[pct-l] Trail Navigation Updates

[JSmithFam@aol.com (JSmithFam@aol.com)]

PCT trail trailers,

Navigation wise, the trail was kind to us during our thru-hike in=20
2001=E2=80=A6especially compared to my first thru-hike in 1976. It was well-=
marked=20
and we would often use the maps in the guide books, but not get into the=20
accompanying narrative. We did come across four =E2=80=9Cproblem=E2=80=9D ar=
eas and I wanted=20
to pass them along for the Class of 2002 consideration=E2=80=A6.
=20
1)      CA map E3, section 26. After passing the 3970=E2=80=99 hill marked o=
n the map=20
the trail bends to the NE as the map shows, however, the turn can be easily=20
missed due to the fire road you=E2=80=99ve been hiking on continuing down th=
e ridge=20
toward Bouquet Reservoir. If you=E2=80=99re looking for the trail taking off=
 to the=20
right it is easy to see, but the good views along this area are distracting.
2)      CA map M6, section 15. Near Chimney Rock a new side trail (not the=20
PCT) goes off to the SW toward Grass Valley Reservoir. The new trail and=20
intersection were not signed and not in our 1995 edition of the guidebook. W=
e=20
thought the trail to the right was the short Chimney Rock spur trail depicte=
d=20
in the quidebook=E2=80=A6 it wasn=E2=80=99t=E2=80=A6it was the unmarked PCT=
=E2=80=A6go right.
3)      CA map N1, section 24. This is the infamous ~13-mile =E2=80=98PCT-re=
route=E2=80=99=20
north out of Belden. Initially, landslides on the original PCT caused the=20
USFS to post the reroute, but blow-downs, and overgrown have added to the=20
problem. The reroute has been recommended for several years now and I=E2=80=
=99m not=20
sure when the primary PCT route will be reopened. We, as did most hikers,=20
took the reroute and joined back up with the original PCT about 0.5 mi north=
=20
of Poison Spr (map N3, section 3). Once on the north side of the Feather=20
River, out of Belden, both the original and reroute PCT trailheads can be=20
found within 100=E2=80=99of each other. No warning was posted at the origina=
l PCT=20
trailhead and the trail, at that point, looked good. To the east, the rerout=
e=20
was marked, but you have to be looking for it. The reroute takes you up=20
Indian Creek Canyon and probably 90% of the route can be seen on maps N1-3=20
=E2=80=A6water was available a couple times. Later on we talked with thru-hi=
kers who=20
had gone up the original PCT. We know of two that were successful, the other=
s=20
turned back between the 7-9 mile mark, and they all agreed it is a dangerous=
=20
route.=C2=A0 The reroute and original PCT distances are about the same.=20
4)      CA map N11, section 6. The trail (dashed line) going off to the righ=
t=20
is the old PCT route and it is well marked with PCT white diamonds=E2=80=A6y=
ou can=20
also see it on N12. It does not go near the Old Station PO. The guidebook=20
depicted PCT is also marked well=E2=80=A6so just beware.
=20
I hope this isn=E2=80=99t too wordy and that I didn=E2=80=99t step on anyone=
=E2=80=99s wilderness=20
experience by providing the information=E2=80=A6but the PCT is hard enough w=
ithout=20
adding up additional =E2=80=9Cbonus miles=E2=80=9D as we called them.
Happy Trails,
Jerry Smith



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