EXPLORING PUBLIC PRIVATE OPEN SPACES IN SAN FRANCISCO
8/25/2022
Most of our hikes are in nature or at least out of doors. But thanks to a law in the City requiring large downtown commercial developments to include open space that is open to the public, a fine hike can be enjoyed by walking from lobby to lobby and from rooftop terrace to “sun terrace.”
Dave Weinstein led such a “Popos” tour on February 15, in alliance with the Albany senior Center and Friends of Five Creeks.
We didn’t quite get to every rooftop or hidden garden we had aimed for, but it was fun nonetheless. It’s great how some of these mysterious gardens are hidden away. City law requires that office towers display signs announcing that these spaces exist. But you have to look carefully to spot them.
Many are relaxing places well used by office workers for lunch. Many are filled with art, including work by important artists (Sol LeWitt, Ugo Rondinone).
New Popos (it stands for “privately owned public open spaces”) are opening every day thanks to bustling new development. We hope to do a variant of this hike later on.
Most of our hikes are in nature or at least out of doors. But thanks to a law in the City requiring large downtown commercial developments to include open space that is open to the public, a fine hike can be enjoyed by walking from lobby to lobby and from rooftop terrace to “sun terrace.”
Dave Weinstein led such a “Popos” tour on February 15, in alliance with the Albany senior Center and Friends of Five Creeks.
We didn’t quite get to every rooftop or hidden garden we had aimed for, but it was fun nonetheless. It’s great how some of these mysterious gardens are hidden away. City law requires that office towers display signs announcing that these spaces exist. But you have to look carefully to spot them.
Many are relaxing places well used by office workers for lunch. Many are filled with art, including work by important artists (Sol LeWitt, Ugo Rondinone).
New Popos (it stands for “privately owned public open spaces”) are opening every day thanks to bustling new development. We hope to do a variant of this hike later on.
OUR TREES AND CLIMATE HIKE PROVED INTRIGUING
7/3/2019
July 2019: Trail Trekkers’ most recent hike, Trees and Climate, proved fascinating, with 20 people discussing the future of the Hillside Natural Area – and of the entire natural world – with tour leader David Ackerly.
Ackerly, who lives in El Cerrito, knows the topic well. He is the dean of UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources and a scientist who has been studying climate change and its global and local effects for years.
Among the topics he discussed was, what can and should scientists and members of the public do to ensure the health of our local forests as climate change makes it difficult or impossible for existing trees to flourish in their once comfortable neighborhood?
Watch for the next such hike, as we plan to do a similar version of this Trees and Climate hike in the fall.
July 2019: Trail Trekkers’ most recent hike, Trees and Climate, proved fascinating, with 20 people discussing the future of the Hillside Natural Area – and of the entire natural world – with tour leader David Ackerly.
Ackerly, who lives in El Cerrito, knows the topic well. He is the dean of UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources and a scientist who has been studying climate change and its global and local effects for years.
Among the topics he discussed was, what can and should scientists and members of the public do to ensure the health of our local forests as climate change makes it difficult or impossible for existing trees to flourish in their once comfortable neighborhood?
Watch for the next such hike, as we plan to do a similar version of this Trees and Climate hike in the fall.
REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES WITH FRIENDS OF 5 CREEKS JULY 20
Neil Tsutsui attacks a patch of broom
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7/2/2019
Trail Trekkers will be working with Friends of Five Creeks on this valuable effort to restore native habitat in the Hillside. Please join us. Saturday, July 20: Help reduce fire danger in the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area, 10am – 12:30pm Join Friends of Five Creeks in El Cerrito’s beautiful Hillside Natural Area, to continue a years-long effort of removing invasive, fire-prone French broom, in order to reduce fire danger and promote biodiversity. From the entrance at the south end of Regency Court (across from 1520 Regency), the group will walk to the area’s welcoming central meadows between oak groves, talking about history and nature. Work is not heavy unless you want it to be, but part of the fire-road walk is reasonably steep. Poison oak is always a possibility, kids should be middle-school aged or older, and all should wear long pants, long sleeves, socks, and closed-toed shoes with good traction. Bring sun protection and a re-usable water bottle. We supply gloves, snacks, tools, and good company. For information, please email [email protected]. Groups of more than 5 please RSVP. Otherwise, just show up! |
HILLSIDE FEST 2019 ATTRACTS HUNDREDS
5/11/2019
“My life changed when I took classes in bird songs,” hike leader Tara McIntire told a hardy crew of bird watchers during her early morning bird hike at the 6th Annual Hillside Festival, and her affection for birds was infectious.
