TRAIL OF DREAMS THIRTEEN YEARS OF PLANNING PAYS OFF IN SOLEDAD CANYON.Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Staff Writer ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los - Thirteen years after trail enthusiasts began planning a trail head deep in Soledad Canyon Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce. on a spur of the Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail (also known as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail) is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail that runs from the United States border with Mexico to its border with Canada and follows the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and , they gathered Wednesday to celebrate the finished product. The Indian Canyon Trail Head near Agua Dulce is the combined work of volunteers who ride horses, hike or ride off-road vehicles and officials with the U.S. Forest Service, the state and the county. ``As you can well see, this is a service to everyone who uses the trail,'' said Barry Wetherby, secretary-treasurer of the nonprofit California Trail Users Coalition, which coordinated the $290,532 project. The trail head provides parking for horse trailers off Soledad Canyon Road as well as a parking lot for cars. There's a restroom, a picnic table that was installed moments before Wednesday's brief ceremony and a ramp to load off-highway vehicles. And it sits at the foot of one of the most scenic trails in the West, a 2,600-mile route that winds through forests, deserts and mountains from Mexico to Canada. Wednesday's clear blue skies and 80-degree sunshine proved a silent testimonial to the draw of this trail, particularly through Southern California. A quick yet steep climb from the trail head offered a wide vista of the rugged white walls of the canyon, the buttes Buttes is a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. of the neighboring Vasquez Canyon area and the endless skies. A crow teased a hawk far above the gathering as dignitaries passed the microphone, honoring those who worked hard to make this happen. Among the trail enthusiasts to inaugurate in·au·gu·rate tr.v. in·au·gu·rat·ed, in·au·gu·rat·ing, in·au·gu·rates 1. To induct into office by a formal ceremony. 2. the new facility was 95-year-old Bert Bonnett of Shadow Hills in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. foothills, who joined a group on horseback. ``As often as I can,'' Bonnett replied when asked just how often he rides. He and his wife, Bari, are regulars astride a·stride adv. 1. With a leg on each side: riding astride. 2. With the legs wide apart. prep. 1. On or over and with a leg on each side of. 2. mules in the Tournament of Roses parade The Tournament of Roses Parade was established, and first held, on January 1,1890, in Pasadena, California, eight miles (13 km) northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Rooted in tradition, this parade is broadcast on multiple television networks, watched by upwards of one . Bonnett - ``I'll be 96 in February'' - is the oldest living member of the trail users coalition. Coalition President Terry Kaiser, in cowboy hat and boots, said he signed a grant application in November 1999 for $79,000 in state funding for the project. The grant was funded about six years later ``and here we are.'' In between, brutal fires and floods delayed the progress, but this volunteer force didn't relent re·lent v. re·lent·ed, re·lent·ing, re·lents v.intr. To become more lenient, compassionate, or forgiving. See Synonyms at yield. v.tr. Obsolete 1. . ``This represents a lot of hard work by a lot of people,'' said Jody Noiron, supervisor of the Angeles National Forest. Patricia Farrell Aidem, (661) 257-5251 pat.aidem(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- color in AV edition only) Bert Bonnett, 95, of Sylmar leads riders on the new trial head in the Angeles National Forest inaugurated Wednesday. (2 -- 4; 3 -- ran in AV edition only; 4 -- ran in AV and Valley editions only) Randy Hamock puts finishing touches on a motorcycle blockage at the new Indian Canyon Trial Head, above, while Bert Bonnett, 95, above left, leads a pack of riders on the trial. A sign for the trial is shown at left. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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