[terry024]

any body know the condition of this trail?

[Crocodile Ryan]

The trail was pretty beat up when I hiked it last, but I know for a fact that the last time I was in the area, the Blue Crew was cutting new trail along the length of the trail, so while I have not personally hiked it since it has been worked on I would probably guess that its in decent condition, from what ive seen the Blue Crew is really good at what they do

[azpride]

I hiked the Steeple Trail in October of 07. We had no problem following it, but there were several fallen trees to navigate and spots that were carpeted with poison ivy. It's pretty relentless coming out of the canyon, too. Beautiful though!

[azbackpackr]

We had a hard winter up here. I just hiked part of Grant Creek, Paradise Park, Moonshine Park. Some Scouts came down the Upper Grant Creek #65, we all were camping near Grant Creek Cabin. I hiked 326 to 75 to 306 to 65. The next day I hiked to Moonshine Park and also hiked the Paradise Park Loop.

All trails in the Blue Primitive area are now severely impacted by deadfall. It is everywhere, so I am going to assume it is on the Steeple trail as well. There will be no crew this summer. It doesn't matter much that the trails were worked over last fall. Due to heavy snows and extreme high winds there is new deadfall. The Scouts said that for 3 miles in upper Grant Creek area there was no trail, just deadfall--they almost could not get through.

The trail crew chief is a friend of mine. He told me to tell you all, please contact the new A-S Supervisor, (just as soon as there is a new supervisor), and tell that person to please fund the trail crew this summer! He said not to bother the interim supervisor with this, but we all need to be squeaky wheels when the new person takes over. I don't know when this will happen, or if it has already happened.

[Crocodile Ryan]

Id have to say that there probably hasnt been a 'trail' in upper grant creek for quite awhile though, I hiked it each of the last 3years and on the upper sections there was only a very very faint trail, overgrown and covered by deadfall, not something I would expect a lot of scout troops to notice (my disdain for the scouts isnt that evident is it?)

I hiked the steeple creek area right after fire and subsequent downpours washed the whole area out, and yah while it was a difficult drainage to follow it was still worth the hell I went through

I think you gotta know what your getting yourself into when you go into a designated wilderness area, but i think dealing with deadfall/non-existant trails is more than worth the beauty and solitude of the area, maybe its just me but i really like the challenge of it

I cant believe that there wont be a crew this summer! Thats ridiculous! how are the roads on the otherside of the highway? I was thinking about a fishing trip on the Black in a week or two - those roads were never the greatest anyway, and I no longer have easy access to a 4WD

[azbackpackr]

I believe the main roads down to both Wildcat Crossing and Buffalo Crossing are well-maintained and suitable for any passenger car. As for any other roads you may know about, I don't know about their condition. I may go to Buffalo Crossing within the next week or two, though. I can let you know. I'm guiding a backpack on part of the Black River in late July for a group, and I need to scout out the specific area we'll be going to.

I was at West Fork of the Black River, Thompson Trail, off FR 116, near Big Lake, a week ago. The road to that area was in good shape, suitable for a passenger car, although it was a bit washboarded. There were several people fly-fishing along that trail.