Ridge Lines Newsletter, Winter 2004 ~ Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

8/9/2019 Ridge Lines Newsletter, Winter 2004 ~ Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

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As this edition of the newsletterwent to press, preparationswere being made to dedicate

the new multi-use 3.6-mile Big RockTrail in Marin County as a section ofthe Bay Area Ridge Trail. The MarinCounty Open Space District openedthe trail to the public this past April,and has found the trail to be a popularaddition to the countys trail network.It climbs gradually 1,000 feet from

Lucas Valley Road in San Rafael up anopen south-facing slope to the top ofBig Rock Ridge, where the trail user isrewarded with inspiring views from1,895 feet.

The Big Rock Trail passes in andout of grassland, woodland, and chap-arral, as well as actively grazed lands.The summit, Big Rock Ridge, is thesecond highest point in Marin Countyafter Mount Tamalpais. John Aransonis the trail steward for the Bay AreaRidge Trail, and at his previous jobwith the Marin County Open SpaceDistrict, he oversaw the constructionof the trail. He comments, Whenyoure walking on Big Rock Ridge, youfeel like youre walking on top of theearth. You can see the complex ofopen-space preserves to the north, SanPablo Bay, the East Bay, San Fran-cisco, and Mount Tamalpais. Itsbreathtaking. At the ridge, the newtrail connects with the Big Rock RidgeFire Road, which heads east and afterabout 2.5 miles connects with theChicken Shack and Queenstone FireRoads in the Ignacio Valley andPacheco Valle Open Space Preserves.About a mile from this intersection,the Queenstone Fire Road connects toMiller Creek Road in Marinwood.

Across from the Big Rock Trail

trailhead, on the other side of LucasValley Road, one can continue southon the Bay Area Ridge Trail by takingthe 2.5-mile Loma Alta Trail, dedi-cated in 2001. There are only a fewgaps south of the Loma Alta Trail andit is expected that within a few years,these gaps will be closed and the RidgeTrail will be open all the way from theGolden Gate Bridge to Big RockRidge. This long stretch will havesome gaps, however, for equestriansand bicyclists.

Most of the bottom section of thenew trail passes through the districts1,587-acre Lucas Valley Open SpacePreserve. The first few hundred yardsof the trail is an easement throughLucasfilms Grady Ranch, and a longsection of the upper trail is an ease-ment through Lucasfilms Big RockRanch. Lucasfilm, Ltd. granted theeasements in return for securingapproval for construction of a newoffice complex on 56 acres of its prop-erty. Additionally, Lucasfilm conveyed800 acres of Grady Ranch to the OpenSpace District, and this land is nowpart of the Lucas Valley Open SpacePreserve. The Marin Agricultural LandTrust also received a conservationeasement from Lucasfilm over 1,061

acres of the Big Rock Ranch. At thetop of the ridge, just beyond the newlydedicated Ridge Trail segment, the dis-trict secured an easement agreementfrom the Hill Ranch family for sectionsof the Big Rock Ridge Fire Road.

Of the 3.6 miles of trail, 2.5 milesis newly built. The Marin CountyOpen Space District built the newsection over a five-month period andspent $160,000. The Bay Area RidgeTrail gave the project a boost by mak-ing a $40,000 grant from its Proposition12 funding, provided by the CoastalConservancy. The district used inno-vative methods to build the trail: aSweco trail-building machine andSutter Walls, a type of retaining wallthat allows for quick installation.Helicopters brought in three 20-footstate-of-the-art, lightweight, multi-use trails bridges. Trails Unlimitedhelped the district build the trail, aswell as three construction workerswho were hired from Brent Harris

Construction. On one volunteer trailbuilding day, dozens of people showedup to pitch in.

To get to the trail, from Highway101 in north San Rafael take the LucasValley Road exit and drive west forabout four miles to the crest of theroad, where youll see Big Rock on yourright (see photograph below). Limitedparking is available on the south side ofthe road for six cars. Be careful crossingLucas Valley Road. On the trail, pleasepay attention to the posted privateproperty signs, and because the trail isnarrow, be careful to watch for otherusers. For more information on the trailand the districts nearby preserves, viewthe district web site atmarinopenspace.org.

