Sometime next fall, the carving of a Bay Area Ridge Trail segment across Sonoma Mountain will be completed, allowing hikers access to one of the highest peaks in the county for the first time. The Conservation Corps North Bay was awarded a contract to use at-risk youth, ages 18 to 24, to clear invasive plants, cut brush and assist in trail construction as part of the Sonoma Mountain trail project. Officials have said trail construction will be complicated because of an 800-foot elevation rise and requirements for retaining walls, switchbacks, climbing turns, drainage ditches and log barriers. The 4-foot-wide trail will cross Matanzas Creek, several seasonal streams and requires construction of at least three bridges. Construction of the $1.4 million project involving a 4.25 mile trail portion, road improvements, parking area and trailhead is expected to start in June or July. The trailhead would start east of Petaluma off Sonoma Mountain Road at Jacobs Ranch, cross four properties protected through easement or purchase by the county open space district and end up in Jack London State Park. You can read the entire article in The Press Democrat.