Trails association celebrates 25 years at Spring Fling

By Teri Kerns

Ramona Trails Association (RTA) celebrated its Silver Anniversary (25 years) on Saturday, March 14, in Community Park on Aqua Lane.

The celebration began with a trail ride led by past-president and current trail boss Terry Hamilton-Jorgensen. Fourteen riders explored the park as well as the trail recently completed by RTA. The trail connects the park to Cleveland National Forest.

The group returned to the staging area, where approximately twenty-five additional guests were enjoying a barbecue along with an equine dentist demonstration by Christine Griffin in her new state-of-the-art dentistry trailer. Dr. Lisa Grim stopped in to offer a reduced cost equine shot-clinic to our equestrian friends.

Attendees also enjoyed a llama display by Seven Sisters Ranch, a sustainable Ramona family farm that in addition to market animals, vegetables, llamas and alpacas, also grows Petite Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc wine grapes as part of the Ramona Valley American Viticulture Area.

CJ Wheeler, RTA’s newest member, joined in the celebration, sharing a collection of her Ramona equestrian-related pictures. Patty Heyden and Cheryl Wegner, representing Back Country Horseman—San Diego, shared a “leave no trace” display, answering questions on the backcountry.

The event culminated with the presentation of a custom cake created for the event by Ramona resident Marina Martin. The cake featured a picture of the Ramona Monument, RTA’s gift to the community.

RTA President Karen Carlson was joined by founding RTA member Norm Keigel in the ceremony. Keigel is the namesake of the Fry-Koegel trail, which connects Mt. Woodson trails with Poway trails, and he is a former Ramona Community Planning Group member who was instrumental to the initial trail mapping project. It was an honor to have him present.

RTA continues to work to identify, preserve and protect the trails and pathways of the community. Facilitated by volunteers who believe that trails are for everyone, RTA is a non-profit service group dedicated to the community.

RTA meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Ramona Community Center. Annual membership is $25 per family, and 2009 dues are currently due.

Membership fees help fund association efforts.

Additional details regarding upcoming events may be found at ramonatrails.org. All meetings are open to the public.

Teri Kern is Ramona Trails Association secretary.