The answer is in the original posted article! If avid high-profile social media hikers go on 'adventure' hikes on the formally-abandoned trails @dannible (and others) mentioned, and then Instagram the shit out of the hikes, as in "I'm doing this rad adventure, look at my millennial selfie to prove it!", then two more will go. And then two more. And then two more. And then USFS will get funds to maintain those trails. Before you know it, the trails will be popular again and back in shape.
The Instagram effect is a real thing. To wit, last summer's climb du jour, the formally obscure Hellbent for Glory.
One issue might be a lot of those abandoned trails share parking with the well-used trails, so access will remain a strain.
This strategy less clearly helps our over crowded local climbing areas though. I don't know the answer for that. Its getting more crowded at every Washington crag every year. At least porta and permanent shitters are showing up in the right places lately. Thank you WCC for that.
- a s s m n k e y