Tara’s interest in birds is much more than academic She loves them. Waxwings she calls “gorgeous, gorgeous birds.”
“The cutest birds,” she says of another bird we spot, the Bewick’s wren, “and they have attitude.”
During the two-hour stroll, young and old participants, binoculars in hand, saw many birds and learned much – including about the ethics of birding. Did you know not to point at small birds you spot in nearby bushes? A Canny crow may be watching and can swoop in to make that small bird its next meal.
During the three-day festival there were many such revelations. Our hike leaders are experts in their fields. Eddie Dunbar led a large group, mostly made up of young families but with some serious entomologists too, on a jaunt that brought to the fore tiny critters that delighted and amazed.
Dave Gibson, the city’s fire marshal, led a tour that took in areas that were once filled with dangerously flammable brush but are now grasslands, where fires can be more easily tamed. He focused on how the city is reducing brush in the Hillside Nature Area to prevent tragedy. Neighbors who attended had plenty to say about the matter too.
“My life changed when I took classes in bird songs,” hike leader Tara McIntire told a hardy crew of bird watchers during her early morning bird hike at the 6th Annual Hillside Festival, and her affection for birds was infectious.
Tara’s interest in birds is much more than academic She loves them. Waxwings she calls “gorgeous, gorgeous birds.”
“The cutest birds,” she says of another bird we spot, the Bewick’s wren, “and they have attitude.”
During the two-hour stroll, young and old participants, binoculars in hand, saw many birds and learned much – including about the ethics of birding. Did you know not to point at small birds you spot in nearby bushes? A Canny crow may be watching and can swoop in to make that small bird its next meal.
During the three-day festival there were many such revelations. Our hike leaders are experts in their fields. Eddie Dunbar led a large group, mostly made up of young families but with some serious entomologists too, on a jaunt that brought to the fore tiny critters that delighted and amazed.
Dave Gibson, the city’s fire marshal, led a tour that took in areas that were once filled with dangerously flammable brush but are now grasslands, where fires can be more easily tamed. He focused on how the city is reducing brush in the Hillside Nature Area to prevent tragedy. Neighbors who attended had plenty to say about the matter too.
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The Dog Scouts, meanwhile entertained canine friends and their owners by running dogs through scent training.
We had not one but three geologists and two lively and informative geology hikes that ranged from the global to the local to the seismic in their reach.
Not every event had a serious or scientific purpose. Alina Constantinescu led a wonderful “evening ramble” whose purpose was to stretch your legs and get to chat with fellow hikers.
We had 15 events in all, attracted about 350 people, made new friends, and enjoyed a social gathering with a view – thanks to donations from Trader Joe’s and the El Cerrito Natural Grocery.
People attended from Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, and beyond – though most attendees were from El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany, and thereabouts. We were pleased that Mayor Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto came on our wildflower hike.
Every member of the Trail Trekkers board worked diligently to make this event happen. Our co-sponsor, the El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee, helped publicize, and provided funding and inspiration and some legwork too. The El Cerrito Historical Society co-sponsored our history hike. We thank city staff for their cooperation and assistance.
We also heartily thank all of our hike leaders and other event organizers, and all of the Trekker volunteers who attended each event.
Please attend next year’s festival, which we project will again be the first weekend in May.
We had not one but three geologists and two lively and informative geology hikes that ranged from the global to the local to the seismic in their reach.
