WREN MEACHAM TRAIL DEDICATION BIG DALTON CANYON GLENDORA WILDERNESS PARK (BIG DALTON CANYON WILDERNESS PARK) May 4, 1996 8:00 - 8:30 AM. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF CALIFORNIA TRAIL DAYS - 1996 DEDICATION LOCATION - O.6 MILES EAST OF GLENDORA MOUNTAIN ROAD ON BIG DALTON CANYON ROAD. The ceremony will be held at the junction of Mystic Canyon and Big Dalton Canyon Road at the north-east trail head of the Wren Meacham Trail. TRAIL BACKGROUND The original proposal for this trail was published in November of 1977 in the “Big Dalton Wilderness Park Final Report” by Dick Swinney and Jeff Mann. Description of this trail was given on pages forty-six and forty-seven. The report was adopted by the Glendora City Council in December of 1977. This proposed equestrian trail was referred to only as Alternative Trail number one. The first proposal for a name of this trail was offered to the Glendora Trails Committee by its chairman Bob McDonald in 1983 after discussion with Dick and consultation of the “Final Report” map. The south entrance of the trail was to commence in a canyon whose name had been proposed on page 73 of the “Final Report” and on the accompanying relief map. The proposed name of the canyon was Wrentit Gulch, after a common local bird often referred to as producing the “song of the chaparral”. It was decided by Bob and Dick that the name Wren Canyon would be more appropriate. The Glendora Trails Committee adopted the name change of Wren Canyon and further adopted the name of Wren Canyon Trail as proposed by Bob and Dick. Dick recommended to the Trails Committee on February 26, 1996 that the name be modified to the Wren Meacham Trail. The Committee unanimously adopted this recommendation. The proposed trail name change was made for two primary reasons. Because of necessary changes in the trail route, the trail’s two entrance points would be altered to originate at the mouths of Wren and Meacham Canyons. Secondly, the inclusion of the name Meacham in the trail title, would recognize the family that has lived in Big Dalton Canyon longer than any in recorded history. The Meacham’s came directly from Catalina to Big Dalton Canyon to acquire a ninety-nine year lease on a house near the mouth of the Canyon where Ida Meacham is still living today. The Meacham’s moved in on August 14, 1936. Ida is now eighty-nine years old and has lived in the canyon sixty years. She still takes daily walks in her beloved Big Dalton Canyon. Two of her three daughters still live here in Glendora and continue to enjoy the canyon where they grew up. Norma (Meacham) Rowley has been willing to share some of their families cherished memories in a separate brochure also available at today’s ceremony. In the” Final Report”, Dick recommended that four of the five canyon homes that remained in the canyon be purchased by the City of Glendora. All homes were built on property obtained with a ninety-nine year lease from the US Forest Service. He further recommended that Ida Meacham be allowed to keep her lease and continue to live in her Canyon home as long as she desired. The above recommendations have all been followed. During the summer of 1995, the proposed trail route for the Wren Meacham Trail was flagged. Several contractors were shown the trail route with a bid finally being accepted in September of 1995. Bellfree Contractors, Inc. began work on the trail on January 8, 1996. The initial trail clearance by the seven-foot blade, D-3 Dozer, was made within just ten working days which was just as they predicted. The final trail grooming and slope clearing was completed on February 10, 1996. The Bellfree crew consisting of Roger Bell (owner and mini excavator operator), Bill Perry (dozer operator), Jon and Brian Perry(support crew),are to be commended for an outstanding job. They were a pleasure to work with. The final trail inspection was made on February 24, 1996. Dick Swinney, Chuck Gonsalves and Roger Bell of Bellfree Construction Inc. and his construction team, were present to make this evaluation. Both Jim Henderson, Glendora Community Services Director, and Jim Compos of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, stated prior to the inspection that they would be unable to attend the trail inspection but felt it necessary to hold the walk-through nevertheless. They both stated that they would accept the recommendation of the Committee regarding the inspection of the Trail. Even though the design and construction of this trail was limited to access through steep terrain and areas of continual wash-out threat in narrow canyons, the end result produced an exciting one mile long scenic pathway. This trail joins the Glendora Equestrian Center area with the main floor of Big Dalton Canyon. This trail allows equestrians to enter Big Dalton Canyon and its Upper Mystic Canyon Trail connection without having to travel along the hazardous Glendora Mountain Road and Big Dalton Canyon Road. The north entrance of the Wren Meacham Trail lies immediately south of the Upper Mystic Canyon Trail entrance at Big Dalton Canyon Road. The great vistas offered at several points along this trail make the steep segments that one must travel, well worth the energy expended in the traverse. Equestrians and their horses should be well prepared before attempting this trail. Those who are, have been extremely pleased with this addition to Glendora’s twenty miles of public trails. The completion of this fourth and last trail to be turned over to the County of Los Angeles makes a total of four and three-tenths miles of trail designed and supervised by the Glendora Trails Committee. These trails have been made possible by monies from California State Grant funds. Due to storm damage following the inspection, Bellfree was asked to make some additional repairs on the trail.These final reparations were completed in early March of 1996.The final cost of this trail totaled thirty-seven thousand and five hundred dollars which was paid to Bellfree through California State Grant Proposition 70 monies. The City of Glendora is currently in the process of overseeing transfer of the appropriate funds to Bellfree Contractors, Inc. by the State of California. The City of Glendora is also negotiating the transfer of this trail to the County of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department. The County will then assume liability and maintenance of the Wren Meachum Trail. The current trail use permit required by the county, will apply to this trail as well as to the City’s other three county trails when the appropriate signage is posted at the trailheads of the Colby Dalton, Upper and Lower Mystic Canyon Trails and the Wren Meacham Trail. The members of the Glendora Trails Committee would like to thank all those who played a role in making the completion of this trail possible. We would especially like to thank Lynn Green of the Community Services Department for his help in expediting the necessary paper-work that had to be monitored and coordinated between the City of Glendora, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California. We also greatly appreciate the support and encouragement given by Jim Henderson during the entire seven year long process of the Proposition 70 Trails Project in Glendora. The traillhead sign post and its surrounding rock work was provided and constructed by Gordon Rowley. The plants growing in the rock planter surrounding the trail sign were provided by Mickey Bjorklund. Gordon has also supervised several Eagle Scout projects in the canyon including the recent construction of a bridge over the stream at Indian Rock. This also included significant trail rerouting with rock and cement reinforcement. We invite you to take an active role in helping the Glendora Trails Committee appropriately manage, maintain and develop the trail system ideal for our community. Please feel free to contact the Glendora Community Services Department at 914-8228 or Dick Swinney at 963- 5668 for ways you can become personally involved. Sincerely, Dick Swinney Chairman Glendora Trails Committee