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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
Our 280 park units which includes beaches, lakes, forests, deserts, off-highway vehicle recreation areas and historic preservation sites are open for Thanksgiving.
When you do head outdoors to our state parks, be sure to share your story by participating in this year’s #InventYourAdventure contest called “Every Adventure has a Story.”
Just visit your favorite state park between November 24 to 26, 2017, and post a photo or video on Instagram, telling us why that park is special to you. Valid submissions are eligible to win one of six travel backpacks ($200) provided directly from Eagle Creek.
Full details, including contest rules and regulations, can be found online at www.parks.ca.gov/InventYourAdventure.
Also, for the third consecutive year, California State Parks and the Save the Redwoods League teamed up to offer free day-use admission passes at more than 40 redwoods state parks for use on #RedwoodsFriday – Friday, Nov. 24 (Black Friday). Passes are going fast so grab yours by visiting www.RedwoodsFriday.org.
If you are visiting our parks for the first time, be sure to plan ahead and take some extra precautions.
Outdoor plan
Leave an itinerary of your trip with a family member or friend with information such as:
– Name and age of hikers/campers.
– Level of outdoors experience.
– Trailhead or campsite name and location.
– Time of departure and expected return.
– Information about your gear such as tent color, outerwear color and vehicle make, model, color and license plate.
– If heading to the snow, take tire chains.
Hiking safety
– Use the buddy system – hike with a friend or family member.
– Drink and carry plenty of food and water (minimum of 1 quart every 2 hours).
– Check the weather. Weather can change instantly.
– Bring sunscreen and use it.
– Dress appropriately. Bring layers of clothing. Wear appropriate shoes such as hiking boots and close-toed shoes.
– Beware of wildlife. Never feed or touch wildlife.
California State Parks encourages carpooling with family and friends as some parks have limited parking spaces.
For more safety tips, please visit the department’s Web site at www.parks.ca.gov/safetytips.
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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – It is as traditional as pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes for many in Lake County. The free Annual Turkey Trot, started by the Lake County Milers in 2003 and now presented by Adventist Health Clear Lake, will begin at Hardester’s Plaza in Hidden Valley Lake on the morning of Nov. 23.
The free fun run invites families to get some exercise and enjoy time outdoors before sitting down to their Thanksgiving feast.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Hardester’s Plaza, 19849 Hartman Road, before taking off at 9 a.m. through the quiet streets of Hidden Valley Lake.
Participants can choose a three-mile run or two-mile walk. Strollers and polite dogs on leashes are welcome.
The famous holiday raffle will complete the morning’s festivities. Families can enter the raffle by bringing nonperishable food items to be donated to Restoration House, a five-bedroom home in Lower Lake that provides transitional housing to vulnerable members of the community.
“Thanksgiving Day is all about gratitude, so it’s wonderful that a fun event like the Turkey Trot includes a way to share our blessings with others,” said Shelly Mascari, Adventist Health Clear Lake’s director of community wellness.
Adventist Health Clear Lake began presenting the annual Turkey Trot at the invitation of the Lake County Milers last year.
The health care organization offers primary care and specialty care services in the Coyote Valley Plaza behind Hardester’s Plaza.
Medical center and clinic staff will be volunteering at the starting line and out on the course to ensure a fun event for all.
“The Turkey Trot is a great way to start the day off right with family and friends,” said Kevin Cole, Adventist Health Clear Lake’s cardiopulmonary director, who is leading the organizing team. “We look forward to seeing our neighbors being active and celebrating together on Thanksgiving morning!”
To learn more about the free Turkey Trot, visit www.facebook.com/adventisthealthclearlake or call 707-995-5884.
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
How to find youth hunt opportunities
Question: My 11-year-old daughter recently passed her hunter education class. We are both really excited!
We live just outside Yuba City and we are looking for opportunities to go duck hunting. I am an amateur and I don't really know what I'm doing. We have the basics, even a dozen decoys, but I'm a little intimidated about taking her to the refuges even though they are nearby.
Are there some options you can suggest that cater to youth hunters? (Richard, Yuba City)
Answer: We are always happy to hear about a not-so-experienced hunter who is either striving to educate himself or herself about hunting and/or encouraging their kids.
There are plenty of opportunities within our public hunting areas as well as private waterfowl conservation and hunting groups.
The hunt options within our own wildlife refuge system should help reduce the intimidation and provide you and your daughter with some opportunities to get in a good hunt.
You can go through the online waterfowl reservation system to apply to hunt some of the refuges in reasonable proximity of Yuba City. Do this together and read the information carefully. Let her explore the rest of the waterfowl hunting Web page to see if it sparks even more interest in waterfowl hunting.
If you are drawn for a low enough reservation number at any of the refuges that have blinds, you're in luck. Refuges with blinds frequently offer a great opportunity with some level of privacy because no other hunters will be very close to you. If not drawn low enough to get a blind, it is still worth going. Just show up and feel free to ask for assistance from refuge staff about where to go. It's an early morning start so be sure to make your daughter aware of this ahead of time.
Private waterfowl conservation organizations regularly accommodate new or youth hunters. They are not terribly expensive to join and the money you contribute to the organization goes to a great cause. They share the same goals of conserving waterfowl habitat and providing youth hunters great opportunities to hook them and make them lifelong hunters and waterfowl conservationists. Inquire with those organizations about their many special youth hunt opportunities.
