If You Ride in the Kernville Area.......

[KTMrad 512]

SEQUOIA FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES PIUTE PLANNING October 7 WORKSHOP

Four organizations have been invited to take part in a collaborative process to help determine which trails will remain open in the Piute area. Stewards of the Sequoia has been invited to represent the public's desire to keep trails open due to our significant past efforts in Forest Trail Plans.

The Forest Service has also invited the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society and Sequoia Forest Keepers, all of whom most likely want to restrict access entirely or significantly.

So that makes it three groups against access and one group working to preserve public access, and you know what I think Stewards are up to the task with continued support from our members, even though those are some very powerful groups.

We are glad to see the Forest Service would like members of the public to be involved as well.

We hope those of you who are interested will join Stewards at the initial planning meeting on 10/7/10 6-8:30pm in Kernville at Odd Fellow Hall. Mapquest link to meeting location here For those who cannot attend, rest assured Stewards of the Sequoia will continue to do our best to fight to keep your trails open.

For more meeting information please contact Chris Horgan at Stewards by responding to this email or 760 223-2366 or contact the Forest Service Warren Niemi, Team Leader at: wniemi@fs.fed.us, or (559)784-1500.

HOW CAN WE PREVAIL OVER THE CLOSURE GROUPS?

We have been warning our members that the Piute Trail Plan will require a lot of effort in order to keep the trails open. The Sequoia Forest Keepers, Wilderness Society and Sierra Club have made it clear they want large sections for Wilderness and that means they want lots of trails closed, including four trails formally adopted by Stewards of the Sequoia. Our motorized volunteers have spent thousands of hours maintaining these trails working with the Forest Service to reduce erosion and keep these trails open to all, but these groups think the trails should be closed to our volunteers as well as just about everyone else.

We had hoped to raise enough funds to be able to hire a lawyer if needed, but that has not yet happened. Keep in mind the local Closure Group has a starting budget of $180,000 a year, while Stewards has been operating on about $20,000 a year, yet we have been winning on almost every issue due to our passion and persistence, however at this rate we may lack the funds needed for the difficult Piute fight.

Isn't it worth less than a set of tires to help keep your trails open?

Now is the time to raise the funds needed to hire experts, research, and file the needed comments to help ensure our trails are kept open.

As if the above was not reason enough to donate you can read more about Stewards Accomplishments. Please donate to help Stewards keep achieving even more.

Trail Tricks will even give you 20% Off for Trail Preservation Program $150 Donors

What a great deal. Make a tax deductible $150 Trail Preservation Program donation to Stewards of the Sequoia and earn a 20% from Trail Tricks on their great suspension.

STEWARDS ANNOUNCES FALL TRAIL APPRECIATION DATES

Please check your calendar and join us to help keep the trails you love in good condition

Stewards will be hosting Trail Appreciation Days on

10/23/10 Location to be determined depending on weather and soil conditions

11/13/10 Location to be determined depending on weather and soil conditions

12/4/10 Location to be determined depending on weather and soil conditions

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ABOVE DATES

We had another successful Spring Trail Appreciation Days season and cleared over 200 downed trees, built over 200 water bars, volunteering over 900 hours to perform maintenance on over 200 miles of trails

Please join us for one of the above Fall Trail Appreciation Days to help your trails open and in good condition

You can learn more at

http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/events-schedule.html

OUTDOOR VOTES STILL NEEDED TO HELP STOP TRAIL CLOSURES

We are getting closer to retaking the High Ground in the President's America Great Outdoor Initiative. Let's make sure we do by VOTING. Save The Trails has created a short list of topics to Vote for and against.

http://www.savethetrails.us/AGO-Vote.html

If you have voted before you may not have voted for all of these important Ideas.

Please ask your friends and family to Vote now using the above short list