Who's digging the ditches across old logging roads? (Sandpoint, Priest River: landscaping, gated)

[mistyriverranch]

My daughter's favorite galloping spot is just up the road from us. It's an old logging road on public land that is PERFECT to gallop and condition her horses. I've noticed lots of these old roads and trails being blocked by deep double ditches dug at the entrance from the main road. What's up with this? We can still cut thru the woods to access the road on horseback, but what's the problem with using these roads?

[pimit2]

Hi MRR,

It's probably the Forest Service's doing - not to keep your daughter and horse out - but to keep motorized vehicles out for some reason. For information, give the Priest River Forest Service office a call at (208) 443-2512.


pimit2 (Bob)

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

As pimit2 says, the Forest Service is closing and/or oblitering a lot of old logging roads. Some are being "kelly humped" to close them, others they are going up with Cats with rippers and tearing up the whole road. It's everywhere, the Kaniksu is getting hit now. It's going to get worse, a bunch of additional roads are being closed to "protect grizzly bear habitat". The Lunch Peak lookout road off Trestle Creek is supposed to be closed, as is the Rattle Creek road off Lightning Creek (north of Clark Fork), it's a great little road over into Montana. There are a bunch of others, I can't stay on top of it all.

You might want to look into Backcountry Horsemen, I think they are working with the FS, trying to keep some places open.

[mistyriverranch]

I heard the bridge to Rattle Creek went down in the winter. Now they're going to shut off all access? I need some slate!! I'll be the landscaping companies will be ripped if they shut it down altogether. Seems kind of dumb if a fire gets started in one of those areas.

[mistyriverranch]

Originally Posted by pimit2

Hi MRR,

It's probably the Forest Service's doing - not to keep your daughter and horse out - but to keep motorized vehicles out for some reason. For information, give the Priest River Forest Service office a call at (208) 443-2512.


pimit2 (Bob)

Thanks for the idea! I called and apparently it's state land so I called Priest Lake district and though they were very nice, I needed to call the Sandpoint district(!). Not very nice nor very helpful there. I was shunted around and finally left a message for someone. I don't really expect a callback. I have a lot of horse manure, a dump trailer and a skidsteer that could fill those ditches quite nicely. Just sayin.....

[mistyriverranch]

Tom from the Sandpoint office called back and they are called, "tank traps". They are to prevent trucks from getting back in there and dumping trash, harvesting cedar when the prices go up, etc.
4-wheelers and horses are more than welcome...if we can get around them.

[DESERTRYDER]

That is refreshing news Misty.

Thanks for following up on that.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by mistyriverranch

Tom from the Sandpoint office called back and they are called, "tank traps". They are to prevent trucks from getting back in there and dumping trash, harvesting cedar when the prices go up, etc.
4-wheelers and horses are more than welcome...if we can get around them.

If it's state land, IDOL (Idaho Department of Lands) manages it, and they are pretty cool. I talked with them a while ago, they said the same thing-gated or "tank trapped" roads on their land are not "closed" to horses or ATVs, as long as you can get around. As you say, they have had issues with illegal logging. A friend of mine builds some of the gates, they are sunk 4-6' down and set in concrete so they can't be pulled out by a logging truck . IDOL seems to do a better job of managing their lands than the FS. There is more logging, but they do a better job of selecting species to be harvested, etc.

With regard to closed roads, the above doesn't necessarily apply to Forest Service lands. Most gated roads and some not-gated ones are closed to motorized use, using them gets you a hefty fine. It differs in each ranger district, CDA district is pretty restricted. Kaniksu is getting there, they are working on their travel management plan now.