Do you have to keep trimming skyline ?!

[Perry]

Did anybody hear the tree fall?...

[wb]

It was a year ago that I last hiked up Skyline, and I was amazed at the number of shortcuts on the trail that did not exist last year. These shortcuts are now so well used that the old trail is clearly the less used trail. The trail that I saw today is significantly different than it was even one year ago. These short cuts do not have the grace or charm of the old, meandering trail. The invididuals responsibile for creating them don't seem to have any objective in mind except creating the shortest distance from point A to point B. In some lower spots, the trail is a mess, and this could invite unwanted outside scrutiny and regulation due to the unnecessary, and in some spots prolific, damage being done to the environment.

[Ed]

I agree completely with wb. I have no problems with people going cross-country or scrambling over rocks, and there are places where the trail seems to naturally diverge and then converge. But the shortcuts on the switchbacks on dirt slopes are ugly eyesores, will eventually be useless ditches, and look in places like more people are taking them than the trail.

[bluerail]

I completely agree on the "shortcuts" that cut off 10 feet of trail. pointless.

However, if you are to go off trail, like many people do, you would end up being stunned to find out that so many sections of the " proper" trail, are reworked additions of an older trail. You can find many of the OLD "proper" trail sections off in the distance. The well built trail that you are now hiking isnt the original trail by any means. As times change and people change they most likely change routes that fit the new mindset, needs and desires.
A trail so close to an urban setting, and with such a desirable quality for fitness, is definitely going to get heavy use by people mainly there for fitness. Not just the casual nature lover.

And as many of those "other routes" up that hill that can be done ...are being done.

Good point though...trim on !