Activity Report Explorer

Cascade Volcanoes • Entered by Laurie Kerr on August 1, 2022

Solitude Monitoring/Recreation Site Monitoring

July 26, 2022 – July 27, 2022

Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance/West Mount Hood Ranger Dist
Landscape/area: Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness (62061 acres)

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Trail/land monitored (4 miles)
Outcome 2: Trail/land monitored (5 recreation sites)

Short Description of Activity

Linda Folkestad and Laurie hiked the Salmon River Trail on 7/26 and the Mirror Lake Trail on 7/27 monitoring solitude and recreation sites.

Reflection/Evaluation

The goal of the activity was to monitor trail and rec site usage during a weekday in July. We noted 9 groups encountered along the Salmon River Trail #742 with 2 groups backpacking. There were a total of 22 hikers seen and 1 dog noted. The weather was a cool 88 degrees.
We monitored a rec site along the Salmon River Trail West that scored a rating of 5. This site showed bare mineral soil widespread over most of the site with over 400 sq. ft. of ground cover loss. The future likelihood of use was high and litter was present. We removed the large bed of ferns and the large nails that we found in the trees.
We spent the night at Green Canyon CG and drove up to Mirror Lake TH the following day. Stopped for a burger and brew at Wraptitude in Welches. Just past Mirror Lake is the boundary for the wilderness which is about 1.9 miles. Here we noted several rec sites that we monitored on the north side of the lake. The first site we scored 5 for overall site impact rating. The ground cover loss exceeded 200 sq. ft. and only bare mineral soil was noted widespread over most of the site. The estimated likelihood of future use was high and the site disturbance would not recover in two growing seasons, we noted. We buried human poop and removed the toilet paper. We also noted several steel poles which were too heavy for us to remove but we noted them on our report to the FS. Laurie dropped pins in the AVENZA App for future use and saved them to her phone.
The next site that we monitored also showed bare mineral soil widespread over most of the site. There were 4-5 severely damaged trees and the total ground cover loss exceeded 400 sq. ft. The estimated likelihood of future use was rated as high, and we surmised that the site disturbance would not recover in two growing seasons. Here we also noted evidence of possible homeless camping as we discovered (1) 4 X 4 ‘ plexiglass sheet, (1) 10′ X 10’ plastic tarp, and 7 6-ft long steel posts. There was also evidence of possible cooking of drugs near the firepit but with ashes and no charcoal apparent. The estimated weight of the trash exceeded 40 pounds and we could not carry this out but we noted it in our report.
The next site that we monitored obtained a score of 4 for overall site impact rating. We noted that the ground vegetation lost on most of the site, but humus and letter was still present in all but a few areas. There were 5- 6 severely damaged trees and the total ground cover loss did not exceed 200 sq. ft. Not invasive weeds, litter, or human waste was also apparent, although the site disturbance could not recover in two growing seasons, we determined.
The last site that we monitored showed little human impact and scored a (1) for overall site impact rating. The ground vegetation was flattened but not permanently injured. There were no severely impacted trees and no roots were exposed. The likelihood of future use was low, we suggested, and the site would recover in two growing seasons. No evidence of litter, human waste, or invasive weeds were found.

Laurie sent the dropped pins for each rec sites to the FS when she got home and had internet access. We had a great time and the weather was great!