I'll repost Ed's post to SoCalXJ as it probably will make more sense than my ramblings
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The newest (and probably not the last) issue with restoring the difficulty in the revised condition of 3N34, east of the T6 crossing of Deep Creek, is one of potential disturbance of archeological artifacts.
During the planned relocation of rocks (to restore the difficulty) one of the rocks was found to have obvious traces of archaeological significance. The rock was observed to contain a pestle (or grain grinding) hole. This is the indention in a rock left after repeated use of the rock for grinding grain for a period of time by ancestral inhabitants of the area. The resident and guest Archeologists halted the restoration of difficulty to the trail, in the area of the creek crossing, to honor State and Federal Law.
The USFS has to follow state and Federal guidelines (actually Laws) with respect to possible disturbance of archaeological sites, and just like when a large construction project is halted when artifacts are found, the restoration of the difficult rocks at T6 was halted. The penalty to continue the work could result in felony criminal and expensive civil action against all involved (once the potential for disturbance was known). This exposure to the penalty of criminal and civil law applies to civilians as well (so don't go out and plan to relocate rocks around Deep Creek). This risk of disturbance exists almost everywhere in the SBNF, highlighting the importance of keeping the existing roads/trail open (because every new or relocated trail action faces this same risk of disturbance).
The Riverside Rough Riders have performed trail maintenance on 3N34, and plan more through the summer, although additional activity at the T6 crossing has been halted to respect the law. Drive past the T6 crossing, east on 3N34, and the option to take an easy or difficult line on the trail should be restored before the end of summer (and forget about radical rocks immediately past T6 unless you want to invite felony persecution).
I have drive many two wheel drive trucks past the old T6 crossing, both before concrete hardening of the bottom and after the past concrete work (that made it easier than the original loose rock). The current bridge is a freeway, and we have to live with it (better than a larger bridge or closure, the other requested alternatives).
The resulting construction preserves dirt OHV access to the rest of the forest. This is the only currently open east to west OHV legal road/trail in the SBNF that links the Arrowhead and Big Bear areas. The risk of more radical restoration of difficulty is closure of this critical road/trail.
If you want to get activist about SBNF trails, and want to have a huge impact on improving the East to west OHV opportunity, then get your printers hammering out letters to the USFS that you want to see Coxey Creek Road restored to OHV legal 4x4 travel. This is the OHV road/trail that used to link the Coxey Meadows below White Mountain with the Devils Hole area of Deep Creek. It was a Black Diamond 4x4 trail before a wildfire closed the road over twelve years ago, and then it was opened as a M/C-ATV-only trail until about six years ago, when pressure from the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity forced it's complete closure to vehicles. Coxey Creek Road was the historical northern, east to west, dirt road/trail link between Arrowhead and Big Bear.
Sign up now, to make significant comments and complaint, and turn some of this idle bitching into productive progress for your favored choice of recreation. Gets some free maps of your forests, and get educated on the issues shaping the future of recreation in the four SoCal Forests.
Southern California Forest Plans Revision - Welcome!
Turn that keyboard frustration into some constructive support for the future of wheeling in the SBNF. Learn something, and represent yourself.
Happy Trails!
Ed A. Stevens
[email protected]
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