Route Inventory Data Summaries: 7/22/05
Area: South and East of Bishop
Observers: Chris Kassar and Mike Klapp

  Route N2009  

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This route leaves 07S15 (Picture 722001) just north of Highway 168 as it heads west to Lake Sabrina and heads north towards Birch Creek.

Narrative Summary: Periodically rocky (Pictures 722003 & 722004). Passable by 4x4 vehicles. Moderate use of motorbikes and full sized vehicles. Steep section to Birch Creek makes difficult to pass for full-sized vehicles (Picture 722006). Route deteriorates and center vegetation rises from 1.5' to 2.5' late in the route. Small spur leaves route and heads to Birch Creek and a narrow trail heads towards McGee Meadows on opposite side of creek (Picture 722007). Route ends in brush as riparian vegetation and hillside meet (Picture 722008).

Wildlife: Deer tracks, jack rabbit, flycatcher sp., tanagers, spotted towhee, least chipmunk

Recommendation: This route, as is, does not pose a major problem. The largest concern is the potential for a crossing developing between the route and the trail on the north side of Birch Creek (Picture 722007). This area should at least be signed to avoid this. 

Route N2010

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This small spur route heads east off N2009 just south of Birch Creek. 

Narrative Summary: Leaves N2009 just before N2009 drops down to the north towards Birch Creek (Picture 722004). Routes shows low to moderate use from pedestrians and motorbikes with center vegetation of mostly sage and bunch grasses reaching 2' high. Route ends with some motorbike proliferation and no clear destination.  

Recommendation: This route, as is, does not pose a major problem. The largest concern is the potential for connector hill-climb joining the end of this route with N2009.

Route N2682

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This spur route heads WNW off N2009 on a ridge south of Birch Creek (Picture 722005). 

Narrative Summary: This route shows no sign of recent use and goes to a narrow trail 150 yards west of the junction with N2009. Height of perennial center vegetation prior to the narrowing of the trail reaches nearly 4.5'. Wildlife: Deer tracks, red tailed hawk. 

Recommendation: This route has no clear destination but does not appear to be much of a problem. It should be removed from the inventory as it doesn't get much use and barely exists. 

Route N2030

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This small spur route heads north off the Buttermilk Road just south of Grouse Mountain. 

Narrative Summary: Low-use route in pinon-juniper (Pictures 722011 & 722012). Center vegetation of primarily sagebrush reaches approximately 2'. No real destination or use.

Vegetation: Phlox sp., pennyroyal, sulfur buckwheat, bitterbrush, sagebrush, pinon, bunch grasses, currant, lupine.

Recommendation: This route, with no traffic or destination should be removed from the inventory. 

Route N2019

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This route heads north and east towards Grouse Mountain. It leaves the Buttermilk road on a ridge between Birch and McGee creeks.

Narrative Summary: Leaves the Buttermilk Road just south of McGee Creek (Picture 722013). 2' sagebrush in center dons this low-moderate use route with old tracks indicating motorbike and full-sized vehicle use (Picture 722016). Route ends at loop in pinon with no clear destination (Picture 722017). 

Recommendation: This route, as is, does not pose a major problem. Along with adjoining routes this provides access to Grouse Mountain. Continue current management for motorized use. 

Route N2020

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This spur route heads north and east towards Grouse Mountain off route N2019.

Narrative Summary: Leaves N2019 and heads north just south of McGee Creek (Picture 722014). Shows low-moderate use of motorbikes as it heads into the granite outcroppings south of Grouse Mountain (Picture 722020). Beyond junction with N2021 route joins a wash and rapidly deteriorates (Picture 722025). 

Wildlife and vegetation: Gray squirrel, Tamias sp., Behr's hairstreaks and tailed hairstreaks in large numbers at end of route. 

Recommendation: This route provide access to Grouse Mountain and bouldering sites. A sign at the end of this route would limit proliferation down the wash, otherwise route should continue to be managed for motorized use. 

Route N2024

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This spur route heads ESE off of N2019 and ends at Birch Creek 3/4 miles to the SE.

Narrative Summary: Low use route rocky in sections easily passable for full-sized vehicles (Picture 722018). Route descends towards Birch Creek through Jeffery pine and pinons to a wall of willows where it ends at Birch Creek (Picture 722019). Thick riparian vegetation appears to stop this route at this point. 

Wildlife: Yellow warbler, grasses and lupine at terminus near Birch Creek. 

Recommendation: This route, as is, does not pose a major problem. The largest concern is the potential for the route proliferating into and across Birch Creek. A sign at the end of the route might curb this potential problem inherent with a route that ends at a creek. 

