Join Vivian Neou and Ray Curiel on an excursion at the northernmost edge of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires of 2020. We will walk along Old Haul Road, one of the fire breaks. Along the way we’ll discuss details of the fire’s impacts to Pescadero Creek County Park, in addition to historic logging impacts, fire ecology and the natural role it plays in forest health. We’ll contrast how understory plants such as ceanothus, huckleberry and more responded to the burn as compared to those that were not touched by fire.

We’ll also talk about the San Mateo County Park Department’s plans for forest management to improve ecosystem health, and how the department is planning to implement work from the County’s Climate and Habitat Resiliency Plan for the park. To learn more about the plan, visit www.smcgov.org/parks/pcp-climate-habitat-resiliency.

The hike will be 3 miles in length with some moderate uphill stretches. The closest restrooms are at nearby Memorial Park (approximately 0.4 miles up the road past the trailhead, as you approach the trailhead from the north), so plan on arriving a little early to use the facilities there if needed. There is no water on the trail, so fill water bottles in advance. Bring layers as it can be cold.

We will meet at Hoffman Creek Trailhead along Wurr Road at 10:00am. The address is 1400 Wurr Road, Loma Mar, CA 94021 but using Hoffman Creek Trailhead is more reliable for locating the site.

RSVP is required to join us for the hike. No drop-ins please and space is limited. Please visit our Chapter’s Meetup page, here: www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/. We open the RSVPs one week before the event. Find your event within the page and tap/click the “Attend” button to reserve your spot.