Timber Top, Big Sur © 2005 by Tom Killion I tomkillion.com

VENTANA WILDERNESS WATCHventanawild.org

2017Annual Report

You Can’t Get ThereFrom Here

Frogs and Toads of the Ventana Region

Newsletter of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance Volume 19 Number 1 I Spring 2018

P r o t e c t i n g t h e B i g S u r B a c k c o u n t r y

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VENTANA WILDERNESS WATCHNewsletter of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance

PO Box 506 I Santa Cruz, California 95061(831) 423-3191 I ventanawild.org

The mission of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance

is to protect, preserve and restore the wilderness qualities and

biodiversity of the public lands within California’s northern

Santa Lucia Mountains and Big Sur coast.

BOARD of DIRECTORSTom Hopkins, President

David Jacobs, CPA, TreasurerMaria Ferdin, Secretary

Betsy MacGowan, Director at LargeAl Budris, Director at Large

Greg Meyer, Director at LargeElizabeth Thomas, Director at Large

John Tilley, Director at LargeDottie Massey, Director at Large

STAFFToan Do, Youth in Wilderness

Program ManagerAmy Patten,

Administrative Assistant Richard Popchak, Communications

and Development Director Mike Splain, Executive Director

Trevor Willits, Stewardship Program Coordinator

NEWSLETTER PRODUCTIONEditor: Richard Popchak

Design: Lynn PiquettPrinting: Community Printers, Santa Cruz

Printed on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper with agri-based inks.

The rugged scenery of Northern California inspired Tom Killion from an early age to create landscape prints using linoleum and wood, strongly

influenced by the traditional Japanese ukiyo-ë style of Hokusai and Hiroshige. A long-time supporter of VWA, Tom’s image of Ventana Double Cone is the centerpiece of our logo. Tom has been producing block prints of the Ventana region since the late 1970’s. Many of his striking Big Sur prints are included in his most recent collaboration with poet Gary Snyder, California’s Wild Edge: The Coast in Prints, Poetry, and History, published by Heyday Books. Please visit tomkillion.com for more information.

ON THE COVER

Message from the Executive Director It’s been almost two years since the

Soberanes Wildland Fire; and more than

a year since one of the heaviest winters in

recorded history dumped record rainfall

on denuded slopes. That “perfect storm”

reshaped the backcountry severely enough

that familiar places may be barely recogniz-

able. Road and trail closures, fallen trees,

and fire-prompted regrowth have rendered

many destinations unappealing, others

nearly inaccessible. As is the boom and

bust reality of a rapidly changing climate,

2018 is an entirely different story. Unless

we’re blessed with unseasonal levels of late

spring precipitation, more months of this year will be spent in fire season than out.

Regardless, spring has sprung! It’s prime time to get out and give back; and in the spirit of

the season, VWA field programs are in full swing. Volunteer and contract trail crews are

working hard to improve and restore access. Youth in Wilderness expeditions are booked

solid, with Field Instructors doing their best to pay it forward and inspire a brand-new

generation. Volunteer Rangers are protecting Wilderness character by cleaning up camps

and helping the Forest Service manage an ever-increasing number of visitors with fewer

and fewer places to go.

For some of us, it’s enough to know that these wild places exist. We’d stand up and fight

for Wilderness simply for its intrinsic value—as a bastion where natural processes prevail,

and as habitat for the millions of species with whom we share this fragile planet. Other

folks prioritize self-reliance, primitive recreation, solitude, or spiritual values. Still others

(including many VWA youth program participants) have yet to encounter landscapes as

awe-inspiring as the Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses. To know these places is to love

them; to love them is to rise to their defense.

This issue of Ventana Wilderness Watch begins by highlighting an especially hard-working

cadre of Wilderness defenders. And whatever your motivation, if you’re seeking someplace

wild, read on for an overview of current conditions and worthwhile destinations. Assuming

your aim is reasonable hiking with some semblance of solitude, we’ve also included

recommendations of some places to avoid. We’ll examine some of the fascinating critters

that, like us, cannot live without wild places. Last but definitely not least, we’ll acknowledge

the partners, funders, and members who make this labor of love a reality. Our hope is that

you’ll be inspired to join their ranks and to roll up your sleeves and get involved because,

as Ed Abbey famously recognized, “The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs

more defenders.”

Mike Splain I mike@ventanawild.org

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Rangers Defend Wilderness Volunteer Wilderness Rangers have completed 438 patrols since the program’s inception.

Since 2010, VWRs have donated 15,091 hours of service, an in-kind contribution of $390,827 to public lands in the Big Sur backcountry.

We would like to thank Steve Benoit, Lead Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, for managing the program from its nascent stages to where it is today. Leading this program requires tremendous attention to detail and follow-through. We can’t thank Steve enough. Steve reminds us that without the dedication, creativity, and resolve of Beth Benoit and Lynn Moncher, he’d be in over his head. Thanks to Beth, Lynn, and all the other Rangers for their amazing work.

Please contact us at vwa@ventanawild.org or 831-423-3191 if you’re interested in becoming a VWR. Candidates need to be self-motivated, familiar with the Big Sur backcountry, and willing to join the group on a one-year probationary trial period. ■

2017 RANGERS and ASSOCIATES: (kneeling left to right) Joe Radoslovich, Steven Moore, Sharol Sevilla, Steve Benoit, Cynthia Grall, Anne Canright, Stuart Carlson, Vince Silva, Beth Benoit (standing left to right) Josh Rude, Andrew St. Cyr, Maria Ferdin, Trevor Willits (VWA staff), David Hirsch (Trail Crew Leader), Betsy MacGowan, Bob Stallard (Trail Crew Leader), Lynn Moncher, Mike Grall, Bobby Steger, Steve Cypher, Dave Wachtel, Roger Beaudoin, Darlene Felsman, Gary Felsman, Mike Heard, Tom Murphey (USFS).

