KELSEYVILLE — The wait is over for many longtime residents who dreamed of seeing the world from the top of Mount Konocti.
The pilot program providing access to Mount Konocti County Park via docent-led bus tours is at its halfway point and doing well after selling out all 12 tours up the mountain.
“So far, so good,” Tom Nixon, a Konocti Regional Trails docent who helped develop the pilot program, said.
The bus tours were aimed at creating access for people with limited mobility who wanted to see the top of the mountain. Each date consists of a morning and afternoon tour, with about 20 people, including two docents, making the trip.
The first tours took place on Sept. 15, with each subsequent tour taking place about every two weeks. The next tours happen Saturday, with the final dates set for Nov. 10 and 17.
Public Services Director Caroline Chavez, who also helped create the program, said tickets sold out within 10 days and a waiting list exists with more than 40 people signed up.
The program is being evaluated by the Board of Supervisors, so attendees are asked to fill out an evaluation form. Chavez said reviews for the program are excellent thus far.
She said the majority of people going on the three-hour tours are older than 65, many of whom are longtime residents.
“Most are locals, but we”ve had people bring up family from the Bay Area, Sacramento and Southern California,” Chavez said.
Nixon said three different people older than 90 attended one day, as did the first person in a wheelchair.
“They”ve been looking at the mountain their whole lives,” he said. “They always wanted to get up there and have taken advantage of it.”
People whose mobility isn”t as limited can sign a waiver to go with a docent up to a tower on Mount Konocti”s Wright Peak for a 360-degree view. Nixon said the view can be quite spectacular.
“You can see Lassen (Peak) in the Cascades on a clear day,” he said.
The docents also answer questions, point out landmarks and even recreate history.
Nixon said Mary Downen built a cabin near the peak in 1903. Her daughter, Maud, lived in Lakeport at the time and the two used to communicate by reflecting the sun”s rays to one another using mirrors.
“We”re doing living history by recreating that,” Nixon said. “People love it.”
Nixon said he or another docent will flash the mirror up to the mountain from a location near the Lake County Courthouse or the Courthouse Museum during the afternoon tours.
“You can see the twinkling of the mirror from the mountain or the courthouse,” he said.
Chavez and Nixon said docent-led hikes and other activities on Mount Konocti are being planned and finalized.
Nixon said the Board of Supervisors will review the evaluations to determine whether the program will continue again next year. He is optimistic the program or something similar will continue.
“I think it”s been real popular,” he said. “I”d say we”re being successful.”
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
