In this issue:

1. 2009 Vision Quest and Counting Coup event registration starts this Wednesday, Oct. 1st

2. Club member Mary “Never Tires” Huth wins her solo class at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline at Hurkey Creek

3. The Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department Harvest Festival and Auction

4. Chino Hills State Park Volunteer Single Track Clean-Up Day

5. The Forest Service launches national visitor survey

1. 2009 VISION QUEST AND COUNTING COUP EVENT REGISTRATION OPENS THIS WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1ST

Registration will be opening up for the 2009 Warrior’s Society Vision Quest and Counting Coup events this Wednesday, October 1st. The date of the events is Saturday, March 7th 2009.

All the events sold out last year (the Vision Quest in two days and the Counting Coup in four days) so register as soon as registration opens up if you are serious about participating. WE WILL NOT be providing a downloadable/mail in application because we expect to sell out before those apps can be received by us through the mail.

To register for the Vision Quest (The links to register through Active.com will be activated on Wednesday, October 1st.):

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/vision_quest_general_info.html

To register for the Counting Coup (The links to register through Active.com will be activated on Wednesday, October 1st.):

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/counting_coup_general_info.html

Registration for “The Traverse” (to benefit the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund http://freedomalliance.org/fa/ ) to be held on Saturday, May 9th, opens on November 1st 2008.

Registration for the Toad Festival (to benefit the Wounded Warrior Program at Camp Pendleton http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ ) to be held on Saturday, June 6th, opens on December 1st 2008.

Last year both these events, which are limited to 175 participants each, sold out. We expect them to sell out in 2009 too.

Thanks to all of you that have made our events a success!

2. CLUB MEMBER MARY “NEVER TIRES” HUTH WINS HER SOLO CLASS AT THE 24-HOURS OF ADRENALINE AT HURKEY CREEK

We have two stories, with pictures, on her win posted on our web site at:

http://www.warriorssociety.org/News/24hrs_of_adrenaline.html

Congratulations to Mary!

3. THE HOLY JIM FIRE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HARVEST FESTIVAL AND AUCTION

Come help support the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department by supporting their Harvest Festival and Auction on Saturday, October 11th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Come down for a great time and even bigger cause. Bring and item to donate or grab a number and bid for that special treasure.

There will be a killer bar-b-cue, a GREAT rock-a-billy band (The Road Kill Kings), face painting, a pumpkin decorating contest for the kids, raffle, ice cream and an auction.

They still need donations so if you can help out contact Rhonda at (949) 858-0266. They will need to have all donated items at Cook’s by 11:30 am the auction starts at 1:00 pm.

All proceeds go to support the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department.

4. CHINO HILLS STATE PARK VOLUNTEER SINGLE TRACK CLEAN-UP DAY

When: Saturday October 18th, 2008
Where: 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills 91709
Meet: at Equestrian Staging Area Bane Canyon Entrance

Itinerary: 6:45 AM Registration
7:00 AM Orientation
7:15 AM Start of Trail
TBA (Most Likely 4 corner area)
1:00 PM Return and Adjourn

Details: Mustard is taking over our 65 + miles of trails and this is an opportunity to help keep our public trails pristine. We will be attempting to clear as much single track area around the 4 corner portion of the park. Please RSVP your attendance. Please wear pants, sunscreen, gloves and water. We will be transporting volunteers to the trail location. We anticipate like last event, having lunch and refreshments. Hopefully it will be cooler than last event.

For more Information please contact Shannon Pulce at Spulce@parks.ca.gov or the park office at 951-780-6222

5. THE FOREST SERVICE LAUNCHES NATIONAL VISITOR STUDY

The Cleveland National Forest is launching the National Visitor User Study, starting October 1, 2008. This recreation visitor program has trained interviewers to gather as much basic visitor information as possible. All information is confidential and the survey is voluntary. The researchers are now returning after 5 years to update the information previously gathered as well as to look at recreation trends over time. The information is useful for forest planning, reporting to Congress, and local community tourism planning. Surveyors will be wearing bright orange vests and be near a sign that says “Traffic Survey Ahead.”

Sample questions visitors are asked include: “Where they recreated on the Forest, how many people they traveled with, how long they were on the Forest, what other recreation sites they visited while on the Forest, and how satisfied they were with the facilities and services provided.”

