Volume 44, Number 4, 2005 www.ventana.sierraclub.org M AGAZINE OF THE V ENTANA C HAPTER OF THE S IERRA C LUB AUG, SEPT, OCT OUTINGS Volunteers finally get permission to hang a sign at the Chapter book- store in 1987, 15 years after it opened. From l to r: Joyce Stevens, Bob DeYoe, Richard Tette, Marty Glasser, and Charlotte Anderson. Jerry Lebeck End of an era p. 4 Explore, enjoy and protect the planet hile it is the intent of The Ventana to print articles that reflect the position CHAPTER CHAIR Wof the Ventana Chapter, ideas expressed in The Ventana are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the in its seventh edition. To produce this on August 27 at Moss Landing Marine position of the Sierra Club. Articles, graphics Bookstore volunteers and photographs are copyrighted by the book, volunteer hikers explored the Lab will include a salute to the most authors and artists and may be reprinted only appreciated hills, valleys, streams and rivers of this recent hardworking staff of the book- with their permission. his summer, the Ventana Chapter vast forest to describe to the reader the store: Charlotte Anderson, Gil DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS Sierra Club bookstore closed after magnificence and uniqueness of our own Gilbreath, Mary Gale, Rita Summers All materials for publication must be received by Tnearly 30 years in the City of backyard (and how not to get lost!). and Bruce Rauch. Please join us in hon- the deadlines listed in The Ventana publication Carmel-by-the-Sea. It began as a group of Editors included Nancy Hopkins, Joyce oring these incredible volunteers! The schedule (see below). No exceptions. friends with a mutual interest in hiking Stevens and Steve Chambers. The con- program will also include a talk about SUBMISSIONS FORMAT and natural history who had a vision to stant updating of this valuable guide- the oceans by Mike Sutton, Director of Please limit articles to 800 words; letters to 300. All submissions may be edited for clarity share their experiences with other book remains one of the finest accom- the Center for the Future of the Oceans and length. Submissions are preferred via e- Chapter members. They came together plishments of the Ventana Chapter. and a screening of Lois Robin’s excellent mail or on a high density 3-1/2 inch diskette. to create a comfortable “Environmental For nearly three decades, the book- film about the Pajaro River entitled Save files as “text” or “ascii.” Mail hard copy to Center” in which to meet, exchange store attracted talented volunteers who Stuck in the Mud: The Pajaro River in editor, address below. ideas and information, and plan outings. committed to spending their afternoons Peril. Please attend, meet other members WHERE TO SEND SUBMISSIONS Volunteer managers and sales personnel supporting the Chapter by reinforcing and learn more about the natural Send submissions to: Debbie Bulger, Editor put together an inventory of some of the 1603 King Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 our conservation message and selling resources we are working so hard to e-mail: [email protected] finest books on nature, hiking and nature books. Members with this level of protect. CHANGE OF ADDRESS wilderness available to the public. dedication to the goals of conservation —Rita Dalessio Do not call editor! Send address changes to The cornerstone of the bookstore are rare and deeply valued. Sierra Club, The Ventana, P. O. Box 52968, became the Los Padres Trail Guide, now The Chapter Membership Luncheon Boulder, CO 80322-2968. POSTAL NOTICE The Ventana (015057) is published 6 times a year, (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec.) paid by Come hike with us! subscription included in membership fee, by F ROM THE E DITOR The Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Periodical postage paid Santa Cruz, California, and at additional mailing offices. Seeing connections degree from the newly-formed Yale Postmaster: Send address changes to Sierra n my recent backpack in Forest School, Leopold subscribed to Club, The Ventana, P. O. Box 604, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0604. Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Gilford Pinchot’s philosophy that the Park up Cloud Canyon and main purpose of the nation’s forests was Editor: O eventually to the summit of 13,666’ to produce lumber. As he gained experi- Debbie Bulger • 457-1036 e-mail: [email protected] Midway Mountain, the wildflowers ence and maturity, he conducted experi- (no change of address calls, please!) were spectacular. There were entire ments to reveal that forests and other Production: meadows of shooting stars, masses of habitats consisted of complex relation- Debbie Bulger, Dale Nutley, tiny blue-eyed Mary, four kinds of mon- ships. Vivian Larkins Writers: key flowers, cinquefoil, coyote mint, He came to understand Rita Dalessio, Debbie Bulger, buttercups, phlox, columbine, delphini- • That killing predators caused Mary Gale, Karin Grobe um, and all the other usual