 From Lake Tahoe USFS@LakeTahoeUSFS Visitors are reminded that bears continue to actively seek out human food and trash at trailheads. Bear canisters are encouraged.
DO NOT leave any scented items in your car or it may look like this when you return. Plan ahead and leave scented items at home. @DesoWV @TahoeSouth  With the potential for more damage — this time by humans rather than fire — the area torched by the Sliger Fire has been closed to vehicles. State Parks has closed the only road into the Auburn State Recreation Area at the fire site off El Dorado County’s Sliger Mine Road.
The Sliger Fire fire broke out Sept. 4 in the middle fork American River canyon and threatened to cross the river from the El Dorado County side into Placer County near Driver’s Flat Road. Instead, it was contained to 150 acres without crossing the river. Mike Howard, Auburn State Recreation Area superintendent, said that the blaze burned down to the middle fork. While the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, the fire originated off Sliger Mine Road about 100 feet above the riverbed on the El Dorado canyon side. The fire burned over part of the Wendell T. Robie Trail and Sliger Mine Road. With old mining roads now visible and accessible in the burned area, a decision was made by State parks to close the area to vehicles, Howard said. The closure comes about a month before the normal winter closure in mid-October that is put in place to preserve the portion of Sliger Mine Road that winds down to the river, he said. A Cal Fire forester inspected the fire area and informed State Parks that there were no real immediate erosion issues caused by dozer lines. “Most of the issues could rehabilitate itself but there is concern about vehicles on the newly visible trails and roads,” Howard said. The road should reopen in the spring, he said. The no-vehicles-allowed Robie Trail remains open to park visitors on foot or on horses, Howard added. CLICK HERE to see the original article in the Auburn Journal newspaper.  On Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, 23, 2018, the Folsom Lake Mounted Patrol is holding their benefit Poker Ride this weekend, based out of Granite Beach parking area. Horse campers will arrive Saturday morning and stay through Sunday evening. There will be food trucks and approximately 140 trucks and horse trailers filling up the Granite Beach parking lot on Sunday. They will be using the hiker/horse Pioneer Express Trail between the Douglas Road kiosk and Sterling Pointe for the majority of the ride. If you are not a participant in this event, please consider using other trails on Sunday.
Bicyclists have been requested not to ride your bicycles through the Granite Beach parking area and to stay on on the multipurpose trails. There will be State Park Rangers at the event. The Poker Ride benefit funds the Folsom Lake SRA Mounted Patrol and trail maintenance.  The map shows the location of where ground wasps have stung several hikers and horseback riders (and their horses) in this past week.
As you climb up from the creek and take the single track to the right, just past the maintenance yard and the Orleans mine equipment, the ground wasp nest is close by to a tall cedar tree with branches that hang over the trail. Angry territorial wasps are not happy with anyone on that trail. The wasps are gone from the Long Bar- thank you, Sterling Pointe Equestrian Staging area volunteers! But, there is a nest about 75 feet north of the "knee knocker" rock - the one that has the large red cross on it. Two riders were stung today.
The volunteers said they will try to get a trap out this week.  The Truckee River Bike Trail is being replaced and rehabilitated this summer. After 38 years of of heavy use and sever weather impacts it is time to replace this wonderful asset in North Tahoe. The trail is OPEN from now until August 20th when the trail will be shut down with an anticipated reopening of October 15th for a full replacement. There will be some work done on the trail and trail shoulder throughout the summer which may cause minor delays but no closures until the August date. We apologize for any inconvenience but are excited to have a brand new trail to reopen soon. You can also follow us on the TCPUD Parks and Recreation Facebook Page for status and updates.
CLICK HERE to see original article in the Tahoe Public Utility District  Nearly 200 mosquito samples in Placer County tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Placer Mosquito Vector Control District. Twenty-four dead birds and two chickens have also tested positive for the deadly virus.
ALL TRAIL USERS SHOULD USE MOSQUITO REPELLANT, ESPECIALLY AT DUSK WHEN THE MOSQUITOS ARE MOST ACTIVE. The western part of Placer County, including Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln, according to the district, tends to see the highest levels of mosquito and West Nile virus activity during the summer. In a press release Monday, the district describes what measures are being taken. The agricultural areas of western Placer County are scheduled for treatment of larval mosquito populations. Larval treatments involve an EPA-registered biorational mosquito larvicide applied by low-flying aircraft in an effort to prevent the emergence of adult mosquitoes and reduce the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases. Treatments occur during daylight hours, most commonly in early morning through early afternoon. “There are many factors that go into concentrated mosquito populations. Elevation plays a role along with the topography,” said Placer County Mosquito Vector Control District spokeswoman Ada Barros. “The valley is nice and flat and standing water is more prominent here in this part of Placer County as opposed to the foothills and the High Sierra, where gravity and topography pulls a lot of the standing water downhill and dissipates into small pools.” Barros shared the top factors that lead to mosquito control. “When humans change the landscape, it really plays a factor. We do see a lot of mosquitoes come in from agriculture. Rice fields especially. For a good part of the rice-growing cycle,” Barros said, “farmers need standing water so naturally we do a lot of our treatment out in the rice fields. It helps we have something we can see that we can treat like mosquito larva (in the standing water).” Barros stressed temperature as a major factor. “Our summer high temps and summer low temps in the valley are different in the foothills. Foothill lows can get lower in the summer as opposed to the valley where temps stay nice and warm (ideal for mosquitos),” Barros said. “Sometimes, we see triple-digit temps into the middle of August and that can play a role.” Barros was asked whether Placer County residents should be concerned. “These cases of West Nile we are seeing are not an epidemic here in Placer County or in California. It will pop up every year,” Barros replied. “As far as infected mosquitos go, this year was pretty bad. Some years, it’s not as high.” Awareness and caution should be highest during a relative time frame throughout the year, Barros said. “The distinct time of year Placer County residents should be concerned is at the beginning of July to about mid-September,” Barros said. “One of the best prevention measures of mosquito-borne disease is a shared responsibility,” Barros said. “We do our part but we can’t do it all. We rely on our residents to take precautions as well, fighting the bite together.” Residents should dispose of unused standing water on their property, report any dead birds or large concentrations of mosquitos, and use mosquito repellant, according to Barros. The district advocates that residents regularly check its website and map for up-to-date spraying locations at www.placermosquito.org. CLICK HERE to see original story in the Roseville and Granite Bay Press Tribune newspaper.  Two Gold Country Trails Council members marked the wasp nest area on the Towle Mill Trail with pink ribbons today. That particular trail is part of the Highway 20 corridor above Nevada City in the Tahoe National Forest. Thanks to them and the Trails Council for helping all trail users be more safe on the trails!
 A female was running today from the Overlook heading past Robie Pointe into Black Hole of Calcutta area when she was first verbally assaulted and then threatened with a hunting knife by two men when she was helped by a hiker passerby. When they got back to Robie Point the Sheriff Department was called and a report made. Officers and a helicopter were deployed.
 Tahoe National Forest trail supervisor has advised us that the large tree that has been blocking the Pioneer Trail near Bear Valley has been cleared. The stump was a challenge, but it's now clear for all trail users.
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