S P R I N G - S U M M E R
O F T H E B A Y
Two Trails Open This Spring: Dias Ridge and Fernandez Ranch
The previous Dias Ridge Trail, an old ranch road, has been decommissioned (left); the new multiuse trail (right) offers the same breathtaking views. Photo
courtesy of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
T
rail enthusiasts have been anx-
iously awaiting the opening of
two new exciting Ridge Trail
segments: on Dias Ridge in Marin
County and at Fernandez Ranch in
Contra Costa County. Be among the
first to use these trails—join us at the
dedications on May 8 and June 5!
Dias Ridge
Twenty years in the works, the
rerouted Dias Ridge Trail, linking the
Miwok Trail and Highway 1 at Muir
Beach, is set to open on May 8. The
3.1-mile multiuse trail offers the same
unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean
and Marin Headlands as the previ-
ous trail, but now provides a safer and
more enjoyable hiking, biking, and
horseback-riding experience. This new
route will eventually connect to the
Map by Ben Pease.
2 0 1 0
A R E A R I D G E
scenic Coastal View Trail, becoming
the new Ridge Trail corridor between
the Miwok Trail and Pantoll.
Erosion from the former trail—a
steep, heavily eroded ranch road—had
deposited sediment into Redwood
Creek, home to the endangered coho
salmon and threatened steelhead trout,
and the gullies also created a safety
hazard. Protecting the creek habitat
was a priority, so the long restoration
planning process combined perspec-
tives from trail and natural resource
advocates, and the trail was ulti-
mately designed to minimize natural
resource impacts.
Built by California State Parks,
the National Park Service, and the
Golden Gate National Parks Con-
servancy, the trail traverses Mt.
T R A I L C O U N C I L
Tamalpais State Park (1.6 miles) and
the Golden Gate National Recre-
ation Area (1.5 miles). The agencies
protected sensitive habitat by decom-
missioning 2.1 miles of the former trail
and restoring it to coastal scrub. Over
this past winter, youth from the North
Bay Conservation Corps planted
25,000 native plants on the old road,
grown by volunteers at the Marin
Headlands Native Plant Nursery.
The Ridge Trail Council provided
$385,000 to help fund the trail proj-
ect, utilizing Proposition 84 Coastal
Conservancy funds; the project also
received funding from the Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
and the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act.  
Ridge Trail Council Executive
Director Janet McBride says, “We
are thrilled to close this longstanding
multiuse Ridge Trail gap after so many
years of planning. Hikers, bikers, and
equestrians are fortunate to have a new
trail in such a magnificent setting.”
Three former Bay Area Ridge
Trail Council board members pro-
vided leadership on this long-term
project, for which we are grateful: the
late GGNRA Superintendent Brian
O’Neill, and Mill Valley residents Don
Herzog and Barbara Weitz.
Fernandez Ranch
The Ridge Trail Council started
planning the 1.4-mile multiuse
Ridge Trail through Fernandez Ranch
five years ago, when the Muir Heri-
tage Land Trust (MHLT) purchased
the 702-acre property near Hercules.
Ridge Trail Council Trail Steward
John Aranson led the trail design
work, a key piece of MHLT’s larger
effort to restore the ranch prop-
erty and open it to the public. On
National Trails Day, the land
trust will welcome the public to
Fernandez Ranch.
The ranch’s steep, rolling hills,
historically used for grazing, contain
mixed woodlands, seasonal wetlands,
and a stretch of Rodeo Creek, home
to the endangered red-legged frog.
Because the creek had severely eroded
over time due to road and railroad
construction upstream, MHLT focused
its efforts on restoring the creek cor-
ridor, as well as building trails and
creating a staging area. The restora-
tion was a tremendous undertaking,
with heavy machinery used to recon-
tour the creek corridor.
Although many specialty contrac-
tors worked on the project, volunteers
played a big role. For example, last
June, on National Trails Day, Volun-
teers for Outdoor California organized
150 volunteers to rough-cut one mile
of the Ridge Trail (in two days) on
some of the ranch’s steepest terrain.
Aranson also helped MHLT design
and build an additional two miles
of new multiuse trail that links to
the Ridge Trail, creating a loop trail.
Construction ended with the exciting
installation of a 156-foot-long bridge
across Rodeo Creek, which was low-
ered into position by a
giant crane.
