I'll make some calls and see when they will let us go into the Grindstone area, right now it's still under a full closure because of the firefighting activity.  Thursday would be good, the weekend is supposed to heat up again.

Latest update, the fire has burned about 30,000 acres, it's 95% contained with most of the firefighters heading out to other fires.  My un-named source tells me that Stonyford will be closed off to OHV use and most other recreation use for 1 to 3 years because of extensive and expensive rehabilitation of the trails and some roads.  They have not come up withn a time frame as to when they will start the rehab process, but when they do, the USFS will be more than willing to accept any volunteer time to get the trails back open.  This could also be an excellent window for new trails to be created, something that happens very rarely with the USFS.  I'm being optomistic that with enough help, we can get Stony back up and running in a year or two.

good luck getting  volunteers. lf the rehab goes like the water system at fouts its gonna be a long long time

squid reuel, on 18 July 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

Boy, that's the truth....

Have they said what started it yet? I just know we will get the blame.

All they will say is that it was human caused, still under investigation.  Maybe they are looking for a suspect(s)?  Whoever started it has ruined a lot of people's recreation...

Any word on a work party? How about when we can get up there again?

cag33, on 28 September 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

I'd estimate there will be no riding in the burned area for a minimum of 3 years. Trees are falling in that area as we speak, and this winter the blowdown will be incredible..Work parties are years down the road.

They are getting volunteer days scheduled there once a month and I think the first one is on October 20, I'm on an email list from the Willows office that is putting the rehab program together, so I'll post it up shortly.

Contact Janelle Taggart at 530 963-1328, or email her at jctaggart@fs.fed.us, she'll send you a volunteer form and details of the work parties coming up.

hockdog, on 29 September 2012 - 08:23 AM, said:

Hockdog, I hope I get proven WRONG on my estimate.....Right on with the work parties, thanx for for your posts - lets hope for the best..
I'm using Chappie up north (Shasta area - I was on that fire as well, major FUBARed that area up) as my barometer...took a few years for that to open up.

Dyrtmon, you were on the Wye fire too, weren't you?  I flew over the tower line last week and got a better look at the burn areas, a lot of land got torched.

Must've been a real hot fire because it looks like the ground got sterilized on some of the hills and there isn't even any stubble left of the manzanita, kinda how Stony looks right now...

If we get a cool spell, lets get a ride in either at MC or Cow, you out there Ossi?

Here's the email I got from Janelle regarding the work party on October 20.




Hello all Eager Volunteers!

I have attached a Volunteer Agreement just in case you didn’t receive one on my prior emails I sent out. Please fill out completely and sign this form, if you haven’t already, and either mail (address below), fax (530-963-3173) or scan it and email back to me as soon as you can. (If you are the head of a group/club and have a volunteer agreement with us already, I will only need an updated list of members.) If you know of anyone else who would like to volunteer during our event please feel free to forward this information to them.

Some of you had questions about filling out the “Site Name/Project Leader,” “Agency” and “Reimbursement” boxes. I have filled in the “Site Name/Project Leader” and “Reimbursement” boxes for you and you may leave the “Agency” box blank.


Ok, now that all the paperwork questions are answered and addressed we can move onto the nitty gritty!


After discussing the many projects we have in regards to the Mill Fire Rehab we have decided on a project for the October 20^th event. We will be focusing our effort on replacing barriers that burned during the Mill Fire in and around the Fouts Spring area. This is an important part of our rehabilitation efforts in order to protect our Cultural and Historical sites throughout Stonyford. This project is not only important but it will also help streamline efforts in order to reopen trails within this area as soon as possible knowing we have protected these sites.

This project is mostly going to utilize our man power, so no bikes or heavy equipment is needed for this event. What we need you to bring is your PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) such as: Boots, Gloves, Eye Protection (safety glasses), long pants and long sleeves. Also bring your foul weather gear such as: Sun Gear (sunblock and hat), Rain Gear and Wind Gear (windbreaker) as this event will be rain, wind or shine.    

All of the work we will be doing is within walking distance of Fouts Springs and Davis Flats Campground. There will be a lot of lifting, moving ,placing and installing of barriers weighing up to 50+ pounds as well as the use of sledge hammers to install the barriers once in place. This event will be 5-6 hours long depending on the volunteer’s energy level. So please come well rested and ready to do some hard work J

Camping will be available within Davis Flats Campground; bring plenty of food and drink as installing these barriers can burn up energy fast. Please come see me at the beginning of the event regarding camp fee waivers. As you know the Mill Fire did a large amount of damage to our forest and trails so many of the trails are still closed. The only open trail in the Fouts Spring area for riding is Trail 42, accessible through Davis Flats Campground at the north end. This trail is available to all current Red and Green sticker riding and about a 0.9 mile loop. If you would like to bring your dual sport, the M10 is open to traffic and you’ll be able to ride the fire perimeter. Remember that the M10 is a county road and no red or green sticker OHV vehicles are allowed - only highway legal vehicles allowed.

Information Regarding this event is as followed:

10:00am-10:30am – Meet at Davis Flat Campground – Look for the Us Forest Service Vehicles and personnel.
At this time we will go over the volunteer agreements, project (location) and discuss any job hazards or safety concerns related to this project.
10:45am – Meet at Jobsite and assign tasks, duties and gather require tools from US Forest Service personnel
Please bring your necessary PPE, food and drink with you at this time. We will be spending the rest of the time on the jobsite.
11:00am-1:00pm – Work on installation of barriers
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch Break
2:00pm-3:30pm – Continue work on barrier installation
3:30pm-4:00pm – Gather all tools and equipment used and cleanup worksite

As a reminder I am a full time student at San Jose State University and have class down in the San Jose Bay Area Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and I am in the office at Stonyford Thursday and Friday and some Saturdays. I am very excited to be a part of this rehabilitation work here at Stoyford. If you have questions that absolutely need to be answered during the week please contact Sarah Ridenour at 530-963-1327. If it can wait until Thursday or Friday, I will respond as soon as I get into the office and check my email.

I look forward to working with all of you and appreciate your enthusiasm to help us after the Mill Fire Inccident.

Thank you,

Janelle Taggart
Forestry Rec Tech
Mendocino National Forest
Grindstone Ranger District
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Rd
Stonyford, CA 95979
(530)963-1328

Installing barriers...pass. Better to wait for if/when they do some trail rehab.

Edited by rxbandit, 29 September 2012 - 11:17 PM.

The one weekend in Oct I have something to do. Next one

rxbandit, on 29 September 2012 - 11:16 PM, said:

Yeah, barriers,.... that will get the trails rehabbed sooner so we can ride...What's up with the next work party, put up Christmas lights on the Work Center in town? Sure would like to know what Cultural and Historic sites are being protected by putting up railroad tie barriers in Davis Flats....really, is that the best use of volunteer manpower they can come up with??  If I'm going to go through all of the trouble, expense and time to do a work party, make it worth my valuable time to do some real work.