Notice: This year the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will be closed for maintenance from August 10 to 30. Plan ahead. sediment runoff into the Long Valley meadow and creek. Crews installed new bridges this season, although some of the bridge head abutments and trail extensions and realign- ments won’t be built until next season. Due to the complexity of some of the proposals in the management plan, no comple- tion date has been determined yet for Long Valley. Crews worked in Round Valley for the second consecutive season improving the trace trails that lead from the main trails to the campsites. Most of the work so far has been on the north and west side of the Round Valley meadow. A cou- ple of new outhouses were placed in service recently. Like the work in Long Valley, the purpose of the work in Round Valley is to reduce erosion and sediment runoff into the Round Valley meadow. Continued on Page 4 This year’s trail work season marked the third consecu- tive year that trail crews from the California Conservation Corps and the California State Parks State- wide Trail Crew worked at Mount San Jacinto State Park. Work began in Long Valley in May as the last of the snow was melting off and work ended the last week of October as the last of the volunteer mule teams from the Backcountry Horsemen of California hauled the final loads of tools and equipment out of Fuller Ridge. The California Conserva- tion Corps brought backcountry trail crews from Yosemite, Stanis- laus, and Klamath. Each of these crews, which are also affiliated with the federal AmeriCorps pro- gram, spent about 6 to 8 weeks working on our trails. Local CCC Corpsmembers from the Inland Empire centers in San Bernardino and Pomona also rotated through during the entire summer. Each crew averages 13 to 15 Corps- members. Most of the season we had two to three crews working. The CCC crews were mentored by the State Parks Statewide Trail Crew which managed each job site, assigned daily tasks, and su- pervised construction while pro- viding one to five laborers per site. The State Park’s crew is managed by Staff Parks and Rec- reation Specialist Lori Turner, and she is assisted by Laborers James Silvia and Gardner James. Trail crews worked in four areas of the park: Long Val- ley, Round Valley, Fuller Ridge and the Hidden Divide Preserve. In Long Valley, crews started the trail improvements outlined in the Long Valley Man- agement Plan which was pub- lished this last spring. This project will make most of the Long Valley trail system acces- sible to those with mobil- ity needs, and the new trails will be more sustainable in handling increased visitor capacity. Drainage is improved by using modern trail construction tech- niques such as single and double-sided causeways, which reduces erosion and Mt. San Jacinto Natural History Association A Non-Profit Corporation Serving Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness since 1979 Winter 2013 Volume 33, Number 1 In this Issue: …. 2012 Trail Work Season overview ……………..Page 1 NHA Board of Director’s Update………………..Page 2 Photo Contest 2012 Win- ners…………………...Page 3 Natural History Corner ……………………. . Page 5 Annual Picnic Report Page 6 Membership ………Page 7 Preventatiive Search and Rescue Program…… Page 8 Holiday Banquet Re- port………………….Page 9 Bulletin: Goldspotted Oak Borer alert…………. Page10 PEAKS is the newsletter of the Mt. San Jacinto Natural History Association. pub- lished for the members and other interested parties. To receive the newsletter please provide an email address. Newsletter Editor: Joe Migliore 2012 Trail Work Season Wraps Up Improvement work will resume when the snow melts at Long Valley, Round Valley, Fuller Ridge and the much anticipated Hidden Divide Preserve. From Supervising Ranger Bart Grant
10
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2012 Trail Work Season Wraps Up...took place on the Pacific Crest Trail. This was the most remote work site for the crews. Volunteer packers and their mule teams from the Backcountry
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Transcript
Notice:
This year the Palm Springs
Aerial Tramway will be
closed for maintenance
from August 10 to 30.
Plan ahead.
sediment runoff into the Long
Valley meadow and creek.
Crews installed new bridges
this season, although some of
the bridge head abutments and
trail extensions and realign-
ments won’t be built until next
season. Due to the complexity
of some of the proposals in the management plan, no comple-
tion date has been determined
yet for Long Valley.
Crews worked in Round Valley
for the second consecutive
season improving the trace
trails that lead from the main
trails to the campsites. Most of
the work so far has been on
the north and west side of the
Round Valley meadow. A cou-
ple of new outhouses were
placed in service recently. Like
the work in Long Valley, the
purpose of the work in Round
Valley is to reduce erosion and
sediment runoff into the Round
Valley meadow.
