Grant will help clear more trails accessing the Pasayten Wilderness

[Fun CH]

Replacement timber for a bridge to Cutthoat lake are in place and ready to build. Whoever replaced Jim in the rec dept seems to be doing a good job.

Preserving for future use.

What did you do when you worked for the FS? Rec Dept yes?

In the post you quoted I am a complimenting the person that replaced you.

[just-jim]

Replacement timber for a bridge to Cutthoat lake are in place and ready to build. Whoever replaced Jim in the rec dept seems to be doing a good job.

Preserving for future use.

[Fun CH]

Replacement timber for a bridge to Cutthoat lake are in place and ready to build. Whoever replaced Jim in the rec dept seems to be doing a good job.

[Fun CH]

On a bike ride up to Cutthroat pass, We did encounter a friendly Forest Service employee out taking surveys while enjoying his hike. I joked afterward, a little less talking and a little more trail work please.

when we were talking to the FS worker I asked him about what could be done to repair mud slide damage on the PCT just past Granite pass heading North.

Yesterday an explosives crew was up there working on that exact section that we talked about.

I spoke with a PCT hiker who said the washout trail area was better. They were still working that area as I heard two more explosions after speaking with the hiker.

I didn't expect such quick results.

[pasayten]

Pacific Northwest Trail Association

On their second backcountry hitch of the season, our “Eastern Pasayten Trail Crew” spent another week working in some of Washington’s wildest country.

The crew was fortunate to have pack support provided by Vince, Soren and Cheeta Stremler, volunteers with the Back Country Horsemen of Washington. Their pack string carried over 600 pounds of gear to the Tungsten Mine Camp, a 42-mile round trip from the Chewuch Trailhead at the southeastern boundary of the Pasayten Wilderness.

With lighter packs made possible by BCHW volunteers, our crew was able to get a lot of work done on the Pacific Northwest Trail. Over the course of the week, they hiked over 46 miles and climbed over 9,000 feet to complete their mission to log out a few more miles of the Boundary Trail.
Using lightweight crosscut saws, muscle power, and teamwork, they removed 70 downed trees between Teapot Dome and Cathedral Pass and performed some annual maintenance to protect the tread along the route. The crew did drainage work, built 17 check steps to prevent erosion, and brushed out 3.5 miles of the PNT. Way to go everyone!

Our Eastern Pasayten Trail Crew (from left to right): Emily Peterson, BCHW volunteer Vince Stremler, Caden Hoyt, Thomas Shaw, Allison Gunther, and Sophie Manning.

[Fun CH]

To be perfectly honest if it weren't for some that use horses over the last several (10 to 15 years) Outfitters, Back Counrty Horsemen and some individual volunteers, that worked even without FS Blessings,i.e. Beauty Creek trail 1 person 3 days from Robinson Creek all the way to Robinson peak turn off after the FS abandoned the trail 2 years earlier, the trail maintenance load would be such the FS would just say forget it to much work and abandon even more of the trails.
A couple of the trails will need a powder monkey to actually get the trail safe for use.
Monument Trail beyond Eureka Creek, (at least last time I was that way) beyond the 13 switchbackswill take some mayor trail rebuilding especially in the slide areas

If you are saying horses are OK with you because they clear Trails that's great.

Both Mountain bicycle Riders and Motorcycle riders also clear trails. I personally clear rocks and large limbs from the trail that I ride and I know three mountain bike Riders who carry electric chainsaws. If you want to know who cleared the Cutthroat Trail of large tree down fall last year, I can't tell you his name but I thanked him after he was done.

[Jingles]

I personally feel that bikes period should NOT be allowed on any trail. A person is out for exercise and to enjoy the out doors then exercise by walking those trails, yes it might take a little longer to get where you hope to get but IMO that also happens with increase in age, I know I can no longer hike @ 4mph with a loaded pack so I plan accordingly and enjoy what I can while I can with my limitations, yea it sux but so does getting old

How do you feel about horses using a trail? The rider gets very little exercise. I rode a bit when I worked on a cattle ranch up the Chilwist in the late 70's and the only thing I got from it was a sore arse.

