On October 18, 2011 we lost a great friend of the coast and trails. Sara Kocher, Phd, volunteered many hours of her broad expertise in land use planning, landscape architecture and environmental psychology in developing the California Coastal Trail especially along the San Luis Obispo and Big Sur coasts. Early on she brought Coastwalk’s vision for a California Coastal Trail to the American Planners Association. She patiently taught volunteer activists, like me, how to work with multiple jurisdictions, develop report formats and input mapping data which resulted in the completion of miles of designated coastal trail in San Luis Obispo County. In a professional capacity she partnered with San Luis Obispo County to develop their Park and Recreation Element, Master Trail Plan, Coastal Access Study and other numerous documents that will guide the completion of the Ca. Coastal Trail for many years into the future. Her loss and legacy are huge. I was blessed to call her mentor, friend, hiking partner and will walk humbly in her giant shadow.

Nancy Graves, SLO County Coordinator and Board Member, Coastwalk California