2022 was a year with 80 new people that stared following BBVTC by joining our Google Group. We had numerous people wanting to join the crew on our 25 workdays. We had 2-4 new people join the crew each work day for a total of 52 in 2022 with over half returning another workday and 3 even putting in over 100 hours along with 8 more established crew members. The crew volunteer time was a record 3673 hours, which surpassed the estimated 2430 hours put in to completed the Schultz Bridge and Kirsch Trail before the 2002 Centennial celebration.
The crew started the year by working on the Redwood Loop clearing debris and creating burn piles. It took until July to complete minus a couple of days working on Skyline to the Sea trail. Two more workdays in August were required to clear the thistle in hopes that in a couple of years the native plants will reestablish around the loop.
Along with the burn piles many dead trees were felled as well as clearing trails of invasive plants. It was also nice to see the Redwoods with new green growth along with wild flowers. The second half of the year the crew worked on the Sunset Trail from the Skyline to the Sea trail to Middleridge Fire Road covering about .8 miles.
On the DEC 3 workday there was rain but that didn’t stop 17 people from showing up to clear culverts and drainage ditches along North Escape Road. On the last workday the crew celebrated the year’s accomplishments at the Sawmill Restaurant in Boulder Creek. A very successful year with record hours as well as 89 people showing up to work on the trails. Hope to see you out in 2023.
Burnt Redwood (watercolor by Bruce Washburn)
by Jeff