Logging vs Forest Health, Pacific Crest Trail and Subway Caves

This Sierra Club field trip will be in three
parts and will be educational, hiking and
fun.
Part One: The Lassen National Forest has
cut the majority of the trees between the
entrance of Lassen Park and Subway
Caves, 500 feet back on each side of
Highway 44, and masticated all of the
brush, providing an ecological dead zone for wildlife from insects to mammals to birds. It will take
three to eight years for the brush to return and mature to produce fruit, that is if it isn’t sprayed
with herbicides in the interim. We will stop at several places to observe the results and you can
judge whether this is logging or to “reduce fuels, improve forest health, and enhance wildlife
habitat” per Lassen NF.
Part 2 is to hike a fairly easy section of the
Pacific Crest Trail for three miles out and back
starting at the scenic Hat Creek Rim.
Part 3 is to walk through Subway Caves for
those who have never been there before and
identify some of the trees and shrubs along the
route.

All shrubs masticated, little left for wildlife

Dress in layers, bring lunch, water, hiking poles and gas money. We strongly encourage carpooling, but
it is not required. To reserve a space and for directions and meeting place, email
sierraclub.shasta@gmail.com. The public is invited.