San Benito Magazine October 16-22, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

OCTOBER 16, 2020

Back Outdoors A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

Local hiking trails conform to Covid-19 constraints P2

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE P5 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7

REDISCOVERING nature Popular hiking spots adapt to pandemic restrictions HISTORIC MONUMENT

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File photo

OCTOBER 16, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Pinnacles National Park is known for its natural volcanic formations.

T

he natural beauty that surrounds us seems to be forgotten as people stay at home to shelter from the pandemic.

But nature is still here and accessible.

From the fresh air to the wide trails that promote social distancing, this region’s parks provide a great escape and a therapeutic setting away from the troubles of the world.

The following is a list of some popular local hiking spots and the precautions they have taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pinnacles National Park Established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Pinnacles National Park is a historic monument made of natural volcanic formations.

The 26,606-acre park is a natural wonderland for wildlife and adventurers.

Home to the endangered California condor, Pinnacles is also a haven for prairie and peregrine falcons and golden eagles.

Hikers and campers will find plentiful grasslands, varied chaparral and oak woodlands to walk about.

The large park, with two entrances, caves and interesting flora and fauna is a popular destination for hiking, rock climbing, camping and birding.

The park is slowly phasing open various areas and services during the Covid-19 pandemic. On Oct. 9, the parking lots on the east side reopened to vehicles. Weekend visitors are encouraged to arrive before 10:30am to get a parking spot.

Entry fees are waived, and the campground remains open by reservation, which can be made at recreation.gov.

Bear Gulch Nature Center and West Visitor Center remain closed, as do the Balconies and Bear Gulch cave trails. Shuttle services inside the park remain non-operational.

Pinnacles National Park, located at 5000 Highway 146 in Paicines, is open daily from 7:30am-8pm. For information, call 831.389.4485 or visit nps.gov/pinn/ index.htm.

6,800 acres of varied terrain.

San Juan Bautista Historic Walking Trail First occupied by the Mutsuns, San Juan Bautista was founded as a mission town in 1797, when Franciscans monks settled there for its fertile countryside and ample supply of potential converts.

The town remains a microcosm of early California history with 49 historic

sites densely packed into an area less than three-quarters of a square mile.

Beginning at the Mission San Juan Bautista, the self-guided walking trail offers residents and visitors an opportunity to explore Native American history as well as Spanish and Mexican influences into early 19th-century America. Structures include adobe, stone, wooden and western false front-style commercial

architecture popularized after the California Gold Rush.

Visitors along the trail will find Plaza Hall, originally a single-story adobe building designed to house unmarried Indian girls of the mission. Later purchased and rebuilt by Angelo Zanetta, the building eventually became the family home.

Other notable structures and homes include a town jail, livery, the

Honeymoon House—formerly used as a bordello—the Rozas house, which is still used as a residence today, and the Castro/Breen Adobe, named after the Castro family, the home’s original owners, and later occupants the Breens—who were among the surviving members of the Donner party.

For information, visit historicwalkingtrail.com. ➝4

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 16, 2020

File photo

GABILAN MOUNTAINS Hollister Hills features more than

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Erik Chalhoub

Johanna Miller

THROUGH THE TREES Mount Madonna Stables

OCTOBER 16, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

offers horseback trail rides.

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GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR HIKING DURING COVID-19 • Do not use areas (picnic, etc.) that are marked as closed.

• Hike solo or with the people you live with.

• Stay six feet away from people you do not live with.

• Choose less-frequented trails.

• Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash.

• Do not park in a crowded parking lot or use a crowded trail.

• Do not meet up or form groups.

• Wear a face covering in public outdoor spaces when you cannot maintain physical distancing of six feet or more from people outside of your immediate household.

HISTORIC SCENERY The Plaza Hall is one of the stops

on the San Juan Bautista Historic Walking Trail.

REDISCOVERING NATURE

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Mount Madonna County Park This 4,605-acre park overlooks the Santa Clara Valley to the east and Monterey Bay to the west, and is dominated by the redwood forest characteristic of the Santa Cruz Mountain range.

Park visitors can learn about areas where Ohlone Indians hunted and harvested, and why cattle baron Henry Miller spent his summers there.

Hikers and equestrians have access to an extensive 14-mile trail system; Mount Madonna Stables offers horseback trail rides; and a one-mile self-guided nature trail winds around the ruins of Miller's summer home.

