[pct-l] trail conditions, Kennedy Meadows

[Edward Anderson]

Thanks for your good work Ken.  Without volunteers there would not be a PCT. I am also a volunteer and have worked on California Sections D & E.




________________________________
 From: Ken Murray <kmurray at dr.com>
To: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 6:35 PM
Subject: [pct-l] trail conditions, Kennedy Meadows
 
Friends, 

I am leaving to lead a trail crew to work north of Kennedy Meadows in two days, specifically to brush and cut trees from the Kennedy Meadows campground as far as the Haiwee Pass lateral trail, about 8 miles north of the campground.

We had an equestrian scout the trail last week.

There is not a drop of snow in this section......somewhat remarkable for this time of year. Crag Creek, which will be our water source for our crew of 35, is quite low for this time of the year, when it is usually very full. The horse folks cut the trees that would be safety issues for horses, and we will take out the 20 or so that remain, and cut the brush back to the full 8 feet wide. I'd previously cut this section the last two years (after no maintenance for over 10 years) from about 6 inches wide, to it's current 3-4 feet.

Last year, my group (High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew---www.trailcrew.org), cut brush and trees, and repaired tread from the Swallow Bridge through Cow Canyon, up to the intersection with the Olancha Pass Trail.

The year before, we worked through the section from the Swallow Bridge south to the end of Beck Meadow....a section not worked in 15 years. At one point, I spent two hours trying to FIND the PCT on a hillside, when I was within 100 yards of it. It was so overgrown, I did not believe it was anything but a game trail! Later in the fall, we will be coming back to complete the brush-out on this section to specs.

Additionally, during the summer, we will have a crew working the trail from Trail Pass south to the Olancha Pass lateral.

This whole section should be in excellent hiking shape for this years hikers.....finally.

Hikers, if you encounter any significantly bad trail problems, it is very helpful if you can note the location the best you can, and notify either the PCTA or the local Agency responsible for that area. This is often how we find out about a problem. In fact, you could probably post it here, and it will get forwarded.
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