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Camp News

Muddy Boots & Smoky Skies: Welcome 2025

Map of the fire spreading toward the Big Santa Anita, Day 3. 

Fateful Fires Threaten Camp & Canyon

2025 started with the roar of wind and flames, as the Eaton and Palisades fires wreaked havoc across Southern California. Once again, hikers and campers were glued to every media, tracking the Eaton fire and wondering if the Camp could get lucky twice – or lose the second time around. 

News of the fire crossing the Chantry Road and licking at the perimeter of the Mount Wilson Observatory seemed to predict the same disastrous results being shown 24/7 on TV, as neighboring Altadena was consumed by raging fire.   

However, with thanks to the direction of the Santa Ana winds and the extraordinary work of the fire crews, the main canyon, Chantry Flat, Adams Pack Station, the private cabins and Sturtevant Camp all came through safely. 

Fire-fighting water-choppers (Irfan Khan/LATimes photo)

Once Sturtevant volunteers were able to enter the Canyon, it was a relief not only that the fire did not touch the Camp, the powerful winds had “only” dropped a lot of trees on the trail, not on Camp buildings. A long day of chain-sawing opened the trail for the public and the Adams pack train.  

Sadly for the outdoors community, every hiking trail west of the Canyon was destroyed, nearly erased from the map. While it doesn’t compare to the loss of homes and lives, it is still a tremendous public loss. 

But after four-plus years watching the Big Santa Anita come back after the Bobcat fire, there is a measure of solace knowing that Mother Nature will do her thing, and we will work with her! You can too: sign up at https://www.sturtevantcamp.com/volunteer/

After the 2020 Bobcat fire, greenery comes back to Camp.

Breaking News at the Annual Meeting

A few days after the trail was cleared to Camp, the Board of the Sturtevant Conservancy held their scheduled annual meeting in Sierra Madre. We gathered for dinner first, and while waiting for the food, got the news that the Eaton fire closure was extended all the way to December 2025; it seemed to read that the Camp would be closed again, for a fifth year.  

There was a sense of dismay, but also “It’s just another big log across the trail – we’ll work it out, like we always do.” Thankfully it turns out that Chantry Flat, Adams Pack Station and Sturtevant Camp will be open to guests, BUT there’s yet another ‘log-on-the-trail’: Chantry Road will be closed indefinitely to repair damages caused by the Eaton fire.

Chantry Road closure (Trevor Stamp/LATimes photo).

Although this will complicate vehicle access to Chantry Flat, standard construction project traffic control should answer the problem. Stay tuned for how this works out!  

In Other Business

While we wait for further details on the closure and road construction, here are highlights from the Annual meeting: 

The 2025 Sturtevant Conservancy Board of Directors.

All seven directors were present and will continue to serve in 2025; also the existing slate of officers was renewed: Gary Keene (President/CEO and General Manager), Sarah Barron (VP/CFO – Admin/Finance Manager), Kelly Davidson (Recording Secretary); Paul Witman (Site & Operations Manager), Teah Vaughn-Piscopo (Guests & Hospitality Manager), Directors Brent Pepper and Jennifer Berry, Members at large. In addition, Jennifer serves as Treasurer and Kelly as Bookkeeper. 

Paul reported and we celebrated the completion of the new water tank system, the undergrounding of all the electric power lines throughout Camp, final burn debris all packed out, and all fire extinguishers re-charged. Teah reported our social media visibility is high and getting higher, the new reservation system is up and running [thanks to her diligent work], and we are seeing a steady flow of reservations coming in. 

Volunteers and donors ‘baptizing’ the Camp’s new water tanks.

To handle that, Sarah and the Finance Team (not the name of her rock band) successfully integrated the banking and reservations systems, all of which function on-line. Gary shared a tool for strategic planning, reviewed matters related to the Camp’s permit status with the U.S. Forest Service, noted the constant and continuing necessity of trail work for access to Camp (both for hikers and the Adams Pack Train), and reported on volunteer stats for the past year (see next). 

2,151 Miles to Work & Back

Everything that happens at Camp is done by volunteers, and an incredible amount of work has been done to re-open the Camp! Here are the people-related numbers for last year: 

On average, four persons were in Camp every weekend of 2024, except for two weekends due to weather. 

Volunteers hiked an estimated 2,151 miles to/from work, and logged 47 overnights in Camp.

Volunteers gather after a thank-you luncheon in their honor.

31 distinct people worked 321 person-work days (one person working in Camp for one day): 

15 people accounted for 32 (10%) of the workdays. 

9 people accounted for74 (23%) of the workdays.

7 people – the members of the Conservancy – accounted for 215 (67%) of the workdays. 


Conservancy members are volunteers, and although their work is included in the overall totals, they’re not eligible for Volunteer of the Year recognition; that honor goes to Lance Luciani by a single boot-length, based on his doubling up as a frequent packer with last year’s VOY, Scott Wilson. Honorable mentions go to Peter Witman and Elizabeth Sturdivant close on his heels.   

Volunteer of the Year – Lance Luciani

We also hosted two outside volunteer groups in Camp, each over a weekend before formal re-opening: We Explore Earth put time into the Camp itself, while the LoweLifes tackled adjacent trails, leading to the opening of the Sturtevant Trail up to Mt. Wilson on December 1st.  Ironically, that is one of the trails now closed due to the Eaton Fire Closure, but the LoweLifes had already started on the Gabrielino Trail to Newcomb Pass, which is legally open, just not practically open – yet!  

Teah Vaughn-Piscopo, Guest & Hospitality Manager & Hiker’s Favorite Baker

Job Openings @ Camp

Do you like hiking, people and staying at Sturtevant Camp? We’re buildin a team of volunteer Hosts to welcome and supervise weekend guests. If you’re interested in applying, contact Guest & Hospitality Manager Teah Vaughn for a job description, application and info on upcoming training dates. It’s the best way to be in Camp and make a big difference!

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Camp News

Happy Trails & Holidays

Trails of the Big Santa Anita Canyon are once again alive with the sounds of happy hikers, and the Camp’s Big Swing is back in action. Here’s good news, sad news, and a look ahead into 2025.

Now that the Canyon is open, even the Grinch has made the hike to Camp.
Directors Paul Witman and Sarah Barron mark completion of the final plumbing as water fills the new tanks.

Doused & Dedicated

Fifty months after the Bobcat Fire burned and melted two of the Camp’s old water tanks, representative donors, volunteers and members of the Conservancy’s Board gathered in Camp December 7th to dedicate two replacement water tanks. Those present were given a blue-ribbon necklace with a steel nut and washer from the steel tank assembly— blue for water, and for ‘winning’ the Quench fundraising campaign and construction of the new water system. 

A photo display in the Lodge illustrated the immediate aftermath of the fire, volunteers reclaiming the pack trail to Camp, then hand-carrying the tank panels up to Camp, followed by forming the foundations, assembling the tanks and testing amidst several setbacks. 

Burned remnants of the prior tanks gathered as a reminder of what was lost to the Bobcat Fire. 
Project Manager Paul Witman leads guests on a tour of the water system.

Gathering everyone at the public water fountain, Site/Ops and Quench project Manager Paul Witman then led the group on a hike to the top of the water system at survivor Tank-1, describing the water system along the way. Next, everyone clustered around the new tanks for a bit more storytelling, and Directors from the Board then took turns reading the names of all the financial donors. 

With cups of water drawn directly from the new in-flow pipe, and an exchange of thank-yous, everyone doused the tanks. Heading down into Camp, people stopped at the dedication plaque, then returned to the main Lodge.

Everyone douses the new tanks with water drawn from the new plumbing and filtration system.
Paul Witman and Gary Keene pause with the thank-you plaque. 