To complete the
restoration, MHLT is
installing more than
10,000 plants and
trees, mostly cultivated
from seeds collected
Continued on page 3
Upper left: Volunteers participate in the Dias Ridge
restoration effort by planting seedlings. Photo by
Tom Boss. Lower right: Trail workers at Fernan-
dez Ranch. Photo by Steve Hutchcraft.
­ THE VIEW FROM HERE
COUNCIL NEWS
Circumnavigators Hike the Ridge Trail Loop
The trend is growing: every year we meet more people who have challenged
themselves to hike every dedicated Ridge Trail segment. Not only are these hikers
out on the trail, but many of them are also enthusiastically sharing their adven-
tures on the internet!
Meet Jim Keener, aka JJ, short for Joyful Jim. His website, ridgetrailhiker.com,
chronicles his “trail tales” and tells how he came to hike the Ridge Trail: “Some
years ago I began to walk to lose weight—about three blocks a day. That went up
to a half-hour a day. And then I read Colin Fletcher’s The Complete Walker and
took up backpacking. In 2003 I summited Mount Shasta, and in 2004 I hiked
from the Mexican Border to Lake Tahoe on the Pacific Crest Trail.” It’s not sur-
prising that when walking the Ridge Trail near his home in Oakland he decided
to take on the challenge of hiking the entire route, and to date has logged 75
miles. Reflecting on the trail, Jim says, “I think the idea of the Bay Area Ridge
Trail is inspired. My neighbors and I value the trail and are aware of our good for-
tune of having it near us.”
The Ridge Hikers are a group of thirteen people and two dogs who describe
themselves as “a group of friends and family who are hiking together for fun, fit-
ness, and learning more about the trails and geography of our beautiful Bay Area.”
They completed their first circumnavigation between October 2004 and May
2006. Two of them, Dena Van Derveer and Robin Moller, hiked every dedicated
Ridge Trail segment. Dena says, “We talked, we walked, and we discovered parts
of the Bay Area that
we’d only seen from
afar.” Each hike is
described on their web-
site, ridgehikers.com,
accompanied by a page
of photos. Beginning
in December 2008, the
group started over and is
now hiking the route in
the opposite direction!
Left to right: Tom Sturges, Denny Weigand, and Milt Gaines cel-
Three friends, ages ebrate after finishing the Ridge Trail circuit in November.
65 to 74, didn’t let
their age stop them from hiking every segment of the Ridge Trail! Tom Sturges,
Denny Weigand, and Milt Gaines celebrated their accomplishment after finishing
the final leg, the Golden Gate Bridge, on November 29, 2009. All three are vet-
eran mountain climbers and have completed other similar challenges: for example
Tom and Milt have climbed to every high point in every county in California.
Denny, a professional photographer, loved the opportunity to photograph on the
Ridge Trail and reflects: “I did not realize there were so many beautiful places in
the Bay Area I had not seen.”
Meetup.com hikers walk the Ridge Trail in Mission Peak Regional Preserve. Photo by Hugo Garcia.
Hugo Garcia has taken the Ridge Trail challenge even further. Through
Meetup.com he posts open invitations to the public to join him in his quest to
explore the Ridge Trail. From when he started in October 2008 through March of
this year, he has organized 57 hikes on the Ridge Trail, usually on Saturdays. The
site has nearly 1,200 members, with a big surge of new members this year; Hugo
now gets an average of 35 people per hike. He says, “It appears it will take 63
hikes in total to complete the Ridge Trail, at least the way I’m doing it!” He plans
to start over again later this year. Visit hiking.meetup.com/594.
These ambitious and adventurous Ridge Trail supporters follow a number of
individuals who have all completed their goal of hiking or running the Ridge
Trail. We honored members of the “300-Mile Club” at out annual lunch in 2007,
where the first circumnavigator from 1999, Dinesh Desai, gave the keynote
speech. We are delighted to have more and more people joining the club!
Connect to the Ridge Trail Online
It’s easier than ever to catch up on Ridge Trail news or plan your next Ridge
Trail outing—just go online!
For starters, visit the Bay Area Ridge Trail website (RidgeTrail.org). Learn about
upcoming events and recent news, read current or past issues of Ridge Lines, sign up
to receive timely e-news updates, renew your membership, or make a donation.
