It has been a wonderful year for the Pine Ridge Association. We just wrapped up our last event for the year. The Tarantula Fest was a great success, even with the heat, and we’re deeply grateful to the coordinators development of new interpretive panels in the Coe Ranch area, which help visitors appreciate the history and some of the artifacts of Coe Ranch.
As the year draws to a close, we’re preparing for some important organizational updates. Our upcoming election for two seats on the board of directors is just around the corner. This year, we’re introducing online voting, which will streamline the process and reduce the burden of
Looking ahead, we’re excited for our PRA Annual Meeting on February 1. Announcements will be sent by email to all PRA members and uniformed volunteers soon, so please save the date! To ensure our emails do not end up in your spam folder, please add The Pine Ridge Association
Lastly, it’s with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Marty Cheek, a dedicated supporter of Coe Park, the volunteer program, and the PRA. Marty’s joyful spirit, passion for the park, and unwavering
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Pine Ridge Association and Henry W. Coe State Park. Your involvement is key to our mission of preserving and enhancing this incredible natural resource. I look
Our board meets bimonthly, and all members are welcome to join our discussions. For details on our next meeting, feel free to email us at
Joseph Belli guides us through the world of this smaller yet no less significant native feline. How is it thriving despite many threats?
Lace Lichen
Molly Shaw explores this familiar yet fascinating organism that adorns many of the park’s trees. What can it tell us about air quality? 7
Walking with History
Teddy Goodrich chronicles the Anza Expedition to California in 1776-77 and shares the story of its commemoration in 1976.
Tarantula Festival
Ginny Rhodas reports on this year’s celebration of Coe’s beloved eight-legged adventurers.
Creatures of Coe Bobcats
by Joseph Belli
Bobcats, or wildcats, as they are often known informally, are impressively widespread. Range maps show them occurring from coast to coast, inhabiting 47 of the 48 contiguous states, absent only from Delaware. They’re not wed to any specific habitat, nor bound by elevation. All bobcats require is some cover, and that can take many forms: chaparral, woodlands, brushy or rocky areas, and riparian corridors. Bobcats often coexist unassumingly alongside people in farming communities and even suburbs if natural landscapes are nearby.
Physical characteristics include a ruff of fur around the face, a coat with varying degrees of spotting, tufts of dark fur extending above each ear, and of course the short, bobbed tail that gives them their name. Males are markedly larger than females, sometimes attaining twice the weight, and while a well-fed house cat might outweigh a bobcat, long legs give bobcats a larger appearance. Bobcats in northern areas are larger than those in warmer climates, and California’s are on the smaller size. Large males in the Rockies, Northeast, or upper Midwest might hit 40 pounds, while those in California don’t usually exceed 25.
Though strictly carnivorous, bobcats have a varied diet. Small mammals rodents and rabbits tend to form the bulk of that diet, but birds, reptiles, and amphibians are also on the menu. They also prey on fawns, and in areas with deep snow they’ve been known to take down adult deer. Bobcats are ambush hunters, sneaking up before launching an attack in a burst of speed, power, and precision. They’re not built for endurance, so they don’t bother chasing prey; if the pursuit exceeds fifty feet, chances are the cat will abandon the effort. Conflicts with agriculture occasionally arise when bobcats prey on poultry, though there are instances where they’ve taken sheep and small goats.
Like mountain lions, bobcats claim territories which they mark by scent. Those territories are, in effect, their home and hunting ground. Home range sizes vary considerably and correlate to the amount of prey present. Where prey is abundant, territories are smaller; where prey is less common territories are larger and bobcats fewer in number. Males tend to
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Joseph Belli
Joseph Belli
Creatures of Coe: Bobcats
have territories significantly larger than females and there is often some overlap between a male and one or more females. In prey-rich areas territories can be less than two square miles; in less productive areas such as deserts bobcat territories can be as large as forty square miles. My guess is that Coe is an environment with ample prey and thus, plenty of bobcats.
Males mate with as many females as they can during breeding season but play no role in parenting. Litter size ranges from 1-4, with 2-3 being most common. Life expectancy is longer for females, which often live 10-15 years. Males often fail to reach ten.
Although bobcats have superb night vision, they’re active at all hours, and seeing one out and about in the day is a treat but by no means a rare occasion. Sometimes bobcats flee immediately in the presence of people, but not always; they can act remarkably indifferent and occasionally even allow close approach.
Bobcats have few enemies; mountain lions kill some, as do coyotes, though the two seem to share the landscape fairly peaceably. Large dogs sometimes kill bobcats, but the primary source of bobcat mortality is humans. Road carnage claims its share; I’d guess that in California, vehicles pose the greatest threat. In many other states bobcats are more likely to die at the hands of hunters and trappers.