The more they know about the visitors, especially their satisfaction and desires, the better land managers the Forest Service can be. If you have any questions about this program you can visit our web site at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum

or call Don English at:

202-205-9595.

Anabele Cornejo
Assistant Public Affairs Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service- Cleveland National Forest

p.858-674-2985
f. 858-674-2967

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. Cleveland National Forest Closure Area re-opening update

2. Chino Hills State Park Volunteer Single Track Clean-Up Day

3. The Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department Harvest Festival and Auction

4. The Warrior’s Society 2009 Event Season Update

1. CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST CLOSURE AREA RE-OPENING UPDATE

After negotiating with the Forest Service we are confident that all of the forest, with the exception of the Harding Truck Trail, will be opened on November 9th. Originally they had planned to open only Maple Springs, the Silverado Trail and the Main Divide from Black Star to Maple Springs. The only issue which will prevent this forest opening is if the fire danger rating is critical due to the expected fall dry Santa Ana winds. As I previously mentioned in past weekly news we cannot afford another fire in the areas that have burned or this will severely jeopardize the chaparral environment from recovering allowing the further invasion of non-native plants and grasses.

The Joplin Trail is some what overgrown but the good news is the Warrior’s Society, under the direction of front country trail director Jim Jennings, has rehabilitated the Luge Trail, which suffered some severe damage after the flash floods we had in May of this year. This rehabilitation included the rerouting of the bottom of the trail to move it away from private property and included a new creek crossing. Jim and his volunteers have spent about 500 hours on this project.

One warning: the closure may be reinitiated if off-trail use cannot be controlled. The Forest Service is mandated to protect and assist the recovery of the burn areas by both the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and AQMD regulations related to air quality (dust from the burn areas). If off trail use results in the increasing erosion of the burned areas the Forest Service can be sued by environmental groups forcing a long lasting closure. What these environmental groups could not accomplish through Wilderness Bills and Forest plans could be accomplished by lawsuits due to a small group of irresponsible hikers, mountain bikers and OHV users.

Please be responsible and stay on the trails/road when the forest reopens. Stay off the Harding Truck Trail, which will be patrolled by off-duty CHP motorcycle officers on dual sport motorcycles in conjunction with the Warrior’s Society. Their will be a no-tolerance policy by the Forest Service and anyone caught off-trail will have their bike confiscated and subject to $5,000 dollar fine and jail time.

The only trail projects we have planned in fall is earth work on the Silverado Trail and the brushing of the Joplin Trail. This work may be done in-house by the Warrior’s Society and not public events.

2. CHINO HILLS STATE PARK VOLUNTEER SINGLE TRACK CLEAN-UP DAY

When: Saturday October 18th, 2008
Where: 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills 91709
Meet: at Equestrian Staging Area Bane Canyon Entrance

Itinerary: 6:45 AM Registration
7:00 AM Orientation
7:15 AM Start of Trail
TBA (Most Likely 4 corner area)
1:00 PM Return and Adjourn

Details: Mustard is taking over our 65 + miles of trails and this is an opportunity to help keep our public trails pristine. We will be attempting to clear as much single track area around the 4 corner portion of the park. Please RSVP your attendance. Please wear pants, sunscreen, gloves and water. We will be transporting volunteers to the trail location. We anticipate like last event, having lunch and refreshments. Hopefully it will be cooler than last event.

For more Information please contact Shannon Pulce at Spulce@parks.ca.gov or the park office at 951-780-6222

3. THE HOLY JIM FIRE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT HARVEST FESTIVAL AND AUCTION

Come help support the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department by supporting their Harvest Festival and Auction on Saturday, October 11th from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Come down for a great time and even bigger cause. Bring and item to donate or grab a number and bid for that special treasure.

Their will be a killer bar-b-cue, face painting, screaming ice cream and live music

They do still need donations so if you can help out contact Rhonda at (949) 858-0266.

All proceeds go to support the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department.