Our new and improved website is due to go online in early summer! Thanks to
a Taproot Foundation service grant, we completely redesigned our site; you’ll find
maps of every dedicated Ridge Trail segment, allowing you to plan all your future
Ridge Trail outings. To be notified when the new website goes live, sign up for our
e-news at RidgeTrail.org (subscribe by clicking “contact”). With this subscription,
the news will conveniently arrive in your inbox.
Are you a Facebook fan? Join us on Facebook (facebook.com/ridgetrail) and
catch up with the latest happenings through ongoing postings or view and/or
share photos! As of press time, our Facebook page had 234 fans. You can also
view and download recent Ridge Trail photos on our Picasa webpage (picasaweb.
google.com/BayAreaRidgeTrail).
2
Dear Friends,
This spring and summer we are excited to present an expanded
line-up of trail events, dedications, stewardship opportunities, and
fun hikes, rides, and outings. We hope to see you at one or all, and
encourage you to invite friends who might not yet know about the
Ridge Trail!
Two upcoming events merit special note. First, the dedication of
the Dias Ridge Trail on May 8 promises to be awe-inspiring. On
the Saturday before Mother’s Day, we’ll celebrate the heroes who
helped bring this stunning trail to life. Together with our hosts—the
National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and
California State Parks—we’re planning trail and nature outings and activities, local heri-
tage celebrations, refreshments, and more.
A few weeks later, we’ll celebrate National Trails Day with the Muir Heritage Land Trust
in the best way possible—by opening the Fernandez Ranch Ridge Trail. Come out and see
the extensive restoration, explore the trails, or ride a carriage with John Muir’s great-
grandson. This is a fitting date because volunteers built the Ridge Trail section a year ago
on National Trails Day. Thanks again to Volunteers for Outdoor California!
The mood at the Ridge Trail council lately reminds me of Dickens’ line about “best of
times…worst of times.” On the one hand, we’re busier than ever with both trail progress
and outreach—celebrating much-anticipated dedications, trail construction, and ground
breakings; making progress on foundation-sponsored projects, including the Carquinez
Loop Trail and outreach to youth and families; and hosting a robust calendar of events.
On the other hand, we’re struggling with a severe funding challenge due to a suspension
of new funding contracts with the Coastal Conservancy, owing to the state’s economic
woes. This state funding typically represents about a third of our average annual revenue.
The impact on such a small organization is profound, and it remains uncertain when
funding might resume.
Moreover, funding shortfalls today affect the pace of trail dedications tomorrow because
each opening represents years, if not decades, of advocacy, effort, and planning. For both
the Ridge Trail Council and our partners, we can only reap the future bounty of the seeds
we sow today. Now, more than ever, we appreciate the generous support of our members
and community partners. Please see the back page for simple ways you can help. Thanks
for standing with us.
Happy Trails,
Janet McBride
Executive Director
Do you tweet? Keep up with Ridge Trail news by subscribing to our Twitter
feed (twitter.com/ridgetrail).
Planning a Ridge Trail hike but want to use public transit to get to the trail-
head? Getting there is simple when you use Transit & Trails (transitandtrails.org),
a Bay Area Open Space Council interactive site. Plug in your location and then
choose your hike—it will tell you how to get there on public transit and even pro-
vide the schedule!
If you would like to explore the Ridge Trail with other hiking enthusiasts, one of
our fans, Hugo Garcia, started a hiking group on Meetup.com (see previous article
on circumnavigators). Just visit hiking.meetup.com/594/ and join more than 1,200
members. The list of members grows every day, and Ridge Trail hikes are scheduled
nearly every weekend. Hike participants also post their photos from the hikes.
Ridge Trail Moves Forward in Sonoma County
Years in the works, construction of the Ridge Trail on Sonoma Mountain’s north
slope is about to begin! This 4.3-mile multiuse trail will connect Jack London His-
toric State Park to Sonoma Mountain Road, and combined with the existing Ridge
Trail on state lands, will extend the Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail to nine miles.
The new trail will traverse the 1,400-acre state park, four properties protected by the
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (454 acres), and
Sonoma County Regional Parks’ 84-acre Sonoma Mountain Woodlands property.
Sonoma County Regional
Parks will manage con-
struction, with Ridge Trail
Council Trail Steward John
Aranson leading the trail
design and construction
work, assisted by the Conser-
vation Corps North Bay. The
$1.4 million project—funded
by the Sonoma County Agri-
cultural Preservation and
Open Space District, Coastal
Conservancy, and Bay Area
Ridge Trail Council—also
consists of access road and
trailhead improvements,
including a parking area. Hikers on Sonoma Mountain’s north slope. Photo by www.
