Mission Statement:
It is the mission of the Trails Committee to promote healthful exercise and
mental well-being for all members by creating a comprehensive
trail system that will maximize the enjoyment of the pastoral beauty
of the Village of Heritage Ranch for equestrian, biking, hiking and
jogging enthusiasts. The committee will recommend steps that will:
Identify, develop, & maintain existing trails,
and Identify,
develop, & maintain new trails
History of Clear
Mountain Trails:
On October 21, 2003, with the endorsement of HROA, the first meeting
of the Trail Committee was held. On May 22, 2004, HROA invited us
to share our “grand opening” along with the season opening of Heritage
Pool.
Trail Committee members were
delighted to announce the official opening of our new trail system,
Clear Mountain Trails,
which included a Fitness Trail at Gateway Park, for hiking, biking
and equestrian enthusiasts. Committee members worked hard, along
with CDF crews from Los Robles Boys Camp), to identify and develop
approximately 30 miles of trails.
May 22, 2004, was a great day of
community sharing at this unique and beautiful place in which we
live.
Community Hike:
From time to time the Trails Committee coordinates community hikes.
These will be posted on the Bulletin Board which can be found on the
Front Page of this website.
Safety Tips: Click on the small Trail Guide below
and go to page four “Trail Etiquette.”
What
You Should Do If You Encounter a Mountain Lion: The following suggestions are based
on studies of mountain lion behavior and analysis of attacks by
mountain lions, tiger and leopards and is copied from “Living
With California Mountain Lions,” published by Resources
Agency, California Department of Fish and Game:
1 -
Do Not Hike Alone — Go in groups, with adults supervising
children.
2 -
Keep Children Close to You
— Observations of captured wild
mountain lions reveal that the animals,
seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at
all times.
3
- Do Not Approach a Lion
— Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to
escape.
4 -
Do Not Run From a Lion — Running may stimulate a mountain
lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face
the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up
if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward,
pick them without
bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
5 - Do Not Crouch Down or Bend
Over
— In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the
big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans
standing nearby. He
surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a
cat’s prey. On the other hand, a
person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey
animal. If you’re in
mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over,
even when picking up children
6 - Do All You Can to Appear
Larger
— Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small
children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or
turning your back. Wave our arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud
voice. The idea is to
convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a
danger to it.
7 - Fight Back If Attacked
— A hiker in So. California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion
that was attacking his son.
Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets,
garden tools and their bare
hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck,
try to remain standing and face
the attacking animal
8 -
IMMEDIATELY REPORT An ENCOUNTERS OR ATTACK TO HROA SECURITY.