Elizabeth Byers

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Views Abound on New Big Rock Trail

O F T H E B A Y A R E A R I D G E T R A I L C O U N C I L

The inspiring view from Big Rock Ridge (top) and the view up to the ridge from the beginning of the trail(above). Look for Big Rock at the trailhead (bottom of page).Top photo by Chris Bramham, MarinCounty Open Space District. Other photos by Elizabeth Byers.

Map by Ben Pease.

Ridge Lines


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Watershed Ridge Trail Officially Opens

An enthusiastic crowd gathered on August 21 to celebrate the opening of the9.5-mile multi-use Bay Area Ridge Trail within the Peninsula Watershed in SanMateo County. The dedication took place in the watershed and was attended bySan Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, SanMateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin, San Francisco Public Utility commission-ers, and more than one hundred others.

This event was truly a celebration. The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council has

been working to open the watershed since the organizations founding fifteen yearsago. Over the years, the debate about public access focused on how recreationcould be accommodated in the watershed with minimal impact. The 23,000-acrewatershed contains the highest concentration of rare, unusual, and endangeredspecies in the Bay Area, as well as three drinking-water reservoirs that serve SanFrancisco and the Peninsula. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission(SFPUC), which manages the watershed, voted in December to approve guidedtours on the trail. At the dedication, Mayor Willie Brown commented, Intactnative habitat so close to an urban setting is a remarkable gift.

Ridge Trail Council Executive Director Holly Van Houten expresses herexcitement about the new trail: This trail was our largest missing gap in oneownership, so this was a very important dedication for us. The trail goes throughsome of the best lands in the coastal Bay Area. The trail is a gravel fire road, andit extends from Highway 92 to the Portola Gate at Sweeny Ridge. From the Por-tola Gate, one can continue north on Sweeny Ridge in the Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area.

The public can make reservations to take guided excursions on foot, bicycle,

or horseback. Guided tours are offered up to three times per day on Wednesdays,Saturdays, and Sundays. The SFPUC coordinates the tours, which are limited to20 people. Contact trail.sfwater.org or call 650-652-3203 to sign up for a tour. Anofficial Fifield-Cahill Ridge Trail brochure can be downloaded from the website.Donors to the year-end appeal (see The View from Here) may also qualify toparticipate in a special docent-led tour organized by the Ridge Trail Council.

The SFPUC still needs volunteers to lead hikers, mountain bikers, and eques-trians one or two days a month. To apply as a volunteer leader download anapplication form at volunteer.sfwater.org or call 650-652-3203.

Benicia Trail Dedicated

On September 27 more than 75 people gathered to celebrate the completion ofthe two-mile multi-use Benicia Trail, a new segment of both the Ridge Trail and theBay Trail. Located in the Benicia State Recreation Area on the Dillon Point Penin-sula, the trail offers dramatic views overlooking the Carquinez Strait. California StateParks oversaw trail construction and built the trail to American with Disabilities Actstandards. The Trust for Public Land, the Bay Trail, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Coun-cil, State Parks, and the Coastal Conservancy all contributed funding to the$346,000 project. Also, more than 135 Boy Scouts pitched in to help build the trail.

Public officials came out to celebrate, and each spoke at the ceremony, includ-ing State Senator Liz Figueroa, Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, Vallejo Major TonyIntintoli, and Benicia Mayor Steve Messina. State Senator Liz Figueroa marveledthat by building these regional trails, we are leaving a wonderful legacy for theSan Francisco Bay Area.