LandPaths.org.
Ridge Trail Council Exec-
utive Director Janet McBride says this project “is the happy result of many years
of passionate, persistent efforts among many partners.” Other partners on the
mountain include the Sonoma Land Trust, LandPaths, Sonoma Mountain Pres-
ervation Group, and Sonoma Mountain landowners. The Ridge Trail Council has
contributed $535,000 in Coastal Conservancy funds to the project for acquisition,
planning, and construction. Over the years, the district has provided $22 million
in acquisition funding to protect land on Sonoma Mountain.
To date, the Ridge Trail Council has helped to open 26.5 miles of Ridge Trail
in Sonoma County, and when the North Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail
segment is complete, we will be halfway to our ultimate county goal of 60 Ridge
Trail miles!

­
DEDICATIONS,
Visit RidgeTrail.org to learn more about these events
or to register.
1. RIDGE-TO-BRIDGE
Marin County
Saturday, April 10
Don’t miss this popular annual event! Hike, run, or ride
along the ridgeline in Marin County. Hikers have a choice
of distances: 30, 21, 13, or 8 miles, or a short family-
friendly hike. Bicycle options are 35, 28, or 12 miles, and
the equestrian ride is 9 miles. We provide transportation
to your starting point, a detailed map, lunch, and water
and snacks along the route. Registration is required. Ask
your friends to sponsor you in the Athon! If you would
like to help with the event, please contact us.
2. ROB HILL CAMPGROUND DEDICATION
San Francisco
Saturday, May 1
Help christen this newly revitalized campground in the
Presidio, San Francisco’s only campsite, and it’s on the
Ridge Trail!
3. DIAS RIDGE TRAIL DEDICATION
Marin County
Saturday, May 8
Time: 10: 00 AM – 1:00 PM
Celebrate the opening of the new multiuse 3.1-mile
Dias Ridge Trail. Enjoy a hike or ride, festivities and
ceremony at noon. Check RidgeTrail.org for details.
4. FERNANDEZ RANCH RIDGE TRAIL
DEDICATION
Contra Costa County
Saturday, June 5
Time: 10:00 AM– 2:00 PM
Come join the festivities on National Trails Day as we
dedicate 1.4 miles of Ridge Trail when Fernandez Ranch
opens to the public! After the welcoming ceremony and
refreshments, explore the trails or ride in a carriage with
John Muir’s great-grandson.
5. NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
Saturday, June 5
Join a work party near you to participate in this
national volunteer day.
6. BIKE THE BRIDGES
Solano and Contra Costa counties
Sunday, June 6
Join this family-friendly bicycle challenge to benefit the
Special Olympics. It will follow the inner Carquinez
Strait Scenic Loop Trail and cross the Al Zampa and
Benicia-Martinez bridges. Registration is required.
Continued from page 1
at the ranch. The new staging area
accommodates parking for eleven
cars and two horse trailers, and from
here visitors can head in two differ-
ent directions on the loop trail. The
trail user is rewarded with sweeping
views across the Carquinez Strait and
to Mount Diablo, and a boardwalk
crosses seasonal wetlands.
Aranson is excited about the ranch
opening to the public: “This property
is not only exceptionally scenic, but it
has something for everyone: easy and
challenging trails for hikers, bicyclists,
Map by Ben Pease.
Events
Ridge Trail
HIKES, BIKE & EQUESTRIAN
6
3 Santa Clara and San Mateo counties
1 Saturday, September 11
2
9 ners, and riders on wheels or hooves all celebrate and
and equestrians; two wheelchair-
accessible trails; and picnic tables for
relaxing.”
This Ridge Trail section is a criti-
cal link in the Carquinez Strait Scenic
Loop Trail: it connects to the Pinole
Watershed Ridge Trail (dedicated in
2007 and owned by East Bay Munici-
pal Utilty District) on its southwestern
end, and will eventually connect to
a trail that will cross Highway 4 to
Crockett Hills Regional Park.
