During an El Polin Spring (Presidio) hike in September noticed a Trail Closed sign for the 69 steps up to the Ecology Trail. It was unclear to me how “tree removal” was related to “habitat restoration.”
An October hike to see what possible horrors awaited re tree removal on this trail started at California and Spruce where I got a kick outa this display in front of someone’s home. The big cat in the first pic turns his head: 1 thru 5
The opening in the Presidio wall at Spruce and Pacific: 6
Down from Julius Kahn Park: 7
The new Paul Goode field from the west side: 8
El Polin Spring’s zigzag trailhead left: 9
Trail to El Polin: 10
El Polin Spring: 11, 12, 13
While down here could see where some trees and other plants on the hillside had been cut down: 14
Up the aforementioned stairway, there was more bare hillside alongside and at the top — logs, bare ground, and piles of wood chips. And a huge yellow instrument of destruction was still parked here: 15 thru 21
Climbing to a favorite forested section, this appeared unmolested and sitting on a log here is always calming and peaceful: 22 thru 30
Continuing up, towards Inspiration Point Overlook (off Arguello), it looked like they might’ve wanted to improve the view from the overlook.
This hike’s second stairway has 45 steps, Ecology Trail to Inspiration Point Overlook: 31 thru 41
Inspiration Point Overlook: 42 thriu 46
South on Arguello a short distance out of the park: 47 thru 49