Trails Collaborative August newsletter

Starting my position with the Trails Collaborative has been a welcome challenge. There is freedom in coming first, but in that freedom, there is also uncertainty. I have an extensive background maintaining trails, and a love for the trails that make the Methow a year-round recreation destination, but building a program is new to me. When not sawing or digging to improve our trails, I’ve wondered how to spend my time growing the Trails Collaborative. When I had these moments of uncertainty, the stated function of the Trails Collaborative was a helpful reference point. One of the described functions is to “develop easily accessible trail information for all users.” It is my intent that starting a monthly newsletter will help fulfill that function. I hope you will find it a valuable resource for what is happening across the vast trail network in the Methow Valley.

Allen Jircik: MVTC Trails Manager

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A volunteer nails down the last piece of decking on the Lightning Creek Bridge

our impact in August

This month the Trails Collaborative hosted nine volunteer events for a total of 196 hours of volunteer trail maintenance. The projects included replacing a significant trail bridge on the Lightning Creek trail #425, hosting an Outward Bound service project on the Pacific Crest Trail #2000, and installing drainage improvements on the Blue Lake Trail #314. A huge thank you to all those who came out to help us maintain trails for all users across the valley! Check the volunteer section of our website to be updated on upcoming help, or reach out if you know of a group interested in a rewarding day of trail work.

Volunteer!

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Williams Lake is well worth the 7 mile hike, a challenging approach even after recent trail improvements.

Partner highlights

The Methow Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen hired a Washington Conservation Corps Crew to perform deferred maintenance on the Williams Creek trail # 407 outside Twisp. Encroaching brush and a deteriorating tread surface made this trail difficult to follow for hikers and impassible for stock users. MVTC’s trail manager assisted the WCC crew in improving the trail and restoring stock access to the lake. Though the trail is still rough and not recommended for all riders, it’s a beautiful destination, especially in the fall.

The Methow Chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and staff from Methow Trails have completed repair work on the trail network at Sun Mountain. This enormous undertaking allowed the Forest Service to lift the closure orders from the 2021 Cedar Creek fire on all summer trails at the Sun Mountain trail network on August 19th.

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Trailhead closure

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be making site improvements to the Riser Lake - Lewis Bute parking area. To make room for these improvements, the parking area will be closed from September 12th through September 30th. Temporary parking and access will be available at the Hasse Homestead

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Get involved

The upcoming Trails Collaborative meeting is from 9:00 am-11:00 am in the Community Room of the new Winthrop Public Library. This Bi-Monthly meeting is an opportunity for recreators, advocates, and land managers to come together to discuss trail-related issues. Please join us if you are interested.

meeting calendar

The US Forest Service is seeking applicants to be on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council. “As a council member, you would help guide the development and management of the trail. The agency is currently recruiting additional members to encourage a diverse council that reflects perspectives from across the trail and throughout the country.”

learn more

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Support our work

If you believe in the work the Trails Collaborative is doing to enhance trail resources for all users, please consider donating to support our work. Your donation will go directly to support trail projects in the Methow Valley.

Donate