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Hello !
Congratulations on surviving the hectic holiday season! Whether you’re feeling stressed or relaxed, there is a trail for you to reflect on the past and prepare for the new year.
Come spend some time on your favorite trails, and meet the fresh batch of interns working in the Golden Gate National Parks. The Golden Gate Trail Crew has tons of diverse projects planned, and we would love to receive your help in keeping our backyard parks healthy and beautiful!
Keep reading to learn about past and future projects.
In This Issue
Last Month: Voluneers Dig for Hidden Treasure in Tennesse Valley
New Year, New Crew
Lunchtime Talk
Last Month: Voluneers Dig for Hidden Treasure in Tennesse Valley
In March 1853, in the midst of heavy fog over the Pacific Ocean, a large ship was at sea looking for the Golden Gate. The captain, surprised by the sudden view of the cliffs, decided to steer the vessel toward a small cove which we know today as Tennessee Cove.
All 550 passengers managed to get off the SS Tennessee and rescue 14 chests of gold, before it was battered and broken by the powerful swells of the Pacific. It is rumored that ruins of the ship are still visible at low tide—and there might even be some hidden treasure in the valley.
On December 16 a group of volunteers met the Trail Stewardship Crew on a sunny, 60-degree day. With tamping bars and post-hole diggers in hand, the seven volunteers spread 8 feet apart along the Upper Tennessee Valley Trail and began digging.
Like pirates, they dug through dirt and rock, 2.5 feet down into the earth. Between the grunting noises of 16-pound metal bars being heaved into the ground was the laughter of volunteers, fantasizing about discovering gold.
The volunteers buried 6-foot-high redwood beams into the holes, and later attached 9-foot-long cedar railings that will help guide park visitors along the trail, preventing soil erosion and protecting wildlife habitat.
And although no gold was discovered that day, we thank everyone who helped in protecting another vital area of the Golden Gate National Parks.
This month, the Trail Construction and Maintenance Crews have been split up across the park, performing a variety of tasks. The Trail Construction Crew has been doing some fine rock work along Ben Johnson Trail. Using power carriers to move materials, the crew worked together to position large rocks so that they fit alongside one another. They tackled the project like a game of Tetris, always thinking two moves ahead and strategically placing the oddly shaped rocks so that they withstand natural and human impact.
The Special Ops Crew has been working near Upper Fisherman’s Parking Lot, reinstalling box steps and a stringer staircase leading to Black Sands Beach. A couple miles north of them, the Redwood Creek Crew was working in Muir Woods, hauling materials for trail maintenance and sign installation.
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| Katie Teschler leads volunteers in the construction of split-rail fence |
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Volunteers dig 2.5-foot-deep holes for the
new fence post |
New Year, New Crew
After graduating high school, Nina Wala decided to take on a year of State and National AmeriCorps with Habitat for Humanity as a construction lead. Nina packed up her car and drove from Michigan to Georgia. Once this service ended she signed up for a 10-month term with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). She then headed to Sacramento, where the service year would start.
After serving on a team of 12, traveling to four different states, and working with several nonprofits, Nina decided to look into more programs and opportunities on the beautiful West Coast. Nina soon heard of an opportunity with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and knew this was an opportunity that couldn't be passed up.
Most people don’t believe Nina is from Michigan because even in sunny 65-degree weather, she tends to be bundled up. Nina enjoys photography, taking surfboards to the beach but not surfing, playing with dogs, and exploring the bay.
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Nina Wala
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Growing up outside Washington D.C., Winston Ernst soon became tired of city life and often found refuge in the forest behind his house. He went for hikes regularly and played among the rapids of small tributaries to the Anacostia and Potomac watersheds.
Eventually, Winston made it all the way up to the headwaters of the Potomac River, where he studied Adventure Sports Management. Though he had always loved the outdoors, he fell in love with the outdoors in the Appalachian Mountains. Eager to explore more mountain ranges and coastlines, Winston packed up his adventure gear and hit the road.
Settling down in Sacramento, he began a 10-month service program with AmeriCorps NCCC. He travelled to four states within the Pacific Region, receiving certifications and performing a variety of service projects—ranging from low-income tax assistance to chainsaw disaster response.
After a one-day visit to San Francisco earlier this year, Winston knew there was no place he would rather be than the beautiful Bay Area. He enjoys playing guitar and reading by the beach while dreaming of the next adventure.
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| Winston kayaking the Upper Klamath River. |
Construction and Maintenance Crew Interns
When Becca Rockefeller isn't building or maintaining trails, you'll often find her enjoying one. An East Coast native, this two-time SCA alum is enjoying her first experience out West with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. A lover of both wildlife and wildflowers, she is thrilled to get to know the Golden Gate National Parks and all its natural beauty.
Sam Stromberg traveled from Louisville, Kentucky, out to the West Coast to do some trail work. Samuel claims to be an open cryer in movies, a 4th-place medalist at the Catholic middle school boys citywide high-jump competition, and a Cancerian with Pisces tendencies. Sam enjoys the outdoors and being active.
Ernesto Botello hails from the sunny foothills of San Diego. He enjoys being outside and breathing fresh air. He hopes to continue working outdoors and connecting with the nature around him.
Kelsey Garnett joins us from the Midwest, where he spent his time sipping tea and reading books because there isn't much to do there. He now enjoys long walks along the oceanside, taste-testing all the bakeries in the Mission, and is looking for love.
Phil Welsh is a native of Virginia. After working a suit-and-tie job in Washington, D.C. for several years, he woke up one day ready for a change. This fall he served in the Utah Conservation Corps, mostly working in the national parks of southern Utah. Afterwards, he loaded up his car once again and made the drive out to California to work for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. In his spare time, he likes going to concerts, exploring, and watching movies.
Lunchtime Talk
Whether you are in the office or on the trails, lunchtime talk with your crew can be some of the most interesting and intellectual conversations. Lunchtime naps were once a thing, but since there's a new crew working alongside the National Park Service (NPS) staff, we find ourselves wanting to get to know each other rather than catch a quick snooze.
Becca and Kelsey often find themselves listening to NPS staff member Monte’s obsession with the animated Ewok movie “Caravan of Courage” from 1984. It sounds as if it is a one-way conversation.
Winston and Nina have had several intense conversations, including one with NPS staff member Bridget, discussing how many blankets they use at night and how many they dream they could use one day.
They’ve also discussed pet peeves. Winston, Nina, and Parks Conservancy staff members Katie and Jaclyn agree that they dislike when people in grocery stores squeeze avocados so firmly that the avocado ends up with a thumbprint indent.
One day, Nina asked Winston if he wanted some salsa and chips. Winston responded with: “I do, but I really don’t want to get salsa on my knuckles.”
Phil and the rest of his crew would rather listen to classical and bollywood music than converse.
Ernesto and Sam have had very intellectual debates with NPS staff member Cooper about whether it takes the same force to bite through a carrot as it does to bite through your pinky finger. The attempts to prove who is right and who is wrong are still pending.
We will leave these amazing conversation starters and questions to take with you to your next “Lunchtime Talk” session.
Thank you for reading this January issue of the Trail Stewardship Newsletter. We wish you a happy new year, and hope you can come out and celebrate with us on one of our upcoming volunteer programs. Stay tuned for more events and opportunities.
All the very best and happy trails,
Katie, Jaclyn, Nina, and Winston
kteschler@parksconservancy.org
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
MLK Day of Service
January 15
9 am–Noon
Fort Funston Sand Ladder Replacement
Drop-in
January 20
10 am–1 pm
Lands End Coastal Trail Maintenance
Teens on Trails
January 27
10am - 1pm
Balboa Step Maintenance
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