[pct-l] Trail Closed at Belden

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

That's a bummer it's still closed. I was hoping to complete that this  
year. Here are the directions from a former email to the list for the  
road walk for those who wish to keep their hike a continuous foot- 
journey:

> Starting at Belden Town Resort:
>
> Hike EAST on highway 70 for 1.5 miles until you reach Caribou  
> Crossroads Store (the same store that is in Yogi's book).  This is  
> a very busy road (when it is open!), so be careful.
>
> Turn LEFT on the paved road (light traffic).  Walk 8 miles.
>
> Turn LEFT at the signed junction to Butt Lake [this is not a typo.   
> make your own jokes.] Continue about 5 miles on the dirt road to  
> Butt Lake.  There are many roads in this area, but stay on the most  
> heavily-used
>  one and you should end up at the lake.
>
> Continue north along the dirt road on the east shore of Butt Lake.   
> You will pass two campgrounds.  The second one is your last source  
> of water until you reach Stover Camp on the PCT in about 15 miles.   
> After the second campground, your route becomes paved.  Stay on the  
> paved road until you can SEE highway 89, then turn LEFT on the last  
> logging road before the highway.  It is about 10 miles from the  
> south end of Butt Lake to the highway.
>
> Follow this road, which is almost never out of sight/sound of the  
> highway, until you reach highway 36. (about 7 more miles)
>
> Turn LEFT on highway 36.  Hike about 4-5 miles to the PCT marker.  
> There is lots of fast traffic here, but the shoulder is halfway  
> decent.
>
> This is not the shortest route (there is a maze of logging roads in  
> this area), but it should be easy to follow.
>
> There should be a Google map of the Butt Valley route at: http:// 
> snipurl.com/2u98c


Maybe the powers that be reopen it before most of us get there?

Another alternative for those who aren't so purist: Apparently some  
people hitched to Quincy and spent a few days at the High Sierra  
Music Festival before hitching to Chester. It's a 4 day music festival.

Diane/Piper


On May 14, 2009, at 7:04 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> Good question. I know a lot of hikers plan on picking up last year's
> 100-mile fire closure, and this sure puts a damper on those plans
> (including mine!).
>
> What's he's talking about: On the PCTA Trail Conditions page:
>
> 5/12/2009
>  The PCT is closed from Belden, Hwy 70 crossing, north for  
> approximately
> 5 miles to the Plumas--Lassen National Forest boundaries due to last
> year's fires, extensive blow down and poor trail conditions.
>
> All I found on the Plumas NF website was a closure order from August
> saying the trail was closed until the fire was "suppressed," with that
> orders still "in effect."
> http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/forest_orders/orders/ 
> 08/10_08_forest_orde
> r_pct.pdf
>
>
> AsABat
>
>> Does anyone know how long the trail north out of Belden is going  
>> to be
>> closed and has an alternate rout been established.