As the Kenai Peninsula chapter’s 2023 Trail Challenge comes to a close, prepare for the last hurrah of fall with a Fall Frolic! October 7th on the McElroy homestead in Kasilof. There will be fields to gallop, trail obstacles, packing demonstrations, and, of course, FOOD! Details will be updated as the time draws near. Keep an eye on the KP’s website and Facebook page for their events!
Date: February 25, 2023
Time: 5pm
Location: Linda Sims (Palmer) – see email for address
Agenda:
Join us January 28th at “Conifer Farms” (Colleen’s house) for our annual meeting! Address in the email from the listserv.
Timeline:
4pm business meeting
5pm (ish) photos/presentation by Francine & Colleen on packing trips this past summer
5:30pm (ish) potluck dinner and socializing! Bring a dish and/or drink to share. We have plenty of disposable plates, napkins, etc.
Business Meeting Agenda:
We are having our first in-person meeting of the year on April 30th starting at 11am. Location is TBD but we plan on doing a packing review and comparing packing lists. We will have at least one horse to practice on. Bring your lists, experience, and questions! Potluck lunch around noon.
Last call to get in your 2021 volunteer hours!
This is the LAST CALL for volunteer hours for 2021. Please submit them by February 12th. I will then be reviewing and cleaning up the spreadsheet on the 13th and 14th. The calendar reminder that will go out tonight has the 2022 hours so double check that anything you put in is for the right year. ESTIMATES ARE OK! Volunteer hours are sent to the national org and are used to demonstrate the value of the time (and vehicle use) we all put in.
Record your 2021 volunteer hours on the Google Sheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kCuNtt3Z24k_7Nabz9mjtEb8dYy9SszdOAIAOXRd6gw/edit?usp=sharing
Tutorial for completing the volunteer hours form: https://youtu.be/5bHJ-4XxZ7s
Guidelines from BCHA on what qualifies can be seen here: https://www.bcha.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BCHAVolunteerHoursReportingGuidelines2016.pdf
Happy Trails!
Colleen
Our next meeting will be March 23rd. Weather permitting, we will have a ride followed by an outdoor meeting. Details TBD. Make sure you are subscribed to our listserv to get email updates: backcountryhorseak+subscribe@groups.io
The next meeting is February 21 at 6pm via Zoom. Agenda and connection information is mailed out via list serv. Subscribe by emailing backcountryhorseak+subscribe@groups.io.
The next meeting is January 10th via Zoom. Agenda and connection information is mailed out via list serv. Subscribe by emailing backcountryhorseak+subscribe@groups.io.
Next meeting is at Cath Halley’s house on 10055 N Brow Tine Circle at 6pm. In-person is limited to 12 people, so contact Cath if you are planning on going in person. Her contact info and Zoom meeting information was emailed to the listserv. We will have updates on the trail work and rides over the summer, plus Greenbelt information. A full agenda will be emailed closer to the time.
Mat-Su BCHA has joined the “Save the Mat-Su Greenbelt” coalition.
From the University of Alaska Fairbanks Public Service Announcement: Heavy equipment is working near trails in the Matanuska Greenbelt Trail System that pass through Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center property to evaluate gravel resources. An excavator will dig multiple test pits and a drill rig will test subsurface conditions in nine boring locations.
The assessment work is being done in response to budget reductions and a request from the University of Alaska Board of Regents that universities find ways to generate revenue from their property. As part of that effort, UAF has decided to evaluate the gravel resources at the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center for a prospective future gravel mining operation. (You can view the full PSA on our resources page).
What has been affected so far?
Damage has been done to recreational trails, including the Long Lake Connector and the Long Lake Trail. Prospective roads for gravel extraction will be built that will affect farm land.
How can we stop this?
As one, cross-interest voice of passionate Greenbelt and farmland advocates, we can encourage the halt of additional core sampling, stopping a gravel quarry entirely and preventing irreversible damage to this beloved, heritage farm land and recreational area. See some ways to join the cause below.
Learn how to help on the website here.