Trekker News September 2022
The Girl Scouts lead a “leave no trace” hike during the May Hillside Festival, which included the singing of scout songs. Photo by Dave Weinstein
Join us for our Girls Scouts Sing-along Hike. This will be a musical hike up and down Motorcycle Hill. El Cerrito Girl Scout Troop 33283 will lead and teach favorite camp songs and share scouting traditions. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Be prepared for a steep climb up the hill. Families and all ages encouraged to attend. Boys too. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
This is a particularly appealing hike for families with children. A version of this hike during the Hillside Festival in May was a delight. Meet at the bottom of Motorcycle Hill, between 1636 Navellier and 7255 Blake on Sunday, September 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Alan Siegel’s hikes focusing on the use of plants for food, medicine and other purposes have proved popular. Photo by Dave Weinstein
Plant walking: A Healing Ritual. Alan Siegel, a volunteer docent with the East Bay Regional Park District’s Tilden Botanic Garden, will teach us to identify edible and medicinal plants in the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area. Alan’s variants of this hike have proved immensely popular among Trail Trekker hikers.
We will learn interesting stories about how native plants have been used over the centuries and currently for food, medicine, and crafts by Indigenous peoples and cultures world-wide. A fall harvest theme with some focus on acorns, nuts, and berries. Sunday, September 25, 10 a.m. to noon, Schmidt Lane trailhead of the Hillside Natural Area, 7501 Schmidt Lane.
Members of Friends Five Creeks and Trekkers joined together for this broom pull a few years back in the Hillside Natural Area. Photo by Susan Schwartz
Improve habitat in the Hillside Natural Area with Friends of Five Creeks. Thanks to years of work, the oak groves and meadows of the southern, 75-acre portion of the El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area are no longer choked with thickets of French broom, crowding out natives and waiting to explode into fire. Re-sprouts from seeds, though, still keep us busy.
“We'll have fun pulling out broom bushes with big orange levers! There is light work, too,” she promises. Join Friends of Five Creeks from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p, on Saturday, September. 24, on an up-and-down walk with lovely views, to a broom pulling site.
“You can learn a lot about the area's varied native plants and wildlife along the way,” leader Susan Schwartz says.Because of slopes and poison oak, this event is best for ages 10 and up. As always, we supply tools, gloves, and snacks. Bring water and wear sun protection, long pants, long sleeves, socks, and closed-toed shoes with good traction. Avoid fuzzy clothing that catches seeds.
Questions welcome, RSVPs appreciated, and large groups please ask at f5creeks@gmail.com .
Meet at the chained service road that heads downhill just after the turn onto Regency Court. For online navigation, use 1531 Regency Court (private home next to service road).
California Coastal Clean-up Day at Baxter Creek Gateway Park, Saturday, September 17, 2022. In addition to the regular monthly Baxter Creek work party, the city is sponsoring this event for Coastal Cleanup Day.
Join your fellow community member volunteers in protecting the waters of Baxter Creek, San Francisco Bay and the California Coast by removing litter from entering the storm drains in this annual pre-rainy season event.
Participants from all along the California Coast will be working together on this day to clean-up and prevent trash from polluting the Pacific Ocean. Participants should wear sturdy closed-toed shoes. All volunteers under 17 years of age are required to have completed a waiver with a parent or guardian’s signature.
9 a.m. to noon, Baxter Creek Gateway Park, San Pablo Avenue entrance
For information: 510-559-7685
Tom Pulsifer, the man in the hat, attended many Trekker hikes, including this edible plants walk earlier this year. Photo by Dave Weinstein
Trekkers mourns the loss of Tom Pulsifer. Tom, an active Trekker who attended many of our hikes and broom pulls, passed away suddenly late last month after a very brief illness. A memorial was held at Sunset View Cemetery.
Tom was a man of many accomplishments: an administrative law judge for the California Public Utilities Commissions whose decisions always emphasized fairness and served as models for others, a student of history, a gifted storyteller and performer with Stagebridge, the author and performer of a one-man play that explored unexpected dimensions of the Donner Party saga, and a fine dancer. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Tom’s wife, Melissa Hobbs, is a member of Trekkers’ board.
Buy our El Cerrito Trail Map. The second edition of this map is available at three stores, Jenny K , Builders Booksource on Fourth Street in Berkeley, and Pegasus books on Solano Avenue.
Or you can buy a map from us or get one “free” by joining Trail Trekkers. Send $6 for a map to our treasurer, Pam Austin, 834 Kearny St., EC, 94530
Have you renewed your membership? It only costs $20 annually to belong to Trekkers, and $500 buys a life membership. Please renew now or join by going to our website and downloading the membership form.
And consider an additional donation as well. Funds go for trail work, to install trail signs, for a fund to purchase additional open space, as well as incidental expenses. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Trekkers thanks new and renewing members and donors:
Ellen and Herb Brosbe
John Ferreira and Mary Nelson
Melissa Hobbs
Lorraine Shiraki
Brittany Smith
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers board of directors:
Dave Weinstein, president, davidsweinstein@yahoo.com
Wade Huntley, vice president
Barbara Lass, secretary barbara.lass@att.net
Pam Austin, treasurer, paustin26@yahoo.com
Clare Sheridan, member at large, claresher@gmail.com
Melissa Hobbs, member at large, melma39@yahoo.com
