Sure Wizard, I'll happy to answer your inquiry / questions.
Mike is not going enter into any discussion on this forum (.) Why? Because it his choice not to. Recently someone posted why Mike does not enter here on the forum, you apparently haven't kept yourself informed.
The trail you are referring to, has been there all along buddy!! Remember, the cattle in the backcountry out there had traveled back and forth in the same old path over and over and over again. The results = (a trail). True, not a good one, but there's still a half-ass trail there!! Well then, you and I come along and make minor improvements to it. I've spoken to Ranger Brad and host of other rangers,...no one has ever complained.
And by the way, you drive a 4X4 right? Well then you claim your vehicle can't make it to the Forest Service lower parking lot, but then, didn't you at one time drive to where I park now?, which means that you had go right through the lower U.S. Forest Service parking lot. Funny why you can do it a number of times and then all of a sudden you can't. Maybe I am the one that be asking the questions and not you.
So if you decide to go out there ever again for a laugh, call me and I will gladly join you. Just do me a favor though, bring some of your special imported boxcar wine and we'll spread a blanket on the trail that you and I put so much effort into and we'll, together have a good laugh. Let's not put the blanket down next to the damn ants holes, because they bite like hell!