Courtesy MTF

Equestrian group enjoys the newly-opened Bella Vista Trail on the Nesbitt property just east of the Greenwell Preserve.

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For those who frequent any of about three dozen trails in the Santa Barbara, Montecito and Summerland area, coming up on September 12 you’ll have an opportunity to thanks those who’ve spent the past 45 years taking care of most every trail in Santa Barbara’s First Supervisorial District.

This year Montecito Trails Foundation will be celebrating another year of successful trail work at Hal and Mary Coffin’s Montecito Valley Ranch. Entrance to the ranch is at the corner of Sheffield Drive and Ortega Hill Road. Mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, equestrians and anyone else who’d like to support MTF’s trail efforts are invited to enjoy a day at the ranch.

Courtesy MTF

Overlook at the upper end of the Toro Canyon Ridge Trail recently re-opened by MTF.

Starting at 9AM rides and hikes will be led by MTF trail guides, followed by music, entertainment, a silent auction and topping it off, tri-tip and chicken BBQ set against the spectacular Santa Ynez Mountain background.

Cost for the event is $40 for MTF members ($45 after September 4) or $50 for non-members. Children 12 and under may attend for $15. For those who would like to show an additional level of support, MTF suggests sponsoring a table for 8 at $320 or joining in the silent auction. Items being auctioned off include an overnight at San Ysidro Ranch, an original painting by Katie Upton, season pass to Night Moves, a Specialized mtn bike and three nights in the woods at Mammoth among many others.

Ray Ford

When huge flooding caused severe trail damage in Winter 2005, MTF was there to rebuild the trails within days. Here crew workers begin to dig out the lower part of Cold Spring Trail.

MTF President John Venable notes that thanks to continued support from its members, the organization was able to open two new trails — the new Bella Vista and Banner trails in Summerland — and re-open the upper and lower Toro Canyon Ridge trails in Carpinteria and the Ennisbrook Butterfly Trail and Monument trails in Montecito. In addition to these MTF maintained or improved 24 other trails in the Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria areas this year.

MTF’s ability to perform this trail magic is simple: thanks to the more than 1,000 members who contribute $25 each year in dues, donations and BBQ fund raisers like this, MTF is able to raise the funds needed to hire the crews and get the trail work done that our local agencies are no longer able to do.

For ticket information to the BBQ, or to become a member of MTF, please call 969-3514 or visit the MTF website.

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