We all have the right to visit our public lands. We also have the duty to enjoy them responsibly. Backcountry visitors need to at some point learn how to prepare for a visit into the wild. Once there, someone has to teach them the actions and behaviors neces-sary to protect the resources. But not everybody is getting this training. That is why VWA organizes and funds the Volunteer Wilderness Ranger (VWR) program in conjunction with the US Forest Service (USFS). VWRs patrol the backcountry, greet visitors, instill Leave No Trace ethics, and teach people how to minimize their impacts. Oh, and they clean up after previous visitors, most of whom are more unenlightened than they are malicious. The program is serious business. VWRs wear a uniform and are certified in Wilderness First Aid. They carry a radio and maintain contact with USFS dispatch on each patrol. They are courteous and intimately familiar with the Ventana region. Until such a time when the USFS is properly staffed and funded to deliver this service, the VWR program will remain essential. The following graphs illustrate the progress made since the program’s founding in 2010.

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and campsites are often full by midmorning. Originating from Nacimiento-Fergusson Road about a mile from Highway 1, the Mill Creek Trail ascends its namesake creek amid a lovely redwood forest. Although water is abundant, the trail is camp-less and best suited for day hikes. The Prewitt Loop Trail has north and south trailheads about a mile apart on Highway 1 in Pacific Valley. Both ends have their charms and access camps near fairly reliable springs, but the middle of the trail is a difficult mess of deadfall and damaged tread. Out-and-back hikes from the north or south trailhead are strongly advised.

Silver Peak Wilderness I Due to the Mud Creek slide blocking Highway 1, the coast side of the Silver Peak Wilderness is limited to two trailheads, both accessible only by way of Cambria (i.e., from the south). The Buckeye Trail ascends northward from Salmon Creek Station through coastal scrub and open slopes on its way to Buckeye, Cruikshank, and Villa Creek camps. The Salmon Creek Trail departs from Highway 1 just south of the station.

‘You Can’t Get There From Here’ I by Mike Splain

We’ve heard it from songs, poems and, sadly, the U.S. Forest Service. Fire, flood, and pestilence (read: Sudden Oak Death) have wrought havoc on favorite camps and trails. Many access roads are in bad shape, some have been closed for years. The good news is that, generally speaking, you can get there from here. It just might take some extra work. The bad news is that there’s a major exception, and it’s the single most popular backcountry destination. The severely damaged Pine Ridge Trail remains closed between Big Sur Station and the Big Sur Trail. Terrace Creek Trail is also closed, which means no access to Ventana, Terrace Creek, Barlow Flat, Sykes, or Redwood camps. The VWA is helping the Forest Service devise a repair plan but that could be a long time coming. Despite some difficulties, hundreds of miles of backcountry trails are “open for business.” So where should you go? Here’s a regional overview of the Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District.

Northern Big Sur Coast I Everyone loves to witness the “greatest meeting of land and sea” and therein lies the problem. Solitude is rare on the crowded Big Sur coast and road closures complicate access. For instance, Palo Colorado Road is closed 3.3 miles from Highway 1, so just getting to the Skinner Ridge Trail involves four miles of road walking. The Little Sur Trail is similarly challenged, as 3.7 miles of Old Coast Road must be walked merely to reach the trailhead. The Mount Manuel Trail ascends from Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park to grand views atop its namesake peak but difficult conditions and a lack of water make it best for day hikes. The Boronda Trail and De Angulo Trail originate as ranch roads just north and south of Torre Canyon on Highway 1. Both involve steep, demanding climbs to stunning ocean vistas; the latter is often tangled with tanoaks killed by Sudden Oak Death. Combine these trails for an excellent semi-loop or use them to access remote trailheads along North Coast Ridge Road.

Cone Peak and Pacific Valley I The Kirk Creek Trail departs from Highway 1 to traverse some of the steepest coastal terrain in the Lower 48. It’s a spectacular place but bears the brunt of excess foot traffic displaced from the north. The area is best avoided on weekends and holidays, when trailhead parking

The trailhead parking lot at Big Sur Station remains closed due to the impassability of the lower Pine Ridge Trail.

The De Angulo Trail ascends steeply from Highway 1 near Partington Ridge.

These trails can be combined with others for a fine loop hike, but use is extremely heavy. Trailhead parking and backcountry camps fill up fast and are best avoided on holidays and weekends. Alternative access points for this small but scenic wilderness spur from remote back roads to the north and east.

Carmel River Watershed I From the parking lot at the end of primitive Nason Road, one can cross Los Padres Dam and traverse its west side to meet the Big Pines Trail. This trail ascends Blue Rock Ridge toward the Skinner Ridge and Ventana trails, from which longer wilderness expeditions are possible. South of the Big Pines trailhead, the road meets the Carmel River Trail. Although not without difficulties, this idyllic path fords the river 30 times before ascending Hiding Canyon into Pine Valley and beyond. Folks with sturdy vehicles can drive rugged Tassajara Road to the eastern Pine Ridge Trail, a fine point of departure for longer hikes into the Carmel, Arroyo Seco, and Big Sur watersheds. Check trail conditions ahead of time; you’ll likely want to avoid the severely damaged Miller Canyon Trail.

