Happy New Year Family, Friends, & Colleagues!
This New Year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Point Reyes National Seashore, yet another brilliant example of “America’s Best Idea.” To acknowledge and honor this milestone, I have set a personal goal to walk all of the 154 miles of designated trails within the Seashore during 2012, one step at a time. The goal of this personal challenge is not only to celebrate wild Point Reyes, but also to raise funds for the Point Reyes National Seashore Association (PRNSA) an organization that provides financial support to a wide array of Seashore programs–habitat restoration, monitoring and protection of threatened species, trail maintenance, and various educational programs. Here’s the plan: I will be keeping a journal of each trail hike–a chronicle of the natural history, the weather, and unexpected encounters and notions that occur along the way. The journal will be posted on-line at Bay Nature and is linked to the PRNSA website. The timing of these “walkabouts” will be rather random, depending on weather and my (very squirrely) schedule. But, I will try to be on the path fairly frequently, in each season and in all conditions.
I’m hoping that you will contribute to this “walk-a-thon” by sponsoring me for each mile covered. If this appeals to you, here is what I’m asking: Pledge some amount per mile– a dime, a dollar or more (as much as you like!). All proceeds will go directly to PRNSA to support their ongoing conservation efforts, but anyone who pledges a dollar (or more) per mile will receive a membership to PRNSA and a signed and personally inscribed copy of the latest edition of my book “The Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula” (2008). If this interests you, make a pledge of any amount at the First Giving fundraising website and follow my travels throughout the year at Bay Nature. . . Pledging is the easy part! Many thanks,
Jules Evens
PS: This spring my friends at Point Reyes National Seashore Association will announce their own Point Reyes trails challenge to celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary, and raise funds to support wildlife and trail maintenance. So stay tuned and I look forward to seeing you on the trails as we explore and honor this amazing place we all know and love.