4. THE WARRIOR’S SOCIETY 2009 EVENT SEASON UPDATE

Registration will be opening up for the following Warrior’s Society events on the following dates:

Vision Quest and Counting Coup to be held on Saturday, March 7th 2009 – Registration opens on October 1st 2008

“The Traverse” (to benefit the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund) to be held on Saturday, May 9th – Registration opens on November 1st 2008

The Toad Festival (to benefit the Wounded Warrior Program at Camp Pendleton) to be held on Saturday, June 6th –Registration opens on December 1st 2008

All the events sold out last year (the Vision Quest in two days and the Counting Coup in four days) so register as soon as registration opens up. Our web site will have access to both a downloadable app and online registration.

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. Forest Service Closure Update – Portion of the Forest to Re-Open on November 9th

2. State Union lobbying threaten the ability of the state to use volunteers

3. 12th Annual Inner Coastal Cleanup/24th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day

4. The Trabuco Ranger Districe / USFS & SAMNHA Plans Sunset Hike

5. Clean-up Project at the Blue Light Mine Complex

6. Club member Matt “Soaring Falcon” Nourmohamadian places 5th in his first college race

1. FOREST SERVICE CLOSURE UPDATE – PORTION OF FOREST TO OPEN NOVEMBER 9TH

We received the announcement that follows my comments from Debra Clark, the Wilderness/Trails Manager for the Trabuco District. It is important for all uses to pay attention to the last part of this announcement. The loss of Chaparral has exposed areas and increased the ability of irresponsible visitors to go off-trail. The soils in the burn areas are extremely sensitive to such use, which can scar the land for many, many years. The Chaparral Environment of the forest has been severally damaged as a result of the devastating fires last fall. Invasive species such as grasses and mustard have already spread into the burn areas threatening to increase the propensity for future fires since these non-natives are easily combustible.

All those that love the forest must be responsible and actively participate in helping it to recover and to prevent activities that could jeopardize its recovery. The Forest needs to be fire free for at least 15 to 20 years to allow the Chaparral environment to recover; otherwise what we will have is not a Chaparral Environment, but one that consists of mustard and non-native grasses resulting in the subsequent displacement of native wildlife dependant on the Chaparral Environment.

Please, please be patient with the process in which areas of the forest are open. The Forest Service understands the public’s wish to access their forest and it is unfortunate that policies are not based on the 90 percent of users that are responsible, but the 10 percent that put their own needs above not only the responsible public, but the health of the forest as well.

Here is the announcement:

The Main Divide Road and Maple Springs Road are currently scheduled to be reopened on Nov. 9.

The District Ranger said that if we get the road repairs finished sooner they will reopen sooner.

The trails in the burn area will not be reopened until there is better recovery. Silverado (Motorway) trail will probably be reopened since it wasn’t burned, but there was dozer damage and we’ll need to be certain it is ready.

As you know, many forest visitors do not have the ethics to stay on roads and trails and the damage in these sensitive areas will be permanent if they get full access.

Debra
***************************************************
Debra Clarke – Wilderness / Trails Manager
District Volunteer Coordinator
Cleveland NF, Trabuco Ranger District
1147 East Sixth Street
Corona, CA 92879
(951) 736-1811 x 3227
(951) 736-3002 fax
email: drclarke@fs.fed.us

2. STATE UNION LOBBYING THREATENS THE ABILITY FOR THE STATE TO USE VOLUNTEERS

This story explains it all:

http://www.sacbee.com/weintraub/story/1188226.html

We should urge the Governor to sign the Bill, AB 2537 as it provides protection for California’s many volunteers.

The link below is from Gov. Schwarzenegger’s web page. Please send a comment and ask him to SIGN AB 2537:

http://gov.ca.gov/interact

3. 12TH ANNUAL INNER COASTAL CLEANUP/24TH ANNUAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY

On Saturday, September 20, SHARE and the Warrior’s Society will help Trails4All remove trash from Trabuco Canyon. A lot of trash has accumulated from Live Oak to the Holy Jim parking lot. Please help us remove this unsightly mess. Sign in begins at 8:30am at the intersection of Live Oak Canyon Rd. and Trabuco Creek Rd. (dirt). We do need pickups to haul the trash to the dumpsters. We will provide water, gloves, bags, t-shirts and lunch.

If you can not get to Trabuco Canyon, please consider helping at another Orange County cleanup site. This is a great opportunity for Scout troops and your student’s community service hours.

