This documentary work focuses on Mt. Tecumseh in New Hampshire. Up until 2011, this was a dormant mountain, but something changed, and there has been an array of issues. Issues include; Poor trail stewardship practices, vandalism that could be damaging rare bird habitat, and an excessive amount of trail stonework. Since 2011, Erin Paul has been documenting Mt. Tecumseh, and these photos tell the story. And the information included with this work is based on leave no trace principles, low-impact trail building practices, and communications with Forest Service. However, some hikers feel this type of impact to the environment is perfectly acceptable.
Trail Work, Poor Trail Blaze Removal Practices - In October 2011, Erin Paul photographed newly painted trail blazing along the Mt. Tecumseh Trail in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. And sometime in the spring 2012, poor trail stewardship practices were used to remove one of the trail blazes. The bark where the blaze was had been cut and peeled away from the tree, and a large wound where rot, fungus, and insects could enter the tree was visible. Most trail maintenance organizations in the White Mountains don’t use this practice of trail blaze removal because it goes against leave no trace principles. Since 2011, using repeat photography, Erin Paul has been routinely photographing this man-made tree wound healing over time, and this series of images creates awareness for the importance of environmental friendly trail stewardship practices ...
Mount Tecumseh Vandalism, Illegal Tree Cutting - Since 2011, Erin Paul has been unofficially volunteering his time to document illegal tree cutting on Mount Tecumseh, New Hampshire. And he reports any findings to Forest Service's law enforcement division. Forest Service is investigating this vandalism, and if they can determine who is doing it, they will hold them accountable. The higher elevations of the White Mountains are home to rare bird habitat. And Mountain birdwatch results indicate that between 2000 and 2009 Bicknell's Thrush, an extremely rare species with very limited breeding grounds, was detected on Mount Tecumseh. So this vandalism could be destroying rare bird habitat. To the best of our knowledge, the cutting started in 2011. And Erin Paul's coverage of the issue has created an independent timeline that identifies specific groups of interest ...
Mt. Tecumseh Trail, New Hampshire - This photography focuses on trail work. Since 2011, there has been an excessive amount of stonework done on the Mt. Tecumseh Trail. Sections of trail where four or five stone steps would have done the job have been transformed into one hundred foot long elaborate, unnatural looking, staircases. Trail stewardship groups preach that low-impact trail work entails building stonework in such a way that it looks natural and blends into nature, and man’s impact on nature is minimal. However, this is not the case on this trail. Forest Service has verified that much of the work is being done by nonprofessional trail builders. The information included with this work is based on low-impact trail building practices, and communications with Forest Service. These photos show the state of the trail ...
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Notes:
• ScenicNH Photography is in the business of photography. We create awareness for historic preservation and environmental conservation.
• This work is based on leave no trace principles, low-impact trail building practices, and communications with Forest Service.
• While some may find the above work upsetting, it shows what is really happening in the White Mountains.
• This is a work in progress and is subject to errors and omissions.
• See more of our ongoing work at the projects page.
