[RC] Important message from Swanton Pacific ride - Barbara McCrary
The entries have gone over the limit with people still wanting to
enter. Since parking has been the issue causing us to limit the entries,
we have come up with the following plans:
1) We have been granted permission to park rigs in the first field on
the left as you go to our ride camp. This is a big field, flat, with
plenty of turnaround and parking room. It is about 1/2 mile from the main
camp - dining, registration, and vetting area. We are asking those
who will be driving large LQ trailers to park and camp there. We will
provide 1 porta-potty, but LQ trailers are self-contained and carry their own
water supply. There is creek access at either end of the field, but it is
a fair walk, so another reason to be self-contained. We will have signs
out to direct large trailers there.
2) Parking space at the two one-hour vet checks is a serious
issue. It has been an issue even with a relatively small number of
entries. Our attendance is double what is was in 2006! We've decided
to ask for 20 volunteers from the audience with no more than 8 pickups to be
responsible for taking crew bags for all the riders into each vet check.
These volunteers will crew for ALL RIDERS, and will not leave their assigned vet
check until the last horse has left. It is possible for the crew at the
first 1-hour VC to get to the second 1-hour VC before the first horse arrives
there. It may be that the best bet is to have two crews. A third VC
has a 45-minute hold for the 100s and a 15-minute hold for the 75s. This
VC will not be possible for the Cascade crew to reach in time for the first
horses and will leave the Bloomquist crews waiting for nearly 3 hours. In
this case, we may need a third crew of 20 volunteers.
We have had very good relations with the parks for 25 years, and we
don't want to lose that due to non-compliance of the rules.
IMPORTANT NOTICES:
NO OPEN FIRES OR HIBACHIS OR BBQ UNITS OF ANY SORT IN CAMP.
ALSO, NO SMOKING...ON TRAILS, IN CAMPS, IN VET CHECKS. FIRE DANGER IS
EXTREMELY HIGH. I HAVE PROMISED THE OWNER/MANAGER OF THE NEW PARKING AREA
THAT THERE WILL BE NO FIRES.
NO CREWS THAT ARE NOT ON THE VOLUNTEER TEAMS WILL BE ALLOWED AT VET
CHECKS. ANYONE NOT COMPLYING WITH THESE RULES WILL BE CAUSE THEIR RIDER TO
BE DISQUALIFIED.
DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE PARKS....BLOOMQUIST FLAT AND
CASCADE. WE HAVE A SPECIAL CAMPING AREA RESERVED FOR
PEOPLE BRINGING DOGS. OR...YOU MAY PARK IN THE FIRST FIELD WITH DOGS IF
YOU ARE BRING A LARGE RIG. DOGS MUST BE EITHER TIED OR CONFINED AT ALL
TIMES, AS THERE IS LIVESTOCK IN THE AREA....ALSO WILD TURKEYS, WILD PIGS, DEER,
BOBCATS, ET AL. DO NOT BRING DOGS INTO THE MAIN CAMP, VETTING AREA, OR
START-FINISH AREA.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS DOING REPAIRS ON A WASHOUT TO SWANTON ROAD THAT
OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY ARE PUTTING IN CRIBBING TO HOLD THE BANK
THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE CREEK. THIS IS ON A BLIND TURN.
THEREFORE, PLEASE USE THE NORTH ENTRANCE TO SWANTON ROAD. IF YOU ARE
COMING FROM THE SOUTH, DRIVE PAST THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE ANOTHER 5 MILES, TO THE
NORTHERN ENTRANCE. IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOU WILL BE STUCK THERE, BECAUSE
THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN AROUND AND NO WAY TO BACK UP. I CANNOT STRESS THIS
ENOUGH!!
Barbara McCrary Ride Mgr., Swanton Pacific 75/100 "The Most
Beautiful Trail in the World"
