Politics : politics@vcmc.info

On March 25 the Sequoia National Forest renewed the closure order for roads and trails due to flooding until April 29, 2023. Forest Supervisor Tereasa Benson notes, “Record volumes of rain and snow with damaging winds have caused flooding, downed trees, debris, and landslides. Bridges and roadways are compromised, and recreation facilities have been severely impacted in all three districts of the Sequoia National Forest. Public access to recreation sites is limited or impossible due to compromised roads, with continued rain events compounding the existing damage”.

How bad is the flooding?

Long sections of trails have been rutted out and gullied. Flood water annihilated some campgrounds. The road goes in at the camp sign and then drops off. It is like the campground was never there.

BLM Reopens Keyesville

But just because an area is open does not mean it is good for riding. It is up to riders to be responsible and not ride when conditions warrant. Many parts of the BLM trails are still extremely wet. Just a fifteen-minute ride can create major ruts that will harden up and can wreck the trail for a year or more. We appreciate the BLM opening Keyesville so people can resume camping and other low impact recreation, but this is not the time to ride Keyesville or any other trails in Sequoia.

Repairs Being Done

Stewards of the Sequoia have been working under closure exemption for three weeks now to repair erosion gullies and thoughtless rider ruts before the trails harden up on BLM lands. Our efforts have recovered trails that would have been unridable at worst or no fun at best. However, just one thoughtless ride could rip up the trail and dig out the ruts we have worked so hard to fix.
Pushing rides through slimy wet areas and snow is really not all that fun, but it sure tears up the trails. Keep in mind it is illegal to cause resource damage rutting trails or widening the trail by making go arounds.
We hope everyone realizes it is better to wait and enjoy pristine trails for years to come instead of one wet ride that will wreck the trails for everyone. We are not getting new trails to replace the ones that thoughtless riders wreck. This is not a motocross track where a bulldozer fixes the ruts. These are irreplaceable single-track trails that just a few thoughtless rides can wreck. Please stay off wet trails and tell your friends.
It is not a matter of whether you have the ability to push through nasty sections of wet trail. It is that you will cause ruts that will wreck the trail for everyone for a year or more.
While the sun may be out this weekend many areas of the limited BLM Keyesville trails are still very wet and roads and trails in the Sequoia National Forest are still closed. Please do not ride the trails this weekend and avoid being a rut maker. Perhaps in a few weeks the water will stop springing from the hillsides and the trails will be rideable instead of ruttable. Thanks for caring about your irreplaceable Sequoia trails enough to let them rest.

Slimy Wheel Grabbing Ruts Caused by Riding Trails When Wet

Please stay off trails until dry and rideable instead of ruttable