MHW Gives Back: Flex Our Muscles for Berkeley's Paths (Hardwear Sessions)

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Cardboard boxes. Construction dust. Loud noises generated by heavy machinery. These can only mean one thing -- we've finally moved into our new offices.

Moving is always a logistical nightmare. What do you do when you are moving large numbers of people and equipment? Answer: You shut down your operations for one day. But what do you do with all those people?

Some of us took the time off. Others, like myself, decided to take advantage of Mountain Hardwear's generous Gives Back program, and volunteer our services for one day.

Five of us--Valerie, Caitlin, Sean, Adrian, and myself--signed up to work with the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association. The BPWA is a grassroots organized dedicated to preserving and maintaining Berkeley's footpaths.

Over 140 footpaths crisscross the Berkeley hills. These paths were created in the early 20th century, when developers first began building in the hills. These early 20th century subdivisions were not laid out on a grid. Rather, the developers chose to create aesthetic, curving roads that would hug the hills' topography. The paths, unlike the roads, were meant to provide residents with direct access to the area's main streetcar lines, and so were laid out "as the crow flies."

Though over 140 paths were planned, only a small portion of the paths were actually finished. Those of us who have spent time in Berkeley know these paths well. Some, like the Rose Walk (designed in 1913 by the architect Bernard Maybeck) were beautifully finished, with entrances and concrete steps. Others were planned, but never finished or improved. When the streetcars fell out of favor, path development ceased. In 1998, four Berkeley women founded the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association. The BPWA now develops and improves long-forgotten paths.

The MHW crew signed up to work on a path developed by the BPWA. Known as "El Mirador Path," it is located between Keith and Cragmont streets.

On Friday, Ms. Charlie Bowen met us at the top of El Mirador Path. She handed out tasks and tools, and the MHW crew quickly got to work. Two seasoned volunteers, Steve Glaser and Marty Campbell, helped guide us in our work. After a busy morning cutting steps, we moved to another path and freed the path from ivy and other weeds. (Note to homeowners: Take a deep breath and think before you plant English ivy, blackberry, wild roses, and other aggressive plants! We generated a good-sized brush pile full of ivy, brambles, blackberries, and wild roses.) We were lucky, and enjoyed a beautiful day with intermittent windows of rain. Afterwards, we felt proud, productive, tired--and more than a little hungry.

You, too, can replicate our experience. The BPWA sponsors regular Work Parties. Just show up--we promise you'll have a good time.