Next field trip: Let’s go to Grizzly Peak
Are you ready for the next Field Trip with Friends? Head to Grizzly Peak Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) on Saturday, Oct. 22 for the last free outing in the series offered by Friends of Plumas Wilderness.
Bill Battagin, owner of Feather River Solar Electric in Taylorsville, visits Grizzly Peak and ridge at least a dozen times a year, and will share his expertise with us. Meet at 10 a.m. at Quincy Natural Foods (269 Main Street) to carpool and caravan on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Battagin’s knowledge of Grizzly Peak comes from a range of activities he’s done there, including hang-gliding off the peak, skiing, overnight trips, honeymooning with his wife Denise, swimming in Devil’s Punchbowl, and hiking every year on his birthday from his home in Genesee Woods to the peak.
Bill has lived in Plumas County for 44 years, and says, “Grizzly Ridge matters to me because it is still roadless, wild, quiet and untrampled. I love to hike along the spine of the ridge or drop down the north side to explore the unique landscapes, tarns, and rocks.”
Wildfire history, management and risk; plant study and identification; and discussion about roadless area management and possibilities for future protections are the focus of the day. We will also point out landmarks near and far thanks to the amazing 360° views from the top.
“October is hard to beat in Plumas County,” said Darla DeRuiter, Executive Director. “And getting up high on Grizzly Peak with Bill Battagin is a great way to spend a Saturday.”
Inventoried Roadless Areas are unroaded lands at least 5,000 acres identified by the US Forest Service under the 2001 Roadless Rule. On the Plumas National Forest, there are 5 IRAs totaling 65,000 acres, totaling just 6 percent of the forest. This means that over 90 percent of the PNF is roaded – a legacy of our mining and logging history.
There are four permanent tools of protection that Friends of Plumas Wilderness is exploring. Through the field trip series, information is being shared about each of these tools: Research Natural Areas, Wild & Scenic Rivers, Wilderness Areas, and National Monuments.
For the final event of the series, host Charles Wilkinson will talk about whether a National Monument is the right fit for Plumas. There is limited seating for this event, to be held at the West End Theater on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please contact Darla DeRuiter at [email protected].
Meeting locations, what to bring, and more information about each field trip can be found at https://plumaswilderness.org/connect/events-outings/ or by emailing [email protected].
