Clearing the Air on Logging at the Top of Galbraith
During filming the segment below along the Whoopsie Woodle trail, David Janicki (center) spoke with passing riders Jessie (left) and Matt (right) about the planned harvest. The conversation lasted nearly half an hour and helped clarify how forest disease, state funding mandates, and recreation priorities intersect on Galbraith.
What’s Really Happening on the DNR-Owned Tract
If you spend time on Galbraith Mountain, you’ve probably heard by now: a section of forest near the summit is being prepped for harvest.
We’ve had conversations with riders, hikers, and community members—some concerned, some just curious. We’ve also read some news stories and heard a few rumors floating around. That’s why we want to share our perspective on what’s happening, why this stand is being harvested, and what to expect in the weeks ahead.
We can’t speak for DNR, but here’s what we know.
A Forest Too Sick to Save
The Junia tract is a 42-acre stand of Douglas-fir-dominant forest surrounded by Galbraith Tree Farm. It was last logged around 80 years ago. Since then, laminated root rot has taken hold—a fungal disease that spreads invisibly through root systems and thrives in fir-heavy stands.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find another stand this size with so few living trees left,” said David Janicki, who’s managing the harvest. “If we don’t harvest now, we lose the value—and we let the disease keep moving.”
Some parts of the tract are already commercially unsalvageable. Left alone, the rest would follow—turning the site into a long-term fire hazard and a source of further forest decline.
It’s a State Decision. We’re the Right Team to Carry It Out.
The sale was proposed and auctioned by DNR earlier this year. JLC was one of three bidders and submitted the winning offer—more than $200,000 over the minimum bid. By law, DNR must generate revenue from state trust lands to support public schools and local governments.
Our job is to implement that harvest in a way that reflects local knowledge and care for the land.
We manage the surrounding forest. Our team rides the same trails. We know how to plan access routes, protect trail corridors, and coordinate with WMBC to minimize disruption.
“No other contractor understands the trail network here like we do. That’s not a brag—it’s just a fact.”
What to Expect
The tract includes popular trail segments like Evolution, Scorpion, and Whoopsie Woodle. Some impacts are inevitable. But DNR’s sale instructions require us to limit equipment intrusion, protect trail tread where feasible, and clean up post-harvest.
Trail updates will be posted by WMBC and shared via their newsletter and social media. Harvest dates are still TBD but operations are expected to last 2 to 3 months total.
What Comes Next
Following harvest, the site will be replanted with a mix of conifers better suited to resist root rot. We’ll also preserve healthy understory and retain legacy trees where possible.
This isn’t a clearcut in the traditional sense. It’s a disease intervention and regeneration reset.
We’re here to do it right.
