Adopt a crag at the Pinnacles

[joe]

As some of you know, I've long thought it would be a good idea to gather a group of mudders and organize an adapt a crag day at the pinns.  my thought is to primarily work the trail to the hand an subsequently to the frog.  as most of you know, there is a decent use trail that is often grown over and not always obvious.  I think we could sell it to the powers that be as an attempt to reduce environmental damage, which of course it would.

I think the first step is too see if there are enough interested parties willing to commit to a day in the spring (with a backup date in case of inclement weather) to make this worth moving forward on.

what say you?

[mynameismud]

I can be talked into it.

[squiddo]

Joe,

I'm in!

[Brad Young]

Yes.

[mungeclimber]

yes, as long as we can bring in an airplane crop duster to spray for ticks ahead of time, otherwise, I think the Fall is the best time before it rains heavy.   

[squiddo]

Hey, my buddies a climber, pilot AND he owns his own plane. As a bonus, he likes his beer lime free!

[mungeclimber]

Commie!

Lime is American!

[mynameismud]

DIE

[squiddo]

lol, awesome.

[F4?]

I'm in as long as I can bring a cooler to hydrate. Maybe a plug for Dirty Jobs? Have the guy go through the PO.

[F'ueco]

As long as F4b is going through the PO, I could be talked into this as well... As long as a date that I'm in town is picked, that is. 

[squiddo]

There is no PO at the Pinns....that is a myth. Disprove:-)

[joe]

some initial correspondence:

From Joseph Denicola:
Hey Gavin
> Hope you're well.  I'm thinking about trying to
> organize an adopt a crag day at the pinnacles for the spring
> to work on trail building out to the hand and subsequently
> to the frog.  Who would be the best person to begin talking
> to at NPS in order to find out what the protocol would be
> and how to make it happen?

--- On Wed, 11/12/08, Gavin_Emmons@nps.gov <Gavin_Emmons@nps.gov> wrote:

> From: Gavin_Emmons@nps.gov <Gavin_Emmons@nps.gov>
> Subject: Pinnacles Adopt A Crag
> To: denicolajoe@yahoo.com
> Cc: Erik_D_Temple@nps.gov, Scott_Scherbinski@nps.gov, Denise_Louie@nps.gov, Brent_Johnson@nps.gov
> Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 9:19 AM


> Hey Joe - Thanks for the email; good to hear from you.
> (I've pasted your message below this one for the other
> folks listed on this email.) Your "adopt-a-crag"
> idea - working on climber access trails out to Frog and Hand
> - sounds great, but there are a few issues associated with
> it. First off, the Frog/Hand area is one of the initial
> climbing advisory areas subject to closure beginning in
> January. However, by late spring, I should have a sense of
> whether or not a prairie falcon pair is ocupying that
> territory and planning to nest there. A falcon pair has not
> occupied Frog/Hand in the past 2 years, but I'd like to
> make sure before coming up with a concrete plan for trail
> work in the area during the spring. The other option would
> be trying to schedule trail work there before January or
> after the spring months (though I know it can get pretty hot
> at that point). However, we should be able to figure out a
> work plan. I have CC'ed a few folks on this email that
> would be good to involve in the conversation. The first is
> Erik Temple, the trail crew leader at the park... He would
> be the first to contact in regards to setting up a plan. I
> have also included Scott Scherbinski (a condor biologist and
> fellow climber), Denise Louie (the chief of resources), and
> Brent Johnson (the park botanist)... All might have some
> interest / insights in the process. I do know that there are
> funds available for climber access trail maintenance, so
> inquire with Erik and we can go from there. Let me know when
> you're around and we'll see about a climbing day or
> two! Gavin 




gavin
thanks for getting back to me so quick.  I've posted a thread on masters of mud getting a feel for a core of volunteers and there is definite interest.  if this becomes an access fund event, assuming we can work through potential obstacles, we could get a decent size crowd.  the hand/frog trail is an obvious need, but certainly I'm open to other ideas that people may think are more pressing.
perhaps the park service could donate a group camp site or two and the volunteers could spend the night and climb the next day.
j

[mungeclimber]

nice!

[squiddo]

Joe,

Thanks man that just rocks.

[Poppy]

Personally, I enjoy the lesser traveled locations with inobvious or overgrown trails.  I was out at the Hand and Frog a few weeks ago, and had an exciting adventure figuring out how to get around.  I remember specifically noting how much fun it was to be "off the beaten path."

I appreciate your stewardship, I just don't believe everything needs to be improved.

[squiddo]

Hey Poppy,

Welcome to the party. I don't think he was proposing a paved trail, only a single clear and well thought out one. I've been out to the Hand and the Frog a number of times, never once the same. There are numerous trails leading part of the way out only to teeter into poison oak. There is a good argument for having a single trail to try and keep erosion down from numerous poorly planned (and illegal) trails.

Having said that, I get where you're coming from. I enjoy the remote aspect as well. It's too far out to ever be another Disco Wall or Monolith though.

[Poppy]

I realize nobody was proposing a paved trail. 

Where, exactly, are the erosion problems that you mentioned?  The way to the Hand is fairly obvious (frequently in a wash or seasonal watercourse), and I am not convinced any trail improvement would be necessary to mitigate climbing/hiking impacts, especially erosion. 

From the Hand to the Frog may be another story. There is the steep and loose hillside south of the Snail.  Presumably a formal trail would need to be completely relocated away from this area.  I believe stairs would be be the only solution in that loose slope, and in my opinion, that level of improvement would be unwelcome. 

A pruned path through the "Chapparal moat" surrounding the Frog would certainly make access more convenient.

That is what we are really talking about here...increasing convenience, not mitigating erosion or improving compliance with laws. 

Overall, I believe the remote nature of the Hand and Frog is due to the inconvenience of the approach, not the length.  Honestly, it's not that far out there....maybe not like Disco Wall, but still.  Increasing the convenience will ultimately decrease the remote feel...something I value deeply. 

This may be a worthwhile project, and I appreciate the willingness to hear other's opinions.  I would support a minimally invasive project from the Hand to the Frog that is consistent with, and preserves, the remote nature of the area.  I dont think improvements from the reservoir to the Hand are necessary.

[joe]

more correspondence:

Que pasa Joe et al?  Just a quick thought, last spring we hosted a climbing event with FOP to recognize the legacy of climbing and conservation here at Pinnacles.  We are planning to host a similar event this spring and it maybe a good opportunity to coordinate that event with your Adopt A Crag day.  Just a thought.  And if the Hand and Frog happen to be closed, other locations may be possible.  Thank you for your time.
Adios,
Scoot Scherbinski
California Condor Project
Pinnacles National Monument
5000 Highway 146
Paicines, CA 95043
831-389-4486 x276.

[mungeclimber]

it might be interesting to look at the Costanoan approach these days as an example of whether or not improving an approach affects the number of visitors. It was recently 'improved' by the guys on the trail team. Has it drawn more folks out there?  Has it already overgrown back?