Steven Dean
Monterey Ranger District
406 S. Mildred Ave.
King City CA 93930

Subject:  Silver Peak Wilderness, Salmon Creek Ranger Station to Buckeye Camp Trail Report, July 11, 1998

Dear Steven:

This is a report on the 3.0-mile section of the Buckeye trail from Salmon Creek Ranger Station almost to Buckeye Camp

Usage:

Our group of 9 people had a great time overlooking the blue pacific.

We saw a single Bow Hunter on this weekend, near the junction Salmon Creek and the Soda Springs junction turn off.

Trail Conditions:

The 1st ½ mile of Trail from Salmon Creek Ranger Station is in very poor condition. The winter rains have created a large trench down the middle of the trail. The vegetation is beginning to cover much of the trail, as well as many snags. We cut out and removed four snags of large trees across the trail, but a few still remain. There are still several areas where trees need to be removed. 

When we reached the ridge, the spring growth had obscured the trail making it hard to follow. As we reached the chaparral, the trail became quite clear and free of brush, all the way to the Soda Springs Trail Junction. 

From the Soda Springs Trail Junction, the tread of the trail is in relatively good shape for about a mile. But the spring growth has definitely encroached on this trail making it hard to walk on the trail. Reaching Soda Springs Creek, the trail deteriorates rapidly, with deerweed and poison oak covering much of the trail. On this section of trail we did remove two downed trees from the trail and moved one large oak to make the trail passable.

We traveled another half mile along the trail almost reaching the top, but unfortunately the spring growth, deerweed, and poison oak made the trail impossible to find. When we did find a short section, a large oak tree had fallen over the trail. We tried to cut it out, but a rattlesnake prevented us from doing this. The switchbacks here were completely covered with heavy brush.

We never made it to Buckeye Camp as we have in years past. The brush was just too thick, and even those of us who knew where the trail should be decided it was not worth trying to continue up the trail.

As you have seen the trails in the Silver Peak Wilderness are in very poor condition at this time. If I had to prioritize work in the area, I would start with Salmon Creek Trail to Dutra Flats, Estrella and Lion Den Camps, then work on the Cruickshank Trail to Silver Camp and onto Lion Den, and finally the Soda Springs trail to Buckeye Camp continuing onto Cruickshank Camp, then on up to Alder Creek. These trails hold a lot of history to many residents in the area and should be restored if at all possible.

Steven, I don't know our exact plans yet, but Carlos and I are thinking of putting together a weekend outing to do trail maintenance in the area. Do you think we could stage our group at the Salmon Creek Ranger Station, by camping out in the back of the house or in some other area if necessary? We are tentatively thinking of Labor Day weekend, September 5, and 6, 1998. In any case keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Gary S. Felsman
San Luis Obispo CA 93405