Gathered once again at the water fountain at the Lodge, the bottom of the delivery system, everyone filled their cups one more time for a toast to the success of the project, and to Paul Witman: President Gary Keene presented him the ‘Silver Spudger Award’ and invited all to join in declaring the project “to be known henceforth as the Witman Water Works!” 

Paul Witman with his Silver Spudger award (a ‘spudger’ is an alignment tool crucial to the tanks’ proper assembly.) 

A served luncheon followed in the historic Lodge, and the volunteers present who had worked the trails and carried the tank panels were given a custom “Sisyphus” t-shirt as recognition of their persistent efforts. 

Volunteers model the limited-edition Sisyphus t-shirts (only 36 shirts were made for those who were hands & boots-on with the tank project.)

In an appropriate twist of fate, as guests headed down the Canyon, Paul led volunteer Robert Morozco and fellow Board member Kelly Davidson back up to the new tanks, where they dug out a section of the plumbing to add in one more pipe that was mistakenly left out of the system—proof that the work at Camp never really ends!   

Volunteer Robert Morozco digs yet another trench for one more pipe for the water system.

Thank you to everyone for making the vision of ‘potable water in the wilderness for all’ a reality!

Mortals in the Mountains

In the last newsletter posted here, the search for a hiker lost for several weeks was underway. What is now considered to be a recovery effort remains an unsolved mystery—and has been supplanted by more tragic news: a trio of hikers recently breeched the closure signs near Hermit Falls in the lower canyon, and the lead hiker fell to his death. 

LA County Sheriff’s Air 5 hovering over the site of a hiker’s fatal fall (photo by Sierra Madre Search & Rescue.)

Brent Pepper, a Director on the Conservancy Board, and Patrick Kelley, a patrol agent for the Cabin Permitees’ Association, were the first two responders. Their contact and location info were critical to guiding the County Sheriff’s helicopter to the rescue site. Also, fellow Board member Teah Vaughn was working at Adams Pack Station, which became the hub of the response process, and she too became key to communications as well as care for the deceased hiker’s companions. 

It was rough for everyone, and a hard reminder that much as we love the wilderness, it remains a wilderness, a risky place that demands respect on its own terms. Come and visit, but hike safe! 

Trail Update

Soon after the Canyon opened, it was clear that many hikers come up to Camp with the goal of hiking one of the three connecting trails to make a big, beautiful loop through the mountains: up and over Mt. Zion, or Mt. Wilson, or to Newcomb’s Pass and beyond. In early October, all of those trails remained closed and impassable, and many U-turned at Camp, disappointed. 

The good news is that as of Dec.1st, the original Sturtevant Trail between Camp and Mt. Wilson is now open. Thanks to the combined efforts of Sturtevant volunteers, the LoweLife’s trail crew, and especially the San Gabriel Mountains Trailbuilders who worked the trail from top to bottom, this challenging trail is now passable (with more finishing work yet to come.) 

San Gabriel Mountain Trailbuilders working the Sturtevant trail around a monster root ball directly across from the Camp’s outdoor chapel.

Work is now scheduled to tackle the Gabrielino Trail between Newcomb’s Pass and the Camp, and various groups are working both sides of the Mt. Zion trail between Camp and Hoegees/Winter Creek. Weather and the steady persistence of the volunteer crews will determine how rapidly the work progresses. Given the success to date, either or both trails could be cleared by early spring. To volunteer, click here.

Volunteer Lance Luciani glazes a new pane of glass to repair the window where a bear broke into the Retreat Cabin a few years ago.

2025 Camp Projects Countdown

Since October 5th, the Camp has been open daily to hikers each Saturday and Sunday. In January 2025, guests will finally be welcomed to stay overnight, starting with a Scout troop on MLK weekend. Between now and then, plenty of work remains to prep the cabins and facilities for paying guests. 

Some of that will be a final deep cleaning after four years of closure, some of it checking appliances (water heaters, refrigerators), and finally repair to the bear damage that has recurred since the Fire and shutdown. 

Other deferred maintenance is on the list, and public-invite workdays will be posted to Wilbur’s Facebook page and by email for everyone who wants to join in bringing the Camp to its best condition. To get on the email list, sign up here.

The Biggest Project 

The biggest project isn’t housekeeping, it’s hospitality: we’re building a new team of Hosts! If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Guest & Hospitality Manager Teah Vaughn for a job description, application and info on upcoming training dates (hostmanager@sturtevantcamp.com). It’s the best way to be in Camp and make a big difference! 

(Incorrect) candle-numbers are placed in the 3 cakes to celebrate Wilbur’s 183rd birthday. 

Plus Twenty Candles

Not one but THREE tasty cakes + frosting were enjoyed by various partying hikers to celebrate Wilbur Sturtevant’s birthday on Nov. 23rd And to prove that the years DO matter, many pointed out the birthday math error; it wasn’t his 163rd, but 183rd birthday! Wilbur was quoted as saying, “C’mon, after 150, what’s a decade or two, give or take a few?”  

2025 Preview

January: opening the Camp to overnight guests, and the Conservancy’s annual meeting. 

Mid-Winter: what will the weather bring? 

Spring: a new slate of special events at Camp featuring food, music, crafts, and ? 

Summer: fair warning – revised Lodging rates.

Late Saturday evening after the water tank celebration, Conservancy volunteer Director Teah Vaughn-Piscopo takes a break from baking coffee cake and cookies for Sunday’s through-hikers
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Camp News

Finally, a Historic Welcome in the Wilderness

Five TV Crews – Enough? 

Wednesday 6am, October 2, 2024, and the fire gate at the top of Santa Anita Avenue finally swung open to the public, and the media. With the burros honking in the background, Maggie Moran at Adams Pack Station was soon overrun with microphones in the face and plenty of questions about, well, EVERYTHING. In the end, all she could say was what said everything: “We’re open, we’re open, we’re open!” 

The Chantry Road fire gate finally swings open to all.

The same was true up at Camp, but no media and a little bit longer for the first two people to arrive: Camp volunteer Connor Jackson and pal Brian Bender, trail runners (of course.) They signed the new Hikers’ Register and were soon followed by others, a total of 18 the first day. The first weekend was similar, then the next – BOOM, over 100, mostly because of two large hiking groups. 

Coming into November, the patterns have taken shape: 20-30 each weekend day, typically folks who were frequent hikers before the fire and eager to get back in to see everything post-fire. Most are from within 25 miles of Chantry, with a typically strong showing from the South Bay (Long Beach, etc.) So far only a few who’ve been blocked out of the trails closed by the Bridge Fire – we empathize!

Early morning trail runners celebrate with a group selfie at their turn-around point.

Speaking of closed trails, the most common points of conversation are the Zion and Wilson loops: disbelief and disappointment they are still closed and “When will they be opened?” All have volunteer trail crews actively working on them, so it’s only a matter of time—and weather. 

Now through the end of the year holidays the Camp will be open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays. C’mon up and sign the register, grab a cookie, and get back on the Big Swing: we’re OPEN! 

Click, Hike, Stay the Night

Starting January 2025, Sturtevant Camp will be open to overnight guests by reservations only. The on-line reservation system is available here, with all the detailed background information updated on the Camp’s website. 

Sample splash page of the new on-line reservation system. 

Although the Camp is entirely analog and off-line, to be in business means to be on-line; the new system is based on a national service that aggregates camping opportunities mostly for RV’ers, customized to the Camp’s very “unique” lodging and amenities. 