Not every event had a serious or scientific purpose. Alina Constantinescu led a wonderful “evening ramble” whose purpose was to stretch your legs and get to chat with fellow hikers.
We had 15 events in all, attracted about 350 people, made new friends, and enjoyed a social gathering with a view – thanks to donations from Trader Joe’s and the El Cerrito Natural Grocery.
People attended from Oakland, San Francisco, Fremont, and beyond – though most attendees were from El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany, and thereabouts. We were pleased that Mayor Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto came on our wildflower hike.
Every member of the Trail Trekkers board worked diligently to make this event happen. Our co-sponsor, the El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee, helped publicize, and provided funding and inspiration and some legwork too. The El Cerrito Historical Society co-sponsored our history hike. We thank city staff for their cooperation and assistance.
We also heartily thank all of our hike leaders and other event organizers, and all of the Trekker volunteers who attended each event.
Please attend next year’s festival, which we project will again be the first weekend in May.
VOLUNTEERS SUCCEED IN SAVING A TRAIL AND CLEANING HILLSIDE OF BROOM
5/1/2019
May 1, 2019: The area around the Madera to Julian Trail in the Hillside Natural Area was becoming dangerously overgrown, as drenching winter rains caused every plant in Northern California to grow quickly – including invasive broom.
This yellow flowered, woody plant with thankfully shallow roots was overwhelming a wonderful trail in the Madera Open Space section of the Hillside that Trail Trekkers had laid out and built some years ago.
So Trekkers sprung into action, working with the Environmental Quality Committee’s Green Teams, to save the trail from becoming completely overgrown, and to remove other large patches of broom from areas nearby.
Howdy Goudey of the EQC lead the effort, with many volunteers from both groups. It was fun, deeply satisfying work. On April 28 – the last broom pull for the season – we found the ground growing hard, making it more difficult to pull.
Broom plants that in March and February (and during Earth Day in April) would come up easily, by hand, now required the use of weed wrenches that lever the plants from the earth.
Broom is an oily plant that contributes to fire danger so removing it is valuable for that reason too.
We will return to the broom fight next year. Broom grows back, but it can be successfully removed. Many areas in the city that were once awash in the stuff – along Moeser lane, for example – are now free of it, and thus provide better habitat for native plants and animals.
May 1, 2019: The area around the Madera to Julian Trail in the Hillside Natural Area was becoming dangerously overgrown, as drenching winter rains caused every plant in Northern California to grow quickly – including invasive broom.
This yellow flowered, woody plant with thankfully shallow roots was overwhelming a wonderful trail in the Madera Open Space section of the Hillside that Trail Trekkers had laid out and built some years ago.
So Trekkers sprung into action, working with the Environmental Quality Committee’s Green Teams, to save the trail from becoming completely overgrown, and to remove other large patches of broom from areas nearby.
Howdy Goudey of the EQC lead the effort, with many volunteers from both groups. It was fun, deeply satisfying work. On April 28 – the last broom pull for the season – we found the ground growing hard, making it more difficult to pull.
Broom plants that in March and February (and during Earth Day in April) would come up easily, by hand, now required the use of weed wrenches that lever the plants from the earth.
Broom is an oily plant that contributes to fire danger so removing it is valuable for that reason too.
We will return to the broom fight next year. Broom grows back, but it can be successfully removed. Many areas in the city that were once awash in the stuff – along Moeser lane, for example – are now free of it, and thus provide better habitat for native plants and animals.
AFTER THE BIG MARCH 2019 STORM
4/7/2019
By Tim Aaronson
March 28, 2019
First three pixs of huge tree which came down smashing backyard fence of neighbor a week or two ago.
By Tim Aaronson
March 28, 2019
First three pixs of huge tree which came down smashing backyard fence of neighbor a week or two ago.
SUCCESSFUL BROOM PULL WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER — SOON
2/18/2019
Our most recent work party, the Madera Open Space broom pull, proved a great success despite its timing – just after the fiercest rains we’ve seen in a while, and with downpours and hail forecasted for that day.
