Dan-ManThoughts, opinions? am I mad? I mostly only ski side country now, considering how good my local has it here in Colorado. This summer I'm planning on really going through and cutting out the under growth on some main thorofairs to really clean up the riding between the trees.
Seems like the forrest service would appreciate this considering the area is being managed and will have a much lower risk of wild fire, and the accessibility will be easier for future use.
Has anyone ever attempted this?
So what’s it being managed for?
For lynx and fisher habitat you want dense mature old growth for rabbit and mouse populations to go up and provide food for predators.
If it’s for Elk caving grounds you want lots of Aspen groves with willows and other edible plants and closures during caving season.
Maybe the forest service wants/planted shrubby on your sidecountry dream line because it’s preventing historical silt runoff in the stream below helping bull trout recover and keep silt out of a creek.
I would contact your local forest service office and ask what’s the management plan in that spot and if there is a local group that has similar goals or objectives that you contribute to.
As a person has done some significant thinning in the woods, I would tell you be prepared to spends lots of your summer if looking at more than 10 acres on side-county runs (assuming your at over 10,000ft).