The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
contributed $700,000 in Coastal Con-
3
S P R I N G - S U M M E R
RIDES,
4 for the Bay Area Ridge Trail and for equestrian
7
8
servancy funds to help purchase the
ranch, undertake trail planning,
and build the Ridge Trail. In total,
MHLT raised $3.04 million (other
grants came from the Resources
Agency, the U.S Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Contra Costa Fish and
Wildlife Committee, the Oakmead
Foundation, and many private
donors).
Muir Heritage Land Trust Exec-
utive Director Linus Eukel eagerly
anticipates the dedication: “With
the public opening of Fernandez
Ranch, the property’s spectacular
Volunteers work on the trail at Fernandez Ranch. Photo by
Ellen Visser.
2 0 1 0
WORK PARTIES
7. EAST BAY HILLS RIDE & HIKE
East Bay Hills
September 1 - 6
During Labor Day week, ride or hike with members
of the Tilden-Wildcat Horsemen’s Association and
the Metropolitan Horsemen’s Association in the
East Bay Hills. The multi-day ride will parallel or
follow the Bay Area Ridge Trail, and will be held in
conjunction with the third annual five-day 45-mile
Ridge Trail hike from Martinez to Castro Valley
(10 to 15 miles a day). Riders can cover up to 100
miles, or 14 to 18 miles each day in small groups,
and both riders and hikers are welcome for one
day or all days. This ride/hike will help raise funds
improvements on East Bay trails. Visit www.twha.org
(click events) or contact Morris Older at 925-254-8943
or ebhillsride@comcast.net.
8. RIDGE TRAIL CRUZ
Join us for our 5th annual Cruz, where hikers, run-
enjoy great trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The
event offers a variety of hikes and rides, including
family-friendly options. All routes provide wonderful
scenery and spectacular vistas. Rest stops, lunch, and
shuttles are provided. If you would like to volunteer,
contact Joel Gartland at 415-561-2595 or volunteer@
ridgetrail.org.
9. TOUR DE FAT
San Francisco
Saturday, September 25
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The eighth annual Tour de Fat Ballyhoo of Bikes
and Beer takes place again at Speedway Meadow in
Golden Gate Park. Sponsored by New Belgium Brew-
ing, this entertaining fundraiser benefits the Bay Area
Ridge Trail Council and the San Francisco Bicycle
Coalition.
10. REI-RIDGE TRAIL SERVICE DAY
Saturday, November 6
Each of the Bay Area REI stores will host a volunteer
work party on a local section of the Ridge Trail. Last
year, more than 300 people volunteered at 11 loca-
tions. Come pitch in, get dirty, build trail, and make
friends! If you would like to volunteer, contact Joel
Gartland at 415-561-2595 or volunteer@ridgetrail.org.
A giant crane installs the bridge
across Rodeo Creek. Photo by Steve
Hutchcraft.
trails and beautiful views will
provide an important refuge
for millions of people from
throughout our region.”
Thanks to the Muir Heritage
Land Trust for leading the effort
to permanently protect this
special place and transform it
into an exquisite park for the
public’s enjoyment.
–Elizabeth Byers
 NON-PROFIT ORG.

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San Francisco, CA 94129-1405 PERMIT NO. 3001

BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL COUNCIL

(415) 561-2595 (phone)
(415) 561-2599 (fax)
www.ridgetrail.org

Staff Board of Directors

Janet McBride Bill Long Ralph Mihan
Executive Director Chair Josh Moore
John Aranson Michael Kelley Frank Morris
Trail Steward Vice Chair
Mohammed Nuru
Martha Benioff Ray Sullivan
Secretary Morris Older
Office Manager
Phil Arnold Bob Siegel
Joel Gartland Brian Smith
Volunteer Coordinator Treasurer
Barry Christian Sandy Sommer
Dena Justice
Development & Outreach Karen Collins Jim Townsend
Associate Gary Cook
Bern Smith Jed Cyr
South & East Bay Trail Harry Englebright
Director Mark Evanoff
Dee Swanhuyser Mike Flaugher
North Bay Trail Director
Jim Foran
Ridge Lines Steve Kinsey
Elizabeth Byers Melina Linder
Editor Jane Mark
Lisa Krieshok Austin McInerny Hikers participate in the East Bay Hills Ride and Hike. P R I N T E D O N R E C Y C L E D PA P E R .
Designer
Photo by Gary Cook.

