Nov-Dec 2011 TWHA Newsletter.P65
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Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November-December 2011 East Bay Hills Ride and Hike Report Right:Riding from Tilden to Sibley on the second day of the ride--photo by Anne Corder. Below: Hikers traversing Crockett Hills Regional Park on the first morning of the hike. Photo by Charles Ladd he 10th Annual East Bay Hills Trails TBenefit Ride and Hike had so much going for it this year. We had 44 hikers, who hiked up to 60 miles over 5 days, and 33 equestrians, who rode up to 100 miles in 6 days. Amazingly good food, beautiful trails, perfect weather for it, the human powered blender making both smoothies and margaritas, telescope view- ing, a naturalist expounding on tarantulas, an equestrian drill team performance, an in- spiring talk by 4-Wheel Bob Coomber, and a baby gray fox who stood on one of the tables in camp the final night... Oh, and the raffle was Continued on page 4 Continued on page 2 Page 2 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011 East Bay Hills Report Continued from page 1 was won by an 8 year-old celebrating her birthday that very day... Behind the scenes, however, this was a challenge from the start. Our invaluable food coordinator for the previous 8 years, Bob Cooper, would be unable to join us this year. The campsite we really wanted proved to be unavailable, as did two key sec- tions of trail for the hike. Bay Area Barns and Trails, which in most past years provided $5,000 in matching funds, was unable to do so this time. Some major donors for our raffle in past years could not donate this time, and the economy hit us another way—sign-ups were really low just a couple of weeks before we started. And it turned out many of our key volunteers were unavailable. Our planning committee worked hard to overcome these obstacles and by the time we started it all somehow came together. Cathy Moyer, the Executive Director of Volunteers for Outdoor California, took over as food coordinator and brought the V-O-Cal kitchen with her. We started the hike in Crockett for the first time and included trail not generally available to the public. New donors stepped up to make our raffle and silent auction better than ever, and most importantly at the last minute a lot more people signed up to hike, ride and volunteer. Actually we had nearly as many participants as last year, although there were not as many who stayed for the entire event. We were also unable to replace the matching funds from previous years, but were still able to raise $12,500 while everyone had a grand time. This issue of the TWHA Newsletter is chock full of photos, memories, and vignettes from this year’s hike, with some other things as well. Thanks to everyone who participated—we hope to see you next year! Above: Hikers on the Whopper Trail at San Pablo Reservoir on their way to Tilden the first day. Photo by Charles Ladd. Left: Jeanine Wolf's horse Kobe has covered more miles over the last few years than anyone else, even doing some days backwards and forwards! Photo by Anne Corder. I think having everyone bring their own dishes/utensils was a good idea. The auction and raffle items were awesome! I love having the margaritas! This ride is my favorite! I absolutely love it! Thank you SO MUCH for all the time and hard work to make it happen! I hope to do it every year! ----Jeanine Wolf November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 3 Above: Marilyn Russell and Karen Schwartz led their horses to water and they drank! before heading up the hill (right) Middle: Hikers on their way from Tilden towards Sibley, while the horses waited at Tilden for their riders to return after dropping off their trailers at Sequoia Arena. Photos by Anne Corder and John Rabold I did the first 3 days. I was pretty worn out but a person could do a minimum day on the 3rd day if they were doing all 5. I enjoy camping and having the meals etc made it very comfortable. Not carrying the gear made it heaven. The solar show- ers made it nirvana. This might be too much mileage per day for my wife and / or the average hiker. I hope to be back next year -----Hiker Comment I love it and look forward to do- ing it again next year. I am surprised that the ride and hike doesn’t fill up as it is an amazing adventure like no other that one can have in the East Bay hills. I don’t know of any better way to experience the East Bay hills. Thank you so much for organizing this experience. ----TWHA