Arroyo Seco and San Antonio Watersheds I Farther along Tassajara Road, trails depart into the hinterlands of the Arroyo Seco drainage, but the best all-weather approach lies at the end of paved Arroyo Seco Road. There’s a daily parking fee, but easy access to the Camp Cawatre Trail, Santa Lucia Trail, and Marble Peak Trail is well worth the cost of admission. Farther south, convoluted navigation through (U.S. Army) Fort Hunter Liggett earns one entry into the Milpitas Special Interest Area. From here, unpaved spur roads access the Carrizo Trail, Santa Lucia Trail, and Arroyo Seco Trail. The Carrizo and Arroyo Seco trails can be combined with the North Coast Ridge Trail for a challenging semi-loop hike. The Santa Lucia Trail ascends to a spur that accesses the highest peak in the Santa Lucia Range.

Happy trails! I Conditions and fire restrictions change quickly. Contact the Monterey Ranger District and check the VWA website for the latest updates. Join the VWA Meetup group and we’ll invite you to trail restoration outings. Most importantly, with so many of us visiting so few accessible destinations, it’s critical that we all practice Leave No Trace ethics. Check out the sidebar for more information. ■

Know Before You GoLos Padres National Forest Monterey Ranger District 831-385-5434Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics lnt.org

VWA Discussion Forum ventanawild.org/forums

VWA Meetup meetup.com/ventana- wilderness-alliance-meetup

VWA Plan a Trip Resources ventanawild.org/plan-a-trip

VWA Trail Conditions Reports ventanawild.org/trails

Bulldozers severely damaged the top of the Camp Cawatre Trail during the Soberanes Fire but views like this make it a worthwhile hike nonetheless.

The Carmel River Trail wends its way through lovely Pine Valley.

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Best Monterey County Gives! Campaign EverThanks to the generosity of 188 donors, the 2017 Monterey County Gives! campaign raised $83,749 for the VWA to protect our local public lands. This infusion of cash will be used to support VWA programs like Volunteer Wilderness Rangers and Youth in Wilderness, as well as our efforts to improve trail access throughout the Big Sur backcountry. Thank you very much!

We also extend our gratitude to campaign organizers—Monterey County Weekly, the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Neumeier Poma, Cannery Row Company, and several local sponsors —for generating the matching funds that benefit so many area nonprofits.

2017 Monterey County Gives! Campaign by-the-numbers: Total VWA donors: 188 Amount raised: $76,736 Match generated by campaign: $7,013 (a 9.1% bump) Grand VWA total: $83,749

The northern Santa Lucias provide tremendous benefits to all living things in Monterey County. They give us fresh air, clean water, pollinators, carbon sequestration, and places for wild plants and animals to thrive. Thanks again for helping keep them wild! ■

ABOVE RIGHT: Jan McAlister (left) of the Community Foundation for Monterey County presents VWA Executive Director Mike Splain with a check in the amount of $83,749.

Community Foundation Funds Enable SustainabilityMultiple endowments are in place for you to support VWA activities now and in perpetuity. Each fund is structured so that the principal amount of your donation is kept intact while investment income is available for use. Anybody is welcome to make contributions to the funds, and many of you have! A gift of any size to the endowments helps improve VWA’s sustainability as well as our visibility in the philanthropic community. So please consider a gift today.

■ The purpose of the Youth in Wilderness funds at both Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) and Community Foundation Santa Cruz County is to connect underserved young people of the Central Coast to their public wildlands.

■ The purpose of the Ventana Trails Forever Fund at CFMC is to maintain and restore the public trail network of the Ventana region.

■ The purpose of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance Fund at CFMC is to support the general operations and programs of VWA consistent with the organization’s mission and purpose (available at ventanawild.org/about-the-vwa/mission-purpose). QUESTIONS? Give us a call at 831-423-3191 or send an email to vwa@ventanawild.org. ■

Why I Support the VWA I by Elizabeth Quinn M.S . , D .C .

As an avid hiker and backpacker for many years in the Central Coast and the Sierra, my support of wilderness preservation is very personal. Early on, John Muir’s words touched my soul: “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.” Climbing trails into the rugged Santa Lucias with breathtaking views of the Pacific at my back,

sleeping on the ground in coast live oak woodlands, waking to the raucous chatter of acorn woodpeckers—these are vivid and cherished memories. My grandchildren have been my camping and hiking companions throughout their childhoods, and I have taught them to be safe hikers and careful stewards of wilderness in our many adventures together.

I care deeply that public lands be protected, be preserved, and remain available for all to enjoy, and I applaud and support the work of the Ventana Wilderness Alliance. ■

The VWA welcomes other businesses in the community to become members of our Business Council. Demonstrate to the community that protecting our public wildlands is important to you and your customers not just today, but for generations to come. Please call 831-423-3191 for more information.

Make Wilderness Your LegacyWe ask that you help ensure the future of local public land conservation by considering a charitable bequest to the Ventana Wilderness Alliance in your will. Bequests to the VWA can come in many forms and demonstrate your passionate and forward-thinking commitment to leaving a Wilderness legacy. We can help. Please call 831-423-3191 or email vwa@ventanawild.org if you’d like to learn more about how you can make a gift from your will or trust. ■

Building a Bigger TentOur board and staff have always relied on VWA membership for financial support, sweat equity, and inspiration. While we remain a small, grassroots organization, the importance of our work continues to grow as the multiple threats to our public lands just won’t go away. A growing, engaged, and financially supportive constituency is essential if we are to meet current and future challenges. We are proud of our membership growth and look forward to building an even bigger tent.