Of the major carnivore groups, cats, I think, deviate least from their basic form. Weasels are incredibly diverse; bears, despite having only eight species, differ markedly, and the dog family shows considerable variation. But with apologies to the cheetah, a cat’s a cat. Your tabby is a scaled-down version of a quarter-ton Siberian tiger: a hypermuscular, athletic, ultra-carnivorous predator built to stalk rather than chase. Unlike dogs, many cat species, including bobcats, exhibit patterns on their coats, possibly an adaptation to blend in with the dappled light of forest and scrub habitats. Those alluring coats serve them well as ambush predators, but they attracted the wrong kind of attention among humans with the rise of the fashion industry. Exotic pelts have always been in high demand, and populations of many cat species around the world plummeted after years of unregulated and unsustainable harvests.
Initially, bobcats weren’t much of a target their coats were neither as glamorous nor as large as those of other cats, and their modest size meant it took multiple skins to make one garment. Bobcat fur had never been highly regarded; in 1970, the value of bobcat pelts traded in the U.S. was a mere $5000. But things changed dramatically with the passing of the
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Joseph Belli
Joseph Belli
Creatures of Coe: Bobcats continued...
Endangered Species Act in 1973 and the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) agreement, a trade pact signed by roughly 80 nations.
It’s ironic to consider that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) resulted in an increased threat to bobcats, but it did, though certainly not by design. The ESA not only protects listed species on U.S. soil, it bans the importation of furs and body parts from a number of at -risk species across the globe. When those protections took most exotic cat species off the fur market, bobcats filled that void. By the end of the 1970s, bobcat pelts accounted for sales over six million dollars, 1,200 times more that at the start of the decade, and by 1979 the annual nationwide bobcat harvest was 70,000. Bobcat pelts, never as economically important as beavers or as luxurious as mink, were nonetheless commanding up to $300 each by then.
During that era, California probably had the largest bobcat population in the country, 70,000-75,000, according to a 2004 estimate. But Californians eventually soured on both fur in general and bobcat harvesting in particular. Bobcat trapping was banned in the state in 2015 by the fish and game commission, and bobcat hunting was similarly prohibited in 2019. Part of the reason bobcat hunting fell out of favor was an increasing societal disdain for trophy hunting few if any bobcats are hunted for meat. Add to that the perception of unfair chase bobcats, like mountain lions, are usually shot out of trees after being tracked by scent and
pursued by hounds. Bobcat hunting in California peaked in the 1980s, when hunters consistently took between 1,500- 8,000 bobcats annually. It plummeted in the 2000s, due not to a decline in bobcat numbers but disinterest, as the annual take dropped to 200-300. By the time it was banned the new law seemed almost like a formality, since there were few practitioners still active.
Bobcat trapping in California also declined, despite a surge in the early 2010s that reflected a burgeoning market. Today it’s hard to believe that bobcats were ever harvested, even though the bans occurred relatively recently. Both bans were contested by various sporting groups, which argued that the relatively small number of bobcats harvested annually in a state with an estimated population of 70,000100,000 would have no detrimental effect on their overall numbers. They made a solid point, but by then public opinion had undergone a seismic shift, and while regulations can always be removed, that sure doesn’t look likely to happen anytime soon. That’s good news for bobcats, and everyone who enjoys seeing them more than wearing them.
Joseph Belli
Lace Lichen
by Molly Shaw
Iwalk along Steer Ridge and up Willson Peak between the oaks and over the serpentinite, marveling at the long, peaceful views of distant hills and peaks all around me. When it’s finally time to head back down off the ridge, I look forward to yet another sight that never fails to delight me – the brightgreen nets of lace lichen (Ramalina menziesii) festooning the blue oaks on the lower slopes towards Hunting Hollow. And what an odd delight this stuff is – it’s not a plant, yet it photosynthesizes. It attaches firmly to trees, but derives no nutrients from them. It soaks up water readily, but only from what’s in the air. It’s also a symbol of the State of California – lace lichen is our official state lichen, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015 after a years-long campaign of support by the California Lichen Society.
What is lichen?
Lichen is what happens when fungi manage tiny photosynthesizers such as algae lichen is a form of very small-scale farming. Together, the two organisms can benefit each other, and this combination creates a composite organism that is both producer and consumer. The fungi gain the energy stored in the carbohydrates produced by the algae, which in turn are protected by the matrix of water-holding and anchoring fungal filaments (hyphae).
Here is a generalized cross-section of a lichen (1). Layers a and d are called the cortex a protective mat of tightly woven fungal hyphae. Between the cortex layers is a collection of
loosely woven hyphae that includes trapped algal cells (layer b, called the photobiont layer, and layer c, loosely woven hyphae). Layer e shows the specialized hyphae that attach the lichen to a substrate.
Is the relationship between the fungus (the mycobiont) and the alga (the phycobiont) an example of symbiosis? Mutualism? Is the fungus parasitizing the victimized alga? Does the alga depend on the fungus for protection and survival? These are questions that lichenologists have been debating for generations, and in his paper “Is Lichen Symbiont Mutualism a Myth?” (2023) (2), Dr. William Sanders ponders the possibility of what he calls mycoagressions in the lichen world.
