Date of Hike: 7/31/10
Trail Conditions: Lower portion excellent. A little bit of mud, some minor step-over blowdowns.
Lower and middle portion up to Shelter not bad. More mud; a few blowdowns that require easy negotiating but no real problems. Signs of recent maintenance well done. Many areas show great care in placement of rocks and branches to navigate through the mud.
From Shelter to high designated camp (designated sign is no longer there) trail is poor. Many blowdowns and mud patches. Very slow going.
From high camp to tree (shrub) line appears to be an abandoned trail. Many of the people I hike with would call it impassable. Continuous mud, massive blowdowns with thick growth making getting around the blowdowns very difficult. It's amazing to read a trip report from as recently as a year ago that describes this as well-maintained.
Overall, water crossings were always easy. Shelter is still hanging in there. Lower two camps still designated. Side trail to falls is easy to spot as long as you're alertly looking for it at that point.
Special Equipment Required: Chainsaw - essential
Comments: A very pretty trail lower down, a useful one up high if it were maintained. As is, I would never use it again as a way to or from Lakes.
Will
Trail Conditions: Lower portion excellent. A little bit of mud, some minor step-over blowdowns.
Lower and middle portion up to Shelter not bad. More mud; a few blowdowns that require easy negotiating but no real problems. Signs of recent maintenance well done. Many areas show great care in placement of rocks and branches to navigate through the mud.
From Shelter to high designated camp (designated sign is no longer there) trail is poor. Many blowdowns and mud patches. Very slow going.
From high camp to tree (shrub) line appears to be an abandoned trail. Many of the people I hike with would call it impassable. Continuous mud, massive blowdowns with thick growth making getting around the blowdowns very difficult. It's amazing to read a trip report from as recently as a year ago that describes this as well-maintained.
Overall, water crossings were always easy. Shelter is still hanging in there. Lower two camps still designated. Side trail to falls is easy to spot as long as you're alertly looking for it at that point.
Special Equipment Required: Chainsaw - essential
Comments: A very pretty trail lower down, a useful one up high if it were maintained. As is, I would never use it again as a way to or from Lakes.
Will
