Notes from the Natural History of Trails Lecture
May 13, 2019
Words by Emma Ussat
On Thursday, May 9, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz hosted a Natural History of Trails lecture at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History as a part of their Naturalist Night series. Our lecture featured three speakers; Ben Blom, Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management, Noah Finnegan, Geomorphologist at UCSC, and Alex Krohn Assistant Manager at the UCSC Natural Reserve.
Ben guided us through the land manager’s perspective with regards to trail system design, maintenance, and construction. We learned of the many aspects to consider before moving forward with trail design, including environmental, social, cultural, and even political.
Amah Mutsun Land Trust in Santa Cruz County
Noah told us the geological story of the Santa Cruz Mountains. We learned that Ben Lomond Mountain is one of few remnants of the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada that has been pulled up by the transform fault activity in our mountains. Not coincidentally, if you look at a geological map of Santa Cruz County, you will see that it is one of few pieces of granitic rock in our area.
The red blob in Santa Cruz is Ben Lomond Mountain - notice how the Sierra Nevada Range is also red.
Finally, Alex Krohn delivered a passionate lecture about the flora and fauna found in Upper Campus at UCSC. He focused on the species we would be “most lucky to see.” Did you know there are badgers in Upper Campus? He reminded us to keep our eyes peeled for the endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetles as they love to hang out on open trails. His advice for becoming better trail stewards was threefold: 1. slow down, look around, and take photos; 2. stay off wet trails, period; and 3. support Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. Thanks, Alex!
Photo of a badger from Sonoma State University
We learned so much from all three speakers and we can’t wait to host a similar event again. This is the first of many lectures we hope to host to help our community understand their natural surroundings, the impacts we have as mountain bikers, and what we can do to be better trail stewards. Thanks to all of our speakers, MBOSC staff, and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History staff for making it possible.
Amah Mutsun Land Trust in Santa Cruz County
Noah told us the geological story of the Santa Cruz Mountains. We learned that Ben Lomond Mountain is one of few remnants of the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada that has been pulled up by the transform fault activity in our mountains. Not coincidentally, if you look at a geological map of Santa Cruz County, you will see that it is one of few pieces of granitic rock in our area.
The red blob in Santa Cruz is Ben Lomond Mountain - notice how the Sierra Nevada Range is also red.
Finally, Alex Krohn delivered a passionate lecture about the flora and fauna found in Upper Campus at UCSC. He focused on the species we would be “most lucky to see.” Did you know there are badgers in Upper Campus? He reminded us to keep our eyes peeled for the endangered Ohlone Tiger Beetles as they love to hang out on open trails. His advice for becoming better trail stewards was threefold: 1. slow down, look around, and take photos; 2. stay off wet trails, period; and 3. support Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz. Thanks, Alex!
Photo of a badger from Sonoma State University
We learned so much from all three speakers and we can’t wait to host a similar event again. This is the first of many lectures we hope to host to help our community understand their natural surroundings, the impacts we have as mountain bikers, and what we can do to be better trail stewards. Thanks to all of our speakers, MBOSC staff, and Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History staff for making it possible.
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