Portola Valley trail named in honor of Admiral Quilter Portola Valley trail named in honor of Admiral Quilter (August 09, 2000)

Anyone who wants to ride or hike the trail from Dos Loma Vista to Escobar in Portola Valley is invited to leave a rock on the cairn that is growing in honor of the late Admiral Joe Quilter, father and fierce defender of Portola Valley's unique trail system.

"Trails are the spiritual and physical links of Portola Valley. They make us one," said friend, neighbor and town father Bill Lane at the dedication of the Admiral Quilter Trail on August 1. "Joe was always there for service to the town."

For 45 years, Admiral Quilter devoted himself to Portola Valley and watched vigilantly over its trails until his unexpected death in June.

At the recommendation of the Trails Committee, the trail from Dos Loma Vista to Escobar was named in his honor. Appropriately, the trail is both a trail of the Westridge neighborhood and a town trail, because Admiral Quilter contributed to both trail systems, said committee chair Mary Hufty at the brief ceremony. "It's also a rugged and individualistic trail," she said. "And Joe was rugged and individualistic."