Day 2 of our work weekend with BackCountry Horsemen of Washington today's crew was all about working from the 100 access road (Camp Comfort) to the river crossing (4 miles one way). Getting to the 100 access road trailhead, all trees have been cleared off the road thanks to our crew. A horse trailer can now get to the 100 access trailhead without having to worry about trees in the road. Between Lebar Horsecamp and the 100 the road is a little rough, but nothing like the upper trailhead used to be before that road graded last summer.
The trail is in good condition all the way to the crossing. Our crew of 9 was slipt into two different groups, One group worked with power brushers, clearing the brush from Camp Comfort about 2.5 miles up trail from there. A group of 5 of us headed up to the switch back right before the river crossing. A very large ceder tree took out most of the trail when it fell over the winter and it's rootball making it hard for hikers to get to the crossing. After our hike to the project site the real work began. Our task was to make it so you can get around the rootball. We removed roots from the big rootball, and widened the trail a little bit. We added some rock to the trail since the area is one big 30 foot wide seep in the hillside. You will have to walk through some of the seep, but we made it much easier for hikers, hikers, and even stock to get by. If you are on this trail with stock you'll be able to get by, except if you have paneers with gear on your stock animals. In just a few short hours we were able to transform this area of the trail. On our hike out, our packer for the weekend came with his stock to help lighten our load on the hike back to the cars taking the chainsaw, tools, and whatever else we didn't want to hike out with. On the way out, it was nice to see day hikers and backpackers heading to the crossing and enjoying some freshly redone sections of trails without trees down across it.
Over the course of just two short days, this trail has been transformed from winter clean up to being ready for hikers, bikers, and stock!
Comments
ethan_likes_mountains on Lower South Fork Skokomish River
Thanks for the report and for your hard work!
So which parts if any of the Lower South Fork (the bikeable part) need more work? Me and one friend were probably riding there in the next few weeks, and we were going to bring hand saws and also an 18" battery powered hedge trimmer and do some trail work as needed. I haven't been there in the last couple of years, but I always remember that upper section, the last say 3 miles before you get to the river, being pretty brushy. But from your TR it sounds like it's pretty clear now?
Posted by:
ethan_likes_mountains on May 14, 2025 10:39 PM
Elizabeth "Bibbers" on Lower South Fork Skokomish River
All of it is bikeable. It’s been brushed out all the way to the river. Our goal was to brush the end of the trail since it does not see as much love from volunteers.
Posted by:
Elizabeth "Bibbers" on May 15, 2025 09:42 AM
ethan_likes_mountains on Lower South Fork Skokomish River
Wow, very cool, thanks so much!! Do any sections need any drainage work, or at least any that could be easily done with a little folding (Army surplus type) shovel?
Also, how's the roughly 2-mile section at the north end, on the west side of the river? Do you know if that needs much/any brushing (or other) work?
Posted by:
ethan_likes_mountains on May 16, 2025 10:54 AM