Trinity Alps Trail Work

Dennis Houghton – Post Author

This is Dennis’ fourth year working with BFTA as a crew leader. Thanks for all you do Dennis.

The Bigfoot Trail Alliance trip to Long Gulch Lake saw 9 Bigfoot Trail Alliance volunteers and 4 Forest Service employees from the Weaverville Ranger District spend a week in the northern Trinity Alps. Utilizing Long Gulch Lake as a base camp, the crew spent the week clearing trails and reestablishing trail tread to Rush Creek Lake, Fish Lake, Trail Gulch Lake, and the upper portion of South Fork Coffee Creek. We were fortunate that the BFTA had worked this area last year, so the trail section to Rush Creek Lake required fewer logouts than anticipated and the crew was able to focus on reconstructing trail tread to widen and define the trail through some of the meadow areas. On this trail section we met Christoph Teuscher, a thru-hiker from Portland, who was attempting to complete the Bigfoot Trail unsupported in 10 days. No minor feat to say the least!

The trail to Fish Lake required several logouts, routine maintenance to widen trail tread, the reconstruction of a 200’ section of trail that disappeared after several trees adjacent to the trail uprooted and moving & securing 2 large riprap boulders from the middle of the trail to the side of the trail.

Two separate days were spent on the trails to Trail Gulch Lake and upper South Fork Coffee Creek doing logouts and tread work. Volunteers enjoyed working and exploring these adjacent trails that branch off the main Bigfoot Trail route. After each work day, the crew was able to enjoy Long Gulch Lake for swimming and washing away the trail dust & sweat.

Thanks to Erik Fleitz, Jensen Martin, Valeria Reggi and Will Houghton from the Shasta-Trinity NF for their work and direction. Also, Ellen Andrews & Reece Gomes from the Klamath NF for packing supplies and tools. It is great to strengthen our partnership with these National Forests which is proving to benefit both organizations alike in the maintenance of the Bigfoot Trail and keeping the trails open for all backcountry users.