Riding my bicycle up to cutthoat I get more exercise than walking up there plus I get an adrenaline filled ride down. That comes from the intense Focus required to negotiate obstacles and stay alive. It's a misnomer to think that we aren't enjoying the mountains while we're out there.

Hiking is really hard on my bone on bone arthritic knee and the bike riding really helps mitigate the chronic pain.

So I'd say, if you need an electric motor assist on a bicycle and have a special permit signed off by a doctor, why have all the arbitrary rules that restrict Public Access to only those who are healthy enough to enjoy it?

Those arbitrary rules carry the foul odor of discrimination.

On a bike ride up to Cutthroat pass, We did encounter a friendly Forest Service employee out taking surveys while enjoying his hike. I joked afterward, a little less talking and a little more trail work please.

Will try to answer in order

To be perfectly honest if it weren't for some that use horses over the last several (10 to 15 years) Outfitters, Back Counrty Horsemen and some individual volunteers, that worked even without FS Blessings,i.e. Beauty Creek trail 1 person 3 days from Robinson Creek all the way to Robinson peak turn off after the FS abandoned the trail 2 years earlier, the trail maintenance load would be such the FS would just say forget it to much work and abandon even more of the trails.
A couple of the trails will need a powder monkey to actually get the trail safe for use.
Monument Trail beyond Eureka Creek, (at least last time I was that way) beyond the 13 switchbackswill take some mayor trail rebuilding especially in the slide areas


Jim If you are who I think you are I am sure we crossed paths numerous times and yes it was 3200 miles in a season July through end of Oct including packing in and stting up camp1 day and hunters the next and then packing everything out. and doing midweek checks to haul out any game taken. Including 2 round trips to places like Sheep Mountain in 2 days, or pulling camps at Fred's lake to Hart's Pass AND Ferguson lake in same day starting each trip at the Pass, Round tripping Hidden Lakes. Round tripping both crow an Corral Lakes in 2 days YES after a few days like those your posterior becomes numb then you get where you become accustomed to it, and a lot of it depends on whether you have a comfortable saddle and horse you can have faith in to bring you out after dark where you can't even see the trail beneath your horse, yea it was interesting coming out Billy Goat at 2300 hrs. Thank God I had an extremely good and trustable horse and a good string of 10 mules tagging along behind.
Some employees work 8 to 10 hrs a day some work until the job needed being done is done

[Fun CH]

I personally feel that bikes period should NOT be allowed on any trail. A person is out for exercise and to enjoy the out doors then exercise by walking those trails, yes it might take a little longer to get where you hope to get but IMO that also happens with increase in age, I know I can no longer hike @ 4mph with a loaded pack so I plan accordingly and enjoy what I can while I can with my limitations, yea it sux but so does getting old

How do you feel about horses using a trail? The rider gets very little exercise. I rode a bit when I worked on a cattle ranch up the Chilwist in the late 70's and the only thing I got from it was a sore arse.

Riding my bicycle up to cutthoat I get more exercise than walking up there plus I get an adrenaline filled ride down. That comes from the intense Focus required to negotiate obstacles and stay alive. It's a misnomer to think that we aren't enjoying the mountains while we're out there.

Hiking is really hard on my bone on bone arthritic knee and the bike riding really helps mitigate the chronic pain.

So I'd say, if you need an electric motor assist on a bicycle and have a special permit signed off by a doctor, why have all the arbitrary rules that restrict Public Access to only those who are healthy enough to enjoy it?

Those arbitrary rules carry the foul odor of discrimination.

On a bike ride up to Cutthroat pass, We did encounter a friendly Forest Service employee out taking surveys while enjoying his hike. I joked afterward, a little less talking and a little more trail work please.

[just-jim]

.
I’ll add some here…..

