Treks for Health
A series of weekly walks on Tuesday mornings for people looking for good exercise on our beautiful community trails. The company is great and conversations are lively. Walks are usually scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Make sure to check current schedule for specific times and starting location.
The "Treks for Health" program is part of a partnering effort between the Nevada County Land Trust and Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and is offered to the general public as a non-strenuous walking activity promoting the health benefits derived from a walking program. The scheduled walks are designed to take place in a group setting. Walks will go from 45 minutes to 1 hour in duration. Walks will start at 9AM unless the schedule is changed by walk leader.
The walks will meet at the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in the Outpatient lobby.
Each walk will start with light stretching and health tip at designated walk area.
Treks for Health - Schedule, 2010
January 26, 2010 - Litton Trail around Sierra College - Grass Valley
February 23, 2010 - Independence Trail (west) - Nevada City
March 23, 2010 - Condon Park - Grass Valley
April 27, 2010 - Memorial Park to Empire Mine and Back - Grass Valley
May 25, 2010 - Cascade Canal-Banner Mountain - Nevada City
June 22, 2010 - Nevada County Fairgrounds 1/2 mile loop - Grass Valley
July 27, 2010 - Empire Mine – Pipeline Trail - Grass Valley
August 24, 2010 - Thiesen Trail, 1 Mile Loop - Alta Sierra
September 28, 2010 - Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital 1 mile loop – Grass Valley
October 26, 2010 - Empire Mine – Osborn Hill - Grass Valley
November 22, 2010 - Cedar Ridge 1 mile loop - Cedar Ridge
December 28. 2010 - Empire Mine – Indian Hill Loop - Grass Valley
Trek Leaders
Bill Nickerl
Bill's entire career has been focused on conservation of land in the California foothills. Early on he worked for the Bureau of Land Management as the acquisitions specialist for the state of California. Bill was instrumental in saving habitat for the California Condor, which is one of the best successes of the wildlife protection movement. He was on the Board of Directors for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization working with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into trails, enhancing the health of America's environment, economy, neighborhoods and people.
In Bill's retirement years, he launched the Treks for Health program: short walks on Tuesday mornings for people looking for good exercise on our beautiful local community trails. These walks are designed to help people improve their physical condition and maintain a healthy heart.
Andy Gonzales
Meet former Western States Endurance 100 Mile Run champion Andy Gonzales. Andy is the leader of the Treks for Health Walking Program offered through a combined effort by Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Nevada County Land Trust.
Andy grew up in the small mountain town of Iowa Hill just east of Colfax where he fell in love with his surroundings, hiking, and running. His enthusiasm for health and exercise blends well with his interest in land preservation, trail building and the conservation of open spaces.