Still, 11 people showed up on Saturday February 16 for this event, spearheaded by the city’s Environmental Quality Committee’s Green Teams and organized by Howdy Goudey. Trekkers co-sponsored.
Broom, a bully of an invasive plant that has in the past decades taken over acres and acres of the Hillside Natural Area, is threatening to reclaim the Madera-Julian Trail, which connects Madera Open Space to the Julian Steps and thus to Motorcycle Hill.
This is a crucial and historic trail in the Hillside Natural Area. It is – so far – the only direct link via trail between the southern and northern areas of the Hillside Area.
When Trekkers and the El Cerrito High Mountain Biking Team won the support of Trust for Public Land back in 2013 on plans to buy the Madera Open Space, Trust bought in because the purchase would link the two sections of the Hillside.
Our most recent work party, the Madera Open Space broom pull, proved a great success despite its timing – just after the fiercest rains we’ve seen in a while, and with downpours and hail forecasted for that day.
Still, 11 people showed up on Saturday February 16 for this event, spearheaded by the city’s Environmental Quality Committee’s Green Teams and organized by Howdy Goudey. Trekkers co-sponsored.
Broom, a bully of an invasive plant that has in the past decades taken over acres and acres of the Hillside Natural Area, is threatening to reclaim the Madera-Julian Trail, which connects Madera Open Space to the Julian Steps and thus to Motorcycle Hill.
This is a crucial and historic trail in the Hillside Natural Area. It is – so far – the only direct link via trail between the southern and northern areas of the Hillside Area.
When Trekkers and the El Cerrito High Mountain Biking Team won the support of Trust for Public Land back in 2013 on plans to buy the Madera Open Space, Trust bought in because the purchase would link the two sections of the Hillside.
Read More
If Trust hadn’t helped us, the city would never have been able to acquire Madera Open Space and add it to the publicly owned Hillside Natural Area.
Hence, we’d better do what we can to keep this trail passable. (It is a trail that Trekkers created back circa 2012, 2013.)
Watch this space and keep an eye on your email in-box. Green Teams and Trekkers plan another work party at this spot soon.
In two hours on February 16, our crew – a mix of longtime volunteers and welcome newcomers – managed to remove stacks of broom – by the roots of course. Working up close to plants – freeing new live oaks that had been engulfed by broom – is a much more intimate way to enjoy the Hillside than just walking through it.
The views were great as clouds scudded by and the sun came out, and the creek was cascading wildly.
We were careful, of course, to watch out for poison oak, which is starting to leaf.
Then, just past noon, our anointed quitting time, the sky darkened but it didn’t rain. It hailed.
See you at our next broom pull.
Hence, we’d better do what we can to keep this trail passable. (It is a trail that Trekkers created back circa 2012, 2013.)
Watch this space and keep an eye on your email in-box. Green Teams and Trekkers plan another work party at this spot soon.
In two hours on February 16, our crew – a mix of longtime volunteers and welcome newcomers – managed to remove stacks of broom – by the roots of course. Working up close to plants – freeing new live oaks that had been engulfed by broom – is a much more intimate way to enjoy the Hillside than just walking through it.
The views were great as clouds scudded by and the sun came out, and the creek was cascading wildly.
We were careful, of course, to watch out for poison oak, which is starting to leaf.
Then, just past noon, our anointed quitting time, the sky darkened but it didn’t rain. It hailed.
See you at our next broom pull.
ANOTHER GREAT WORLD ONE FESTIVAL
7/6/2018
As always, the various Trail Trekkers who worked our information booth at the city’s annual July 4 festival spread the word about our mission and events to hundreds of people on Wednesday.
We got 71 signups and many more people stopped by. We also gave away 50 trail maps, asking for small donations. We will soon have a more complete map, one listing all the trails.
