the FS is soliciting comments regarding a proposal to pave the MF snoq road to the MF campground (approximately at the Taylor confluence). Comments are due May 8th. I figured the paddling community should know about this since it would significantly improve access to the class 2 stretch as well as render the upper sections much more accessible (current road conditions are fairly miserable).

MF paving project

Im totally for it, since my car will stay cleaner that way!

The way I see it is like this.

First the state and the Fed don't have money to be tossing around right now. We need to invest into projects that have a higher ROI. I am not sure if the bad road keeps more folks away or not, but I do know for a fact that the more people that go up there the more the gate it off because the more people = more abuse. The have already put up gates for a two fold reason, we did not have the $$ money to maintain the upper reaches and people were abusing the land. If we are now in a spot where we have money rather than paving the lower portions how about taking the gates out and maintaining the roads up above.... I know not going to happen.

So I will just shut my trap, watch the asphalt trucks come in and then slowly we can look forward to yet another area where we have to pay to use it. I am guessing it will be called the Re-Discover Freedom Plus Pass.

Re-Discover Freedom Plus Pass

That made be laugh for a long time. Agreed.

Political barbs aside, I think this is a positive from a pan-whitewater perspective (although the class V cadre may not care).

I'd like to see the upper gate opened too, but the road is just screwed past goldmeyer, once it climbs away from the river. the road was gated at dingford because it is a natural parking area with access to multiple trailheads into the "backcountry". Its possible that part of the push to do this came from private interests - there are mining claims up there, and there are private landowners with keys to the gates.

Ultimately, I wouldn't be surprised if the road is permanently gated at the Taylor.