One might ask, “What do I get for my membership? What is the quid pro quo?” Good question. With your membership dues, you receive this biannual newsletter and invitations to VWA events. But, more importantly, you have the opportunity to be part of a unified and resolute force engaged in stewardship and advocacy efforts. Your member-ship also makes the organization more competitive when applying for grants.

In essence, by virtue of your membership, you are poised to make a difference. Many members, new and old, have done so. Thank you for stepping up when called to action! ■

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VWA staffer Amy Patten captured the unique and sublime beauty of the Ventana from the North Coast Ridge Trail in December.

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Frogs and Toads of the Ventana Region I by Amy Patten If you’ve been out camping in the Los Padres during winter and spring, you’ve probably been lulled to

sleep by a peaceful chorus of calling Sierran Treefrogs. Or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to encounter

a Western Toad slowly hopping through the grass on its way to the river. We have four native and one

non-native species of frogs and toads in the Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses. Let’s meet them!

Sierran Treefrog I Pseudacris sierraThe most common frog found in central California is the charismatic and versatile Sierran Treefrog. This small frog is only one to two inches long fully grown and is easily recognized by its distinctive black mask. As a habitat generalist, they are equally at home in city parks, backyards, and wilderness and they can be found from sea level up to nearly 12,000 feet in elevation. You can see treefrogs in watersheds throughout the entire Santa Lucia Range in grasslands, forests, oak savannah, and chaparral. During the rainy season, males assemble en masse in breeding ponds, where they chorus loudly with a familiar “ribbit” call to advertise to females. Their coloration ranges from deep green to light brown, and the frogs have the ability to adjust their body color to match their background! This further enhances the treefrogs’ aptitude for thriving in a wide variety of habitats, as green coloration absorbs more solar radiation in cold, aquatic habitats, and brown body color absorbs less radiation in more arid locations.

Sierran Treefrog

California Red-legged Frog I Rana draytoniiThe California Red-legged Frog (CRLF) is California’s largest native frog. The frogs can be red, brown, olive, or gray on their dorsal side and are typically patterned with dark spots and stripes. CRLFs are named for the pale red coloration on the underside of their legs. They are capable of moving great distances between water sources, and have been documented traveling over two miles. Females lay an average of 2,000 eggs at a time in a loose cluster. Once numerous in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino down to Baja and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, CRLFs have disappeared from over 70% of their historic range and are now listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Many factors have led to their decline, including disease, pesticide use, introduced predators such as bullfrogs and non-native fish, and habitat loss through water diversion, urbanization, and agriculture. Today, the Carmel River watershed is a stronghold for the local CRLF populations, and the frogs are also found in coastal streams around Big Sur.

American BullfrogLithobates catesbeianus (Non-native)One major factor in the decline of native amphibians in California has been the introduction of the invasive American Bullfrog. These frogs, which are native to the southeastern United States, were first introduced into California in the early 1900s as a food source. Bullfrogs can grow up to eight inches long, and with their large size comes a voracious appetite. Bullfrogs eat a wide variety of invertebrates and have been documented eating rodents, birds, fish, reptiles, and other amphibians. Their large size allows them to outcompete native frogs for food and disrupt breeding as they prey on young frogs and tadpoles. Bullfrogs can be found in the San Antonio Valley, around Carmel Valley, and in ponds surrounding the Arroyo Seco River.

American Bullfrog

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog I Rana boyliiThe Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (FYLF) is a denizen of rocky streams, rivers, and spring-fed pools. This medium-sized frog is well camouflaged with mottled gray, olive, or brown skin that matches their rocky substrates, while their undersides are covered in a bright yellow wash. Although once common across the Los Padres, the FYLF has experienced declines throughout central and southern California and is now extirpated in its former range south of Monterey County. Many of these declines are attributed to water diversion and degradation of breeding habitat, although the causes of their declines in some areas are unknown. The FYLF was historically documented in watersheds throughout coastal Big Sur and in the Ventana and Silver Peak Wildernesses, but there is little data available on the current status and distribution of their populations in the northern Santa Lucia Range. They are currently listed as a “California Species of Special Concern.”

Foothill Yellow-legged Frog

Western Toad I Anaxyrus boreasNorthern California’s most common toad is the Western Toad. The Western Toad can be distinguished from local frog species by their dry, warty skin, short legs, and pale dorsal stripe running down the back. During the breeding season, males establish territories in ponds or slow-moving pools in streams, and will fiercely defend their territories by kicking at other males that swim by. The toads take refuge from heat and exposure in rodent burrows and beneath logs. When disturbed, the toads can produce mildly poisonous secretions

from the glands behind their heads, which are unpalatable to many predators. The toads lay their eggs in long

strings with paired rows of eggs, and the eggs are equipped with some of the toad’s toxins

to protect them from predators. ■

Western Toad

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BUSINESSES1st Capital BankBig Sur SaltsChiorini, Hunt and JacobsCommunity PrintersDharmas Natural Foods RestaurantDown WorksFrame CircusGoogleGreat ExpeditionsIntelJuniper RidgeNational Geographic MapsNorth Coast Vision OptometryOtter B BooksParks ProjectPatagoniaElizabeth Quinn, MS DCREIRistorante AvantiRustic PathwaysScharf InvestmentsScudder Roofing Sun Energy SystemsThe Treadmill