I managed trails, Wilderness, special uses and other recreation during my entire career with the FS…33 years, most of it right here. I managed part of the Methow trail system, both summer/winter, for years and at the end of my career was managing the trails/Recreation budget for the entire Oka-Wen NF. Prior to moving here (45 years ago THIS month – now that I think about!), I made 100% of my living as a packer for the FS in southern NM – working 8-9 month long seasons in a wilderness, the Gila, about the size of the Pasayten. I worked 4 seasons there – riding 3500+ miles a season, mostly alone with a string of mules - which I guess would compute into 10+ ‘Pasayten seasons’.

I’ve met both FS packers who are here this year – Trent and Paul. Both young men seemed pretty experienced, capable and enthusiastic. One correction – only one of them is packing FS trail crews. The other one is packing the various volunteer and grant supported groups (PCTA, PNTA, BCHW, NYC etc etc). One of them did tell me, when I asked, that there were ‘about 15 trail crew members this year. I was surprised it was this high, because I know it has been lower in the recent past. However that number is 1/2 or 1/3 or less - of what might have been fielded 30 or more years ago. BUT, that larger sized crew would have been maintaining a system that was actually GETTING regular/annual maintenance AND had not been burned over. In other words…whether it is a crew of 12 or 15 …or 25 or 50…it doesn’t matter- the FS has gotten WAY behind and is now trying to maintain a system that has been neglected too long. JUST like thy have with their road maintenance, as well. It isnt a matter of willingness, expertise or interest….its just been a lack of $$…even in spite of the addition of Rec fees and all the various volunteer and grant supported efforts of the last 20-25 years.

As far as what is or is not permitted in Wilderness; either we have Wilderness that meets the intent stated in the 1964 Act. Or we don’t. Continually trying to circumvent the spirit, intent or meaning of the Act – because “it’s too slow/expensive/time-consuming/inconvenient” isn’t productive. Here’s a link to the Act; https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 645666.pdf It is actually pretty short. Worth reading.

The specific prohibitions on vehicles/motors are in Section 4b, are Law – not policy or regulation; “Use of motorized equipment; or motor vehicles, motorboats, or other forms of mechanical transport;”. As such…both bicycles and ALL motors are prohibited – battery operated as well as internal combustion.

Later regulation/interpretation DOES allow wheel chairs to be used in wilderness, but does not require trails in Wilderness to be accessible. I once spent a day with a friend who was in a wheelchair – on a very short ‘walk’ – in OR on a trail in designated Wilderness. At one point the route crossed a rock slab about 50’ long tilted at about 5% cross slope. My friend flopped himself out of his chair, folded it up and dragged it behind him across the slope. When he got back in the chair – this whole effort was CONSIDERABLE on his part and NO one in our party helped him! – I asked him if we should consider changing or modifying this route to accommodate those with disabilities. Or, if we should amend the Wilderness Act to allow more access. He got pretty indignant ; “Oh hell, no…Why?”, he said. “Disabled people people have JUST as much right to be challenged, be uncomfortable, get worn out and tired, or get bit by a snake or a yellow jacket…. as an able-bodied person!” He went on to become the ‘accessibility specialist’ for a whole Region of the FS.

There ARE differences in how the NPS and USFS interprets the Wilderness Act and how each treats the VERY squishy “administrative’ exemptions to some of the things in the Act. Just the way it is….the FS has always been proud of the way it has tried to adhere to the spirit of the ACT. The NPS has a different take. For one, they have a different window in how the Act applies to the way they manage wilderness (I wont go into it here). But, the NPS doesn’t manage very much Wilderness acreage -compared to the FS - in the lower 48; most of their acres are in AK…which is kind of a different scene altogether. They have always played pretty loose in excusing themselves from some Wilderness prohibitions. Example – about 15 years ago I did a month long fire assignment for the No Cascades Park in Marblemount; I was sort of shocked, really, at how they casually flew helicopters into re-supply trail crews (who of course were using chain saws), flew Biologists around for fish and wildlife surveys, flew Lookouts in and out, and flew numerous ‘Rangers’ all over the place….it wasn’t exactly daily, but it wasn’t a special occasion, either.

