This morning Emily and I spoke with Mike Foget, an engineer with SHN about progress on the Annie and Mary Rail Trail. This is a project that thus far has been 20 years in the making. Back in 2008, the North Coast Railroad Authority agreed in principle to the utilization of the corridor to create a multi use trail between Blue Lake and Arcata. The first phase will be in the city of Blue Lake itself. The next step will include funding for this phase and preliminary work on the next phase, Blue Lake to Glendale.

As we approach the beginning of our 10th year of Happy Trails we are moving into a new era. In addition to Emily Sinkhorn, we are joined by 3 more co-hosts, Jessica Hall, Michael Kauffman, and Scott Machen. Each new host brings their area of expertise to the table each week on KHUM's trail advocacy show.

This morning Emily and I spoke with Natalie Arroyo, representing the Humboldt Trails Council and Hank Seemann, Deputy Director, Humboldt County Public Works about the upcoming Trails Summit. It will take place at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka on June 4th.

This morning Happy Trails new Co-Host Michael Kauffmann and I talked with Ian Nelson up in Ashland Oregon about the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail, established back in the Johnson Administration stretches from Mexico to Canada along the pacific coast as the name implies. We talked about it's history, what it's like and volunteer Opportunities along the tail. More info at pcta.org

This morning I spoke with new Happy Trails Co-Host Jessica Hall along with former KHUM DJ Mike Dronkers, both members of Friends of the Dunes. This morning we talked about the extensive trail system throughout the dunes. This is a treasure that is right in our own backyard that you may have overlooked.

This morning Michael Kauffmann and I spoke with Scott Herriott about his passion for trails, the films he has made about trails (and Bigfoot) and his current project, the Bigfoot Trail.

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.

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.

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, Carole Vander Meer and I spoke with Philip Sales, Executive Director of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition has engaged the local community, as well as state, federal and local leaders to move a trail from an idea in 2008 to a reality with over half of the 47-mile route either completed or funded. FYI, Philip was the project manager for the Humboldt Bay Trail feasibility study back before it started.