The Conservancy Board expects the usual start-up glitches and welcomes user feedback. All of it will be worthwhile, because it should streamline most of the nuts & bolts of reservations, taking a load off both the guest booking the reservation, and the volunteers managing the Camp’s use. 

Ideally, the system will also help guests to connect with their volunteer hosts: that’s the relationship that matters when you’re all up in the mountains together, four miles by boots from everything! 

WMS Birthday Party @ Camp

Saturday November 23rd is Wilbur M. Sturtevant’s 163rd birthday, and everyone is invited to bring their lunch up to Camp to celebrate with frosting, fire and a hearty round of Happy Birthday. Wilbur’s story will be told, original family photos will be on display, and never before seen heirlooms revealed. Easy-peasy, just gotta hike the beautiful Canyon and restored trail. See you there! 

Giving Tuesday and Holiday Giving

Both the Camp and its Conservancy run on all-volunteer hours, sweat, boots, ideas, skills— and a deep love for the Camp and Canyon. Yet there’s still money involved, because there is stuff to be bought: a replacement mini-fridge for the Retreat Cabin, new shingles for all the roofs, and whatever else will finally wear out or a bear will tear up and need to be fixed. 

Guest revenue is currently budgeted to cover utilities, packing and “regular” maintenance and repairs. But major damages or breakdowns, and any capital improvements or upgraded guest amenities depends on charitable contributions directly to the bottom line. 

December 3rd is national “Giving Tuesday” and the Conservancy is eligible for donations as a public 501(3)c non-profit. But really the whole month of December is about gratitude and giving, so we’re inviting everyone who is grateful for the Camp to support its future by giving now.  

For inspiration to give, here’s a sample from “Wilbur’s Holiday Wish List for 2025”

  • Three new doors with windows to replace doors on the Lodge, Retreat, and Managers’ cabins.
  • Funds to upgrade of Cabin-4 to “Family Cabin” status, with a kitchenette similar to the Retreat Cabin’s; including sink, stove, mini-fridge, plumbing, tables & chairs for 5, etc. 
  • Four sliding glass window sets for the front of the Lodge to match the rest of the Dining Hall windows (and finally keep the winter woodstove heat IN.) 
  • An “angel sponsor” or sponsors for the Honeymoon Cottage: the Cottage is the third truly historic building in Camp (after the Lodge and Ranger Cabin), and needs both dollars and skilled attention for a careful restoration. 
The historic Honeymoon Cottage after a another bear “attack”.
  • USFS-grade picnic tables, 2-3: there are two of these heavy-duty beasts heavily used in Camp, and a few more would be a big plus for welcoming both guests and day hikers. The cost is both in the heavy lumber and (heavy) packing. 
  • A new clothes drier for dealing with the guest linen service (sheets / pillowcases)—and a few strong bodies to pull it up to Camp on a hand truck!  

These are big-ticket items, but every gift moves us closer to making these repairs and improvements: thank you!

Dirt 411

As we go to press, a hiker missing for two weeks somewhere in/around the Big Santa Anita Canyon remains unfound. Multiple search and rescue teams from LA, Orange and San Bernardino Counties, China Lake and our local Sierra Madre crews have been tromping the trails and drainages. Talk has shifted from discovery to recovery.

Any hiker of any skill level can make a mistake and go off the slide of our steep, loose trails. It’s more on the hiker if they bypass posted closure signs. In Camp, we’ve been turning people back, and catching many trying to start up closed trails despite multiple signs. Mentioning the lost hiker barely dents some of their awareness and persistence. 

It has been rewarding to help the S&R crews with our intimate, current, on the ground / in the dirt knowledge of the trails and their status, especially for teams coming from outside our area. 

But it all still comes down to Respect the signs, and Hike within your ability!

Volunteers Brent Pepper, Lance Luciani and Kelly Davidson pause from clearing brush from the Heliport so the County chopper can drop in another Search & Rescue team.
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Camp News

Four Down, One to Go

Four years after the Bobcat Fire, the Canyon is due to open in a few weeks. Here are the details and stories as the Conservancy gets ready to welcome the public to Sturtevant Camp.

Special Update: This issue is mostly about recovery from the 2020 Bobcat Fire that destroyed parts of Camp. Now as we go to press, the news in California is dominated by wildfires; one of those (the Bridge Fire) started on our anniversary weekend and continues to burn about 25 miles east-northeast of Big Anita Canyon. Check Wilbur’s Facebook page for timely updates.

Hot Date Anniversary

On the weekend of the fourth anniversary of the start of the Bobcat Fire (September 6, 2020), the smell of wildfire smoke was in the air and the temps soared into the high-90s, fitting reminders as people gathered in Camp to mark the occasion.

Those present were many of the ‘sturdy’ volunteers who worked on disaster recovery both in Camp and on the trails in the years after the Fire. Already this year so far, volunteers have made 200 roundtrip hikes totaling just shy of 1700 miles, visiting every weekend to work except twice (once for rain, once for heat).
Thanks y’all! 

Front L-R: Anna Binney, Brenda Beck, Kevin Hunt, Estephany Campos,
Rosa Sanchez, Candace Phillips, Kelly Davidson; 
Rear L-R: Tim O’Shea, Jose Recendez, Lance Luciani, Patrick Kelly, Ed and Paige Shieh, Brent Pepper, Peter Vance, Teah Vaughn-Piscopo, Scott Wilson, and Gary Keene.


Guests included staff from the U.S. Forest Service who were also key to the recovery; pictured L-R in the USFS Ranger Cabin are Estephany Campos, Kevin Hunt (who bucked a lot of rock & rebar on the pack trail), and Rosa Sanchez.


Volunteer Ed Shieh helped his daughter Paige ring the Camp bell, inviting guests to a picnic lunch including a lemon dessert made by Teah that morning: turning the oven on despite the hot weather not only baked the cake, it confirmed the Lodge kitchen has recovered from the extensive post-Fire bear damages. 

Teah Vaughn-Piscopo, volunteer Host the weekend of the Fire, told the story of first smelling the Fire, and soon after that evacuating guests down the trail as smoke billowed into the Canyon.

Speaking on behalf of the Conservancy’s Board, President Gary Keene detailed thanks to everyone present, noting that the official heat warning for the weekend had kept many others safely at home, but who also deserved thanks. 

Everyone praised the outstanding condition of the trails, “better than ever before”, and the Camp looked almost back to normal: just the day before, the last of the post-fire burn debris was finally packed out on the Adams Pack train (packers Lance Luciani and Scott Wilson pictured.) 

And There Was Merch

Anniversary guests each had their choice of new souvenir Camp merchandise to take home—appropriately all fluid containers to maintain hydration. Once the Camp opens, these items will be available for purchase to raise funds for the Camp.

The Camp souvenirs feature images of original photos Wilbur Sturtevant across different ages of his life; others use a graphic of the Sturtevant name as it appeared on a 1920’s publicity brochure during the Killian era of ownership (E.J. Killian owned the Camp for 16 years, longer than Sturtevant himself, and second only to the 70 years of Methodist ownership.)

Guests also took a moment to remember Dave Baumgartner, co-leader with Brenda Beck of Restoration Legacy Crew: the Crew did so much of the trail restoration work, with Dave’s rockwork being a standout feature. Folks used Sharpies to sign one of the new Sturtevant bottles for Brenda (pictured) to give to Jane Baumgartner (Jane and Dave were frequent hosts at Camp.)

Open Trails, Open Doors, Open Reservations?


‘When will the Camp re-open?!” After four years of asking, now the question has a scheduled answer: the USFS closure order expires October 1st, opening the Big Santa Anita Canyon to the public. But will Sturtevant Camp open?

Yes – BUT: only the historic Lodge will be open to the public for weekend day-visits on Saturdays and Sundays starting October 5-6.