Continued on Page 4
This year’s trail work
season marked the third consecu-
tive year that trail crews from the
California Conservation Corps and
the California State Parks State-
wide Trail Crew worked at Mount
San Jacinto State Park. Work began
in Long Valley in May as the last of
the snow was melting off and work ended the last week of October as
the last of the volunteer mule
teams from the Backcountry
Horsemen of California hauled the
final loads of tools and equipment
out of Fuller Ridge.
The California Conserva-
tion Corps brought backcountry
trail crews from Yosemite, Stanis-
laus, and Klamath. Each of these
crews, which are also affiliated
with the federal AmeriCorps pro-
gram, spent about 6 to 8 weeks working on our trails. Local CCC
Corpsmembers from the Inland
Empire centers in San Bernardino
and Pomona also rotated through
during the entire summer. Each
crew averages 13 to 15 Corps-
members. Most of the season we
had two to three crews working.
The CCC crews were mentored
by the State Parks Statewide Trail
Crew which managed each job
site, assigned daily tasks, and su-
pervised construction while pro-
viding one to five laborers per
site. The State Park’s crew is
managed by Staff Parks and Rec-reation Specialist Lori Turner, and
she is assisted by Laborers James
Silvia and Gardner James.
Trail crews worked in
four areas of the park: Long Val-
ley, Round Valley, Fuller Ridge
and the Hidden Divide Preserve.
In Long
Valley, crews
started the trail
improvements
outlined in the
Long Valley Man-
agement Plan
which was pub-
lished this last
spring. This project
will make most of
the Long Valley
trail system acces-
sible
to those with mobil-
ity needs, and the
new trails will be
more sustainable in
handling increased visitor capacity.
Drainage is improved
by using modern trail
construction tech-
niques such as single
and double-sided
causeways, which
reduces erosion and
Mt. San Jacinto Natural
History Association
A Non-Profit Corporation
Serving Mt. San Jacinto State
Park and Wilderness since
1979
Winter 2013 Volume 33, Number 1
In this Issue: ….
2012 Trail Work Season
overview ……………..Page 1
NHA Board of Director’s
Update………………..Page 2
Photo Contest 2012 Win-
ners…………………...Page 3
Natural History Corner
……………………. . Page 5
Annual Picnic Report Page 6
Membership ………Page 7
Preventatiive Search and
Rescue Program…… Page 8
Holiday Banquet Re-
port………………….Page 9
Bulletin: Goldspotted Oak
Borer alert…………. Page10
PEAKS is the newsletter of
the Mt. San Jacinto Natural
History Association. pub-
lished for the members and
other interested parties. To
receive the newsletter please
provide an email address.
Newsletter Editor:
Joe Migliore
2012 Trail Work Season Wraps Up Improvement work will resume when the snow melts at
Long Valley, Round Valley, Fuller Ridge and the much anticipated Hidden Divide
Preserve. From Supervising Ranger Bart Grant
Page 2 PEAKS Winter 2013
Iona Scapple President 2013-2015 Kurt Leuschner Vice President 2012-2013 Robert Pellenbarg Treasurer 2012-2014 Marsha Hansen Secretary 2013-2015 Peter A’Hearn Director 2013 –2015 Maureen McCarty Director 2012-2013 Joe Migliore Director 2013-2015 Dennis Schirmer Director 2012-2014 Elize Van Zandt Director 2012-2013 State Park Liaison Garratt Aitcheson Park Superintendent Bart Grant Supervising Ranger Robert Howard Park Interpreter John Beringer Park Aide
2013 Board of Directors From the President, Iona Scapple
Thank you to volunteers for all the work that you
have done this year. Someone once said that volun-
teers are not paid, not because they are worthless
but because they are priceless. Without the volun-
teers, the Visitor Center would not be open. With
the help of John Beringer, the Visitor Center is now
operating seven days per week. John, our VC Man-
ager/Park Aide, has given much more of his time than
what he is paid.
