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Welcome to Fall in the Los Padres! We've been seeing peak fall colors this past week across most of the LP with sycamores, alders, maples and cottonwoods all dazzling in their fall bests. Fall has been especially dramatic this year thanks to the sneaky snow storm that came in a couple weeks back. If you remember that first storm, it was predicted to be light and cold with very little precipitation. The storm came and went but instead of light and cold we surprisingly found most of the high country covered in a solid blanket of 6 inches of snow. A sneaker storm for sure, and it great to get out over the past week and see the mountains drinking up some much needed moisture. Hopefully a good sign of things to come! |
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We've got a new look!
As you can tell, we've upgraded our email system and from here on out, our newsletters and communication will be greatly enhanced! We'll share more details soon, but we think you'll love our new system, which should improve volunteer signups, project management, fundraising and most importantly, our ability to help the trails and forest. Stay tuned...
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If you come across any bad sections of trail, downed trees or slides, take pictures and post to HikeLosPadres and email the Forest Service or your favorite trail group - things change so quickly across the trails and any information you can share is always appreciated! |
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The LPFA has been busy with our fall - winter program of trail work and we're hoping the recent shift in COVID tiers doesn't slow us down too much. The LPFA Trail Crew is currently helping the Forest Service with some BAER work in the Dolan Fire, but we've spent much of the past months working some of the trails in and around the SLO Backcountry. Our main focus this fall and early winter will be in the deeper parts of the SB Backcountry working primarily on the Santa Cruz and Mission Pine Trails while also strategically hitting Poplar, Alamar, Madulce and the upper Sisquoc. We'll share more details and potential volunteer opportunities but we should be out there as much as we can until the rains come and shutdown access. Read more about our great volunteer project last week clearing some of the nastiest wilderness chaparral you can imagine along the Mission Pine Trail, our continuing work on the Mono Jungle Reroute of the Cold Spring Trail, and plans to restore the North Franklin Trail out behind Carpinteria on our latest blog post! |
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Forest 411 • Despite the recent rains, the forest remains in fire restrictions which prohibit campfires across the forest and camp stoves are only allowed in designated campfire use sites. • We are officially within the Seasonal Gate Closure season where some of our favorite trailheads and campgrounds become harder to get to as the FS swings the gates for the winter. • The Monterey Ranger District remains in a hard closure due to the Dolan Fire, which is currently 98% contained and is holding at 124,924 scorched acres. Stay tuned...
• Last month's LPFA Seven Minute Story Night is on YouTube, check it out...
• Four condors were released earlier this week into the wilds outside San Simeon. Another great step for our beloved California condor!
• The Los Padres National Forest is hiring! They are looking for a Forestry Technician in Santa Barbara and a wilderness/stock program manager in the Monterey RD, check it out and good luck!
• The Forest Service is also looking for volunteers who might be interested in helping treat and eliminate non-native noxious weeds within the Santa Barbara front and backcountry areas. You'd be working with the FS biologist. If this sounds fun, or for more information email us at Volunteer@LPForest.org.
• Thanks to everyone who submitted photos for the 2021 Los Padres Calendar. To learn more or purchase your very own 2021 Los Padres Calendar, CLICK HERE.
• Some slight changes in the West Cuesta closure order: the Forest Service revised the closure so that bicycles and hikers are once again permitted along West Cuesta. The closure remains in place for vehicles and dispersed camping.
• If you shop on Amazon, remember that you can always use Amazon Smile and choose the LPFA as your charity of choice so that you not only shop, but also help the forest, all in just a few clicks. Check it out - thanks...
• And last but certainly not least, our latest volunteer spotlight features the great Bardley Smith. You know the saying about a tree falling in the woods, right? Well, it should be changed to if a tree falls across the trail in the Ojai Ranger District...yes, Bardley will most likely cut it out. Thanks for all you do Bardley! |
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Upcoming Events
A few upcoming dates, events, projects, presentations or things you might want to know about. If you have any forest-related events to add to this list, let us know and we’re more than happy to pass along!
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#GivingTuesday 2020 Giving Tuesday is a global movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. LPFA's mission to ensure the forest stays accessible and safe for use can't be fulfilled without your support. Consider making your gift today! |
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Los Padres Forest Association
PO Box 1282 | Goleta, California 93116
info@lpforest.org
Learn More about LPFA
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