Trail Conditons

[Nolena]

Here's the downed tree on Blue Ridge Trail.

[Nolena]

There's another tree down across the trail just below Blue Ridge Campground, but it's small enough to step over.

[Big Pines]

We were able to take care of the tree today.  happy hiking

[Joe Schmoe]

 

[Nolena]

Yay!

[ezzpete]

i walked up the Blue Ridge trail about a week and a half ago, and noticed a big dead standing tree just past the bridge, that looks like it's about to come down. went past it again today and there is a huge pile of bark (that wasn't there last week) that's been falling off from up high, so watch it when you pass. 

[Tall Trees]

ezzpete, Standing dead trees are comonly referred to as snags.  Sometimes these snags can stand for years before they fall.  Usually after the wood starts to rot they come down during the winter storms or during wind events.  There are thousands of dead snags in the forest due to the drought and the beetle infestation.  Dead standing snags are very beneficial to wildfile such as birds for roosting, peraching and nesting sites.  A snag becomes a hazard tree if it meets certain criteria such as being a danger to people if it were to fall.  It is always important to identify these hazard trees and cut them down when they pose a risk to life or property.  The Forest Service, Calfire and Edison are removing hazard trees at an ever increasing rate due to the shear numbers of snags in the forest.  Not all snags in the forest are to be considered a hazard unless it would impose an immediate threat to life or property if it were to fall.  The snag that you mentioned on the Blue Ridge trail sounds like it could be a hazard tree that needs to come down if it is a risk to hikers on the trail.

[Nolena]

I just hiked Baden-Powell this morning. (I will post pictures later.)
Most of the trail is in great shape. 
There is some graffiti behind the bench, on the back of a sign near the bottom of the trail, and apparently someone is angry God, as the word "God" on the monument seems to have been battered with a solid object.
Also, there is a large widow-maker overhanging the trail on the north side at about 3 1/2 miles up. A large dead tree is leaning on the branches of a live tree. When it falls, it will land on the trail.

[ezzpete]

I just hiked Baden-Powell this morning. (I will post pictures later.)
Most of the trail is in great shape. 
There is some graffiti behind the bench, on the back of a sign near the bottom of the trail, and apparently someone is angry God, as the word "God" on the monument seems to have been battered with a solid object.
Also, there is a large widow-maker overhanging the trail on the north side at about 3 1/2 miles up. A large dead tree is leaning on the branches of a live tree. When it falls, it will land on the trail.

where's the pictures?

on another note.

i've been noticing many of the trails are getting torn up by mountain bikers. there are deep grooves caused by skidding. if we ever get any rain/snow, the run off is going to make the grooves really bad. also there are bikers going cross country where there are no trails, along with cutting switchbacks and going high on the banks of turns. if you're skidding, you're not in control! SKIDS ARE FOR KIDS!! these trails are probably not going to be repaired, and when they are so bad that nobody can use them, we'll all be screwed. up until a few years ago i was obsessed with mountain biking, and know you DO NOT need to tear up the trails to have fun.