Happy Trails

This morning Emily and I spoke with Tash Ahlstrand, transportation Planner for Caltrans District 1. The Pacific Coast Bike Route or PCBR, now 40 years old is bike route that spans the Pacific Coast from Canada To Mexico. Recently Caltrans initiated a study of PCBR users. Lots of great data was collected and many suggestions are in the process of being implemented. However, there was also some surprize date that was revealed. For example, 93% or PCBR riders go from north to south and the average age of PCBR riders is 43 years old.

This morning Jessica Hall and I spoke with Emily Benvie Environmental Programs Manager for Arcata. We spoke about the recent Request for Bid that went out to all contractors to construct the next phase of The Bay Trail between Arcata and Eureka. This phase will go from Arcata to Bracut Center (about half way). Emily also outlined progress on other trails such as the Ridge Trail and other.

This morning Emily and I spoke with Jeff Pimentel, Project Manager with Caltrans. We talked about the many safety projects on 4th and 5th street in Eureka, from a new signal at L Street, High Visibility Crosswalks, Intersection Bulbouts and more.

Today, Jessica Hall and I spoke with Joseph James, Transportation Manager of Yurok Tribe to talk about foot and water trails, and the new ferry (which just started service on Monday) among other things. This all in the midst of a fire emergency in the area.

This morning Emily Sinkhorn and I spoke with Mike Cherney, trail user, and Josh Smith of the Watershed Center about trails in Hayfork. There is already an extensive, if not well known system of trails in Hayfork, many of them historic. There is also substantial watershed trail development going on right now.

This morning I spoke with Emily Sinkhorn, Erin Kelly and Michael Kauffmann about the Bigfoot Trail. Emily and Erin spent about a month hiking this beautiful trail through some of the most stunning parts of the country.

Jessica Hall and I spoke with Kevin Hoover who just completed an many weeks hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. Kevin spoke of the trail culture and his adventures. He also talked about how he dealt with adversity when a medical issue cropped up with his foot.

Emily Sinkhorn and I speak with Marcella Clem, Executive Director of Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) which has initiated research and work towards a Draft Expenditure Plan for a potential transportation ballot measure. The tax would fund deferred road maintenance throughout the County as state funding for local jurisdictions has been drastically cut and gas-tax revenues have been depleted. This would be a .5% county sales tax and would be specifically earmarked for maintenance.

This morning Jessica Hall and I spoke with Miles Slattery, Director of Eureka Parks and Recreation about the Eureka Waterfront Trail. Phase A, from the end of the Hikshari Trail to Del Norte street has begun and should be completed by September of this year! Phases B & C all the way around the city of Eureka should be completed by sometime near the end of 2017 to the middle of 2018.

This morning new Happy Trails co-host Scott Machen and I spoke with Ali Osgood and Tom Phillips of the Redwood Coast Mountain Bike Association. Ali is a board member, and a student of mine at HSU and Tom is the president of the organization. Today we spoke of their extensive work at Lacks Creek, and other trail projects, their upcoming Pines for Nonprofits event tomorrow at Mad River Brewery, and their July 30 Enduro event.

This morning Michael Kauffmann and I spoke with Scott Herriott about his passion for trails, the films he has made about trails (and Bigfoot) and his current project, the Bigfoot Trail.

This morning I spoke with new Happy Trails Co-Host Jessica Hall along with former KHUM DJ Mike Dronkers, both members of Friends of the Dunes. This morning we talked about the extensive trail system throughout the dunes. This is a treasure that is right in our own backyard that you may have overlooked.

This morning Happy Trails new Co-Host Michael Kauffmann and I talked with Ian Nelson up in Ashland Oregon about the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail, established back in the Johnson Administration stretches from Mexico to Canada along the pacific coast as the name implies. We talked about it's history, what it's like and volunteer Opportunities along the tail. More info at pcta.org

This morning Emily and I spoke with Natalie Arroyo, representing the Humboldt Trails Council and Hank Seemann, Deputy Director, Humboldt County Public Works about the upcoming Trails Summit. It will take place at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka on June 4th.

As we approach the beginning of our 10th year of Happy Trails we are moving into a new era. In addition to Emily Sinkhorn, we are joined by 3 more co-hosts, Jessica Hall, Michael Kauffman, and Scott Machen. Each new host brings their area of expertise to the table each week on KHUM's trail advocacy show.

This morning Emily and I spoke with Mike Foget, an engineer with SHN about progress on the Annie and Mary Rail Trail. This is a project that thus far has been 20 years in the making. Back in 2008, the North Coast Railroad Authority agreed in principle to the utilization of the corridor to create a multi use trail between Blue Lake and Arcata. The first phase will be in the city of Blue Lake itself. The next step will include funding for this phase and preliminary work on the next phase, Blue Lake to Glendale.

May is Bike Month, so this morning Emily and I talked with Mark Mueller and Justin Fricker about man of the events going on. There are regular Bike Kitchen and Rodeos, along with Bike to Work Day, the Humboldt Bike Challenge, part of the National Bike Challenge, Wheel In Wednesdays and so much more. More info at HumBike.org.

This morning Emily and I spoke with Kerry McNamee, Project Manager with the North Coast Regional Land Trust. This Sunday from 1pm to 5pm will be the Grand Opening of the Freshwater Nature Trail. Kerry explained that this is a project that was 10 years in the making, but real work on the trail began about a year ago. This trail includes a non-motorized boat launching facility and beautiful views along the path.

This morning Emily and I had Justus Ortega and Daniel Aslan in the KHUM studio us to talk about a studio they are doing at HSU about Biking & Exercise in the 65+ Population. The study deals with mussel efficiency. An earlier study showed that while muscle efficiency declines in the older population, it remains comparable to the younger population when running is the exercise. A new study is now looking at biking and strenuous exercise with devices such as elliptical machines. Anyone 65 and older, in good health who would like to participate in the study should contact Daniel Aslan at dha11@humboldt.edu.

This morning I spoke with Emily Sinkhorn who was on the road in Wyoming. She had just attended the National Safe Routes To School Conference in Columbus Ohio. The event was well attended and she shared some new ideas from other towns and that attended. She also talked about the trail system in central Ohio (mostly rails to trails and over 265 miles of trail between Cincinnati and Cleveland - the Ohio Erie Trail.