Jean Rusmore talk on trails at forum Jean Rusmore talk on trails at forum (October 19, 2005)

No one knows more about the trails that thread the Peninsula's open spaces than Jean Rusmore. For at least 25 years she has been hiking trails from Gilroy to San Francisco and writing entertaining guides to them.

Mrs. Rusmore will share her knowledge and joy in local hikes at an Environmental Forum on Tuesday, October 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Hewlett-Packard Auditorium, Building 20A, at 3000 Hanover St. in Palo Alto.

"Fall explorations of local open space" will be Mrs. Rusmore's topic as she joins Jay Thorwaldson, editor of the Palo Alto Weekly, in a virtual tour of hikes and rides in local open space, accompanied by slides of her favorite explorations.

Mrs. Rusmore's first book, "Peninsula Trails," written with the late Frances Spangle," originally appeared in January 1982; the fourth edition came out last January.

Over the years she has worked with the late Betsy Crowder and Sue LaTourette on the popular trail guides, including "South Bay Trails" and the "Bay Area Ridge Rail."

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. when representatives of local parks and open space districts will be on hand to discuss maps and information on their trails, and Mrs. Rusmore will sign books.

The free event is hosted by the Committee for Green Foothills, and sponsored by the Hewlett-Packard Co. with the help of a grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation.

For more information, go to greenfoothills.org/calendar, or call 968-7243.

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