Letters Letters (November 03, 2004)

'Cherry' leaves bad taste

Editor,

The Stanford Open Space Alliance is not enthusiastic about any of the three "S-1 trail" alignments studied by the county in its recent environmental impact report (EIR). This trail, on Stanford lands in the area of Matadero Creek and Page Mill Road, should be safe and recreational, and provide a linkage to the Enid Pearson Arastradero Preserve as outlined in the countywide Trails Master Plan.

Stanford was required to dedicate the trail as mitigation for population growth from 3,000 new housing units on campus. However, the EIR did not analyze if the trails would actually provide the intended recreational mitigation. In fact, the "preferred alternative" would result in no increase in recreational opportunities because it already exists -- along Old Page Mill Road.

The draft EIR didn't even study the two most promising alignments -- recommended by county staff as "optimal" and endorsed by SOSA, Committee for Green Foothills and numerous other community groups. One of these, the "cherry stem" alignment, would go up Old Page Mill Road and then along the periphery of Stanford lands through a service tunnel under Highway 280 and on to the Arastradero Preserve.

There's still a chance the cherry stem alignment could be put back on the table if the other alignments are determined not to be feasible or consistent with the Community Plan and General Use Permit.

We encourage people to send written comments (due by Nov. 12) to: Santa Clara County Planning Commission, 70 W. Hedding St., 7th Floor, San Jose, CA 95110.

Stanford should honor its commitment to the community by dedicating a safe, recreational trail that connects the campus and Palo Alto to the Arastradero Preserve.
Peter Drekmeier
Director, Stanford Open Space Alliance
Stelling Drive
Palo Alto

No fear of lions

Editor,

Mountain lion sightings have not changed my hiking habits, even though most people -- and myself -- would consider me a high-risk person.

Being retired in my 60s and a hiker to the core, I spend the major part of everyday hiking or walking in some remote forest or hilly area. In the past months I have been walking mostly in the Los Altos Hills area.

I hike by myself and am isolated in prime mountain lion habitat for most of the day. I use an excellent trail map issued by the town of Los Altos Hills to find my way. When I reached the top of the hills I am often greeted with large, bold, colored, scary signs warning of mountain lions.

I have never seen a mountain lion or a mountain lion kill on these trails. I have regularly seen many deer. Years past I have had the same hiking habits, by myself or with others, but mostly in coast-side parks near Half Moon Bay. In those parks I have seen many freshly killed, partially eaten deer remains. Surprisingly, I have seen no evidence of daily trips back to these remains by the lions for more snacks.

I believe the extensive research I have read on mountain lions. They are lonely, deliberately isolated creatures the majority of the time. They spend all or most of the daylight hours sleeping or resting in hidden, isolated areas. They tend to hunt only from dusk to dawn and have ample prey to select from. They probably fear humans and try to keep away from them.

I keep an eye out for the lions and respect them to no end, but I would not say I fear them. Otherwise, why would I continue my lonely hiking habits? I do take care not to be caught out in the dark (but sometimes I fail).
Ken Hahn
Weeks Street
East Palo Alto

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