Some thoughts and clarifications about packing and trail maintenance…

- I have to think Verne is exaggerating a bit. There is NO way someone ‘rode 3500 miles a year’ in the Pasayten – the season just isnt long enough. In a normal year most Pasayten outfitters don’t get going until July 1 - if even that early - and are done after high hunt, late Sept. A ‘season’ for packing in the Pasayten would be 85-90 days…in a pinch it might be 100 days. Yes, I coordinated/permitted the schedules of all the Outfitters here for years, so I do know how their schedules worked.

- Statements like ‘a trail crew of x size should be able to do y miles with a packer and z mules’ is pretty meaningless. There is WAAY too much variation in the condition of the trail, the amount of snow and rain it gets, how the brush grows, how often it has been burned, how much use it gets etc etc etc….

- The word to describe what encloses packs on a pack animal is ‘manti’ or ‘manty’ – not mannie. It is from ‘mantilla’, the Spanish word for scarf. A lot of the words used to describe things in the cowboy/stock handing world came to us via Mexico; from the ‘vaqueros’ there, who, of course spoke Spanish.

- Depending on the job at hand – a packer might use mantis or panniers (aka ‘alforjas’ - the word I learned - again from the Spanish). Especially when you are packing – repeatedly - the same sized stuff over and over, panniers make a lot of sense. I used to pack a lot of grain and pellets into 3 backcountry cabins/barns we used…panniers worked great. Ditto - Smokejumper gear; there were a LOT of jumper fires where I worked in NM and those guys ‘pack-out’ gear, usually about 90 lbs+/- each, fit perfectly in panniers on either side of a mule. Panniers are not just ‘for rookies’.
.

[mister_coffee]

I could never sustain 4mph with a pack over interesting terrain. Maybe on a road though. And honestly, I don’t hike to set records or go fast.

On e-bikes. I think the e-bike story arc in the United States could be subtitled “This is why we can’t have nice things.”

There are significant product liability lawsuits just waiting to happen around poor battery safety, inadequate brakes (you don’t put cheap mountain bike disc brakes on an e-bike that might weigh twice as much carrying a heavier rider ), and design issues with front wheels using a QR skewer and improperly located disc brakes that might force the wheel to separate during hard emergency braking. Just to name a few issues but I think the battery fire issue by itself is going to kill the industry.

There are a noticeable minority of people out there who purchased “e-bikes” which are not street legal and are basically electric motorcycles . Of course to the untrained eye they look just like a legit class 1 e-mtb you might buy from Trek or Specialized. So enforcement that allows a legit e-bike and prohibits the non street legal monstrosities is problematic. At best.

It is also hard to make the case to agencies managing trails and trail access that e-bikes should be allowed on trails when a lot of their advocates have a reputation for ignoring rules that they perceive to be at best silly and at worst unfair.

[pasayten]

I know I can no longer hike @ 4mph with a loaded pack so I plan accordingly and enjoy what I can while I can with my limitations, yea it sux but so does getting old

I am down to 1-2 mph with a pack... age does suck... but retired, I have plenty of time...

[Jingles]

its a vocal minority.

Electric chain saws work just fine.

What concerns me is that people with affirmities or are handicapped are excluded from using many public lands, including wilderness. Because, rules that exclude their use.

Have to disagree the ones bitching about the noise of a gas powered chainsaw are the same ones that are to lazy to move a rock out of the trail or get out and volunteer a week end helping clear a trail. They are the ones that expect others to do for them and complain when it isn't done. Also with an electric chainsaw there would be the need to recharge the batteries nightly, so would need either multiple batteries and a way to charge them, and have yet to see an electric chainsaw that can handle a tree over 24 inches in diameter they are good for trim work

As far as people with infirmities being unable access the wilderness. Back in early 90's the Forest Service contracted to have the Methow trail widened and smoothed to the point it was supposedly wheel chair accessible, abput the only thing they didn't do was blacktop the trail, not a single person that was restricted to a wheelchair used the trail, Now let's take Andrew's Creek or Billy Goat trail to name but 2 do you expect them (the FS )to put in a powered escalator to just get up the hill at the trail heads. Having lived with a person that had physical limitations that excuse is BS
FS has 2 packers that is 2 pack strings going in different directions supplying at least 2 trail maintenance crews could be more, unless the packers are afraid to be in the woods by themselves or should not be called a packer
Packer loads pack animals rides to trail crew unloads pack animals and either packs empty mannies on first mule and heads back out or spends the night and comes out the next day

Of course you're not going to be able to accommodate every handicap through rugged terrain.

