Happy second Saturday of the month! Apologies for missing it in January, but the month seemed to slide by without much notice and there wasn't anything of interest to report anyway. BUT there is news this month, so please read at least a little further!

I received a note from Chris Pereira, district trails manager, about a week ago asking to meet this coming Thursday (18th) to discuss getting the Trail Crew back into the park. Chris mentioned before the Holidays that they were 'close' to finalizing plans for what areas of the park to reopen first and that plan would drive the trail work.

The beginning of 2021 still has the BBVTC locked out of the Park. There are signs things are improving. The Mother and Father of the Forest should recover but time will tell.

Sempervirens Creek Bridge - 1998 through 2002

The design of the bridge and planning of the construction was done by Jack Schultz. Funds were raised for the construction of a replacement bridge across Sempervirens Creek connecting the Sequoia and Shadowbrook Trails. This project began in 1998 with the Trail Crew milling the bridge beams from a Douglas Fir that fell across Gazos Creek Fire Road. Actual construction of the bridge occurred in 2001 through 2002 with a big push in the Summer of 2002 to complete the bridge for Big Basin Centennial celebration in Fall 2002.

Our August 8th workday BBVTC worked around the Berry Creek Falls area. With shovels, McLeods, a Pulaski and John Collins personal Travis tool we cut and scraped years of debris from the steps at Golden and Silver Falls. It wasn't glamorous but it was sorely needed. We carried the dirt in bags donated by the District up and away from Berry Creek and broadcast the dirt in whatever spots we could find out of sight. The steps looked much better and safer when we were done.

Like most of 2020, the Trial Crew's November workday was a little different than usual as we helped Camp Campbell repair trail damage from the same fires that have shut down Big Basin trail work until spring. But it was a beautiful SC Mountains fall day regardless, cool in the morning and mild by afternoon. Perfect trail work weather that reminded us why we miss not being out every month!

f 2020 will be remembered for anything, it will be for its ability to warp time. Has it been seven months since Covid-19 turned the world upside down? It seems like we've been living with it for years. And it's been less than two months since Park Interpreter Susan Blake sent a note saying 'we’re not threatened by any of the fires' and then a follow-up note less than 24 hours later saying ' HQ area all gone'. That turned the world inside out and seems at least six months ago.

OK, is it just me or should we be done with 2020 right about now? Over the past several weeks I've been tempted to think 'What else could go wrong', but that seems a little like tempting fate at this point.

There was no Trail Crew workday for Sep, but I also think it's important to stay in touch. For hose Trail Crew folks who had to evacuate, please keep us updated on how things are going and what support we can provide.

On August 17th 2020 a series of Severe Thunderstorms hit the Bay Area. The storm broke off from Tropical Storm Fausto and although the morning showers cooled off the area the temperature in Santa Cruz broke a record and reached 107F and Death Valley reach a staggering 130F. Multiple lightning strikes stated numerous fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. These fires grew and turned into one huge fire threatening Big Basin and Boulder Creek on Aug 18th and filled the sky with smoke and ash.

The board in headquarters has never looked so clean. There was one new tree down listed on East Ridge Trail near Blooms Creek Campground but we went ahead with our original plan, which was to clean the steps on the Berry Creek Falls Trail.

There was a report of a large Fir blocking Sequoia Trail so a 4 person crew came out on July 2nd. On the regular workday 10 members came out and split into 2 crews one working along Skyline to the Sea (STTS) and Last Chance with the other working on Meteor and Creeping Forest.