The trail work event was organized by the Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMTV) and the Multi-Use Trails Coalition (MTC) in partnership with the Los Padres National Forest, and the City and County of Santa Barbara.

At the sign up tent volunteers were greeted by sponsors David Troutner and Piper Presely of the new REI store and handed REI (full) waterbottles, REI wicking tshirts, coffee from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and snacks provided by SBMTV and Trader Joes. Volunteers where also counted for the post work BBQ lunch provided by the Santa Barbara Chicken Ranch.

Los Padres Ranger Kerry Kellogg and event organizers instructed the day’s participants on proper tool use and the safety protocols needed for the day. Volunteers where then assigned to trail crew leaders, picked up their tools, and headed out for the trail work.

Stringing out along both lower Jesusita Trail and lower Tunnel Trail, crew leaders and trail crews cut back the encroaching brush to allow users easier passage on the trail and improved sightlines up and down the trail. In preperation for the winter, volunteers also cleaned out and improved the erosion control structures that direct water off the trail to reduce that erosion.

Local volunteer “Blackie” and his mule made rounds on both trails providing water and gator-aid to the hard working volunteers. The Jesusita trail crew was comprised of an incredible showing of about twenty volunteers from the Santa Barbara High “Green Club” – and Jesusita trail is much better for it!

At 2pm the volunteers re-assembled down at the Mission Rose Gardens for a free and much needed BBQ lunch.

Special thanks goes out to the day’s crew leaders (Kerry, Dave, Ryan, Noah, Josh, Doug, Damon, Joe, and Jed), the lunch setup (Paul, the Millers), the REI crew, and all the day’s volunteers!

National Public Lands Day is one of three yearly large trail work events in the Santa Barbara area that are incorporated into the monthly trail work schedule. See www.sbmtv.org for future events.

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