For more information, contact: Candi Suddjian, Western States Trail Foundation, (530) 823-7282
Newly Published Western States Trail Trail Guide for Riders, Runners and Hikers
AUBURN, California -- William F. Pieper, President of the Western States Trail Foundation, announced the recently revised edition of the Western States Trail Guide. "It is a comprehensive guide to the 100 miles of trail between Squaw Valley and Auburn, California. The trail guide serves as a detailed interpretive guide including altitude profile maps of the trail and excerpts of U.S. Geological Survey maps indicating road access points, trail landmarks, and points of historical interest along the trail," says Pieper.
The Western States Trail is one of only a few east-west trail routes from the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Sacramento Valley that is largely untouched by development and, for the most part, remains much like what the early-day users would have known. It passes over areas once native to the Washoe Indians and later crisscrossed by white explorers and gold seekers. The trail winds through cathedral-like groves of virgin forests and through country that shelters vast numbers of wildlife. The Western States Trail provides horsemen and hikers over a 100 miles of a pioneering wilderness experience, scenic and historic points of interest, and good wholesome family recreation.
The trail guide is written by Hal V. Hall, a long-time Western States trail rider and Auburn horseman. "This booklet serves as an informational guide for horsemen, runners and hikers who are interested in the Western States Trail through the Sierras, particularly the portion of trail between Michigan Bluff and Last Chance that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail guide provides the reader with pertinent information about the historical significance of the trail and its mining locations. The guide is a mile-by-mile narrative describing in detail all the notable features of the trail including the steep rugged portions of the trail and the importance of planning your trip, how strenuous hiking and riding over this trail can be, and much more," says Hall. All proceeds from the sale of the trail guide benefits the Western States Trail Foundation.
When not riding or training for the Tevis Cup Ride, Mr. Hall sits on the Board of Governors of the Western States Trail Foundation and is the Immediate Past President of the Placer County Historical Society. Mr. Hall`s association with these charitable organizations permits him to save and preserve the Western States Trail for future generations and encouraging public appreciation of nature, history and the outdoors. Working closely with the U.S. Forest Service and the California State Office of Historic Preservation, Mr. Hall performed the research efforts necessary to determine the eligibility of the historic trail section between Last Chance and Michigan Bluff that lead to the trail being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
"The Western States Trail serves as an arduous part of a route first used by gold miners in the mid-19th century and traversed most notably today during the Western States (Tevis Cup) 100 Mile Ride and the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run from Squaw Valley to Auburn each summer," said Larry Suddjian, Ride Director of the Tevis Cup. "The Trail Guide goes to help not only participants in these events but to the all recreationalist who may be interested in hiking portions of the trail or who would like to learn more about the history of the area or gain access to it. A directional map in the guide is particularly helpful along with easy to follow instructions to all of the trail heads."
Robert Montgomery Watson, the legendary High Sierra trail blazer, pathfinder and lawman, is credited with being the locator of the the Western States Trail that he had marked and signed in 1931. Appropriate credit is given in the trail guide to Watson along with photographs taken of him before his death in 1932. Watson has been termed , the "Trail Finder of the Sierra."
With headquarters in Auburn, the Western States Trail Foundation is a California non-profit, tax-exempt, mutual benefit corporation, operating exclusively for literary, educational, and historical purposes and to encourage better care and prevention of cruelty to animals. The Foundation is dedicated toward historic preservation and educating the public about the Western States Trail. The Foundation sponsors the annual the Western States 100 Miles One Day Ride (also known as the Tevis Cup Ride) over this historic trail through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This year`s ride is slated for August 8, 1998.
To obtain a trail guide please contact the Foundation office at 701 High Street, Suite 228C, Auburn, California 95603 or by telephone at 530.823.7282; facsimile at 530.823.7901; or the Internet e-mail at: wstf@foothill.net
