Whether looking for a quick escape into nature or planning several months off the grid, the Pacific Crest Trail draws countless people from all over. The trail stretches 2,650 miles from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, passing through some incredibly scenic spots in Washington, Oregon and California.
The PCT was established as a National Scenic Trail by Congress in 1968 and has been providing an escape into nature ever since. But those who know the trail best say that the trail experience is changing.
"Climate change and increased use on the trail are two of the significant pieces that we've seen in the last several years," said Jennifer Tripp, the trail operations manager for the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
A recent study by scientists at Brown University as well as the National Center for Atmospheric Research has the data to support those observations. According to the study, hotter summers, winters with less snow, more intense droughts and longer wildfire seasons are all having an impact on trail conditions.
Over the last two years the Caldor, Dixie and Tamarac fires combined to close down hundreds of miles of trail. Even once the flames died out, smoke remained a problem.
"We see a lot of people altering their trip plans because of smoke, because of fire impacts," Tripp said.
Climate change also increases the risk for heavy rain events as a warmer atmosphere is able to hold more water. When the rain does come to Northern California, that is a worry for trail tenders.
"Trail really doesn't like fast-moving water. That will erode the trail, that will bring down more trees, and that means we need more volunteers to get out and do those repairs," Tripp said.
Those volunteers are a big reason why the Pacific Crest Trail Association has been able to keep the well-traveled trails in good shape. More than 2,000 volunteers contribute millions of dollars worth of labor each year. That labor, whether it's tree clearing or hauling in rocks to build a new water diversion, is done without powered machinery.
Tripp said that whatever challenges climate change may bring, she and the PCTA team are committed to preserving the unique beauty of the trail system.
"It continues to be something that our association is learning how to work into our work plans and how to integrate into how we do our work," she said. "We want this to be protected so that your children and your children's children can keep coming out and having the same experience that we're fortunate enough to have right now."
See the original article and video on KCRA channel 3 CLICK HERE.
The PCT was established as a National Scenic Trail by Congress in 1968 and has been providing an escape into nature ever since. But those who know the trail best say that the trail experience is changing.
"Climate change and increased use on the trail are two of the significant pieces that we've seen in the last several years," said Jennifer Tripp, the trail operations manager for the Pacific Crest Trail Association.
A recent study by scientists at Brown University as well as the National Center for Atmospheric Research has the data to support those observations. According to the study, hotter summers, winters with less snow, more intense droughts and longer wildfire seasons are all having an impact on trail conditions.
Over the last two years the Caldor, Dixie and Tamarac fires combined to close down hundreds of miles of trail. Even once the flames died out, smoke remained a problem.
"We see a lot of people altering their trip plans because of smoke, because of fire impacts," Tripp said.
Climate change also increases the risk for heavy rain events as a warmer atmosphere is able to hold more water. When the rain does come to Northern California, that is a worry for trail tenders.
"Trail really doesn't like fast-moving water. That will erode the trail, that will bring down more trees, and that means we need more volunteers to get out and do those repairs," Tripp said.
Those volunteers are a big reason why the Pacific Crest Trail Association has been able to keep the well-traveled trails in good shape. More than 2,000 volunteers contribute millions of dollars worth of labor each year. That labor, whether it's tree clearing or hauling in rocks to build a new water diversion, is done without powered machinery.
Tripp said that whatever challenges climate change may bring, she and the PCTA team are committed to preserving the unique beauty of the trail system.
"It continues to be something that our association is learning how to work into our work plans and how to integrate into how we do our work," she said. "We want this to be protected so that your children and your children's children can keep coming out and having the same experience that we're fortunate enough to have right now."
See the original article and video on KCRA channel 3 CLICK HERE.
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