Prescribed Burns Planned to Begin Week of October 21st at Calaveras Big Trees State Park Arnold, CA...California State Parks in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire protection (CAL FIRE) are planning to begin a series of prescribed burns beginning on or around the week of October 21, 2019 through the end of November in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. The goal is to complete 382 acres this fall (see maps below). Ignitions are expected to occur when weather conditions are favorable and adequate resources are available. Some of the units have been previously thinned to reduce the fuel loading, which allows for a safer and more controllable broadcast burn. Much of this work was funded through Propositions 84 and 1 grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the State of California.
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These burns are part of the prescribed fire program for vegetation management, hazardous fuel load reduction, wildlife habitat improvement, enhance the health of the forest by removing diseased materials, restoring essential nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic wildfire. Through forest thinning and prescribed fire, an ecologically healthy forest system can be restored and maintained. Additional benefits of these prescribed burns include protection for the Big Trees developments (Visitors Center, campground, etc.), and the North Grove of giant sequoias.
Pile burning will also take place throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons within the North and South Grove and along the Big Trees Village and Blue Lake Spring park boundaries.
Prescribed burns produce significantly less smoke than wildfires. The burns are planned and coordinated with the Calaveras and Tuolumne County Air Districts in order to minimize the smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If the conditions, such as weather or vegetation are not conducive for burning, the burns will be rescheduled.
Communities near Calaveras Big Trees State Park, including Dorrington, Big Trees Village, White Pines, Blue Lake Spring and Arnold may experience smoke from the burning operations. California State Parks is working with the Calaveras and Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control Districts to limit impacts to smoke sensitive areas.
Both Highway 4 and the Walter W. Smith Parkway will remain open but may experience delays due to smoke and other hazards. The Parkway may experience short-term closures prior to the end of season closure. Some public campsites and dirt roads near the burn areas will be closed to public access during prescribed burn operations including the East and West Moran Roads, East and West 5000 Foot Roads, as well as the South Rim Road. Please obey all warning signs.
For questions or comments about the projects or about the prescribed burn program, contact Jackie Olavarria at (209) 984-8703.
All Day
Tour Moaning Caverns in Halloween Costumes and Save!! Vallecito, CA...Break out the Halloween costumes! If your kids are between 6 and 11 years old and they wear their Halloween costume to Moaning Caverns between October 7th and 31st, their admission will be only $5 for a Spiral Tour! Now, that’s a treat! Walk in only, not available online. Only available on regular price tickets, cannot be combined with any other offer.
Moaning Caverns is a solution cave located in Calaveras County, California, near Vallecito, in the heart of the Gold Country. It was discovered in modern times by gold miners in 1851, but it has long been known by prehistoric peoples. It gets its name from the moaning sound that echoed out of the cave luring people to the entrance. Still today during certain times of the year sounds may be heard echoing up from the bottom of the cave. The most unique feature is the cavern’s main chamber with a vertical shaft 165 feet tall, which you may descend to the bottom of by a combination of stairs and a unique 100-foot high (30m) spiral staircase built in the early 1900s. Moaning Caverns is home to the largest single cave chamber in California. The massive room extends into the marble deposit of the Calaveras Formation over 180 feet before funneling into smaller passageways. With a 20-30 foot thick ceiling, the open area inside the chamber is, in fact, tall enough to hold the Statue of Liberty (pedestal excluded). There is only one natural entrance into the chamber in the form of a 30-foot vertical chimney dropping into the center of the room. Visitors may view the cavern’s main chamber by walking and climbing the narrow wooden staircase to a flat platform 65 feet underground. For the truly athletic and adventurous, from there, a ten-story spiral staircase leads down to a second platform at the base of the chamber.
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Trick or Treating Tonight at The Square in Copper Valley Copperopolis, CA...You are invited to The Square’s (at Copper Valley, Town Square in Copperopolis) Trick or Treat. Let’s fill our bags with candies and treats! October 31, 2019 from 4 – 7 pm. Kid’s costume contest & Live DJ spinning tunes. Winners announced at 6 pm, must be present to win. Prizes for cutest, Creative, Super Hero, Scariest.
Hosted by CV Development Partners & Community Businesses.
Halloween Party Mountain Ranch Town Hall
8049 Washington St. Mountain Ranch
Costume Parade and contest
Carnival games, prizes and fun
free admission
food for sale
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Pumpkin Palooza at Mountain Christian Fellowship! Murphys, CA...A fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating! Games! 1400 Square Foot Glow Maze! 100 Foot Zip Line!
Round Table Pizza Trailer! Nachos! Pumpkin Launching! Fun! All Free! On OCT 31st. Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 5 PM – 8 PM at Mountain Christain Fellowship, 3488 E Highway 4, in Murphys.
05:00 PM
The Halloween Carnival in Mountain Ranch! Mountain Ranch, CA...Food & Fun. Costume Contest for all ages. Carnival games, prizes. Low cost family fun! Hot dogs, nachos, and drinks available for purchase. Tonight from 5-8pm at the Mountain Ranch Town Hall!
07:00 PM
Monster’s Ball Cabaret & Halloween Party at The Metropolitan San Andreas, CA...Join our cast for eerie renditions of the best Halloween songs performed by talented local artists. The fun will continue after the singing and dancing with Teresa’s crazy cocktail concoctions at the bar, loads of candy, music, dancing, and an adult pinata! Tickets are $15 at the door. Ages 21 and up only.
October 31
7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
The Metropolitan
Metropolitan, 59 Main Street
San Andreas, CA 95249 United States + Google Map
