WTA did a half day of trail work on Trail 25 along with the State Parks department and Spokane Mountaineers and with support from REI and the Riverside State Park Foundation.  We had approximately 30 volunteers primarily retreading trail from as narrow as a 9" width (difficult for livestock to travel) to wider than 6'.

If you use Washington trails and the WTA website, there are still opportunities to give back this year before the snowfall!  Check under 'Go Outside' --> 'Trail Work Parties' to see the Work Parties that are coming up near you!

Overcast skies with a smattering of rain greeted the volunteers this day as we assembled on the western edge of Riverside State Park. This was another hybrid team of trail workers consisting of Washington Trails Association, Boy Scouts of America, and Riverside State Park Foundation participants. An REI Representative was on site with hot beverages, trail snacks, and t-shirts. 

The job today was to repair a section of trail #25. Multiple Assistant Crew Leaders were on hand to direct smaller teams of 4-5 members. Safety briefing ensued with the addition of a few new tool descriptions not in the normal repertoire, along with the enticement of post work party food offerings provided by the Riverside State Park Foundation. 

We entered the trail and several members began working on the inclusion of gravel at a junction point. This gravel would provide a stable platform once tamped into place. With the gravel haulers and tampers positioned, the remaining members spread out along a quarter + mile stretch of trail needing some TLC. The primary effort was to re-grade the slope in order to reduce puddling and ruts from run off, and to provide ample room at designated passing zones for horse traffic. As the day progressed the sun peaked through the clouds resulting in the removing of early morning jackets and scarves. The weather was perfect and the team moved quickly accomplishing an impressive looking stretch of tread. 

Post event culinary fare included both meat and vegetarian options. This offered the volunteers time to sit and get better acquainted. Lots of smiling faces and new friends.

This evening hike started at Bowl and Pitcher, crossing the lovely suspension bridge. The river is down at this time of year, exposing the rocks that form rapids in the spring. I headed north, left and downriver on trail 25. The trail is in fairly good condition, except where the river flooded and washed the soil off the underlying rocks a couple of years ago. I saw the baby ospreys in their nest as they called out to me as I passed.

After a couple of miles, I found the Spokane Mountaineers who I missed in the parking lot because I was a little late. We all took a break overlooking the river and hiked back to arrive at the bridge in time to see a heron checking out the river. Air quality was better than it has been for a while, and the rising moon was actually white, not orange for a change.

#trailsandales 

On a hot summer evening, my dog and I headed for one of our favorite hikes to cool off.  We started at the Carlson Road Trailhead going south on the lower loop of trail 25. Near the number 9 on the interpretive section, a tree was down across the trail. We both passed over it easily. The trail here is is fairly good condition, but there are sections with loose rocks that might trip a hiker who isn’t watching her step.

Deep Creek Canyon was dry, unlike my last hike here in April. We found our way across and up the initially steep trail climb out of the canyon. We will save the trek down the canyon for another day. 

At the rim of the canyon, we turned onto the old Deep Creek Road and walked east toward the Centennial Trail. By then, the sun was blissfully behind the trees, and the air was cooling.  At Deep Creek Bridge, my faithful companion took a dip in the river before leading me a mile back to the car on the paved trail.  We saw one other hiker, horse droppings but no horses and no bikes.

Stopped on the way to Idaho for a quick run along the river. The balsamroot is at peak cheerfulness, the lupine is coming on, and the river is HUGE. Lots of folks out enjoying the park camping, hiking, biking, running. Met many dogs, all well behaved and leashed. 

Followed trail 25 north abput two miles. It's in great shape *except* for one section where a scree slope has washed the trail down into the river for a 25 ft stretch just shy of 2 miles north of the bridge at Bowl & Pitcher (and before the intersection with the Centennial trail). I picked my way through, but folks with kids may want to opt for the high road on this little section. Was in a hurry, so I forgot to snap a photo. (Coming from the south, it's where the trail descends steeply right after the bench.)

Was such a nice outing, I wsh I had had another hour or two to keep rambling on.