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Calendar: May 24, 2007

Sisquoc River Project **6:00 PM Thursday May 24, 2007 - 5:00 PM Monday May 28, 2007**
Project	SB Wilderness Project
Contact	Mike Smith
Description	SISQUCOC RIVER WORKING VACATION Take a day of vacation on the 25th of May and join us as we enjoy a 4 day weekend over the Memorial Holiday on the scenic upper Sisquoc River Trail. In the 4 days we will backpack, day hike, explore and accomplish trail work on the Sisquoc River trail. DAY-BY-DAY DESCRIPTION Thursday Evening the 24th meet at the USFS ranger station in Santa Maria at 6PM. The ranger Station is on 1616 N. Carlotti Drive in Santa Maria, just off the Donovon exit. We will carpool from there 2.5 hours to the Sweetwater trailhead and car camp at the trailhead. Recommend Vehicles used should be high clearance type, trucks, and SUVs. 4wd not needed. When we leave SM your vehicle should be full of gas for the round trip. Friday the 25th We will hike 8 miles, mostly downhill to South Fork Camp, 3000 ft elevation loss. South Fork Camp area is on a large bench area with several very nice campsites shaded by large Oaks as well as a USFS cabin (Shack). This time of Year is normally very pleasant in the area. After arriving at South Fork we will day hike and explore if time and desire permit. Saturday the 26th We will leave camp in the morning and begin our trail work working upstream and downstream if we have enough people. The total hiking mileage for this day will be low as the work begins almost immediately leaving camp in both directions. We will bring our lunches with us and enjoy a swim or 2 as needed to cool off. When we have had enough we will head back to camp and enjoy the complete BBQ the packgoats packed in for us. Sunday the 27th and Monday the 28th We will decide real time our plans for Sunday and Monday. We may stay at South Fork Sunday night after another day of light trail work and hike out the 12 miles to shuttle vehicles atop the Juddell trail on Monday or perhaps on Sunday we will hike and set up camp at Cottonwood or Mansfield camps and hike out the remaining 6 miles or so on Monday. In any case this portion of the Sisquoc river trail and the Juddell trail are very scenic.

The ranger Station is on 1616 N. Carlotti Drive in Santa Maria. We will meet there Thursday night May 24 at 6PM.

The Sweetwater trail (Our route into South ForK) is a mostly southwest facing ridge line trail that is steep at times, especially near the bottom of the canyon. The trail drops 3000 ft. There is little shade as chaparral predominates the area along the 7-mile route. It should not be too hot, unless it is unseasonably warm, average temps in late May are around low 80s.

There is no water along the Sweetwater trail. 3 quarts minimum for hiking in. The Sweetwater trail allows for excellent long distant views in the San Rafael Wilderness. The upper Sisquoc river trail and Judell Trail (our return route) is very scenic and enjoyable to hike, especially this time of year. The low rainfall this year will make the nearly 20 river crossings from South Fork to Heath very easy.

Trail work will consist mostly of cutting overgrown brush. I will be using my pack goats to help carry in tools and supplies.

This is a backpacking type trip, bring your normal items for backpacking overnight 3 nights including food. USFS will provide a complete BBQ MEAL on Saturday night. Also bring gloves, long sleeve shirt and pants for the trail work. Bring insect repellant as gnats, mosquitoes, deerflies and ticks may or may not be present. I discovered several years ago that Banana Boat brand sunscreen will stop the deerflies from biting. A good shade hat is recommended as well. If possible also bring a small day pack or fanny pack to carry your lunch on Saturday when we are doing our trail work.

May 2007

June 2007

July 2007