I'm talking about people for example that have arthritis, lung or heart issues that can't walk or ride a regular bicycle on a trail but can ride an ebike.

Currently I can ride my bicycle up to Cutthoat pass but a friend with lung issues is not allowed on that trail, and a lot more non wilderness State and Federal trails, with her ebike.

So zero access for her to public land designated as wilderness either. Her ebike does not do the serious damage to trails or is as dangerous to be around as a horse, but some ridiculous ethic defines the rules.

My friend loves to be with active people, enjoy the outdoors, the ebike keeps her physically active with light peddling and balance, and she's a very good technical rider.

Why not issue special access permits for people with medical issues? Don't they have a right to enjoy the benefits of public land while they still can?

At what point do you stop giving g special permits for the "SUPPOSEDLY" handicapped. Special permit to only those that have Handicap placards? Take time to look at some of the folks with those placards standing 5'4" and weighing 350 pounds is not a handicap it is a sign of laziness and poor choices in diet, just looking at them you already know they don't exercise except elbow bends from plate to mouth.
I appreciate the fact your friend enjoys being around active people and being outdoors, Bravo for her getting out and staying active, however I personally feel that bikes period should NOT be allowed on any trail. A person is out for exercise and to enjoy the out doors then exercise by walking those trails, yes it might take a little longer to get where you hope to get but IMO that also happens with increase in age, I know I can no longer hike @ 4mph with a loaded pack so I plan accordingly and enjoy what I can while I can with my limitations, yea it sux but so does getting old

[Fun CH]

Be a lot fewer folks bitching about the supposed noise.

its a vocal minority.

Electric chain saws work just fine.

What concerns me is that people with affirmities or are handicapped are excluded from using many public lands, including wilderness. Because, rules that exclude their use.

Have to disagree the ones bitching about the noise of a gas powered chainsaw are the same ones that are to lazy to move a rock out of the trail or get out and volunteer a week end helping clear a trail. They are the ones that expect others to do for them and complain when it isn't done. Also with an electric chainsaw there would be the need to recharge the batteries nightly, so would need either multiple batteries and a way to charge them, and have yet to see an electric chainsaw that can handle a tree over 24 inches in diameter they are good for trim work

As far as people with infirmities being unable access the wilderness. Back in early 90's the Forest Service contracted to have the Methow trail widened and smoothed to the point it was supposedly wheel chair accessible, abput the only thing they didn't do was blacktop the trail, not a single person that was restricted to a wheelchair used the trail, Now let's take Andrew's Creek or Billy Goat trail to name but 2 do you expect them (the FS )to put in a powered escalator to just get up the hill at the trail heads. Having lived with a person that had physical limitations that excuse is BS
FS has 2 packers that is 2 pack strings going in different directions supplying at least 2 trail maintenance crews could be more, unless the packers are afraid to be in the woods by themselves or should not be called a packer
Packer loads pack animals rides to trail crew unloads pack animals and either packs empty mannies on first mule and heads back out or spends the night and comes out the next day

Of course you're not going to be able to accommodate every handicap through rugged terrain.

I'm talking about people for example that have arthritis, lung or heart issues that can't walk or ride a regular bicycle on a trail but can ride an ebike.

Currently I can ride my bicycle up to Cutthoat pass but a friend with lung issues is not allowed on that trail, and a lot more non wilderness State and Federal trails, with her ebike.

So zero access for her to public land designated as wilderness either. Her ebike does not do the serious damage to trails or is as dangerous to be around as a horse, but some ridiculous ethic defines the rules.

My friend loves to be with active people, enjoy the outdoors, the ebike keeps her physically active with light peddling and balance, and she's a very good technical rider.

