High Sierra Topix

Given the massive cuts to the Forest Service, I am wondering if there will be anyone maintaining trails this summer. Since we have rangers and Forest Service folk who sometimes come to this site, could they comment on plans for trail crews, bridge replacement, trailhead access, etc? Please comment here if you have direct knowledge of trail/trailhead maintenance for this summer.

I wouldn't count on any trail crews.

Are you volunteering?

I will be doing volunteer trail work as usual this summer, but the rangers I work with tell me I may be on my own, without any support/supervision from seasonal rangers. That means some of the work won't happen, because I am not a certified sawyer, so no cutting big trees, for example. And while I volunteer on the trails, I do not have any authority to enforce or even discuss regulations in some jurisdictions...so very little enforcement,

Not good.

That is one point most people do not realize. Volunteers still cost the government money. The lumber, posts, hardware, and concrete for trail structures are supplied by the government. Most of the time it is not Home Depot supplied. The lumber is often pressure treated or special sized.

The FS does not want uncertified people operating chainsaws. "I watched a Facebook video once. I know how to fell that 48" leaning Ponderosa Pine with a catface and a split. BTW -- what are those mushroom looking things all the way up the trunk?". The FS has had to haul too many youtube expert sawyers to the nearest trauma center. That is why the FS has their own tree felling certification program for employees.

I am more concerned if we will even be able to use the trails (NP and FS wilderness closed) or the opposite- a free-for all with no permits, no rangers.

First of all, I'm not in favor of any cuts to the NPS or FS. There's much bigger fish to fry.

But, there's a sense of scale here. According to the NPS, Yosemite National Park employed 741 summer employees in 2021. Nine associates were just laid off starting with the least tenured (some still on probation), which is 1.2% not including any part time and volunteers that may be affected - don't know this number.

Is a 1 percent reduction a dealbreaker? Probably not, but it makes great headlines. The larger issue is years and years under funding from *multiple administrations*. We need representation that takes our most treasured assets seriously.

Forest Service has already cut about 10% of its workforce, or 3,400 people.

Park Service has cut about 1000, or 5%.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-for ... 025-02-14/

And of course you are right, both services were woefully understaffed and underfunded before this. Last summer, when I was in the Olympics in Washington State, entire campgrounds were closed for lack of a trained sawyer to fell the widow makers at Lake Quinault.

I have the same two fears as WD--will they just close up some areas, or will they make it a free for all? At a minimum it won't be any better than it has been for a while, with almost no enforcement in the backcountry.

I guess the permitting process is working as per usual, for the moment....

balzaccom wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 7:31 am I am not a certified sawyer, so no cutting big trees

Do you mean not cutting down big (or small) trees, or not cutting fallen trees that are blocking a trail?
What's involved in becoming a certified sawyer?

Places like SEKI have been losing trails every year. Some have been officially abandoned. This will only continue to make the problem worse. As the final cherry on top, SEKI has a severe competence issue when it comes to volunteers, and some people within the park have been openly hostile to locals doing their own trail maintenance.

The Other Tom wrote: ↑Tue Mar 04, 2025 7:34 am

balzaccom wrote: ↑Sun Mar 02, 2025 7:31 am I am not a certified sawyer, so no cutting big trees

Do you mean not cutting down big (or small) trees, or not cutting fallen trees that are blocking a trail?
What's involved in becoming a certified sawyer?

Basically when trees fall, they can be fairly hazardous to cut up. Trees that are bent by other fallen trees snap back violently when the fallen tree is cut, trees fall & roll in weird ways. Basically getting deadfall chopped up for (official) trail maintenance takes a long time because often you need some level of expertise, rather than just a dude with a chainsaw.