Trail Maintenance: Report from the PCT - Part II

Freefall maintaining trail in Section O

The “O” in Section O means “OPEN!” After working two more hitches with members of the Northwest Service Academy on a three mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail from Peavine Creek to Red Mountain, and after hiking from Interstate 5 (Castella) back to Burney Falls State Park with a pair of hand clippers, I can with certainty say that Section O has never been in better shape - seriously.  That said, there are still brushy sections on the trail (Red Mountain to the PCT crossing at Grizzly Peak Road), and blowdowns between Mushroom Rock and Alder Creek Trail.  However, one Forest Service employee mentioned that he would be clearing the rest of the blowdowns soon, so there’s reason to be ever more optimistic on trail conditions through the section.

My volunteer service on the PCT is over for the meantime, but I sure wish that I could stay out here.  Seriously, I have thoroughly enjoyed sleeping out in a tent every night, getting my hands (and the rest of me!) dirty every day, hanging out and eating supper with the trail crew in the evenings, and hiking the trail in my off time.  I also got to make a big contribution to a trail that I so dearly love and enjoy, and I leave here knowing that users of the PCT will have a more enjoyable experience.

As I mentioned earlier, I got to hike Section O during one of my breaks, and the hike was so different than my 2003 thru-hike experience.  In 2003, I was suffering from an in-grown toenail, the heat was terrible, and the “O” in Section O stood for “Overgrown.” I remember manzanita, deer brush, vine maple, and tree branches growing in either side of the trail, and interlaced, which made the hiking a frustrating adventure.  Now, the corridor through Section O is very agreeable.

Trail Maintainer John Lyons

Another huge reason why the trail is in good shape is due to the Lyons' Pride, a trail crew headed up by John Lyons, who is also a backcountry horseman.  He has led a crew in May, June, and July, clearing brush and cutting trail near Ah-Di-Na Campground, Centipede Gulch to Butcherknife Creek, and from Deer Creek to Grizzly Peak.

When I ran into his crew, there were about 15-volunteers there, and among those volunteers was Warner Springs Monty. Monty was hiking the trail, but got off because his foot was giving him problems.  Instead of heading back home, he decided to help the Lyon’s Pride with cooking duties, since he is after all the stellar head chef for ADZPCTKO.

Monty was sure surprised to see me hike into the basecamp.  He introduced me to everyone who was doing trail crew, and I was kindly offered a soda to drink.  I introduced myself as a trail maintainer to the crew, and I told them about the section that I was maintaining.  I was offered supper, and I enjoyed some incredible barbeque chicken, salad, macaroni salad, and potatoes.  I rested at that campsite for about two hours, said my goodbyes, and I moved on to the summit of Grizzly Peak.

Vandalized fire tower on top of Grizzly Peak

One of my memorable experiences from my 2003 hike was camping out on top of Grizzly Peak, so I went for a repeat performance.  Again, I had wonderful sweeping views of Section O as I viewed Mushroom Rock to the east-northeast, Bald Mountain and Red Mountain to the East, 14,000-foot Mount Shasta to the northwest, and Castle Crags to the West.  The view was breathtaking.

One disappointment I experienced was the seeing the vandalism of Grizzly Peak fire tower, which was built in 1953.  In 2003, the windows were still in place, but now the glass is broken and scattered all over the top.  The bedspring that was in the tower in 2003, now sits near a newer, but ugly solar-powered weather station.  The peak is a mess, and I hope someone from the Forest Service or a volunteer group can get up there and clean it up.  Nonetheless, I found a spot for camping, and I enjoyed another stunning, memorable sunset and sunrise on the peak.

Chris Pyper of the Northwest Service Academy

There's a ton of work to do out on the trail, and each year, following winter's storms, the trail is littered with blow downs, the tread is eroded, or the brush creeps in yet another foot.  It's a never ending process.  Props to all those trail maintainers out there who give their time and talents to keep the PCT open for hikers and equestrians.  It's awesome!  Finally, I want to give a shout out to Northwest Service Academy's PCT II crew: Kate, Vyper, Shaughn, Sam, Max, and Libby.  Thank you for a memorable July 2010, and thanks for choosing to work on the PCT. Also, thanks to the PCTA's staff (Technical Advisor, Greg Baxter; Regional Representative, Ian Nelson; and Assistant Regional Representative, Val Sokolowski) for your guidance with all trail projects.  You are making a difference!