Wow, if that in fact is true, it's another move by the SP to minimize their job, and keep from having to deal with rescues, (which so take these reseources away from their other duties, and can put them at risk, I get that).
It's a real shame, since CCC crews, managed by SP, have been doing campground rebuilding, porta pottie replacement, meadow restoration, and in the process, (using water from Round Valley meadow), using mechanical, (gas powered) mules for yrs. with accompanying forest erosion of "new trails" and disturbance, loud, obnoxious rock crushers, jack hammers, large food caches that attracted at least 1 bear, and on.
I understand that certain money is ear-marked for certain, approved projects, but who priorities them.
There is a nice vid on their site of a Sign Project in 2020, with 45 news signs.
The main trails to the summit are crap, IMHO, rocks, roots, large steps, slippery in areas, to cause numerous injury and grief. Gee, wonder why so many locals and park personnel take the alternate, (not maintained route)?
Sure, it's more direct, but also better in many ways.
I can't remember this SP doing much trail maint. at all. A ranger questioned yrs ago re. condition of trails, including new, boot-leg unauthorized trails to bouldering sites like the Shangra-la area, their job is to educate, enforcement and to help when the public needs it. I've spent many hours removing bootleg trails, knocking down cairns that only lead to areas few would want to go to, making climbing areas looks less over-used, picking up trash, (& balloons), helping disoriented folks get back to the main trails, or headed in the right direction, etc.
Keeping the "lower" trail through Laws & Skunk Cabbage closed for years because of threat of trees falling, which I've heard is now so overgrown that one wonders if the park will ever spend anytime on it.
I think a bit of blame was those publishing the heck out of this trail, (not that a lot could be done as social media, internet etc. grew), and those looking at it as some notch in their belts to concur. I've seen many floundering around between Coffmans Crag & Long Valley, (Grubs Notch), and the preceding areas, especially in the snow & ice, making new trails to avoid conditions, which leads to others getting off trail, etc. That section is really the main area needing some maint. (depending on how one defines needing maint. on a trail that was only known as a route 10-15 yrs ago), outside of deadfall and a few areas where trail has slide a bit off the slopes, (which can also be a hazard, especially for very tired climbers who cause even more damage from their footing placements, weight bearing, and on. Attracting many who have no business on this climb, with little experience, inevitably lead to too many people calling for help. But, many seem to expect a nice, maint. trail it seems, as they have little skill to deal when it's not, (maybe part of SP reasoning?).
I took a new ranger and 2 park aids up Skyline many yrs. ago for their first time, so they could familiarize themselves with the trail, in case they needed that knowledge. I wonder how many actual SP that work in that area have ever even hiked it.
I have to wonder if SP also spoke with RMRU, who seem to do the bulk of the rescues here, with SP help.
And so, will the SP enforce this, (I'm sure their reading this), and if so, to what extent. And, will it cause some to seek out an alternate, (if even for the last section, yeah, it's very steep, but there are ways), or post someone on the trail? If so, is that good use of limited resources, which has been an issue for many, many years with these agencies.
Maybe it will get reopened, we'll see, not holding my breath. ss
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