Happy Trails

This morning Emily and I spoke with Tash Ahlstrand, transportation Planner for Caltrans District 1. The Pacific Coast Bike Route or PCBR, now 40 years old is bike route that spans the Pacific Coast from Canada To Mexico. Recently Caltrans initiated a study of PCBR users. Lots of great data was collected and many suggestions are in the process of being implemented. However, there was also some surprize date that was revealed. For example, 93% or PCBR riders go from north to south and the average age of PCBR riders is 43 years old.

This morning Jessica Hall and I spoke with Emily Benvie Environmental Programs Manager for Arcata. We spoke about the recent Request for Bid that went out to all contractors to construct the next phase of The Bay Trail between Arcata and Eureka. This phase will go from Arcata to Bracut Center (about half way). Emily also outlined progress on other trails such as the Ridge Trail and other.

This morning Emily and I spoke with Jeff Pimentel, Project Manager with Caltrans. We talked about the many safety projects on 4th and 5th street in Eureka, from a new signal at L Street, High Visibility Crosswalks, Intersection Bulbouts and more.

Today, Jessica Hall and I spoke with Joseph James, Transportation Manager of Yurok Tribe to talk about foot and water trails, and the new ferry (which just started service on Monday) among other things. This all in the midst of a fire emergency in the area.

This morning Emily Sinkhorn and I spoke with Mike Cherney, trail user, and Josh Smith of the Watershed Center about trails in Hayfork. There is already an extensive, if not well known system of trails in Hayfork, many of them historic. There is also substantial watershed trail development going on right now.

This morning I spoke with Emily Sinkhorn, Erin Kelly and Michael Kauffmann about the Bigfoot Trail. Emily and Erin spent about a month hiking this beautiful trail through some of the most stunning parts of the country.

Jessica Hall and I spoke with Kevin Hoover who just completed an many weeks hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Kevin spoke of the trail culture and his adventures. He also talked about how he dealt with adversity when a medical issue cropped up with his foot.

Emily Sinkhorn and I speak with Marcella Clem, Executive Director of Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) which has initiated research and work towards a Draft Expenditure Plan for a potential transportation ballot measure. The tax would fund deferred road maintenance throughout the County as state funding for local jurisdictions has been drastically cut and gas-tax revenues have been depleted. This would be a .5% county sales tax and would be specifically earmarked for maintenance.

This morning Jessica Hall and I spoke with Miles Slattery, Director of Eureka Parks and Recreation about the Eureka Waterfront Trail. Phase A, from the end of the Hikshari Trail to Del Norte street has begun and should be completed by September of this year! Phases B & C all the way around the city of Eureka should be completed by sometime near the end of 2017 to the middle of 2018.

This morning new Happy Trails co-host Scott Machen and I spoke with Ali Osgood and Tom Phillips of the Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association. Ali is a board member, and a student of mine at HSU and Tom is the president of the organization. Today we spoke of their extensive work at Lacks Creek, and other trail projects, their upcoming Pines for Nonprofits event tomorrow at Mad River Brewery, and their July 30 Enduro event.