MOUNTAINS + MOLEHILLS
  • Blog
  • About
  • Our People
  • Contact

a Sonoma Land Trust stewardship blog

Mountains + Molehills focuses on the adventures of the Sonoma Land Trust stewardship crew, and the day-to-day challenges and blessings that they face. The daily schedule of each crew member may involve working with power shovels, connecting with landowners, hiking around the Sonoma Valley Wildlife Corridor, building habitat for burrowing owls, avoiding skunks, trooping through poison oak, and so much more. Every day is an adventure, and we hope to share those adventures with you!

from sea to sky

1/23/2019

2 Comments

 

by Shanti Edwards

We did it! Together, with our conservation partners The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) and Sonoma Ag + Open Space, we opened the Jenner Headlands and Pole Mountain for public recreation, and invited residents and visitors alike to explore the landscape and deepen their connection with the Sonoma Coast. Since the Gateway parking lot on Highway 1 opened September 7, our trail counters indicate that 6,568 cars passed through the parking lot the first month, and nearly 300 hikers reached the Pole Mountain Summit in October. Visitation was down during the month of November due to poor air quality, but December was a busy month with a steady stream of happy hikers. 
The upwelling of responses on social media has been thrilling to watch, and I am heartened by the expression of photography catalogued through the Instagram hashtag #jennerheadlandspreserve. It is quite remarkable to witness hikers' connection to the landscape through their camera lenses.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jerry Dodrill (@dodrillphoto) on Sep 6, 2018 at 11:04pm PDT

Most of all, it is truly exciting to fulfill the acquisition vision of a working ranch stewarded for ecological goals that is open to the public -- nearly 10 years after Sonoma Land Trust acquired the Jenner Headlands. The Sea to Sky trail recreational corridor is a mosaic of coastal grasslands, riparian forests, oak woodlands and coniferous forest, managed at a landscape-scale for ecological function, wildlife habitat and recreational uses. Through proactive land stewardship, these historic working ranches utilize tools like cattle grazing and forest management to promote native flora, reduce fuel loads and improve forest health -- and now the public can witness our land stewardship work firsthand! To learn more about land stewardship at the Jenner Headlands, check out this Bay Nature article.

This hiking destination puts Sonoma County on the map of world-class trail opportunities, but the Pole Mountain summit destination is only for the heartiest of hikers (unless you wish to join one of our On the Land hikes launched from the nearby Little Black Mountain preserve).

Lucky us, who live here and get to call the Sonoma County home. If you see the TWC rangers and trail stewards, be sure to thank them for their role in making this trail experience possible!

#jennerheadlandspreserve on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by คlēx titนŞ (@atitus707) on Sep 26, 2018 at 11:45am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steven Swanson (@swaneeriver) on Nov 5, 2018 at 11:37am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shawn Boland (@rusty_eyeball_creations) on Oct 15, 2018 at 7:59am PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Ghost on the Shore (@nineinchundertow) on Sep 8, 2018 at 5:11pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DUSTIN BOONE (@deeboskim) on Sep 26, 2018 at 11:07pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by â–¡.â–¡.â–¡.â–¡.â–¡ (@mooseberrybush) on Oct 2, 2018 at 8:30pm PDT


Shanti Edwards is a stewardship project manager for the Land Trust's preserves along the Sonoma Coast.

2 Comments
Ellie Rilla
1/23/2019 07:49:22 am

Beautifully written Shsnti! I have loved my experiences hiking, introducing friends to JHP and Hawkhill. Can’t wait for wildflower season.

Reply
Don Evans link
10/10/2022 10:26:29 am

Involve none certain wrong garden off nature. Study recognize likely thing room top. Happen identify field work toward.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    about us

    Sonoma Land Trust is a local nonprofit based in Santa Rosa, CA, that conserves scenic, natural, agricultural and open lands in Sonoma County for the benefit of the community and future generations. This blog focuses on SLT's stewardship team, whose members do hands-on work to directly protect, restore, and safeguard the land for generations to come.

    subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required
    Give Now

    archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    categories

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Our People
  • Contact