All of the project partners attended the dedication and their representatives alsospoke at the event: Acting District Superintendent Brian Hickey, Sonoma SectorSuperintendent John Crossman, and Park Maintenance Worker Toni McRorie, all

from California State Parks; Holly Van Houten, executive director of the Bay AreaRidge Trail Council; Rick Parmer, chair of the Bay Trails board of directors; andNadine Hitchcock, program manager with the Coastal Conservancy. Kathy Hoff-man, co-chair of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Councils Solano County Committee,served as mistress of ceremonies.

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council presented certificates of appreciation toSammy Gonzales and Mayor Intintoli. Gonzales works for the Vallejo Public WorksDepartment and has been instrumental in helping to determine trail alignments inthe Vallejo-Benicia area. Intintoli, Vallejos mayor for the past eleven years, hasalways strongly supported the Ridge Trail. After the ceremony, Park SuperintendentJohn Crossman led an interpretive tour along the new trail segment.

Many thanks to those who helped with the dedication event: Jane Bogner, DonnaBurla, Kathy Blume, Carlo Carlucci, Kathy Hoffman, Doris Klein, Joe Ingenito, LorrieThomas-Dosset, Laura Thompson, and Dee Swanhuyser. Thanks also to Pacific Gasand Electric Company for underwriting all of the Ridge Trails fall dedications.

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Dear Friends,This summer I had the great opportunity to tour Spain and

Portugal by bicycle (organized by Backroads, the Berkeley tourcompany which of ten sponsors the Ridge Trail Council). This tourfollowed one route of the Camino de Santiago, the historic pilgrimageroute across northern Spain. Starting in 1175, pilgrims came fromall over Europe to the Santiago de Compostela cathedral, where

the remains of Saint James are said to be buried. Whether for areligious awakening or a great summer vacation, hundreds of

thousands of backpackers, horseback riders, and bicyclists stilltravel today along this historic route.

One of the things I learned on this trip was that many historiansbelieve the roads, bridges, and lodging developed to support these

pilgrims led in large measure to the creation of modern Europe. Working here atthe Ridge Trail you can imagine how I particularly liked the thought that a trailhelped modernize society! Can we claim the same about the Bay Area Ridge Trail?Certainly, our work preserves the pastin addition to creating a public trail, wepreserve pristine open spaces, historic farmlands, wildlife corridors, and native plant

habitats. We also know our work ensures that in the present and in the future youhave the opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

We're pleased that the Ridge Trail Council has been able to attract so muchpublic funding in recent yearsthrough park bonds supported by the votersallowing us to add more Ridge Trail miles. At the same time, the council needs toattract more and more private funding from members and donors like yourself tokeep our staff working on the next section of trail. In the coming year, your annualmembership and support for our various appeals will account for nearly two-thirdsof our operating budget. It is becoming increasingly important that we leveragepublic funding with private matching funds.

By now you should have received your year-end appeal letter. Please reflect onhow much the Ridge Trail Council offersnow and in the futureand considergiving generously to support our shared vision of a Bay Area connected by trails andopen spaces. Your help is truly critical to our work. We cannot continue it without you.

Happy Trails!

Holly Van Houten

COUNCIL NEWS

Tilden-Wildcat Horsemen Ride Benefits Ridge Trail

One hundred Bay Area equestrians participated in a five-day Labor Day week-end ride in the East Bay Hills that raised funds for the Bay Area Ridge TrailCouncil. Organized by the Tilden-Wildcat Horsemens Association, the ridebegan in Anthony Chabot Regional Park, and traversed Ridge Trail sections inChabot, Redwood, Huckleberry, Sibley, Tilden, and Wildcat Regional Parks, aswell as in the East Bay Municipal Utility District watershed. The 20 to 35 riderseach day came from all over the Bay Area and camped out in Chabot, Tilden, andBriones Regional Parks. Riders rode as many days as they were able, and at theirown pace in small groups. The volunteers were fabulous, the trails beautiful, thefood scrumptious, the weather perfect, and the esprit-de-corps contagious.

