Los Padres Forest Association Annual Gear Sale and Workcamps

The Los Padres Forest Association’s (LPFA) 7th Annual Used Outdoor Gear Sale is on October 22, at 11 am at Tucker’s Grove Site #2, Santa Barbara. Bargains abound on great outdoor gear, including Gossamer backpacks. 

This year the sale is being held in honor of Robert Frederick “Rik” Christensen, Jr. of Summerland, who passed in November 2022. He was beloved by many and respected for his dedication to the local wilderness and teaching his knowledge. In addition to founding the gear sale, he was a Los Padres Forest Volunteer Wilderness Ranger. He taught lightweight backpacking and gave demos to California Conservation Corps interns, to Boy Scout troops and hikers. He donated his estate to the LPFA to maintain the trails. All proceeds from the Gear Sale go towards the LPFA Trail Care Fund. People can still donate gear to the sale. For info see the 411.

Next is a Call for Photos for the Los Padres Forest 2024 Calendar!Photos of the Los Padres Forest taken in the last 12 months and up to 15 photos can be submitted per person. The last day to submit a photo is Friday, November 3. If your photo is used, they will contact you for a photo credit, and you will receive a free 2024 calendar. 

You can also preorder the calendar! It’s a 2024 wall calendar with photos of the forest’s amazing animals, vistas, plants, sunsets, mountains, trails, waterfalls, trees, canyons, and potreros. The calendars will be 17”×11”, printed on high-quality stock, and will be ready to ship early December 2023 – in time for holiday presents. All proceeds will go to the LPFA Trail Care Program.

The Annual LPFA Working Vacation call for volunteers this year is to restore the historic landmark, the Manzana Schoolhouse. The dates are November 1 through 6. Volunteers need only bring themselves and their personal gear. 

The LPFA notes on their Instagram that: “The Schoolhouse (SB County Historic Landmark 2) was built in 1893 by homesteaders in the Sisquoc River area for use when the journey to Santa Maria was impossible due to high water or weather. Dabney Cabin (SB County Historic Landmark 8) was built in 1913 by local landowners for the Dabney family as a fishing cabin back when Southern Steelhead ran all the way up Manzana creek. Together with local landowners and Forest Service staff, we created a game plan to restore both structures over the coming months.”

The daily schedule in brief is to go with the LPF leader to the location by car or hike in and do the work in your area of interest as directed. All equipment to do the work, and how to do it will be given by the LPFA, including food, water, and other amenities. Volunteers can sleep overnight or return daily. Work to be done includes replacing the roof at the Schoolhouse, performing campground maintenance, and restoring the nearby Manzana, Sisquoc, and Hurricane Deck trails, help with cooking, painting, and light construction. 

Reminder that the Matilija Trail Restoration continues until December 31, 2023. The LPFA and volunteers seek to restore and maintain the network of trails within Matilija Canyon outside of Ojai, which remains closed due to storm damage. Be careful and respectful of the area, and check in advance for closures. To volunteer, check the 411.

411: Gear Sale and other info: INFO@LPForest.org
Calendar: https://lpforest.salsalabs.org/calendar2024preorder/index.html
Manzana Schoolhouse Working Vacation: VOLUNTEER@LPForest.org
Follow on Insta: @lospadres_lpfa