Why is the number '19' posted on many trees on the Avalon trail?

[mirabela]

We saw many trees with white stickers / black letters numbered '19' on this trail, and at least one sticker with the number '24' on the A-Z. Any idea what these mean?

Thanks --

Matt

 

[1HappyHiker]

I was wondering the same thing myself. I just assumed that everyone knew what it was all about, except for me!

Below is a photo of one such tree that has the number 19 posted on it.

 

[MichaelJ]

I'm told there's a 22 out there as well. I was wondering if there's a map the Highland Center might have that indicates the trails by numbers instead of names? Maybe a nature walk kind of thing?

 

[psmart]

*Might* be the boundary of a timber sale. There are often numbers painted at the boundary of each "unit", but I've never seen them done this way. Would have to check with the USFS. I can't think of any other allowed use for this type of marking.

 

[Hillwalker]

*Might* be the boundary of a timber sale. There are often numbers painted at the boundary of each "unit", but I've never seen them done this way. Would have to check with the USFS. I can't think of any other allowed use for this type of marking.

I tend to agree with this since the splash of blue paint seems to be commonly used to mark trees for cutting or cutting limits.

If you want to see some really bizarre use of paint markings on trees, attempt to follow the abandoned Stevens Brook Trail that runs up over the southern end of Mt Carr. The trail runs from the Plummer Rocks Geologic area on Buffalo Road in Rumney over the HOL to Stinson Lake Road through the basin drainage. The area is identified as the Carr Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area. I believe it was inventoried using many spray cans of colored paint.

 

[Jazzbo]

I saw #77

on 1/8 I was hiking down the Carter Moriah Trail late in the day and in last 1/2 mile recall seeing same style number. I think it was #77. Alas I didn't take a picture of it. I think it might have had some blue paint also, but don't recall exactly.

 

[J&J]

We saw some metal tags on trees on the Starr King trail in late December last year. I believe they are used to delineate bird study plots. We saw the same stickers on the Avalon trail so maybe they are also for bird study plots?

 

[walker]

It's obvious, It's to identify which trees are of legal drinking age, and which are not. Normally, wrist bands would be used, but have you ever tried to put a wrist band on a birch tree?



Life Free and Hike...Walker

 

[dclynch]

Is Walker a Pseudonom for Dr Wu?

 

[Raven]

Are they possibly related to geocaching or some orienteering group?

 

[KRobi]

Going along with the theory of J&J there was an bird count in Dec. http://vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37434&highlight=bird+count

 

[TCD]

Doesn't look like LNT was practiced...

 

[SteveHiker]

There's a '38' with bright orange paint very similar to that on Oak Ridge. But since that's not a 4k I'm not surprised that no one else noticed it. I assume it's related, not have no idea what it's for.

 

[Peaks]

Are they possibly related to geocaching or some orienteering group?

Would not be orienteering. For one thing, orienteering markers are orange and white triangles in a square. Secondly, no orienteering map of that area that I know of.

 

[brianW]

maybe it was this guy? I heard he was doing some list.
http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/classes/cmp...Count-Dracula/sesame_street_count_dracula.jpg

 

[erugs]

I put up a similar post last summer about a number on Airline Trail. http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36917&highlight=airline+trail

 

[Little Rickie]

Give a call to the local Ranger.

 

[B the Hiker]

Going along with the theory of J&J there was an bird count in Dec. http://vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37434&highlight=bird+count

As the person assigned to lead a group over that exact territory for said bird count, I can tell you that it those markers were not related to our event in any manner.

Also seems unlikely that they are related to timbering, because there's no access up that high.


Brian

 

[HH1]

I contacted the WMNF's Marianne Leberman, Recreation & Wilderness Program Leader, about the 19s on the Avalon Trail - here's her response:

"I have verified with the different Districts and departments here on the Forest that these are not anything that has been authorized by us. They have been found in numerous areas around the Forest. Our law enforcement officers have been trying to find out who has been doing this but as you can imagine it is a difficult thing to do. Again, this action is unauthorized and we will remove them as we are out doing trail maintenance."

 

[Arthur Dent]

Raven-"Are they possibly related to geocaching or some orienteering group?"

They are definitely not associated with geocaching and anything like that wouldn't be allowed, plus there are no geocaches near Avelon.

It might be prudent to stop pointing fingers at any other group that uses the outdoors and actually wait to see who is responsible.