Crucial work still needs to be done before guests can make reservations to stay overnight. The work needed is not for the Camp’s buildings but for people: a new team of volunteer hosts, docents and ‘techs’ must be recruited and trained to welcome people at Camp. The immediate need, and the place to start for those interested, is to volunteer as a docent now through the end of the year. 

Guests in 2025 Means Volunteering Now


Being a docent is the first step to being a Host: the current schedule is to open to guests starting in January 2025, so now is the time to volunteer. To get the docent/host job description and application, including how volunteering earns free overnight stays at Camp, email Teah Vaughn-Piscopo using this address: HostManager@SturtevantCamp.com.  

Some Assembly Required

The two big post-Fire projects have been rebuilding trail access to the Camp, and replacing the two water tanks destroyed in the Fire (Cabin-1 was also destroyed but is not being replaced.) The trails and tanks intersect in that the six galvanized, curved, steel panels, each about the size of a ping pong table, had to be carried by hand up the still sketchy trails to Camp.

There they waited through two seasons of record rains, while volunteer work focused on regaining the trails until the burros could deliver cement for the tanks’ support elements. Only then could assembly of the tanks begin. 

The tank assembly was not a puzzle; it was obvious where the large, 18-gauge steel pieces should go. But it did require a LOT of hollering between inside and outside of the tanks, tricky use of a ‘spudger’, and the tedious tightening-loosening-re-tightening of hundreds and hundreds of nuts and bolts. 

Tasty Vinyl – Who Knew?

Excitement was high when assembly finally reached the point of installing the vinyl liners that actually hold the water. But it turned out that two years in hibernation gave the local mouse population plenty of time to chew holes in the liners: does vinyl taste like cheese? Here Site/Ops Manager Paul Witman sits inside the #3 tank with the swiss-cheese liner: patching didn’t work, so replacement liners are on their way from Texas, due to be packed up the trail soon. Next: water in the tanks and down to the fountain for the public! 

ON THE TRAIL AHEAD

October: after the Canyon opens and the public is back on the trail, news from Camp.

November: Wilbur’s 163rd birthday party at Camp AND dedication of the new water tanks! Watch Wilbur’s Facebook page for details. 

December: Final orientation for new hosts for the new year, plus Wilbur’s Annual Holiday Wish List for Sturtevant Camp. 

BONUS DATA

The ANF Tops the NPS
(From the USFS) “The latest USDA Forest Service statistics (2021), show that the Angeles National Forest received morerecreation-based visits from the public (4.59 million) than Grand Canyon National Park (4.53 million) or Yosemite National Park (3.29 million) in the same year. 

FYI, the USFS calculates visitor statistics once every 5 years, not every year like the National Park Service, and statistics for the Angeles National Forest do not include people who only drive through the forest without stopping (like commuters) OR people who directly access the forest from trails in adjacent local communities or from adjacent parklands.”

FYI x 2: in Camp, we’re planning to get a headcount of day-hikers as evidence of foot traffic in the upper Canyon, proof of the popularity and need for the Camp’s services in the wilderness, including free potable water— from those new water tanks.

Categories
Camp News

USFSimon Says STOP, But We Also GO

Coming into the 4th anniversary of the Bobcat Fire and closure, there’s a lot of progress at Camp— but all is still on hold for opening. Here’s the latest news at the start of Summer 2024.

He Said / She Said

In January the USFS was confident that “barring a catastrophic event” (implication “weather”), the Big Santa Anita Canyon would have a soft opening in June. But at a public meeting in May, another USFS officer reported the opening would be delayed, at least in part due to construction delays on the Chantry Road. OK, we’re used to playing yo-yo with our hopes and expectations, and frankly, it gives us time to finish some of our own key projects. Such as:  

Volunteers hauling bags of cement mix from the Pack Train drop-off up to the water tanks worksite.

They Delivered & So Did We

The burros of the Adams Pack Train finally got the chance to prove their mettle and delivered all the materials for rebuilding the water system. But it was still on volunteers to hand-carry the 60lb bags of cement up the final steep incline to job site. Then the six steel panels, carried by hand all the way up the Canyon over two years ago and patiently waiting since, also made the trip—thanks to Super-Teah, who was tired of waiting and did it herself! (See her photo below).  

Volunteer Bob Laird provides a resting place for weary bees while he works on the tanks’ foundations.
Volunteers Lance Luciani, Scott Wilson and Paul Witman work to level the bases of the water tanks: water will go in a flexible plastic liner resting on flat-packed earth.

Panels Up, Wrenches Go, Flies Bite

With the tank panels finally on site, it was time for a whole lot of nuts, bolts, drills, sockets and screw drivers to hold it all together. Nothing too tricky, other than fending off the swarms of bees attracted to the volunteers’ sweat, until they were displaced by the spring crop of biting deer flies. Hopefully those will die out on their own by the time volunteers return for the final assembly of the tank liners and top caps. Then it will be time to turn on the spigot and fill ‘em up with water—that will be a BIG day of celebrating!

Board Member Jennifer Berry pauses between the tank panels, now in place and almost ready to take in a few thousand gallons of water.

Getting Good at This

The Conservancy made a commitment two years ago to Maggie Moran / Adams Pack Station to help get all that water tank stuff packed in, and the fire debris out. That promise has been kept, mostly because it turns out some of our volunteers really like working with burros. 

“Better than the people I work for at my job” said one volunteer never on the record. 

Scott Wilson and Lance Luciani after yet another successful delivery AND pick-up at Camp.

A skilled team has emerged led by Scott Wilson (VOY’23), along with Lance Luciani and Shane King-Furgala. Other volunteers also join in, but it’s the Burro Boys who have been hitting the trail every Friday, usually with Scott leading under Maggie’s blessing—and a lot of instruction (can’t forget that re-cinch prior to heading back down the Canyon.) They’ve worked their way up from three burros to run the full six, and now have very unique additions to their Linked-In profiles. Thanks y’all!  

Out of Camp & Into the $ausage Factory

Not everyone who likes sausage wants to see how it’s made, and not everyone who enjoys Camp cares about the internal workings—but some do, and we have some, so this is for you who do. 

With four years closed, the Camp’s fiscal activity has been near zero. But now as we ramp up for guests with a new reservations system to integrate into banking services, we took some time ‘down-Canyon’ at our home desks to work on a detailed “Fiscal Plan, Policy and Procedures” for the Conservancy and Camp. 

The draft version states at the top, “Purpose: To establish the funding structure and accompanying policy and procedures for the fiduciary management of the Conservancy’s finances, including specific and transparent processes for all transactions and accounting.” 

Especially as a non-profit with only volunteers to manage the work, the procedures are designed for maximum transparency, accountability, and shareability—that is, back-up so nothing is dependent on any one person. 

One of the key safety features is that, just like we are “wi-fi free” at Camp, our fiscal system is “cash-free”. Fortunately, that’s the way most everything is already going, but integrating all the versions such as PayPal and Venmo with other on-line systems (reservations, banking) demands close attention and SO many authentications, passwords, etc.

All of which makes getting our boots back on the trail very appealing! We look forward to everyone leaving their desks behind and getting together at Camp soon. Speaking of which…    

The Bobcat Fire burning through the San Gabriel front range, September 2020.

4th Anniversary and More

By the fourth anniversary of the Bobcat Fire September 8, 2024, we plan to be open, including a re-opening celebration for everyone who has supported the Camp through these difficult years, and everyone who wants to put their boots to the Canyon’s now happy trails. 

Rare group photo of many regular volunteers and Board members who all happened to be in Camp for work on the same weekend.

