24 Peaks in 24 Hours for the Wildlands Conservancy
Paul Melzer, Presenter
August 6, 2013, 7:30 PM
San Bernardino County Museum,
2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands
Ultrarunner Paul Melzer will speak at the August 6 chapter meeting. Paul is the Mission Advancement Executive for the Wildlands Conservancy and also competes regularly in runs of greater than marathon distance, describing himself as “a strong mid-packer.”
Actually, Paul was first introduced to the Wildlands Conservancy when searching for steep mountain trails to train for the Barkley Marathons, a 100-mile trail race in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, described as the world’s toughest because of its cumulative 60,000 foot elevation gain and 60-hour time limit. Paul needed the Conservancy’s permission to use the Yucaipa Ridge trails.
Thuis year in May, Paul attempted a challenging peak climbing adventure in the San Bernardino Mountains. Calling it “24n24,” he attempted to climb 24 peaks within a 24 hour period. Accepting pledges and sponsorships, he raised over $5,000 for the conservancy even though he was not able to complete the adventure.
Paul will speak on the Wildlands Conservancy and what it means to him, as well as on his running, his training, and his experiences on 24n24.
The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) owns and operates California's largest nonprofit nature preserve system. This preserve system includes 12 magnificent landscapes spanning over 145,000 acres of diverse mountain, valley, desert, river and ocean front properties. TWC also funded the largest conservation land gift to the American people in U.S. history - over 560,000 acres.
Operating exclusively with private funding, TWC purchases and restores landscapes and builds national park quality visitor facilities that are open to the public at no cost. Over the past ten years, TWC has been California's nonprofit leader in providing free outdoor education programs for school children.
The Wildlands Conservancy's overarching goal is to call people back to the beauty, wonder, and inspiration of the natural world and to encourage people to be participants in saving our magnificent landscapes and restoring California's rich biological diversity.
The Conservancy’s nonprofit preserve system now includes:
- The west coast's largest nonprofit-owned preserve at Wind Wolves;
- California's largest nonprofit-owned wilderness at Pioneertown Mountains Preserve;
- California's longest stretch of nonprofit-owned coastline at Sounding Seas Reserve, and;
- The largest nonprofit-owned river estuary at Eel River Estuary Preserve.
The Wildlands Conservancy's administrative headquarters is at the Oak Glen Preserve. Situated at 5,024 feet, the preserve is adjacent to the steep escarpments of Yucaipa Ridge in the San Bernardino National Forest. The 2169 acre preserve includes prominent peaks the Conservancy purchased to prevent exploitation of private lands within the National Forest and to promote the expansion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness. These peaks include Wilshire Peak (8,707 feet) and Galena Peak (9,324 feet), an important lambing ground for bighorn sheep. Habitats encountered on the main trail include ponds, streams, wetlands, oak and pine forests, chaparral, and willow woodland.
The preserve headquarters is at 103-year-old Los Rios Rancho, southern California's largest historic apple ranch. Each year, more than 300,000 visitors make the scenic drive to Los Rios to pick apples, picnic, hike, participate in environmental programs, and enjoy homemade apple pie. The Wildlands Conservancy acquired the ranch when it was being marketed for residential subdivision. The Conservancy has entered a long-term lease with third and fourth generation Oak Glen Apple growers to operate the orchards, packing shed and bakery. The lessee, Riley's Frontier Events, celebrates working the land, log cabin living, and hosts a country music venue and pioneer re-enactor events.
