This will be a good chance for the land around there to heal. Without 100's of people stomping around.
5 other people wandered up while we sitting there. Two guys came in from 224/Bunyan Hill, the other 3 managed to find their way up through East Bee's original trail. I think all of us were exhausted. It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.
Also, I'd assumed this trail was closed, but there was a notice at the Randolph Trailhead that aptly noted that the best access to Bee Branch was from that same trailhead. I'm guessing it was posted at other spots as well. That's a beast of a hike if you're day hiking it. Going from that, 204/Buck Rough is closed, but 204A/Bee Branch is open.
On 209, we missed the alternate route around a bunch of dead trees and was almost as much a nightmare tangle as east bee was. I shudder to think what Thompson Creek looks like if it's worse. I agree with you, though, both of those locales need time to rejuvenate some. The sight of the live trees being cut at eye of the needle made me cringe.
