This time of year, trail reports are invariably out of date within hours of posting, given the number of people working out on the trail, but this is as up to date as we can offer:
Note the Western States Trail 100 Mile Run is on Saturday June 25-Sunday 26 (last runners coming in to Auburn around 10 am on Sunday), so please avoid the trail on those dates.
The entire Trail has been logged and verified clear as of June 15 from start to finish.
Trail between Deadwood and Kaput Spring:
There is a short wash-out (a few feet) about a quarter mile before Kaput Spring, so please use extreme caution on that stretch. Its coordinates have been noted and it will be fixed prior to the Ride.
Notes to any riders pre-riding the trail between now and ride date:
Old Ribbons/Glow bars:
We have been notified by the USFS, ASRA and WSER that they have been finding OLD ribbons and glow bars being left behind post-events.
Although we always have people going over the trail post-event to pull any ribbons/glow bars, some still get missed amongst the foliage.
Please, if you are pre-riding and you come across old ribbons/glow bars, treat them as trash and retrieve them and pack them out. Thank you.
Trail Work
TRAIL IS CLEAR – still more brushing to do but it’s happening as I write this.
High Country:
Brian Reome cleared from Robie to hw 89 this week. Phyllis Keller rode it to verify all the way to Watson’s. Brian will coordinate with Palisades Tahoe to do the last bit of work within Palisades soon.
There is still a couple feet of snow around Cougar Rock but passable, so by ride date more snow will melt. Todd Barnum rode horseback from Red Star to west side of the bogs on June 13. He did mention the bogs were still VERY WET so he was going to wait another week to ride all the way through. He also mentioned that the dirt bikes paired with erosion have created a path for snowmelt to flow down trail before Red Star making that section rockier than prior years. He will be riding all the way through the bogs in Granite Chief Wilderness from French Meadows on June 22 to report back further.
Canyons:
Crews for the Western States Run (event happening June 25) were working extensively in the Swinging Bridge Canyon (a crew on each side of the canyon) and down in El Dorado Canyon on Sunday, June 19. That’s a LONG hike with a heavy chainsaw.
The Swinging Bridge canyon is now clear from end to end and in very good shape (although the climb up to Devil’s Thumb is as rocky as I’ve ever seen it).
The trail down from Deadwood is still quite brushy (and we urge any riders riding this section to carry hand trimmers and trim as they go). Beware of face-height poison oak about half-way down. Also note the wash-out mentioned in the introduction.
The trail up to Michigan Bluff is a little “lush” in places, so again, keep your hand-trimmers in an easy to reach place on your saddle.
Volcano Canyon – an amazing number of trees have been cleared from this trail on the upper part – someone (sorry, I don’t know who) spent a LOT of time out there. The trail is clear – although some spots are also “lush” in places.
California Street Loop to the River Crossing:
This trail is now open from Foresthill via the usual route, and accessible to foot and equestrian traffic only. No bikes or offroad motobikes allowed.
Some trailbed work near the start of Cal Loop prior to the creek crossings is scheduled, and the trail near Sandy Bottom also needs some trimming.
Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA) cleared the trail from Driver’s Flat Road to Poverty Bar river crossing this week.
Trail Access Roads
Deadwood Road into Deadwood/Devil’s Thumb: Amanda Gadon of Volcano Creek Logging cleared this access on June 10 and did a great job.
Remember, all trail work is done by volunteers and every little bit helps.
If you come across an issue on the trail, please note the coordinates (taking a quick screenshot of your compass app on your phone is a great way to do this), take a photo of the issue if possible (size of tree trunk, extent of damage, etc), and email those, together with a detailed description to wstftrail@gmail.com.
Carrying hand-trimmers is also a great way to help out. If ten riders do this, that’s ten sets of overhanging branches trimmed back. Not to mention it helps you develop that independent seat! Go trail trimmers!