News

Rep. Sam Farr, D- Carmel, released a statement on the president's announcement that Cuba will be removed from the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism."

The San Benito County Free Library is offering special perks this week including cake, tips on resume building and a choir performance. That’s because it’s National Library Week and the institution joins others in celebrating the importance of reading and learning.

Calfire has declared a burn ban for San Benito and Monterey counties due to drought conditions, according to a statement from the state agency.

Hollister is getting a new payment center next to Old City Hall.

The city is set to do road improvements on Cerra Vista Drive following a recent vote by the Hollister council.

Congressman Sam Farr, D-Carmel, announced he is accepting submissions for the annual art contest among high school students in his district, which includes San Benito County.

Caltrans announced it is paving southbound U.S. 101 at San Juan Road through Friday between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Pinnacles National Park is just far enough away to place it beyond the "Hey, let's go for a hike this afternoon" category. It's more of a "We gotta get down to Pinnacles sometime this spring" place. And often, we don't get around to it.

 

My visits are so rare that I generally return to the usual attractions: the caves and the namesake spires along the High Peaks Trail. They are beautiful, indeed, but the park boasts many miles of trails I have never seen.

 

Few men love the outdoors more or know our natural history better than Barry Breckling, the now retired ranger who worked 30 years at Henry Coe State Park. A couple years ago, we hiked up North Chalone Peak at Pinnacles when Barry mentioned his favorite loop in the park. I filed away that remark until a couple weeks ago when I emailed him for the details.

 

Barry's route presents a bit of a predicament, because it doesn't end where it begins. To span the two miles between the start and the end of the loop, one needs to either hitch a ride or, dare I say, walk. On a recent weekday morning, I parked my car at the Old Pinnacles Trailhead and walked back down the road to a park maintenance yard I passed on the way in. Several young park employees were chatting near a pickup before heading off to work. I asked if they were heading to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area and, if so, could I bum a ride. Yes and yes. Jackpot!

 

The Condor Gulch Trail edges up toward the park's remarkable spires and crags. These volcanic ramparts are part of the Neenach Volcano born 23 million years ago near Lancaster in southern California. Riding the San Andreas Fault, the pinnacles have traveled 195 miles north to their current location.

 

Wooded, green and cool down below, the Condor Gulch Trail popped into open chaparral when I joined the High Peaks Trail two miles and 1,100 vertical feet later. It was a perfectly still and clear morning; the views stretched for miles in every direction.

 

After the climb, I welcomed the High Peaks Trail's gentle traverse along the shaded north side of the ridge. Shooting stars, saxifrage, larkspur, Indian warrior and miles of blossoming buckbrush joined forces for an impressive floral display that never dimmed. Past the Tunnel Trail, I reached the exposed portion of the High Peaks Trail. Railings and steps cut into the rock secured me along narrow ledges in the volcanic rock.

 

On the Juniper Canyon Trail, I turned down the back side of the pinnacles toward the Chaparral Trailhead parking area where westside visitors enter the park from the Salinas Valley. As I zigzagged down through an ever-changing array of rock spires, overhead I saw a huge bird lazily riding the morning air. Could it be?

 

 

Sure enough. One, two, three California Condors drifted overhead and landed on the rocks above me. One turned toward the sun, stretched his wings wide and basked in the sun's warming rays. What a show for an audience of one.

 

After a bite to eat at the Chaparral trailhead, I started down the Balconies Trail toward home. Lacking a flashlight, I bypassed the Balconies Caves and followed the gentle drift of Old Pinnacles Trail back to my car.

çPinnacles National Park is just far enough away to place it beyond the "Hey, let's go for a hike this afternoon" category. It's more of a "We gotta get down to Pinnacles sometime this spring" place. And often, we don't get around to it.

My visits are so rare that I generally return to the usual attractions: the caves and the namesake spires along the High Peaks Trail. They are beautiful, indeed, but the park boasts many miles of trails I have never seen.

Few men love the outdoors more or know our natural history better than Barry Breckling, the now retired ranger who worked 30 years at Henry Coe State Park. A couple years ago, we hiked up North Chalone Peak at Pinnacles when Barry mentioned his favorite loop in the park. I filed away that remark until a couple weeks ago when I emailed him for the details.

