Users debate future of Eska Falls

June 4, 2006

By DAWN DE BUSK

Frontiersman

SUTTON - Sutton resident Sharon McEntee hiked up to Eska Falls with some friends on May 20, and was shocked to see multiple new trails forged, and deep ruts and worsened erosion on the existing trail since last fall. The trail still was experiencing break-up conditions at that time, she said.

&#8220People on all-terrain vehicles were on the trail. One lady said ‘I know I shouldn't do this, but I spent too much money on this machine, and I've been cooped up all winter.'”

McEntee would like some enforceable management of the trail in place. She suggested closing the trailhead in the spring and after heavy rains when the ground is more susceptible to erosion. Still, ATV-users could bypass the trailhead and hook up on the trail from another direction, doing even more damage to the water-soaked earth, she said.

&#8220The best solution to consider is more access, more trails, more ways to spread people out, instead to having them combat over one trail,” Todd Clark, president of the Alaska Outdoor Access Alliance said. He also recommended immediate trail enhancement - repairing and upgrading the trails to sustain all types of user groups.

&#8220It would have to be a cooperative effort. There's no shortage of volunteers,” Clark said.

Residents from the Valley, Eagle River and Anchorage showed up at the Sutton Elementary School gym on Friday evening to provide written feedback to the Department of Natural Resources, which is creating a multi-user plan for public lands in Sutton.

The area under review includes land north of Coyote Lake up to Granite Peak, with the Eska Creek Falls Trail on its western border; it stretches 4 miles east to Little Granite Creek in the south and an unnamed 3,000-foot ridge.

People filled out commentary sheets which showed photos of rutted trails, signs, people hiking and people riding ATVs. People were asked to rate the photos on a scale of like to dislike or neutral. There were spaces provided below each photo for comments.

The most heavily used spot is Eska Creek Falls Trail, where DNR acquired a 50-foot wide public-use easement in 2004, according to DNR's Mat-Su Borough Trails Coordinator Holly Spoth-Torres. Also, the state recently entered into a cooperative management agreement with the borough, she said.

&#8220We're trying to bring all user groups together for a consensus. Most non-motorized users are upset at the impacts of ATVs, and the motorized users are worried about being denied access,” Spoth-Torres said.

&#8220We want to create sustainable routes for all kinds of users. Everyone has the right to go to the destination - which is the Eska Falls,” DNR said.

Clark, AOAA president, agreed.

&#8220Clearly that's the bone of contention,” Clark said. &#8220The more people that use the same trail, the more impact - regardless of the user type.”

He said DNR should be forward-thinking because, as the state population increases, so will the number of outdoors people, and any user in greater numbers will degrade a single trial system. Opening more land would help alleviate some of the erosion on the popular Sutton trail.

&#8220There are places in the state where people have never had an easement access, just in Southcentral,” he said.

McEntee, an avid hiker and skier who helped bushwhack Eska Falls Creek Trail before the state stepped in and created a road to it, is concerned that high fuel prices have led to an increased use of the trail this spring. People used to opt for taking ATV excursions at Puritan Creek, Kings River and Boulder near Hicks Creek, where old mining road make perfect driving condition, but those places are another 10 to 50 miles down the road, she said.

&#8220If another year passes without a solution, so much more damage could be done to the trail, to the whole area, because people will keep making new trails,” McEntee said.

Palmer resident Joel Larson said finding a solution could be a struggle. Separate trails sound good, but that might not work for some types of users.

&#8220The Jeeps would erode their own trails so bad, so quick,” he said.

Meanwhile, how does the state or trail-care volunteers maintain soft terrain when it's impossible to haul a gravel truck back there, he asked.

&#8220Just remember when you stomp down some grass in the wilderness to make a path, the next guy comes along and makes a wider path, the next guy drives a 3-wheeler over it, the next guy comes through in a Jeep,” Larson said.

Many participants at Friday's meeting said the area leading to Eska Fall is just one of many that's been scarred or turned into mud bogs from Jeeps and ATVs. People cited Jim Creek in the Butte, Ruby Lake, and acreage in the lower Talkeetna Mountains.

&#8220There's a saddening element of seeing the trail's degradation from use,” Sutton resident Daniel Dryden, 26, said. &#8220I don't think it would be very aware of me to ask people to close it to motorized use. I feel like there's really no trail for hikers to use without getting dusted by ATVs. They're friendly enough people. It's not malicious, sometimes people aren't aware they're damaging an environment.”

Dryden thought two separate trails could be a viable option for Eska Falls Creek area.

&#8220But, I'd prefer if it was just for hikers because hiking has the least impact,” he said.

Chugiak resident, Cheryl Eldridge with the Alaska ATV Club and Arctic Bird Doggers, said she'd hate to see that spot shut off to anyone but hikers like recreational trails in the Lower 48 have been.

&#8220If people don't have access to the outdoors, they lose respect and value for it,” Eldridge said. She added that Eska Falls is startlingly beautiful, and denying ATV use in the area would forbid families with young children, elderly people and handicapped individuals from enjoying its beauty. The trail has serious uphill grades and downhill slides that require high-level hiking skills, she said.

&#8220When you give away someone else's right, you give away your own,” she said. &#8220We can learn that people need to work together to preserve the open spaces and allow access for everyone. The people who use the area are the best stewards of it - because they use it. They will protect it and call someone to the mat who is misusing the land. The people who use it will put the pressure on to maintain the trail.”

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252, or dawn.debusk@ frontiersman.com.