Hiking:
Just on the first month of work, we guided a bald eagle hike from the Redbud Trailhead into Cache Creek Wilderness.
The monument hosts one of the largest wintering bald eagle populations in California and these educational hikes are popular with locals, students, and visiting recreational users. We have had 30 people join us on these hikes. John Ciccarelli, who is the BLM audiovisual lead for California, recorded and interviewed some participants on the hike. Click HERE to access his article on the hike.
I co-sponsored an activity with Tuleyome, a local friends group of the monument, on March 10-11 at the Monumental Hike & Campout on Berryessa Peak Trail. Berryessa Peak trail is rated as “Difficult” by Tuleyome, it is 14.5 miles roundtrip and with 3500-feet of elevation gain. Twelve people participated on this hike, but around 10 people were also seen using the trail that weekend. I got the opportunity to talk about the monument and the native flowers that were blooming on the trail. I’m pretty sure the group felt really inspired by the Spring scenery. I felt so sore for a few days after the hike, but it was worth it!
These are only some of many trails that the national monument offers, all of them go through unique sceneries and will give you different experiences.
Earth Day!
Earth day gave us the opportunity to visit the Ukiah high school and participate at the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Earth Day Fest with a Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument information table. We also promoted the Every Kid In the Park program, created an Earth Moss ball with an educational component, hung out with Smokey the Bear, and participated in other fun activities at both events.
& More:
Keep an eye on our future posts to see what else I’ve been up to at the monument and what other great opportunities can Hispanic Access Foundation offer to its interns.
By Fabiola Torres Toledo, Resource Assistant, Berryessa Snowmountain National Monument and Mendocino National Forest at Ukiah, California.
About the Interagency Monument Fellow:
I am serving as a Monument Management Resource Assistant for Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, conducting land management practices from two federal agencies as part of Monument Management Planning. The two federal agencies I work with are; US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
By continuing professional work for the natural environment, I have kept developing a fascination for the fauna and outdoors. I also enjoy freediving, scuba diving, painting, arts, and crafts, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking, backpacking, and camping. Follow my adventures on Instagram: fabi_caminando
About Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified above that are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument”
- Barack Obama (Presidential Proclamation)
On July 10, 2015, President Obama signed a proclamation declaring the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California, dedicating approximately 330,000 acres of public land (197,000 USFS and 133,000 BLM). These scenic lands, managed by the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, ranging from the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest north of Clear Lake to Napa County.
The uniqueness of the area creates a biological hot spot, with some of the richest species diversity in California. The Monument has a wide range of plant and animal species (more than 300 wildlife species), in addition, many migrating birds use the protected land as a place to re-charge their energy and continue their journey. Visitors may see bald eagles that nest in our lands, black bears, mountain lions, elk, and several rare or endangered species, including red-legged frogs, northern spotted owls, and martens.
For information about recreational uses on the monument, please refer to these links;
General info - https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/berryessa-snow-mountain-national-monument