New California Trail Planning Guidebook

Simple Ways to Help the Ridge Trail Council Solano Press just published an invaluable, comprehensive trail planning
reference book by local trail advocates Julie Bondurant and Laura Thompson.
Be a loyal member. Trail Planning for California Communities covers all stages of the trail develop-
1. Renew your membership when you receive the ment process in California, including planning, design, construction, funding,
first renewal notice. and maintenance. It also elaborates on the
2. Renew at a higher membership level. purpose and value of trails, federal and state
3. Renew online at RidgeTrail.org. policies, building community support, legal
4. Join our monthly membership program. issues, and environmental review.
5. Give a gift membership to a friend or family member. Author Julie Bondurant served on the
6. Encourage friends and family to become members. Bay Area Ridge Trail Council board of
directors from 1990 to 1999 and has been
Make an extra donation. on the San Francisco Bay Trail Project
1. Make an additional donation when you register for board since 1990. A licensed landscape
an event. architect and certified planner, she is a
2. Pledge and donate $1 for each mile you hike/pedal/trot senior park planner with the East Bay
this year. Regional Park District. Laura Thompson
3. Offer your professional skills or services. manages the San Francisco Bay Trail
Project, a nonprofit that coordinates
4. Volunteer to help in the office.
the effort to complete a 500-mile con-
5. Make donations of office equipment or other wish list items
tinuous shoreline trail around San Francisco Bay.
such as digital cameras. See RidgeTrail.org.
Two of the book’s contributing authors, Bill Long and Jim Townsend,
6. Include the Ridge Trail Council in your estate plans.
are Bay Area Ridge Trail Council board members. Bill is the chair of our board
Advertise the Ridge Trail. Put a Ridge Trail of directors, a member of the Marin County Park and Open Space Commis-
static sticker on your car window! sion, a board member of the San Francisco Bay Trail Project, and chair of the
Marin Open Space Trust. Jim Townsend is the trails development program
Thank you! manager for the East Bay Regional Park District.
To order the book, visit www.solano.com.

Board Member Changes
We are pleased to have welcomed
Bob Siegel to the board in September
2009. A dedicated Ridge Trail volun-
teer and hike leader for many years,
he serves on the Trail Committee, and
as chair of the San Francisco County
Committee, he is spearheading efforts
to improve the city’s Ridge Trail align-
ment near Twin Peaks. Bob created
our “Trail Tracker” tool, available
online, to encourage people to take
on the challenge of completing the
entire dedicated route, and he recently
completed hiking
every single mile
of dedicated Ridge
Trail himself.
Bob served with
the Peace Corps
in Africa for seven
years and then
taught ESL at the
Bob Siegel
Chinatown/North
Beach Campus of City College of San
Francisco, retiring in 2003. He is also
an active volunteer with the Mt. Sutro
Stewards, the Harbor Seal Survey
program in Pt. Reyes, and the Beach County Committee and
Watch program of the Gulf of the Far- joined the board in 2003.
allones National Marine Sanctuary. Thomas served on the
We thank two departing board Executive Committee,
members for their years of service: and because of his profes-
Mary Burns and Thomas Beck. sional background, has
Mary Burns became a board mem- been particularly helpful
ber in 2000 and brought a wealth of with his advice on devel-
unique experience due to her tenures opment issues. A frequent
as general manager of park and recre- hike leader, he has pro-
ation agencies in San Francisco, San vided steady, stalwart
Mateo, and Sonoma counties. She support to our full roster
served as our board vice chair for many of activities, from hikes
years, and brought her keen interest in and outings to benefits
organizational development to her role and dedications. Luckily,
as chair of the Governance Commit- he will remain an active
tee. Prior to joining the board, she also and dedicated volunteer.
Hikers on the Pinole Watershed Ridge Trail. Photo by
filled in as interim Ridge Trail Council Elizabeth Byers.
executive director in 1997. Despite her
high-level professional responsibilities,
one of Mary’s hallmarks is her personal Look for our 2009 Annual Report
approach. The council is indebted to
on RidgeTrail.org in mid-May!
Mary for her many years of strong sup-
port and outstanding service. Visit our website to download the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council’s
A guided hike in the San Fran- annual report! The report features the year’s trail dedications,
cisco watershed sparked Thomas events, financial statement, and donor lists. Don’t miss photos of
Beck’s interest in the Ridge Trail. He our events!
became active with the San Mateo

R I D G E L I N E S • S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 0