Hetch Hetchy Valley

i’m a huuuuuge Yosemite National Park fan along with my friends Erin S. and Sandyann G. we did a 3-​day, 30-​mile backpacking trip along the reservoir 2 years ago and another 4-​day hike around the Smith Peak area over Memorial Day 2009. we couldn’t stop being impressed by the beauty of the park but we really did have some requests/​complaints.
2 years ago the thick, thorny brush had grown up so high over the (10-​mile) switchback portion of reservoir trail that we had to close our eyes and push through head-​high thorny brush that brutally scratched and scarred any exposed skin. we pushed on bleeding and bruised on our legs, arms, and faces and tried to stay on the trail that was in danger of being grown over. hopefully that trail has been maintained because i’d hate for someone to give up on backpacking or hetch hetchy based on an overgrown trail.
over memorial day weekend, we encountered the SAME overgrown thorn brush by the smith peak area. this brush was just as unforgiving and thorny as 2 years ago, but thankfully only waist-​high so we got scratched on mostly legs. the thorns also ripped up my sleeping mat too! grr! we were doubly disappointed to be stopped in the afternoon of our third day by a bridge that was out b/​c we had not been forewarned by a ranger or by any posted sign over 20+ miles.
just after being briefly followed by a frighteningly big bear we saw firefighters working to contain a forest fire. props to those firefighters! it looked like an awfully hard job. and they’re all oh so cute!
to sum it up: trail maintenance is needed and some updated maps and sign posting would help. someone could easily get hurt or lost on those trails.