Archive for Peninsula
Newly Opened Cowell-Purisima Trail Is a Hit!
The new Cowell-Purisima Trail — a broad, relatively flat 3-mile trail tucked between artichoke and brussel sprout fields and a rugged stretch of San Mateo coastline — has generated a lot of interest, and more than a few hikers, since it opened last month.
The opening was heralded in nearly every local media outlet, including the San Jose Mercury News, the Half Moon Bay Review, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Bay Citizen, and Half Moon Bay’s Patch. It’s even found its way onto the national everything-but-the-kitchen-sink site About.com.
In many ways, the story of the trail — which is owned and managed by POST — is the story of the California Coastal Trail to which it adds three miles: It’s not easy to secure permanent public access to our coastline, but there’s a lot of pent-up demand for residents to get out there and appreciate California’s windswept western edge.
POST first acquired the land on which the coastal trail now sits 25 years ago. It’s taken that long to coordinate with all of the state agencies that help oversee the state’s shoreline (particularly during difficult economic times), to work with longtime farmers to ensure their operations aren’t disrupted and to secure enough funding to create a safe, visitor-friendly trail on the rugged terrain.
The million-dollar-per-mile price tag may sound like a lot, not least to the many generous POST donors who helped make this public trail possible, but it’s actually slightly under what the state budgeted on a per-mile basis to realize the dream of a public trail along the coast from Oregon to Mexico.
From the interest the trail has gotten, though, it seems that Californians believe the time and effort are well spent to appreciate the sweeping views — and seals! — the trail provides.
Check out POST’s photos of a recent walk-and-talk Paul Ringgold led on the trail, and don’t miss Patch’s virtual hike.
Photos by Kathryn Hargis
It’s Rattlesnake Mating Season!
By Kelsey Grousbeck, Intern
As you make your way around Jasper Ridge and surrounding hills, it’s not just the rock formations that are serpentine. The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis oreganus) is native to Northern California and breeds in the late summer, favoring these rocky grasslands for their habitat. Though rattlesnakes strike fear into many hikers, that is typically all the striking they do. The California Department of Fish and Game assures hikers that attacks are accidental and, unless provoked, these snakes favor retreat and give clear warning signs (such as their rattle) before attacking (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/snake.html).
The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake is also found in mixed woods and sagebrush from central California up to Washington and British Columbia, extending into parts of Idaho. Depending on their surroundings, their coloring can vary from olive to gray or tan with darker blotches. They get to be an average length of about 2 feet, with some as long as 5 feet, and in the wild it is estimated they live to be about 15 years old. Their prey consists of reptiles, amphibians and small rodents, though the adult California Ground Squirrel has developed immunity to their venom and responds aggressively if attacked.
Range of Northern Pacific Rattlesnake in California
Though they breed in the summer, rattlesnake females store the sperm and do not reproduce until the following spring. A female Northern Pacific Rattlesnake can reproduce only once every three years because they must double their body weight before pregnancy. The increased weight allows them to survive since they fast for almost 19 months during pregnancy and the following hibernation period. Females give birth to about 2-8 live young in mid-September. These young have underdeveloped “buttons” where their rattles will be, which they do not fully develop until they are over a year old. Juvenile rattlesnakes, despite not having developed rattles, still contain as much venom as adults.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake bites are rarely fatal to humans, so if you have been bitten don’t panic. Instead, rinse the wound with soap and water, remove anything that may constrict swelling such as watches or rings, apply a cool, wet cloth to the area and get to a hospital or poison control center as soon as you can. Do not apply a tourniquet or ice to the bite and never cut the wound or try to suck the venom out with your mouth, as those practices can end up harming you further.
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
To avoid an unfavorable interaction with a rattlesnake, be sure to wear proper hiking boots and long pants while hiking in areas that could be snake habitat. Additionally, step on top of rocks or stumps as opposed to over them, since snakes enjoy resting against the side of these trail obstacles. To be extra cautious, use a walking stick to prevent a threatened snake from attacking if you accidentally walk too close.
The most important fact to remember when you come across a rattlesnake is that they are a threatened species and should be respected and left alone. Once you know how to avoid engaging a rattlesnake, hiking in the summer and fall can be very exciting, especially when you can try to spot young rattlesnakes before they head to their burrows to hibernate. So happy trails and beware any ominous rattle sounds!
Edit: These photos were taken yesterday by Audrey at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve!
Rattlesnakes at Russian Ridge© Audrey Rust
Rattlesnakes at Russian Ridge © Audrey Rust
Rattlesnakes at Russian Ridge © Audrey Rust
And a neat video from Animal Planet (Thanks, Audrey!):
A Walkabout on the Coast, Part 1
By Megan Hansen, Communications AssociateI took a walk across POST’s coastside lands this past August, exploring both the California Coastal Trail’s current connections and future possibilities. Here’s what I found and what one day you too will be able to experience by following in my footsteps.
Pillar Point Bluff (c) Karl Kroeber
POST
Jeff Powers
Paul Ringgold
Meghan Scanlon
post4laura
