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Notch Pass

Day Work Party

Sat Jun 25, 2022: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM

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Region

Olympic Peninsula — East - Hood Canal

Crew Leader: Charlie Romine

Notch Pass Trail Bridge. Photo credit Nutmeg.

Overview

Time to do some more maintenance for a nice trail on the Olympic Peninsula.  Notch Pass is a historic route through the Quilcene Range.  Help us keep the trail through this pass and down to the Big Quilcene River open and enjoyable for hikers.
 

About the Area

This is a very old, historic trail. It may have been a Native American trade route across the Olympics. For sure it was rebuilt by the CCC in the 1930's. It was relocated by Scott Burgwin several years ago and re-opened from the Quilcene side through the notch in the Quilcene Range (easily seen from Highway 101.) It climbs steeply through the notch and then traverses along the Quilcene Range.  The trail then descends along Townsend Creek to the Big Quilcene River.
 

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.

Project Description

We will concentrate on  maintenance tasks which includes clearing logs and other windfall debris, cleaning out drainage structures, repairing and retreading the trail and maybe even a little brushing of woody plants along the trail corridor before they start to leaf out.  We will work on either Notch 2 or Notch 3 sections depending on priority of the work.

Hiking Information

Our hike to the project site is expected to be 2-4 miles roundtrip over hilly terrain.

Schedule

  • 8:30 AM: Be ready to sign in and meet the crew, rain or shine
  • 8:35 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike to the project site
  • Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
  • Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
  • 3:30 PM: Sign out after enjoying refreshments at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a great day outside!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
  • Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours on uneven terrain
  • Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18

What to Wear

  • Boots
  • Long pants 
  • Work gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt recommended
  • Eye protection recommended (glasses, sunglasses or safety glasses)

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. For safety reasons, shorts and sneakers are not allowed.

What to Bring

  • Lunch and plenty of water
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
  • A pack to carry your personal gear
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

Partners

Directions

From the town of Quilcene on US 101 head south 1.5 miles and bear right onto the Penny Creek Road. Take Penny Creek Road through the quarry, past houses to a "Y" intersection at 1.4 miles from Highway 101. Bear left onto Big Quilcene River Road (FS 27). The paved road ends here and is improved dirt/gravel for a stretch and then returns to a decent paved road. At 7.7 miles from the "Y" you will come around a corner and there will be a wide area on the left side of the road for parking. The Notch Pass trail crosses the road at this point. It should take about 30 minutes from Quilcene to the trailhead.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

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