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Molly Shaw
Lace lichen on blue oaks on Middle Steer Ridge Tr., January 2022
Lace Lichen
We have many different lichens at Coe I count over a dozen lichen species listed on iNaturalist’s Coe page, and I’m sure this is only the beginning of Coe’s lichen roster, since there are at least 1,900 species of lichen in California. Depending on the type, lichen takes many forms, textures, and colors, and can grow on almost any surface, including rocks, soil, leaves, bark, walls, roofs, bones, gravestones, and even on other lichens.
Lace lichen
The English word lichen has been in use since at least 1715, and it is from Latin lichen, from Greek leichen, which means “tree-moss, lichen,” probably from Greek leichein “to lick.” One of the indigenous words for lace lichen is paaziiomoora from the Kawaiisu tribe, whose ancient territory extends from the Great Basin Desert to the Pacific coast. Lace lichen’s modern scientific name, Ramalina menziesii comes from New Latin ramale “twigs, brushwood” (from Latin ramus “branch”), and is a tribute to Archibald Menzies, a Scottish physician, botanist, adventurer, and indefatigable plant collector (1754-1842). Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrone) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) are also among the several species named in Menzies’s honor.
We find lace lichen along the western coast of North America and up to 130 miles inland, from southern Alaska to Baja California. It’s a fruticose epiphytic lichen, meaning that it has a branched, corallike shrubby appearance and grows on a plant’s surface without drawing nutrients from the plant.
Lace lichen is one of the fastest growing lichens that we know of. Its characteristic netting forms in the apical tissues (the growing tips) and unrolls, tiny but fully formed. Here is an image of the growing tip of lace lichen (3).
Lace lichen as an atmospheric indicator
Because it has no roots, lichen collects its water only from the atmosphere. Even in relatively dry areas such as Coe, lichens can gather enough water from humid air, fog, and rain to survive and flourish. Lace lichen is also a particularly good sponge for other things that might be in the atmosphere besides water, and chemical analyses of lace lichen samples have been a common method of studying different atmospheric trends for the last hundred years.
Some years ago, UCSC environmental toxicologist Peter Weiss-Penzias was biking up to campus on an exceptionally foggy day. He wondered what was in the water droplets that were collecting on his glasses, so he set up fog nets to collect fog water for analysis. He sent these samples to a lab where they found such high levels of methylmercury (the most neurotoxic form of mercury) that the lab re-ran the tests with a second collection of samples because they didn’t believe the initial numbers.
Mercury enters the oceans through mining and other human-caused and natural processes. Bacteria at the bottom of the ocean convert mercury to methylmercury, some of which is brought back up to the surface via coastal upwelling, where it can then Continued on Page 9
Lace Lichen continued...
enter the foggy marine layer. This methylmercury-laden fog, which does not pose a direct threat to humans, can drift inland and land on vegetation, entering terrestrial food webs. Lace lichen growing along the coast is especially good at holding methylmercury from the water vapor it collects in its own fog nets. Top predators along the coast such as mountain lions have elevated methylmercury levels, and this marine fog may be one source of methylmercury as the metal passes from lichen to browsing black-tailed deer and/or mule deer to mountain lions. In a study published by WeissPenzias and colleagues in 2019, whisker and fur samples from 94 coastal mountain lions and 18 inland mountain lions showed methylmercury concentrations at an average of three times higher in the coastal group than in the inland group (4). One coastal mountain lion that was found dead from no apparent cause had an elevated level of methylmercury so high that it might have been toxic, based on extrapolating what we know are toxic methylmercury levels for smaller mammals. Regular sampling of lace lichen is now an important data source for methylmercury levels in the
References cited
atmosphere as researchers continue their investigations into the bioaccumulation of methylmercury in terrestrial food webs.
Lace lichen: food, nesting material, air-pollution indicator, charismatic tree decoration it well deserves its official status as a California symbol. As you walk by curtains of lace lichen draped over the oaks of Coe, consider its many facets and know that you are among the long parade of humans who have been appreciating this coastal native for thousands of years.
2. Sanders, W. B. (1992). Comparative in situ studies of thallus net development in morphologically distinct populations of the lichen Ramalina menziesii. TheBryologist, 95(2), 192. https://doi.org/10.2307/3243435
3. Sanders, W. B. (2023). Is lichen symbiont mutualism a myth? BioScience, 73(9), 623–634. https:// doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biad073
4. Weiss-Penzias, P. S., Bank, M. S., Clifford, D. L., Torregrosa, A., Zheng, B., Lin, W., & Wilmers, C. C. (2019). Marine fog inputs appear to increase methylmercury bioaccumulation in a coastal terrestrial food web.
Chris Howard
Walking with History The Anza Expedition to California
by Teddy Goodrich - Pine Ridge Association Historian
Author’s note: The East Fork of Coyote Creek is one of my favorite places in the park. When I register a visitor for a backpacking site at Los Cruzeros or somewhere in the Blue Ridge Zone, I often tell them, “You will be walking with history.”
