Trail creation through the South Seep

TRAILS: 2 hours: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Trail creation through the South Seep in Eastern Wedge unit #5.

Trail creation through the South Seep in Eastern Wedge unit #5. Started where I left off a few days ago, heading from north to south from the raised section between Alder Seep and South Seep. There is less water running through this section, but still need to work out how to cross the wet spots to avoid pugging them out. Cleared all the way through South Seep, then hacked through the brush and horizontal trees to meet up with the trail coming from the south side – only a hundred feet or so south of the seep. If I keep following the contour, I will run right into it – no need to dip down or rise up. Although this last stretch of un-cleared trail is short, it is the most dense and impenetrable thicket yet – a solid, extended plug of branchy biomass. The eastern boundary line is within 100 feet of this section of trail. I may re-route the trail section just north of Alder Seep to avoid the difficult dip into and rise out of the seep – trying to keep it “on the level” as much as possible.

BEFORE: Proposed trail route heading through the South Seep.

The little Doug fir in front is suppressed, has a crooked top, and is right in the way, so it will be removed. The extensive brush in the background (mostly salmonberry) obscures the rest of the stand. It is old and is starting to die back due to lack of sunlight in this now closed-canopy alder grove.

AFTER: Trail opened up through the South Seep.

Now we can see the individual trees and can walk through the forest easily. There is slash all over the ground on either side of the trail. I just slice up the cull trees, branches and brush to within a few feet of the ground, and let them decompose over time. I only pick them up and toss them if they are on the trail route.

Looking back north along the trail into Alder Seep.

This is a nice raised, dry section between the seeps. Ancient cedar stumps and cut chunks are found wherever you turn in this area. I try to route the trail near the most interesting artifacts of this legacy forest.