WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES * AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY
MEDIA ADVISORY
May 25, 2011
Celebrate National Trails Day – Volunteer on state lands
DNR sponsoring six work parties on June 4
OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites the public to celebrate the 19th annual American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® by volunteering on state lands June 4 in many locations throughout western Washington.
From the Olympic Peninsula to the Columbia Gorge, DNR is sponsoring six different work parties where volunteers can help repair, relocate, or refurbish trails on DNR-managed lands.
National Trails Day events on DNR-managed lands on June 4:
Where: Little River Trail, near Port Angeles, Olympic National Park
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What: Trail maintenance repair and ditch work.
Bring: Work clothes, gloves, sturdy boots, lunch, and water
Partners: Olympic National Park, Backcountry Horsemen, Gray Wolves Trail Volunteers, and the Evergreen Packgoat Club
Directions: To Little River Trailhead: Leaving Port Angeles, go west on Hwy. 101. (Albertson’s is on your left.) Go 0.4 mile. Go Right onto S. Pine. Go 0.1 mile to stop sign. Go left and start up hill. Pine St. becomes Black Diamond Road just as you cross over 101. Go 4.5 miles to intersection with Little River Road. Go left 0.1 mile to trailhead. Parking is limited; please carpool, if possible.
Contact: Wayne Fitzwater, 360-374-2800 or wayne.fitzwater@dnr.wa.gov .
Where: Capitol State Forest, south of Olympia
When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What: Relocate and rehabilitate a section of motorized Trail #40 near Middle Waddell Campground. Also, work on finishing a reroute of the non-motorized #6A trail. Work party is followed by a barbecue lunch provided by Friends of Capitol Forest (hamburger and vegan options.)
Bring: Water, snack, and gloves, side dish or dessert to share.
Partners: Friends of Capitol Forest
Directions: Meet at "Y" intersection of Sherman Valley and Waddell Creek roads.
Contact: Nick Cronquist, 360-480-2700 or nick.cronquist@dnr.wa.gov .
Where: Table Mountain Natural Resources Conservation Area, near Stevenson/Bonneville Dam
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: Hike up to a beautiful view of the Columbia Gorge. Along the way, help do light trail work. Learn about rare plant and animal communities. Trail is a steep climb, about 7-9 miles round-trip.
Bring: Sturdy boots, water, snack, lunch, loppers, and handsaw.
Directions: Meet at the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort parking lot, near the entrance. www.bonnevilleresort.com/maps.htm
Contact: Carlo Abbruzzese, 360-575-5056 or carlo.abbruzzese@dnr.wa.gov .
Where: Blanchard Forest Block — Lower Trailhead, south of Bellingham
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: Work on drainage issues, brush out vegetation, and renovate sections of trail tread.
Bring: Hard hat, gloves, and water. Morning snack and lunch provided by partner organizations.
Partners: Whatcom Chapter Back Country Horsemen of Washington, Whatcom Independent Mountain Pedalers, and the Whatcom Trails Co-op.
Directions: From I-5, Take Exit 240. Go north on Samish Lake Road for .5 miles. Turn left onto Barrel Springs Road. Go .7 miles. Turn right onto B-1000 Road (forest road). Go .6 miles to trailhead on right.
Contact: Christ Thomsen, 360-854-2860 or christ.thomsen@dnr.wa.gov .
Where: Little Si Trail, near North Bend
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What: Join volunteers from Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust to help build rock retaining walls to stabilize the trail and build rock turnpikes to repair muddy sections of the trail and improve drainage.
Bring: Volunteers must wear long pants, hiking or work boots, and long-sleeved shirt. Mountains to Sound Greenway will provide gloves and tools. Also recommended: lunch, snacks, water, and rain gear.
Partners: Mountains to Sound Greenway.
To register: Volunteers must register with Mountains to Sound Greenway to participate in this work party. Go to: http://mtsgreenway.org/volunteer
Contact: Mountains to Sound Greenway, 206-812-0122 or volunteer@mtsgreenway.org or Kelly Heintz, DNR, 426-466-6145 or kelly.heintz@dnr.wa.gov
Where: Tiger Summit Trailhead, west of North Bend
When: 9 a.m.
What: Trail maintenance work on Preston Railroad Grade Trail.
Bring: Work gloves, water, long pants, and lunch.
Partners: Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (EMBA)
Directions: Directions online
To register: To participate in this work party, please register through EMBA at www.evergreenmtb.org/recreation/calendar.php?event_id=9445
Contact: Kevin, EMBA, kevin@evergreentb.org
Volunteers and DNR: An enduring partnership
Volunteers play a key role in keeping DNR recreation areas open and safe for the public. Volunteers help maintain trails and facilities pick up litter, participate in work parties, provide information to visitors, and alert law enforcement to any illegal activities. Each year, volunteers spend tens of thousands of hours working to improve recreation on DNR-managed lands. Many of these hours can be used as an in-kind match when DNR applies for grant funding.
Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1523, toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov
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