2011 Officers Issue 11 NOVEMBER 2011

PRESIDENT / STATE REP Stacy Kuhns (909) 633-1705 stacykuhns@aol.com VICE-PRESIDENT Audrey Turpin (951) 852-1708 upacreekranch@netzero.net SECRETARY Anne York (951) 662-2928 anne@starfiredesignstudio.com TREASURER Michael Lewis (951) 760-9255 mike@stumblinlranch.com NEWSLETTER EDITOR & WEBMASTER Rhonda Strickland (951) 951-522-8757 redshank.webmaster@gmail.com

NEWSLETTER CO-EDITOR Stacy Kuhns EDUCATION CO-CHAIRS Allison Renck (951) 763-0374 Ali9591@aol.com Tom Firth (951) 551-9711 lecil_hadley@hotmail.com PUBLIC LANDS Stacy Kuhns (909) 633-1705 stacykuhns@aol.com TRAIL COMMITTEE Allison Renck (951) 763-0374 Ali9591@aol.com MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR / HISTORIAN Carol Schmuhl (951) 767-1061 Ifeedemandleadem@aol.com RIDE COMMITEE Cathy Firth, Robyn Prinzing, Sandi Korman, Teri Pirillo ADOPT A HIGHWAY Tim Turpin (951) 852-1708 upacreekranch@netzero.net

Hi Guys

The membership drive event will be in November at Fobes Ranch. The date is Sunday November 13th . Come in on Saturday afternoon for some other things we have planned. Be there or be square.

I attended the State Board Meeting in Visalia. All units did a presentation Saturday night to tell what they have accomplished.. Boy have we accomplished a lot this year. Our relationship with the agencies has been spectacular! We have been packing supplies in for multiple groups including the SCA( student conservation Agency) and the PCTA work parties. We also packed supplies in the scientist into Palm Canyon for the San Diego Natural History Museum . We have installed wire fence and 2 horse step thru gates with the Forestry Agency on Cahuilla Mountain to keep motorized vehicles out. We had 5 members get Cross Cut Saw Trained and Certified.

Riverside County Conservation Agency has worked with us and allowed us to install 3 horse step thru gates. They just acquired a section of property that extends our trail system into BLM Land where there are trail systems in place. We are waiting on getting the signage necessary to mark the trails on BLM Beauty Mountain Wilderness. We have met several times and they are now calling us to assist them. We received over $2500.00 in trail tools and pack gear from BLM.

Over the past 5 years we have been working with Riverside County directly and got them the horse trails in our areas that we would like to on the general plan maps. The project is now on hold, due to budget cuts, but it is now on their trail bi-monthly meeting agenda that we have been attending. The lesson learned is we have been communicating better with the agencies and it has been is paying off. The agencies are now looking at us for assistance. We have a better attitude throughout our unit now regarding Co-ordination with the agencies. It is awesome! That is quite a list isn’t it.. Congrats to all of the volunteers in our group that has made this all possible..

To everyone planning on attending our Anza Borrego work party. Recently Ben York passed away. His memorial service will be held on November 5th at

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11 AM at Church of Christ, 5150 Jackson Dr, La mesa Ca. We will curtail our work party on that Saturday for those wishing to attend the service and resume on Sunday with whatever we don't get done on the preceding Friday. San Diego unit will lead a memorial service of our own at Anza Borrego that Saturday for those who cannot attend the La Mesa service.

Mike Lewis installed a gate on the north side of Cahuilla to assist the Forestry to help keep motorcycles off the mountain. Thanks Mike.

The November monthly meeting will be at the little red school house at 7pm on 10th. The Board meeting will be at 5 pm at the 371 Diner followed by the event committee at 6pm also at the Diner. We will have a speaker at the meeting, Chip Herzig.

Life’s short, ride often!!! It’ll keep ya sane. Cya on the trails, Stacy

*For your convenience, all board members contact information is on the 1st page of each newsletter

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Federal Court Upholds National Roadless Rule – Sportsmen Celebrate Conservation Victory Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 1:52 PM

Decision by appeals court resolves uncertainty regarding 2001 rule, safeguards the prime habitat provided by inventoried roadless lands.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

WASHINGTON --(Ammoland.com)- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today commended a decision by the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals that reinstated the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule as the law governing 49 million acres of inventoried roadless areas located on the nation’s national forests and grasslands.

The ruling overturned a lower district court’s decision enjoining the 2001 rule in August 2008 and resolved uncertainty about federal management of roadless areas across America. The so-called “roadless rule” is a multiple-use national forest management regulation that was designed to limit road building and timber harvest on undeveloped public lands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The rule determines the management of all national forest roadless areas outside of Idaho.

“Today’s decision affirmed the value of backcountry areas in sustaining healthy and secure habitat for fish and wildlife – something hunters and anglers have known for years,” said Joel Webster, director of the TRCP Center for Western Lands. “Sound roadless conservation policies safeguard big-game habitat security, productive trout and salmon fisheries and our sporting traditions. The 2001 roadless rule is a strong mechanism for conserving America’s backcountry recreational activities and outdoor heritage.”