Why not issue special access permits for people with medical issues? Don't they have a right to enjoy the benefits of public land while they still can?

[Jingles]

Be a lot fewer folks bitching about the supposed noise.

its a vocal minority.

Electric chain saws work just fine.

What concerns me is that people with affirmities or are handicapped are excluded from using many public lands, including wilderness. Because, rules that exclude their use.

Have to disagree the ones bitching about the noise of a gas powered chainsaw are the same ones that are to lazy to move a rock out of the trail or get out and volunteer a week end helping clear a trail. They are the ones that expect others to do for them and complain when it isn't done. Also with an electric chainsaw there would be the need to recharge the batteries nightly, so would need either multiple batteries and a way to charge them, and have yet to see an electric chainsaw that can handle a tree over 24 inches in diameter they are good for trim work

As far as people with infirmities being unable access the wilderness. Back in early 90's the Forest Service contracted to have the Methow trail widened and smoothed to the point it was supposedly wheel chair accessible, abput the only thing they didn't do was blacktop the trail, not a single person that was restricted to a wheelchair used the trail, Now let's take Andrew's Creek or Billy Goat trail to name but 2 do you expect them (the FS )to put in a powered escalator to just get up the hill at the trail heads. Having lived with a person that had physical limitations that excuse is BS
FS has 2 packers that is 2 pack strings going in different directions supplying at least 2 trail maintenance crews could be more, unless the packers are afraid to be in the woods by themselves or should not be called a packer
Packer loads pack animals rides to trail crew unloads pack animals and either packs empty mannies on first mule and heads back out or spends the night and comes out the next day

[Fun CH]

Be a lot fewer folks bitching about the supposed noise.

its a vocal minority.

Electric chain saws work just fine.

What concerns me is that people with affirmities or are handicapped are excluded from using many public lands, including wilderness. Because, rules that exclude their use.

[Jingles]

If I read this (from original post) correctly the FS has 23 head of stock and 2 packers, let's presume 1/3 of that stock is riding stock and 2/3 pack stock so we're looking at basically 8 saddle horses and 16 pack animals with 2 packers. An 8 animal pack string is nothing for a packer with even minimal experience and that is using mannies not the semi useless panniers, which are extremely limited in carrying capabilities and used by rookies. Yes I was a packer for over 15 years and often had strings in excess of 8 to 10 animals loaded 70 to 90 pounds per side with mannies covering 16 to 24 miles per day, I remember 1 summer rode over 3200 miles in and out with pack strings trailing behind often round tripping places like Andrew's Pass, Sheep Mountain, Hidden Lakes, Whistler Basin, crow and Corral Lakes. Just need people that "COWBOY UP" to get the job done.

The support provided by the Pasayten grant is vital, since the ranger district’s pack string is maxed out, Seifried said. Having support from stock means trail crews will be comfortable and functional, she said. The ranger district has 11 people on its trail crew this year and a crew boss, plus two packers for 23 head in the pack string, Seifried said.

[mister_coffee]

I remember when a 2 to 4 person trail crew could clear 5 miles per day cutting trees, building water bars, and removing rocks bigger than a clenched fist from trails that had a a 36 inch tread width with trails brushed back 3 feet wide from center line, trail crews went in for 7 to 10 days at a time.
A good packer with 6 to 8 pack animals should be able to keep 2 or 3 trail crews supplied without breaking a sweat and that is with rotating both saddle and pack animals.

Far as I know they still can. Biggest challenge is that crews might be in different places so supplying them with one pack string may or may not work.

The problem isn't the people. The problem is the enormous backlog from decades of neglect.

[Jingles]

I remember when a 2 to 4 person trail crew could clear 5 miles per day cutting trees, building water bars, and removing rocks bigger than a clenched fist from trails that had a a 36 inch tread width with trails brushed back 3 feet wide from center line, trail crews went in for 7 to 10 days at a time.
A good packer with 6 to 8 pack animals should be able to keep 2 or 3 trail crews supplied without breaking a sweat and that is with rotating both saddle and pack animals.