Use this link to the Trails 4 All website for the complete site list: http://trails4all.org/cleanup/2008/index.asp

For information on the California Coastal Cleanup sites: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html

For Trabuco Canyon cleanup information or group RSVP, please contact: sharemtb@cox.net

Thank you,

The Warrior’s Society and SHARE Mountain Bike Clubs

4. THE TRABUCO RANGER DISTRICT / USFS & SAMNHA PLANS SUNSET HIKE

Come join the Santa Ana Mountains Natural History Association (SAMNHA)on an evening hike in our coastal foothills Saturday, September 27.

Hike along with us Saturday evening on a hike of exploration and wonderful views. starting time is 6:00PM at Canyon View Park in Aliso Viejo. (Thomas Brothers Map Page # 921- B4). Free on-street parking.

Bring: Water, flashlight, snacks, sturdy hiking shoes, hat, sunglasses, hiking stick, camera, or binoculars.

The Hike will be mostly uphill to our destination “Top of the World” and downhill back to our cars. Total distance up and down will be about 6 miles. If weather cooperates expect nice views of sunset over the Pacific ocean, coastal foothills, Catalina Island and possibly some wildlife sightings.

At a steady but leisurely pace the hike could take approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Joining us will be naturalists, geologists, local history buffs, biologists and more.

Questioning minds welcome!

Cost: None, SAMNHA does not charge for any of its events or activities.

Hike leader: Tom Maloney

5. CLEANUP PROJECT AT THE BLUE LIGHT MINE COMPLEX

San Diego, September 3, 2008… The Cleveland National Forest, Trabuco Ranger District will begin work on September 8, 2008 to remove contaminated soils, and debris left over from more than 140 years of mining activities associated with the abandoned mine complex in Orange County. The mine complex is located at the head of Silverado Canyon. Additionally, erosion control measures will be constructed to maintain the stability of the site should a heavy rain event occur in the area. Work is expected to last up to one month.

Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the work is needed to enhance public safety of people living in the area or visiting this area of the Forest. Elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were found within the mine complex in contaminated soils. Potential exposure of these contaminates may come from an incidental contact with the soil and mine waste. Further, large amounts of mineral processing debris (mine tailings) were left on the site and these materials will be removed as a part of the project.

The Blue Light Mine Complex is known to have been active as far back as the late 1870s for precious metals such as silver. The last mining operation that worked the complex ended following World War II. The site has not been used by a commercial mining company since that time.

The clean-up operation will include the use of helicopters to transport materials to and from the work site. Heavy construction equipment will also be operating within the mine complex, so please drive with care during the length of the project. As a reminder, Forest lands in the mine complex area remains under closure due to the impact of the Santiago Fire in late 2007.

Information pertaining to this project is posted on the Cleveland National Forest web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland. For more information contact Jerry DeGraff, Forest Service On-scene Coordinator, at (559) 297-0706, extension 4932, or Noelle Graham-Wakoski, Forest Service Environmental Engineer, Cleveland NF, San Diego, CA 92127, (858) 674-2990, ngraham01@fs.fed.us.

Anabele Cornejo
Assistant Public Affairs Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service- Cleveland National Forest

p.858-674-2985
f. 858-674-2967

6. CLUB MEMBER MATT “SOARING FALCON” NOURMOHAMADIAN PLACES 5TH IN HIS FIRST COLLEGE RACE

Matt is an accomplished competitor who at 16 years old won his class at our 24 hours of Orange County in 100 + degree heat (he was bumped up to the 17 to 30 age group because there was no one else in his 16 and under class):

http://www.warriorssociety.org/events/2006_24_hour_results.html

He is also a multi-time finisher of the Vision Quest and the youngest member of the Warrior’s Society “Dog Soldiers,” made up of our most accomplished riders / Trail volunteers and the highest honor below club elder that a club member can achieve within the club.

Matt did great at his first two races, placing 5th out of 45 riders at both:

http://www.ucbulldogs.com/article/861.php

http://www.ucbulldogs.com/article/860.php

http://www.ucbulldogs.com/article/852.php

http://www.ucbulldogs.com/roster/6/18/4875.php

We are so proud of Matt; he is an example that our young people do give back and are capable of great things.

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org