[trailcrew] Hello, a question about a trail status

[C. M. Heard]

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007, Patronio at aol.com wrote:
> A while ago, someone posted a maintenance trip along Stone Ridge 
> Trail and Gamboa Trail to Cone Peak Trail for Thanksgiving 
> weekend. Can someone give me an update on the conditions of those 
> trails? I am planning a trip there this coming weekend. Thank you.

Hello Julio,

Indeed, on Nov. 23-26 three VWA Trail Crew volunteers surveyed the 
upper Vicente Flat, Stone Ridge, Ojito, lower Gamboa, and Cone Peak 
trails.  Attached below are the conditions we found on the Stone 
Ridge and Ojito Camp trails.  For conditions on the Gamboa and Cone 
Peak trails please the reports on the VWA Trails Page 
(http://www.ventanawild.org/trails/trail.html), as the reports there 
post-date our survey.  My apologies for not getting this information 
sooner.  I've submitted trail reports that should show up on the web 
page in due course.

If you are planning to traverse the upper Vicente Flat trail be 
aware that the conditions there have been upgraded to at least 
"passable" as a result of a VWA Trail Crew outing this weekend.  In 
fact the only significant obstacle is a redwood jumble blocking a 
stream crossing a short distance above the camp, and that can be 
safely negotiated with a little bit of care.

Mike Heard

On the Stone Ridge Trail from Vicente Flat Camp (N36§ 01.787' 
W121§ 29.391') to about 0.2 miles the open flat area above the camp 
(N36§ 01.674' W121§ 29.735') the tread is mostly in good shape, 
with the exception of a few spots with debris and slough.  There are 
downed trees at two points the trail, but these are easily bypassed.

For the next 0.7 miles up to the point where the trail crosses ridge 
between Hare Canyon and the Middle Fork drainage (N36§ 01.433' 
W121§ 30.202') the tread is in very poor shape.  There are numerous 
spots with down slope detours, in some cases causing tread 
displacement of up to 50' below the proper grade.  One game trail is 
better-defined than the real trail, and we were lured into following 
it.  When we got to the ridge we were able to recognize that we were 
too high by comparing our elevation with that on Schaeffer's map, 
and we regained the trail by following the ridge down to a small 
flat with a large oak tree (the elevation at this point is about 
2028 ft).

For the next 0.8 miles to the point where the trail crosses Middle 
Fork Limekiln Creek (N36§ 01.830' W121§ 30.366') the tread varies 
from fair to poor shape.  It is overgrown in places, with one brush 
pile causing a down slope detour and one washout near a large rock. 
There are six downed trees of various sizes, including a 40" redwood 
suspended over the trail and a 54" redwood in the stream bed 
blocking the stream crossing.  Look downstream for some pink 
flagging tape and a tin arrow on a redwood tree to see where the 
trail continues.

For the next 0.6 miles up to the point where the trail enters a 
hanging canyon known as Cow Shit Creek (N36§ 01.842' W121§ 
30.479') the tread varies from fair to poor shape -- the west side 
of the stream crossing is in very bad shape, and one major 
switchback is easily missed.  Mostly it suffers from slumping that 
is characteristic of trails on steep, soft ground.  There are 8 
downed trees with 13 boles of various sizes.

The next 1.9 miles cover the ascent from Cow Shit Creek, the trek 
across the grassy coastal slopes above the Twitchell homestead, and 
about 0.8 miles into the West Fork drainage (up to N36§ 02.155' 
W121§ 31.176').  The tread is generally in good shape except for a 
few spots where there are some moderate slumps.  There are nine 
downed trees of various sizes.

For the next 1.3 miles up to Goat Camp (N36§ 02.155' W121§ 
31.176') the tread is generally in poor shape.  There are numerous 
spots with down slope detours, in some cases causing tread 
displacement of 20' to 30' below the proper grade.  In some of these 
places a combination of soft soil on the outside edge of the trail 
and steep canyon walls make for hazardous trail conditions.  There 
are ten downed trees of various sizes.

Right next to the sign announcing Goat Camp there is a fire ring 
with a metal grate that has been moved from the actual camp.  To get 
to the actual camp follow the short spur about 100 yds south-west. 
Also, avoid the use trail that goes down slope from that wildcat 
fire ring -- it ends up in a patch of poison oak at the stream west 
of camp.  The real trail is above it.

On the steep ascent from Goat Camp to the Ojito Saddle (N36§ 
02.155' W121§ 31.176') the tread is in generally in good shape 
except for a few eroded spots.  Encroaching ceanothus does need to 
be cut back, but thanks to previous effort a canopy has begun to 
form in the thickest areas.  There are three small downed trees.

On the spur trail down to Ojito Camp (N36§ 03.583' W121§ 31.352') 
the tread is in generally in good shape, surprisingly so for such a 
steep trail.  Encroaching ceanothus needs to be cut back near the 
upper end of the trail at the Ojito saddle.  There are fifteen small 
downed trees between the saddle and the upper (unofficial) camp, 
plus a large tan oak and two large madrones on the camp trail 
leading to the lower (official) camp.  One of the downed madrones 
has the remains of the old sign on it, and covers up the old ice 
mold stove.  The upper camp is littered with refuse left behind by 
previous campers or hunters.