I particularly enjoy this festival because it is such a good way to meet people from all walks of life who live in El Cerrito or nearby. Many young families stopped by the booth to ask about the trails. Some are using them regularly. Others, even some people who have lived in the city for years, said they are not familiar with the trails of the Hillside.
World One organizer Corey Mason did a great job with the musical programming, as he always does. I only caught one band, being too busy on the Trekker and EC Historical Society tables. But it was a good one, Sharon Gilchrist and Friends, featuring El Cerrito resident Chad Manning on fiddle. Chad’s son Jason made a guest appearance!
I thank Trekkers Pam Austin, Mollie Hazen, John Norikane, Tim Aaronson, Tom Gehling, Jenny Hammer, Hansa Jacob-Martin, Wade Huntley, Barbara Lass, Jim and Andia Rasmussen, Aimee Haire, and Clare Sheridan for helping at the table or planning and equipping the event. I believe others may have helped too while I was not there. If so, please accept my thanks!
As always, the various Trail Trekkers who worked our information booth at the city’s annual July 4 festival spread the word about our mission and events to hundreds of people on Wednesday.
We got 71 signups and many more people stopped by. We also gave away 50 trail maps, asking for small donations. We will soon have a more complete map, one listing all the trails.
I particularly enjoy this festival because it is such a good way to meet people from all walks of life who live in El Cerrito or nearby. Many young families stopped by the booth to ask about the trails. Some are using them regularly. Others, even some people who have lived in the city for years, said they are not familiar with the trails of the Hillside.
World One organizer Corey Mason did a great job with the musical programming, as he always does. I only caught one band, being too busy on the Trekker and EC Historical Society tables. But it was a good one, Sharon Gilchrist and Friends, featuring El Cerrito resident Chad Manning on fiddle. Chad’s son Jason made a guest appearance!
I thank Trekkers Pam Austin, Mollie Hazen, John Norikane, Tim Aaronson, Tom Gehling, Jenny Hammer, Hansa Jacob-Martin, Wade Huntley, Barbara Lass, Jim and Andia Rasmussen, Aimee Haire, and Clare Sheridan for helping at the table or planning and equipping the event. I believe others may have helped too while I was not there. If so, please accept my thanks!
MEMBERS ENJOYED AN APPRECIATION PARTY
3/2/2018
Just to show members of El Cerrito Trail Trekkers how much we appreciate them — and to encourage more to join — we threw a members appreciation party in late February.
About 50 people rsvp’d and 42 attended. Mary Barkey supplied wonderful, homemade, vegetarian pizza. Not one slice remained at the end of the night. Pam Austin, our treasurer, brought roasted vegetables. Mais Jafari brought treats of Jordanian cuisine. Others contributed food and drinks as well.
Oh yes, Mary’s lemon cake and cookies.
The entire Trekkers board was there — Pam, our treasurer and VP, Mollie Hazen, our communications director, and Mark Miner, secretary and web master and chief trail builder.
We met people new to us, and some who were new to Trekkers. We believe many people at the party will remain involved with our dynamic group, which needs more people for increased dynamism!
Many long-timers were there as well, including several former and founding Trekker board members. People were at the party who have been working in the East Bay for decades to improve the community, along with newcomers who are sure to be part of the community’s future.
Trekkers plans further social events, maybe some at local watering holes. We also plan an outdoors members event in the spring or summer. Watch for it. And join!
Dave Weinstein
Just to show members of El Cerrito Trail Trekkers how much we appreciate them — and to encourage more to join — we threw a members appreciation party in late February.
About 50 people rsvp’d and 42 attended. Mary Barkey supplied wonderful, homemade, vegetarian pizza. Not one slice remained at the end of the night. Pam Austin, our treasurer, brought roasted vegetables. Mais Jafari brought treats of Jordanian cuisine. Others contributed food and drinks as well.
Oh yes, Mary’s lemon cake and cookies.
The entire Trekkers board was there — Pam, our treasurer and VP, Mollie Hazen, our communications director, and Mark Miner, secretary and web master and chief trail builder.