FOUNDATIONSAND FUNDS Arkay FoundationBarnet Segal Charitable TrustRichard Beach FamilyCarmel Valley Kiwanis FoundationChange Happens FoundationCommunity Foundation for Monterey CountyCommunity Foundation Santa Cruz CountyFenton Family Gift FundFernandez Pave The Way FoundationMonterey County Weekly Community FundMonterey Peninsula FoundationNancy Buck Ransom FoundationNational Environmental Education FoundationPebble Beach Company FoundationThe Dean Witter FoundationThe Kiplinger FoundationTides Foundation

ORGANIZATIONSArroyo Seco River AllianceCarmel Valley Garden AssociationCarmel Valley Manor CouncilCommunity Partnership for YouthCondor Trail AssociationThe City of MontereyNational Wilderness Stewardship AllianceRancho Cielo Youth CampusRotary Club of Carmel-by- the-SeaSave the Redwoods LeagueTassajara Zen Mountain CenterUCSC ArboretumUSDA Forest Service INDIVIDUALSRobert & Donna AdamsonPatricia AddlemanSue AddlemanJames AffinitoMiranda AguilarWilliam AkeyMark Alderson & Anne SeckerJohn AllanTodd AllenAnnie AllenbaughDavid & Susan AndersonGene AndersonThomas AndersonNiklas AnderssonCarlota AndrewsCarol AndrewsDavid AnthonyWillow ArayRobert ArmstrongRyan ArmstrongJesse ArnoldAllison ArteagaPatricia Ashe-WoodfillMolly AttellRichard & Linda AverettElayne AzevedoDon BaccusLarry & Sharon BaconNelson BalcarAlan Baldwin

April BallesterosRabia BarkinsBruce BarnesKristen BarnhiselNola BarnickRoger BeaudoinDoug BeckKrista BeckCorie BeerMary BegtrupLeif BehrmannEdward BennettBeth & Steve BenoitAndrea BensonJacquelyn BergnerPaola BerthoinSimon BertrangBrian BinghamThomas BirnbaumMary Blackler & Phil WagnerDan BlakelySteve BlalockJoe BlauDan BlunkKathleen BonnerMichael BooneSusan Boone SmithWayne & Jeanne BossCelia BosworthChristine BottaroTeri BradleyEric & Mary Jo BrazilSally BrazilPeter BridsonChantel BrischkeLinda BrodmanJustin BronsonBill BrooksBonnie BrooksStephen & Barbara BrooksBryan BrownPatric BrownBen BruceWendy BruleRussell BrutscheBenjamin BryantGary BryantBrad BryceAlan BuchwaldKatherine BucquetAlfred BudrisJosephine BunnDonna BurychDianne BusseMarie ButcherNancy CallahanJim & Lynda CampbellLynn CampbellRick & Tricia CampbellMiranda & Don CanestroRoger CannonAnne & David CanrightElizabeth CarakerStuart Carlson & Solange NascimentoElizabeth CarpenterSteve & Diane CarrGabrielle CarrollSean CarrollLise CarterDavid CastersonCameron ChabreSarah ChaneyMax & Cynthia ChaplinBanicia ChatkaraAlex ChauClair CheerPamela ChrislockCarl ChristensenKayti ChristiansonAlan ChurchJeff CintasNadine & Dan ClarkPat Clark-GrayEileen & Gary NagaokaMarie ColbertAlex ColeEmily ColeStephen CollierDavid CollinsAndy & Marilee CominosPhylis ConlanLisa ConnallyChristopher ConneryMark ConoverJack CorriganDavid & Susan CourrejouCarol CourtneyJanet CovellKailey CoxTom & Karla CravensDiane CreaseyAlan & Wendy CrockettIan CrosnoBetty CrowderChristine Crozier

Barbara CrumJose & Roya CruzJesse CudeSheilah Cummings & Mark BurdenMary Cunningham-WelshMary CunovJane CurtnerJay CutlerCarmella CuvaSteve CypherErnest DaghirDenise DanaherBonnie DankertJanice DavisRaziel DavisonAmy DaweChristine DawsonElaine DawsonJune DawsonAlexandra De La VegaArthur & Anne Schwartz DelibertTyson DenherderSusan DennyIan DevilleBobbie DeyerleLiliana DiazBarbara DickinsonAlan & Sue Burden-DickmanPeggy DicksonPeggy DilferKirsten DillehayCharles DixonDwight & Jennifer DixonMichael DoblerJan Doelman & Nicole ChupkaOlaf DomisDebra DonnaNina DonnaBruce DormodyHeidi DormodyEric DotingFrank DotingStanley DudekKeri Duggins-RamesVicky DukeJames DunnJacquelyn DupuisPeter & Sherry DuveneckEve DvincentSam EarnshawPhilip EastonAngela EcclesRobert Echols & Michele FlomTom EdellRichard EgelhoferJoshua EisenbergKenneth Ekelund, IIIMarc EldridgeMichael ElliottPeter EllisCelia ElsberryPeggy ElwellBradley EricksonCarole January EricksonPam ErlandsonSergio & Julian EspinozaAmy Essick & Frank TakacsPablo EstradaKeith & Meg EvansSharon EvansSteven EvansJim FairchildSuzanne FanchCraig & Debby FarmerCatherine Farrant & Mary DaintonDiane Farrow-LapinJamshid FaryarJohn FedakGary & Darlene FelsmanMaria FerdinAva FergusonKaren & Hugo FerlitoPaula FieldingGaylynn FirthMeade & Denise FischerLeigh FitzRichard FitzgeraldKaren FlaggBruce FlatowPaul FleischmanNatalie FlightnerPatrick FoleyLeslie FooteJames ForanChris FordEmily ForzaniMichael & Vivian FosterSam FosterSuzanne Francoeur TauntJames FranksMelissa FreebairnMaya FreedmanKatherine Freitas

