a couple of other notes:
The road is washed out about a mile or so down the road from the Putvin trailhead. This means you're walking a ways to either the Putvin or Mildred Lakes trailheads. Given the state of the road directly before the washout, I don't understand why they don't just grade the washout and allow for temporary access with 4WD rigs or whatever until they can fix the road properly. I guess we are at war right now and they have to spend the money on bombs, etc.
sacrifices.
The other thing to note is a couple of possible "violations"...not that I'm really that upset about either...
1st was some guys with their dogs up in the Wilderness area. The signs clearly said no dogs, but they were up there. the dogs were totally chilled out, it wasn't a big deal to me at all, and I just mentioned the signs to them, which they were aware of. but then again, if they aren't fixing the road then i guess anyone that would enforce such a rule can't be afforded either. freedom of the hills!
2nd was a little more freaky to me. Well up into the wilderness area we came across two young guys fully decked out in camo. the lead guy had a very large bore hunting rifle poised at the ready (the way he was holding it to me indicated he was ready to use it on short notice). It had a big scope on it with the glass protectors off. His partner had his gun strapped to his pack. i didn't attempt to engage these fellows at all. i guess there is those marmots up in the hills you have to protect yourself from! i know the bears up there cut and run, as i've encountered them in that area a couple of times. peace through superior firepower.