Trail Information Release

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Date: July 8, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cindy Thill, Public Affairs/Fire
Phone: (760) 376-3781, # 625

Trees, Rocks and Erosion Trail Blazing Work for Forest Trail Crews

Kernville, CA…Anxious recreationists keep the phone lines busy at most Forest Service offices this time of year. It’s no wonder as the long winter has disappeared, the snowpack, at almost twice the yearly average, is melting swiftly under the current warm weather. Forest users are ready to camp, hike, fish, and dust off their motorcycles.

Local trail crews on the Kern River Ranger District, under the direction of Assistant Recreation Officer, Bob Frenes, are putting in long days to open roads and trails across the southern end of the forest to accommodate those recreationists. And, it is no small task.

Approximately 600 miles of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) trails and miles of forest roads throughout the Piutes, Greenhorn Mountains, Breckenridge, Scodies and the Kern Plateau are presently being opened by two Forest Service Trail Crews (Piute and Blackrock) and three OHV Patrols (Blackrock, Piutes and Greenhorn). Roads and trails are also cleared for administrative use as Forest Service employees require access to seasonal high country work stations and fire lookouts.

Frenes stated, ‘Heavy winter snowfall has put us close to 6 weeks behind schedule. We are experiencing a significant amount of downed trees, rock slides and erosion.”

Trails and roads are littered with trees affected by winter conditions. Chainsaws get a workout for days on end as these crews work to cut and remove trees. As part of road maintenance backhoes are also utilized on roads to fill in the ruts left from the winter rains, clean out clogged culverts and remove large rocks. Shovels and asphalt brooms are also used for portions of the road.

Frenes stated, “Crews have already removed and cleared over 800 trees, from trails and roads and we will most likely be removing close to 1,300 by the time we are done.” The record high numbers of downed trees this year are due to a wet winter with heavy snow fall saturating the ground coupled with windy conditions. Forest visitors are being advised of this safety issue.

By the Fourth of July holiday, Frenes’ OHV patrols and Trail crews, with assistance from firefighting personnel, were able to open 50% of the OHV trails. Some trails are still inaccessible to clear at higher elevations due to snow.

The Forest Service recommends all recreationists utilizing forest trails, roads and/or camping be safe and aware of your surroundings. Use caution when hiking and biking as safety conditions on a trail can change.

For updates and current conditions, please call the Forest Service Station in Kernville at (760) 376-3781 or the Lake Isabella Office at (760) 379-5646.