Alan FrenchCalvin FrenchGernot FriederichTimothy FullerValerie GainoMary GaleShelby GallagherBill GammonsAngelica GarciaDan GearhartRich GellertBrian GeorgeGina GianfalaSiobhan GibbonsBonnie GilloolyJohn GlendeningMichele GoinsGed GoodheartRory GraetchBenjamin GraingerMike & Cindy GrallStephen GranerDick & Lyn GraybillEdward GreeneMatt GreenfieldKenneth & Debbie GriestJacquelyn GriffithArlen GrossmanGlen GrossmanJacqueline GrubelnikDon GruberEd GrumbinePaul GrunlandLesli GuggenheimRob & Susie GularteRebecca GustafsonElisabeth GwinnLee-Roy HaarhausGerhard HahneJohn Hain & Jennifer AllenVinzenz & Barbara HakeMarilyn HalbergBob HaleSamuel & Hope HaleTom HaleyHeidi HallJohn HallDavid HalliganCliff HalversonMichelle & David HamersloughJeanne HamiltonJoyce HamzaRobert HanleyPenny HannaChris HansenHarry HansonGinger HarmonSteven HarperBenjamin HarrisMorgan HarrisWendell HarryJane HartmanDaniel HartmannDawn HartsockArthur HaseltineShari HasteyConstance HastingsKim HastingsChris HauserRichard HavenickMichael HawkAnne HayesJamie HaysLois HazardLiam John HeadleyDaniel HeastonMatthew HeathGero HeineSandra HellerAnne HelmsTamara HennessyJason HenryAlexander HensonAdrienne HermanEsperanza HernandezJohn HeylJohn HickeyKaryn HierlDale HillardLisa HindleyDavid HirschLaurel HoganAstrid HolbergBreta HolgersMark & Roxane HolmanChristina HolstonPatricia HoltLaura HooperVictoria HooverPhil HopfnerBill HopkinsHeidi Hopkins & James MerzTom & Julie Anne HopkinsHeather HortonLaura HortonMary Hostetler

Bonnie HotzWayne HowardNancy HowdenPeggy HowellSusan HubbardThomas Hughes & Catherine RiveraWalter & Patty HughesBoon HugheyIvan HumphreysGrace HurleyWilliam HymanKyoko IkemotoRuani IlangakoonCarol ImwalleMalcolm JackDavid JacobsShell JacobsLindsay JeffersBill JefferyKatherine JenkinsDaniel Jensen & Carolyn DonlinJesse JensenLaura & Dru JensenTim JensenDiana JohnsAlana JohnsonCedar JohnsonGordon JohnsonWilliam Johnston, MDMichael JolsonPaul JonesPhyllis JonesSimone JonesTamara JonesTeresa JonesKelsey Jordahl & Alice ShumateJoseph JordanKaren JudkinsNarine KadekianWikar KadhimRob KafkaNavneet KaurLawrence KellerNatalie KellerKaren KellyTerri KennedyJohn KennyAimee KerrBill KeyeBrian KimEllie KincadeDennis KingWilliam KirkpatrickMary Ellen KleeDenise KleinMarvin KleinDavid KnappDavid KnightJustin KnowlesCatherine Kobrinsky EvansGeorge & Diane KoenigJacob KoffAlice KollmannMari KoolEllen & Robert KorstanjeDavid KossackBrook KraegerJon KramerClaire KristlBrian KroneSusan KubicaPeter Kwiek & Robin CohenAnna LadasGena and Jerome LapointeDon LatimerDavid LauritsWilliam & Katherine LausterJacqueline LautzenhiserSean LawleyAddie LawsonRobert LeaZad & Laela LeavyBarbara LebeckJean LeBlancKarl & Helen LeekHenry LeinenDavid LemonBrian & Carol LeNeveNicole LenggenhagerElizabeth LererMabel LernoudJudy LeRoyMark LevineValerie LevulettJon Libby & Kate CunninghamGeraldine LiebySuzanne LimbirdMark LippertKirsten LiskeSkip & Mary Anne LloydJanice LongakerJerry LoomisGary LopezCaitlin LorencChris & Debi Lorenc

