Loving the outside requires us all to be good stewards of the lands the place we select to play. Many nationwide and state parks and forests depend on nonprofit companions to assist educate the general public and deal with the wilderness. Los Padres Forest Affiliation (LPFA), together with its devoted volunteers, works to assist Los Padres Nationwide Forest—practically two million acres of wilderness in southern and central California.
Bryan Conant has been the Govt Director of LPFA since 2013. He has a powerful background in path design and upkeep and works intently with the Los Padres Nationwide Forest and different associate organizations to supervise the upkeep and restoration of trails. He additionally enjoys backpacking, climbing, and mountain biking within the forest.
Paul Cronshaw, often known as “The Beeman” for his beekeeping ardour, is a Gossamer Gear model ambassador, in addition to the Lite Hiker Coordinator and a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with LPFA. Via his ardour for the Los Padres Nationwide Forest, Gossamer Gear has had an opportunity to associate with LPFA in supporting this wilderness—notably via a fairly stellar used gear sale that occurs every October! Learn extra about that and rather more under.
We caught up with Bryan and Paul to study extra about their work with LPFA, how their epic used gear sale obtained began, and how one can assist with the group’s mission. We hope their insights encourage you to get entangled with LPFA or one other nonprofit supporting the naturescapes the place you play.
Gossamer Gear: Bryan, are you able to begin us off by giving a bit overview of what Los Padres Forest Affiliation does?
Bryan: The Los Padres Forest Affiliation (LPFA) was based in 1979 as an interpretive group centered on educating the general public in regards to the forest and serving to protect lots of the historic treasures inside Los Padres Nationwide Forest. We at present handle two customer facilities right here in Los Padres. Between the customer facilities, our web sites, and social media, we spend quite a lot of time serving to the general public benefit from the forest in a protected and accountable method.
Whereas our roots stay in training, quite a lot of our power can be centered on path upkeep and serving to the general public get into the forest. Now we have a full-time skilled path crew that works tirelessly across the forest serving to maintain the paths open and we additionally lead common volunteer path tasks starting from single day to 10+ day working holidays. As well as, we assist with signal installations, campground repairs, historic constructing upkeep, outreach, and mainly the rest that is likely to be wanted throughout Los Padres. For those who boil all of it down, LPFA is right here to assist individuals take pleasure in their time within the forest, assist the Forest Service as a lot as we are able to, and assist guarantee Los Padres Nationwide Forest is cared for at this time and into the longer term.
Paul, in what methods have you ever been concerned with LPFA over time?
Paul: In 2000, I attended my first Los Padres Nationwide Forest Volunteer Wilderness Ranger (VWR) coaching class taught by Dave Weaver. I used to be hooked and signed as much as be one in all his first rangers in this system. Over time, I’ve been concerned with LPFA via a number of packages, together with:
- Los Padres Nationwide Forest VWR, doing wilderness patrols (“eyes and ears” within the forest), path surveys, path upkeep, and guiding Boy Scout Eagle tasks
- Light-weight backpacking coordinator (AKA: Lengthy Ranger Particular Forces; Our motto: Take Much less, Go Quick, Go Far), making light-weight gear displays to the general public and Boy Scout troops
- Co-instructor for LPFA’s “Fundamentals of Backpacking” class
- LPFA consultant at public and Boy Scout troop conferences
- Honeybee marketing consultant
- Path signal restorer
- Wilderness rest room maintainer
What makes this group notably particular to you?
Paul: I’ve loved the social connections of realizing and sharing many journeys and tasks with different like-minded LPFA volunteers who collaborate with the Forest Service to keep up the Los Padres Nationwide Forest. Backpacking and dealing on LPFA path tasks has saved me in good bodily form to dwell a life exemplified by a bumper sticker—“Volunteers Dwell Longer”—and has helped me take care of my “Nature Deficit Dysfunction.”
What’s one reminiscence every of you could have out of your involvement with LPFA that you just assume captures the essence of the nonprofit?
Bryan: I feel LPFA is at its greatest throughout our giant scale working trip volunteer path tasks. We often host 3 to 4 working holidays annually and we get a lot nice path work completed and have a lot enjoyable within the course of. Our working holidays usually have round 20 to 30 volunteers and we’re out on the path for 7 to 10 days at a time. LPFA gives all of the meals and drinks for the time we’re on the market, and we make the most of mule packers to assist usher in all of the gear, meals, and provides. Now we have a delegated cook dinner who stays at camp and helps be sure that all of the volunteers are properly fed. In the meantime, the volunteers are out on the path eight hours a day clearing brush, cross-cutting downed bushes, and clearing no matter different path obstacles we’d encounter. The working holidays are open to everybody. We get an important numerous group of volunteers and everybody will get into a very wholesome circulate throughout the week the place you’re with pals, within the forest, and serving to with the paths all of us love. The working holidays are the perfect!
Paul: There are a lot of LPFA reminiscences, however maybe probably the most memorable one is the rebuilding of South Fork Guard Station. I may write so much about this restoration course of, however Rik Christensen wrote a beautiful manuscript known as “Saving South Fork Cabin.” You’ll be able to learn a copy of it right here. This ongoing cabin upkeep venture continues to seize the essence of volunteerism for a nonprofit group.
