Urge ‘Big 5’ to Keep State Parks Open

The California state budget crisis continues: Negotiations, and therefore the fate of state parks, are under way among the “Big 5”—the Republican and Democratic leaders in the Assembly and the Senate and the Governor. Please help Save the Redwoods League and our partners urge them to seek a creative solution that will provide adequate revenue to keep our state parks open. Many of these parks contain redwoods that our members have helped to protect. Learn more and take action now. Photo: Mark Bult

New Google Map and Calendar of Activities, Events in Redwoods

Now it’s easier to show your support for California state redwood parks by visiting them! Plan your next outing in the redwoods using our new, interactive Google map and calendar of events and activities. The calendar covers things to do throughout the ranges of the coast redwood and giant sequoia in almost 40 parks. Search by date or region for fests, tours, seasonal highlights and more!

Walk Among Giants Photo Contest Deadline: July 23, 2009

Californians: Another way you can show your support for California state redwood parks is by entering Save the Redwoods League’s Walk Among Giants^SM Photo Contest. Help spotlight the beauty of redwood ecosystems—and the importance of protecting these natural treasures now and in the future. Enter the contest. Public voting from August 3 to September 7, 2009, at savetheredwoods.org/contest_vote will determine the contest winners.

Humboldt Redwoods Marathon Registration Giveaway

Save the Redwoods League members: E-mail us and you could win free registration in the 31st Annual Humboldt Redwoods Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K! The League is a sponsor of the 9 a.m. Sunday, October 18, 2009, event along the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. We will award registration tickets to the first 10 people who e-mail their names and mailing addresses to webmaster@savetheredwoods.org by August 31, 2009. Registration is valued at $25-$55. Run among giants!

League-Sponsored Trip Inspires Winning Art

Noah Conklin, a student at Etna Elementary in Siskiyou County, California, is one of five national winners in the Scholastic Book Club’s 2009 drawing contest, which encouraged students to illustrate how they see themselves in the New Year. Conklin’s picture was inspired by his upcoming four-day class trip to the coast and the redwood forest, a trip that was partially funded through a League Education Grant. Our Education Program (PDF) connects people of diverse backgrounds to the redwood forest so they will know and want to protect these unique ecosystems.

Favorite Redwood Hike: Purisima Creek Trail, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, San Mateo County

In this recurring feature, our staff members and volunteers share their favorite places to experience redwoods.

Name and Title: Velma Gentzsch, Executive Assistant

Trailhead: Purisima Creek Trail at the eastern end of Purisima Creek Road. To get to this entrance from the intersections of Highways 92 and 1 in Half Moon Bay, travel south on Highway 1 for 3.5 miles. Turn left on Verde Road and travel a quarter mile. Continue straight on what becomes Purisima Creek Road for 3.7 miles to the small parking lot.

Difficulty/Distance: Easy if you stay on the mostly flat Purisima Creek Trail through the redwoods. This out-and-back hike is almost 4 miles one way.  For a more strenuous hike, take Purisima Creek Trail to Soda Gulch Trail, and return to the trailhead on Harkins Ridge Trail. This loop is 7 miles and climbs to more than 1,400 feet. Here’s a trail map (PDF).

Why I like it: On Purisima Creek Trail, you can go on a shady, quiet hike through the redwoods and along a pretty creek. If you climb to the ridgetop on Soda Gulch Trail, you’ll get sweeping views of the ocean or the clouds (see Featured Photo below). Summer is the time to see convergent lady bugs (pictured) that migrate to the coast to clump together for protection and to mate. Plus, a stop in downtown Half Moon Bay for a nice post-hike meal is always refreshing. Photo: Jared Zimmerman, Flickr Creative Commons.

Best time to visit: Anytime, but it’s hot in the summer and the creek crossings can be dangerous in the winter storm season.

More information on the Preserve

Featured Photo

An ethereal ridge in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve rises above the clouds on the western slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains overlooking Half Moon Bay. The preserve was established with a gift of $2 million from the Save the Redwoods League. Photo: Satosphere, Flickr Creative Commons.

Featured Favorite Redwood Memory

"A memory that stands out from 18 years of living among the redwoods is of a lovely summer picnic along the Van Duzen River in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. Our kids found a horizontal limb of a big leaf maple that was perfect to bounce on, then looked for frogs along the riverbank while my wife, June, and I relaxed in the shade and enjoyed the warmth of the afternoon. I still remember the perfect blue of the sky above the green of the forest. It was one of the happiest days of my life."

— Frank, member since 2003

PS

• Looking for a unique wedding gift? Dedicate a redwood tree or grove. Check out our newest, free e-cards—for weddings and anniversaries.
• League members and friends last month enjoyed learning about plants in a League-sponsored tour of the Cape Vizcaino property we protected. Watch this space for future League sponsored events.
• Read about our Executive Director, Ruskin Hartley, in the June 2009 article "Forest for the Trees" in Town & Country magazine.