held in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Youth Adventures supplies the bikes, helmets, gloves, water and snacks.”
During the meeting, I pinged my long time Kali guy Jon Sacks who has been my Kali link for many years via GGR: Girlz Gone Riding, whom they have supported since day one. I personally have been wearing Kali Protective products for the last 10 years.
John contacted the local rep Jason to see what could be done to help the program for these kids and between the two of them they made it happen!
Voila, a few weeks later look what arrives! Thank you Kali Protectives!
— Wendy Engleberg, CORBA Board Member
May Skills Clinic photos posted May 5
May 5th, 2018We had a relatively large group of 14 riders this month. It was a hot day in the park (a little over 90-degrees) and the park was very crowded. There seemed to be several events going on in addition to the Skills Clinic.
The Basic Skills Clinic is always held the first Saturday of the month at Malibu Creek State Park.
You can see the photos in our May photo gallery.
The May 2018 eTerraTimes newsletter was posted May 3
May 3rd, 2018CORBA’s eTerraTimes newsletter for May was posted today, May3. If you don’t get it by email, you can the online version on our website.
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Management Plan Released
May 3rd, 2018
On April 20, 2018, some five months after the mandated 3 year time frame, the Forest Service released the final San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Management Plan and associated Environmental Analysis to the public for review. The release kicks off a 45-day objection period.
Under the Forest Service’s revised 2012 Planning Rule, during an objection period any person or entity that submitted substantive public comments on the draft plan can object only to items or topics that were in their formally-submitted comments that were not addressed in the final plan. This means that CORBA, having submitted substantive comments with the Mount Wilson Bicycling Association, can only object to elements of the final plan that are directly related to those comments.
We were also signatories to the San Gabriel Mountains Community Collaborative’s comments. As chair of the Trails and Recreation Ad-Hoc Committee, CORBA’s Steve Messer helped develop the collaborative’s comments, along with many experts in their respective fields (biology, utilities, cultural history, social justice, etc). The Collaborative is diving deep into the released plan to see if there is anything to which we have the basis for an objection. Thus far, we have uncovered some inconsistencies between different sections of the plan, but the majority of the Collaborative’s comments appear to have been addressed in the final plan.
Some of CORBA’s comments were aspirational and beyond the scope of a Management Plan, others were more practical and project-specific, also not suitable for a Management Plan. As was the case with the draft plan, we have found nothing in the plan that negatively impacts mountain biking. There are aspects, such as the PCT viewshed protections, which we noted in our original comments, could have an impact on future trail development, overall we are confident that the plan allows for continued bicycle access to existing trails in the SGMNM.
As we delve further into the intricacies of the newly released planning documents, we’ll be sure to report on any further issues we find. The plan documents are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46964 and look for the Decision documents.
The documents are available here as well:
