billski
Member
I've seen people have been hiking it even though it's marked as closed. Apparently there are a lot of blowdowns down low. Thinking about taking it down from Eisenhower.
Status of Dry River Trail?
- Thread starter billski
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psmart
Active member
The trail is officially closed until further notice. It's more than just a few blow-downs. A lot of the trail has simply been washed away.
Details and photos at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5376207.pdf
Details and photos at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5376207.pdf
grouseking
Well-known member
Do we know if the trail professionals have made any long term solutions, as stated in the PDF? Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the entire trail is in the wilderness, so I wonder if they just close the trail because its too dangerous?
psmart
Active member
The FS is going to conduct an official scoping process to assess the trail and consider alternatives. I haven't seen anything official since this listing was posted in April 2013. Note that "Implementation" is not expected until 2014.
*NEW LISTING* Recreation management
Presidential Range Dry River Wilderness Area Trails Project
Developing Proposal, Est. Scoping Start 07/2013, Decision Expected:02/2014, Implementation: 05/2014
Description: The Presi-Dry Wilderness has sections of the Dry River Trail, Rocky Branch Trail and Isolation Trail that were severely damaged and are currently unpassable. These trail sections need to be repaired, relocated or decommissioned.
*NEW LISTING* Recreation management
Presidential Range Dry River Wilderness Area Trails Project
Developing Proposal, Est. Scoping Start 07/2013, Decision Expected:02/2014, Implementation: 05/2014
Description: The Presi-Dry Wilderness has sections of the Dry River Trail, Rocky Branch Trail and Isolation Trail that were severely damaged and are currently unpassable. These trail sections need to be repaired, relocated or decommissioned.
billski
Member
psmart - I'm aware of the Gloria damage and the current "closed" status. What I was asking if anyone has been in there and could report on how bad the damage is. From what I've heard, it's all on the section closest to the notch. I've heard of someone who made it through, although it was a major PITA. Sometimes if work has been done, the status does not change instantly. I've done trail clearing in the northern Berkshires after Gloria. The damage was widespread and clearing seemed never-ending. This sounds similar.
grouseking, The WMNF Wilderness areas have strict rules. Most important for trail clearing is that no motorized anythings can be used. That includes chainsaws. Brute strength only. I know they have prioritized other areas over Dry River.
I had been considering going down from Eisenhower, connecting with Dry River and going out to the notch if it wasn't too bad. It's too bad from what I can figure. What I might do instead is take the Mt. Eisenhower trail down to the Dry River, then return back uphill via Dry River cutoff.
I love the designated wilderness areas, have done others in the range. No peaks, but lots of amazing forests, fauna and wildlife.
grouseking, The WMNF Wilderness areas have strict rules. Most important for trail clearing is that no motorized anythings can be used. That includes chainsaws. Brute strength only. I know they have prioritized other areas over Dry River.
I had been considering going down from Eisenhower, connecting with Dry River and going out to the notch if it wasn't too bad. It's too bad from what I can figure. What I might do instead is take the Mt. Eisenhower trail down to the Dry River, then return back uphill via Dry River cutoff.
I love the designated wilderness areas, have done others in the range. No peaks, but lots of amazing forests, fauna and wildlife.
billski
Member
psmart - I'm aware of the Gloria damage and the current "closed" status. What I was asking if anyone has been in there and could report on how bad the damage is. From what I've heard, it's all on the section closest to the notch. I've heard of someone who made it through, although it was a major PITA. Sometimes if work has been done, the status does not change instantly. I've done trail clearing in the northern Berkshires after Gloria. The damage was widespread and clearing seemed never-ending. This sounds similar.
grouseking, The WMNF Wilderness areas have strict rules. Most important for trail clearing is that no motorized anythings can be used. That includes chainsaws. Brute strength only. I know they have prioritized other areas over Dry River.
I had been considering going down from Eisenhower, connecting with Dry River and going out to the notch if it wasn't too bad. It's too bad from what I can figure. What I might do instead is take the Mt. Eisenhower trail down to the Dry River, then return back uphill via Dry River cutoff.
I love the designated wilderness areas, have done others in the range. No peaks, but lots of amazing forests, fauna and wildlife.
grouseking, The WMNF Wilderness areas have strict rules. Most important for trail clearing is that no motorized anythings can be used. That includes chainsaws. Brute strength only. I know they have prioritized other areas over Dry River.
I had been considering going down from Eisenhower, connecting with Dry River and going out to the notch if it wasn't too bad. It's too bad from what I can figure. What I might do instead is take the Mt. Eisenhower trail down to the Dry River, then return back uphill via Dry River cutoff.
I love the designated wilderness areas, have done others in the range. No peaks, but lots of amazing forests, fauna and wildlife.
TEO
Well-known member
I should hope that the damage done from Gloria has been repaired by now and the reroutes put in place, since she blew through 28 years ago.
Lefty E
Active member
Dry River Cutoff also has some damage from Irene near the jct with Mt Ike Trail, where you actually need to walk in the brook channel to find the trail...other than that it's passable, at least it was in early June
wardsgirl
Active member
Dry River Cutoff was passable Labor Day weekend and there is flagging tape at the Mt. Eisenhower Brook crossing.
