Date Hiked: July 9, 2023
General Condition: Difficult (brushy and/or many deadfalls, faint tread)

The potential difficulties that Jan mentioned in his December 2022 report are here! The regrowth this season is immense, particularly the thigh high deer weed that has completely consumed the trail in spots. There are a couple new downed trees as well and the tread has been covered by soft soil and rocks in a few spots. That said, the trail alignment across the slope is at a consistent angle and therefore followable.

Date Hiked: December 8, 2022
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Easily followable, encountered one tree which required a short crawl to get past. New postfire growth in the the trailbed may lead to difficulties a year or two from now

Date Hiked: March 20, 2021
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Took the connector up to Indians Road, coming back from Last Chance Falls. The connector trail is definitely passable, but the burn damage is really noticeable. Lots of deadfall and burned smaller trees, the earth is super soft and insecure, plenty of little slides.

In general, the trail is easy to follow but it's not much of a trail anymore, it's just kind of a break in the slope that one can discern. Lots of greenery growing over it, for example.

I was on edge for most of this trip, worried about widowmakers and the ground collapsing, although nothing more than a few smalls slides happened as I walked along. Pulled 5 ticks off me on the connector.

(I'm a fairly experienced backpacker, but this was only my 2nd trip to the Ventana area.)

Date Hiked: June 7, 2019
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Trail is passable. Brush growing heavy in some spots, have to stoop. Some small, several inch thick, dead trees suspended in brush.

Date Hiked: February 24, 2019
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Hiked down from Indians road to Last Chance Falls. You're in a Ventana brush tunnel for most of distance to the junction with the Santa Lucia trail. Had to crawl under brush on hands & knees twice. Lots of poison oak, we'll see how well Technu works in the next few days.

This is sorta par for the course for Ventana hiking to me, but my wife had a mini-meltdown after being scratched by brush for the 800th time. Water sources everywhere, but it's February.

Trail picture below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2W1yC ... sp=sharing

Date Hiked: April 22, 2018
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Close to clear, but a few small trees have fallen across trail so rating "passable". Lots of Poison Oak. Tread in good shape. Nice views of Santa Lucia Creek and gorge.

Date Hiked: January 2, 2017
General Condition: Clear (no obstacles and tread well defined)

Like the main Santa Lucia Trail, the connector is in better shape than it has been in years. An AmeriCorps crew working with the VWA cleared several hundred feet of the worst part of this trail, at the top. They did a fantastic job of clearing all the fallen dead brush, and worked the tread beautifully. Other groups also cleared the trail on the end near the Santa Lucia Trail, though not as carefully as the AmeriCorps crew. There are minor tread issues down below, and some encroaching brush, but this trail is easily passable and there is no difficulty following it. It makes possible a nice loop hike from Arroyo Seco Campground. Hiking upstream from the Adobe, doing the 8 creek crossings, then taking this connector trail back to the road, and hiking all the way back on the road.

Oddly enough, even though the road is open according to the Forest Order, a huge sign at the Marble Peak Trailhead seems to indicate that it is closed. A couple of miles up above, the sign marking the Connector trailhead is now lying on the ground.

Date Hiked: March 12, 2016
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Tread generally in good shape. One very brushy bay tree blocks the tread near top of trail, requiring a crawl, and some other branches impede progress - but all are hand-saw clearable. Much poison oak.

Jack

Date Hiked: July 11, 2015
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

Tread evident but slumping in places. Overgrowing Poison Oak can be avoided with dilligence - fortunately, most is on downslope side. Many overhanging branches from above slope.

Date Hiked: February 15, 2015
General Condition: Passable (some brush and/or deadfalls, tread evident)

We hiked the spur trail from Santa Lucia Trail. Views are expansive and impressive especially as one approaches the road. Overall trail is in very good condition and the tread is well defined. There is some encroachment and low overhangs but not too bad. Also, there are two small rock slides, but are easy to negotiate (photos below).

Maria