[at-l] These...

[Carla & Dave Hicks]

FWIIW

I've maintained trail (not the AT in this case) in areas where gypsy moth had 
killed the canopy for miles and opened the trail to "more sunlight."  Results 
= greenbrier heaven.  Plus the poison ivy took off also.  BTW-- poison ivy is 
a good food source for some wild life.

Sure I know there are natural balds.

But my experience with opening up trail to more sunlight has been opening up 
trail to a maintaining nightmare, which results in the use of herbicides, or 
very poor hiking conditions, because there are not enough volunteers to keep 
up and the "government" partners take the short term cost effective approach.

Chainsaw

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <greyowl at rcn.com>
To: "Rich kook" <rich4hike at yahoo.com>; "Jim Lynch" <jplynch at crosslink.net>; 
<rcli4 at comcast.net>; "Felix J" <athiker at smithville.net>; "AT-list" 
<at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [at-l] These...


>>
SNIP
To make this trail related, if we cut down more trees along the trail we would 
open up the trail to more sunlight which would dry the trail out faster and 
reduce soil erosion.  One would also see more wildlife as most animals browse 
in open areas (more diversity of food, it is easier to see ones enemies etc.) 
It also means drier trails to hike on.
SNIP
<<