[pct-l] trail conditions, Kennedy Meadows

[stonedancer1 at aol.com]

I can't say enough thankyous to the trail crews.  As a short person, orangutanging thru a tangle of avalanched trees is no picnic.  Being scoured by thorny brush over Granite Mountain and being awed by the incredible switchbacks up the Sierra passes give you a full-bodied appreciation.  What more can I say.
Thank you.

Stone Dancer



-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Murray <kmurray at dr.com>
To: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Wed, Mar 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, 
pecifically to brush and cut trees from the Kennedy Meadows campground as far 
s 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 
ime of year. Crag Creek, which will be our water source for our crew of 35, is 
uite low for this time of the year, when it is usually very full. The horse 
olks cut the trees that would be safety issues for horses, and we will take out 
he 20 or so that remain, and cut the brush back to the full 8 feet wide. I'd 
reviously cut this section the last two years (after no maintenance for over 10 
ears) 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 
rush and trees, and repaired tread from the Swallow Bridge through Cow Canyon, 
p to the intersection with the Olancha Pass Trail.
The year before, we worked through the section from the Swallow Bridge south to 
he end of Beck Meadow....a section not worked in 15 years. At one point, I 
pent two hours trying to FIND the PCT on a hillside, when I was within 100 
ards of it. It was so overgrown, I did not believe it was anything but a game 
rail! Later in the fall, we will be coming back to complete the brush-out on 
his section to specs.
Additionally, during the summer, we will have a crew working the trail from 
rail Pass south to the Olancha Pass lateral.
This whole section should be in excellent hiking shape for this years 
ikers.....finally.
Hikers, if you encounter any significantly bad trail problems, it is very 
elpful if you can note the location the best you can, and notify either the 
CTA or the local Agency responsible for that area. This is often how we find 
ut about a problem. In fact, you could probably post it here, and it will get 
orwarded.
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