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Trail Skills Series: Intro to Trail Eyes

Day Work Party

Sat Jan 10, 2026: 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM

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Region

Southwest — Vancouver Area

Crew Leader: James Alexander

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Photo by trip reporter mbmc

Overview

This is the first in a four-part trail skills series designed to introduce newer volunteers in the SW Washington/Portland area to key trail concepts. This first session is dedicated to honing your "trail eyes." You will learn how to identify common trail issues and solutions--after this class, you may never look at a trail the same way again!

Our four-part trail skills series runs from January through April and is designed for newer volunteers in the SW Washington/Portland area who want to deepen their trail knowledge. Take them individually or sign up for all of them!

About the Area

More than 5000 acres of marshes, grasslands and wooded areas are home to more than one hundred species of birds, waterfowl and fish. Two trails and a loop road provide public access to this serene area just a few miles west of I-5.

What to Expect

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

Project Description

This will be a mix of classroom and hands-on learning. You will start indoors to learn some fundamental concepts, then head outdoors to evaluate the trails at the Wildlife Refuge.

Hiking Information

We'll be hiking about 1 mile on mostly flat terrain with a short hill.

Schedule

  • 9:00 AM: Be ready to meet the crew, rain or shine
  • Morning: We will spend the first part of the day indoors learning about the 5 most common trail maintenance issues
  • 11:00 AM: Snack break! We'll provide chocolate; bring water and anything else that will keep you happy throughout the morning.
  • After break, we'll head to the trails to take a look at trail conditions and issues in real life. Learn what solutions are available to remedy common trail issues, and discuss why you'd choose one over another
  • 1:00 PM: Enjoy refreshments at the trailhead and leave armed with all your new trail knowledge!

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 7 hours on uneven terrain

What to Wear

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

What to Bring

  • Snacks 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.

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Partners

Directions

Please follow these directions to the Cathlapotle Plankhouse (Carty Unit) of Ridgefield (if you just put "Ridgefield" into your GPS, it may take you to a different place.)


From I-5, take Exit 14 west on Pioneer Street toward the town of Ridgefield. At the second traffic circle, Royle Rd, take a right. After 1 mile, turn left onto NW 289th St (this is easy to miss--pay attention). At a T intersection after 1.5 miles, take a right onto NW 61st Ave, which will curve left and turn into NW 291st St. After about .7 miles, the entrance to Ridgefield will be on your right. Turn in and head straight, parking near the restroom.

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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