I hiked down the Bradford ridge trail @ 5:00pm. and had a good conversation with a guy who was hauling the trash from the springs area. He said he had been at it for several months, I shared my whiskey with him and thanked him too many times. At about sundown we noticed Mike Castro with a back pack and sleeping bag on his backpack crossing the river. So logic would bring a reasonable person to believe he may be camping at the springs area tonight. What are the chances a ranger could run out and ticket Mr. Castro ? Perhaps I should have made a citizens arrest ?
I was prepared for a confrontation with Mike, He wisely headed down stream from me avoiding me with a passion. I left the springs earlier than I had planned, wanting to avoid trouble too.
The trail down the Bradford ridge has changed a lot from the fire and then the rains. I noticed several large trees in the area had burned and are now falling all over the forest. The spring along the trail is not flowing as much as in previous years. But it was still very nice to be there. I noticed no trash any where on my hike. Some trail angel has made signs saying : Volunteers please remove morons litter ! Thank you very much.
All in all a very nice hike :-)
OH, i HAVE MISTAKEN MIKE FOR HIS HALF BROTHER BEFORE.
I was surprised at how much gray hair he has now. He appeared happy and healthy.