Trail crew leader Sam Drake and
his wife Elaine talk with Greg Bringelson, head of the County Park
trails program.
The trail crews assembled in the parking lot, then were shuttled by a
park van to the work site.
This is the work site, at the bridge over New Creek.
Park staffer explaining the job to volunteers
Some of the volunteers coated the wooden bridge with linseed oil to
protect it.
Other volunteers helped move rocks to the side of the trail near the
bridge.
Crews filled the powered wheelbarrow with dirt.
The dirt was transported up the trail.
The dirt was dumped on the trail, where workers spread it out to
provide a dirt tread for the trail
Dirt was also moved with a manual wheelbarrow.
Workers built an approach to the bridge, lined it with rocks, and
smoothed it out.
More volunteers came by van.
The dirt was watered down to compact it.
Greg Bringelson arrived by bike.
A power compactor packed down the trail surface.
Park staffer Eric McFarland drove a bulldozer to move the heavy rocks.
Elaine Drake putting some finishing touches on the bridge.
A group of volunteers, led by park
staffer Brian Shively, went south along the trail to dig out and move
rocks to improve the drainage on the trail.
Eric brought up tools in an ATV.
Other workers used the tools to cut the grass on the trail.
View of the bridge work area from higher up on the trail
View of the Savannah Trail switchbacking up the hill on the north side
of New Creek.
View from higher up on the trail. Below is New Avenue, ranches, and the
city of Gilroy.
The trail turns as it runs along
the hillside above the north fork of Church Creek. Cutting across the
creek is the service road, an old ranch road, used to reach the work
site. Beyond are private homes and ranches near Church Avenue.
Looking up the eroded canyon cut by Church Creek.
Looking up the trail. Ahead is the Ranch San Ysidro Trail cutting along
the hillside.
View of the Rancho San Ysidro Trail across a wide wildflower-covered
meadow.
The Savannah Trail joins the Rancho San Ysidro Trail ahead, which
climbs the hill to the Coyote Ridge Trail.
Returning to the worksite, rocks have been moved to line the trail.
Park staffers work on a trail gate.
The finished bridge.
Removing the temporary work planking.
The new trail now covered with packed dirt.
Bringing back the tools.
Greg Bringelson stretching a ribbon across the bridge.
Cutting the ribbon, signifying the opening of the new trail.
Hiking the new trail.
For more information on future
trail events, volunteering in the parks, past trail events, pictures of
the park's trails, and trail maintenance in general, see the links on
the side. For copies of these and other pictures, contact Ron Horii
(see links).