2007 Was Quite the Year for Trails

2007 began with the stark realization that many of our favorite trails had been seriously damaged by storms. Some of the areas we most loved were no longer accessible due to washed out roads, destroyed trail bridges or uprooted trees blocking trails, making hiking almost impossible.

Volunteers clear debris off the Pratt Lake Trail following winter storms. By Wade Trenbeath.

Just as quickly as damage reports began filtering in, so did the interest, passion and dedication of WTA's many volunteers. By year-end, more than 2,000 individuals volunteered with WTA to fix, maintain and build trails-- the largest number of volunteers in WTA's history. A whopping 37 percent of these volunteers were first-timers, and joined up because they wanted to give back and help after the storms.

Mount Rainier National Park

We kicked off our storm damage repair work at Mount Rainier National Park in March with our first Volunteer Vacation of the season by building a trail that leads hikers safely around the recently destroyed Carbon River Road. A generous grant from REI enabled WTA to hire a seasonal crew leader to head up 3 to 5 work parties every week at Mount Rainier this past summer. WTA initially worked on the trails we could most easily open, and then focused on other projects such as continued work on the the Carbon River Road bypass and Ipsut Creek, Chenuis Falls, Mowich area trails and various sites along the Wonderland Trail. By season’s close, nearly 300 volunteers had participated in our Mount Rainier recovery projects, and the majority of these folks were first-time volunteers with WTA. And they seemed to like the experience: of the 186 Rainier volunteers who were new to WTA, 22 percent have already been back to volunteer again.

Expanded Youth Program

Another highlight of the season was the addition of Krista Dooley to WTA's staff as our enthusiastic youth programs coordinator. We hosted a total of eleven volunteer vacations for youth this summer, with volunteers ranging in age from 13 to 18.  Trail projects included the Greg Ball Trail at Wallace Falls State Park and the Hardy Ridge Trail at Beacon Rock State Park. This year WTA expanded the program to include two weeks of advanced trail work for youth, where the projects and camps are more challenging and remote. The feedback from the parents and youth volunteers involved was very positive, and in 2008 we'll host a total of four advanced youth trips, and geographically extend the youth program into Eastern Washington at the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. 

Volunteer Vacations

Speaking of Eastern Washington, in June WTA hosted its first Volunteer Vacation at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the Friends of Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. WTA volunteers built a 1.5-mile trail to Mill Butte, one of the high points in the refuge. It offers a 360-degree view of the refuge and the nearby Collville National Forest. The volunteers who worked on the project loved the area and are excited to finish the 3-mile loop next season.

In addition to the Eastern Washington expansion of our Volunteer Vacations, WTA continued to expand its reach all over the state. In 2007 we broke our previous record for volunteer hours in both the Olympics and Bellingham/Mount Baker area. Plus, WTA hosted our largest single-day work party ever in Southwestern Washington in partnership with the Outdoor Industry Association at Dubois Park in Vancouver. It has been an awesome year and individuals across the state have been so generous in giving their time and energy to maintain our trails.

Backcountry Response Teams

Happy volunteers take a break from tending to the Buckskin Ridge Trail to pose for a photo during a WTA Volunteer Vacation in September.

Another relatively new program that has continued to grow is WTA’s Backcountry Response Teams. These smaller groups of volunteers head out on 3- to 6-day excursions carrying all their  tools, clothes, shelter and food to maintain and fix trail problems deeper in the backcountry. This program requires a hearty soul (with hearty soles) who is willing to work in the rain, log out trees, brush trail, build rock walls, eat backpacking food and climb into a small tent and then repeat the whole process for up to 6 days. Eight Backcountry Response Teams went out this year, and their success was a credit to the volunteer crew leaders who spearheaded this program. 

New Record:  More than 82,000 Volunteer Hours

Not only was 2007 an impressive year for WTA’s newer programs, but also a great year for our old favorites. Our day trips, weekend and weeklong programs were all going as strong as ever. WTA volunteers completed a number of trail projects in 2007, including a new trail at Beaver Lake Preserve near Sammamish. Crews also began the Perry Creek Trail relocation off the Mountain Loop Highway. We maintained over 140 trails on 15 different Forest Service Ranger Districts, two National Parks, three Washington State Parks, and various lands managed by King County and numerous other agencies.

And WTA volunteers set a new annual record: more than 82,000 volunteer hours in 2007. You have all been overwhelmingly generous and we thank you!!

As impressive as our 2007 numbers are, for WTA’s trail maintenance staff and volunteers, success isn’t about breaking records or having the most hours. It is about ensuring that we continue to have safe and enjoyable experiences working and playing in the outdoors. It is about meeting new people, sharing stories and protecting opportunities for experiencing nature.  Thank you for all you have given. We look forward to working with you again this coming year.

Jenni Blake is Washington Trails Association’s Trail Programs Director. You can email her at Jenni@wta.org.