Opening Water Drains

During breaks in the first big storm of the season I went out and cleared drainage on the Camp One Loop, Manley Gulch, and Pole Ten trails.
Pole Ten has a two trees down near the top and lots of pampas grass lower down but it is passable. I plan to clear the trees in spring leaving them to stop motorcycles until then.
Manley Gulch has one tree down mid way. Since motorcycles don't ride this often I'll get out and clear it soon.
Camp One Loop was cleared by CalFire and is wide open all the way including the top section that was very over grown.
Until things dry out some I'll be riding the logging roads and staying off the soft trails.
Enjoy,
Chris

Drains Cleaned on Camp One Loop and Manley Gulch Trails

It's December and little rain has fallen this season. The drains on upper 2/3 of the Manley Gulch trail and lower1/2 of the Equestrian Trail portion of the Camp One Loop Trail have been cleared. Local soils are easer to work when moist so it's been harder to rebuild water bars this year. Drain work on these trails should be completed by the end of the month. Get out and enjoy the Forest!

Bridges in Manley Gulch

The Manley Gulch trail has a new bridge!

Thanks to an anonymous person a very nice bridge has been constructed on the Manley Gulch trail.
















This is the stream crossing before new bridge was built.
















The log bridge is the only problem on the trail now!

Polishing the Gas Cap Trail

Horse riders could not get over David's ramp. I cut a gap in the downed tree above the ramp so equestrians can go up and around without tearing up the trail. Horse riders were damaging the trail by going around under the tree and cutting up to the trail.

Exposed roots on steep corner were getting damaged by trail users.

I covered roots with soil to help protect them from getting torn up. This was not done to make the trail easier to ride. Heavy breaking is already cutting into soil and I may place an obstacle up hill of this corner to slow riders down.

JDSF Trail Signs

Over the years many attempts have been made to help trail users to find their way. Vandalism is the biggest problem with trail signs. Some trail users would like to keep the trails for themselves and tear them down so it is hard for others to find. Some want a souvenir and steal attractive signs. Others shoot at and destroy them for fun.
Gas Tank Trail at Little Lake Trail
This was a low cost attempt at marking trails using paper plates. Most plates at trail heads were immediately torn down. This plate has held up for more than two years.

Little Lake Trail at Rd 409
Metal signs where put up some years ago when this was an official County trail from the town of Mendocino to the city of Willits. Most have been vandalized but are still in place and useful. The County has abandoned this trail and it is hard to find outside of JDSF.

Cook House Gulch Trail at Opservation Point Trail
Carved wood signs were put up by CCC workers many years ago. Some of these surely must have been stolen. These were recently reconditioned and placed at the junction of Cook House and Observation Point Trails.

Cook House Gulch / Forest History Trail at Manley Gulch Trail
Laminated paper markers are being used in the Woodlands Camps area. These are inexpensive and seem to be holding up.

Trail Markers

Trail markers help show a route but do not necessarily identify the trail.
Some trail markers used on JDSF are,

Metal posts along
Little Lake / Sherwood Trail

Three red bars painted on trees along
Caspar area trails

Caution tape hung on branches along
Rd 409 area trails

Reinforced Water Bars

Gully formed by water running down the trail in the past
Camp One Loop Trail

Stick reinforced water bar has held up with heavy traffic

Motorcycle rut stopped by stick and the water bar held

Manley Gulch Bridges

Manley Gulch Trail bridges have been built using different construction methods and materials. Some have held up for a long time others have not.
The upper bridge is three ruff 8"x8"timbers set next to each other to cross a dry gulch. As this bridge aged it rotted become unstable with wide gaps between timbers. Users are now going through the dry gulch to avoid this bridge.
Some small plank bridges are being used with no problems at this time.
A log bridge using 4" logs fastened to 6" logs crossing a creek built 2 years ago has held up.
Another log bridge of similar construction crossing a creek farther down the trail had logs rot and break. This bridge was pulled out to allow trail users to pass through the creek.
One bridge is constructed from three 10" logs crossing a creek. The logs have rotted and large gaps have formed. An attempt to fill gaps with sticks and covering with soil was made . This is failing. Trail users have been using this bridge carefully.
Another bridge is constructed from two rail road rails crossing the creek with 2"x8" boards cut to fit between the rails. The boards started rotting at the ends and falling through the rails. New 2"x6" boards replaced some rotten boards. More boards have fallen through. Trail users are carefully using the bridge.
The lower bridge rotted to the point it was closed.
A new bridge was built using 2"x6" planks fastened to 6"x8" timbers crossing the creek. Trail users are using this bridge.

Storm damage cleared from Gas Cap Trail

David Desautels cleared storm damage from Gas Cap Trail. Photos 2/6/07