In 1775, to secure Spain’s hold on Alta California, an expedition of 240 people, soldiers, men, women, and children, all potential settlers for the San Francisco Bay Area, traveled overland from Tubac in southern Arizona to the Monterey Presidio. They were led by Juan Bautista de Anza, Spanish military commander and explorer, and Father Pedro Font, Franciscan missionary, chaplain, geographer and cartographer. After a journey of five months, they arrived at the Monterey Presidio on March 10, 1776.
Leaving the settlers in Monterey, on March 24,
1776, Anza, Font, and second in command, Jose Joaquin Moraga, accompanied by a group of soldiers and carrying provisions for 20 days, set out to explore San Francisco Bay with the intent of establishing locations for a presidio, a pueblo and a mission. Once this was accomplished, they traveled south along the edge of the bay, then turned north to search for a river they believed flowed into the bay from the east. All Spanish settlements before this time were along the coast of California, and the Spaniards believed that the great valley that lay east of the coast range all the way to the Sierra Nevada was an impassable marshland.
By April 4, faced with what they decided was this impassable expanse of reed covered marshland, they abandoned their search for the river and turned west
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Teddy Goodrich
Walking with History continued...
and south somewhere near present-day Oakley and rode into the hills. They expected an easy passage back to Monterey but quickly found themselves in a landscape defined by steep hills and narrow valleys. They gave the mountains the name Sierra de los Chascos - the mountains of disappointment. Weary and discouraged, evening found them in a broad valley they named San Vincente after the saint of the day. The next morning, they negotiated a very steep descent to a creek far below them. They named the creek El Arroyo de los Coyotes and followed it for miles, passing through a very narrow, rocky gorge* and by some hot springs. ** At last they reached a small unnamed creek*** that fed into the Coyote. Here they camped for the night, exhausted, hungry, and covered with ticks.
The next day they traveled on to Monterey. Anza returned to Mexico leaving Jose Joaquin Moraga in charge of the settlers that had stayed in Monterey. On November 29, 1777, the pueblo of San Jose was founded by Moraga and these 68 settlers, men, women, and children, who had been waiting in
Monterey. The settlers were given land and everything they needed to form a small farming community. It wasn’t long before San Jose was providing food for the presidios at Monterey and San Francisco.
Two hundred years passed.
Historical reenactors of the Anza Expedition in Coyote Creek, April 1976.
March 24, 1976: A group of colorfully costumed men on horseback met just south of San Juan Bautista at the terminus of the old wagon road. Dressed as Spanish soldiers and muleteers, among them is Joe White, unit ranger at Henry W. Coe State Park. They will retrace the route of Captain Juan Bautista de Anza, Father Pedro Font, and approximately twenty soldiers and muleteers along
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Walking with History continued...
the original route of the Anza expedition in 1776. This portion of the reenactment will take them five days. Several park volunteers, among them Chere Bargar and Joan Throgmorton, will join up with them in San Martin, and accompany them as far as Santa Clara County’s northern boundary near Palo Alto. As they pass through each community, they are greeted by city officials, residents, school children and to their dismay, people in cars yelling, “The British are coming!” In Santa Clara, the sisters of the Carmelite Convent stand on the roof to wave at them. At each day’s end, they are provided with food and places to sleep.
On April 5, 1976, they ride south from Palo Alto, and following the edge of the bay, turn into the hills near Mission San Jose. They camp that night in the San Antonio Valley. The following morning, Tuesday, April 6, 1976, they descend to Coyote Creek and follow it into Henry W. Coe State Park. They pause at Los Cruzeros**** Creek to dedicate an Anza Expedition Commemorative Plaque. A state park ranger in a Jeep opens the gate for them at the park’s southern boundary and after another night sleeping along the trail, the following morning they ride to the San Benito County line. Their part of the reenactment is finished.
Have you walked with history? If you wish to share part of the Anza expedition’s experience, there are many places in the park where you can see the countryside just as these men saw it in 1776. Hiking or backpacking north along the East Fork of Coyote Creek. Camping at Los Cruzeros. Hiking from China Hole to the Coyote Creek Gate. Walking Hunting Hollow Road. This is what parks do; they provide all of us with the opportunity to see the landscape as it once was!
Further sources:
The Anza Expedition – 1776-1976 - California History Center, De Anza College
Vladimir Guerrero - The Anza Trail and the Settling of California
*Devil’s Gate
** Gilroy Hot springs
*** Canada de los Osos – present day Hunting Hollow
**** I can find no origin for the name Los Cruzeros (the cross bearers) Creek. The commemorative plaque was stolen shortly after it was installed on a large boulder in the creek.
The commemorative plaque installed at, and later stolen from, Los Cruzeros.
Tarantula Festival 2024 A Celebration of Nature
by Ginny Rhodas
This year’s Tarantula Festival may have been held on one of the hottest days of the season, but that didn’t stop nature enthusiasts from coming out to enjoy the event. Though the scorching temperatures kept attendance a bit lower than in previous years, there was still a strong turnout of eager festival-goers, ready to learn, explore, and connect with the wildlife around them.
