Yuba Mountain Transit (new start-up company operating under Special Use Permit from the Tahoe National Forest) will not be running shuttles this Memorial Weekend. instead we'll be wielding chainsaws, mcleods and pulaskis trying to get the tread back into riding shape. we have removed most of the deadfall from the Divides and the folks at High Sierra Motorcycle Club have been busy working on Big Boulder Trail. the high winds and heavy snows took their toll on the trees and the trails this year. as of yesterday you could not reach the intersection of Butcher and Pauley, elevation 5,040'.
riding the trails while the snow melt is happening can create irregular melt and trenching. when humans travel through the snow on top of the trail, it creates a trench that channels the water directly down the trail- this makes more work for us and can destroy a trail tread in a matter of a few days without maintenance.
give us a call (530-289-3010) or drop us an e-mail (willie@sierratrails.org or
waynohoffman@aol.com) if you can help us out with restoration work this week or weekend. we'd appreciate it, and it's the right thing to do. we'll provide lunch, BBQ and beer for all that help out, compliments of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship.
Trails that are open include: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divides. North Yuba, including the new North Yuba Extension connecting Downieville to Goodyears Bar. Halls Ranch and Fiddle Creek Ridge. Forest City trails are opening up thanks to Forest Trails Alliance. Bullards Bar is ready to go and the lake is perfect for swimming. in the Lakes Basin Grey Eagle Creek and Smith Lake trails are open.
Trails that are still under snow include: Butcher Ranch, Pauley Creek, Big Boulder, Lavezzola Creek, Empire Creek, Craycroft Ridge, Chimney Rock, Rattlesnake Creek, Herkimer Mine, Downie River, Tamarack Lakes, Sardine Lake, Deer Lake, Oakland Pond, Round Lake, Silver Lake, Bear Lake, Long Lake, Mt. Elwell, Jamison Creek, Nelson Creek.
did get the hard part out of the way though, finally figured out how to get past that railroad tie. I'm all about getting my climb on these days, DH is cool too but for me at least a good climb feels real rewarding.
...7/5-7/6
