by VWA_Ranger » Thu May 20, 2021 4:53 pm
Date Hiked: May 14, 2021
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***
Description:
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers and Trail Crew have been working on the Santa Lucia Trail with the permission of the USFS from the Indians Station. Today a Volunteer Ranger and Trail Crew Leader surveyed the trail from Indians to the top of Junipero Serra Peak. The entire trail burned severely and is now experiencing significant growth in just a few months. A GPS with the trail track loaded may be very helpful when navigating this trail.
Trail conditions are as follows:
Indians Trailhead to Adobe Jct. - Passable - All downed trees have been cleared to the Jct. But with the rampant growth a couple of sections of trail are now covered in grass or vetch. The trail starts out across the meadow to Kilburn Creek. The wood planks are still there to help you cross; one plank has burned. After crossing the creek you come to a fork. Take the fork that goes straight, not the one to the right. The trail crosses the meadow, then turns left before climbing a shallow ridge, finally descending to another meadow. The vetch has taken over the wet portion of the trail at this time. The trail continues straight ahead, then descends to reach Encinales Creek. Encinales Creek had a large debris flow this winter. It is approximately 100 yards wide. Look for some flags and the old jeep road on the other side. (See Photo). Once across the debris flow, the trail climbs to the old tractor. Continue 0.2 miles to the Adobe Jct. It has been flagged; the old sign marking this point has burned, with just a pile of rocks remaining to show the junction. The route to the right, leading to the Encinales Adobe, is no longer recognizable as a road.
Adobe Jct. to Summit Jct. - Difficult - At the junction turn left heading up the trail. Be sure to watch for signs of the trail. Lack of use, growth and debris may be obscuring the trail. A short distance beyond the jct. is the first of three trees across the trail to the Summit Jct. The trail crosses two small stream beds before getting steeper as it reaches Mountain Laurel Creek and a small meadow. The sign in the meadow has burned, with only the charred signpost remaining. Between the first tree down and Mountain Laurel Creek, there is a significant amount of debris and encroaching brush along the trail. Once past the meadow the trail reaches a series of switchbacks climbing 600 feet to the Summit Jct. At the start of the switchbacks, water may be found by climbing up to the right approximately 500 feet to a perennial stream. The handmade sign marking this "Last Water" has disappeared. The swithcback section of trail is off camber and has lots of small rocks on the trail. Once at the Junction see the Trail Report on the "Santa Lucia Trail Peak Trail".
Note: Beyond the Junipero Serra Summit Jct. to the Santa Lucia Creek end of the trail, there is no current trail information. However, this entire section burned in the Dolan Fire so expect to find a mix of completely burned areas and some very brushy areas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Attachments
-

- The burnt trailhead.
-

- Encinales Creek Debris Flow.
-

- Downed Tree just past Adobe Jct.
-

- Trail sample heading towards Mountain Laurel Creek.
-

- Sample of what the switchbacks on the wall look like.
-

- Junipero Serra Summit Junction.
[b]Date Hiked:[/b] May 14, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)
[b]*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***[/b]
[b]Description:[/b]
VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers and Trail Crew have been working on the Santa Lucia Trail with the permission of the USFS from the Indians Station. Today a Volunteer Ranger and Trail Crew Leader surveyed the trail from Indians to the top of Junipero Serra Peak. The entire trail burned severely and is now experiencing significant growth in just a few months. A GPS with the trail track loaded may be very helpful when navigating this trail.
[b]Trail conditions are as follows:[/b]
[b]Indians Trailhead to Adobe Jct. -[/b] Passable - All downed trees have been cleared to the Jct. But with the rampant growth a couple of sections of trail are now covered in grass or vetch. The trail starts out across the meadow to Kilburn Creek. The wood planks are still there to help you cross; one plank has burned. After crossing the creek you come to a fork. Take the fork that goes straight, not the one to the right. The trail crosses the meadow, then turns left before climbing a shallow ridge, finally descending to another meadow. The vetch has taken over the wet portion of the trail at this time. The trail continues straight ahead, then descends to reach Encinales Creek. Encinales Creek had a large debris flow this winter. It is approximately 100 yards wide. Look for some flags and the old jeep road on the other side. (See Photo). Once across the debris flow, the trail climbs to the old tractor. Continue 0.2 miles to the Adobe Jct. It has been flagged; the old sign marking this point has burned, with just a pile of rocks remaining to show the junction. The route to the right, leading to the Encinales Adobe, is no longer recognizable as a road.
[b]Adobe Jct. to Summit Jct. -[/b] Difficult - At the junction turn left heading up the trail. Be sure to watch for signs of the trail. Lack of use, growth and debris may be obscuring the trail. A short distance beyond the jct. is the first of three trees across the trail to the Summit Jct. The trail crosses two small stream beds before getting steeper as it reaches Mountain Laurel Creek and a small meadow. The sign in the meadow has burned, with only the charred signpost remaining. Between the first tree down and Mountain Laurel Creek, there is a significant amount of debris and encroaching brush along the trail. Once past the meadow the trail reaches a series of switchbacks climbing 600 feet to the Summit Jct. At the start of the switchbacks, water may be found by climbing up to the right approximately 500 feet to a perennial stream. The handmade sign marking this "Last Water" has disappeared. The swithcback section of trail is off camber and has lots of small rocks on the trail. [b]Once at the Junction see the Trail Report on the "Santa Lucia Trail Peak Trail".[/b]
[b]Note:[/b] Beyond the Junipero Serra Summit Jct. to the Santa Lucia Creek end of the trail, there is no current trail information. However, this entire section burned in the Dolan Fire so expect to find a mix of completely burned areas and some very brushy areas.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------