We met people new to us, and some who were new to Trekkers. We believe many people at the party will remain involved with our dynamic group, which needs more people for increased dynamism!
Many long-timers were there as well, including several former and founding Trekker board members. People were at the party who have been working in the East Bay for decades to improve the community, along with newcomers who are sure to be part of the community’s future.
Trekkers plans further social events, maybe some at local watering holes. We also plan an outdoors members event in the spring or summer. Watch for it. And join!
Dave Weinstein
work Party Clears Debris From Terrace Cutoff Trail
2/18/2018
It’s amazing how much work three dedicated volunteers can do in just over two hours. On Saturday morning Terrace Cutoff Trail was impassable. By early afternoon it was passable.
Mark Miner, who is Trail Trekkers’ trail building chief, Dave Weinstein, and a new volunteer with us, Mark Carraher, who is active with the Boy Scouts, removed many cubic yards of dead live oak limbs that had been blocking this trail and posing a fire hazard.
This was the first of Trail Trekkers new once-a-month trail work parties, which occur on the third Saturday of the month. Join us for future parties. They are satisfying!
Although Terrace Cutoff Trail is shown on our maps as an impassable trail (because a series of treads are needed to make it, well, truly safe and civilized), intrepid hikers can make it down this trail, which can be found between 8231 and 8239 Terrace Drive, and which connects to the well used Stockton-to-King Trail.
Within the year we hope to install treads to make this a fully functional part of our city’s wonderful network of trails and urban stairways.
— Dave Weinstein, Trail Trekkers president
It’s amazing how much work three dedicated volunteers can do in just over two hours. On Saturday morning Terrace Cutoff Trail was impassable. By early afternoon it was passable.
Mark Miner, who is Trail Trekkers’ trail building chief, Dave Weinstein, and a new volunteer with us, Mark Carraher, who is active with the Boy Scouts, removed many cubic yards of dead live oak limbs that had been blocking this trail and posing a fire hazard.
This was the first of Trail Trekkers new once-a-month trail work parties, which occur on the third Saturday of the month. Join us for future parties. They are satisfying!
Although Terrace Cutoff Trail is shown on our maps as an impassable trail (because a series of treads are needed to make it, well, truly safe and civilized), intrepid hikers can make it down this trail, which can be found between 8231 and 8239 Terrace Drive, and which connects to the well used Stockton-to-King Trail.
Within the year we hope to install treads to make this a fully functional part of our city’s wonderful network of trails and urban stairways.
— Dave Weinstein, Trail Trekkers president
Mark your calendars for the Hillside Festival
Early Morning Bird Walk led by Tara McIntire
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Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15, 2022
This free event returns to the real Hillside this year after a virtual festival in 2020. We have a full range of activities, with Eddie Dunbar of the Insect Sciences Museum kicking the fest off with an ever-popular hike for all ages.
We will have geology and history hikes, a birding morning hike and native plants hikes. There will be a history of El Cerrito walk and an outdoors talk on Native Americans by author Richard Schwartz. Pick up a hard copy map and schedule, which will soon be distributed at community centers, libraries and shops throughout El Cerrito and nearby towns. Or download the 2022 Trekkers Hill Fest Schedule. |
2021 Trekkers Annual Meeting
Eddie Dunbar will talk about insects in the Hillside during the meeting. Here he is seen during his insect hike at the last Hillside Festival. Photo by Dave Weinstein.
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Join us at the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers Annual Meeting. On Sunday, January 24 at 4 PM, Trekkers will host a virtual hike in the Hillside Natural Area along the Rotary Interpretive Walk. The trail features a series of informational signs installed a few months ago that were made possible by the El Cerrito Rotary Club.