You First / Help Wanted

To welcome the first wave of hikers into Camp, the Conservancy needs ‘docents’ or volunteer teachers about the Camp to greet people, answer questions, point them in the right direction, and hand out information about Sturtevant. 

Could that be you? Yes, it could! There will be training and orientation so that you’ll both feel and be competent to guide people’s experience at Camp. Docents will be screened, trained, and scheduled to serve on a Saturday or Sunday, or both, staying overnight in Camp. 

Teah Vaughn-Piscopo is a member of the Board of the Sturtevant Conservancy and Manager, Guests & Hospitality for the Camp; she’s in charge of everything to do with both guests and their Hosts.

Interested in being a HOST when the Camp opens to guests? START by being a docent: we’ll use that time and experience to screen and train for Hosts. Interested in either or both? Email NOW to Teah at HostManager@SturtevantCamp.com. See you in the Canyon and at Camp soon!

Recent dinner show just outside the Manager’s Cabin.

For weekly news as it happens at Camp and in the Canyon, friend Wilbur Sturtevant on Facebook; catch the same updates on Instagram, and share the news around to help build the Camp’s network. 

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Camp News

Hike Faster – They’re Coming

Spring wildflowers, burros, and (maybe?) the hiking public are coming to Camp soon. Here’s the latest news from the Conservancy for Spring 2024.

Teah and Kelly hug the first burro into Camp after more than 2 years.

Hurray! There’s Poop on the Trail!

That would be burro poop near Spruce Grove campground (as opposed to bear poop—different story.) Hikers would typically be annoyed at this boot hazard, but for the Sturtevant crew, fresh burro poop four miles up the trail is proof that after more than two years, the Adams Pack Train can finally go to Camp: Hurray!

Restoration Legacy Crew members (R-L) Brenda Beck, Dave Baumgartner, Marilyn Chang-Ruiz with USFS staff Kevin Hunt.

Any burro-poop celebrations start with congratulations and thanks to the Restoration Legacy Crew, especially leaders Brenda Beck and Dave Baumgartner. Their crew has done (and are still doing) the grunty-detail work of transforming the Camp-volunteers’ original rough access work into a wide, even path up the Canyon. That includes last year’s near miracle of solving the Ladder Gap with serious labor and hardware, then doing it again with different hardware tricks at another rock-and-water point blocked above the Cascade crossing.

The first full pack train delivery into Camp, reloaded with 4-year-empty propane tanks to go out. L-R Maggie Moran/Adams Pack Train, Board members and volunteers Paul Witman, Kelly Davidson, Lance Luciani and Scott Wilson.

The results are simple but vital: now the critical delivery of water system parts and materials has begun, and the old burn debris is being ferried out, all just in time before the next dose of crucial news (see below). 

Exciting for those in the know: first delivery of cement for the replacement water system.

First Group – First Test

The volunteer crews since the Bobcat Fire were never more than 8 people, due to limits set by the USFS. But at the end of March, the Conservancy hosted nearly 20 volunteers from the non-profit We Explore Earth, a green active-advocacy group that organizes people for adventure work trips. Founder and director William Vasquez brought his ‘positive passion’ and 18 equally eager volunteers to the Camp for a weekend of both work and learning about backpacking. Everyone is looking forward to amplifying this relationship of like minds and hearts into the future.

We Explore Earth volunteers gather up for a departure selfie; William Vasquez far right, Board member Teah Vaughn-Piscopo far left.

Hike Faster – They’re Coming

During the annual meeting of the Big Santa Anita Cabin Owners Association, acting USFS District Ranger Aaron Ash joined by video-call to share news about the Angeles National Forest and take questions. The first question led to a clear answer: if there are no “catastrophic circumstances” (disastrous weather), when the post-fire closure order expires May 31st, then the Forest Service will allow a “soft-opening” of the Canyon to the public for the first time since September 2020.  

HURRAY! – kind of. Certainly the Conservancy is eager to get back to business fulfilling its purpose of providing “a historic welcome in the wilderness” at Sturtevant Camp. But can we be ready in time? And what does “ready” mean?

Ready, Set—

At first, “ready” will be less about the Camp and more about the people: everyone expects the Canyon will be quickly and heavily visited. The Chantry Road will soon be parked down to the Dam, and not hundreds but thousands—similar to the early phase of the pandemic in spring 2020—will hike in, eager to see the Canyon after the Bobcat fire.

READY will mean having volunteers ready to welcome people into Camp (see volunteer invite below.) The Camp will also up and running with fresh water at the water fountain in front of the Lodge, and we want to be ‘first impression’ presentable—maybe not all fresh paint, but some!

What we will NOT be ready to do is host overnight guests. Several key systems, including the on-line reservations system, need to be carefully developed, implemented, and tested. The goal is to start taking reservations in June or July for guests to come and stay starting in August. 

4th Anniversary

By the fourth anniversary of the Bobcat Fire in early September 2024, we aim to be fully open, including a re-opening celebration for everyone who has supported the Camp through these difficult years, and everyone who wants to put their boots to the Canyon’s now happy trails.

Conservancy members meet on-line to organize projects ahead of the estimated June opening. L-R / top/bottom: Sarah Barron, Kelly Davidson, Paul Witman, Jennifer Berry, Teah Vaughn-Piscopo (with an unfortunate arrow-pointer to the head) and daughter Ripley, and Brent Pepper; plus Gary Keene tucked in the corner.

You First / Help Wanted

To welcome the first wave of hikers into Camp, the Conservancy needs ‘docents’ or volunteer teachers about the Camp to greet people, answer questions, point them in the right direction, and hand out information about Sturtevant.

Could that be you? Yes, it could! There will be training and orientation so that you’ll both feel and be competent to guide people’s experience at Camp. Docents will be screened, trained, and scheduled starting with the summer months (June, July, August.) You can serve on a Saturday or Sunday, or both, staying overnight in Camp.

Interested in being a Host when the Camp opens to guests? Start by being a docent: we’ll use that time and experience to screen and train for hosts. Interested in either or both? Email NOW to Teah at HostManager@SturtevantCamp.com. See you in the Canyon at Camp soon!

Yes, yes we DID take a photo of actual burro poop on the actual trail, because, you know, proof.

For weekly news as it happens at Camp and in the Canyon, friend Wilbur Sturtevant on Facebook; catch the same updates on Instagram, and share the news around to help build the Camp’s network.

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Camp News

2024 Annual Meeting & Crystal Balling

Even hikers have meetings, so here’s the news from the Conservancy’s annual meeting, including the “Six Eras of Sturtevant” and speculations about re-opening in 2024.

The Quick-Hike Version

The Conservancy’s seven directors met Jan.28th at the Adams Pack Station to elect officers, look into the future, and figure out what to do next. Easily the biggest item on the agenda was “if the Forest Service opens the Canyon in 2024, how do we open for guests?”

Since the 2020 fire, the main job has been on-site repair and recovery. But being shut down also paused online functions like reservations and accounting systems. That created an opportunity to re-think and rebuild those services. With opening on the horizon, that work has moved up on the To-Do list.

Still, the trail is at the top of the list: thanks to the superheroes of Restoration Legacy Crew, the path is almost clear for the burros to get to Camp.  When they do, the final parts and materials will start arriving for rebuilding the water system, and water will be the top priority for opening to the public.

So pretty much everything both in-Camp and on-line has jumped to the top of the Must-Do-Right-Away-Now list: time to lace up all boots!

The Six Eras of Sturtevant   

There’s so much to be done almost immediately that the Board’s “get’er done” Directors were tempted to jump in boots first. Instead, the annual meeting started with a bigger picture of where are we, and where are we going? Taking a cue from Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour”, here are the Six Eras of Sturtevant.

