Connecting with the Land and Each Other
Every year, Monterey County plays host to a glorious array of springtime wildflowers, a colorful display of seasonal exuberance that Big Sur Land Trust members can enjoy during one of the exclusive day hikes or educational outings scheduled at one of its properties. Whether it’s the lovely cool colors of Point Lobos Ranch or the vibrant warmth of Marks Ranch, where in May wildflower expert Gordon Williams will share his passion and knowledge for wildflowers, BSLT’s 2010 schedule of hikes and outings offer Land Trust members several unique opportunities to experience our area’s unmatched natural beauty.
BSLT’s calendar of day hikes provide special access, from April through October, to six different properties—Arroyo Seco Ranch, Marks Ranch, Glen Deven Ranch, Mitteldorf Preserve, Point Lobos Ranch, and Palo Corona Ranch. Savvy members will want to experience them all, for each property has been conserved to protect specific landscapes and habitats, from the old-growth redwoods of Mitteldorf to the oak woodlands of Marks Ranch, from the sweeping grasslands of Palo Corona to the pristine water of the Arroyo Seco River.
BSLT’s program of day hikes gives its members special access to experience on a deep level the Land Trust’s mission and values. “You really appreciate where you live and all that has been conserved when you are out hiking,” remarks volunteer hike leader Sandra Reel. Sandra’s husband, Bruce Merchant, also a volunteer hike leader, adds that “these are the places the experts have identified as critical and worth saving.”
In addition to the twenty-one day hikes scheduled this year, members can also participate in five educational outings, including a special program at Martin Dunes, a visit to the historic Dorrance Ranch, and an on-the-ground exploration of the Carmel River Parkway Project with Donna Meyers, BSLT’s Director of Conservation. Four popular twilight hikes celebrating the full moon round out the 2010 calendar of scheduled hikes and outings.
While each of these hikes and outings offers a chance to step away from the busy world and into a place of natural beauty and quiet, they also offer opportunities to connect to others. According to Reel, “Part of what makes these hikes so great is the people. We start out as a diverse group, and by the end of the hike the group has pulled together as a community.”
For Merchant, that human connection extends to the value of being involved with The Big Sur Land Trust. “You deserve this,” he says to members considering participating in a BSLT hike. “Go out and see what your membership is doing.”