Trekkers board members Wade Huntley and Barbara Lass will lead the way with photos of the signs and views. We will be joined by geologist Gary Prost, entomologist Eddie Dunbar, and birder and wildlife photographer Tara McIntire, who will tell us more about the geology, insects, and birds of the Hillside area. The Rotary Interpretive Walk is a great addition to the Hillside area, and this presentation will encourage all of us to get out and enjoy the trails this winter. The “walk” will follow a 15-minute business meeting that will see a treasury report, public comment, a brief discussion of accomplishments and goals, and election of officers. |
Topic: Trail Trekkers Annual Meeting
Time: Jan 24, 2021 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Trekkers presents its slate of officers and seeks nominations.
Are you interested in helping preserve and expand El Cerrito’s network of trails and open spaces? We are open to nominations for membership on the Trekkers board of directors. Nominate yourself, or a friend (if that person has agreed to serve).
Our bylaws authorize a board of up to 10 members and our slate only has five, so don’t be concerned about a tight, disputed race. An ideal board member is committed to the cause of improving life in El Cerrito through trails and open space, and has time and energy. The board meets the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 to noon.
We would particularly welcome people who want to lead trail building and other work parties, or are interesting in raising funds to buy open space. But anyone interested in trails is encouraged to consider board membership.
Interested? [email protected]. Nominations are accepted now to the time of the meeting.
Our slate of officers. All current board members would like to remain on the board. We are happy to announce a new member of our slate, Melisssa Hobbs.
Have you renewed your membership? It only costs $20 annually to belong to Trekkers, and $1,000 buys a life membership. Please renew now or join by going to our website and downloading the membership form.
And consider an additional donation as well. Funds go for trail work, to install trail signs, for a fund to purchase additional open space, as well as incidental expenses. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Time: Jan 24, 2021 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Trekkers presents its slate of officers and seeks nominations.
Are you interested in helping preserve and expand El Cerrito’s network of trails and open spaces? We are open to nominations for membership on the Trekkers board of directors. Nominate yourself, or a friend (if that person has agreed to serve).
Our bylaws authorize a board of up to 10 members and our slate only has five, so don’t be concerned about a tight, disputed race. An ideal board member is committed to the cause of improving life in El Cerrito through trails and open space, and has time and energy. The board meets the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 to noon.
We would particularly welcome people who want to lead trail building and other work parties, or are interesting in raising funds to buy open space. But anyone interested in trails is encouraged to consider board membership.
Interested? [email protected]. Nominations are accepted now to the time of the meeting.
Our slate of officers. All current board members would like to remain on the board. We are happy to announce a new member of our slate, Melisssa Hobbs.
Have you renewed your membership? It only costs $20 annually to belong to Trekkers, and $1,000 buys a life membership. Please renew now or join by going to our website and downloading the membership form.
And consider an additional donation as well. Funds go for trail work, to install trail signs, for a fund to purchase additional open space, as well as incidental expenses. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Dangerous debris removed from Hillside Natural Area
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Eleven volunteers attended a Trail Trekkers broom haul and pull just before Halloween rolled in, filling a dumpster with dead broom and piles of wood. We also pulled living broom. In the process we continued to clear a beautiful little spot, dotted with rock outcrops, in the Madera Open Space section of the Hillside Natural Area. The city provided the dumpster and tools.
Broom is an invasive plant that crowds out native plants. It is also highly flammable, as are piles of long dead wood. Still, at least two piles of dead broom and other woody materials remain. One more work party ought to do it, right? Watch this space as we do another, hopefully in December. Attending a broom work party with Trekkers is about more than doing a good deed. It is a great way to learn about nature, as many of the volunteers are deeply knowledgeable. Come out to the next one and meet some of our city’s more interesting citizens. |
Volunteers spent the morning of Halloween filling a dumpster with dead broom and other foliage debris, as well as by pulling broom plants. Photo by Dave Weinstein
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Red-shouldered hawks raising their young in the Hillside
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As more and more people enjoy the trails in El Cerrito’s Hillside Natural Area during the COVID crisis, it’s a good time to be observant. The Hillside is home to native plants and native wildlife – including red-shouldered hawks.