  1. 1893 – 1910 The Founding Era: Wilbur establishes the Camp and builds it to national renown; after a stroke levels him, he later passes at LA’s Veteran’s Home in 1910. 
  2. 1911-1946 Transition Era-I: The Camp passes through several hands and often stands empty and for sale for many years. After the last private owner is arrested for misconduct, the Forest Service seizes the property and puts it up for sale under a public permit.
  3. 1947-2015 The Methodist Era: Riding the wave of post-WWII growth, the regional Methodist Church buys the Camp. They build up the Camp with a commercial kitchen, bathhouse and bunkhouses, and for nearly seventy years sustain year-round operations for private and public use.
  4. 2011-2020 Transition Era-II: With the mutual decline in youth camping and mainline denominations, the Church moves to close and sell the Camp. A volunteer Boot Squad steps up to sustain the Camp until the Friends of the San Gabriels purchases the Camp in 2015; in 2016 the Sturtevant Conservancy is formed to take on stewardship of the Camp as a public non-profit.  
  5. Fall 2020 – Spring 2024 Fire & Rain & Recovery Era: a time marked decisively by the Bobcat Fire and subsequent weather impacts that equaled if not exceeded the damages and complications of the Fire.

The Sixth Era – Renaissance: 2025 – 2043

Once Sturtevant re-opens, the Conservancy is aiming for a renaissance of the Founding Era, renewing the Camp to be the uniquely historic center of wilderness appreciation, education and inspiration in the San Gabriels for greater Los Angeles.

The Renaissance Era will culminate in 2043, when everyone joins in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Wilbur setting up tents near the running waters of the upper Big Santa Anita, and welcoming sturdy hikers for many more generations to come.

Officers Elected, Classes Filled

Board members around the table at the Pack Station.

In 2023, the Board adopted an amplified set of Bylaws; these are the map and compass for the Board’s navigation of its duties. During the 2024 Annual Meeting, the Board started to enact the details of those Bylaws.

This included electing the following officers: Gary Keene, President/CEO and Chair of the Board; Sarah Barron, Vice-President and CFO; and Kelly Davidson, Recording Secretary. The Board also assigned the titles and work of Treasurer to Jennifer Berry, and of Bookkeeper to Kelly Davidson. In addition, members were distributed into classes with successive 3-year terms of service.

The Board members are also organized internally around the key managerial functions: site/operations, administration/finance, guests/hospitality and general supervision. This spreads the work equitably among the Directors as a team. For a closer look, go to https://www.sturtevantcamp.com/who-we-are/

Stuff to Figure Out & Look Forward To   

Volunteers ready to hike after a day’s work in Camp.

The Camp is a registered non-profit, and a business that needs to generate income. What business is that? Sturtevant is basically a “hostelry”, a ‘place of lodging in the country’. But what a place! There’s really no equivalent for comparison, especially when you consider the Camp’s wilderness proximity to people—downtown Los Angeles is 23 miles from the Chantry Flats trailhead.

That means it is available to millions close by, except for that 4.2 mile hike in and out! Which is also how everything comes and goes: via the trail, carried on the backs of a people and burros.

So what should be the price for maintaining a hot shower at the end of such a trail? And a flush toilet? And built roof and walls above and around, plus wall heaters, mattresses, pillows, and OBTW a full kitchen, refrigerators, potable water and more (how about that Big Swing?)

Sleeping in the wilderness looks comfy in the Retreat Cabin.

All that said, staying at Sturtevant is not glamping: no hot tub or chocolates on those pillows (the mice would get them first anyway.) Camp is historic, which is to say rustic, and even with all the planned improvements, it will stay rustic; not only because of its location, but because that is essential to its authenticity and charm.

Bottom line, the Board has set aside a smaller group to analyze what would be reasonable rates to cover costs and plan for the future, and then how to market all of it effectively. Public feedback is totally welcome here in the comments, so speak up and help the Camp find and serve the next generation of guests.

NEXT BIGCONESPRUCE BLOG

Maybe? Scenes of the Adams Pack Train burros hauling into Camp!

Sturtevant Camp is owned and operated as a non-profit for the benefit of the public by the Sturtevant Conservancy Board (https://www.sturtevantcamp.com/who-we-are/).

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Camp News

So Many Boots & Wishes

Board members Paul and Teah (L+R) welcome new member Jennifer (center) at Camp.

2023 In the Rearview Mirror

With this year wrapping up, we’re looking backward and forward: backward to check our progress and say thanks to everyone who got us to where we are; and forward to strategize progress in 2024. From the perspective of the Sturtevant Conservancy, here’s what we see:  

Another volunteer crew prepares to head home after working in Camp. Volunteers were at Sturtevant 63% of weekends in 2023.

This year’s holiday gifts won’t need to be wrapped, because most have already been received, with gratitude: THANK YOU to all the Camp’s volunteers and supporters who have worked hard and given generously this year. Like Santa, we’ve checked who’s been naughty and nice—ok, just nice, and can report the following as of early December:

107 people volunteered over 32 weekends in 2023, for a total of 164 per-person/workdays (one person volunteering one day.) Twelve of those work weekends were overnights, expanding the work accomplished and netting more work per round-trip hike—which, at about 9 miles per person/per work event equals just short of 1000 miles. How much total elevation gain was in that? Almost 60 miles, or 11 trips up Mt. Everest, or 55 times up Mt. Wilson!

Triple-threat of volunteer sawyers working the storm-blocked trail.

That’s a lot of miles on knees and boots, but that’s just to get to where the work starts. Then there’s shoveling, painting, hauling, plumbing, cleaning, re-wiring and repairing – all kinds of muscles and skills donated. Given a typical workday (not including the commute to Chantry) is about 9 hours or the same number as the hiking miles, the total volunteer hours also equals nearly one thousand.

What generosity! Thank you to everyone who got up early, shouldered a pack, made the hike, shared the food and fellowship, and moved Sturtevant another step toward welcoming guests back to Camp.

VOTY’23

After going through the work records to get the above report, it became obvious that one volunteer had a big impact on those numbers: Scott Wilson made the hike on average once every month all year. That’s head and trademark Stetson hat above everyone else. Site/Ops Manager Paul Witman also confirmed that Scott is a jack-knife of many trades, shoveling, plumbing, bear patrolling, way-finding, and hustling some very tricky sawyer work, all with a smile and his inevitable thumbs-up.

Although Scott is a regular at Camp, when not working for the City of LA, he’s also laying down the miles hiking all over the San Gabriels and Sierra Nevada ranges, and not necessarily on established trails: he recently located the remote location of Wilbur Sturtevant’s ‘hide-away.’

Scott unloading bags of cement at the Pack Station.
Scott taking the lead up the trail with one of the water tank panels.

So there are stories to tell, but for now it’s a privilege and pleasure to announce Scott is the Conservancy’s Volunteer of the Year 2023. Thank you Scott!

Progress Report – Sort Of 

Volunteers scramble up the scratch trail along the White Cliffs on the way to work at Camp.

While the Camp remains closed under of the USFS post-fire order, we can’t welcome guests and serve the public, so we don’t have people stories to tell. Instead, the story is mostly about the place: the Camp in the Wilderness.

On the grand arc of Camp history, the Bobcat Fire is the apex of environmental and physical impact. But after the winter of late ’22 – early ’23, the record-breaking “atmospheric rivers” are first runner-up. Consider: the green bridge at Robert’s didn’t wash out right after the Fire in 2020, or in ‘21 or ‘22, but this year.

Volunteers trekking across a post-storm stream to get to Camp.

