Seasonal staff have strengthened trail work on the Mount Shasta and McCloud Ranger Districts this year. The Mount Shasta Trails Crew includes many employees new to trail work who have made significant progress.
The crew cleared more than 250 downed trees along over 75 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail’s Sections O and P. These trees had blocked the trail for years. They also joined crews sponsored by the Pacific Crest Trail Association to brush five miles near Bartle Gap. Sections O and P cover the path from Burney Falls through Castle Crags to north of Etna Summit.
Beyond the PCT, the crew opened over 25 more miles of trail. They worked on brushing and tread repair across the unit, addressing years of delayed maintenance.
The crew uses traditional crosscut saws and hand tools alongside modern equipment. Crosscut saws remain essential, especially in designated Wilderness where motorized tools are banned. The Forest Service maintains that well-kept crosscut saws work efficiently and that preserving this skill fits within their traditional-tools program.
Work will continue as temperatures drop and snow arrives in higher areas. The crew will focus on trails below the snow line, improving corridors and restoring tread. This effort prepares trails for another season of use.
This young crew is building skills and caring for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest one mile at a time. Their work keeps these trails open and accessible for everyone.
