Recon

I (Gregb406) went for a hike today to check out the trail condition.

The trail is designed as a loop, and I hiked up the east side, crossed the top connector, and skittered down the downhill part. The uphill is called L1, as it is a new reroute of the original L1. The connector is an extension of a logging road from the 1970's that extends into a game trail regularly used by deer, moose, elk, and bear (anyone good at reading critter droppings?). The downhill is called L2, as it is a reroute of the original L2, the infamous Elevator Shaft Downhill.

Trail condition today is a much better uphill than I anticipated. It's solid, kinda rocky, and should roll much better than last fall. Last fall was so rough that one could run to a stop from the jerky rhythm of the excavator diggings. We should gradually be able to improve the smoothness. Three trees had fallen, but people had cut them out. The rough parts needing work start at the second switchback, and continue sporadically to the ridgeline section. The absolutely roughest trail is at the new swtchback just above the mine. The entire uphill, and parts of the downhill need protruding roots to be cut. The connector has quite a lot of snow on it, which I hope will be gone by next weeks trail workday (May 31). Two locations are flowing a lot of water, please dismount your bike and lift over at these spots, until we get some stone crossings constructed. The downhill has one tree across, requiring a chainsaw to clear it. The rest of the downhill, barring some snow, is in great shape. Of course the many little booters that appeared last fall will have to be toned down or removed (more on that later). All in all, it's in great shape.

The Leverich Trail has some history, but honestly we are going to have to dig to find it. It's not documented in an easy to research format. Bit by bit, the history will come forward. By knowing where Leverich started from, we can better understand why it is what it is.

It's trail number 435. On the Gallatin National Forest. To get there one drives out S. 19th Ave. from Bozeman, Montana, or alternately drive south on S. Third Ave. or S. Church Ave. Look for the four way stop at the old schoolhouse at the corner of Nash Rd. and S. Third. Then drive south, sedately, through the Mystic Heights neighborhood. There is National Forest access signs pointing to the county road, guiding your car (or bike) through the houses. The one lane dirt road takes the Leverich quest into the bushy canyon and up to the trailhead parking lot. Don't race or spin your tires on the lumps in the road, and it'll last longer into the summer. The road is borderline for needing four wheel drive. It is a Subaru route to the trailhead.