Saw a huge difference in trail erosion between 2017 and last month on the Howe Ridge loop in Montana

I hiked that loop back in 2017 and it was in decent shape. Came back last month and there are these deep gullies carved right through the trail in at least 4 spots. I think the big forest fire in 2018 killed a lot of the root systems that held the soil together. Now when it rains, the water just cuts straight through. Has anyone else noticed trails changing that fast after a fire?

2 comments

2 Comments

samw4723d ago

Those gullies near the 4-mile marker are over a foot deep now - did the trail crew put in any water bars or drainage dips since the fire?

clairem3823d ago

Well that's just nature saying "hey remember that fire? Yeah, me too." Gotta love when a trail suddenly decides to become a drainage ditch.