HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2017 Item 17, HiltyCOUNCIL MEETING: 3-2_11-/2 RECEIVED
ITEM NO.:_.. I t R� MAR 21 2017
From: Jennifer Hilty [
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2017 6:48 PM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.or >
Subject: NO nighttime hiking allowed on our City's Open Space Trails
Dear Council Members,
I am an avid outdoor enthusiast. I run and hike many of our natural open space
trails several times a week. I am urging you all to keep with the City's General
Plan that states the primary purpose of the City's natural open spaces is
protections of wildlife and their habitats with a SECONDARY purpose of passive
recreation ONLY if it does not degrade the natural resources being protected. As
it stands now passive recreational use is allowed from one hour before sunrise to
one hour after sunset, please do NOT allow for nighttime hiking, biking, etc.
As I was running the Bowden Ranch Open Space Trail this morning, I was
wondering how many of you have actually hiked this trail and then while hiking it,
considered to actually hike it in the dark! This trail, like most of our Open Space
trails is extremely rocky. About 3/4 of the way up, the trail starts to branch left,
right, center. It becomes extremely rocky and rugged and even though I have
hiked and run this trail hundreds of times, I still am constantly looking for the trail
ahead of me as it tends to branch off. I can only imagine what this would be like
at night! I think many folks would forge ahead and create their own trail as they
veer off the main trail onto an easier way up or down (this happens throughout
our Open Space Trails even in the daytime!) This trail is easy to lose your footing
on especially when it dries up with lack of rain, I would not want to hike down in
the dark. I am constantly looking 10 yards ahead of me to choose the correct
path and the safest way down. I can't imagine a headlamp giving me the visual
that I would need to navigate my way down. The article in the paper with the
picture of the South Hills actually made me laugh. The ridge line at the top is
extremely rocky, it requires sure footing and plenty of LIGHT to actually see
which way the trail is going. Once again it is easy to veer off the trail as the rocks
appear to make a trail and with care and enough LIGHT, you realize the way you
were going to go is actually not the trail.
There is something to be said about loving and using our natural resources to
death. These trails are being used all day long and they and the wildlife need a
break from our recreational activities.
I grew up here in SLO in the 1970's on Wilding Lane, when Bowden Ranch was a
horse pasture. There is plenty of wildlife in this Open Space that needs a break
from our human activities. Most animals are nocturnal and our presence at
nighttime would be disturbing to them. The deer, fox, coyotes, raccoons, bears
and mountain lions call the Bowden Ranch Open Space their home. I have seen
enough mountain lions on that hillside to NOT ever want to hike it in the dark.
Please allow these animals to forage for food and come down out of the hills for
water without the fear of humans encroaching on them constantly.
I am urging you all to keep with the current General Plan of allowing hiking one
hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Hilty
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