Route Z1786

            Quad: Bishop
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This 1/2 mile route heads southwest off the Coyote Valley Road just before the Coyote Valley Road heads up to Coyote Flat (Picture 722026).

Narrative Summary: Short, high-use route shows no center vegetation as it parallels a wash full of greasewood and ephedra. Ends when the wash gets steep and narrow. Bee boxes found at terminus as well as coals indicating camping use (Picture 722029). Full-sized, motorbike, ATV, mountain bike, and pedestrians appear to be using route.     

Recommendation: This route, as is, does not pose a major problem. It does provide access to Z1787 and Z1784 hill-climbs which show potential problems. 

Route Z1787

            Quad: Bishop
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This route redundantly connects Z1786 and Z1784 as it heads north up a steep sandy hill (Picture 722028).

Narrative Summary: This steep and sandy hill climb receives moderate-high use for ATVs and motorbikes. No central vegetation was present. 

Recommendation: This route is redundant to a section of Z1784 that climbs the same hill parallel and just northeast of this route (Picture 722027). One of these two routes should be restored-- only one is necessary for access to upper Z1784 for ATVs ad Motorbikes. Both routes are too steep for full-sized vehicles. 

Route Z1784

            Quad: Bishop
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This 1.25 mile route leaves Z1786 at the north base of the Coyote Plateau and heads up a steep hill before wrapping south and up a ridge.

Narrative Summary: This moderate-use route begins with a steep hill climb (Picture 722027) then follows a ridge up into the pinon. Steep and sandy in part, it reduces to a narrow trail once it becomes steep on the ridge (Pictures 722030, 722031 and 722032). There is no clear destination or purpose for this route and the landscape opens up allowing for proliferation at the southern terminus where route is unclear. 

Wildlife: Mountain lion scat and tracks, red-tailed hawk. 

Recommendation: The hill climb at the beginning of the route is paralleled by redundant Z1787-- both are not necessary and neither provide access for full-sized vehicles. The terminus of the route is unclear and potential for proliferation at the southern terminus is considerable. There is no clear purpose for this route. Signing at the southern terminus could reduce potential proliferation. 

Route Z1774

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This route provides access to Coyote Creek north of the Coyote Plateau. Route exists in canyon west of Coyote Valley Road.

Narrative Summary: Moderate-use sandy route with perennial central vegetation (Picture 722036). Ends as hill-climb on hillside beyond table (Picture 722037). Route never descends into riparian area. 

Recommendation: This route poses no large problems. The terminus is somewhat unclear and signing might prevent proliferation. 

Route Z2562

            Quad: Tungsten Hills
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

Route description: This spur route heads down to Coyote Creek north of the Coyote Plateau off route Z1774

Narrative Summary: Low-use route with 3' sagebrush in center (Picture 722034). Pedestrian, motorbike and ATV tracks were found past the junction with Z1774 (Picture 722033). Route ends in canyon at Coyote Creek (Picture 722035). Riparian vegetation at end of route. 

Wildlife and Vegetation: California quail, towhee, willow, rose, grasses, sedges, sage, ephedra

Recommendation: This route ends at a riparian corridor. There is little opportunity for proliferation in this steep and narrow canyon, but this is a potential future problem. Management should continue for motorized users perhaps with signing at the terminus.

Route 3201SD

            Quad: Bishop
            Documentation on Maps/Guides:

*South-most 1/5 mile not shown. Listed as 32E01.
**Southern most 1.5 miles shown as trail.

Route description: This 6 mile route steeply ascends to the Coyote Plateau just west of Bishop Mine and heads south across the Plateau ending at its junction with Z1782 on the plateau.

Narrative Summary: The north end of this route leaves some low-use switchbacks and ascends steeply as a narrow trail (Pictures 722038, 722039, and 722040). One set of faint mountain bike tracks were found on the switchbacks before this route begins and no tracks or signs of recent use were found on the steep section of the route.  

In the south, we again found a low-use narrow trail that ends in a meadow (Picture 723003). Route is difficult to find and follow for first 1/2 mile from south junction (Picture 723001). No recent use by mountain bikers or other foot traffic was evident (Picture 723004). Grazing and cattle trails make the route difficult to follow.

Wildlife and vegetation: Iris, sedges, grasses, crimson columbine, monkeyflower, shooting star, chickweed. Northern harrier.

Recommendation: This route is steep and hard to follow at the north terminus. It is difficult to find on the south junction as well. Management for non-motorized use should continue or route should be removed from inventory. 

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