The ride raised $5,000 for the Bay Area Ridge Trail, and Bay Area Barns andTrails provided a challenge grant and doubled the donation to $10,000. Ride co-

coordinators Martha Mikesell, Eric Schroeder, Judy Etheridge, and Morris Olderwere assisted by 35 volunteers, including members from the Metropolitan Horse-mens Association and the Moraga Horsemens Association. Thanks also go toBob Power of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.Morris Older

Tour de Fat Fundraiser a Success

On July 26 the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council raised over $3,900 by participating inthe Tour de Fat, a bike and beer community festival held at the MLK Jr. Civic CenterPark in Berkeley. The event, part of a national tour, was sponsored by the New BelgiumBrewing Company of Fort Collins, Colorado and included morning rides organized byMikes Bike Shop of Berkeley, fun bike games, beer tasting, and music. The companymakes four beers, its most popular being Fat Tire Amber Ale. The purpose of the Tourde Fat is to plan with local communities a fun, green, and enlightening event that assem-bles and celebrates the multiple facets and subcultures of bicycles while earning revenuefor cycling, alternative transportation, and trail conservation nonprofit organizations.

The Ridge Trail provided volunteers to run the beer garden and in return, receivedall the proceeds from the sales. As many as 1,000 people attended the event. AndreaManion and Ruth Zamist, Ridge Trail board members, coordinated the recruitment ofvolunteers. Ruth even obtained a beer license from the Alcohol Beverage ControlBoard and attended a Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs class to fully under-stand the responsibilities that come with serving an alcoholic beverage at such an event.Many thanks to the New Belgium Brewing Company, and to the 26 volunteers whohelped out at this fun event.Ruth Zamist

Remember the Year-End Appeal!

Many of you recently received a letter asking you to consider making a gift byyear end to the Ridge Trail Council. Your contributions are so vitalthey allowus to carry out the many activities you care about, like opening new sections ofthe Ridge Trail. Your support is much appreciated and helps so much! This year,your donation may also qualify you for a special docent-led tour of the newlyopened Peninsula Watershed trail.

CLOSING THE GAPS

GGNRA Superintendent and Ridge Trail BoardMember Brian ONeill, San Francisco Mayor WillieBrown, San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano,and Ridge Trail Executive Director Holly VanHouten (right). Photo by Dee Swanhuyser.

Ridge Trail board members andstaff celebrate attending thewatershed trail opening pose nextto the commemorative plaque atQuarry Gate (left).

Photo by Elizabeth Byers.


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SOLANO

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Pacifica

Half Moon Bay

Kenwood

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Concord

WalnutCreek

Vacaville

HaywardLivermore

Fremont

Milpitas

Los Altos

San Jose

LosGatos

MorganHill

Gilroy

Santa Cruz

Vallejo

NapaSonoma

Petaluma

Novato

Sebastopol

Santa Rosa

PinoleSan Rafael

Richmond

Sausalito

Berkeley

SanFrancisco

Oakland

San Bruno

SanMateo

RedwoodCity

Yountville

The proposed trail corridor represents a conceptual plan to connect

the remaining parks and public open spaces within the Bay Area RidgeTrail corridor. This conceptual map conveys no rights to the public toenter private property without the owners permission.

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1. SWETT/KING RANCHES HIKESBY-INVITATION OUTINGSSolano CountySaturdays, December 6, January 17,February 7, March 20 and April 10Time: 9:00 AM 1:00 PMDistance/Pace: 6 to 7 miles with less than 1000'elevation gain. Moderate pace.Explore lands that are not yet open to the publicbut will soon include a segment of the Bay AreaRidge Trail. Each hike will go to another corner ofthe ranches. Excellent views of bay, marsh, creeksand grasslands abound. There are no trails; longpants, water, snacks, and good boots are recom-mended. Sponsored by the Bay Area Ridge Trailand the Solano Land Trust. Heavy rain cancels.Directions: Meet at the Park and Ride lot at theHiddenbrooke Parkway/American Canyon Roadexit of I-80. We will carpool to the trailhead.Contact: Kathy Blume, 707-864-2108