Among the highlights were the fascinating exhibits of native wildlife, including an impressive collection of wild birds brought by the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center. Attendees could marvel at their beauty and learn about local conservation efforts. The interactive reptile exhibit drew the attention of many children, offering them the chance to handle indigenous snakes and learn about their habits and habitats.
San Jose State University’s biology department wowed visitors with a remarkable collection of insects, both live and mounted. Their display was filled with curious facts, such as the voracious appetite of the tomato hornworm an adult can completely demolish an entire tomato plant! Attendees also learned fun science tricks, like how to "trick" a termite by drawing
a circle around it on a piece of paper, an activity that fascinated children and adults alike.
In addition to the wildlife exhibits, several environmental organizations had booths, sharing vital information about how attendees can become citizen scientists. These volunteers play an essential role in helping with research efforts to preserve our local species and ecosystems, inspiring many festival-goers to get involved in wildlife conservation.
A refreshing and interactive feature of the day was the state park fire engine and crew. Not only did they demonstrate to children how to properly hold and discharge a real fire hose, but on such a warm day, they also provided much-needed cool relief. Kids and adults gathered around for a playful and refreshing shower from the fire hose, offering a perfect way to beat the heat.
A new addition to this year's festival that proved to be wildly popular was pumpkin bowling. A wooden alley was set up, with corn cob pins and small
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Tarantula Fest 2024 continued...
pumpkins used as bowling balls. This festive game was a hit with both children and adults, adding to the lively atmosphere. Alongside pumpkin bowling, there were plenty of other games and crafts, ensuring younger attendees had plenty to enjoy throughout the day.
Of course, the stars of the Tarantula Festival are always the tarantulas themselves. These misunderstood creatures captivated festival-goers with their startling appearance and unique behaviors. Many attendees were surprised to learn just how complex and fascinating
tarantulas truly are, gaining a newfound appreciation for these eight-legged wonders.
All in all, despite the hot weather, this year’s Tarantula Festival was a resounding success. From wildlife education to hands-on fun, the event offered something for everyone and fostered a deeper connection with nature. It was a day full of discovery, education, and enjoyment, ensuring that attendees left
Ginny Rhodas
All other photos by Bryan Murahashi
Ginny Rhodas
PRA Board Election News
by Steve McHenry
The Pine Ridge Association Board of Directors has some big news about the election!
No, not that election. The important election! The annual election for seats on the PRA board!
After many years of being stuck (way) back in the 20th Century, the board is changing this year's annual election by going to an electronic vote. That means that members choosing the next board members will be doing so through an online, secure, voting process.
Soon, all PRA members will receive a ballot in their emails, sent from the Pine Ridge Association using an email address from electionrunner.com. Be on the lookout for this email, and be sure to check your spam folders in case you don't see it in your inbox.
After you receive your ballots, just fill them out with your choices for the board, and hit return to submit the ballot. The totals will be automatically
Please be looking for this email around Dec. 8, and complete and submit your ballots by January 5. Ballots will be tallied before the January 14 PRA board meeting, and new officers will be presented to the membership at the PRA annual meeting on February 1.
The board has done extensive research into online voting, and has selected a vendor who will do a good job, and who will provide ballot security. We investigated several services that provide online elections, and are satisfied that our choice will enable the board to do an election that is fast, fair, secure, and less costly than the previous paper ballots.
Board Candidates Sought
There are two seats up for election this fall. Both Dan Benefiel and Jeff Zolotar's seats are up for election, and both have said that they will be running for reelection.
Herveline Sartori
Springs & Trails Happenings
by Sue Dekalb
Springs
There have been a few Springs issues over the summer.
Every year around this time, we start having issues with certain springs because the cows from the neighboring Open Space property start spending a great deal of time in Henry Coe looking for water and causing havoc with the troughs and springs. It has been particularly bad this year.
One of the favorite targets is Coit Spring, especially the trough by the road at Coit Horse Camp. The spring was working very well and had a good flow of at least a liter a minute for most of the summer, and then the cows arrived around mid-September. The trough holds 100 gallons of water, but when 15 cows all try to drink out of it at the same time, bad things happen. The cows fighting over the water eventually dislodged the trough allowing all the water to dump out on the road making a muddy mess. Someone was trying to help by putting the trough back under the inflow pipe, but they managed to install it backwards so the water came in the trough but instead of going out the outflow pipe it just dumped all over the road making an even bigger mess. The trail crew was able to get the trough back in the proper place, but it was only a matter of time before the cows returned and dumped it over again. Art Pon and I went back and fixed the trough once again. This time, two t-posts were installed to try and keep the trough in place. The cows managed to bend one of the t-posts over, but the trough remained mostly in the correct location.