To promote healthy distances, hikers are advised to plan their visit during the off-peak hours of Monday through Thursday, 10am-2pm.

Overcrowding of parking lots and trails can cause temporary closures. This is a fluid situation designed to control the amount of vehicles and visitors at any given time. Turnover can happen fairly quickly as park staff monitors the flow of attendance.

Maps that show wide trails for social distancing can be found at tinyurl.com/ y27exowp.

Mount Madonna County Park is located at 7850 Pole Line Road in Watsonville.

Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area Located in the Gabilan Mountains, Hollister Hills features more than 6,800 acres of scenic and varied terrain.

To promote physical distancing, the amount of visitors allowed in the park is reduced. When the park reaches full capacity, the main gate will be closed. Visitors are asked not to park on Cienega Road to wait for availability. Availability of parking is determined by park staff.

Day use is first come, first service.

Camping is only allowed in Madrone, Walnut and Bee campgrounds. Day use parking is only in Radio Ridge and Lodge.

All open flames and fires are currently prohibited in the park. This includes no smoking, and no wood or charcoal campfires or barbecues. Propane stoves are still allowed.

The park is located at 7800 Cienega Road in Hollister. For information, visit tinyurl.com/cvmepc.

HOME OF THE WEEK

Submitted photo

OCTOBER 16, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

CARR AVENUE This Aromas home includes a sizable garden.

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Overlooking the valley Aromas home features panoramic views with large garden

A digital solution for real estate professionals to attract prospects, sell homes and build listings For more information contact 831.458.1100

T

his remodeled home is located just above the town of Aromas.

Located at 492 Carr Ave., the 1,600-square-foot home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The kitchen is equipped with cherry wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a breakfast bar and bamboo floors. The first-floor master suite includes an oversized bathroom with custom cabinetry, double

sinks, walk-in closet, private deck, and direct access to the outdoor hot tub that overlooks the valley below.

Outside, there is an avocado tree, fruit trees, raised and fenced vegetable gardens, gardeners’ outbuilding and outdoor seating areas.

The home, built in 1977, is listed at $849,000 by Monterey Bay Properties. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y32xv6ge.

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE

wind-driven embers can still travel to the other side.

Don’t be ‘fuelish’ T Fuel breaks offer false sense of security

By DWIGHT GOOD

here has been a lot of effort put into the creation of fuel breaks around high fire hazard communities. Fuel breaks are usually a strip of land where flammable vegetation has been removed and less hazardous vegetation has been retained or planted. Fuel breaks vary in width, ranging from 30 feet or less to more than 100 feet.

Surprising to many people, the primary purpose of a fuel break is not necessarily to stop an oncoming fire. Typically, fuel breaks are created to improve the ability of firefighters to control an advancing wildfire. A fuel break can reduce fire intensity, provide an area to light a backfire, improve access for firefighters, and improve the effectiveness of fire retardants dropped from aircraft.

Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit. He has 25 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call 408.310.4654.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 16, 2020

FUEL BREAK While a fuel break helps firefighters control an advancing wildfire,

Unfortunately, fuel breaks can also provide a false sense of security. Some homeowners assume that once the fuel break is created, they are fire safe and that no further action on their part is required. This is not true. Winddriven embers can be transported over the fuel break and ignite new fires on the other side. Homes that have not prepared for the ember threat are vulnerable despite the presence of the fuel break.

While community-level fuel breaks are important in reducing the wildfire threat, they are not enough. Homeowners must continue to do their part by creating defensible space around their home and making their properties resistant to ignition from embers.

Will your home survive when the embers arrive? Wind-driven embers ignite many of the homes destroyed by wildfire. Your home could be at risk! Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to your home. Clean out debris from under your deck, and move woodpiles away from your house.

Most people believe that wildfires ignite homes through direct contact with flames, but it is rare to have a home ignite this way. Flaming brands and embers can travel a mile or more ahead of the active front of a wildfire and up to 60 percent of wildland/urban interface home ignitions result from embers.

The Ember Aware campaign is intended to educate people on the risks of ember cast and the actions they can take to reduce those risks, to encourage residents to harden their homes against embers and/or to maintain those ember-resistant features, and to practice embersafe housekeeping and landscaping. You can learn more at www. emberaware.com

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Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

October 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm

RSVP to admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org to receive the Zoom link

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