Info if you plan on hiking the W. OT

Thanks for this OH. Keep us informed. I hate to hear about the logging too. I hope it doesn't cause any problems.

It's sort of a necessary evil--I get that; and logging can be beneficial to an area over time, but it sure tears things up for a long time.

Just an update to the Western end of the OT. I've been on the OT a few times in the last few months and haven't seen any signs of logging up to Deadmans gap for sure and I'm pretty sure up to Winding Stair. The logging has affected the CNT though so if you ride dirt bikes there are some changes.

I would just like to add that in about two weekends from now there will be a major work effort on the western end of the OT. FoOT members will hold a three day working vacation of sorts on section 1 and 2. You can go here for details. My wife and I plan on being there at least on Sunday to do all that we can to help.

My wife and I backpacked the Military road-Boardstand-INT-OT loop weekend before last. The trails are in mostly good shape and the OT section back to Talimena SP is typical OT. There was plenty of water at crossings. My only beef is the freshly bulldozed firebreak on the boardstand trail soon after the intersection with the Holson Valley spur and continuing for several boring and muddy miles. I suppose this was recently cleared for prescribed burns for spring 2010 (should be completed by end of April). Until just before you start the Winding Stair climb, this part of the trail is not that great. Winding stair climb, OT, Military road and INT were great hikes, especially up high. Great camping area at Bohannon creek.
We made this a 2 day/1 nighter, hiking out about 13 miles on day 2.