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Monthly Workday – January 2, 2021 – cleanup on Skyline
Kids enjoying exhibits & piano in Ranger Station
RTO Workdays 4/18 & 19/2015 – over 400 volunteers!
35 Volunteers for Sunset Trail Reroute

We began the day enjoying French pastries provided by FOJMP board member Stan Dodson of the Dimond La Farine Bakery before we headed out to the work site.
In a battle of man versus bay stump, a group began the excavation of a huge stump at the bottom of the reroute.
Others paired up and began hauling more railroad ties up from the meadow…
…while the majority lined up with Pulaski and McLeod tools to cut the bench.
The group broke for BBQ chicken and salads at mid-day, prepared by BTCEB Trails Director, Dave Cowley, before returning to the hill for the afternoon session.
At day’s end, with the majority of the bench cut, the new trail was visibly flowing down the hill.
By late afternoon, the exhausted group returned to the meadow for snacks and cold beverages.
The next construction date is scheduled on June 15th, when we’ll begin construction of the two switchbacks, build a couple retaining walls, and start the gateways on Sunset and Sequoia Bayview. We’ll meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Ranger Station. Plan on a two-hour morning session, break for coffee, juice, fruit, and pastries on the hill, and be done around 1:00 or so when we’ll head down to the meadow for lunch and beverages and where we’ll call it a day.
Parties interested in helping can signup on the BTCEB MeetUp group. If you have any questions drop Brent a note.
Thanks to Chef Dave for his most excellent BBQ, BTCEB’s Henry Mitchell, Mike Udkow, and Daniel Perkins for bringing in the railroad ties and helping with all the preproduction, Gary and Stan from the Dimond La Farine bakery for the incomparable treats in the morning, and of course Park Supervisor Martin Mataresse who made the entire project possible!
Also thanks to Jason Van Horn for some really nice photos. Check out Jason’s Bermstyle site for more images of the day.
Sunset Trail Reroute
The first workday on May 11th went really great. Thanks for everyone that turned out! We had around 15 people and started the day by moving 20+ railroad ties from the meadow up to the work site.
Once that was complete, we began the vegetation removal, digging up ferns & soup plant bulbs and Sticky monkey-flower.
We potted the plants and transported them down to the park nursery where we gave them a good soaking before leaving them in the capable hands of our friends at FOSC.
We also cut a scratch line along the route to give everyone a solid idea of where our bench cut will be.
At the end of the day we were back at the Ranger Station for cold drinks and socializing.
We’ll be back on May 25th when the real fun begins with the bench cut and construction of the two switchbacks. Get involved and sign up for the next work day on the 25th!
Palos Colorados Trail Work
The old trail was underneath all this tree canopy and was a large dip into the creek (to the left) straight from this point to Daniel (in the orange).
The new alignment is higher up along the contour of the bank, instead of down in the creek.
The heavy clay soil formed up pretty well as we benched the new trail. Conditions were still a little wet, and the clay sticky, but the trail quickly took shape.
The new alignment keeps people out of the creek and helps slow riders down on the blind turns on each side of the reroute.
We then piled up bay tree branches along the edge of the trail (which we hacked off the bay that come down with the pine) to discourage people from venturing into the creek.
P.O. Box 2768, Oakland, CA 94602 info@fojmp.org Google Phone: 510-473-6567
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We are hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, dog owners, cross country runners, historians, writers, and neighbors — all dedicated to maintaining, preserving and enhancing the rich natural legacy that was originally the home of the late 19th Century poet and environmentalist, Joaquin Miller.
Join the Friends today!
By joining Friends of Joaquin Miller Park (FOJMP), your donation is put directly into programs that improve 500-acre Joaquin Miller Park for all its many users. Recent accomplishments include adding the off-leash dog area, rerouting eroding trails, creating a new trail map, and installing interpretive signs and directional trail markers.
FOJMP has a number of programs that might be of interest to you:
• Working to maintain Joaquin Miller’s Abbey & restore the Woodminster Cascade
• Restoration work at the Fern Ravine wetlands and nearby redwoods
• Improving the gates at the dog off-leash area
• Continuing to improve trail safety, usability by installing trail signs
• New entrance portal on Joaquin Miller Road
Come work with us on these and other projects to make the park more visitor-friendly and help improve trail safety.
Once again, welcome, and we’ll see you on the trail, at the dog run, in the theater, or volunteering on a restoration project!