Yesterday, Tuesday, September 17, 2019, the FOSM Trails Maintenance Crew hiked a short section of Switchback Trail, Survey Trail to the 10K North junction and then back to the 10K North trailhead. No major problems were found. A small 2" diameter dead fir had bent over and was protruding into Survey Trail, it was removed. The crew discovered a dead 8" diameter fir hung up high over 10K North just below the Survey junction. It was tested and found to be soundly supported. No further action was taken.

The majority of the crew members had not yet hiked 10K North to see the recent improvements that were done there so this hike was an opportunity to do so. What a pleasant surprise! The rerouted sections are a vast improvement over the old uphill/downhill, uphill/downhill, uphill/downhill nature of the old trail. The new sections more closely follow the mountainside contour and provide more gentle elevation changes versus the old long stretches of giving up a lot of elevation only to gain it back again on the other side of the hill. Also gone are a couple of the narrow rock scrambles that hikers had to negotiate on the old trail. Once all the reroutes are completed, 10K North should provide a hiking experience that is similar to that of Survey Trail.

A big thank-you goes out to Kerry Wood for the route planning and obtaining the USFS approvals needed for this project; to Jessica White and the USFS SRD Trails Crew for their many hours of hard work and to Bob Galloway's trail construction crew for helping out.

Yesterday was cool, crisp and clear with a light breeze. The recent rains made the trails quite damp but there were only a few muddy areas. Autumn is tightening its grip on the mountain, but at least in the areas we hiked, the aspens have not yet begun their annual display.