These should not be confused with red-tailed hawks. This little video will help you tell them apart. Gavin Lee has an eye for hawks and is a fine photographer. He sent us these two photos of red-shouldered hawk fledglings. “With the shelter in place, we’ve been hiking in the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area daily. This is where both hawks have nests in two different areas of eucalyptus,” he writes. You can see more of his photography on Instagram. |
Chris Treadway covers the new Rotary Signs for the East Bay times
Rotary Interpretive Walk debuts in the Hillside
The very first members of the general public to view a Rotary Interpretive Walk sign after its installation on May 1 gave their approval. Photo by Dave Weinstein
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Two members of the El Cerrito Rotary Club, which funded the signs, provided inspiration, and are providing labor, took part in the installation of the first of the Rotary interpretive signs. They were club president Marty Kaliski and Lee Prutton, who has overseen the three-year project. Trekker Dave Weinstein assisted in the installation of the first sign. It was installed ahead of the others to gauge how things would go. They went well.
Masks were worn and social distancing reigned. The remaining 14 signs will be placed later this month by small groups of Rotary Club and Trekker volunteers, probably two volunteers per set of signs, adhering to social distance rules and wearing masks. Trekkers thanks Rotary, the sign designer Jan Byers, the artist Adam Prost, and all those who contributed their knowledge by writing the signs. |
The interpretive signs cover a wide variety of topics, from history to geology to flora and fauna. They came about when the Rotary approached Trekkers three years ago suggesting a donation for an important project.
The signs are being installed along portions of the Live Oak Trail.
Authors of the sign text are Susan Schwartz of Friends of Five Creeks, who wrote about creeks, grassland, oaks and shrubs; Tara McIntire, who wrote about red-tailed hawks; Keli Hendricks of Project Coyote, who wrote about coyotes; Gary Prost of the Northern California Geological Society, who wrote about rocks and geology; Zara McDonald of the Felidae Conservation Fund, who wrote about mountain lions; Dave Weinstein, who wrote about Hillside history and banana slugs; Eddie Dunbar of the Insect Sciences Museum of California, who wrote about dragonflies; and Bev Ortiz of the East Bay Regional Park District, who wrote about the Huchiun people.
Tom Gehling contributed drawings of invasive plants.
The signs are being installed along portions of the Live Oak Trail.
Authors of the sign text are Susan Schwartz of Friends of Five Creeks, who wrote about creeks, grassland, oaks and shrubs; Tara McIntire, who wrote about red-tailed hawks; Keli Hendricks of Project Coyote, who wrote about coyotes; Gary Prost of the Northern California Geological Society, who wrote about rocks and geology; Zara McDonald of the Felidae Conservation Fund, who wrote about mountain lions; Dave Weinstein, who wrote about Hillside history and banana slugs; Eddie Dunbar of the Insect Sciences Museum of California, who wrote about dragonflies; and Bev Ortiz of the East Bay Regional Park District, who wrote about the Huchiun people.
Tom Gehling contributed drawings of invasive plants.
Trail Trekkers mourns the loss of Mollie Hazen
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Trekkers’ board member and communications director Mollie Hazen died on August 11, 2019, after fighting cancer for several years.
She played an important part in our organization, getting out the word about our events and focusing on how to attract more participants through social engagement. Mollie was a savvy person, knowledgeable about state and local politics, and was very good at sizing up people and envisioning how events might play out. Her contributions to board discussions were invaluable.
Even as she grew ill, Mollie remained active not just with Trekkers, but as board president of the Kensington Symphony and a member of the city’s Crime Prevention Committee. Her energy did not flag until it was gone. Weakness, and the need for a wheelchair, did not stop her from helping run our booth at the July 4 festival. |
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Shevlin to Arlington Park Path
If there is one here it is.
Contra Costa Marketplace July 2018
Volunteers Wanted!
The Trekkers are looking for volunteers to help improve trails and continue building new ones. Let us know if you can help – contact Dave Weinstein at 510-524-1737 or [email protected]
