Sugarloaf State Park saluted by Oakmont Hiking Club

They’re doing more than playing pickleball in Oakmont. In fact, on Aug. 27, they’ll be banging the gong for Team Sugarloaf in an evening event celebrating the partnership that helped save Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, and all that means to Valley residents.

State budget cuts threatened to close the park in 2011, but five nonprofits pooled their talents and formed Team Sugarloaf to keep the six-and-a-quarter square-mile park open. Building on the platform of Assemblymember Jared Huffman’s bill AB42, which allowed qualified nonprofits to take over management of state parks, the organizations petitioned the state to allow them to manage the park.

In fact Sugarloaf did close, briefly, at the end of 2011, but was reopened in February 2012 for day use. The five nonprofits – the Sonoma Ecology Center, United Camps Conferences and Retreats, Valley of the Moon Observatory Association, Sonoma County Trails Council, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association – eventually opened even the campgrounds to overnight use, and Sugarloaf Ridge today is one of the county’s most visited, and beloved, parks.

Sugarloaf’s attractions include over 30 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls on the headwaters of Sonoma Creek and Santa Rosa Creek, views into seven counties from the summit of Bald Mountain, 47 campsites, and the Robert Ferguson Observatory.

Wildlife includes deer, rarely seen cougars and foxes, and even a black bear or two.

To show their appreciation for all things Sugarloaf, the outdoors enthusiasts at the Oakmont Hiking Club are hosting “Sonoma Salutes Sugarloaf,” a fundraiser for the park at the East Rec Center in Oakmont Village.

Along with high-end wine and appetizers and a four-course meal, renowned soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause of Glen Ellen will make a presentation on the natural sounds of Sugarloaf, based on his 20-plus years of almost-daily predawn audio recordings to capture what he calls “the morning chorus.”

“This is the story of living nature,” Krause said of his recordings. “It’s the story of life. And how that life is becoming threatened by human activity. We need to listen to nature’s voice.” He continues to make recordings at Sugarloaf, and serves on the board of directors of Sonoma Ecology Center, the lead nonprofit of Team Sugarloaf.

Sonoma Salutes Sugarloaf will be held on Sunday, Aug. 27, starting at 5 p.m. at the East Rec Center in Oakmont Village, 7902 Oakmont Dr., Santa Rosa. Tickets are $75 per person with all proceeds going to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, at brownpapertickets.com/event/3021205.