Potrero John Trail maintenance With The LPFA

Most likely if you are reading this you enjoy getting Outdoors and if you have ever thought about giving back to the forest that you love so much, the good news is there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for all skill levels to participate. This day and age it seems less and less of the federal and state budgets go toward maintaining our trails and our beloved Campgrounds. So it is extremely important for volunteers to get out and help keep these places accessible and well maintained. We are lucky to have a hand full of dedicated non profit groups who have made it their mission to maintain our wilderness areas. One such group that I fully have enjoyed working with is the Los Padres Forest Association. These are fun, hard working folks who care deeply about the health and welfare of the Los Padres National Forest. They have year round events happening all the time and most months have opportunities for anyone to get out and volunteer, from day hikes to extended backpack working vacations and much more. If you are interested in learning more you can check out their website here at http://lpforest.org/ If Volunteer work is not your thing maybe consider a small donation which goes into the trail fund and again is always very much needed. You can also follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LosPadresForestAssociation/. If you provide your email they will sign you up for an excellent monthly newsletter with all the up coming events and local forest news. If you email Bryan Conant at  bryan@lpforest.org or Jason Beckstrand at jasonnb@lpforest.org they will be happy to answer any questions, provide any information about on going projects and add you directly to the volunteer email list. This work is rewarding and surprisingly fun and is a great way to get outdoors and give back to the community. If you have not tried it, give it shot. Also As a perk often times volunteers get access to locations that the general public does not. Here is some info below on the recent work I got to be part of on the Potrero John Trail.

Our day got started Saturday morning just before 8am. Plan was too meet up in Ojai at the Ojai Ranger Station for sign ups, introductions and a quick run down of what the days events would hold. After the meeting we Carpooled to the Trailhead. I elected to drive myself this time as I had some stops to make after the event.

Trail takes off from here to your left

Pictured above Is the Potrero John Trailhead (23w06)  where we would begin our work. The Trail is located North Of Ojai off of Highway 33. Immediately past the Trailhead on the right hand side of the highway if your heading north is a small dirt parking turnout that can accommodate about 2 cars. If more parking is needed there is also another Large Turnout before reaching the Trailhead on the left side of the Highway. 

Jason Giving a briefing and tool use instructions

The Guys are ready to get Started

Potrero John Trail is an easy hike in the Sespe Wilderness along a stream channel in a beautiful narrow canyon with some amazing rock formations. At about 1.6 miles in sits the Potrero John Trail Camp. This trail is now very well maintained and easy to follow. There are multiple creek crossings and a couple lower camps before arriving at the Main Potrero John Campsite. 

Second lower Camp we passed

Water available for Filtering if needed

Third lower Camp with no shade

Our crew brushed the trail until reaching the lower site pictured above. We did not quite make it all the way to the Potrero John Trail Camp. As by this time it was already 2pm and the day was a hot one. Water was available at the streams crossings above these Camps. 

Don and Jason wasting no time getting after it

As I mentioned above the scenery in this canyon is very nice. The morning provided an excellent amount of shade. Oaks, Alders, and  cottonwoods were abundant along the trail. I believe I spotted some Big Cone Douglas firs high above on the steep Canyon walls as well. 

Nice Rock Formation

For the more adventurous you can also explore the network of spurs trails above Potrero John Camp that lead to the Falls. (some boulder hopping may be required). If you have not hiked this trail yet get out there and do so while the getting is good. I had a great time on this project and met some great people. Definitely looking  forward to future events. If you are considering giving trail work a try but are on the fence because you may not have previous experience don't worry at all. The project leaders give great instructions and assign tasks per skill level. You will gain experience as you go learning to use different tools. You get a great sense of pride at the end of the day walking back to the car and seeing the work you just completed. 

Some Basic Trail maintenance tools

Obligatory selfie even got Jason in the shot