Independence Trail
~ Wheelchair Accesible ~
A view along part of the "Wild and Scenic"
South Yuba River Canyon
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SOUTH YUBA RIVER
Independence Trail
Wheelchair Accessible
South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)
ACTIVITIES / PROJECTS (Summer 2003) Excelsior Canal Levee Blowout Control Project: Background and Goals
South Yuba State Park - A Landmark of Voluntary Action
Buyers, Builders, And Educators
Introduction: Beverly Hills Holiday Dinners
In 1979, John and Sally Olmsted (now Sally Cates) received a plaque from Vice Presidential candidate George Romney in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, a totally opposite world from their rural Nevada City and north-state grass-roots fundraising activities. Governor Jerry Brown's new State Office of Citizen Initiative and Voluntary Action had proposed their work on South Yuba Independence Trial receive one of five state and national 1979 Volunteerism Awards. Sally's physically disabled daughter Shari was cared for at the Ramada Inn while John & Sally went starry eyed by limo to the gala event.
In September of 1997, John traveled by Amtrak bus and train, setting out at 5:55 a.m. to attend a dinner and ceremony coordinated by the Center for Law in the Public Interest (C.L.I.P.I.). The dinner was in honor of the accomplishments of David Kelley, director of the television shows Chicago Hope and Picket Fences. Olmsted attended specifically to give thanks to 73 year old John McCarthy, whose 1972 Supreme Court success allowed Ferguson, Olmsted, Myers, and friends to halt bulldozers building Jug Handle Inn at 10:00 a.m. September 30th 1972. Jug Handle Inn became the $10 million dollar/1000 acre Jug Handle State Reserve. Twenty-five years later, at 10:00 a.m. September 30th, 1997, the South Yuba River State Park was voted in at Nevada City's Helling Library by seven state park commissioners. A $25,000 land refund in 1976 from the Jug Handle park purchase allowed the California Institute of Man in Nature (C.I.M.I.N.) to donate a down payment on the first three miles of a possible 20 mile South Yuba River Park.
Co-Creators of South Yuba River Park and of Independence Trail
Sally Cates met, donated to, and later married teacher John Olmsted at a Marin County slide-show. Nine years of their tireless efforts would make them unplanned co-creators of both the original 1100 acres of Highway 49/ Independence Trail and of the eventual 2250 acre South Yuba State Park. Across Cal/CIMIN and Sequoya Challenge are non-profits formed by Olmsted between 1969 and 1974. Olmsted's student and docent friends of Oakland Museum and U.C. Berkeley extension classes (1969-1997) would loan/donate $250,000 in support of seven Living Outdoor Access Museums (LOAM sites) from the Mendocino coast to the Yuba River and Lake Tahoe.
The Seed of the Miracle Sprouts & Grows
The duo searched, purchased, or fund-raised for nearly two thirds of the South Yuba Park's 2250 acres. Rapid and aggressive methods of acquiring land were utilized, providing both unprecedented results and what would be oppressive financial burdens for the two. Undaunted, the pair developed legislative skills while co-writing Eugene Chappie's $350,000 AB366 of 1977. These skills allowed Sequoya Challenge to maintain and rebuild the Independence Trail from 1976 to 1992, with low-cost volunteerism. A $250,000 offer in 1981 for 290 acres contributed to the completed $500,000 volunteer and state purchase by 1989 of the North-Side 315 acres. This bold step also helped catalyze the 39 mile "wild river" dream for the newly formed (1984) South Yuba River Citizen's League (S.Y.R.C.L.).
Planning/Developing/Maintaining "The South Yuba Independence Trail"
With massive help in the form of a $25,000 donation in time and materials from the California Four Wheel Drive Association as reported by The Union in 1979, funding an interim opening of the first mile was accomplished. Sally signed off in 1986. By this time Sequoya and CIMIN had coordinated over $400,000 in grants and 1000 volunteers, leading by 1988 to the fire systems and new switchbacks for disabled children at a rebuilt Rush Creek flume. The efficient construction of the switchbacks by "jack of all trades" Joe Day was his final contribution as a major original partner in the efforts. Avoiding burned switchbacks, Sequoya/United Way Fire Systems saved flumes & homes in the September 11-13 "49er fire". The Union reported on October 1988's Fire Miracle Camp-Out & Fishing Party for Disabled Kids just as new partners began to arrive on the scene.
21st Century Independence Trail and South Yuba Park
In 1988 the movement was blessed with experienced gold miner and stone mason Bob McEwen, athlete Mark Matteson (a wheelchair user himself), education director Ann Ewing, and repeating board members John Holland and Mary Tendall. Ann also contributed land directly to the Olmsted/Across California Park #6 through a bargain sale of dramatic Yuba Foothills land. In 1992 further help came with Earl Cruser, and in 1993 John & Nita McKeehan, retirees who by 1996 could fill John & Sally's shoes without salary. This new and larger team facilitated costly East Trail re-construction utilizing both local state trail grants for small bridges and larger state budget items to build 3 larger flumes (16, 18, 19). Flumes 26, 27, and 28 (Rush Creek) were totally rebuilt between 1993 and 1997. Long term trail docents Linda, Marlene, Robert, Jim, Mary, Judy, and fifty docents at Bridgeport, as well as support from dozens of S.Y.R.C.L. volunteers have enabled the state park staff to justify full official state park designation. Extensive volunteerism mirrored the legislated Heritage Partnerships (1977, 1984, and 1985) between volunteers, B.L.M., and the State Park's Department.
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THE INDEPENDENCE TRAIL
Poetry by Suzanne Weller
© 2005
The Independence Trail is like a dream come true for fairy trail princes and princesses too Nature is in pictures in braille an open book all it takes to read it is just to take a look
The Independence Trail is like the Holy Grail if you’re helped by a wheelchair and need enough support to make it up the mountain and down again
The canals were made by miners to feed their need for gold and bought by angels who care about the soul Wheelchair access because somebody cares about the ones behind us who can’t get up the stairs. If you’re not a walker nature can be touched if you’re in a stroller you can make it up Bridges are for people who want to get across barriers to sharing you want to sing and talk
In France there was sweet Bernadette, the miracle of Lourdes with holy water flowing over from her gourd Her heart was for her people, her faith was like her steed Mother Mary freed her from selfishness and greed You threw away your crutches and left behind your canes blackened by the candles hanging in the caves You got your inspiration from a songbird who sings no more earthly limits a new pair of wings
Landscapes are for everyone including you and me every American citizen has got the right to see the beauty of the mountains the water in the streams the golden light at sunset the beauty of a dream
Independence is the freedom to explore natural corridors feeling unrestrained by time and space or other physical limitations
INDEPENDENCE BOARDWALK
NAEBA, JAPAN
The Independence Boardwalk is an amazing resource for people with disabilities in Japan. Disability awareness and accessibility has a long way to go in Japan but efforts such as the Independence Boardwalk are huge improvements in making Japan more wheeler friendly.
Independence Boardwalk and Off-Road Wheelchair Racing Information: http://www.846.info/
(This website is in Japanese, you may want to use an online translation service)
