Stewardship- Signs are…. good

Daisy- "Helping" read the map at an unmarked intersection

Installing a new trail sign

Every outdoor adventurer know this experience all too well-  exploring new territory and coming across an intersection that wasn’t on the map.  Or this one- realizing you’ve made a wrong turn miles ago.

One of the great things about Tahoe is that each part of the lake has a network of neighborhood “social” trails used by locals to hike and bike in their own neighborhoods.

Here on Tahoe’s West Shore, we are on a mission to “adopt” our neighborhood trails.  Trail maintenance is pretty good in our neighborhood with lots of people pitching in to keep neighborhood trails clear of brush and downed trees.

Inspired by Park City, Utah’s epic (and well signed) trail system, we decided to go one step further on our neighborhood trails and start getting trail signs up on some of the major unmarked intersections.

With that in mind, we made up some trail signs and biked/hiked out to start marking intersections.  It’s an excuse to get out for another adventure and do some backcountry community service as well.

Daisy Trail Dog- excited about another adventure

We rode out about 5.5 miles with Daisy Trail Dog and the signs, then hiked another 3+ miles in marking intersections along General Creek Trail.

First bike, then hiking the new signs in.

Daisy Trail Dog stopping for cool-off swim mid-hike.

Getting set up to hang signs

One of the reasons for this adventure is to make the trails more accessible.  Making it easier for people to find their way outdoors is better for everyone.  Some of these trails (General Creek in particular), are fantastic, bike/hike/horse legal trails that are being overgrown from lack of use.

The finished product!

Before

After- I can see clearly now!

After marking the Lost Lake- Sugar Pine intersection we headed out further to mark out the old spur of General Creek trail that heads to the PCT and Lake Genevieve.

The only markers for General Creek Trail are a series of cairns.

General Creek Trail is an important connector from the West Shore to the Pacific Crest Trail/Tahoe Rim Trail, Rubicon Trail, Richardson Lake, Lost Lake, etc.  Once you leave Sugar Point Point State Park, there is minimal signage to direct trail users.  General Creek Trail is on every map, but it’s becoming overgrown from lack of use.  It’s lack of use comes, in part, from the fact that there are few trail markers.  It’s taken us 6 years to find this intersection, and we live in the neighborhood!  Another trail user left a series of rock cairns and did some clearing.  We’ll fix that…

H and Daisy Trail Dog at the trailhead

This project/adventure is an experiment of sorts.  If we mark and help to maintain the trails, will more people use them?  If more people use them, will they become less overgrown?  Our hope is that by making it easier to navigate trails on the West Shore, more people will use the trails.

Am I worried about the trails getting trashed?  Not really.  These trails are so far off the beaten path that only fit, outdoorsy people will make it this far.

<--- Richardson Lake/ PCT Sugar Pine/Lost Lake ----> Clear enough?

Marking General Creek trail

With our work done, we started exploring the area.  We came across this old USFS Desolation Wilderness sign lying in some rocks, it’s 4×4 post snapped off.  While I’d like to think something natural occurred, I suspect vandalism by OHVs or snowmobiles.  Backcountry vandalism is something I’ve never really understood…

Daisy Trail dog doesn't understand backcountry vandalism either.

All in all, a pretty good day.  11 miles on bike, 7 on foot, a little community service, and some great views along the way.

Pools in General Creek

Tagged as: General Creek, Sugar Pine, trail maintenance, trail stewardship

Categorised in: Backcountry, Trails