[pasayten]

Yep, I agree... Set a reasonable time period for clearing the main feeder trails with chainsaws... the fires have really increased the problem of many downed trees... let er rip...

[mister_coffee]

Interesting to note that the Park Service uses chainsaws to clear trails even in designated wilderness. This isn't a Federal Law issue, it is an agency rule that could be changed.

[PAL]

I would be in favor of some chainsaw use for a window of time. Not all summer, but it wouldn't take all summer to do the trails. Some of the trails are so clogged now, it would take forever with a crosscut saw.
Although wilderness to me is no trails. Follow animal trails. But since the trails are there and there is limited staff, get the trails cleared.
Might lead to more congestion. It did with Covid, with the escapees, but that has calmed down. I rarely see anyone mid week on the trails.

[Jingles]

Logs across trails could be resolved a heck of a lot quicker if the FS would do the clearing with chainsaws instead of crosscut.
Yes I know chainsaws and motorized equipment prohibited in the Wilderness, BUT a solution to those complaining about FS , who issues permits to use, handed those complaining about chainsaw use a crosscut and said have at it cutting trees out of the way.
Be a lot fewer folks bitching about the supposed noise.

[realoldtimer]

Open trails will increase congestion.

[pasayten]

Grant will help clear more trails accessing the Pasayten Wilderness
JUNE 15, 2023 BY MARCY STAMPER - Methow Valley News

Goal is to reduce big backlog of blocked routes

Trail maintenance is one of those things you don’t really notice until you hike or, worse yet, ride a horse on a trail that hasn’t been cleared and encounter an impenetrable tangle of downed trees blocking the route.

Maintenance is an annual necessity, since trees fall every year from wind or snow. Wildfire makes the situation worse, and can result in hundreds or thousands of fallen trees on a single trail.

There are almost 1,100 miles of trails in the Methow Valley Ranger District. In an average year, the district and its partners — groups like the Methow Valley Back Country Horsemen (MVBCH) and the Washington Trails Association (WTA) — maintain 400 to 450 miles, ranger district Recreation Program Manager Rosemary Seifried said.

A new grant will help clear even more of those trails to increase access to the Pasayten Wilderness, crucial for commercial outfitters and anyone who wants to reach the spectacular lakes and mountains in the high country. The two-year, $100,000 grant for the Pasayten Wilderness Project recently awarded to the Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) is earmarked for trails that lead to the Pacific Crest Trail and the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, Program Manager Tim Van Beek said.

Their goal is to clear 200 miles, half on feeder trails, and half on the Pacific Northwest Trail, over two years, Van Beek said. “It would be great to open all the trails, but there are hundreds of miles of trails, and thousands of trees down,” he said.

The goal for this season is to clear the feeder trails. Once the trails are log-free, they’ll turn their attention to drainage, brushing and tread work — all necessary to keep trails open — most likely next year, Van Beek said. Several bridges need to be replaced.

The grant covers goals beyond clearing trails. BCHW hopes to bring attention to the need for ongoing trail work, ideally building sustainable funding so all trails can be opened in coming years, Van Beek said.

The grant will also help train people to pack in tools, food and other supplies on horses or mules, so that trail crews can get further into the wilderness and stay for a week or two, Van Beek said.

The support provided by the Pasayten grant is vital, since the ranger district’s pack string is maxed out, Seifried said. Having support from stock means trail crews will be comfortable and functional, she said. The ranger district has 11 people on its trail crew this year and a crew boss, plus two packers for 23 head in the pack string, Seifried said.

“Hopefully, the grant will get us out of the hole [for the main trails], and then we’ll have the bandwidth for side trails,” Seifried said. People are excited about the possibility of trips to high-mountain lakes, but some trails, like Peepsight, Eureka Creek and Ferguson Lake haven’t been cleared for years, she said.

The ranger district regularly teams up with partners like BCHW, WTA, the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Pacific Crest Trail Association and Pacific Northwest Trail Association — some paid, some volunteers — who help clear 25% to 40% of the district’s trails each year, Seifried said. Because the Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail are officially designated national scenic trails, the ranger district makes it a priority to keep them accessible, she said.

