BETA Bicycle-Equestrian Trails-Assistance

BETA ~ Bicycle-Equestrian Trails-Assistance

BETA Bicycle-Equestrian Trails-Assistance BETA Trail Report

Current Fort Ord Weather

Live Weather Picture
Click for Up-To-Date Weather Information

The dedication ceremony to celebrate the United States newest National Monument, Fort Ord Soldiers National Monument, will be held on Saturday May 19th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The event will be hosted by U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, Garrison Commander Col. Joel J. Clark, Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, and Burea of Land Management Director Bob Abby.

Anyone who would like to attend the event must RSVP by 2 p.m. Thursday by emailing

OfficeOfTheSsecretary@ios.doi.gov

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

April 20, 2012

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FORT ORD NATIONAL MONUMENT
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Click to Visit Presidential Proclamation

Sergeant MacDonald visits the site of the grave of warhorse Comanche whom he rode while in service to his country.

Photography by BETA 9

SGT MacDonald bought his mare, Comanche, at a BLM mustang gather and rode her twenty-three years in official U.S. Army functions. She was the last ceremonial horse at Fort Ord, until the colors were retired in 1993 and the base closed. On her death, the Army accorded SGT MacDonald the distinction of permitting her burial on a hill overlooking the old parade fields, beside the concrete troughs built for war horses. Comanche's grave, marked by a picket fence and display case, is a landmark for riders, bikers, and hikers.

N 36° 38.668 W 121° 45.410

Visit A Sgt MacDonald pdf

Sea Otter Classic 2012

www.SeaOtterClassic.com

April 19th thru April 22nd

Most of these photos are by BETA Seven, and are the epitome of the Sea Otter race experience.

Days of Sunshine and pleasant weather give way to a foggy/soggy Sea Otter Sunday.

For more photos of Sea Otter 2012, please visit the Gallery...

Thank you BETA 26, for these excellent photographs.

Click for Full Size Map

Click for Cat One Turn-by-Turn Directions (pdf)

Click for Cat Two Turn-by-Turn Directions (pdf)

Sea Otter Classic BETA Communications Point
Photography by BETA 7,

Creekside Terrace (Sea Otter Ride-Around)

BETA in the News!

San Francisco Chronicle Article on Wildflowers Mentions BETA

"...U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced during a visit in January that he is proposing Fort Ord be elevated to National Monument Status. The diverse terrain includes woodlands, grasslands and vernal pools that host a wide variety of plant communities, including 35 species of rare plants. They are at their showiest during spring; you need only wander a short way off a trail to enter a wonderland of wildflowers that include the California jewelflower, Contra Costa goldfields, vernal fiddleneck, south coast morning glory, San Benito evening primrose and other rare blooms. Download a map of the Public Lands from the website of the BLM-sponsored Bicycle Equestrian Trails Assistance volunteer network."

Click to Visit SF Chronicle Article

New Lands for Fort Ord

Are you interested in hiking and seeing the new lands designated for the Bureau of Land Management at Fort Ord?

Consider joining with the Army Fort Ord Cleanup Crew and the Bureau of Land Management staff in a walk around areas that burned in 2009 and 2010 and were later cleared of munitions and explosives of concern. We have scheduled a 90-minute walking tour of a cleared area within the Impact Area.

The tour will take place on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

You must register in advance to participate.

This is the third time we have held this event so we are limiting participation to 50 individuals: "first come, first served." If this activity interests you, please return the attached registration information no later than May 1st. We will close registration when we reach 50 participants.

We'd be very grateful for any assistance you can provide. Please let me know.

Melissa Broadston

Melissa.Broadston@us.army.mil

U.S. Army Fort Ord Cleanup Community Involvement

831-393-1284

Click HERE to Download Registration Form (pdf)

Please remember this... Brown Trail Marker = Fragile Trail.

Avoid for 24 hours following inclement weather.

Wild Turkeys spotted on Ft Ord near Mudhen Lake

Fort Ord Wild Flowers Run Rampant

Recent Rains have sparked a florid display of Fort Ord Flowers...

For an in-depth look at Fort Ord Flowers, please visit The Gallery

These wild Fungi-Americans were recently observed living near BLM HQ on Fort Ord

BETA Seven, James spotted this Bobcat recently while out on BETA Patrol.

BETA Hikers, Equestrians, and New Cyclists... You are invited!

Click Above to Sign Up!

Rides Every weekend... weather permitting.

Teach your friends and family to ride a Mountain Bike here... you could not find a better place to start.

A bit of pre-ride orientation...

...and a bit of post ride frivolity.

Monterey Bay Equestrian Morning Ride

Thanks to Beta 26 for photos and recap

"There were eleven MBE riders (actually twelve - one woman showed up as the rest of the riders were disappearing beneath the trees on trail 72), and eight, I think, BETA chaperones,which was a great turnout for both groups, considering the weather. The riders I talked to really appreciated the coffee, bagels, and maps, so I think it went over well."

Visit the BETA 26 Photo Gallery

Mighty BETA Patrol Dog, Cairo, leashed and looking for his next assignment.