Barry's route presents a bit of a predicament, because it doesn't end where it begins. To span the two miles between the start and the end of the loop, one needs to either hitch a ride or, dare I say, walk. On a recent weekday morning, I parked my car at the Old Pinnacles Trailhead and walked back down the road to a park maintenance yard I passed on the way in. Several young park employees were chatting near a pickup before heading off to work. I asked if they were heading to the Bear Gulch Day Use Area and, if so, could I bum a ride. Yes and yes. Jackpot!

The Condor Gulch Trail edges up toward the park's remarkable spires and crags. These volcanic ramparts are part of the Neenach Volcano born 23 million years ago near Lancaster in southern California. Riding the San Andreas Fault, the pinnacles have traveled 195 miles north to their current location.

Wooded, green and cool down below, the Condor Gulch Trail popped into open chaparral when I joined the High Peaks Trail two miles and 1,100 vertical feet later. It was a perfectly still and clear morning; the views stretched for miles in every direction.

After the climb, I welcomed the High Peaks Trail's gentle traverse along the shaded north side of the ridge. Shooting stars, saxifrage, larkspur, Indian warrior and miles of blossoming buckbrush joined forces for an impressive floral display that never dimmed. Past the Tunnel Trail, I reached the exposed portion of the High Peaks Trail. Railings and steps cut into the rock secured me along narrow ledges in the volcanic rock.

On the Juniper Canyon Trail, I turned down the back side of the pinnacles toward the Chaparral Trailhead parking area where westside visitors enter the park from the Salinas Valley. As I zigzagged down through an ever-changing array of rock spires, overhead I saw a huge bird lazily riding the morning air. Could it be?

 

Sure enough. One, two, three California Condors drifted overhead and landed on the rocks above me. One turned toward the sun, stretched his wings wide and basked in the sun's warming rays. What a show for an audience of one.

After a bite to eat at the Chaparral trailhead, I started down the Balconies Trail toward home. Lacking a flashlight, I bypassed the Balconies Caves and followed the gentle drift of Old Pinnacles Trail back to my car.

There are few eight-mile loops that match the magic and beauty of this one. Shoot for the cool freshness of an early spring morning. The season will be gone before you know it.

Ron Erskine is a local outdoors columnist and avid hiker. Visit him online at www.RonErskine.com, his blog at www.WeeklyTramp.com or email him at [email protected].

A local business woman found an innovative way to repurpose an accessory now used by many people and to give back to nonprofit organizations at the same time.

Lanyards - thin pieces of cord usually found draped around the necks of students and attached to their school IDs - are  common sights on school and business campuses around the world. An easy way to keep ID cards from being lost, they serve a simple purpose.

Gilroy resident Jamie Hernandez had the idea to put them to another good use by creating a lanyard that can serve as a safety tool in emergency situations. In return, the lanyards helped Hernandez in her own time of need when she was recovering from a debilitating illness.

“I get migraines and I became paralyzed,” she said. “I was in a wheelchair for two and a half years. Then I got better and I wanted to do something that kept me busy.”

Hernandez, who is originally from Morgan Hill, taught herself how to knot and tie paracord to create colorful lanyards, key chains, jewelry and other accessories.

Paracord - or parachute cord - is a thin rope made of nylon or polyester most commonly used as suspension lines for parachutes, according to www.paracordplanet.com. For each lanyard, Hernandez uses about 30 feet of paracord 550, which can hold up to 550 pounds. The cord never mildews, according to Hernandez.

As a former athlete, she knew the safety value of the lanyards.

I did a lot of rock climbing before, but then I got sick,” Hernandez said. “A few years ago in 2007 I broke my hand, so I feel fortunate to be able to do this.”

Starting as a hobby, Hernandez’ lanyard creations eventually became a business when her daughter, Jasmine Yanez, was on the Gilroy High School wrestling team. The school lost its funding for buses, Hernandez said, so she sold her lanyards at the Mid-California Wrestling Championship Tournament to raise funds for team transportation. She also made all the first place lanyards for each of the 14 weight classes in the two-day tournament.

“It’s rewarding because if (the wrestlers) win first place, they get the lanyard and I’ve seen them around town,” Hernandez said. “We put a dog tag on it with their (place) and their class. To see the kids still wearing it, and using it and coming back for more is good.”

Hernandez’ new business endeavor, InkBlossom Designs, became a big hit when her daughter left home to pursue her business management degree at Menlo College in Atherton. Yanez took the paracord lanyards to sell to fellow students. By then, Hernandez had added another safety feature: whistles to use to attract attention in case of emergency.