The grant will help clear six feeder trails — Robinson Creek, Jackita Ridge, Larch Creek, Andrews Creek, Chewuch and Hidden Lakes — all of which connect with the Boundary Trail, an especially scenic route that traverses the northern portion of the Pasayten. While those trails have generally been accessible in recent years, last year was particularly bad for downed trees, and the district wasn’t able to log out all trails, Seifried said.

Wildfire impacts

In the past 20 years, 46% of the Pasayten has burned. The worst blowdowns typically occur 10 to 15 years after a fire, making it extremely difficult for trail crews to keep up, Seifried said.

A four-person crew used to be able to clear an arterial trail in two weeks and even have time to start work on another trail, but last year clearing some trails took three to five times longer, Seifried said. There were 700 downed trees in just a few miles on one trail last year — “it’s epic amounts of work,” she said.

The backlog of trail maintenance is being felt across the state. There used to be 22,000 miles of trails in Washington, but now there only 12,000 are still accessible, Van Beek said.

Although Van Beek is a hiker who doesn’t own a horse, pack support has become his passion. He ran WTA’s backcountry program for almost two decades. It was pretty humbling to learn what it took to make trail work happen — the only way to get something done when you’re working on a trail that’s 20 miles out is with pack animals, he said.

MVBCH members devote countless hours to trail work every year throughout the Methow Valley Ranger District. Last year, they were able to reopen the Billy Goat trail, where they cut hundreds of trees, 5 feet deep, every day, MVBCH president Cathy Upper said. “It’s a trail-maintenance nightmare,” she said. This year, The group also has projects scheduled in the Twisp River drainage, which accesses the Lake Chelan–Sawtooth Wilderness.

Training people and horses

At the Robinson Creek trailhead last week, Whatcom BCH members trained riders and their horses to pack gear. The training was followed by a kick-off event with representatives from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and trail partners.

The riders learned to pack different types of panniers and the importance of balancing the load. “It’s partly about training people, and partly about training horses,” Van Beek said.

Stephanie Russo brought two horses from Snohomish for the training. Her 27-year-old horse, Tabby, took readily to the unfamiliar load. “That’s a good little pony — he’s just standing there. A lot of horses, doing this the first time, you’d have a rodeo,” Whatcom BCH Chapter Director Joe Remenar said.

The packer needs to be careful not to let panniers bang or rattle, since that can make the horse nervous. As the horse adjusts to the load, it learns to steer around trees, Remenar said.

Working with horses also helps people understand how to brush out a trail — the corridor has to be wide enough for stock, and overhead branches need to be cut to accommodate a horse carrying a tall rider, Remenar said.

Horses can typically carry 60 or 65 pounds on each side, plus lighter gear on their back, a total of about 140 pounds. It’s vital to have the weight balanced so the load doesn’t shift while the horse is walking. Once a horse is in shape after the winter, it can cover 30 miles in a day, Remenar said.

The pack trains typically bring in tools for trail work, a cook tent, propane, and food for a week, then return to resupply the trail crew and pick up garbage. Six animals can support a crew of 12 for seven days.

There’s a range of opportunities for volunteers — they can ride in and help the pack crew load and unload, or learn to pack their own horse. Experienced riders can often borrow a horse if they don’t have their own. And people can help with trail work. “We create opportunities for people to learn in the way they learn best,” Remenar said.

For more information, or to volunteer

For information and volunteer opportunities with the Pasayten Wilderness Project, go to www.bchw.org and click on the photo for the project. People can also email pasaytenproject@bchw.org.

To volunteer with the Methow Valley Back Country Horsemen, see mvbch.blogspot.com.

The Methow Valley Trails Collaborative also organizes work parties. This year, they’re focusing on bridge replacements on the Louis Lake and Cutthroat Lake trails, deferred maintenance on trails along the Scenic Highway 20 corridor, and work on trails affected by the Cedar Creek Fire. See the Volunteer tab at trailscollaborative.org.