The Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) share trail tread near the top of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range as the trails pass through multiple forests near Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Basin Management Unit integrates the management efforts of the various forest managers. The TRT and PCT Associations coordinate their volunteer maintenance crews and request special assistance from other trail support groups in the area, like BCHC Mother Lode Unit.
The 2021 request focused on a 1.5-mile section of trail between Echo Lake and Phipps Creek. This portion of the two trails is about 6,400 to 8,100 feet elevation and is popular, so it gets heavy usage. The trail crew reconstructed trail tread using native stone for a long-lasting and effective solution to the deleterious effects of high use and erosion on the trail. They improved or replaced water bars and drainages, plus built several more check steps.
The MLU packer contribution was to haul the crew’s heavy gear and sup- plies to their campsite, one trip in July and one in August. This allowed the trail crews more time and energy to work on the trail tread. When the planned work was done, the trail crews hiked out with their much lighter backpack loads of only personal gear.
Packer travel expenses were partially mitigated by a grant from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance.
- by Lucy Badenhoop
Photos courtesy of Tahoe Rim Trail Association
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