Hello All, my name is Emily Rangel I am one of the Volunteer Board Members at NPC. Today’s topic is on the upcoming Dig Day 9/10 hosted by Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) in partnership with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County (LTSCC). The two organizations have come together to develop trails in the San Vicente Redwoods and open them for public access. Land Trust of Santa Cruz has contracted Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) to develop these 8.5 miles of brand new trail with volunteer support.
San Vicente Redwoods has been private property for decades, and this volunteer event allows community members to preview the breathtaking beauty of this future recreation area. The four organizations that own and manage the land, collectively called “the conservation partners”, will open the San Vicente Redwoods trails to the community in the months ahead. Land Trust of SCC has taken the lead in planning public access, and has established rules to conserve the land and wildlife. The goal of this project is to eventually complete 38 miles of trails. Phase one of development includes 8.5 miles of trail, followed by a research period to understand how the new trails impact the wildlife and environment. This research will be used to determine future trail construction since the conservation of wildlife is imperative to long-term management of San Vicente Redwoods.
To get involved in this once-in-a-lifetime project, sign up for this weekend’s Dig Dayon 9/10 through the registration form by clicking HERE. Dig Days are SCMTS’ premier volunteer events, and include a full day of breakfast, lunch, snacks, and guided trail work. They’re a great way to learn about trail building while making new friends and enjoying some delicious food. This weekend’s event is sponsored by Will Zilliacus of Bailey Property, Togo’s Scotts Valley, Verve Coffee Roasters, and Sierra Nevada Brewing.
Don’t feel intimidated if you’ve never done trail work before. The SCMTS team will teach volunteers all the skills needed to build and maintain sustainable trails, and make sure you’re comfortable throughout the event. All ages and skill levels are welcome; no prior trail construction experience is necessary. Get involved at this San Vicente Redwoods Dig Day, then join SCMTS for future Dig Days in open spaces across the Santa Cruz Mountains! Only a few spots remain for this weekend’s event, and you don’t want to miss out on the fun.
“When I first moved to Santa Cruz, I went to Dig Days to meet fellow cyclists and build my community of friends,” said Katy Poniatowski, marketing and communications manager at SCMTS. “I made friends instantly, and am still close with folks I met at that very first Dig Day.”
To top off the event, once tasks are complete for the day, all volunteers and staff gather together to enjoy beverages and participate in a raffle. SCMTS raffles off some prizes to volunteers.
The work completed at a Dig Day has a long-lasting impact as those who help build new trails will have a memory to look back on when revisiting trails. This year alone, SCMTS is on track to complete over 10,000 hours of volunteer trail work. Since 2013, SCMTS has contributed many hours of hard work in maintaining and developing trails for SCC residents and visitors of SCC, including trails like Emma McCrary Trail in Pogonip, Flow Trail in Soquel Demonstration State Forest, and West Engelsmans reroute in Wilder Ranch State Park. Thank you SCMTS for the beautiful trails which are accessible to the public and only add to the amazing community. Learn more HERE and once more sign up for the upcoming Dig Day HERE!
