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the
Heritage Herald
Volume
1, December 2006, an on-line newsletter
for those who cherish our natural and historic resources on the Angeles
National Forest
Winter
Events 2006 at Mt. Baldy & San Gabriel
Saturday,
December 2, 10:00 am, at San Gabriel Canyon Environmental Education
Center, Winter
Solstice Celebration and Dedication of
the new Tongva/Gabrielino summer camp replica
Welcome!
Not
long ago I found myself returning from an evening walk to the top of
Mt. Baldy. It was after dusk, and a full moon was still more than an
hour away from topping the eastern ridgeline. Coming down the Devil's
Backbone Trail, I could look out to my left onto the Cajon Pass area
and the twinkling lights of the high desert. Off in the distance to my
right was the busy San Gabriel Valley with its uninterrupted string of
communities. As I walked, it occurred to me how small and fragile the
San Gabriel Mountain ecosystem really is. Hardly more than fifteen
miles wide at its widest point, the San Gabriels, and the Angeles
National Forest which covers much of it, offer one of the last
stretches of historical native habitat in the Los Angeles area.
Many of us, who love these mountains realize how unique they are. We
have also made a commitment to preserving them on behalf of the native
plants and animals that maintain a tenuous foothold here. Past surveys
have shown that nearly two million visitors a year enjoy the
natural
space these mountains offer. While our mountains offer a wonderful
recreational opportunity, their resources are being stretched to
accommodate such high interest. In some instances the wild places
are
being loved to death. Those of us associated with the Mt. Baldy
Environmental Education program feel that one of the key solutions
involves teaching wise stewardship practices to the next generation of
forest users.
We are excited that you have decided to join us. You are receiving this
first installment of our newsletter because at some point you have
either participated in our programming, expressed an interest in what
we do, or helped us financially. We don't want to miss this opportunity
to thank you for your interest and support, and to welcome you to the
work! -- Rick Dean (RD)
Come to Our Holiday Open House
Where
else can you visit with Smokey and Santa, shop for presents from our
local Mt. Baldy artisans, plug the kids into fun holiday craft
activities, and chat with our group of distinguished authors, including
Ann and Farley Olander, authors of Call of the Mountains.
Join us at the Mt. Baldy Visitor Center on December 9th from 3 - 6 p.m.
for our annual Holiday
Open House. It's a fun event for young and old, with lots of
snacks and holiday cheer. (RD)
Greener Pastures
Sandy
Raybould, the friendly face at the front counter of the Visitor Center
for the past few years, is being called to "active duty." It's always
sad to lose someone as competent and eternally optimistic as Sandy, but
in this case it's for a good cause. Sandy is the proud grandma of a new
granddaughter, whom she will be caring for when mom, Sandy's daughter,
returns to teaching after the holidays. We know that as much as Sandy
likes working at Mt. Baldy, we can't compete with a happy, wide-eyed
new baby. We will certainly miss Sandy and although we can't tell Sandy
this, miss her dog Daisy just as much. Both have been fixtures at the
Visitor Center, and Daisy has even had visitors coming to see her on a
regular basis over the weekends. (RD)
Consider Becoming a Volunteer Docent
With
less than a month left in the year, it's not too early to begin
finalizing those New Year's Resolutions. This year why not consider
volunteering at the Mt. Baldy Visitor Center? This is a unique
opportunity to spend time with an educated, exciting group of people
who love learning and sharing what they know about the forest. If you
think that you might enjoy providing information to our forest visitors
(either through the week or on weekends), or even helping with the
education program, now is a great time to phone or e-mail us. New
docents will receive fun, painless training, and our personal guarantee
to never have to do anything that you don't enjoy. It's a good gig! We
love and certainly appreciate all our volunteers and all the good
things they make possible. (RD)
About
Our Fauna
Bighorn
Sheep
Ranger Steve has presented his outstanding Bighorn Sheep program to
Pasadena Audubon Society, Azusa Rotary Club and Angeles National Forest
Fire Lookout Association this year. If you would like to have this
program presented to your organization, call him at (909) 982-2879. --
Jane Strong (JS)
Butterflies
On Saturday, June 24, Fred Heath, Herbert Clarke, Olga Clarke, Paul
Levine and Jane Strong met in the canyon to participate in the North
American Butterfly Association's annual Fourth of July Butterfly Count,
a summer counterpart of National Audubon's Christmas Bird Count.
Fred notes: "Variable Checkerspots were the most common, followed by
the Mt. Mahogany Hairstreaks. To me the most unusual butterfly for the
count was the Indra Swallowtail which flew over us along Glendora Ridge
Road. What I found extremely interesting was the large numbers of the
Mt. Mahogany Hairstreak on the way down to Boy Scout Pond and very few
on the way back when it was much hotter. What it shows is how variable
butterfly numbers can be depending not only on the progression of the
season (very late this year) or the weather conditions (the next day
the clouds in the afternoon kept the butterfly number very low in the
afternoon on the Baden-Powell Count), but the time of day which you
cover a particular spot. Also after several years of no Gold-Hunter's
Hairstreak, they have been common this year and last."
Paul donated a handsomely-made educational notebook full of pictures of
butterflies taken on this day. Stop by the Mt. Baldy Visitor Center to
look at it. Thank you, Paul! (JS)
Goings on at San Gabriel
With
the help of Boy Scout projects and of Volunteer Mark Acuna, the grounds
are being improved at the San Gabriel Canyon Environmental Education
Center. Mark designed a ceremonial ring complete with feather poles
which was built by scouts. Scouts also cleared the trails and put in
new signposts for messages about water use, cleaned out the non-native
plants in the rock planters and will refill them with native plants
used by the local Indians, gave the building a new roof and a new paint
job. Several large trees have been removed to make way for a larger bus
turnaround. Ceremony on December 2 at 10:00 am. (JS)
Introducing Tom Marsden
Volunteer
Tom has worked at the Visitor Center counter for several years now. He
is the author of a fine handbook on how best to serve the many visitors
to Mt. Baldy. Recently he become the President of the San Gabriel
Mountains Heritage Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that
supports the educational, interpretive and heritage programs of the
Forest Service. Stop by the Visitor Center on Tuesdays to say "Hi!" to
Tom and he can tell you how much fun he has being a volunteer!
(JS)
Now, meet some of the "Bad Guys"
Spotted knapweed
is highly competitive with other plants displacing desired vegetation.
It is found on San Dimas Experimental Forest, Barrett-Stoddard
Road and
Baldy Notch. You may have seen the green spots where San Bernardino
County Agriculture sprayed the plants.
Asian Longhorn Beetle
attacks hardwood trees like maple. Infested trees become unsightly,
drop dead branches, and eventually die. The insect has been found at
Crystal Lake and Icehouse Canyon by hikers and trailbuilders.
New Zealand Mudsnail
reduces food resources, particularly mayflies and caddisflies, for
trout. You may have seen the signs by the creek when fishing or
hiking.
Please report these invaders to the
appropriate agencies listed in the links. You need to give precise
locations. (JS)
produced
by the San Gabriel Mountains Heritage Association
in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Angeles National Forest
Mt. Baldy Visitor Center
P.O. Box 592, Mt Baldy, CA 91759
Phone (909) 982-2829 FAX: (909) 931-7130
Email: info @ mtbaldyeducation . org [remove spaces]
Web Site: http://mtbaldyeducation.org
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