Marcia & Robert JacksonPamela LowryKatie LuedersWilliam LutzValera LylesJacqueline LynchMari LynchBarbara LyonBetsy MacGowanBrian MackChris MackSherry MackCarol MaehrTheo MaehrDiane MaezSalem & Laurie MagarianDario & Katherine MalengoLarry ManesChristopher MankeLisa ManningMelissa & Bob MannixJohn & Margaret MarcroftCharles MartinFlo MartinFrank MartinM. Christina MartinMark Maslow & Regina PettusJanet MasonDorothy MasseyPatricia MatejcekLisa MaxRandy May & Carol GreenstreetGordon Mayfield & Janet BloomChris MayhewRonald MaysenhalderCam McAraMaureen McBrideKaren McCabeDale McCauleyBob & Victoria McCayNatalie McChesneyRob McClartyRoss McClenahanMichael McCloudBob McCormickKelly McCulloughMelinda McCurdySusan McDonald BrodeyMickey McGuireTrevor McHenryGeorge McInnisKarla McIntyreJack McKellarLinda McMenimonDavid McMillanMichael McMillanPatricia McVeighBruce Merchant & Sandra ReelEd MercurioTed MerrillTed MeyenbergGrover MeyroseGordon MillerJanet & Dennis MillerJenny MillerElizabeth MillsJazz & Akim MimounTheodore MinnesHarriet MitteldorfCynthia MiyamotoMark MoehlingCamille MoitozoMa MonLynn MoncherRichard & Judith MontgomeryAndrea MooreKaren MooreMik & Nancy MooreRuby MooreSteven MooreWendy MoortyMichaelia MorganJames MorrisPenny MorrisRyan MorrisCarla & Eric MossJudith MostynCaroline & David MoyerTeresa MrvichinChristine MueggeRichard MuellerDavid MullallyLaura MurphyHolly NaylorNicole NedeffKerry NeeceSteve NeffKim NeillAxelle NelsonDavid NelsonThomas NemesKenneth NemireThomas NeuJanet Newman

& John GerhardtMichael NewmanJeanette NicelyRon NicholsMark NicolsonBritney NielsenDouglas Nienhuis & Twylla EricksonPamela NolanDavid NorrisJulie OatesDaniel O’BrienDoug O’Brien & Marcia LoCynthia O’ConnellColette O’ConnorGerry O’ConnorJaime OdenHelen OgdenMaria OgdenDavid Ohanesian & Susan KrivinEmily O’HaraKristin OlafsonJosie OliverAmelia OlsonJean OlsonCarol O’NeilBruce OrinsteinAnthony OropezaKaren OrsoSharon OsgoodIrene OsterbrockMichele OstovarDouglas & Denise OvermanDennis & Ollie PalmMichael PalmerChris & Elizabeth PanettaKa PanholzerLeor Pantilat & Erica NambaJohn PapandreopoulosMichael PaquetteAletha ParkerCatherine ParkerRobert ParksLarry ParrishJudy ParsonsAndrew PassellMatthew PateAmy PattenNancy & Tom PattenGary PattonPhilips PattonVicki & John PearseGeorge PepperSteve PerezSarah PerkinsTodd PerkinsDaniel PerlsteinMarie Perucca-RamirezElizabeth PetersonLiz PhamMelanie PhillipsGreg PickensWilliam PickensSusan Pierszalowski & Michael BroomeLaurrie PikeCornelia PilotteLynn PiquettCarl PlesciaJim PlourdKatie PofahlJoe PokrifkaMary PommerichNancy PopchakRich PopchakJohn PuccinelliCharles PughElizabeth Quinn, MS DCJohn RadfordJoe RadoslovichJulian RadoslovichDarien RaistrickAngel RamirezShari RasmussenJoanne RatcliffeMaritza RaveloBarbara RayMeredith ReifschneiderMegan ReillyPaul ReillyMartha RenaultDavid ReneauKatherine & Ben RenekerEllen ReyesSylvia ReyesJulianne RhodesTaryn RiandaGeorge RichardsonNeil RichmanRichard RiedlBruce RienzoJames RinglandMax RitchieEugene & Maya RizzoDavid RobertsElliott Robinson

We Can’t Thank You Enough: Our 2017* Members and Funders

*For donations received January 1, 2017, through March 15, 2018. Our apologies if we somehow missed you. Please notify us at vwa@ventanawild.org.

2017 Annual Report In 2017, the VWA continued to build on the successes of its “Scaling for Sustainability” initiative. Despite the challenging aftermath of wildfire and heavy winter storms, staff members, contractors, and over 200 volunteers made significant progress caring for our public lands, advocating for their conservation, and inspiring the next generation to do the same. Diversifying funding streams was a focal point (and will continue to be in the year ahead). For every dollar raised, over 88 cents went to programs on the ground. Thank you for your ongoing support. ■

SUPPORT AND REVENUE 2017 PERCENT CONTRIBUTIONS OF TOTAL

Grants - Current $283,194 49.4%Grants - from Prior Years $136,682 23.8%Member Dues $53,742 9.4%Annual Appeal $51,105 8.9%Events $30,242 5.3%Endowment Distributions $15,431 2.7%Interest $2,921 0.5%

TOTAL $573,317 100.0%

PROGRAM EXPENSES 2017 PERCENT EXPENDITURES OF TOTAL

Stewardship $401,044 69.7%Advocacy $108,239 18.8% Fundraising $34,700 6.0%Management & Governance $31,659 5.5%

TOTAL $575,642 100.0%

STATEMENT OF ASSETSCash $100,036Certificates of Deposit $316,923

TOTAL $416,959

11

Gary RobinsonTerri RockTerry RockwoodBill RodgersMartin & Joan RosenLynn RothMarianne RoweBrian & Michele RowlettSara RubinSteve RubinElliot Ruchowitz-RobertsJosh & Anastasia RudeNajoo RuedigerMarkus RyanNina RyanMelissa SadowskyWilliam & Diane SalmonJim SandorParker SantiagoJames SapiaLesli SavelbergJeffrey SchafferSharon SchimmollerDaniel & Betty SchlothanRobert SchuhRobert SchumackerPaul SciutoPeter & Celia ScottPauline SealesJacqueline & Michael SedgwickMargaret Seibert

