Changes to the Charouleau Gap Trail:

[ShottsUZJ100]

Overall, much to do about nothing (as I thought). Of the almost 17-miles of trail they only blazed over a few. The vast majority is unchanged so the wars between the Forest Service and some vocal wheelers were.....?????

I support the repair/upgrade at the waterfall. Too many troubles there for folks over the past couple a years. Once you top the cattleguard above this "ramp" the trail is again untouched.

Before:

Now:

This too is gone:

I was sorry to see this optional line "go". Now impassable:

More changes here:
Charouleau Gap (to see trail maintenance) 3/10 - John Shotts (shottscruisers)'s Photos

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

It now looks like it did 10 years ago. It will come full circle in time.

 

[re_guderian]

Did they break down the rock in your first picture, or just put dirt over it? It already looks like it's starting to wash out. A few years of monsoons ought to finish the job...

 

[splitshot]

It now looks like it did 10 years ago. It will come full circle in time.

According to my neighbor, there has been a spike in the trash to factor in the circle also..

 

[Blues Dawg]

I enjoyed that I went down that waterfall, and it had an easy bypass. Of course I got in to trouble on it :whoops:until Shottz spotted me down, and then it was a breeze. Most of the difficult obstales (excluding the "step" out of the creek) on that trail seem to be the result of washouts, so I imagine it'll be back to a challenge as well as beautiful before long. Hey, with the state budget shortfalls we can't really afford to be grading trails anyway?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Did they break down the rock in your first picture, or just put dirt over it? It already looks like it's starting to wash out. A few years of monsoons ought to finish the job...

Totally rebuilt and packed with dirt. They cut out the rock ramp we all used along the right side. They took other rock and filled in the bad ditch alongside the rock wall.

Ya, the dirt will wash out however the obstacle underneath was all evened out with rock according to Forest Service reports.

 

[MoGas]

So, on a 1-5 scale with 5 being hardest. What would it rate now?


Dave

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

So, on a 1-5 scale with 5 being hardest. What would it rate now?


Dave

Most of the Gap is a 2.5. Some smaller sections are 3.0. The long hill on the west side of the Gap to the bottom a 3.5. The Step is a 4.0.

The changed area they maintained? Was a 3.0-3.5 in spots. Now a 2.0-2.5.

Reality is that little was changed.

 

[timh]

I had a part in fighting to stop the work. It doesn't look like much now but the reason they did it is so the Forest Service can get their dozer past those spots to do more work, according to the Forest Service representative who met us up there and explained the plans.

We were more concerned with the manner in which the work was done. They broke up a lot of rock that didn't need to be broken up and damaged some areas that will cause worse erosion in the future. I just hope there isn't more trash or accident problems with the increased accidents!

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Crud...they plan on doing more, huh Tim? Well that makes sense if they want easier access. Bummer though for us wheelers.

 

[timmer]

Hey, with the state budget shortfalls we can't really afford to be grading trails anyway?

your right and your going to dislike the alternative even more