After almost three years of regrowth since the CZU fires in 2020, even working along an existing trail corridor can be challenge and it becomes even more difficult when doing a trail reroute like the May 20th work on Creeping Forest. Park staff is taking the opportunity to improve the trails by moving sections out of low lying areas that can become wet and muddy in the winter and our challenge was to move a 400 ft section of Creeping Forest.
So not only was there post-fire regrowth that is everywhere in Big Basin these days, but decades of big trees, medium size trees, and years of vegetative undergrowth that needed to be cleared in order to lay down the new trail. Even something as simple as establishing a burn pile location became a task as we first had to cut substantial amounts of new growth, set it aside for the moment, and then start building the burn piles and top it off with the cut new growth we had started with in the beginning.
Although the work was slow going, we were able to rough cut about half of the 400 ft reroute.
Lunch on the trail
As the years move further from the fires of 2020, more and more wildlife is returning to Big Basin and making itself known. As we cleared the Ceanothus from what would be a burn pile location we uncovered log with a small cavity and barely visible inside was a newborn gopher. We kept the tree cavity covered while we worked so we wouldn't disturb it anymore than we already had and left it well secured as we left in the hopes the mother would return.
Work done and more ahead
Despite having five of our regulars not available for the day, we still had a good turnout of 19, so thanks to Arnie Arcolio, Fremont Bainbridge, John Bodley, Jim Brooks, John Collins, Tom Condy, Denis DeCeuster, Michele Gelblum, Peter Gelblum, Tommy Ha, Shyamal Kapadia, Marc Koenig, Janette Mello, Joe Mitchell, Mike Peasland, Devdutt Sheth, Brian Washburn, Bruce Washburn, and newcomer Hatha Ferguson.
The BBVTC has a new tool shed or stall, which were the restrooms at the old Jay camp. Jay Camp was located about 1/2 mi west of the old HQ and with all the brick a safer location for our tools.
by Mike and Jeff
photos by Mike and Bruce