Just saw this on the Mendocino National Forest website...
News Release
US Forest Service
Mendocino National ForestPublic Affairs Officer
Tamara Schmidt
Phone: (530) 934-1137
Fax: (530) 934-7384
Email: tamaraschmidt@fs.fed.us
Mendocino National Forest Trail 6 Closed
Willows, March 30, 2010 - Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail 6 on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest is closed between the intersections of Forest Roads 17N70 and 17N69 beginning today.
The approximately 2,000 foot section of trail, less than half a mile, will be closed until further notice for the evaluation of resource damage. Specifically, specialists will be looking at archaeological resources affected by the trail.
Forest archaeologists will be excavating the site to determine if it is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Until that determination is made, the section of trail will remain closed.
The trail can be found on the Motor Vehicle Opportunity Guides for the Grindstone Ranger District.
The Emergency Trail Closure for this section of the OHV trail system is formally referenced under Order Number 08-10-02.
Violation of this closure order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.
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I called and asked the rangers what the resources were, they wanted to know if I was with the press. When I said "no' they passed me off to their PR person, Tamara Schmidt...really nice lady. It appears as though the FS has been keeping an eye on this section of trail for a few years. She said the actual discovery is proprietary information and couldn't/wouldn't give me any specific information about what the find actually entailed. There is something there, but they don't know if it is of any historical significance yet. If it is, they are required to protect it under the National Historic Preservation Act. This could cause the trail to be re-routed. I asked why the trail didn't get re-routed years ago when they first discovered whatever it is that's out there, rather than waiting for more erosion, thus resulting in a total closure of the trail. She didn't really have an answer, as trail designation isn't her area of expertise (understandable) but she did say that most of the work will be done starting in early May and that the trail could be open by July if there is nothing significant. She said that from a budgetary standpoint they are all hoping it is nothing significant.
Amen to that, sister!
Trail 6 just happens to be one of my very favorite trails at Stonyford. I was actually thinking a few days ago that it would be a good test for the WR with the new carb, as it is a long gnarly uphill with rocks and stuff. I guess I won't be riding it this weekend...
WoodsChick
News Release
US Forest Service
Mendocino National ForestPublic Affairs Officer
Tamara Schmidt
Phone: (530) 934-1137
Fax: (530) 934-7384
Email: tamaraschmidt@fs.fed.us
Mendocino National Forest Trail 6 Closed
Willows, March 30, 2010 - Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail 6 on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest is closed between the intersections of Forest Roads 17N70 and 17N69 beginning today.
The approximately 2,000 foot section of trail, less than half a mile, will be closed until further notice for the evaluation of resource damage. Specifically, specialists will be looking at archaeological resources affected by the trail.
Forest archaeologists will be excavating the site to determine if it is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Until that determination is made, the section of trail will remain closed.
The trail can be found on the Motor Vehicle Opportunity Guides for the Grindstone Ranger District.
The Emergency Trail Closure for this section of the OHV trail system is formally referenced under Order Number 08-10-02.
Violation of this closure order is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino.
###
I called and asked the rangers what the resources were, they wanted to know if I was with the press. When I said "no' they passed me off to their PR person, Tamara Schmidt...really nice lady. It appears as though the FS has been keeping an eye on this section of trail for a few years. She said the actual discovery is proprietary information and couldn't/wouldn't give me any specific information about what the find actually entailed. There is something there, but they don't know if it is of any historical significance yet. If it is, they are required to protect it under the National Historic Preservation Act. This could cause the trail to be re-routed. I asked why the trail didn't get re-routed years ago when they first discovered whatever it is that's out there, rather than waiting for more erosion, thus resulting in a total closure of the trail. She didn't really have an answer, as trail designation isn't her area of expertise (understandable) but she did say that most of the work will be done starting in early May and that the trail could be open by July if there is nothing significant. She said that from a budgetary standpoint they are all hoping it is nothing significant.
Amen to that, sister!
Trail 6 just happens to be one of my very favorite trails at Stonyford. I was actually thinking a few days ago that it would be a good test for the WR with the new carb, as it is a long gnarly uphill with rocks and stuff. I guess I won't be riding it this weekend...

WoodsChick