Let’s speak in regards to the annual gear sale! How did it get began and the way has it developed over time? What makes it a novel occasion?
Paul: It began in 2016 when Gossamer Gear despatched us some packing containers of used gear. A few of it wanted restore work. Luckily, Rik was an car restoration specialist, a light-weight backpacker, and seamster. He used his heavy-duty stitching machine to restore many distressed backpacking gear gadgets. Apart from a pair years, it has developed to develop into an annual occasion. It’s a distinctive occasion the place the general public can donate used gear to assist LPFA. The attendees are launched to LPFA and Gossamer Gear. It’s a one-day occasion the place fellow outside fanatics come collectively, reconnect, and swap tales about gear and backpacking journeys.
Bryan: Rik fortunately took the reins and was the lead for the primary 5 or so occasions. Paul has adopted the blueprint and took over for Rik the previous two years. Each Rik and Paul have been the center and soul of the used gear sale, and their enthusiasm for gear and trails is simply in all places at these occasions—you may virtually see it. I feel what actually makes this occasion distinctive is the fervour and love of the forest that all of us share, and it’s by no means extra obvious than at these occasions. We’re not solely attempting to assist individuals get arrange with some candy path gear, but additionally speaking about our native trails and sharing tales in regards to the historical past of the forest and what trails are in good condition or dangerous form, the place the perfect water is, and so forth. It’s extra of a Los Padres trails love fest that occurs to even have gear on the market. Like I stated, all of it begins with our nice volunteers like Paul, and naturally, having the superior assist from Gossamer Gear makes it that significantly better too!
You’ve each talked about our pricey pal Rik Christensen a bit already, and that is the primary yr of the occasion since he handed. Are you able to share a bit on Rik’s contributions to LPFA and any methods it’s possible you’ll be honoring his legacy?
Bryan: Rik was simply so passionate and stoked on the forest and trails that it was infectious. He completely shined on the used gear gross sales. Listening to him speak with somebody about Gossamer Gear packs, getting them fitted with the right one, and chatting about trails and being outdoors—it was magical listening to him in his ingredient. Along with the used gear sale, Rik was at all times all the way down to assist no matter LPFA had happening within the forest. He was a stalwart in any respect our working holidays. He was just about always on the paths, and simply such an important ambassador not just for Gossamer Gear and LPFA, however most significantly, for being outdoors. I so miss him.
Paul: Rik’s contributions (AKA: Ranger Rik) to LPFA embody:
- VWR, doing wilderness patrols, path surveys, and path upkeep
- Founder and coordinator of the LPFA annual used gear sale
- South Fork Guard Station restoration venture coordinator
- LPFA consultant at public and Boy Scout troop conferences
Rik is a legend within the Los Padres Nationwide Forest. We’re honoring him at this yr’s LPFA used gear sale occasion. We will even be honoring his legacy with a memorial plaque on the South Fork Guard Station.
In what methods has LPFA partnered with Gossamer Gear over time and what has that connection meant to your work?
Bryan: The used gear sale is definitely on the forefront on the subject of the partnership between LPFA and Gossamer Gear. I’m a mountain biker, hiker, canine walker, and path designer, however greater than the rest, I’m a backpacker. To me, having the assist of the business chief in backpacking gear (Gossamer Gear), is simply so cool. That assist validates a lot of what we do and for certain helps LPFA within the eyes of backpackers throughout the area. For us to say that we associate with Gossamer Gear is really a recreation changer. THANK YOU!
Paul: LPFA is the recipient of used gear from Gossamer Gear, with proceeds serving to to keep up trails in Los Padres Nationwide Forest.
What are the perfect methods individuals can assist LPFA and get extra concerned?
Bryan: We’re at all times on the lookout for individuals to assist us assist the forest. That may be completed via donations, by popping out and volunteering with us, and even by sharing data out of your time within the forest. We study a lot simply from individuals emailing us after their forest journeys and letting us find out about path circumstances, water availability, or no matter else they discovered alongside their journey. We love serving to path customers, however on the similar time, we additionally love path customers serving to us. We’re right here to assist the forest and we’ll take no matter assist we are able to from individuals who additionally need to assist the forest. That being stated, we’re at all times on the lookout for individuals who prefer to menu-plan and cook dinner on our working holidays!
Paul: Via volunteering, attending LPFA working holidays and different trail-related tasks, posting outside experiences on social media, and camp and path updates on the Hike Los Padres web site.
Help Los Padres Forest Affiliation in Sustaining Our Public Lands for Years to Come
Organizations like LPFA be sure that the paths we love final for generations. They create a neighborhood of people that care and may share their love of the outside collectively. For those who’d prefer to assist LPFA, try their web site for extra data on find out how to donate, volunteer, or attend one in all their occasions. Their well-known annual used gear sale will happen on October 22, 2023, when you’re on the lookout for nice offers on Gossamer Gear merchandise and different gently liked gear.
Know one other nice group supporting our public lands? Be at liberty to share your favorites with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
In search of extra outside inspiration? Take a look at our different articles on the Mild Ft weblog: