SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST PACIFIC CREST TRAIL CROSSING REPORT

Transcription

1 SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST PACIFIC CREST TRAIL CROSSING REPORT Typical Pacific Crest Trail Crossing in the Piute Mountains (TR20 OHV trail near Sorrel Peak)

2 SITE SURVEY A site survey was performed by Stewards of the Sequoia members on 9/30/2014 to determine the validity of claims raised by ORV Watch in their April 2014 letter that there is widespread OHV trespass on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Each PCT crossing was visited by the team where it crossed existing historical OHV trails and the following were determined: There were no tread marks or any indication that OHV's had gone on the PCT at any crossing. In most cases the OHV trails cross the PCT at ninety degree angles. The PCT was in excellent condition and showed signs of little if any hiking use. In many places the PCT was covered in duff and may be hard for PCT users to follow. If there was OHV use on the PCT the heavy duff pine needle blanket on the PCT would show it far more clearly and for a longer period of time than tracks on soil alone. There is no disturbance of the duff. In some cases the PCT was not marked making it impossible for Forest users to know which trail was the PCT. This would apply to OHV users as well as PCT users. The OHV trails were in excellent condition with indication of moderate use at each PCT Crossing. The OHV trails remain in Primitive condition with no widening, trail braiding or erosion. PCT Crossings at the roads were well marked and in most cases had trail restrictors and fencing installed. Horse users find the existing 24" high PCT restrictors are not stock friendly PCT at TR20 crossing south - Little indication of hiking use and no indication of OHV use consistent with all sections of the PCT in the Piutes Pacific Crest Trail Crossing Report

3 SITE SURVEY FINDINGS 1. There is no indication of any OHV trespass on the PCT in the Piute mountains 2. In order to avoid possible unintended OHV use, the PCT needs to be marked clearly on both sides at each intersection. 3. Claims regarding OHV trespass on the PCT in the Piutes are invalid. 4. PCT Restrictors could be modified from 24" height to 18" to better accommodate stock TR20 OHV Trail at PCT Crossing- Indication of Moderate use Pacific Crest Trail Crossing Report

4 PCT USER SURVEY INFORMATION- Numerous PCT hikers have been contacted in the Piutes by Stewards of the Sequoia over the past ten years All PCT hikers reported no OHV use on the PCT. PCT hikers appreciated that motorized volunteers were maintaining the OHV trails in the area. None had a problem with OHV use in the area and recognized that OHV use should continue to be allowed in the area. PCT hikers appreciated the help, food, assistance provided by motorized users. KERN COUNTY SHERRIFF PCT REPORT Kern County Sherriff was tasked with investigating the alleged OHV trespass on the PCT due to the serious allegations by Kern County ORV Watch contained in their letter claiming that During the last 16 months, the Pacific Crest Trail and BLM parcels in Kern County have suffered more damage from illegal OHV use than we have witnessed in the past 6 years." The Kern County Sherriff OHV Unit have performed exhaustive field work patrolling 100 miles of the PCT while making numerous contacts with OHV riders and PCT users as detailed in the Kern County Sherriff report of June 12, 2014 "PCT Directed Patrol (Rosamond/Tehachapi)" The Kern County Sherriff report found- 1. Virtually no evidence of OHV trespass on the PCT after patrolling more than 100 miles of PCT for a period of eight months. 2. In the only section with evidence of OHV's on the PCT, the OHV tracks left the PCT as soon as the first PCT sign was encountered. Indicating that the problem was caused by lack of PCT signage and that there was clear intent by OHV's to abide by the law. 3. The Sherriff's Office received only five OHV related calls in the area of concern of which four were for OHV' legally riding on private land, not the PCT. No reports of OHV trespass were received for the PCT itself 4. The 40 plus PCT hikers contacted by deputies had not seen any indication of OHV use on the PCT in Kern County. 5. Numerous PCT hikers expressed that they did not believe there was a problem with OHVs on the PCT and that those allegations were probably fabricated. 6. One local resident felt that OHV use on the PCT was a problem ten years ago, but not now. 7. The 18 OHV riders contacted in the area were all on legal OHV routes and all OHV's were properly registered. 8. The claims of OHV trespass and illegal OHV use on the Aqueduct and elsewhere are totally unfounded, and in many cases it has been found that the riders are private property owners riding OHV's on their own property. 9. "There is not sufficient evidence of illegal activity in this area to justify large expenditures of resources." Pacific Crest Trail Crossing Report

5 FOREST SERVICE PCT FIELD TRIP On 10/1/2014 the Forest Service conducted a PCT Field Trip in the Piutes. USFS Pacific Crest Trail Program Manager-Beth Boyst and USFS Kern River District Assistant Recreation Officer-Bob Frenes met with PCTA-Anitra Kass-PCT Southern California Regional Representative and Mike Dawson- PCT Trail Operations Director to look at the condition of the PCT and PCT crossing in particular. 1. The Forest Service field trip indicated no OHV traffic on the PCT in the Piutes. 2. There was one downed tree on an OHV trail which could redirect OHV trail users unknowingly onto the PCT. 3. The PCTA might like to move the PCT to a better location with less trail and road crossings, although this would be extremely costly and might move the PCT from the only reliable water source at Landers Camp. CONCLUSION Based on the patrols of Kern County Sheriff and field surveys by both the Forest Service and Stewards of the Sequoia there is little or no OHV use on the PCT in Kern County. There is no basis for the allegations of illegal OHV activity on the PCT in this area.. There is no need for additional restrictions on OHV use such as corridors or increasing the distance between trails which cross the PCT. If OHV trespass on the PCT becomes a problem in future then restrictors should be installed at PCT crossing as has already been done at some PCT road crossings. Stewards of the Sequoia Trail Appreciation volunteer program has cleared thousands of downed trees in a massive effort to enable OHV users and others to stay on existing trails. This has reduced the amount of inadvertent trespass on the PCT by clearing downed trees which could redirect OHV users from the OHV trail onto the PCT. Tree clearing efforts by Stewards of the Sequoia and the Forest Service will need to continue as many trees as still going to fall due to the widespread tree mortality resulting from the 40,000 acre Piute Wildfire. Kern County Sherriff and Forest Service Rangers efforts have increased OHV compliance Stewards of the Sequoia outreach programs have successfully educated OHV users on the need to stay off the PCT. Resources and funding would be better spent on maintaining the PCT and other trails instead of investigating baseless claims submitted by agenda driven groups such as ORV Watch.. References: Kern County Sherriff report 6/12/14 "PCT Directed Patrol-Rosamond/Tehachapi" Kern County Sherriff- ISSUE: TRAINING BULLETIN DATE: June 24, Investigations.pdf ORV Watch letter April Pacific Crest Trail Crossing Report

6 Stewards of the Sequoia members have performed thousands of hours of trail maintenance on Piute OHV trails over the past decade including clearing downed trees and reducing erosion (Stewards Adopt a Trail Sign at Dry Meadow) ABOUT THE AUTHOR This report was prepared by Stewards of the Sequoia volunteers as an educational document for public officials and interested parties. Stewards of the Sequoia promotes responsible recreation and environmental stewardship. Our membership is diverse. Many of our members have been living in the Kern Valley for over 40 years, while other members are new to the Kern Valley. We are a totally volunteer organization who have adopted thirty trails on BLM and Sequoia Forest Land. Over the past decade Stewards members have volunteered over 19,300 hours maintaining over 2500 miles of multiple use trails. We are stakeholders with the Sequoia National Forest and have an MOU with the Forest Service for stewardship. Our members care deeply about our Sequoia National Forest and our public lands. We represent and encourage multiple use in all forms. Our members enjoy every type of recreation in the Sequoia Forest and surrounding area including dirt biking, 4x4, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, skiing, rock hounding, rafting, kayaking, windsurfing, hiking & more. Stewards of the Sequoia PO Box 1246 Wofford Heights CA Division of CTUC 501c3 Pacific Crest Trail Crossing Report