Coit Spring worked fine for a couple of weeks before the cows dislodged one of the pipes up Coit
Spring Road allowing all the water to drain down the road. Fortunately the pipe came apart at a compression fitting, so the trail crew was able to reattach the pipe. It takes considerable time (days possibly) for the water to make it all the way to the trough at Coit Horse camp depending on how much water was drained from the tanks above that location. Before the water made it to the Coit Road trough, the cows broke the piping up Coit Spring Road again. Liz Brinkman reattached the piping at the upper tank, but it was also broken near where it had been broken before and she didn’t have the necessary parts. Mike Otte, Virginia Goldwasser, Linda Keahey and I went back up Coit Spring Road and replaced the broken section of pipe.
That fix lasted days before the cows broke the pipe again between the previous two fixes. Chris Howard and I went back up there and repaired the break in the pipe. Hopefully it will stay fixed this time, but as long as the cows are roaming in the park, bad things will continue to happen.
Another spring that has problems every year is Live Oak Spring. The water travels all the way from the spring above Live Oak Spring Trail down to Pacheco Camp. It is a very long pipe and much of it is above ground, especially along Live Oak Spring Road. In the heat of summer, algae builds up in the exposed pipe and sometimes stops the water from making it all the way to Pacheco Camp. Prior to the current issue, the water at Pacheco Camp was flowing at 6 liters a minute but stopped making it to the camp in late September. Several trips have been made out to Live Oak Spring Road trying to get the water flowing again,
but all have been unsuccessful. Part of the pipe is under the road, and there seems to be a problem along that stretch. The biggest problem is that we don’t know exactly where the water line is under the road, and it is very difficult to work on it when you have to dig up a road to get to it. At the bottom of Live Oak Spring Trail and the road junction, there is plenty of pressure to carry the water all the way to Pacheco Camp. But somewhere under the road, there is a blockage that slows the water down so much it can’t push through all the pipe. A major reroute of the pipeline needs to happen soon, hopefully putting all the exposed pipe under the road so these issues will stop happening every year. Lots of people and animals depend on there being water at Pacheco Camp. This project will require the heavy equipment operator to trench the road for us and a lot of new material. There is no timetable to get this done since we require help from Hollister Hills SVRA, and this project is not a priority for them.
Almost all the spring troughs now have a “CSP” or Critter Stick Protector. New ones were installed at Black Oak Spring and Sada’s Spring. When you send a water report please make note of the critter stick and CSP status.
Another project that got done by volunteers involved fixing the water at the Kickham. For almost two years, there was no water at the Kickham and for some reason that did not seem to be a priority even though it meant carrying water to flush toilets in the office. Art Pon, Mike Otte, Bobby Barnett, Alan Young, and Walter Dunckel figured out what was wrong and fixed it. It was determined that all new wiring should be installed and a new waterline from the well should be installed. The heavy equipment operator from Hollister Hills SVRA came and cut a trench so all the wiring would be put in buried conduit along with a new waterline. Mike Otte, Bobby
Barnett, and Sue Dekalb, along with Tim and Arturo from maintenance got all the pipe connected and in the trench so Marc from Hollister Hills could finish burying the trench. Walter Dunckel, Bobby Barnett and Mike Otte got all the wiring finished and up to code after that. A few days of work and all the water problems at Kirkham were solved.
Should you encounter developed springs in the park, please report their condition to waterreports@coepark.net. Please note if there is a critter stick and critter stick protector in the trough (if there is one). Unless the inflow is dripping or trickling in, measuring the flow is also useful for your report.
Trails
We were still pulling Yellow Star Thistle in the park in early August. Most of the action was in the Hunting Hollow area. The volunteers were Laura Bonnin, Rick Casey, Jesus Valdez, John Thatcher, Greg Scott, Mark Deger, Lee Damico, and Sue Dekalb. We were joined by Victor Beaudoin from Hollister Hills SVRA.
Other trips in August to pull YST included several trips to North Fork Trail and Pacheco Creek. It had been done the month before by the Ace crew, but Continued on page 18
The before and after view of Pond C60 at the junction of Phegley Ridge Road and Wagon Road.
Sue Dekalb
Volunteer Springs & Trails Crew Report
there were lots of new plants and many that just never got pulled the first trip out there. The Hollister Hills staff included Chris Arredondo, Maddie Chagolla, Jocelyn Fierro, and Megan Fulford. Bryan Murahashi and Sue Dekalb were the volunteers. We also went back out to Hunting Hollow to pull any YST that might still be in those areas. Hollister Hills staff included Nano Quintero, Maddie Chagolla, and Olivia Gonzalez.
On several weekends in August, a group of volunteers went up to the Coe Ranch Entrance to work on some trails up there including Yerba Buena, Fish, Cougar, Madrone Soda Springs, and Mile Trails. There was also weed whacking to do around the Visitor Center to create a firebreak. The volunteers who signed up to work included John Thatcher, Mike Otte, Art Pon, Walter Dunckel, Mark Deger, Alan Young, Bryan Murahashi, George Cooper, Nithya Cox , Jesus Valdez, and Sue Dekalb.