Thank you Board Members, Joe Migliore has opened
his home to the Board for all of the meetings and he
has worked tirelessly to keep the Board moving in
the correct direction. Joe, our PEAKS publisher has
rewritten the NHA brochure with the help of Kurt
Leuschner, Maureen McCarty and our editor Elize
Van Zandt. Maureen is also our webmaster. Marsha Hansen, our secretary, has done more
than her share of work by doing many of the jobs usually done by the president. Bob Pellen-
barg, our treasurer, is doing a good job with the numbers, keeping our bills paid. Dennis
Schirmer, our science collaborator, is a man of many hats, doing whatever is asked of him. Our current slate of Board Members, along with a new member, Peter A’ Hearn, are looking
forward to an exciting new year of service to our State Park. John Muir once remarked that
“the view from Mount San Jacinto was the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on
earth”. Our hope is to help our State Park visitors share John Muir’s view.
Welcoming a New Director of The NHA Board
Peter A’Hearn
Peter and his wife Rochelle attended the
annual NHA banquet on December 8 at
which time Peter was unanimously
elected by the membership to the Board
of Directors. A welcome addition in-
deed!
Peter is K-12 Science Specialist at Palm
Springs Unified School District.
As the district science coach, he works
with teachers through lesson study, one-
on-one coaching, consultation, workshops and summer institutes, teaching science lessons
and working with teachers at all levels from Kindergarten through College Board Advanced
Placement Physics.
He is also a Board member of the Region 4 California Science Teachers Association and co-
chair of the 2013 California Science Education Conference in Palm Springs.
There’s more, but you get the idea.
“if you want something done ask a busy person” so the saying goes.
Welcome Peter
To Russell Anderson
Mary Wilson
&
Kim Clark
For all that you have
done while serving as
members of the
NHA Board of Direc-
tors,
With our sincere
appreciation!
PEAKS Page 3 Winter 2013
The Winners of the 2012 3rd Annual NHA Photo Contest
Thanks to all of you who submitted photos for the 3rd annual contest. The judges had some diffi-
cult decisions to make in selecting just the best seven photographs out of many fine entries. We
will add an honorable mention category for the upcoming contest to recognize at least a few of
the excellent entries in each category that did not make the final cut. The 2013 contest gets un-
derway on April 1st. Check out the website for further information and rules at msjnha.org
2nd Place, Scenic
Aleta Walther
San Clemente, CA
Grand Prize
Peter Lapner
Port Richey, FL
1st Place, Scenic
Tom Gallagher
Redding, CA
1st Place, Plant
Sharon Mattern
Palm Desert, CA
2nd Place, Plant
Kurt Johnson
Palm Springs, CA
1st Place, Wildlife
Aleta Walther
San Clemente, CA
2nd Place, Wildlife
Kurt Johnson
Palm Springs, CA
Page 4 PEAKS Winter 2013
2012 Trail Work Season Wraps Up continued from Page 1
Bart Grant
Supervising Ranger
“The eagerly anticipated trail project taking place in Hidden Divide is well under-way. We anticipate this pro-ject will be completed in 2013.”
“Ensatinas have been seen on the ramp lead-ing to the tram, so when people pick up pieces of bark or wood next to the walkway, they could potentially disturb a salamander’s
home.”
Natural History Corner by Rob Howard, Park Interpreter, San Jacinto State Park
One of the few amphibians known to oc-
cur in Mount San Jacinto State Park is the
Large-blotched Ensatina Salamander
(Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi). An adult
Ensatina measures 3 - 6 inches in total
length, with a large head and eyes, long
legs, and a relatively short body. The col-
orful blotches ranging from orange to light
cream or yellow on its back make it one
of California’s most beautiful salamanders.
The tail is
rounded
and con-
stricted at
the base,
which helps
differentiate
this sala-
mander
from other
salamanders
in the area.
This unusual salamander is found through-
out the Peninsular Ranges of southern Cali-
fornia from the San Jacinto Mountains to
northern Baja California. Within Mt. San
Jacinto State Park they range from Long
Valley to Idyllwild, inhabiting moist, shaded
pine forests and oak woodlands. They can
be found under rocks, logs, and woody
debris, especially bark that has peeled off
and fallen beside logs and trees. Ensatinas
have been seen on the ramp leading to the
tram, so when people pick up pieces of
bark or wood next to the walkway, they
could potentially disturb a salamander’s
home.