The loss of the bridge indicated what happened up and down the Canyon: prior recovery work washed away, new washouts and rockfall and nearly continuous tree-fall, plus a new version of the infamous Ladder Gap keeping the pack train blocked from getting up to Camp.

View of the center of Camp in mid-March after another storm, buried in tree-fall blown out of the upper forest canopy.

But not the burros only: volunteers hiking into Camp had to factor in extra risk and time and trail work just to get there. Once in Camp, broken roofs, washed out plumbing and heavy treefall have diverted volunteer hours from post-Fire recovery work to post-rain clean-up and fix-it jobs. Instead of making progress, we had to scramble just to get back to the starting line.

No complaints, just the reality of working in the temperamental wilderness. The abundant rains did gift the Camp with water flowing in the ‘old/main’ line for the first time after many years of drought. And other than the cracked roofs and accompanying water damage, there were no structural losses. Plus now there’s enough firewood to last a very long time! 

Trenching shown here in December finally undergrounded the last of the old overhead power lines.

2024 Crystal Ball

Looking into the new year, there are two scenarios on a single coin: that coin is the weather, with  another El Niño rainy season predicted. The two scenarios are whether the U.S. Forest Service opens the Canyon to the public—or keeps it closed. For now, what will happen is a toss of the coin.

That makes planning difficult, but the Conservancy remains fortunate because, as long as the Camp is closed, there are no significant fixed operating costs (no staff, etc.) Financially, we can ‘afford’ to sit and wait.

But the physical Camp cannot wait; the wilderness steadily degrades paint and wood and plumbing and shingles. The Camp has had only minimal maintenance for going on four years now, as volunteers have instead hustled to open the trail, recover the water system, and repair the post-Fire bear damage plus this past season’s weather effects.

Even the innocent Nature Trail sign got smacked by storm-fall.

For example, Site/Operations Manager Paul Witman notes that several roofs (including the main Lodge) are overdue for replacement; but for that you need shingles – lots of ‘em!—and until the pack train can get through to deliver those supplies, we’re stalled.

So the focus of physical work is, like the flipping coin, on two sides: one is in/at Camp, the other on trail access for crucial materials a.s.a.p. Thanks to the hard work of allied volunteer groups like Restoration Legacy Crew, there’s real hope for getting the burros through after the start of the new year.

Restoration Legacy Crew pauses on the new tread they carved out of solid rock at the infamous Ladder Gap.

The silver lining in the closure is it gives time for work on reimagining and updating many of the supporting systems for welcoming and managing guests. These include the on-line reservations system, payment and fiscal/accounting systems, guest orientation, safety and related policies, and time for a more thorough recruitment and training program for hosts.

Wishing for the Big Day

When the USFS opens the Canyon, we aim to hit the trail running, to stay ahead of the crowds of people who are already clamoring to get into the Big Santa Anita. Before that, when the pack train finally gets through, the work will double-up as supplies are received and the post-fire burn debris is packed out. We’ll be able to both purchase and deliver shingles, lumber, paint and more.

All depending on the balance in the checkbook.

Yes, your financial gift now will prime the pump for 2024. We’re looking forward to the first wave of guests, seeing their smiles, and especially the delighted surprise of returning hikers seeing the Camp in good condition after the fire and storms of these past years.     

Get in on making those smiles with your timely gift this season: http://www.sturtevantcamp.com/support/

And thanks for being part of the future.

The Board of the Sturtevant Conservancy: Jennifer, Brent, Kelly, Teah, Paul, Sarah and Gary.

The Sturtevant Conservancy is a 501(3)c non-profit eligible for charitable donations.

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Camp News

New Faces, Lost Hikers and Rockwork

Welcome New Board Member

Jennifer Berry

The Sturtevant Conservancy is pleased to welcome its newest member to the Board, Jennifer Berry. With her election, the Board now has its full complement of seven Directors; this will enable the Board to share the offices and work of the Conservancy more evenly and be more effective collectively.  Jennifer comes from a solid background in environmental advocacy work and residential camping:  she previously served as site Director for Sturtevant’s historic sister-camp in the San Gabriels, Colby Ranch. She currently works for the National Outdoor Leadership School. Watch for her profile to be added soon to the Who We Are page on the Camp’s website.

All the Leaves Are Down / And the Sky is Grey

All the Leaves

‘Tis the season – for raking! Along with all the trail-work getting done (see below), one task dominates this time every year: raking big yellow maple leaves. At approx. 3150ft elevation, Camp is in the eco-zone of the upper Big Santa Anita Canyon where most of the trees are coniferous or evergreen, like oaks and Bay trees. But the maples make up for it! Lovely as they are, it’s a fire hazard, so: we rake.

Added to the job are the oak trees’ acorns—big, fat rollie ones after this year’s abundant rainfall. They carpet the trails, making it hard to get traction going up, and too easy to slide/fall down, often right where you don’t want to lose your step! Second verse same as the first: we rake.

Volunteers Mike, Grace, Danny and Robert pause at the Big Swing after a long day of work
Volunteers break for lunch on a perfect autumn day-surrounded by raking yet to be done
Jose, Scott, and Rick shovel out Cabin 3
Robert works down a bypass trail ahead of winter waters yet to come

The EOY Season

The smell of roasting turkey is coming fast, followed quickly by the fresh smell of snowflakes – at least higher up. In other words, the End of the Year. We’ll be back here in early December to report on this year, look ahead to 2024 (re-opening?!)

And yes, of course, to invite your tax-deductible financial support before 2023 disappears like Thanksgiving’s gravy and mashed potatoes. Stay tuned!

Lost & Not So Lost Hikers

The Big Santa Anita Canyon

The Camp is very lucky to have hard-working volunteers helping to reclaim the Camp from the Bobcat fire. And sometimes they go way beyond the planned work. Several times over recent months, hikers have come down into Camp from Mt. Wilson—singles and couples who “somehow” didn’t know or ignored not only the trail-head closure signs, but also websites (USFS, ours), social media and trails-app info.

Typically, they’re pretty trashed. There’s a reason the Canyon remains closed: the trails are in nasty shape, often impassable. Yet somehow they pushed through, hoping not to have to turn around and go back UP. Or, they ‘had a plan’ for how they would shuttle back to the top.

Recently, two incidents in the same weekend occurred: a solo hiker one day and then a pair the next day found themselves down the Canyon near Camp and the sun disappearing. A Camp volunteer took pity on the first and hiked the person safely out in the dark AND drove them home (their car was stuck behind the now-closed gate on Wilson.) The next day, the Sierra Madre Search & Rescue Team located the duo and got them out in the dark, putting themselves at risk to do so.

Hikers and trail-runners spread the word: the Big Santa Anita Canyon is STILL CLOSED. Save yourself AND those who would have to bail you out at risk to themselves, and enjoy the mountains elsewhere—there’s plenty to go around!

Or, Don’t Go There Either

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/travel-site-puts-san-gabriel-mountains-on-its-annual-no-list

Rock On – Rock Off: Progress @ the Ladder Gap

There’s a Trail In There
Scoops, Brenda, Kevin and Michael on the rocks
RLC’s Diana and Kevin chip the hard rock while Guy pulls down the looser stuff

All hail the stubborn Restoration Legacy Crew! Brenda Beck and Dave Baumgartner have led this quiet group of talented volunteers for years in restoring trails throughout the San Gabriels. Now they’re literally hammering one spot several times a week, for multiple weeks in a row: it’s the infamous rock-bound Ladder Gap on the main trail up to Camp. Until the rock is chiseled back and the tread seriously firmed up, the Adams Pack train can’t get through, and much repair work at Camp remains stalled waiting for materials and supplies. The RLC folks aren’t fancy, but they’re sure tough and relentless—that should be their new name: the Relentless Legacy Crew! When the Pack Train finally gets through, and the Camp can be fully restored, it will be because of the RLC: thank you in advance very much! Check them out on-line, and plan on sampling their work once the Canyon opens.