Laura SeidenbergPatrick SemonelliStephanie SendellSharol SevillaMike ShannonAloyce ShawGreg ShawverKelly SheehanSabrina ShiraziBurkhard SiedhoffRichard SilvaVince SilvaJan & Mary SimekAnne SimmonsGary SimsLaurie SingerRon SissemMary SkipwithSidney SladeGiuseppi SlaterAlan SmithDavid SmithHenry SmithJennifer Smith & Doug HoltzmanLeland SmithTimothy SmithViolet SmithNataliya SolovevaJames SommervilleMelissa Sorenson

Joe & Mary Lou SortaisRenee SosaWilliam Soskin & Marian PennMatt SpieglDavid SpilkerJim & Jane SpisakTerry SpitzMike SplainKimber SpoonerRobin SpringAlexa SquireGeorge St. ClairSarah & Chad StacyLee StaleyBob StallardErin StanfieldRichard StanleyJohn StaplesBrian SteenBobby & Kim Chi StegerRita Mae StegerAnnette SteinerRyan SteukJoyce StevensKelli StewartWinona Stewart & Austin KeeganJames StiefelKarolyn StoneKarin Strasser KauffmanBrian Stratman

Meredith Stricker & Thomas CowenPaulette StruckmanAbigail & Morgan StrykerCarol StuartNoelle SuhDennis SullivanAnneliese SuterPaula SuttleKim SwanBernice SwartleyMelissa & Robert SwedbergSean SwezeySherry SybertzPeter & Marie SzydlowskiReno TainiBrent TaylorKen TaylorDebra TernulloAntony TersolBrian ThayerReed ThayerJudith TherrienChris ThomasDonna & Peter ThomasElizabeth ThomasCathy Thome & Barry FarraraCheryl ThompsonCole ThompsonRalph ThompsonStephen Thompson

Daniel TichenorJohn TilleyCathy Toldi & Gene BushFrancis ToldiBrian TomasiniMaxine TorresBreck TostevinCatherine TraubChuck Tremper & Sue ThomasMark TribbeyMary TrotterHillary TroutJohnathon TurnerRiley TwohigEllen UhlerJohn UmnusRuth UpdegraffRachel UschockDoris VailLois Van BurenJoyce VandevereKeith VandevereMichele VanhentenryckMary Ann VasconcellosTony VastolaDalton VaughnFrancesca VerdierClay VernonRichard VeumPaul & Cindy VizzaHillary Voge

Bill VogtEinar VollsetDavid & Rosann WachtelRichard WadsworthAnn Louise WagnerElissa WagnerDanielle WalkerPhilip WalkerKymm Ann WallinJohn & Priscilla WaltonScott WaltzJane-Ling WangThomas WardLisa WartingerChristina WatsonWilliam & Diana WaycottPatrick WebsterBill WeigleJoseph WeintraubMichael WellbornChristopher WellsDouglas WengerDeborah WenzlerKimberley WerrGordon WheelerDave WhippleJackie WhitingMarkin WhitmanLaura WilkersonMaryanne WillConstance Willett

Brianna WilliamsGordon & Beverly WilliamsHolly & Ken WilliamsMark WillisonScott WilsonLynnelle Wing & Derek WilliamsTracy WinkleblackKarla WolfPhilip WolffBobby WoodReid & Karen WoodwardDarby WorthBarbara WoytJoan WrightChristy WyckoffHarry & Karen WyethWilliam WymanVern YadonRobert YangRei YoshinobuAnn YoungCarol YoungJames Yurchenco & Amy LauterbachMarsha ZelusBradley ZeveDarryl ZimmermanPatricia Zuniga ■

Stewardship Advocacy Fundraising Management & Governance

350000

450000

400000

300000

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

0

— Members and Funders continued

Current Grants

Prior Grants

Member Dues

Annual Appeal

Events

Endowments

Interest

NON PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAIDSANTA CRUZ, CAPERMIT NO. 150

Post Office Box 506 I Santa Cruz, CA 95061

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

EVENTSMay 5

BioBlitzMilpitas Special Interest Area

www.meetup.com/Ventana-Wilderness-Alliance-Meetup/

June 16Annual Gathering

Toro Park, SalinasDetails TBA

September 20 and 22Wild & Scenic Film FestivalDel Mar Theatre, Santa Cruz and Golden State Theatre, Monterey

Details TBA

Youth in Wilderness Program Manager Toan Do (far right) works closely with José Sánchez of the Greenfield Community Science Workshop (back row, third from left) to ensure that expeditions are fun, safe, and educational.

Thank you 2017–18Education Partners

Community Partnership for Youth, Seaside

Greenfield Community Science Workshop

Digital NEST (Watsonville and Salinas)

Gonzales Youth Council

King City Science Camp / USFS

Migrant Out-of-School Youth Program, Salinas

MTNS2SEA, Santa Cruz

Ponderosa High School, Ben Lomond

Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, Salinas

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

California State University, Monterey Bay

University of California, Santa Cruz

Partnering to Inspire the Next Generation2017 was a banner year for the VWA’s Youth in Wilderness program. Despite much adversity due to the combined effects of fire and rain, the program served 484 students on 24 expeditions and day adventures. Local kids were introduced to their public lands, learned about local conservation efforts, and rediscovered themselves while immersed in nature. We’ve carried this momentum into 2018 and are honored to share such great success with our dedicated education partners. ■

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