Category: Uncategorized

Large turnout for Motorcycyle Hill ribbon cutting

8/24/2017

Several dozen people showed up for a brief ceremony at Motorcycle Hill last week to mark the completion of the Motorcycle Hill Stairs. These stairs make it much easier to use the wonderful, albeit steep trail.

Before the city installed them recently, hikers had to hop a low wall to access the trail, which Trail Trekkers built from scratch starting 5 years ago.

If you have not enjoyed this scenic trail, now is a good opportunity.

Mayor Janet Abelson slices through the ribbon, officially inaugurating the Motorcycle Hill Stairs. Mollie Hazen stands alongside.

Our Recent Geological Hike Is Well Worth Repeating

8/13/2017

Geologist Gary Prost’s talk went from the planetary to the hyper local, as he discussed what can be learned from the exposed rock face above the recycling center, a former quarry.

Geologist Gary Prost’s talk went from the planetary to the hyper local, as he discussed what can be learned from the exposed rock face above the recycling center, a former quarry.

Geologist Gary Prost led more than 30 hikers on an informative and at times exciting Hillside Natural Area Geology Walk earlier this month. If you missed it be assured – we will have Gary lead this hike again.

The hike attracted adults and families, and even though Gary handed out a reading list as part of his walk, the event was far from academic in tone. Kids on the hike loved getting up close and personal with the rocks as Gary explained their composition and how they were created.

Watch our website and newsletter for more. We hope to put this hike on again in the fall or early winter.

Our Evening Ramble was a great hike and it will happen again

7/13/2017

Alina, in red, stands with hikers atop the ridge in Camp Herms as fog flows through. Photos by Dave Weinstein

Trail Trekkers new hike leader Alina Constantiniescu put 20 people through their paces last night with a long (4 miles), beautiful and at times foggy hike that took us through the Hillside Natural Area, up the charming Shevlin to Arlington Trail, and through the Boy Scouts’ Camp Herms.

We thank the Boy Scouts for their kind permission!

Next we saw the quirky and fun Musee des Bibelots Voies on Leneve Place overlooking Wildcat Canyon, took a quick swing through a bit of Kensington past some beautiful mid-century modern homes, and took a small trail alongside the Unitarian

Motorcycle Hill Steps Installed!

7/3/2017

Until now, the bottom of the Motorcycle Hill Trail ended at a low wall that required a bit of a hop to get to level ground.

A major step – or rather, a series of steps – towards giving El Cerrito the usable trail system it deserves is finally happening. Crews have installed the steps at the bottom of Motorcycle Hill Trail.

We want to thank the El Cerrito Engineers, Ana Bernardes and Yvetteh Ortiz, and the Public Works Department for planning, overseeing, and expediting the construction of these inviting steps. We also are most appreciative to Joe’s Concrete for doing the installation. In addition, Trekkers thanks Glenn Wood, an El Cerrito resident and associate principal with the firm, SGPA Architecture and Planning, for providing the initial design, pro bono. Funds from Measure WW were used for this project; many thanks to the Park and Recreation Commission and the residents of El Cerrito for this community amenity.

City’s Hillside Takes on an Emblematic Role

3/17/2017

I’m gratified to note that when the SFGATE website (that’s the San Francisco Chronicle) explained yesterday how El Cerrito got its name, the image they chose to represent the essence of our town was none other than the Hillside Natural Area! It’s wonderful

Patchie visited Madera Open Space with Trekkers and city officials before the area was purchased by the city

that the city is becoming associated in the wider public’s mind with this wilderness area, which Trail Trekkers will celebrate on May 21 during our fourth annual Hillside Festival.

Do not miss this event! We are putting together a great schedule now with hikes, talks, games and more for all ages.

Oh yeah, another reason I like the SFGATE photo — it shows my late and still beloved dog, Patchie, who served for years as Trail Trekkers’ mascot!
Dave

Trail Trekkers’ 2018 Goals

1/14/2017

by Dave Weinstein, Trail Trekker president

Trail improvement. We have scheduled a series of regular work parties to improve and build trails at Madera Open Space, the Terrace Cutoff, the Douglas Drive trailhead at the Hillside Natural Area, and others. Work parties under the direction of Mark Miner are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month, February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, and August 18.
Preserving open space. We will continue the fight to preserve Fairview Open Space, the 15-acre wild land just north of the Hillside Natural Area, including building coalitions with other groups interested in open space, wildlife, creeks, air quality, parks and other environmental and community issues. We are working with the group ECHO on this.
Trail map. We will publish a print version of the National Park Service-designed map of all of the city’s trails in 2018. We thank Stephen Bowes of the National Park Service for major assistance developing and designing the map. The map will be free to members of Trail Trekkers and be sold to others for a reasonable amount.

Trail Trekkers’ 2017 Accomplishments

1/14/2017

by Dave Weinstein, Trail Trekker president.

During 2017, El Cerrito Trail Trekkers made great strides towards improving the trail and urban pathway network in El Cerrito and in increasing awareness of the trails and the Hillside Natural Area. And Trail Trekker events contributed much to the social fabric of our city.

Tasajara planters refreshed

11/17/2016

Along the western edge of Tasajara Park there is a passage and set of steps connecting Barrett and Alva Avenues. And for many years it included some empty square plots of soil suitable for mini-gardens if only someone would plant them. Then three years ago, girl scouts from Troop 31352 took up the challenge. Encouraged by the Trekkers and with plants from the El Cerrito Community Garden Network, the girls planted native flowers. But the girls moved on to other things and sadly the the planting began to start looking a bit worn and weedy.

Girl Scouts plant native plants along the Tassajara stairs in 2013

Hidden Poetry Hike 3

7/12/2016

Hidden Poetry Series 3: Local Poets

N 37° 55.881 W 122° 18.963 POET: Donald Ellis
N 37° 55.805 W 122° 18.831 POET: Allan Jensen
N 37° 56.120 W 122° 18.660 POET: Judith Tannenbaum
N 37° 56.180 W 122° 18.712 POET: Kirk Lumpkin
N 37° 56.174 W 122° 18.870 POET: Jack Marshall
N 37° 56.140 W 122° 18.998 POET: John Rowe
N 37° 56.110 W 122° 19.031 POET: Tess Taylor
N 37° 55.840 W 122° 18.997 POET: Rachel Richardson
N 37° 55.892 W 122° 19.032 POET: Maw Shein Win

Mysterious bench appears in the Madera open space

7/12/2016

A new bench has appeared in the Madera section of the Hillside Natural Area. Problem is, no one knows how it got there. It was reported to us on July 4th when a Boy Scouts leader dropped by the Trekker booth. But the scouts didn’t install it. Neither did the city, at least not the people we talked to. And the Madera habitat restoration group knew nothing of it. So who built the bench?