2. SECOND ANNUAL PRESIDIO TOURSan FranciscoSaturday, December 20Time: 10 AM 1:30 PM

Distance/Pace: 6 to 7 miles, moderateJoin Executive Director Holly Van Houten to cele-brate the winter solstice and prepare for the NewYear by circumnavigating the Presidio on the RidgeTrail and following Tennessee Hollow creeks. Onthis special tour youll learn more about the historyand restoration of the Presidio.Directions: Meet at the corner of Arguello andWest Pacific near the Presidio Golf Course, justinside the Arguello gate.Contact: RVSP to the Ridge Trail office at 415-561-2595 so we can notify you in case rain cancelsthe outing.

3. SIERRA AZUL HIKESanta Clara CountySaturday, January 3Time: 9:30 AM 4:30 PMDistance: 11 miles, 2500' elevation gainHike from Kennedy Road to Hicks Road in the16,727-acre Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Partof the hike will be on the Woods Trail, the newRidge Trail segment below Mt. Umhunhum. Br inglunch, water, rain gear, and layers.Contact: Matt Hahne, 408-749-9968 evenings

4. OUTING LEADERS GET-TOGETHERSan FranciscoSaturday, January 10Time: 10:00 AM 1:00 PMAre you currently an outings leader or consideringbecoming one for the Bay Area Ridge Trail? Comejoin us to learn more about the trail and how youcan help people get out to explore it. Lunch pro-vided. Held at the Ridge Trail Council office.Contact: Please RSVP at 415-561-2595. Call fordirections to our office in the Presidio.

5. ED LEVIN PARK HIKESanta Clara CountySaturday, January 24Time: 10:00 AM 1:00 PMDistance: 4 to 5 miles, moderate paceWalk the Ridge Trail and the future Ridge Trail

route in the 1,544-acre park. Bring snacks, water,rain gear, and layers. Rain cancels.Directions: Meet at the main entrance on Calav-eras Road.Contact:Jim Foran, 408-434-0101

6. JOSEPH GRANT PARK HIKESanta Clara CountySaturday, February 7Time: 10:00 AM 4:00 PMDistance: 8 miles, 1500' elevation gainThis county park sits on the slopes of 4207' MountHamilton. The Ridge Trail has lookout points from2400' and traverses the parks western boundary.Meet at the main parking area (entry fee). Bringlunch, water, rain gear, and layers.Contact: Matt Hahne, 408-749-9968 evenings

7. SAN FRANCISCO LOOP HIKESan FranciscoSaturday, February 21Time: 10:00 AM 2:00 PMDistance/Elevation Gain: 6 to 7 miles with about800' of elevation gainPace: Moderate

Description: Well follow the Bay Area Ridge Trailroute as it gradually ascends to the Twin Peaks areawhere well take in the extraordinary views fromChristmas Tree Point and the northernmost TwinPeak. Well return to West Portal through ForestKnolls, Sunset Heights, Golden Gate Heights, andForest Hill, enjoying many of San Franciscos neigh-borhood stairways along the way. Leader Ron Brownwill provide some interesting tidbits of historical andcurrent information about the area west of Twin Peaks.Directions: Meet in front of the Squat and GobbleCaf at the corner of West Portal Ave. and Ulloa St.(directly across from the West Portal MUNI station).The K, L, and M MUNI train lines stop at West Por-tal, and these train lines can be accessed at each ofthe four downtown BART stations, making publictransportation an easy alternative. If you drive,unlimited parking is available on the residentialstreets near the West Portal MUNI on weekends.Contact: Ron Brown, 925-376-8708 [email protected]. Rain will postpone, sobe sure to give Ron your contact information so hecan let you know the new date if it rains.