And last, plan to participate in the youth waterfowl hunting weekend, which is usually the weekend after the normal close of the season for adult hunters. It is the best opportunity for youth hunters all year for a great waterfowl hunting experience. It is all about the youth hunters on those days and there are countless stories of trips of a lifetime for new hunters on those very special weekends. The 2018 Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt is Feb. 3-4. Good luck!
Why are geese flying the same route every day?
Question: I live near Antioch, in Brentwood. In the past couple of weeks, apparently the geese have changed their flight pattern, because suddenly, every single day, they fly over a certain portion of my back patio leaving quite a mess.
Do you think this will continue for the rest of my life (I'm 68) or do you think they will eventually change their flight pattern again? I thought that the birds I see today would be 200 miles away tomorrow, so I'm not sure why they continue to fly right across the same area now and why it happened so suddenly.
I have lived here over a year, and it only started occurring a couple of weeks ago. I realize there is nothing that can be done about it, but I need to know if I should move – or if they will. (Karen)
Answer: According to Dan Skalos, a wildlife biologist in CDFW's waterfowl program, the geese you are seeing are likely local resident Canada geese.
Not much is known about their migratory patterns (which vary from area to area) but they are likely short-distance migrants or non-migratory, much different than their arctic nesting relatives.
Without investigating your situation, we can only speculate why these geese are flying over your house, but it seems likely that you are between a roost location and a food resource. Roost and forage locations change throughout the year so at some point the geese will stop flying over your house.
Depending on what resources these particular geese are using, this may be a temporary – but annual – event.
Often this time of year resident geese are feeding on post-harvest agricultural fields such as wheat or corn. If the geese are using agricultural fields, the normal annual rotation of these crops should keep this from happening every year.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife thanks Richard and Karen for their questions. If you have a question, please feel free to ask us via email at
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- Written by: Editor
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – More than 200 runners and spectators from all over the Bay Area enjoyed spectacular views, chip timing and a challenging course amongst the vines as the Lake County Milers Running Club held its second Vine to Wine run 5k/10k at Cache Creek Winery and Vineyards on Sunday, Nov. 5.
The event sported perfect fall weather and an incredible venue and course seldom offered at the crop of “Vine Runs” that have sprung up in the last few years around wine country.
“Our race is unique,” said Lake County Milers President Bill Burnett. “it is not often that runners actually get to run amongst the vines in a true ‘vine run,’ but rather experience the vines from a paved road as they pass by.”
The faster runners were prompted to run their best, vying in the 10k distance (6.2 miles) for the top prize of a free entry into the nationally acclaimed Napa Valley Marathon, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sunday, March 4.
The race was advertised all around the North Bay and Sacramento areas, spotlighting the marathon prize.
Middletown resident Dan Sweet, age 38, won the marathon entry with a fantastic time of 38 minutes, 7 seconds (6:08 pace) on the challenging course.
The second place overall winner was Kenny Brown, age 48, of Santa Rosa with a time of 41:03 (6:37 pace). Third place winner was Lake County Miler member Connor Disney of Lakeport with a finish time of 45:43 (7:22 pace).
Repeat Boston qualifier Jennifer Perez, age 37, of Hidden Valley Lake, a top runner in the Lake County Milers, landed the top prize for the female division with a finish time of 48 minutes, 11 seconds (7:46 pace).
The Lake County Milers can boast a sweep for the women’s top three spots in the 10K this year with Megan Buffalo of Lakeport taking second place with a finish time of 48:51 (7:52 pace) and Alisha Bazzano, age 44, of Hidden Valley Lake finishing in 49:59 (8:03 pace).
Local talented youth shined bright in the equally challenging 5k course. The first place overall finisher in the 5k was Isaac Rascon, age 14, of Middletown with a finishing time of 18 minutes, 48 seconds (6:03 pace).
“Isaac ran an incredible pace on that course,” said event Director Jeanine Burnett. “Equally astonishing is that Anna Cobb, age 10, of Hidden Valley Lake was able to pull off a sub 7-minute mile paced 5K at such a young age.”
Both Anna and Isaac landed a free entry into the New Year’s Day Resolution Run held in Yountville on Jan. 1, 2018.
The New Year's Day 5K/10K event is a Lake County Miler favorite for both walkers and runners alike.
The Milers encourage other Lake County residents to join in the fun and healthy New Year’s day habit by registering at www.naparesolutionrun.com.
Youth was on Isaac and Anna’s side in this year’s race because besides a free race entry, they both won a $25 gift certificate from Heart and Sole Sports Running store of Santa Rosa for being the fastest runners in the 19 and under division.
The Vine to Wine run was also geared towards active walkers and joggers and age division medals were awarded (three deep) in ages spanning from age 6 to 70+.
For their labor, participants received a long sleeve performance tech shirt, a sumptuous lunch catered by Rosie Cooks catering, and if 21 and over, a logo wine glass and a glass of Cache Creek wine.
Participant Stephanie Zukowski expressed her enthusiasm for the event. “Fantastic run today. Super organized and a beautiful destination to run. I’m from Concord so it’s a getaway weekend for me and my friends. I will look forward to next year’s race.”
For full race results visit www.lakecountymilers.com.
The Milers are hosting weekend training runs for the Napa Valley Marathon. Email
The Lake County Milers are gearing up for another fun and motivating year in 2018. The group is accepting memberships for 2018.
To find out more about the Lake County Milers and to register as a member visit www.lakecountymilers.com.
