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 care for the wilderness. Los Padres Forest Affiliation (LPFA), together with its devoted volunteers, works to help 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 robust 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, also referred to 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. By way of his ardour for the Los Padres Nationwide Forest, Gossamer Gear has had an opportunity to associate with LPFA in supporting this wilderness—notably by way of a reasonably stellar used gear sale that occurs every October! Learn extra about that and far more beneath.
We caught up with Bryan and Paul to be taught extra about their work with LPFA, how their epic used gear sale received began, and how one can assist with the group’s mission. We hope their insights encourage you to become involved 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 targeted 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 presently handle two customer facilities right here in Los Padres. Between the customer facilities, our web sites, and social media, we spend an excessive amount of time serving to the general public benefit from the forest in a protected and accountable method.
Whereas our roots stay in schooling, an excessive amount of our power can also be targeted on path upkeep and serving to the general public get into the forest. We’ve got a full-time skilled path crew that works tirelessly across the forest serving to hold 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 principally the rest that is perhaps wanted throughout Los Padres. In case you boil all of it down, LPFA is right here to assist folks take pleasure in their time within the forest, assist the Forest Service as a lot as we will, 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 by way of a number of applications, 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 shows 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 advisor
- Path signal restorer
- Wilderness bathroom maintainer
What makes this group notably particular to you?
Paul: I’ve loved the social connections of understanding 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 stored me in good bodily form to reside 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 may have out of your involvement with LPFA that you simply assume captures the essence of the nonprofit?
Bryan: I believe LPFA is at its finest throughout our giant scale working trip volunteer path tasks. We normally host 3 to 4 working holidays annually and we get a lot nice path work finished 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. We’ve got a chosen prepare dinner who stays at camp and helps be certain that all of the volunteers are effectively fed. In the meantime, the volunteers are out on the path eight hours a day clearing brush, cross-cutting downed timber, and clearing no matter different path obstacles we’d encounter. The working holidays are open to everybody. We get a fantastic various group of volunteers and everybody will get into a extremely wholesome move in the course of the week the place you’re with buddies, within the forest, and serving to with the paths all of us love. The working holidays are the perfect!
Paul: There are various LPFA recollections, however maybe probably the most memorable one is the rebuilding of South Fork Guard Station. I might write loads about this restoration course of, however Rik Christensen wrote a beautiful manuscript referred to as “Saving South Fork Cabin.” You may learn a copy of it right here. This ongoing cabin upkeep undertaking 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 advanced over time? What makes it a singular occasion?
Paul: It began in 2016 when Gossamer Gear despatched us some containers of used gear. A few of it wanted restore work. Fortuitously, Rik was an vehicle 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 advanced to develop into an annual occasion. It’s a distinctive occasion the place the general public can donate used gear to help LPFA. The attendees are launched to LPFA and Gossamer Gear. It’s a one-day occasion the place fellow out of doors 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 all over the place at these occasions—you may virtually see it. I believe what really 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 folks 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 unhealthy form, the place the perfect water is, and many others. 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 help from Gossamer Gear makes it that significantly better too!
You’ve each talked about our expensive good friend 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 you could 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 proper one, and chatting about trails and being exterior—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 help no matter LPFA had happening within the forest. He was a stalwart in any respect our working holidays. He was just about continually on the paths, and simply such a fantastic ambassador not just for Gossamer Gear and LPFA, however most significantly, for being exterior. I so miss him.
Paul: Rik’s contributions (AKA: Ranger Rik) to LPFA embrace:
- VWR, doing wilderness patrols, path surveys, and path upkeep
- Founder and coordinator of the LPFA annual used gear sale
- South Fork Guard Station restoration undertaking 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 may 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 with reference to 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 help of the trade chief in backpacking gear (Gossamer Gear), is simply so cool. That help validates a lot of what we do and for positive helps LPFA within the eyes of backpackers throughout the area. For us to say that we associate with Gossamer Gear is actually a sport 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 folks can help LPFA and get extra concerned?
Bryan: We’re at all times in search of folks to assist us assist the forest. That may be finished by way of donations, by popping out and volunteering with us, and even by sharing info out of your time within the forest. We be taught a lot simply from folks emailing us after their forest journeys and letting us learn about path situations, water availability, or no matter else they discovered alongside their journey. We love serving to path customers, however on the identical time, we additionally love path customers serving to us. We’re right here to assist the forest and we’ll take no matter help we will from individuals who additionally wish to assist the forest. That being stated, we’re at all times in search of individuals who wish to menu-plan and prepare dinner on our working holidays!
Paul: By way of volunteering, attending LPFA working holidays and different trail-related tasks, posting out of doors 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. In case you’d wish to help LPFA, take a look at their web site for extra info on the way to donate, volunteer, or attend one in all their occasions. Their well-known annual used gear sale will happen on October 22, 2023, in the event you’re in search of nice offers on Gossamer Gear merchandise and different gently beloved gear.
Know one other nice group supporting our public lands? Be happy to share your favorites with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
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