8. PENITENCIA CREEK HIKESanta Clara CountySaturday, March 6Time: 10:00 AM 2:30 PMDistance: 4 miles, 500' elevation gainMeet at the upper (east) end of Penitenica CreekRoad, parking for the west walk-in entry to AlumRock Park. Bring, lunch water, raingear, and layers.Contact: Matt Hahne, 408-749-9968 evenings

9. TRAILS CONFERENCEFolsom, CaliforniaThursday-Sunday, March 25-28The annual California Trails and Greenways confer-ence, organized by California State Parks, will havesessions on planning, funding, construction, GIS,GPS, advocacy, managing volunteers, and more.Contact: Statewide Trails Office at 916-653-6501or parks.ca.gov.

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H I K E S , B I K E S , R I D E S , A N D W O R K P A R T I E S

Outings &UpkeepRidge TrailW I N T E R 2 0 0 4

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New Guides Feature Bay Area Trails

Wilderness Press recently released two books that may

be of interest to Ridge Trail enthusiastsCamping andBackpacking in the San Francisco Bay Area and Trail RunnersGuide: San Francisco Bay Area.

The camping and backpacking book by Matt Heidfeatures more than two dozen drive-up campgrounds and30 backcountry trail maps (covering more than 200

miles of trail) within a two-hour drive from the BayArea. This is the first and only comprehensive guide tothe regions campgrounds and backcountry trail camps.

More than ten parks through which theRidge Trail passes are featured in the book.Recommended hiking and mountain bik-

ing routes are included, and mile-by mile

route descriptions for backpacking trips.Matt Heid also provides practical advice

on the best time to visit, how to avoidcrowds, and how to make reservations. ATrips by Theme section helps you choosea trip by nineteen different criteria,including places featuring epic views,lakes, or old-growth redwoods.

The Trail Runners Guide by Jessica Lagelists fifty runs in the Bay Area and includesmaps and detailed descriptions for each run.

The featured runs will appeal to runners of every ability. Many of the runs arelocated on the Ridge Trail. To obtain either book, contact the Wilderness Pressat www.wildernesspress.com or 510-558-1666, or check your local bookstore.

New Maps Highlight the Ridge TrailTwo new maps by Ridge Trail volunteer Ben Pease show

the Bay Area Ridge Trail and nearby parks in San Mateo and

Marin Counties. Trails of the Coastside, published in late2002, covers parks from southern San Francisco to HalfMoon Bay. This two-sided map shows the Ridge Trail from

Stern Grove south past Fort Funston into Pacifica, and fromSkyline College to Sweeney Ridge. It also includes SanBruno Mountain, Montara Mountain, the Sawyer Camp

Trail, and the north half of the Peninsula Watershed (one ofthe newest Ridge Trail segments, open to docent-led tours).

The just published second edition ofTrails of NortheastMarin County includes two Ridge Trail segments: the LomaAlta Trail and new Big Rock Trail, and the Ridge Traillinking Indian Tree and Mount Burdell Open Space

Preserves in Novato. It also shows Olompali State His-toric Park, China Camp State Park, and a dozen MarinCounty open space preserves. This map was first pub-

lished in 2001.A native of Boston, Ben Pease has lived in and hiked

all around the San Francisco Bay Area for 27 years. As

co-chair of the Ridge Trail Council San Francisco Com-mittee from 1988 to 1993, he helped plan and sign theRidge Trail through San Francisco. He is a freelance car-

tographer, making maps for guidebooks, self-publishingseveral trail maps, and contributing to Ridge Lines andBay Nature. Pease Presss online catalog includes informa-tion about his maps and services, and orderinginformation (www.peasepress.com).

Learn about the latest Ridge Trail outing or dedicationevent by e-mail!

We have successfully launched a monthly e-mail to members announcing upcomingevents on the Ridge Trail. This is the best way to learn about newly announced hikes

or rides and to get updated information on how to participate in the next trail opening. Allwe need is your e-mail address. Please send a note to Martha Benioff, our office manager, [email protected].

