2012-09-06 Old Vista Ridge Trail to Owl Point and Perry Lake
Posted: September 7th, 2012, 1:25 pm
The Vista Ridge trail is old; it certainly shows on the oldest map I own from 1990. On that map the Vista Ridge Trail enters the map on a forest road, passes Perry Lake, Owl Point and the Rockpile following the same thread as today. The Forest Service is seemingly upset regarding the trail [note] and the trail signs that were in place on the Vista Trail just north of the Wilderness Registration kiosk on 28 August have been removed:
I fully understand that the Forest Service has regulations that prohibit “constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of road, trail, structure, etc…without a special use authorization or approved operating plan.” In my opinion 36CFR 261.10(a) is not intended for the casual hiker doing trail maintenance. Federal Regulation 36CFR 261.10(a) are the kind of directives you throw at those who operate non-approved logging operations, illegal mining or who build access (and/or shelters) for their hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking or other outdoorsy business. In my opinion, the Forest Service should appreciate when the public contributes to trail maintenance, especially given their strained financial situation and shortage of resources.
I sincerely hope that the Forest Service will remount the missing signs, or at least state where the signs can be retrieved, so that the Owl Point trail can again be signaled. The trail is well suited for hikers who wish to view the wondrous vistas on the north side of Mt Hood and who do not have the stamina to undertake longer hikes. Attempting to eliminate the Vista Trail north of the Wilderness Registration kiosk is a disservice to the hiking community.
It is assumed in the above that the removal of the signs was undertaken by the Forest Service, as opposed to an act of vandalism committed by an individual citizen, given the reference to 36CFR 261.10(a) placed on the notice board. If this should not be the case, my most sincere apologies to the Forest Service for accusing them of removing the markers.
In the long-term, the Forest Service could also consider a fee collection system at the Vista Ridge trail head. This is a popular trail head and I’m sure that many are unaware that a Forest Pass must be purchased prior to leaving the lowland: The only two cars parked at the trailhead yesterday morning had encountered that problem: Note: I have had absolutely no involvement in this trail and made my very first visit to the Owl Point area yesterday.
The new sign on the notice board reads:
Obviously, as the Vista Ridge trail dates back at least 22 years, the problem is not trail construction! So presumably the Forest Service is upset that this trail was upgraded from a (at least partial) bushwhack to a user-friendly trail and that somebody has had the temerity to signal the improved trail.I fully understand that the Forest Service has regulations that prohibit “constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of road, trail, structure, etc…without a special use authorization or approved operating plan.” In my opinion 36CFR 261.10(a) is not intended for the casual hiker doing trail maintenance. Federal Regulation 36CFR 261.10(a) are the kind of directives you throw at those who operate non-approved logging operations, illegal mining or who build access (and/or shelters) for their hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking or other outdoorsy business. In my opinion, the Forest Service should appreciate when the public contributes to trail maintenance, especially given their strained financial situation and shortage of resources.
I sincerely hope that the Forest Service will remount the missing signs, or at least state where the signs can be retrieved, so that the Owl Point trail can again be signaled. The trail is well suited for hikers who wish to view the wondrous vistas on the north side of Mt Hood and who do not have the stamina to undertake longer hikes. Attempting to eliminate the Vista Trail north of the Wilderness Registration kiosk is a disservice to the hiking community.
It is assumed in the above that the removal of the signs was undertaken by the Forest Service, as opposed to an act of vandalism committed by an individual citizen, given the reference to 36CFR 261.10(a) placed on the notice board. If this should not be the case, my most sincere apologies to the Forest Service for accusing them of removing the markers.
In the long-term, the Forest Service could also consider a fee collection system at the Vista Ridge trail head. This is a popular trail head and I’m sure that many are unaware that a Forest Pass must be purchased prior to leaving the lowland: The only two cars parked at the trailhead yesterday morning had encountered that problem: Note: I have had absolutely no involvement in this trail and made my very first visit to the Owl Point area yesterday.