Volunteer Cyclists Needed For Canadian Bicycle TV Programme- Saturday, November 28th

Plans are being made for a Canadian TV show about biking in Santa Barbara. It's for the French-language travel channel Evasion, part of a series called "L'Amérique à vélo."

They will be filming in Santa Barbara area one day, Saturday, Nov 28th. They will film a ride, possibly into the mountains on paved roads, probably starting at 1:00 PM at their hotel. Details are being worked out. What they are looking for are some local volunteer cyclists to join their small group of riders for the filming. (It's a chance to burn off that Thanksgiving stuffing.)

I'll post more as soon as I hear. It will be an opportunity to be seen by 1.9 million Canadian TV subscribers to Evasion, and promote biking tourism in our area. I'll try to get a copy of the show after it airs in Spring 2010.

Contact Ralph Fertig for more info

Moonrise and Sunset On Mcmenemy Trail 11/19/09

Bicicentro Kick Off Party- Weds 11/18

FRONT COUNTRY TRAILS (FCT) MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ANNOUNCE THE APPOINTMENT OF REBECCA MORDINI AS FCT COORDINATOR

Rattlesnake Canyon Trail And The San Roque Side of Jesusita Trail to Re-Open Friday 11/6/09

Front Country Trail Assessment Volunteers Needed

The Task Force is looking for help in surveying our Front Country Trails. As part of the recommendations designed by the Task Force and approved by the City Council and Board of Supervisors, one of the first steps is to assess the trails using the UTAP method. Below is the official announcement from the agencies with dates of assessment. Please Contact Kathy Frye at(805) 897-1976 or email kfrye@santabarbaraca.gov to help or find out more info.

Yuppie 911- "We Would Have Never Attempted This Hike......"

From the NPS Morning Report, 10/21/09-

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Hikers Evacuated After Three SPOT Activations In Three Days

On the evening of September 23rd, rangers began a search for hikers who repeatedly activated their rented SPOT satellite tracking device. The GEOS Emergency Response Center in Houston reported that someone in the group of four hikers – two men and their two teenaged sons – had pressed the “help” button on their SPOT unit. The coordinates for the signal placed the group in a remote section of the park, most likely on the challenging Royal Arch loop. Due to darkness and the remoteness of the location, rangers were unable to reach them via helicopter until the following morning. When found, they’d moved about a mile and a half to a water source. They declined rescue, as they’d activated the device due to their lack of water. Later that same evening, the same SPOT device was again activated, this time using the “911” button. Coordinates placed them less than a quarter mile from the spot where searchers had found them that morning. Once again, nightfall prevented a response by park helicopter, so an Arizona DPS helicopter whose crew utilized night vision goggles was brought in. They found that the members of the group were concerned about possible dehydration because the water they’d found tasted salty, but no actual emergency existed. The helicopter crew declined their request for a night evacuation, but provided them with water before departing. On the following morning, another SPOT “help” activation came in from the group. This time they were flown out by park helicopter. All four refused medical assessment or treatment. The group’s leader had reportedly hiked once at the Grand Canyon; the other adult had no Grand Canyon and very little backpacking experience. When asked what they would have done without the SPOT device, the leader stated, “We would have never attempted this hike.” The group leader was issued a citation for creating a hazardous condition (36 CFR 2.34(a)(4)). [Submitted by Brandon Torres, Canyon District Shift Supervisor]

Associated Press Yuppie 911 Article