The rest of her family also became involved in the business. Hernandez’ son, Solar, helps his mom by measuring and cutting the paracord before she begins knotting the cords for lanyards. And her husband, Steven Hernandez, is charge of sales and marketing.

“My husband is my biggest cheerleader,” she said.  “He saw something I like to do and I’ve made it my own.”

As her business grows, Hernandez continues to donate 40 percent of her profits to community organizations. To date, InkBlossom Designs has donated a total of more than $3,000 to the Fallen Hero Memorial Scholarship Fund, South Valley Middle School wrestling and cross-country teams, Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association, Los Gatos Rugby Club, Pop Warner football leagues and Christopher High School sports.

“If I can help bring a smile to someone’s face and help an organization, that’s the best thing for me to do,” she said.

But Hernandez’ community outreach doesn’t end with InkBlossom Designs. She also volunteers as an assistant coach at South Valley Middle School and created the school’s annual Sumo Feast Fundraiser with dinner, live music and inflatable sumo suits for wrestling.

Her contributions are greatly appreciated by the South Valley Middle School staff.

“Ms. Hernandez is always around to lend a hand and is a valuable team player,” Athletic Director Jami Reynolds said.

A handy way to keep track of those important items, lanyards serve a simple purpose..

But Gilroy resident Jamie Hernandez cm to put them to another good use by creating a lanyard that can serve as a safety tool in emergency situations. In return, the lanyards helped Hernandez in her own time of need when she was recovering from a debilitating illness.

“I get migraines and I became paralyzed,” she said. “I was in a wheelchair for two and a half years. Then I got better and I wanted to do something that kept me busy.”

Hernandez, who is originally from Morgan Hill, taught herself how to knot and tie paracord to create colorful lanyards, key chains, jewelry and other accessories.

Paracord - or parachute cord - is a thin rope made of nylon or polyester most commonly used as suspension lines for parachutes, according to www.paracordplanet.com. For each lanyard, Hernandez uses about 30 feet of paracord 550, which can hold up to 550 pounds. The cord never mildews, according to Hernandez.

As a former athlete, she knew the safety value of the lanyards.

I did a lot of rock climbing before, but then I got sick,” Hernandez said. “A few years ago in 2007 I broke my hand, so I feel fortunate to be able to do this.”

Starting as a hobby, Hernandez’ lanyard creations eventually became a business when her daughter, Jasmine Yanez, was on the Gilroy High School wrestling team. The school lost its funding for buses, Hernandez said, so she sold her lanyards at the Mid-California Wrestling Championship Tournament to raise funds for team transportation. She also made all the first place lanyards for each of the 14 weight classes in the two-day tournament.

“It’s rewarding because if (the wrestlers) win first place, they get the lanyard and I’ve seen them around town,” Hernandez said. “We put a dog tag on it with their (place) and their class. To see the kids still wearing it, and using it and coming back for more is good.”

Hernandez’ new business endeavor, InkBlossom Designs, became a big hit when her daughter left home to pursue her business management degree at Menlo College in Atherton. Yanez took the paracord lanyards to sell to fellow students. By then, Hernandez had added another safety feature: whistles to use to attract attention in case of emergency.

The rest of her family also became involved in the business. Hernandez’ son, Solar, helps his mom by measuring and cutting the paracord before she begins knotting the cords for lanyards. And her husband, Steven Hernandez, is charge of sales and marketing.

“My husband is my biggest cheerleader,” she said.  “He saw something I like to do and I’ve made it my own.”

As her business grows, Hernandez continues to donate 40 percent of her profits to community organizations. To date, InkBlossom Designs has donated a total of more than $3,000 to the Fallen Hero Memorial Scholarship Fund, South Valley Middle School wrestling and cross-country teams, Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association, Los Gatos Rugby Club, Pop Warner football leagues and Christopher High School sports.

“If I can help bring a smile to someone’s face and help an organization, that’s the best thing for me to do,” she said.

But Hernandez’ community outreach doesn’t end with InkBlossom Designs. She also volunteers as an assistant coach at South Valley Middle School and created the school’s annual Sumo Feast Fundraiser with dinner, live music and inflatable sumo suits for wrestling.

Her contributions are greatly appreciated by the South Valley Middle School staff.

“Ms. Hernandez is always around to lend a hand and is a valuable team player,” Athletic Director Jami Reynolds said.

Caltrans plans drilling work for five hours Tuesday on Highway 156 in San Benito County, with minor delays expected for motorists.