Regional trail work continues despite wet spring, COVID-19 participation dip

On a verdant morning last week, the kind that reminds many of us why we live in the Pacific Northwest, I crossed a sturdy log bridge on Mount Spokane’s Trail 131.

That’s a rather mundane fact. An anecdote nearly not worth telling, except its insignificance reveals an important and self-evident truth: Trails and all their associated infrastructural convenience don’t build themselves. No where is that more evident than on Mount Spokane, which has 100 miles of trails open to hikers, bikers and equestrians an hour or less from Spokane.

Still, it’s easy to forget all that work has to be done by someone, usually volunteers. Finding those volunteers can be tricky, and a wet and wild spring has made that job even harder this year, said Holly Weiler, the Washington Trail Association’s Eastern Washington coordinator.

“We are having the weather issues this year,” she said.

Several planned trail work days have been canceled or postponed due to closed roads (see sidebar) or bad conditions. At the same time, she said she’s noticed a drop-off in participation, something she attributes to the decline in COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.

“The last two years, outdoor volunteer opportunities were about the only way people could gather together in groups,” she said. “Now there are lots of things competing for people’s time and energy.”

Still, work continues, even if it’s a bit delayed, Weiler said, to which that bridge that I blithely walked across is a testament.

“We have projects all over the place right now,” she said. “It’s really been kind of crazy how many simultaneous projects have been going on.”

The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance – Eastern Washington Chapter is also working on trails. The wet weather is a boon for building, president Chris Conley said, although all the rain has caused some erosion problems. While that club has a number of projects ongoing, the big news is that they’re in the process of hiring two to three paid trail builders at Mount Spokane. Those seasonal employees will help build and maintain trails. Mount Spokane has two trails that go from top to bottom (Trails 140 and 290) and the use has been intense.

“It’s pretty incredible the usage those trails get,” he said.

Below is a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities, each a chance for you to give back. For details on Washington Trail Association projects and to sign up, visit wta.org/volunteer/schedule. For Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance information visit evergreeneast.org.

June:

• Want to help build a new trail? Join a WTA crew Tuesday on Trail 182 on the west side of Mount Spokane. “The only way to see it right now is to join us,” Weiler said. Be ready to hike 1 to 3 miles. No prior experience needed. Bring a lunch, sturdy shoes and all-weather clothing. There are other Trail 182 projects scheduled throughout summer.

July:

Help build a new trail north of Spokane. WTA is working with the Kalispel Tribe on Saturday to create a 2-mile interpretive trail along Indian Creek.