[b]Date Hiked:[/b] March 29, 2022
[b]General Condition:[/b] Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

I went up on March 29 and back down on April 1. Save a very few places where some broom or deerweed was leaning into the trail, this was wide open. Stiff grades. Great views. I enjoyed the fields of lupines, poppies, popcorn flower, fiddlenecks, and others: quite a good show for this dry year. On both days, Lafler Creek at about 2100’ was running nicely, including water pouring out the little pipe into the pool. The lateral trail down to the creek was clear. Although a use camp is marked on the BigSurTrailMap, all I saw was a small, sort-of-flat, grassy area that didn’t look like it had seen any recent use. Up at 3000’, Timber Top Camp has no water but does have table, a grill, and, on the trail up from the grill to the old tank, a resident rattlesnake.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] March 2, 2022
[b]General Condition:[/b] Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

Trail in excellent condition. No problems encountered either going up or down.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] October 30, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

Wilderness freeway, easy to follow the entire way down. A few spur/use trails to nice viewpoints but the correct route is obvious.

Didn't check for water at the pump house.

Parking was busy on Saturday afternoon when we got down.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] April 22, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

The trail was easy to follow, but one problem I encountered was a large yellow jacket nest in a rock slide along the uphill side of the trail. They were flying across the trail in large numbers to get into the hive. Not particularly aggressive, but something to watch out for. Also, I couldn't find any water at Timber Top Camp, but had brought enough drinking water to get me to a different campsite.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] February 28, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

[b]*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***[/b]

[b]Description:[/b]

VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers patrolled from Highway 1 to Timber Top. The trail is in great shape. Timber Top Camp is clean at this time.
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The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: [url]https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/[/url]
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit [url]https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship[/url].
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[b]Date Hiked:[/b] February 13, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

[b]*** VWA/USFS Volunteer Ranger/Trail Crew Report ***[/b]

[b]Forest/Trail Status:[/b] [color=#FF0000]PARTIALLY OPEN, Los Padres Monterey Ranger District is partially open per Forest Order 05-07-51-21-02[/color]
[b]Current Fire Restrictions:[/b] [color=#FF0000]Campfires and Stoves are permitted in the backcountry with a valid Campfire/Stove Permit.[/color]

[b]Description:[/b]

The Monterey Ranger District Forest has partially reopened, VWA/USFS Volunteer Rangers continue to prepare opening other parts of the closed forest and are continuing their regular patrols. Today volunteer Rangers patrolled from Highway 1 to Timber top. They cleared two head high trees along the trail. They encountered many folks and a couple groups without fire permits. Be sure to have a valid Campfire/Stove Permit before heading out if you are planning to use your stove or have a campfire.
[b]
Trail conditions are as follows:[/b]

[b]Highway 1 to Timber Top. -[/b] Clear with minor encroaching brush.


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[size=85] [b]DISCLAIMER:[/b] This report is for informational purposes only. Trail conditions may change at any time. The Ventana Wilderness Alliance assumes no liability for the use of this information.
The Los Padres National Forest Website can be found here: [url]https://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf/[/url]
To learn more about the Volunteer VWA/USFS Ranger and Trail Crew Programs visit [url]https://www.ventanawild.org/stewardship[/url].
[/size]

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] January 26, 2021
[b]General Condition:[/b] Wilderness Freeway (Heavily used and well maintained)

The trail is in great shape. Lot's of water in the spring. Snow began at around 2,000 ft. elevation and it was full "winter wonderland" conditions up top.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] October 29, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Trail is in great shape overall. There is a little brush the first 1 mile or so but it's soft and not bad at all.The creek that's 2 miles up the trail, Lafler Canyon, was flowing well and the water is clear and awesome.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] October 4, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Steep and clear. There are few easily passed spots of brush in the first mile.

[b]Date Hiked:[/b] July 8, 2019
[b]General Condition:[/b] Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

First mile significantly brushy in places (mostly broom), had to look down and use hat to part branches.

Jack