Member Anne Corder Page 4 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011 At Tilden Park Upper left: Hiker Jay Bailinson gives Cathy Moyer a massage on the first day. Jay gave free massages every afternoon, asking for donations to V-O-Cal and the Ridge Trail. Happy hiker and rider recipients donated $530. Middle left: V-O-Cal's shower tents were set up at Tilden by V-O-Cal crew leader and hiker Eric 'Bam-Bam' Barnett, while the solar shower bags heated in the sun. Lower left: The hkers convinced the Tilden Steam Trains to open a bit early when they passed by on their way towards Sibley the second day of the hike. Above: V-O-Cal crew leader and Save Mt. Diablo Naturalist Jodi Bailey makes fruit smoothies with the Human Powered Blender at Tilden. The blackberry, raspberry and strawberry smoothies were quite popular this year, though on Saturday night someone showed up with margarita mix! Photos by Anne Corder and John Rabold. November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 5 Riders and Hikers on the Move As always, a big thanks to all the wonderful volunteers that donate their precious time to give all us riders and hikers a wonderful event. Hav- ing done this ride 9 years (all but the first), its no surprise to say its my favorite annually event! And such a great cause to help fund the Bay Area Ridge Trail. I came late on Friday because of pneumonia and wasn’t able to help out much, but nothing like spending time with your horse to regenerate, I was feeling better every day. The weather was great, the company fun, and the trails as usual lovely - just love French and Columbine Trails, even if my horse did get stung by a bee on Columbine on Monday! As usual the programs were entertaining, and if you were a rider and weren’t there Sunday night, you missed a very good Vet talk. Oh yes, let us not forget the massages - a wonderful way to relax those tired muscles and raise money! Last year I didn’t manage to get any but did this year! Again thanks to TWHA for running this ride and hike - I hope we made BART lots of money and the 70+ volunteer team for this ride rocks! ----TWHA Member Janice Frazier Above: Janice Frazier on her Andalusian . Middle: Hikers on the trail in Sibley Volcanic Preserve. Left: Some of the hikers stop for lunch on the way from Tilden to Sibley. Photos by Charles Ladd and John Rabold Pretty amazing with folks coming and going for less than 5 days. The cli- entele seemed to be a good group, and the over all administration seemed to accomplish/get everything done with- out ruffling any feathers. Quite an ex- cellent group of dedicated volunteers! ----Hiker Comment Page 6 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter November -December 2011 It's Dinner Time The East Bay Hills Trails Benefit has always been known for its exceptional dinners, and this year there was no let-up! Top right: The line formed early at Sequoia Arena Thursday after we all nibbled on the appetizers (lower right) prepared by Victoria Shoemaker. After Sequoia to Bort was wonderful, but my favorite was the loading up their plates (top right) with the tri-tip prepared by Page last part of the Sunday ride through that wooded place Schorer and the wonderful side-dishes and vegetarian alternatives, [Columbine and Cascade Trails] where I expected fairies to the group settled down for dinner (lower right). In the background fly out from the shrubs!! EBRPD Naturalist Michael Moran is setting up for his talk on ----Rider Comment Tarantulas. Photos by Richard Friedman November -December 2011 Tilden Wildcat Horsemen's Association Newsletter Page 7 Upper left: Ridge Trail Council Board members and hike leaders Gary Cook and Bob Siegel Quiet Time relax after hiking with Ridge Trail Super-Volunteer Jan Neufeld at Sequoia Arena, while (lower left) TWHA Horses Keepsake and Sin gobble some hay after a long ride. Upper right: Flowers in Tilden; Lower Left: Amanita muscaria mushroom on the Conlon Trail in Wildcat. Photos by on the Trail Anne Corder and Charles Ladd and in Camp Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining the East Bay thing I have seen at an endurance ride. Hills Ride on Day 4 from Sequoia Arena to Bort Meadows. This is all thanks to Morris Older and a corps of dedi- If you’ve never taken part, you may not know what you’re cated volunteers, who put this together year after year. People missing. This is probably the best-organized leisure ride in come from far away to enjoy our hills, but even if you ride the country.