Help Needed for Pleasants Peak this Saturday Oct 10
I’m looking for a few volunteers to join me on a cleanup ride to Pleasants Peak this Saturday, our CNF trail maps are ready for pickup, and the public comment period on the proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule closes Tuesday, October 6.
Another Summit, Another Service
Pleasants Peak needs our help. There is an abandoned camp at the summit that I’ve been keeping an eye on for at least four weeks. There’s a tarp, some old shirts and a small amount of trash left behind.
It shouldn’t take much work to haul everything out, but first we have to get up there. I’m looking for people to join me on a pilgrimage to Pleasants this coming Saturday, October 10. Bring a small backpack and we’ll each carry a little out.
Meet at 6:45 AM; pedal at 7:00 AM. We’ll meet at the bottom of Main Street Trail in the dirt lot at the end of South Main Street (the road). We can either hike-a-bike straight up Main Street Trail or climb Eagle. We’ll descend Main Street, one of our proposed trails.
This is a great opportunity to visit yet another amazing Santa Ana summit and ride an awesome trail–Main Street is 2400’ vertical top-to-bottom, not including the summit pitch!
Please RSVP.
Our CNF Trail Maps Are Ready for Pickup
As mentioned last time, I’ve printed the 24” x 36” poster maps and am working on getting them to everyone who ordered one.
I also printed extras for anyone who missed the first run. The maps are available for a $60 donation, with local pickup only. If you’d like one, make your donation and we’ll arrange to get it to you. You can view and download the map from our website.
For map pickup—or simply to join me on a ride—here are a few upcoming opportunities to meet up:
Thursday, October 8 - Irvine Regional/Santiago Oaks (The Path Bike Shop group ride): 5:15 PM meet / 5:30 PM ride. Meet at Lot C.
Saturday, October 10 - Main Street trailhead. 6:45 AM meet for the Pleasants Peak cleanup ride.
Last Chance to Submit Your Comment About Roadless Rule
As I’ve mentioned in recent newsletters, USDA has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. Outdoor recreation and conservation organizations—including our local OCMTBA and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)—have opposed the proposal.
I also posted a 60-second Instagram reel showcasing riding in our Trabuco Ranger District’s Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) with the message that protections covering these roadless areas are proposed for rescission. That post drew comments from a couple people who disagreed with our position. Additionally, I’ve spoken with a couple others.
For full disclosure, the counterpoints I heard were that rescission may have little effect in the Trabuco Ranger District because there is little commercially valuable timber; that additional road access could improve fire response, fuels treatment and trail maintenance; and that more roads could potentially create additional recreation opportunities.
I appreciate those perspectives, and I think it’s worth acknowledging that some members of our recreation community see the issue differently. But they have not changed my position.
As I’ve stated in the past and during the Protect California’s Roadless Forests webinar, I oppose rescinding the Roadless Rule. The rule does not prohibit trail construction or maintenance, and it already allows certain forest-management activities. What it does is place limits on new road construction and commercial timber harvest in Inventoried Roadless Areas. I believe those protections are worth keeping.
I encourage you to read the comments on our Instagram post and learn more about the proposal. Then, if you agree that these protections should remain in place, please make your voice heard.
The public comment period on the proposed Roadless Rule rescission closes tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Submit your comment today!