The TRCP has mobilized a broad cross-section of sportsmen, conservationists and recreationists supporting conservation of roadless areas and the outdoor opportunities they foster. For purposes of the rule, roadless areas are defined as contiguous blocks of backcountry public land that are 5,000 acres or larger and do not have improved roads. While access is important to sportsmen, densely roaded areas have been shown to negatively affect elk and deer behavior, reproduction and survival and consequently hunter opportunity.

Excessive, poorly located roads contribute to increased sediment loads in waterways that are important to wild trout and salmon, thereby diminishing the number and size of fish. “We appreciate the dedication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in upholding this popular land management policy,” said TRCP President and CEO Whit Fosburgh, “and we applaud the court’s decision as one made in the absolute best interest of our public-lands fish and wildlife populations and outdoor recreation.

“As the 2011 fall hunting season continues, sportsmen have reason to celebrate backcountry conservation,” continued Fosburgh. “Whether they’re hunting the West Big Hole of Montana, the northern Blue Range of New Mexico or backcountry lands in Vermont’s White Mountains, public-land hunters across the nation will benefit from the court’s thoughtful decision for generations to come.”

Learn more about the TRCP’s work in support of roadless area conservation. Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

Submitted by Stacy Kuhns ~ information forwarded from BCHA. The roadless areas have been a controversial subject for years.

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Redshank Riders Oct 13, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Location: 371 Diner

Meeting began at 7:02 pm

18 Attendees/ 2 guests: Cheryl Brandes & Sophia Salazar (new member)

Anne read the minutes from Sept. Audrey moved to accept with one correction. Robyn 2nd .

Treasurers Report: : Mike reported for both July and August. Expenses included website hosting/maintenance and the purchase of our new trailer. Ending balance: $4594.47

Membership Report: 127 total - 17 expiring. We hope to add more at the Treasure Hunt.

Trail Development & Maintenance:

Mike reported that RCA has acquired 40 acre property that connects to the BLM. We have one more gate to install. Stacy reported that at the south entrance to the Cahuilla trails we installed a gate and wire fence. We still need to install a gate on the north side. We will be decaling them with our RSR logo. Mike would like to schedule a Packing clinic for January 15th to be held at his house. There will be no charge and it is for BCHA members only.

Adopt a Highway: October 30th Mobile station 8am ~ next date TBA

Public Lands: No report

Education: No report

Newsletter: Tails of the Trail” one the contest for the name of our newsletter. Thanks Bob!

Historian: No report

Unfinished Business: Mike found us a 6’ x 6’ x 12’ single axle trailer. Pines to Vines project is on “hold” but it is still on their agenda to review the mapping

New Business: None Noted

Rides:

Treasure Hunt Nov 13th -looking for volunteers, need barbeques, cooks, trail support, set-up, easy ups. October 23rd - ride out of Robyn & Bob’s 9am Ron & Sandy reported that the September Ramona Trail ride went well - 7 attended.

Robyn reminded us that the coming Saturday will be a work party for the upcoming BuckSnort Challenge Endurance Ride in Chihuahua Valley and they would be borrowing our new tools for trail work.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:10 pm

Unit Meeting

Thursday, on Nov. 10th 7:00 pm

Next meeting @ the 371 Diner Hwy 371, Anza

Chip Herzig will be our speaker

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The Spirit of Volunteers Story submitted by Audrey Turpin ~ Photos by Michael Lewis

Well, I’m sure you all have read Mike Lewis’s Packers Corner. He tells of helping assorted organizations packing in supplies and equipment for them. He always is willing to invite members to ride with him and help. Last Sunday Tim and I took him up on it. Morning dawned early, ok extremely early. We were to meet Mike at Humber Park in Idyllwild at the Devils Slide Trailhead at 7:30 am. That means getting up at 5 to feed the horses and load and get our butts up there. Mike’s good friend Dan Sullivan is there with his 3 mules and Mike has his great little palomino mare Mini to lead off along with great looking mules Dusty and Dandy. I’m riding my 5 year old filly Jessie AKA the Ghost and Tim is trying out

my regular riding horse Tanner. Mike has packed in gear for the Trail Gorillas last Wednesday and today we are packing them out. Now the Trail Gorillas are a volunteer organization made up of people who spend they’re spare time literally working clearing OUR trails in OUR parks and wilderness areas. Mother Nature can make short work knocking trees and boulders into the trails. They have been up there for 5 days smashing 20,000 pound boulders with sledge hammers that have been blocking the trails. This is called the simple term rock work. Also, they have cross cut huge trees and roll them off the trails. Trail Gorillas is an understatement. Remember no mechanized equipment is allowed up there this is done all by muscle and hand tools. Saddled, we start heading up the famed Devils Slide Trail 2 miles of steep, climbing (sometimes a little more narrow for my taste) switch backs with gorgeous views of the Hemet

