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[COLOR="#800000"]Unless you live under a rock, which I'd gladly drive over. You know that MJR has adopted the Holcomb Creek Trail through the SBNF Adopt-A-Trail program. I hadn't been on the trail to do any maintenance for quite a while.
Kurt & I have been busting our humps in the garage pretty steady and we needed to get out and put some tire into the dirt. We have been talking about the need to get up to Holcomb Creek and check it out. So last weekend we loaded up the ladies and the puppy and headed up into the clouds.
The trip up was pretty nice.
[CENTER]
The Spanish Broom was in bloom and smelled like heaven.[/CENTER]
We actually went by Gold Mountain before heading over to 3N93. It was just too great a day to not have a little diversity.
[CENTER]
Barb took a nice pano looking down at Baldwin Lake.[/CENTER]
Unfortunately, at the end of Gold Mountain we stumbled upon this little mess, which was too much for us to collect at the time.
[CENTER]
About 50 meters west of this sign, on the right side just off the road.
Pigs...plain and simple.[/CENTER]
Frustrated with this we headed over to 3N93 expecting the worst possible scenario. What we found was a combination of what we expected and a little bit of a pleasant surprise.
Coming in from the East Entrance we stopped at the water crossing to inspect for the usual attempts to block the creek for whatever purposes. There was evidence of past attempts, to include the movement of the logs which had been placed into the ground uphill to prevent the development of a bypass. But overall, not too bad and the creek was flowing freely.
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Came across this little guy hanging out in the middle of the pathway.
Kurt ushered him away from the vehicle crossing for his safety.[/CENTER]
Just up around the corner we found evidence of camping and campfire rings. We busted these up and made note of them.
[CENTER]
These had been used some time ago, pressing the need to get up there more often.
[/CENTER]
As we left the area used for camping, we encountered a couple of JKU's and a JK coming from West to East at the gatekeeper. We waited our turn and mentioned to the group that we had noticed some white trail flowers next to their Jeeps which received a reply of "yeah, nasty people." So, fast forward past me getting my butt handed to me on the gatekeeper and we are climbing the hill just past when this couple of rigs DUMPS about 25 beer cans and other trash right there on the trail. As Kurt yells at them they drive away. Jeep people just aren't what they used to be I guess.
Next we encountered a Polaris SidexSide at the bottom of Mogul Hill. No plates on the vehicle so we "gently" advised the driver of the illegal status of what he was doing and we continued on the trail.
At the top of Mogul Hill we ran into two Jeeps headed toward the East Entrance and asked them if they would be kind enough to pick up the trash left by the hillbillies (sorry hillbillies I don't mean to insult you). They said they would help us out, and I hope they read this write-up because you guys saved us driving back around to pick it up; and I'll get you that swag we discussed.
From Mogul Hill we moved slowly and methodically noting how things are doing. We took a few minutes at the log roadbed we installed and were pretty impressed with how it's holding up, and that it hasn't become campfire wood yet. However, someone has stolen or moved the Tiki's.
[CENTER]
The log road is holding up well.[/CENTER]
As we got to the Middle [Earth] Rock Garden we encountered some familiar faces as IH8RDS (Lorie) was taking a group from Dishpan through Holcomb Creek. The group was just finishing up and getting ready to move on. It's great to see so many people using the trail getting some enjoyment out of it.
[CENTER]
Not sure if all of these rigs were in her group, but they seemed to be having a good time.[/CENTER]
We moved along a little quicker to the West End and noted the need to do some brushing work once you get into the unburned areas.
Once we got to the West End, we were greeted by yet another surprise. It appears that someone has used the trail sign as a winch anchor and drug it completely out of the ground. The sign is damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced. The West Gatekeeper is again in need of the rocks being drug back into place.
[CENTER]
Sometimes, I just don't understand the WHY.[/CENTER]
Still, it was a great day on the mountain and I know I needed it. It won't be as long before my next visit.
[/COLOR]
Kurt & I have been busting our humps in the garage pretty steady and we needed to get out and put some tire into the dirt. We have been talking about the need to get up to Holcomb Creek and check it out. So last weekend we loaded up the ladies and the puppy and headed up into the clouds.
The trip up was pretty nice.
[CENTER]
The Spanish Broom was in bloom and smelled like heaven.[/CENTER]
We actually went by Gold Mountain before heading over to 3N93. It was just too great a day to not have a little diversity.
[CENTER]
Barb took a nice pano looking down at Baldwin Lake.[/CENTER]
Unfortunately, at the end of Gold Mountain we stumbled upon this little mess, which was too much for us to collect at the time.
[CENTER]
About 50 meters west of this sign, on the right side just off the road.
Pigs...plain and simple.[/CENTER]
Frustrated with this we headed over to 3N93 expecting the worst possible scenario. What we found was a combination of what we expected and a little bit of a pleasant surprise.
Coming in from the East Entrance we stopped at the water crossing to inspect for the usual attempts to block the creek for whatever purposes. There was evidence of past attempts, to include the movement of the logs which had been placed into the ground uphill to prevent the development of a bypass. But overall, not too bad and the creek was flowing freely.
[CENTER]
Came across this little guy hanging out in the middle of the pathway.
Kurt ushered him away from the vehicle crossing for his safety.[/CENTER]
Just up around the corner we found evidence of camping and campfire rings. We busted these up and made note of them.
[CENTER]
These had been used some time ago, pressing the need to get up there more often.
[/CENTER]As we left the area used for camping, we encountered a couple of JKU's and a JK coming from West to East at the gatekeeper. We waited our turn and mentioned to the group that we had noticed some white trail flowers next to their Jeeps which received a reply of "yeah, nasty people." So, fast forward past me getting my butt handed to me on the gatekeeper and we are climbing the hill just past when this couple of rigs DUMPS about 25 beer cans and other trash right there on the trail. As Kurt yells at them they drive away. Jeep people just aren't what they used to be I guess.
Next we encountered a Polaris SidexSide at the bottom of Mogul Hill. No plates on the vehicle so we "gently" advised the driver of the illegal status of what he was doing and we continued on the trail.
At the top of Mogul Hill we ran into two Jeeps headed toward the East Entrance and asked them if they would be kind enough to pick up the trash left by the hillbillies (sorry hillbillies I don't mean to insult you). They said they would help us out, and I hope they read this write-up because you guys saved us driving back around to pick it up; and I'll get you that swag we discussed.
From Mogul Hill we moved slowly and methodically noting how things are doing. We took a few minutes at the log roadbed we installed and were pretty impressed with how it's holding up, and that it hasn't become campfire wood yet. However, someone has stolen or moved the Tiki's.
[CENTER]
The log road is holding up well.[/CENTER]
As we got to the Middle [Earth] Rock Garden we encountered some familiar faces as IH8RDS (Lorie) was taking a group from Dishpan through Holcomb Creek. The group was just finishing up and getting ready to move on. It's great to see so many people using the trail getting some enjoyment out of it.
[CENTER]
Not sure if all of these rigs were in her group, but they seemed to be having a good time.[/CENTER]
We moved along a little quicker to the West End and noted the need to do some brushing work once you get into the unburned areas.
Once we got to the West End, we were greeted by yet another surprise. It appears that someone has used the trail sign as a winch anchor and drug it completely out of the ground. The sign is damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced. The West Gatekeeper is again in need of the rocks being drug back into place.
[CENTER]
Sometimes, I just don't understand the WHY.[/CENTER]
Still, it was a great day on the mountain and I know I needed it. It won't be as long before my next visit.
[/COLOR]
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