Ownership Denied!!!
I live 5 minutes from the trailhead...not just in the winter or summer, but year round. I work for Alpine County, and I can guarantee that I spend more cumulative time on that trail that most you all combined. I am out there every weekend, except when I'm out on the Rubicon. I see activity that just makes me shake my head. Shameful stuff like making new trails, off the main trail. I have run into some real arrogant buttheads out there. But the majority of the guys are down to earth, good people, who are there for the recreation and the experience of the run.
That being said...the USFS (Oh yeah...:flipoff2
likes to think that they have ownership of that trail. The real deal is that Slick Rock Road is an Alpine County Right of Way. The USFS created this "adopt a trail" program, which simply meant they push the trail maintenance off onto a club of some type, so they don't have to put in the time or effort to clear and maintain the trail. Since Slick Rock Road is an Alpine County ROW, it is the responsibility of Alpine County to clear and maintain the road, NOT the USFS, or any singular club or organization. NOBODY owns the Slick Rock!!!
The time and effort put into clearing and maintaining the trail is deeply appreciated. But clearing those "obstacles" off the trail so vehicles that are NOT properly equipped to handle the difficulty level is really lame. Stacking rocks is like stacking the deck. It should not be done.
Bottom line...nobody owns Slick Rock Road. We all do our part to help keep the trail clear and clean. I too get tired of picking up trash left behind by the hikers :shaking:. So stop complaining and just have fun. We should all have the same goal...run your rig up and down the trail, and have fun. :smokin:
Now - that being said...I would like to establish a formal day for us to all get together and "open" the trail. The snow that fell did not count...it was gone by the next afternoon. Cal-Trans is going to start plowing Highway 4 on April 7, and as far as I can tell...Spicer Reservoir Road (7N01) is no longer being maintained and is therefore fair game for snow moshing!!!
Sometime in early to mid May would be good...weather and snowfall permitting. I will personally be out on the trail in the next couple of weeks. I don't know how far I'll be able to get, but I'll post updates here. Anybody else want to help organize an event? A day of trail clearing, followed by a bar-b-q??? Rules as follows: Have fun, NO COMPLAINING, have even more fun!!!
Let me know!
PS - I am very impressed by the interest taken in this trail, as shown in this forum. Keep it up!!!