Valley and Diamond Valley Lake. We ride through pine, oaks and some beautiful country. Its amazing this is in our own back yard. The animals handle it fine not noticing some of the sheer drops off the side. Mike and Dan’s stock are sure footed and climb at a steady pace. Jessie does not have much trail experience but she’s learning the ropes quickly not getting in a hurry and picking her way through. And Tanner well he is being Tanner. All in all a perfect fall day, great company and an exciting trail. We are riding to the Desert Divide Trail. We get to the top of the saddle now and have 3 more miles in through meadow, trees, granite rocks and some small streams. If I did not know better I swear we were in the Sierras. An easy ride we first meet up with Edgar Gonzalez a young man who is one of the Trail Gorillas. He started to hike out after his 5 days carry a cross cut. We say our howdies and continue on. Next we come out to two older gentlemen Pete Fish and Lawrence Stiles. They are both carrying a crosscut saw and a Pulaski. Even on

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their way out these tough guys are still working. They are going to cut one more log that was laying over the trail. They ask Mike if on our way back if he could pick up the Pulaski and bring it out. “ Sure, leave by the tree and we’ll grab it on the way out!” Mike replies. Soon we come into the Trail Gorillas camp. Looking behind it we see the Palm Desert. We rode over the top of the San Jacinto Mountains. Whoo Hoo! In camp we meet Lyle Bolter and Richard Leahy. Now these are not young men. No offense guys but they have hike up here worked a hard 5 days and now going to hike out. I’m impressed. Oh yeah all this for fun.!! They have all the gear and tools lined up and ready to pack out. Dan and Mike make short work loading up odd loads of shovels, sledge hammers, wedges ,chains, cables, food, and back packs. The mules calmly and quietly take the packs with no fuss or bother. Tim and I practice our knots and help check the loads for weight and balance. As soon as we have the mules loaded Lyle and Richard bid us good-bye and starts on the way down. We finish tying down the manties, mount up and head down the trail. The animals settle in and I

watch the swaying loads going down the mountain. Cool deal!! A little down the trail we come across the log Pete and Lawrence cut and removed off the trail and we pick up the remaining Pulaski. Mike slips it in one of the mule’s loads over the top and perfectly rebalances the load and off we go again. Soon we come upon 3 girls and 2 horses. The day before they were riding and one of the girls slipped her bridle of her mare to graze and the mare took off. Now she was missing and they were looking for her. Two days and no sign of her. The mountains are no place to put your guard down. We wished them luck and promise to keep on eye open for her. It’s hard to imagine what could happen and this is big place to look for a horse who could be anywhere. I hope they find her and nobody gets hurt or lost while doing it. Soon we are at the crest and riding back down the Devils Slide. Going down hill presents its different challenges but

all the animals handle it well. Jess had to learn how to negotiate slippery rocks and to slow down. Now it was later n the day we encounter many more back packers. With narrow trail they have to move aside for the pack animals so it is safe for all involved. Most of the hikers are not familiar with horse and mules. Mike is patient and explains where to stand out of the way. Also we always say hello so the hikers say hi back and the stock realize they are humans and not strange humpback animals out to eat them. At the bottom we ride back into the trail head to the trailers. We unsaddle, unload, water the stock and get the gear back to the Trail Gorillas. They have not been waiting long. Pete Fish is driving back to Ventura. We all have a cold one together and thanks have been said. What a wonderful day. Thanks to volunteers like the Trail Gorillas and our Packers who give their time, knowledge, muscle, use of their equipment and animals we have open trails to ride and hike in. Thank You.

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Are YOU Interested in volunteering to help keep OUR unit achieving its goals by being on the board? Our elections are right around the corner. We would like to know who is interested in helping out. We will put together a slate of officers so it can be voted on at the December meeting. It is a great way to give back. Thanks, Stacy

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBER: Cheryl Brandes

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H O P E to S E E Y O U T H E R E

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Feds Scan North County for Wilderness Areas Reprinted from Sign On San Diego Written by Mike Lee Sept. 16,2011 One of the nation's top public land officials is visiting San Diego County on Saturday to assess a potential wilderness area in the backcountry. It's a signal that more North County land could receive the nation's highest form of safeguards against development.

As part of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s efforts to support local conservation efforts, deputy Secretary David

Nov 10—RSR unit general meeting @ Little Red Schoolhouse Nov 11-19—PCTA Work Party at Tule Springs Nov 13 - RSR TTH—Membership Drive/Ride @ Fobes Ranch Dec 4—RSR Christmas Party Ride TBA

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Our membership drive/ride aka

The Turkey Treasure Hunt

will be on Sunday, November 13th, 2011

@ Fobes Ranch.

(See the event flyer on page 7.)

Sad news to report: Recently Ben York passed away. For those that knew him his memorial service will be held on November 5th at 11 AM at Church of Christ, 5150 Jackson Dr, La Mesa Ca.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Did you know that if you are looking for a BCHC form you can download them from www.BCHCalifornia.org? From the home page click on the FORMS link from the right hand menu. Below are a just a few of the forms available. BCHC Membership Application

Awards and Deadlines Education Award (due Feb. 1st) Volunteer Hours Report

Saddle Bag Version of the Volunteer Hour Report

Unit Directors Vol. Hours Collection Form(pending new version)

How to Report Volunteer Hours Tutorial

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RedShank Riders

BCHC

P.O. BOX 383

Aguanga, Ca 92536

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