NEW PUBLICATIONS


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Runners Circle the Bay Area

On September 4, ultra-runners Gillian Robinson and Don Lundell finished their amazing 500-mile Run

for the Ridge along the length of the Ridge Trail route. Gillian, a 37-year-old technical writer from MountainView, and Don, a 41-year-old software engineer from Boulder Creek, started and ended their journey at theGolden Gate Bridge. They completed the run in just 13 days, each day averaging 41 miles and consuming

3,000 to 5,000 calories to keep up their strength. They even kayaked across the Carquinez Strait, theirhalfway point, since there is no pedestrian access across the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.

This was by far the hardest run Gillian and Don had ever done. The runners typically started each day

early in the morning and stopped running very late in the evening, sometimes into the middle of the night!Sleep deprivation proved to be their greatest challenge. They also spent a fair amount of time reading direc-tions, finding their way, and coordinating with volunteers on cell phones. Volunteers helped along the

length of the run by bringing food and water, and at night driving the runners to where they would spendthe night.

Don and Gillian ran 250 miles of the completed Ridge Trail, and the other half of the run was ontrails and roads. In many places where theRidge Trail is not yet in place the runnersobtained permission from property owners to

cross their land. They enjoyed getting to knowall the parks along the Ridge Trail, and foundthe great views to be inspiring. After they

completed their run, they spent a week doingabsolutely nothing.

Gillian talks about why they did this run:

Many people dont know this amazing trailexists. When people see what a wonderfulopportunity the Ridge Trail is, we believe they

will want to help close the gaps to create a con-tinuous trail. Don and Gillian thank theirfriends, who provided much help and support.

Thanks also go to the runs sponsors: The Run-ners High, Pacific Coast Trail Runs, and California Canoe and Kayak.

Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

1007 General Kennedy Avenue, Suite 3

San Francisco, California 94129

Printed on recycled paper.

R I D G E L I N E S W I N T E R 2 0 0 4

BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL COUNCIL(415) 561-2595 (PHONE)

(415) 561-2599 (FAX)

www.ridgetrail.org

Board ofDirectorsBill LongChair

Mary BurnsVice Chair

Michael KelleySecretary

John HarringtonTreasurer

Thomas Beck

Kathy Blume

Mary C. Davey

Mark Evanoff

Steve Fiala

Mark Frederick

Joel Gartland

David Hansen

Don Herzog

Doug Kerseg

Steve KinseyGlenn Kirby

Carol Kunze

Frank Morris

Brian ONeill

Brian Smith

Sandy Sommer

Ray Sullivan

Carol Vellutini

Barbara Weitz

Ruth Zamist

StaffHolly Van HoutenExecutive Director

Bob PowerSouth & East Bay TrailDirector

Dee SwanhuyserNorth Bay Trail Director

John AransonTrail Steward

Camie BontaitesProgram Coordinator

Martha BenioffOffice Manager

Ridge LinesEditorElizabeth Byers

DesignerBobbi Sloan Design

PrinterLasting Impressions

Thanks to Clif Bar for becoming aproduct sponsor of the Bay AreaRidge Trail Council.

Thanks to PG&E for sponsoringour fall dedications.

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

PERMIT NO. 3001

Please note that occasionally we share our membership list with other worthy nonprofit organizations. Exchanging namesgreatly benefits both organizations. It helps publicize the Ridge Trail to more people and increase our membership. If you donot want your name to be included in these exchanges, however, please contact the office at 415-561-2595 or [email protected] and we'll make sure your name is removed from future exchanges.

Gillian and Don begin their run at the Golden GateBridge. Photo by Ruth Zamist. Don runs in the FranklinHills above Martinez (left). Photo by Gillian Robinson.Gillian heads down the trail toward Ed Levin County Parkin Santa Clara County. Photo by Don Lundell.

The new Ridge Trail andBay Trai in the Benicia StateRecreation Area. Photo byElizabeth Byers.

Ridge Lines Newsletter, Winter 2004 ~ Bay Area Ridge Trail Council

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Transcript of Ridge Lines Newsletter, Winter 2004 ~ Bay Area Ridge Trail Council