[pct-l] Trail Clearing with horses and chainsaws

[mkwart at gci.net]

I have often wondered about the chainsaw prohibiton myself--it seems 
that the temporary discomfort of the noise would be offset by the months 
of experiencing blowdown free trail. When I worked for the US Forest 
Service, chainsaws were prohibited in their wilderness areas, but 
allowed in the National Park Service wilderness. I had to be aware of 
this to plan for firefighting in those areas. Also, the agency can make 
exceptions to the motorized rule and allow helicopters to fight fire and 
rescue people.

I used a chainsaw for three years in the woods and they do not drip bar 
oil but make a fine. light  spray from the bar oil coming off the end of 
the bar. Once again, I would be happy to hear the temporary noise of the 
chainsaw, knowing that the trail would be cleared much sooner and more 
efficiently. I particularly was wishing for this in 2010 when I 
completed the PCT through the North Cascades and encountered the miles 
of hideous blowdown of huge trees that were obviously not being removed 
from the trail because they were just too many and too big to handle 
with hand saws.

The motorized rule is a legacy of the Wilderness Act and the attitudes 
that were more purist by agency bureaucrats in the earlier years. 
Although it is nice to think that some kind of wilderness purity is 
being upheld, I vote for practicality.
--Fireweed