Ticks suck — how to ID and avoid them

Deer Tick, Adult Female - UMaine Cooperative Extension-Griffin Dill

Deer Tick, Adult Female – UMaine Cooperative Extension-Griffin Dill

This article from NPR is probably more than you wanted to know about ticks, but it’s that time of year again . . .

Ticks aren’t known as beach-lovers, so ecologist Dan Salkeld and a colleague were surprised when they found 180 ticks in less than a mile on a coastal trail near Muir Beach in California one day in 2016.

“Contrary to most people, we were delighted at the high numbers of ticks! It was exciting in terms of sample sizes and data,” says Salkeld, whose findings were published in June.

But it’s also sobering. For years, people who track black-legged ticks — the kind that carry Lyme disease — have been finding them in further flung territory, though still in mostly traditional habitats of forested areas with tall grasses and leaf litter.

Read more . . .

Trail condition reports for June 30 posted

Lower Chain Lake, June 29, 2021 - W K Walker

Lower Chain Lake, June 29, 2021 – W K Walker

The June 30, 2021 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is MODERATE.

Trail condition reports for June 25 posted

Counting Rings, Chain Lake Trail #377, Aug 8, 2020 - W K Walker

Counting Rings, Chain Lake Trail , Aug 8, 2020 – W K Walker

The June 25, 2021 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is MODERATE.

Trail condition reports for June 22 posted

Brush Removal - Mt Hefty Trail #15 Maintenance - August 2, 2020 - W K Walker

Brush Removal – Mt Hefty Trail #15 Maintenance – August 2, 2020 – W K Walker

The June 22, 2021 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is MODERATE.

Trail condition reports for June 10 posted

Pearly everlasting blooms along Antley Tepee Cr Trail No. 106, Aug 4, 2019 - W. K. Walker

Pearly everlasting blooms along Antley Tepee Cr Trail No. 106, Aug 4, 2019 – W. K. Walker

The June 10, 2021 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Trail 40 to Cyclone Lookout open

Cyclone Lookout

Cyclone Lookout

As of May 26, Cyclone Lookout is accessible and the trail (T40) is in good shape. We sawed out 8-10 blowdowns, removed an equal number without tools and dealt with a several other annoyances, including some alder encroachment. We were using hand tools, so left in-place a couple of trees in the 8-12 inch  range, although we trimmed them out to make them easy step-overs. Both are in the lower half of the trail, about a half-mile apart. We’ll likely come back by the weekend and take them out.