Annual Meeting & Beyond

Board members Kelly Davidson and Paul Witman

The Conservancy has set their Annual meeting for 2024 in January (California non-profits are required to hold at least one annual meeting.) The Board has met regularly during the year for administrative house-keeping that will set-up the annual meeting to focus on the future: what are the goals prior to re-opening the Camp? And what are the goals beyond that?

The vision beyond re-opening could stretch 20 years to 2043, which will be the 150th anniversary of Wilbur’s opening Sturtevant’s Camp to the public. It’s a ripe opportunity to imagine—and strategize for—a vital future. Come along for the hike by signing up for this newsletter here.

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Camp News

3 Years & Counting

Remnants of Cabin-1 destroyed by the Bobcat Fire.

September 6 marked the third anniversary of the start of the Bobcat Fire in 2020. On that Sunday, volunteer host and now Board member/manager Teah Vaughn-Piscopo smelled the smoke, then got the word by hand radio: take the guests and evacuate.

It has been a long, busy three years since then, with many volunteers working hard to recover basic access to the Camp, begin major repairs, and struggle to cope with the continuing aftereffects of record rains and wind damage.

While the U.S. Forest Service has re-opened most of the burned areas of the Angeles National Forest, the Big Santa Anita Canyon remains closed (see below). The Sturtevant Conservancy remains hard at work on repairs in Camp and on the trail, with the help of many generous volunteers— see following stories for new good news.

Volunteers Gary Keene, Ted Baumgartner, Sharon Miller, Paul Witman, and Maggie Moran (Adams Pack Station).

What He Said

The Daily News of Los Angeles published an extensive story on the post-Bobcat Fire closures in the Angeles National Forest (ANF). The detailed article by Steve Scauzillo draws on a wide variety of sources in and outside various government agencies and the public, including the Canyon’s own Glenn Owens, author of The History of the Big Santa Anita Canyon.

It notes that Chantry Flat is the “second most visited area” of the ANF, and “For decades, critics have blamed Congress for short-funding the management of the ANF, which in 2021 had more visitors than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Park. Damage from drought, fires and torrential rains may have exposed the lack of funding.”

Altogether it gives a good understanding of why re-opening the Canyon continues to be pushed off into the future, deepening the dilemma for Sturtevant Camp.

See the full article below:

Angeles National Forest plagued by closures from storms, fires, funding gaps

Surprise Summer Storms

You think you’ve seen everything – fires, mudslides, ‘atmospheric rivers’ – and then here comes the tail of a hurricane into the San Gabriels. The result? Winter-quantity rain in late summer! Suddenly grass is popping up on the trail like it’s May, and so are the ruby newts.

The August 20th tropical storm dumped 8.2 inches at the heliport, and Labor Day weekend dosed another .56 inches. Fortunately, the rain was steady, so no significant erosion or “relandscaping”. A few more trees down across the trail, but that’s the new normal. Good news is the quality trail work RLC (see below) and others have done is holding, a positive indicator for this coming winter’s real storms. Stay tuned!

USFS Back in the House (Cabin)

USFS personnel Estephany Campos & Rosa Sanchez in the historic Ranger Cabin

In late June, the U.S. Forest Service sent two staff persons to hike the Big Santa Anita and document needed trail work with photos and GPS locations. This was the key step in getting approval for a formal work agreement for wider volunteer participation in putting the trails in shape for the pack train and the public.

We were privileged to guide the hike and welcome USFS personnel Estephany Campos and Rosa Sanchez into Camp, who made the first official USFS visit in many years to “their” cabin—the Ranger Cabin. Often assumed to be part of the Camp, in fact the Cabin belongs to the federal government (although Camp volunteers keep it cleaned and open for the public). Built in 1903, the Cabin is the oldest federal ranger cabin on its original foundation in the nation.

Thanks to Estephany and Rosa’s enthusiastic and persistent work, volunteer work on the trail has jumped forward. With many more boots on the trail and hands on shovels, the trail should be up to spec soon (see “The Acronyms We Need” below).

Peter’s Game

“Old” Camp volunteer and New Game Warden Peter Witman

Camp-Family news: there a several “kids” who have grown up at Sturtevant, and none more active as a youth and young adult volunteer than Peter Witman, son of Board member/manager Paul Witman and Barb Witman. After a long and arduous process (that included getting tasered), Peter was recently sworn in as a California State Game Warden – hurrah!

The Board, volunteers, and Canyon community all join in celebrating Peter’s achievement, and following an internship period, look forward to his posting back to Southern California, where we trust he’ll re-join the work crews on the trail and at Camp!

The Acronyms We Need

RLC volunteers Marilyn Chang and Scoops Adamczyk pause their trail work – briefly.

For everyone who loves the BSAC (Big Santa Anita Canyon) and is eager to see it re-opened, here’s an important new acronym: SGTWPG. That’s the San Gabriel Trails and Wilderness Preservation Group, a new non-profit established by Maggie Moran (owner/operator of Adams Pack Station).

Its purpose is “to restore and maintain the trails within the Chantry Flat trail system,” so everyone – and every critter, starting with burros! – can safely use the trails into the backcountry of the ANF (you know, Angeles National Forest). Check it out here.

Even more importantly, the Group now has its VSA from the USFS: that’s a Volunteer Service Agreement from the United States Forest Service. That agreement opens up supervised trail work to a much wider variety of volunteers. First up has been the RLC (Restoration Legacy Crew), who have committed to hiking in to work every Sunday and Tuesday: thanks to them there is already significant progress on the pack trail coming up out of Fern Lodge (see photo essay below of RLC crew members Lauren Ballas, Scoops Adamczyk, Marilyn Chang, supervisor Brenda Beck plus Guy Webster at work.) Click here to sign-up for news and work sponsored by SGTWPG.

See you on the trails!

Behind The Scenes of Trail Restoration with the RLC:
L: The trail crossing before the RLC crew started work.
C: Teamwork + tools + sweat + persistence.
R: Marilyn & Lauren wrap up a big job done well.

Keeping the Community Strong (and Well-Fed)

Campers chowing down at the summer Canyon potluck.

The Conservancy is a volunteer member of the Big Santa Anita Canyon Permitee’s Association (BSACPA). Traditionally, the Association was a friendly collection of folks with a shared interest in their cabins in the Canyon.

But following the Bobcat Fire, the Association quickly came together in a much more urgent and active role to advocate for cabin owners, many of whom lost their cabins to the fire or experienced damages.

To nurture that community and keep the connections strong, the Association recently renewed its annual progressive dinner; the Sturtevant Conservancy partnered to provide the main course at Ruth and John Woods’ cabin, hiking in potato and fruit salads, and grilling up burgers and brats.

It was a warm time together with folks who share a deep love and intimate knowledge of the Canyon. In an era of limited funding for the Forest Service and its responsibility for the Canyon, the Association and Camp share in the much needed hands-on stewardship of the Canyon to the public’s benefit. A la’famiglia!

Scott Wilson, Danny Armanino, Paul Witman, Teah Vaughn-Piscopo, and Brent Pepper.

A Notable Passing – Again

One hundred thirteen years ago this week, our founder Wilbur Sturtevant passed away at the Veteran’s Home in Sawtelle/Los Angeles (September 10, 1910). Check this link for an interesting snapshot of his life and work, especially the establishment of “Sturtevant’s Camp”.