The Park depends on recreational users to do what they can to help maintain the trails. Our esteemed trail coordinator, Jeff Beach, has moved back home, with a promotion, to Oroville State Recreation Area. His gregarious attitude and sense of humor will be missed. 11 year trail crew veteran, Mark Sinclair, will fill in until the park finds another coordinator. Contact Mark to get placed on the monthly call out list at trails@astound.net . Put Mt. Diablo trail crew in the subject title. Ranger Carl (see below) can put you on the phone list if you do not use email. All are welcome! There are several options on how to be invovled.
(1) The second Saturday of each month, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, is the regular trail maintenance and development time on the mountain. This crew has some experience to share, so join them any time, occasionally or just once to check it out is fine. The acting trail coordinator will email midweek prior to the second Saturday about where we are to meet on the mountain and what we will be doing on that given day.
(2) Groups or individuals can adopt a favorite trail and maintain it on their independent schedule. Keep park staff informed of what you are doing and use the park tools. See what groups have adopted trails at Trail adopt program.
(3)Attending the annual Earth Day or Trails Day celebrations in the spring, or National Public Lands Day in the fall are other ways and times to volunteer to do some trail or other work in the park.
There are park standards to learn and practice so all "regular or on going" volunteers are invited to attend an orientation with the park ranger and volunteer coordinator Carl Nielson,cnielson@parks.ca.gov (925)837-6129. Regular volunteers who do the 4 hour VIP(Volunteers in the Park) orientation are given an annual free pass to the park throughout the year and an invitation to the annual appreciation party. Entrance fees are waived however, on work days, for all who participate.
Volunteer trail work on the mountain usually involves brushing and tread work on the single track trails. Occasionally new trails are built or parts of old ones are rerouted. Pruning loppers and hand saws are used to head back the vegetation from the trail space. Pulaskis and Maclouds are used to contour the tread with a little outslope to allow water to drain across it and prevent erosion. For a more in depth look at some techniques, see Trail Shorts. It is not rocket science but it may take repeated exposure on the trail for some, like the editor, to get the hang of it.
Content suggestions and contributions for this page, are welcome at cani@mindspring.com
