US Forest Services has dictated that the TBTL remain a "primitive" trail

Time to defend TBTL honor!   Please note the statement in the summary line.   I am a GT Sierra Club volunteer and just did trail maintenance on a segment of the trail between MP 6.4 and MP 10.8.  My small group of dedicated VOLUNTEER maintainers have maintained 4 different sections of trail so far in 2016 totalling 9.5 miles (of the 28.2 mi total length).  Add to that another 8.7 miles of trail that has been maintained since March of 2015, and the total trail in very good shape exceeds 18 miles.  Add to that total another 4 miles that traverses terrain that rarely needs brush clearing if at all, and the total then surpasses 22 of the 28.2 miles.  In the next 2 weekends before our annual TBTL Hike (this year from 15 - 17 April) we have 3 maintenance days planned to address the remaining 6 miles which were maintained no farther back in time than November 2014.  Yes there are some creek crossings that can be "difficult" if the trail has had recent rains.   My 5 and 7 year olds have no problem negotiating the trail portions, and can easily cross the creeks with my assistance.   2013 was a tough year for the trail I admit, but the negative comments are truly out-of-date.   The photos posted are no longer relevant.   Maybe we maintainers should trade our machetes, brush blades, chainsaws, blood, sweat and tears for cameras!    Come see for yourselves - we <3 hikers on the TBTL