A Stroll in Stevens Creek Trail with Park Ranger Mike Escobar

For 19 years, Mike Escobar has walked the walk—on .

A Mountain View native–he attended and Los Altos High School–as the Supervising Park Ranger Escobar knows every turn and slope, every overpass and underpass—essential every square foot along the trail.

Responsible for the cleanup and maintenance of the trail and the 750 acres of park land at Shoreline, Escobar does all this with a team of three three paid rangers and dozens of volunteers.

Patch met up with Escobar at the entrance of the trail at Sleeper Avenue to learn more about the city's motorized vehicle-free crosstown artery.

Mountain View Patch: Why do you like working as a park ranger?

Mike Escobar: I love working outdoors and with the public itself. The relationship with the City of Mountain View is great too. I don't think there is a better job than working outdoors.

Patch: What's the hardest part about maintaining the trail?

Escobar: It's not that hard to maintain the trail except for when there is a large volume of traffic. We try not to use the leaf blowers when there are a lot of people, so we blow during slower hours. For example, the Eucalyptus trees drop these seeds that we blow off the trail that way a 10 speed biker does hit them and fall.

Patch: What's the worst thing you've encountered on the trail over the years?

Escobar: We don't encounter too many things but once a guy flipped over his handle bars and hurt himself because he was going too fast. He got hurt really seriously. Those are things we try to prevent.

Patch: How do you try to prevent those types of things from happening?

Escobar: We hold a trail etiquette day where we'll teach people things like when they are on the trail they should stay to the right or if they are passing they should announce it. We suggest that people reduce their speed [on bikes] when approaching a group on the trail. We'll hold the event at a trail head entrance and give out bells and water bottles.

Patch: What happens if there is an accident? Does a fire truck fit on the trail?

Escobar: Yes, a fire truck fits on the trail. If there is an emergency, we call 911 and let the fire department paramedics know what's the best street entrance to use. But we [park rangers] could be the first responders. We are trained in first aid, CPR and AED.

Patch: (After noticing some burnt brush and learning that it may have been caused by a cigarette) Can people smoke on the trail?

Escobar: The city has no policy on smoking on the trail. You'd hope however, that if people are going to smoke, they'd use common sense and safely turn off their cigarette.

Patch: Are the Park Rangers responsible for the maintenance of the creek?

Escobar: No. The Santa Clara Valley Water District comes around and removes trash, debris, branches and down trees to prevent the build up of dams and water problems.

Patch: Can people use the creek?

Escobar: No. For safety reasons there is no public access to the creek. However, if people want to fish, they can go to the Stevens Creek Reservoir. They can also fish at the Bay Loop Trail of the Shoreline Park in Palo Alto. Of course they have to have the proper license.

Patch: What's the trail's high season?

Escobar: April through October.

Patch: What kind of people use the trail?

Escobar: All types but mostly bike commuters that go to work. They really utilize the trail.

Patch: So do you live in Mountain View?

Escobar: No, I live about two hours away in Los Baños.

Patch: That's really far!

Escobar: Yes. I've been doing the commute for 14 years, but we're thinking of moving closer.