MVTC replaces bridge

The Trails Collaborative and our partners rebuilt a big, beautiful bridge this summer. The Louis Lake bridge spans 45 feet and is 7 feet wide and sports a handsome railing to prevent horses from losing riders into South Creek below. The bridge bridge will make access to the Louis Lake trail #428 possible for equestrians. This was an in-kind replacement of a failed trail bridge, which was decommissioned in 2021. Since the stream crossing is in the Lake Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness, no power tools were used on site. MVTC received a Legacy Trails Grant to coordinate this project and purchase materials, but it would not have been possible without the support of our partners. The Forest Service provided staff time, and their pack string brought all materials to the site. The Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen provided hardware, bridge decking, a conservation corps crew, and volunteers. Methow Trails helped MVTC administer our Legacy Trails grant and provided use of their shop space for the prefabrication of the railing. The Legacy Trails grant, which paid for my time project coordinating, will also cover replacing two failing trail bridges on the Cutthroat Trail. The Cutthroat bridges are scheduled to be replaced in 2024. All in all, there were over 300 hours of volunteered labor. This includes a group who camped at the bridge site for a week to facilitate the major construction of the new bridge. An enormous thank you to everyone who volunteered their time. Whether you peeled a log or hand-drilled a torque screw in the railing, this project would not be possible without your support.

Allen Jircik: Trails Manager

Give Methow

It’s October, and that means Give Methow. This month is an opportunity yo support to any of the non-profits doing good work in the Methow Valley by giving to one or giving to all. The Methow Valley Trails Collaborative is honored to be participating, and we hope you will consider contributing.

I’ll be sharing some of my favorite before and after photos on our social media presence. These are trail projects MVTC worked on with our collaborative members through the summer. I’ll share one set every Monday for the month of October and highlight the partnerships that made the projects possible. This will be a visual reminder of the work we do and what we could do with your contribution. Follow along, and stay tuned for more good work.

Additionally, MVTC and Methow Trails will be hosting a Funday Monday open house at the Methow Trails property on Monday, October 30th, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM. Several recreation-centered non-profits will be present. Come find out whats happening with trails non-profits in the valley!

USFS Region 6 hiring event

If you or anyone you know is interested in working for the Forest Service in the Northwest Region, the window to apply for summer jobs in 2024 is fast approaching. Seasonal job postings are open October 26th-November 8th. Maybe you know someone who has been itching to join the trail crew? A great opportunity for students home for the summer. New this year, there will be several new permanent seasonal positions in the region, including in the Methow Valley Ranger District. The hiring event for the permanent seasonal will be October 19th- November 22nd.

WDFW winter closure survey

The Methow Valley Wildlife area is proposing a winter closure between December 15th and April 15th. The intent of the closure is to prevent human disturbance of wildlife during the critical winter months. WDFW is collecting public opinions through a survey on their site. This is the last week to submit public comments. The public comment period closes October 15th.

Legacy Trails Grant open

The Legacy Trails Grant administered by American Trails is accepting applications until December 1st. Funds are awarded to projects that increase watershed health through trail improvements on the United States Forest Service Land. Project applicants may include nonprofit organizations, businesses, or agencies at the state or local level. Projects can focus on rerouting trails, replacing drainage structures that impede fish’s upstream travel, or trail bridge replacement. Priority will be given to projects that focus on existing trails rather than new trail development.