Bane Ridge & Aliso are a no go at Chino Hills SP

[kloepo9]

I thought I would give the single tracks (North/East side) at Chino Hills State Park another try. After all, it has been several months since the rains and I know the trail crews have been working hard to clear trails. My plan was to hit Bane Ridge or Aliso. As I approached Bane Ridge, I noticed that it was still overgrown, e.g., brush approximately 4-5’ high. However, that did not stop me. For some reason or another, I thought that Aliso would be better. Soon after my descent, I was forced to realize that Aliso was also overgrown. So, for the next 30 minutes, while the brush smacked my arms and legs as well as the constant bombardment of bugs, I rode in fear of running over snakes. Not good times.



Moral of the story – Bane Ridge and Aliso are still full of weeds. Thanks for listening.

[KBL]

Maybe time to get a trail work crew going? If you don't mind driving, most of the trails in the Whittier hills have been trimmed, and the terrain is similar.

[kloepo9]

Good suggestion. Is anyone up for leading the clean up crew? Or have experience working with the State Park or Park rangers in this regard?

[Chewyeti]

brewmaster talked to some rangers in CHSP about a clean up crew...

he would know best

[kloepo9]

Brewmaster,

I see you are here... what do you think?

[BrewMaster]

I have been trying to organize some trail work in CHSP for about a month now. The rangers keep telling me to coordinate with the Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association. So far no one form the Interpretive Association returns my emails. I just sent them another email tonight, so we'll see what comes back. Feel free to try as well. The more people asking, the better!

There have been very few trail crews out there because:

1) There are currently only 2 rangers for CHSP, one of them comes from Riverside, and

2) There is only 1 heavy equipment operator for all state parks in the San Bernardino area. They clear the major fire roads, but that's it.

[jasonmason]

Well, you tried to ride them too, so i'm not the only crazy one. They were pretty much unrideable a few weeks ago, as were raptor and sidewinder. Way to give it a go though.

What we need to do is organize a group ride of 30 of us or so. We'll take turns leading, and by the time we all get through they'll be rideable again with all the brush broken down and cleared. Screw trying to get the rangers moving on trail crews, we'll just do it ourselves.

Call it a newbie ride - that'll bring 'em out in droves...

[kloepo9]

Thanks for the info Sam. I'll give them a call and/or write them.

I hate to say it, but the N/E side of CHSP is pretty boring without single tracks.

[BrewMaster]

I have contemplated just clearing the trails myself, but I don't want to piss anyone off. Anyone know if it is legal/illegal to maintain the trails without consent of the rangers?

[Chewyeti]

i bet they wouldnt care if you did it with manual labor and tools...

No firebreathing internal combustion wackers tho....

[kloepo9]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

I have contemplated just clearing the trails myself, but I don't want to piss anyone off. Anyone know if it is legal/illegal to maintain the trails without consent of the rangers?

I have no idea, but that would be a lot of work.

[jasonmason]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

I have contemplated just clearing the trails myself, but I don't want to piss anyone off. Anyone know if it is legal/illegal to maintain the trails without consent of the rangers?

If they only have 2 rangers you could probably do it easily, especially on weekday evenings, and no one would even know. I don't want to piss them off either, but if they can't get their act together to let volunteers take care of it officially, we can find other ways of getting it done.
It would probably make their lives easier if we just up and did it, though they'd never admit it...

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by kloepo9

I have no idea, but that would be a lot of work.

it certainly would be a shit load of work, but it's not getting done right now. I bet we could clear a couple of the single track trails if we got a decent sized crew and spent a few hours out there.

if we got permission to maintain the trails throughout the year, we wouldn't have the problem we have now.

EDIT: The park has a nice mower attachment that hooks to a tractor. They used this to clear Skully and Brush Canyon Trail and it cleans the single track with about 3 feet of of space on each side. If we could get the rangers to run this over Bane, it would be done quickly. Problem is that it doesn't work unless there is solid ground on both sides of the trail, so trails with exposure are no go.

[dislocated1]

Never been to CHSP, but have wanted too for ages..... count me in for a newbie/ cheap manual labor brush clearing ride... bike and hand held shears are ready!

[jasonmason]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

it certainly would be a shit load of work, but it's not getting done right now. I bet we could clear a couple of the single track trails if we got a decent sized crew and spent a few hours out there.

if we got permission to maintain the trails throughout the year, we wouldn't have the problem we have now.

that would be ideal. Gene, OMR, JamR, etc... - got any ideas how we could do this?

[Burner]

mount 2 chainsaws to a BOB trailer and go for a ride... voila!

[OMR]

Originally Posted by jasonmason

that would be ideal. Gene, OMR, JamR, etc... - got any ideas how we could do this?

Unfortunately, the way the county or state move... you might be waiting a long time. I've gotten into trouble at Aliso Woods for doing a bit of trail work without informing the rangers first... bad move on my part. Right now both county & state governments are crying for lack of funding .... therefore, sometimes they let an organized group (let's call ourselves Friends of the Chino Hills Trail Association) take over certain responsibilities... just really depends on the rangers. I would make it a point to become closer to the rangers at the park... I think you'll accomplish more in the long run.

BTW: This will take time and effort... but look what we've been able to do at Santiago Oaks & Aliso Woods working with the rangers.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by OMR

Unfortunately, the way the county or state move... you might be waiting a long time. I've gotten into trouble at Aliso Woods for doing a bit of trail work without informing the rangers first... bad move on my part. Right now both county & state governments are crying for lack of funding .... therefore, sometimes they let an organized group (let's call ourselves Friends of the Chino Hills Trail Association) take over certain responsibilities... just really depends on the rangers. I would make it a point to become closer to the rangers at the park... I think you'll accomplish more in the long run.

BTW: This will take time and effort... but look what we've been able to do at Santiago Oaks & Aliso Woods working with the rangers.

The trouble with CHSP is that the rangers are never there. I catch them on the way out when they are closing up. The one ranger I see all the time (Russel?) is a nice enough guy. He just tells me about the budget woes and apologizes for the conditions of the trails. His hands are tied, it seems.

Whenever I go by their station in the center of the park, the place is deserted. Call the office, no answer and no returned calls. I am beginning to think that all they do in CHSP is open and close the gate each day.

Our only hope for a massive trail clearing would be some strong Santa Ana winds to blow the weeds flat. This is what happened last year.

[jasonmason]

Originally Posted by OMR

Unfortunately, the way the county or state move... you might be waiting a long time. I've gotten into trouble at Aliso Woods for doing a bit of trail work without informing the rangers first... bad move on my part. Right now both county & state governments are crying for lack of funding .... therefore, sometimes they let an organized group (let's call ourselves Friends of the Chino Hills Trail Association) take over certain responsibilities... just really depends on the rangers. I would make it a point to become closer to the rangers at the park... I think you'll accomplish more in the long run.

BTW: This will take time and effort... but look what we've been able to do at Santiago Oaks & Aliso Woods working with the rangers.

It just gets frustrating when they complain loudly about having no money, while there are riders that would happily give time to do the trail work for free. We sit here stonewalled by the state park, trying to decide whether to do the right thing and wait for them to return our calls/emails, or to just throw up our hands, do the work for them, for free, and risk being the "problem".
I know the right thing to do is wait and try to build a working relationship with the rangers and the state park, it just gets frustrating, that's all.


edit-i would love to become closer with the rangers in that park - i've just never seen one there, on the trails or in the park hq