Inclement weather and wet trails influenced BETA 16's decision to forgo an equestrian patrol and to venture out on patrol as a hiker. With her faithful K9 companion, Cairo, BETA 16 hiked the trails above Creekside Terrace on this damp mid-winter day.

Beta 25 Prepares Cisco for a BETA Patrol ride.

After establishing radio contact with BLM HQ Beta 25 and Cisco spent 5 hours riding the Fort Ord trails on BETA Patrol this midwinter January day.

U.S. Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar visits Fort Ord
Secretary Salazar launches a Ft Ord BETA Fashion Craze...

"I saw a Bobcat!"

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar ended a visit to Monterey County on Friday with a call to President Barack Obama to designate Fort Ord as a national monument.

Click above to view a video of Secretary Salazar's visit to Fort Ord

Ken Salazar Wiki

Beta 8's New Ride

BETA Stalwart, BETA 8, is proud to present the newest member of his stable. Ask about Bob.

Mid Winter Hike around Mudhen Lake and environs results in some striking Ft Ord vistas.

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! !

BETA Officers for 2012

BETA President

The Honorable BETA One

Thank you to all of our officers who served during 2011

First Aid or CPR Training?

American Red Cross

Are you current?

Anatomy of a First Aid Kit

Visit American Red Cross

Download a Printable Band-Aid 1st Aid Guide (pdf)

BETA October Meeting

BETA Intensive Patrol Exercise
Saturday October 29th
9am Ft Ord BLM HQ

Ranger 1956 leads the classroom portion of Intensive Training.

BETA members, all trained and current in 1st Aid and CPR practice to sharpen skills in a joint exercise with Ranger 1956 from Ft Ord BLM Staff, our Monterey County Fire Department and MD 902 Explorer helicopter flight crew N902EX from CalStar.

A mounted Beta 28 checks out and familiarizes his horse with the CalStar helicopter.

The CalStar Flight Crew demonstrate the finer points of patient trauma management at the scene.

California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CalStar) is a nonprofit regional air ambulance service. Its mission is to save lives, reduce disability and speed recovery for victims of trauma and illness through rapid transport, quality medical care and education.

www.CalStar.org

Thank you to BETA 8 for planning and presenting an exceptional BETA event.

And then... the world famous BETA BBQ.

Thank you BLM, Monterey County Fire Department and CalStar from BETA

BETA Gets the word out at REI with this informative display.

Thank you to all BETA members who have volunteered to promote BETA, BLM and Ft Ord at information booths in businesses, fairs, and other venues throughout the Monterey Bay area.

NEW!!!

Hot off the Press

Fort Ord Trail Map and Information Brochure

Click for New Ft Ord Map (PDF)

Click for New Ft Ord Brochure (PDF)

BETA at the Monterey County Fair

www.MontereyCountyFair.com

Ranger 1956 and BETA Board Member BETA 19 share a bit of Fair Humor

Ranger 1956 dazzles the Fair Crowd

BETA on the Move

BETA 16 on Patrol

Rattlesnake Number One - Reason Number One to Stay on the Trail

This large Northern Pacific Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) was spotted off-trail between Creekside Terrace paved parking and trail 30 on Saturday (8/20) during the recent BETA outdoor meeting. The Venomous and Potentially Dangerous Viper was estimated at over 3 and 1/2 feet and had 9 tail segments and a bud. The snake was monitored by BETA and a CHP officer until it moved well off trail.

Rattlesnake Bite 1st Aid

New Information Signs on Fort Ord

Fort Ord Project Manager, 1950 places new signs at strategic points around Ft Ord. The new signs remind visitors of the proper protocol while visiting the fragile lands that surround us.

Illegal Bypass Trail

BETA 16, observed that an illegal bypass trail is beginning to develop at the top of Trail 49 just beyond Meg's Rock. It is unfortunate in that the illegal trail has destroyed some beautiful native brush. It is suggested that BETA and BLM adopt the remediation of this illegal trail as a BETA project.

Meg's Rock.

Do you Remember...
these Ft Ord Trail Names/Numbers?

Remember when Three Sisters was known as "Trail 10?"

Remember when Lookout Ridge was known as "Trail 11?"

Remember when Merrill Road was called Trail 7 or "Dead End Road?"

Is it spelled "Henniken's" Ranch Road or "Henneken's" Ranch Road?

Which map is right?

Click on this link to see a 2004 BLM Map of Ft Ord

August 2004 Ft Ord Map (pdf)

Toro Creek Rages at Creekside Terrace Bridge

An otherwise dry creek bed takes on a new "persona" after last year's heavy March 2011 rains swell Toro Creek.

A WORD ABOUT BETA
Bicycle Equestrian Trails Assistance
Providing Information, Aid and Assistance to the Fort Ord Trail Community as Bicyclist, Equestrians and as Hikers with knowledge, care, and pride.

BETA ~ Bicycle-Equestrian Trails-Assistance

Fort Ord BETA

Welcome!

www.FtOrdBETA.Org