[pct-l] Trail Update

[nat at wildernessdancer.com]

Starting the 2011 season, The S Fork Agnes Trail is no longer  
maintained. All the guidebooks and PCT info I've seen still list it as  
an alternative route, so I wanted to share with everyone that it is no  
longer maintained and would probably be a nasty alternative route.

The S Fork Agnes trail is in Washington just past Suiattle Pass. It is  
2 miles shorter than the high route (our trail crew's name for that  
section of the official PCT), and runs in the valley parallel to the  
PCT.

Hikers coming upon the S Fork trail this season will have 2 winters of  
downfall to crawl over (a lot falls down there). It is in the valley-  
ie no great views. And the trail has been getting into pretty bad  
shape w/ broken puncheons and huge ruts.

Take the high route, enjoy the views, and anyone looking for a  
bushwacking adventure there is a fun schwack up to Banock Lakes from  
the PCT.

Natalie