suspects. weaker deer herds that would starve Kevin Collins, David Tanza, Streamside I spied the regal Sierra Crane because of insufficient forage, Bill Magavern orchid and Leopard lilies. On the moun- • That many devastating natural Photographers: Join today and Jerry Lebeck, Chad King, receive a FREE tain top I was greeted by glorious cobalt- phenomena are not acts of God but the colored sky pilot and show-stopping result of human decisions, Peter Figen, Lois Robin, Sierra Club Debbie Bulger Sierra gold. • That fire is an essential ingredient Proofreaders: Weekender Bag! I saw so many different kinds of flow- in a healthy ecosystem, Jeff Alford, Richard Stover, My Name ______________________________ ers, I started thinking of them as movie • That there should be some places Charles Koester, David Kibrick Oscar winners. The blossom, of course, Distribution: Address ______________________________ without roads to be set aside as wilder- Debbie Bulger, Meryl Everett is the star, but to look her best, she needs ness, Sheila Dunniway, Wendy Peddicord City __________________________________ the rest of the crew. The stem would be • That species survival depends on Advertising Sales: State __________________Zip ____________ the best supporting actor and the leaves sufficient habitat. Debbie Bulger email__________________________________ catering. He came to understand, as he stated, Late Night Food Delivery & Software: q Please do not share my contact information And then there are the unseen and Richard Stover with other organizations. that “Land ecology at the outset discards Chapter website: q Check enclosed, made payable to Sierra Club underappreciated crew-members that do the fallacious notion that the wild com- http://ventana.sierraclub.org Please charge my q Mastercard q Visa their work quietly and dependably munity is one thing, the human commu- Please send all Letters-to-the-Editor to: behind the scenes: The fungi that knit nity another.” Exp. Date_____/______ the forest together and the bacteria that Editor, c/o Sierra Club • 1603 King St. Cardholder Name________________________ Leopold died in 1948. His book of Santa Cruz, CA 95060 break down waste. Maybe it was the heat personal essays, A Sand County Send e-mail to: [email protected] Card Number __________________________ MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES INDIVIDUAL JOINT or the 60+ miles of trail, but I was seeing Almanac, published in 1949, is regarded INTRODUCTORY q $25 connections. as one of the 10 top environmental clas- q q REGULAR $39 $47 I was reminded of the life and work of sics. If you haven’t read this delightful Aldo Leopold, widely acknowledged as book, I suggest you hustle down to the 2005 Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are the father of wildlife ecology. Leopold VENTANA PUBLICATION SCHEDULE: not tax deductible; they support our effective, citi- library, bookstore or online book seller zen-based advocacy and lobbying efforts. Your dues didn’t start out understanding the con- and get connected. Issue Deadline Mailing Date include $7.50 for a subscription to Sierra magazine and $1.00 for your Chapter newsletter. nections of the natural world, but his —Debbie Bulger #5 Sep. 26 Oct. 12 #6 Nov. 28 Dec. 14 F94Q W 1500- 1 keen powers of observation and willing- Enclose check and mail to: ness to admit and learn from his mis- Sierra Club takes set him apart. Articles received after deadline may P.0. Box 52968 not be published. Boulder, CO 80322-2968 As a young graduate with a Master’s 2 The Sierra Club / Ventana Chapter Volume 44 Number 4, 2005 Printed on Recycled Paper Chapter and Group events to highlight marine sanctuary Marine Sanctuary representative to speak September 19 he Santa Cruz Group is launching a new speaker series on September T19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Simpkins Center, 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz. Rachael Sauders, Community and Public Relations Coordinator for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, will give an illustrated talk on “The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: History, Overview, and Management Issues.” The Monterey Bay Sanctuary, stretch- ing along 276 miles of Central Coast shoreline, is a federally-protected marine area that supports one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. Presentation attendees will learn about the history of the sanctuary as well as gain insider perspectives on the manage- ment issues. With public hearings for the updated Management Plan scheduled for Chad King/MBNMS/NOAA this fall, this presentation will provide The Humpback whale above is one of 27 species of cetaceans that frequent the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. great background information to com- Ocean speaker and video premier featured at Chapter membership luncheon munity members. These talks, which are free, will be presented quarterly to provide the com- et ready for the Sierra Club ecosystem. We will also give recognition south.