7.5 miles of hiking • 2000' elevation gain •
The Elevator Shaft has not improved since my last visit 2 years ago. Brushy with PO at the bottom. Bushwack through burnt part of basin at top. Good times for my hearty crew who were up for the adventure. We went over to Nesika and came back through the XMas Ornament Trail.
We were going to return via Franklin Ridge and the Oneonta trail, but team was curious about the landslide on the Larch Mtn trail, and we heard some people were crossing it. There was a bit of exposure so I brought a rope and put in a handline, which made everyone more comfortable for the couple of of sketchy steps. We were mildly accosted by a ranger, but since we were coming down from another area, she didn't give us a ticket. There were no signs saying the trail was closed, but it probably should be. Does not seem safe for the casual tourists who wander up this trail.
