Backcountry Musings

Several TVTMA members worked this project had been certified at the Thinking Sawyer Workshops lead by BCHI. This trail with its many boggy spots has been a notorious horse-swallower I’ve heard, not too good for bikes either. More areas to do since conditions have changed since the 2017 scoping finally implemented, but I think horse use is going to be much less risky now with the replacement and new puncheon at 7 sites.

Notably, the upper 3 miles of the trail above Whitehawk meadow that was impassible, blown-in for several years with endless deadfall, is now open at the hands of a number of your new or recertified students.

Your efforts are now multiplied in a measurable return to the users. Lots of folks are pretty pleased about this outcome and are looking at it is a template for future projects and partnering with FS to improve recreational access.

One of the details, left out for brevity, is that the northern-most portion of Tr019 –about 2.5 miles, had been inaccessible due to extensive deadfall for an unknown number of years. From its intersection with Tr021 at Whitehawk Basin to road 510, that trail is now cleared of deadfall, with new puncheons installed at planned sites, and now usable by all single-track users after years of being effectively “closed-and-stored” by nature.  That’s worth celebrating.

Granted there’s more to do on other parts of the trail not covered by the original project scope, conditions having evolved since the original proposal (2017?) of the project now implemented. So we’ll look forward to working with the Forest and Lowman RD on continuing improvements along this popular trail and its interconnects. My understanding is that Mike Lindenfelser is working on trailhead sign replacements, and that will be an ongoing task to put a bow on this current effort.

JT Wagner and his crew of two seasonal and two interns should also be noted for their significant contribution to the timely and quality completion of the project. Their contribution was a force-multiplier and expediting factor, which we were not originally counting on when anticipating a three-weekend work plan.

A short update on the Idaho Trails Association South Blackmare Trail trip June 11-17

We had a good trip last week. Due to imclimate weather we had a few mid afternoon stops earlier in the week, but ended the week with some nicer weather. We worked mainly on Trail 302, but also did some logging and brushing along Trail 100 as we went in and out to better accommodate stock. The 8 participants removed approximately 379 trees from the trails – either cut out or moved, as well as performed brushing along the majority of the approximately 1.6+ miles of trail 302 we were able to cover. We also did tread work in a number of areas.

More details and stats to come, but I wanted to give you an overview. The attached KMZ has the trail from near where we camped (perhaps the southside of Blackmare creek) to where we turned around. Work was also done from camp up to the junction with Trail 100.

Please let us know if you have any questions we can address in our more detailed report.

Kirsten Severud
ITA Crew Leader

I packed them in and snapped just a couple photos bc it was raining much of the ride.  I will send more pics of the work the crew got done (about 2 miles past where Blackmare and SF Blackmare split) over the week when I get them. This was truly a “lost trails found” effort, as the trail was almost entirely overgrown and even required scouting to find it, and some tread reestablishment. A good effort by the crew and one more hitch would probably be enough to get to the lake but we won’t get to it until next year.

The first mile or so is the most exposed trail- like Jeff said, steep granite slopes. The rest is mellower.

Melanie Vining, Executive Director Idaho Trails Association

So yesterday was the ITA pack out from Blackmare lake in the south fork of the salmon. The trip went well, weather forecast was sunny and 70 degrees. The high I saw was was 59 and rain most of the trip. The trail was in great shape though the elevation gain and loss was about 2000 feet and most of the 4.5 miles in you are hanging on granite outcroppings that are sticking out of 70 degree side slopes of sand. The crew of six people made for big loads on 3 mules. Everything went well and got to spend the day in a beautiful canyon on horseback.  Jeff Halligan  BCHI