Spring Ride April 22, 2017
Carrizo Plains National Monument
The Kern Sierra Unit held it’s Spring Ride at the Carrizo Plains National Monument on April 22nd. We had 20 riders and 3 support staff. The National Monument, managed by the BLM, consists of almost 250,000 acres and is best known for being the largest native grassland in California. It’s also known for it’s petroglyphs, Tule Elk, Pronghorn Antelope and other endangered species. In addition, it’s a well studied area regarding the movement of the infamous San Andreas Fault. We staged from the old Hanline Ranch.
Mark Seitz and Lynn Joiner led us on an easy 2 hour ride along a dirt road that featured an old adobe structure and remnants of the area’s ranching past, up along a ridge and back down Quail Springs Canyon back to the staging area. Though the majority of the wild flowers were past their peak bloom we were still treated to the colors of Gold Fields, California Poppies, Valley Sun Flowers, Owl’s Clover, Fiddle Neck and other flowers and grasses. Upon our return to the staging area we stuffed ourselves on delicious Tri Tip, beans, salad and other delicious foods. The weather was cooler than expected and the ride was a safe success.
We want to thank John Kelley, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the BLM, for his assistance in making this awesome event happen.
