Bommer Canyon open access day

[Pilas]

Thinking about exploring the area this saturday. Is it possible to ride to LCWP and El Morro from Bommer?
If so, does anybody have a route description, starting from the Bommer Cyn. entrance?
Thanks

[dstepper]

Yep there are two roads and wildlife passages under the 73 contecting the parks. Francos new map has the route as does the handout map at Nix Center.

[JamR]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Some info on the Wilderness Access Day[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]This is the first self-guided day that includes biking, but not all of the trails will be open; however the trails that everyone is used to on the Docent led programs will be available.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]To access the area that day, just park at the Bommer Canyon Trailhead, check in and sign a waiver and you will be issued a “Wilderness Access Day Use Permit” which is valid for that day only from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm. Keep the permit with you in a place that is easy to get to since you may be asked to show the permit by the Irvine P.D. Open Space Rangers or the Patrol Docents in the area.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Temporary maps will be available and there will be temporary self-guided signs placed on the open trails.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The gate at the connector trail to Ridgepark will not be open however until we get some infrastructure improvements in place; but you can connect to Laguna Coast via the Serrano Ridge Trail and to the Nix Nature Center via the Camarillo Trail.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The permanent maps are being designed and the permanent trail signs are in the process; plus Franko’s map is being revised to reflect the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve trails as well as the currently legal trails in Laguna Coast, Crystal Cove, and Aliso-Woods. So shortly the access days will improve over time with more connectivety to Laguna Coast and Crystal Cove.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Have fun out there and make sure that you stick to the mapped trails. The area is being monitored by several methods for wildlife impacts based on current use patterns, so this is a situation where the users have some direct control whether these access days stay the same, get increased over time, or get eliminated in the future depending on the amount of miss-uses that may take place. There’s plenty of legal riding out there so keep it calm, and make sure that you are on the signed and mapped trails only in any of the parks.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Currently, three of the five single-track trails are open for use during the access day, and the other two will be coming online shortly once some restoration goals are achieved and infrastructure improvements are completed.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Pre-registration is not required for the Wilderness Access Days since you can sign a waiver that day; however if you want to save yourself a little time, you can still pre-register via the online registration site at [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]http://www.irvineranchwildlands.org/activities/[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] and they will have your name on the pre-registered list at the Trail Head Tent.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I hope this helps, and I’ll be out there all day to show guests the trails and give directions and information along with a number of the Docents and Trail Guides, and of course the Irvine P.D. Open Space Rangers.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]See ya on the trails [/SIZE][/FONT]

[GOGrannyGO]

I'm going to check this out, thanks! I'll be on my best behavior.

[CPATCRASH]

I'm signed up!

[OMR]

Adam,

What the deal with closing at 1 PM??? I know it gets dark early these days... but not that early! I will be playing shepard for the tribe on Gene's newbie ride in Chino Hills this Sat. See you soon.

[JamR]

Originally Posted by OMR

Adam,

What the deal with closing at 1 PM??? I know it gets dark early these days... but not that early! I will be playing shepard for the tribe on Gene's newbie ride in Chino Hills this Sat. See you soon.

The wilderness access days have always closed around 1:00 or 2:00.

Several reasons for this.

The area has always been under managed access and is now just slowly testing out more open access.

The number and types of visitor uses are closely monitored and required to be reported annually.

Much of the access is led by and monitored by trained volunteers, so programs and access is in-part limited to volunteer participation similar to how other organizations operate.

The 1:00 end time gives the volunteers and staff time to break down the area and close out the event since it is staged from an area behind locked gates. This gives ample time to sweep the trails and get visitors back to their cars so the gates can be locked.

Once the permanent signs are in place and the restorations and infrastructures outlined in the RRMP are implemented, the area may enjoy longer access days and potentially more frequent; but again much of that depends on the cooperation on the public's proper use of the area.

Much of the deeper canyon areas are of a high valued habitat and a serve as a refuge for local fauna, so monitoring of access impacts will be closely watched.

Just like any new venture, things need to start out slow, and progress slowly in order to have a good handle on how the activities are progressing.

Like many of my previous posts...these things just take time and some patience; however I'm sure the people who have been regularly attending the Docent led rides can attest to the improvements that have occurred in the area over the past two years with more single-track, more new rides (clinics, night rides, and epics), and now the addition of self-guided biking.

I hope this helps.

See ya on the trails

[foofighter]

always a wealth of information and education Adam

[OMR]

You always take the time to explain the logic of the rules... which initially seems so illogical... and which is appreciated by many of our tribe.

[JamR]

The nice part of riding the City of Irvine Open Space Preserve over the next couple of years for everyone will be the continuing improvements taking place.

As time progresses and the restoration projects get implemented and begin to mature; parts of the area will begin to take on an entirely new look.

Unlike many areas where trails become wider and wider from over-use; many of the trails and roads in this area will become narrower and back to a more traditional ranch-road feel, and the general plan will have four of the single-tracks come to a confluence where they all connect about 100 yards from each other and will be connected by several bridges, while the surrounding areas restore back to a valuable riparian habitat.

It will be a unique confluence where you will have a choice of four single-tracks each taking you in a different direction, and each single-track having at least one semi-technical feature to challenge all levels of riders and hikers.

The overall plan for the area is pretty exciting and I think the people using it month after month will really notice the changes in a fairly short period.

Also, keep your eyes peeled on the activities page for the upcoming trail work season. There will be plenty of opportunities for trail re-construction, trail brushing, bridge building, restorations, etc....

I'll be out there Saturday if anyone has not been to the area and wants to be shown around.

See ya on the trails

[Pilas]

One question for Adam: I'll be riding from home to the entrance of Bommer. Do you need to show I.D. to enter the park?
Thanks

[JamR]

Originally Posted by Pilas

One question for Adam: I'll be riding from home to the entrance of Bommer. Do you need to show I.D. to enter the park?
Thanks

No, you can ride in and sign a waiver at the trailhead.

But you should always carry ID on any ride just in case of an accident. There have been several cases of local deaths on some Socal trails where the person was listed as a John Doe for a while before being indentified.

[ocrider]

Hey JamR
Can I ride there if im under 18?
just woundering cuz of legal stuff

[JamR]

Originally Posted by ocrider

Hey JamR
Can I ride there if im under 18?
just woundering cuz of legal stuff

Under 18 requries you to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and they need to sign the waiver on your behalf.

Standard legal stuff pertaining to liability waivers.

[GOGrannyGO]

Next one?

Anyone?