The Large-blotched Ensatina is a member of
the family of Lungless Salamanders. Because
these salamanders lack lungs they breathe
through their skin, which requires them to
live in damp or moist environments to keep
their skin permeable for gas exchange. En-
satinas are fully terrestrial and do not need
to return to water to breed. Breeding usu-
ally occurs from November to March. After
several hours of an elaborate courtship,
involving the male rubbing his body and
head against the female, the male deposits a
gelatinous mass of sperm, or spermato-
phore, which is then picked up by the fe-
male’s cloaca and used to fertilize her eggs.
In late spring, females will lay a single clus-
ter of about 8 eggs. Most Lungless Salaman-
ders lay eggs in moist places on land, such
as in rotting logs
or beneath bark,
and may “brood’
the eggs by secret-
ing large amount of
mucus to prevent
egg desiccation.
The eggs usually
hatch after four to
five months. Unlike
most other types
of salamanders,
frogs, and toads
that have aquatic larvae that must hatch into
water, the young Ensatinas hatch directly from
the egg into inch-long terrestrial salamanders
with the same body form as an adult. This is
because the eggs are fluid-filled capsules—each
larva floats in its own personal aquatic envi-
ronment until it matures. Longevity has been
estimated at up to 15 years.
These salamanders are most active during
summer thunderstorms and on rainy or wet
nights when temperatures are moderate. They
stay underground in relatively cool, moist
places during hot and dry periods where they
avoid dehydration. High-altitude populations
also hibernate or become inactive during se-
vere winter cold. They may be active and feed
underground during the hot, dry summer
months. Food includes a wide variety of inver-
tebrates, including worms, ants, beetles, spi-
ders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, sow
bugs, and snails. A salamander will thrust out a
long sticky tongue to capture prey, crushing
the prey in its mouth before swallowing. Typi-
cally feeding is done using sit-and-wait ambush
tactics, but sometimes Ensatinas will slowly
stalk their prey.
An Ensatina has a number of tricks to avoid or
repel predators. When disturbed, an Ensatina
will stand tall in a stiff-legged defensive posture
with its back arched and its tail raised and
secrete a milky white substance from the poi-
son glands located on the tail. This noxious
substance often repels predators. However, if
an Ensatina is caught, it is able to lose its tail to
distract a predator. The wiggling tail will at-
tract the predator’s attention so the salaman-
der can crawl away to safety. The tail can then
be re-grown. The Ensatina can also emit a
hissing sound, similar to a snake, to discourage
predation.
Due to habitat loss and fragmentation it is
listed as a California Species of Special Con-
cern by the California Department of Fish and
Game.
Page 5 PEAKS Winter 2013
Page 6 PEAKS Winter 2013
The NHA Annual Summer Picnic, The NHA Annual Summer Picnic, San Jacinto State Park Headquarters, IdyllwildSan Jacinto State Park Headquarters, Idyllwild
What could be better? A picnic in the park of course. On August 25th we all gathered at the Idyllwild Park Headquarters campground
for our annual picnic. The weather was perfect. We all brought some great side dishes and Garratt Aitchison, our State Park Sector
Superintendant and his crew provided hamburgers and hot dogs with the all the trimmings. The best part was making and renewing
friendships. We had more than 30 members and staff in attendance but, alas, our official photographer who shall not remain unnamed,
Rob Howard, didn’t get the traditional group shot. A great time was had by all.
If you missed this one join us the next time around!
Front to back: John Beringer, Jan Welch, Robert
Peek, Jenny Adamson loading up while it lasts.
Left to right:
Kurt Leuschner
chats with
Cecilia Fischer
Vicky Schulke
John Beringer
and
Jeff Schulke
Left to right: Bob Pellenbarg and John
Beringer are smiling. Could they be talk-
ing about the Visitors Center?
Ranger Robert Peek is giving the boss a hand
Superintendant Garratt doing double duty as chef
New friends: Maureen McCarty on right sharing tales with Jeff and Vicky Schulke
Serious talk? Gene Rojek and Maureen
McCarty
Membership by Maureen McCarty, Membership
Page 7 PEAKS
Mail to: Mt. San Jacinto NHA
255 N. El Cielo, Suite 140, #141
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Check the type of membership you would like to join or renew, fill in
your mailing information and return this form with your dues. Make
your check or money order payable to: MT. SAN JACINTO NHA.
Name ________________________________________________