Unhappy Trails

Last weekend, a friend and I took the Middle Sespe hike in Los Padres National Forest (“Wilderness’ Beauty Is Up a Creek,” Sept. 29). We both question whether the author had been on the hike in the recent past. The trail is poorly maintained with a number of washouts and in some cases difficult to find.

We regularly go on day hikes in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area. Since inexperienced hikers may rely on these columns, you ought to be more careful in ensuring the accuracy of the trail descriptions.

WILLIAM E. PATERSON

Ventura

Author John McKinney responds:

My evaluation of the trail when I hiked it just three weeks before my account was published was that it was indeed passable. In my column, I warned that the trail was brush-crowded and that the beginning of the trail was difficult to locate. I believe that was adequate warning.

Many trails are in far worse shape than the Middle Sespe Trail. It’s up to all of us to make the U.S. Forest Service aware of these conditions and to insist that the agency maintain its trail system.