A large ravine has formed, destroying the PCT near mile 555.6 above Oak Creek Canyon in the windfarm area. People might be able to cross the ravine nearby. The ravine is likely to fully block equestrians until repairs are made.
Map of area: https://arcg.is/nz8DH
Reports of large blowdowns between miles 401-403.
NOBO/Mile 20.3 There is an old steel pipe/culvert that has corroded away resulting in a 12″wide x 24″deep x 8′ long hole across the trail. The grass is grown up on the trail here and it is very hard to see the hole (can easily be missed). This is an extreme danger to hikers and to horses.
Please read our Alert page for details:
Access from the Jawbone Canyon OHV area (where Jawbone Canyon Road meets Highway 14) into the backcountry has been closed by washouts. This affects access to PCT trailheads via the east from Jawbone Canyon Road as far north as Kelso Valley Road. Access to the area from the west, via the paved segment of Kelso Valley Road, is unaffected.
Also, Bird Spring Canyon Road, sc120, is now so badly rutted out on the west side that approaching the trail from that side is not recommended (even with high clearance vehicles) except to experienced off-road drivers. Access to the PCT via Bird Spring Canyon Road from the east, from Highway 14, is unaffected.
Snow Creek Road to north of Interstate 10. While this section of trail is passable, it contains numerous washouts. Some to step over and many to walk around. Numerous posts have been washed away.
Starting Sept. 18th, Reds Meadow Road will be closed to all traffic, M-F, 24hrs a day for the Reconstruction Project–considered unsafe due to contractor blasting rock during the week. Open to the public Sat/Sun.
These trailheads will be affected:
High Trail, River & Shadow Creek (Agnew Meadows)
Minaret Lake
North JMT & South of Devils Postpile
Beck Lake
Fern Lake
Fish Creek
Consider rerouting through Red Cones/Mammoth Pass Trail or delaying until the weekend.
More information here: Inyo National Forest – Alerts & Notices (usda.gov)
From approximately mile 1950 to 1970, many many trees across the trail. Somes needing downhill off trail hiking to get around and many very large that had to be crawled under or over.