Other trails worked on in August included Coit Lake Trail which needed hedging and bench work. Hollister staff included Victor Beaudoin and Jocelyn Fierro. Volunteers were Jodie and Linda Keahey, Jesus Valdez, John Thatcher, Bryan Murahashi, and Sue Dekalb. We also made several trips out to brush Jackass Trail. It was very overgrown and also had a large tree down for some time. Hollister staff included Joseph Bocanegra and Megan Fulford. The volunteers were Liz Brinkman, John Thatcher, Bryan Murahashi, Jodie and Linda Keahey, Jesus Valdez, Chris Howard, Kelly Kersten, and Sue Dekalb.
In September we removed trees and brushed Cross Canyon Trail, Grapevine Road, Kelly Lake Trail, and Heartbreak Trail. Hollister staff included Olivia Gonzalez and the volunteers were Jodie Keahey, John Thatcher, Chris Howard, Kelly Kersten, Jesus Valdez, Virginia Goldwasser, and Sue Dekalb. There was also
work done on White Tank Spring Trail to remove downed trees and brush the trail. Hollister staff included Joseph Bocanegra and the volunteers where Jodie Keahey, Jesus Valdez, Kelley Kersten, and Chris Howard. There was also work done on the fire lines at the Ponderosa Trail. The fire breaks had to be cleared of all grass down to mineral soil for a future set of prescribed burns. The Hollister staff included Megan Fulford, Chris Arredondo, Jocelyn Fierro, and Victor Beaudoin. Volunteers were Kelly Kersten, Liz Brinkman, and Sue Dekalb.
In October we tackled down trees on Poverty Flat Road, Coit Road, and Tule Pond Trail. Hollister staff included Joseph Bocanegra and Megan Fulford with volunteers Virginia Goldwasser, Bryan Murahashi, Linda Keahey, and Sue Dekalb.
A few volunteers also went out and brushed Blue Tank Spring Road, Blue Tank Spring Trail, parts of Coit Spring Trail, parts of Domino Pond Trail and Elderberry Spring Trail. The volunteers were Linda Keahey, Virginia Goldwasser, and Sue Dekalb.
The last trail work day involved weed whacking all 1.4 miles of Jackson Road so we could drive out to remove a large downed tree on Elderberry Spring Trail. The weed whacking crew included Joseph
Continued on page 19
Volunteer Springs & Trails Crew Report
Bocanegra, Noah, and Daniel from Hollister Hills and me. The rest of the volunteers included John Thatcher, Pete Palmer, Linda Keahey, Chris Howard, and Lee Daminco. Those volunteers brushed Rock Tower, parts of Elderberry, Jackson Road, and Grizzly Gulch.
Please report current trail conditions to trail-
reports@coepark.net. We need photos and GPS coordinates for all trail hazards you find, especially downed trees. Park volunteers should use Survey123 to log all trail hazards and report trail conditions to the email address above to keep the trail conditions webpage at coepark.net current.
Dowdy Ranch Entrance Open Season Extended!
The Dowdy Ranch Entrance will now be open until December 15 (or until the rainy season). After a brief closure, the Dowdy is expected to reopen on February 16, 2025. This should allow visitors a chance to experience this beautiful part of the park during the pleasant fall and spring months! The Bell’s Station Gate is usually open daily from 8 am to 6 pm (or until sunset), weather -permitting. However, hours may vary depending upon staffing and visitation levels, and the gate will be closed for 48 hours after rain. For more information, visit the Official Dowdy page.
Teddy Goodrich
UniformedVolunteer Training
The Ride-Along & Coe-Ed Day
Henry W. Coe State Park offers an extensive training program for its State Park Uniformed Volunteers, both in the classroom and out in the park. For new trainees, the Ride-Along on October 12-13 was an opportunity to travel further into the park and learn in the field, as well as forge lasting relationships with fellow volunteers. Coe-Ed Day on October 26 was also part of the required training for new recruits but open to all Coe volunteers. Coe-Ed Day offered a smorgasbord of
useful information, including presentations on birds, geology, trees, wildflowers, mountain lions, bobcats, park history, and more! None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the park’s volunteers.
If the uniformed volunteer program is something that interests you, visit https://coepark.net/ uniformed-volunteer-program/ to learn more.
The Ride-Along
Shae
Collinge
Shae
Collinge
Virginia Goldwasser
Uniformed Volunteer Training continued...
Mounted Assistance Unit presentation.
Shae Collinge Shae Collinge
Herveline Sartori
Geography lesson atop Mustang Peak.
Shae Collinge
Herveline
Sartori
Park radio training and demonstration.
Virginia Goldwasser
Uniformed Volunteer Training continued...
Coe-Ed Day
In Memoriam
Marty Cheek
Learn more about Marty at Morgan Hill Life With thanks to Morgan Hill Life
Uniformed Volunteer Marty Cheek passed away unexpectedly on September 9 at age 57. Marty began volunteering at Coe in 2014 and donated over 600 hours of his time to the park. He was perhaps best known as publisher of Morgan Hill Life. Marty authored and published several articles on Coe promoting PRA special events, celebrating the hard work of park volunteers, and defending Coe as a peaceful refuge from the noise of modern life.
