Friday, Jan. 15, 2010

WildLink Club upgrades trails

Students refurbish more than 100 yards of walking trails at state park

A biting cold at Pacheco State Park on Dec. 5 didn't slow down 12 high school students, all members of the WildLink program.

During the five hours the students were at the park they refurbished about 130 yards of trail that WildLink students put in last year and created more than 100 yards of new trail. They also set six new metal trail sign posts in concrete.

"For as cold as it was, they did really well," said California State Parks Worker 1 Curtis Climer.

Students attending the work day were WildLink Club members from Turlock and Pitman high schools.

According to its Web site, WildLink, a partnership between the Yosemite Institute, Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, the Sierra Nevada Wilderness Education Project, the Sequoia Natural History Association and the National Forests of the Sierra "gives underserved teens a series of wilderness- and home-based experiences that will empower them to better their own lives as well as their communities; and to ensure that the diverse California citizenry is informed, invested and committed to the enduring resource of Wilderness."

According to Turlock High School WildLink co-ordinator Ryan Hollister, the students had a great time helping the park create a path that will be used for many generations of visitors to come.

"The park is quite beautiful this time of year and supports mountain biking as one of the main activities along its trails," Hollister wrote in an e-mail. "This park should be a highly recommended stop for those looking to escape valley fog to enjoy a diversity of wildlife among the huge oak trees that dot the park."

Climer, who co-ordinated the project at Pacheco State Park, said another work day is being planned for the end of March.