A combination of Mt. Eisenhower Trail and Dry River Cutoff make for a fine (and quiet) loop off Crawford Path/Webster Cliff Trail.
As far as I know, anyone caught on the Dry River Trail is subject to a hefty fine.
billski
Member
I called. It's closed from the hut all the way to the notch. Cutoff trail is legit. open. The entire Dry River trail is at the bottom of the priority heap, which means it may be after my lifetime...
Tom_Murphy
Member
So stay off the trail and bushwhack the drainage instead? Are they permitted to close the drainage indefinately or just the offical trails?
psmart
Active member
It's not a matter of clearing blow-downs. The primary problem is the many wash-outs. Parts of the trail just aren't there any more, hence the consideration or relocation(s) or even discontinuing the trail.
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psmart
Active member
According to the FS personal I spoke with at the Saco district, the closure order only applies to the trail, not the surrounding forest.
billski
Member
I agree with psmart's info based on my understanding of the situation. It's my reading of the Wilderness Area restrictions that bushwhacking and camping are allowed, subject to the usual rules (site setback, sanitation, etc.). The ranger at Saco I spoke with also indicated that the river crossing have become extremely dangerous.
billski
Member
I know of wmnf trails that have been discontinued due to conditions too hazardous. At that point, they obliterate the trail as best they can, take down the signs and markings, erase it from the map and let it return to the wild. It's then back to bushwhacking, but more often than not, a browse trail sometimes can form.
Do note, by the stroke of a pen by the WMNF district supervisor, motorized equipment can be used to clear up after a storm event in a Wilderness area. The WMNF has apparently decided that they would rather not use motorized equipment to make the repair which inevitably will require a significant reroute and resources that are deemed better spent elsewhere. The cynic in me believes that by not responding to the event with motorized equipment early on and by delaying any decisions until 2014 that it allows justification to abandon the trail and another pesky suspension bridge located in a wilderness area. I will be curious if they decide to abandon the bridge in place or partially disassemble it and store pieces of it in place until they somehow justify using a high cost but positive PR method to remove them. Maybe Unadogger can volunteer to lead the effort again to clean up the mess left over 
Also note that in addition to the Dry River trail, the Mt Isolation trail from the intersection to the Davis Path is also closed indefinitely. The Mt Isolation trail was already subject to long term pattern of neglect and the storm apparently finished it off. Its too bad as it offered an interesting backpacking loop of the Oakes Gulf/Dry River Wilderness Boundary in combination with Davis Path, Crawford Path and Dry River Cutoff. It also was a nice alternative way to do Isolation.
The trails in the Dry River area are quite beat down and the area drew a lot of traffic due to at least 2 shelters being in the area. The traces of the trail will remain for long after they are abandoned and I expect they will be adopted by those trying to get away from the crowds on the remaining trails.
Also note that in addition to the Dry River trail, the Mt Isolation trail from the intersection to the Davis Path is also closed indefinitely. The Mt Isolation trail was already subject to long term pattern of neglect and the storm apparently finished it off. Its too bad as it offered an interesting backpacking loop of the Oakes Gulf/Dry River Wilderness Boundary in combination with Davis Path, Crawford Path and Dry River Cutoff. It also was a nice alternative way to do Isolation.
The trails in the Dry River area are quite beat down and the area drew a lot of traffic due to at least 2 shelters being in the area. The traces of the trail will remain for long after they are abandoned and I expect they will be adopted by those trying to get away from the crowds on the remaining trails.
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Becca M
Active member
If you search for "Dry River Trail" in New England Trail Conditions you will see several reports of the Dry River Trail. I recently did the upper loop returning to the Crawford Path via the Mt Eisenhower Trail which I do not recall as being closed. Main problems on the upper Dry River Trail were the blowdowns in the base of Oakes Gulf. Main problems below that were washouts. Often I wasn't on the trail because the blowdowns were so numerous. It's a great area!!! Enjoy!!!!
(By the way, the upper section of the Dry River Trail is the main ski/snowboarding route back out of Oakes Gulf)
(By the way, the upper section of the Dry River Trail is the main ski/snowboarding route back out of Oakes Gulf)
psmart
Active member
Dry River and Rock Branch trails to be repaired
The USFS has made a tentative decision to repair/rebuild the sections of trail in the Dry River and Rocky Branch watersheds that were damaged by Irene. For complete details see the scoping report at http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/1155...i.com/11558/www/nepa/95470_FSPLT3_1484957.pdf
The USFS has made a tentative decision to repair/rebuild the sections of trail in the Dry River and Rocky Branch watersheds that were damaged by Irene. For complete details see the scoping report at http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/1155...i.com/11558/www/nepa/95470_FSPLT3_1484957.pdf
JCarter
Member
For those of us with weak terminology skills, what does it mean to change the trail from Class 2 to Class 1?
Oh wow, this is all really great information.
I also found a brief blurb today about the scheduling regarding The Dry River Trails decision in some unrelated research. http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/components/reports/sopa-110922-2014-01.html
That would be a nice place to have some tentsites (former Rocky Branch Shelter 2 location).
I also found a brief blurb today about the scheduling regarding The Dry River Trails decision in some unrelated research. http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/components/reports/sopa-110922-2014-01.html
That would be a nice place to have some tentsites (former Rocky Branch Shelter 2 location).
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