SIMI VALLEY HIKING ENTHUSIASTS TO CLEAR PATH : CLEANUP PLANNED ON HUMMINGBIRD TRAIL.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer Volunteers who blaze new trails for hikers and equestrians are inviting other nature lovers to help manicure Simi Valley's newest path Saturday. The Hummingbird hummingbird, common name for members of the family Trochilidae, small, strictly New World birds, related to the swifts, and found chiefly in the mountains of South America. Hummingbirds vary in size from a 2 1-4-in. Trail rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. project - coordinated by the Rancho Simi Rancho San José de Nuestra Senora de Altagarcia y Simi is one of the land grants in California by the Spanish government. The name derives from Shimiji, the name of the Chumash village here before the Spanish. Trail Blazers The Blazers (in some cases, short for Trail Blazers) is the name of several professional and collegiate sports teams:
Spending a day preserving the gift of nature is one of many benefits a participant can expect to gain, said Tonja Cole, a Trail Blazer for four years. ``Once it's gone, it's gone. And there's no way to return it,'' said Cole, 63, of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . ``We need to preserve nature before it's destroyed by development, and becomes a parking lot or a mall.'' No special skills are needed to take part in the four-hour project, organizers say. Participants are encouraged to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants, gloves and comfortable walking boots or shoes. Extra tools such as shovels and pickaxes are helpful, but tools will be provided at the site. The Rancho Simi Trail Blazers formed in 1992 to get people interested in planning and taking care of trails. In addition to building and maintaining trails, the group leads hikes and promotes outdoor education. The Trail Blazers began the Hummingbird project in 1993 with a half-mile section beginning at the end of Kuehner Drive. Managed by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, the 2.3-mile trail links open space on the east end of Simi Valley with the main trail in the heights of Rocky Peak Rocky Peak is the name of the 3rd highest point in the Santa Susana Mountains, which overlook both Chatsworth and Simi Valley, in Southern California. The peak, which is 2,714 feet above sea level, sits on the Los Angeles County/Ventura County line. Park, opening more of the challenging slopes to hikers. Trails in Simi Valley have come a long way over the years. Just two decades ago, there were no trails in the city where a person could hike legally, remembers Mike Kuhn, Trail Blazers communications chairman. ``Now we have places to hike,'' he said. ``Hopefully, we'll have more and more places with time.'' THE FACTS WHAT: Hummingbird Creek Work Party WHEN: Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon WHERE: 118 Freeway to Kuehner Drive exit. Meet north of freeway on Kuehner Drive. Bring 2 to 3 quarts of water, gloves and tools to work on the trail. INFORMATION: John Downey John Downey may refer to:
CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: (color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour SIMI edition only) John Downey and Tonja Cole make their way along the recently completed Hummingbird Trail near Kuehner Avenue in Simi Valley. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News Box: THE FACTS (see text) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion