Scouting New Trails on the Cold Canyon Headwaters

Annie's Trail, our first trail on the property, to be built in memory of our friend and fellow board member, Anne Schneider, was scouted in September, 2010.

The trail will take you to the southernmost part of the property, with fantastic views along the Blue Ridge and of Lake Berryessa.

Trail building is tough stuff. We were pushing through chamise, poison oak, and dead tree branches.

We'll start building as the weather gets cooler.

Andrew Fulks

Finally Building First Segment of the Berryessa Peak Trail

On March 24-25, 2010, I’ll be leading a trip above Lake Berryessa on the new Berryessa Peak Trail easement, to start constructing the half-mile length of the easement. So, if you’re like me and you are on a furlough from UC Davis, or you want to be with the first members of the public to see this amazing private ranch that has so graciously donated a public trail easement, bring your backpacking gear and come out for two days of trail construction. Total distance is 10 miles, round trip, with 2000-foot elevation gain. I have enough tools for 16 people.

When completed, this trail will offer the first open public access to the 9,100-acre Berryessa Peak BLM public lands. Located in Yolo and Napa Counties, this public land was previously inaccessible. I’d been working for 15 years to raise awareness of these lands and to get agency and landowner approvals for this project, and the time has finally come. We can build it!

Photos of the hike can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/yolohiker/BlueRidgeTrailScouting#

We’ll camp in a lovely grove of ridge-top oak trees, with endless views of Lake Berryessa on one side, and the central valley on the other. If you are interested in going, email me at yolohiker@yolohiker.org.

Andrew Fulks