Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Spirit Lake Report not a hike ... February 19, 2013

 If you have walked Spirit Lake recently you will know of the many trees, very large and small that have come crashing down across trails, parallel to trails and in the woods too. Some have snapped off, some are uprooted others have been fallen as dangerous.

Thanks to lots of volunteer hours, one root wad has been tipped back into place, others places have had new routes made around blockages, limbs have been trimmed. Bridges have been swept. A bit of ditching has been done to get water running where it should be. Materials lists are being made.

The skunk cabbages are poking up and the swans are still there.

One section of the trail is marked closed and there is  flagging tape up to stop entry .... well after obeying it totally for weeks ... finally on a calm lonely day, curiosity got the better of me - was it closed; there were footprints; had someone forgotten to take down the signs?


The damage along this section is spectacular, I sure don't advise walking this stretch ... the trees on top of the rock outcroppings, above your head, have fallen, slid, split, etc.
Chaos ...  you sort of want to tiptoe along, thinking well hope nothing happens right now!






We tend to think that it is a wind that always brings down the trees yet on this very trail system I was walking along when I heard a terrific crash across the narrow part of the lower lake, about 100 yds away when, totally out of the blue on a calm day an old snag just fell down, I guess its time had come.

It is a beautiful walk but take care ... be wise, look up, down and around!

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