Nedra Martinez
Former Coe ranger Nedra Martinez passed away on September 20 at age 68. Nedra worked for California State Parks for more than 30 years and served as Coe Backcountry Ranger from 2000-2002. She moved on from Coe after accepting a promotion to Supervising Ranger. She eventually retired as Sector Superintendent of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.
Publisher’s Note: In my 22 years working for parks, I have yet to meet a Coe Ranger I didn’t like. Nedra was no exception. She was kind and encouraging qualities that surely made her a successful supervisor. I remember a long drive to Four Rivers District office and her reminiscing about helicopters over Malibu Creek State Park when M*A*S*H* was still filming. I know Coe had a special place in Nedra’s heart, as she was thrilled to attend Coe’s 60th Anniversary in 2018. One attendee overheard her say that Coe was the best job she ever had. I also recall Nedra taking one last drive into the backcountry before she promoted. I watched from Barry’s deck as her patrol vehicle rambled along Manzanita Point Rd and disappeared into the horizon, its dust cloud reflecting the setting sun. Sada’s epitaph springs to mind: “Over the ridge to the great beyond. Life is such a little while.”
Three legendary Coe Rangers: Coe Sector Superintendent Kay Robinson, Barry Breckling, and Nedra Martinez.
Music of the Earth
By Sada Sutcliffe Coe
Stirring from the earth is music! A symphony in every living thing! The very smallest growing flowers Bring the songs of spring.
The bitter cold of winter, Displaying naked trees, Sings a haunting rhythm Of nature’s great reality.
Music from the earth and sky, From the boundless oceans deep! Rhythm of the universe, Bringing joyous laughter, Bowing heads to weep!
This is nature’s symphony, Deep and stirring every life. Reaching far beyond us, To the distant stars that glitter From the darkness of the night.
Lifting now our heads to hear it, Opening wide our hearts, Each of us in our small way Playing but a tiny part.
You! And you! And you out yonder, Each a great musician be, In this music of the earth and sky; Nature’s greatest symphony!
Virginia Goldwasser
PINE RIDGE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Daniel Benefiel PRESIDENT
Bobby Barnett VICE PRESIDENT
Albert Henning SECRETARY
Rick Casey TREASURER
Walter Dunckel
Bob Kass
Steve McHenry
Jeff Zolotar
Stuart Organo SUPERVISING RANGER
THE PONDEROSA STAFF
Patrick Goodrich PUBLISHER
Teddy Goodrich
Margaret Mary McBride CO-EDITORS
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE
Joseph Belli
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Daniel Benefiel
AUTHOR
Sada Sutcliffe Coe
AUTHOR
Sue Dekalb
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Teddy Goodrich
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Steve McHenry
AUTHOR
Ginny Rhodas
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Molly Shaw
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Shae Collinge
Virginia Goldwasser
Chris Howard
Bryan Murahashi
Herveline Sartori
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Pauline Wood
MEMBERSHIPS
New Pine Ridge Association Members
We are pleased to announce the new members listed below. Thank you for your support!
SteveWalstra San Jose, CA
Nabeel Al-Shamma & Hala Alshahwany MountainView, CA
We need your help to keep our membership list current and accurate. If you have any questions regarding your membership or to let us know of any change of address, please contact us via email at pra-membership@coepark.net or mail: Pine Ridge Association 9100 East Dunne Ave Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Membership supports the Pine Ridge Association’s mission to enhance and enrich the public’s experience at Henry W. Coe State Park through education and interpretation: https://coepark.net/pra
Stargazers huddled together in terror beneath a faint apparition of light in the fading October dusk. This was Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a comically long name for a dirty snowball. To get a balanced perspective, we sat down with Dr. Langley Pfefferspielen of Poverty Flat Polytechnic and Irma Quackly from the Institute of Decorative Iguanas.
PONDER: Dr. Pfefferspielen, what exactly is this comet and why should readers be frightened?
PFEFFERSPIELEN: You were correct in describing Comet C/2023 A3 as a “dirty snowball,” as it is a frozen body of ice, rock, and dust. It heated up as it approached the sun, which caused it to outgas, forming a coma and tail. This comet may originate from the Oort Cloud—a theoretical sphere of icy objects that extends to the farthest reaches of the
sun’s gravitational influence. C/2023 A3 may not return for hundreds of thousands of years, or it may be ejected from the Solar System altogether! Oh, and there’s nothing to be worried about from this comet, as it’s already on its way out of the inner Solar System.
PONDER: Ms. Quackly, why is Dr. Pfefferspielen’s explanation completely wrong?
QUACKLY: It’s not.
PONDER: Um, what!? Is it not a tear from heaven? A smudge on Earth’s glass dome? Is it aliens!?
QUACKLY: Don’t be silly. It’s just a comet and poses no threat to us. Fornow. It is the ancient prison of Gormorath the Unsound, a hideous titan who will emerge from its icy shell in 200,000 years to reign over our evolutionary descendants with an iron fist!
