Montecito Magazine 2020

and board member of Santa Barbara Audubon Peter Th mpson led a birding hike through the preserve and was amazed at the trail’s transforma- tion. “Nature is resilient, and the trail is once again full of birds,” says Peter. Like its looping trail, Ennisbrook Preserve has come full circle. Once again, it’s a sanctuary where locals and visitors can connect with each other — and with Mother Nature herself — right in the heart of this resilient neighborhood. This is the crown of Carpinteria, and now, after 40 years, trail users can once again enjoy the scenic upper reaches of the Franklin Trail. “We have no other trails like this into the mountains in Carpinteria, and we wanted to see it opened for everyone to enjoy,” says Carpinteria activist Jane Murray, co-chair of Friends of the Franklin Trail with fellow activist Bud Girard. Together with a coalition of community groups, they worked hard to raise funds for this ambitious three-phase project. The final and most challeng- ing phase of the trail, leading up to the Santa Ynez Ridge and beyond, finally opened in early 2020. But this epic trail is not just about the views; this 7.9-mile trail is a hike through Carpinteria’s heritage. The Chumash Indians were the first peo- ple to roam trails in the Franklin Canyon. Later, ranchers drove cattle over the mountains into the Santa Ynez Valley, seeking more favorable grazing grounds. But it wasn’t until 1913 that the Forest Service forged an official trail. For years, early Carpinterians used the trail to escape into the backcountry. But, ironically, the trail’s popularity soon led to its closure. In the late 1970s, public access was cut when local ranchers became concerned about avocado root rot carried by hikers passing through their land. Chaparral soon engulfed the trail, and if it weren’t for com- munity groups, it might still be closed to this day. That’s when Bud and Jane teamed up. “Thecounty couldn’t raise the funds so we realized we’d have to do it all ourselves,” says Jane matter-of-factly . After years of collaborative efforts to negotiate easements, build fencing and rebuild the trail, Phase 1 of the Franklin Trail finally reopened to the public, followed by Phase 2 in the spring of 2015. But reclaiming Phase 3 from Mother Nature would be no small feat. This final 2.7-mile stretch of the trail in the Los Padres National Forest even- tually leads up to East Camino Cielo. With more than 40 years of fallen trees and brush, it required brutal work to clear. Many community groups and volunteers worked hard to reopen this rugged and remote stretch of trail. Now, thanks to the sheer grit and determination of all involved, trail users can once again access the vast network of trails in Carpinteria’s backcountry. Franklin Trail is also a place to find creative in- spiration. Photographers love to capture the pan- oramic views from the summit, and local artists often indulge their passion for plein air painting along the trail. Atop the 3,700-foot Santa Ynez Ridge, the views steal the show. To the north, puckered mountain peaks, cloaked in chaparral, roll to the Santa Ynez River and Jameson Lake; to the south, a collage of California bungalows and avocado groves unfurls to the coast; and on a clear day, the Channel Islands shimmer out at sea. 40 Montecito Magazine Summer–Fall 2020 F ranklin T rail WOODBLOCK PRINT © KIMBERLY ATKINS

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