Dust, sweat and big smiles: WTA's backcountry trips are delivering clear trails to hikers

Despite the uncertainty around Forest Service funding this year, WTA has managed to run several backcountry crews already and wow, is there some juicy work out there. From Central Washington to the San Juan Islands, volunteers and staff have been working diligently to improve trail conditions for hikers, bikers and horses alike.

Like carving a trail through a giant burn from last summer near Lake Chelan. Photo courtesy Lisa Black.

trails on Turtleback Mountain

We kicked off this year’s backcountry season on Orcas Island at one of the most beloved spots in the archipelago, Turtleback Mountain.

A backcountry response team cleared 400 yards of trail for hikers and work was done to ensure this section of the trail is solid for what is sure to be a busy summer. The crew even found time to have a little treat at the popular Brown Bear Bakery!

A trail for you, a treat for us! Photos by Sara Lorimer (left) and Pam McRae (right).

Sawing Logs and Breathing Dust on An iconic backpacking route

A perennial WTA project, the Lakeshore Trail and its offshoots get a lot of traffic and need even more TLC after the Pioneer Fire last summer. 

The first crews worked near Prince Creek — a common starting point for backpackers tackling the Lakeshore Trail, which runs along Lake Chelan — at the start of May. They did logout, removing more than 10 logs from the trail and rebenching the tread. 

Rebenching trail is crucial in burn areas, because the trail can all but vanish during the fire. Then crews cut in a new trail on top of where the old one used to be. Photo courtesy Lisa Black.

Later crews tackled Fish Creek, a trail that climbs to the summit of the ridge above the Lakeshore Trail. Here, they cleared over 20 logs and nearly a mile of debris and rocks through some windblasted, arid terrain damaged by the Pioneer Fire.

They also installed a pit toilet at the Orchard Camp, the temporary main campsite for backpackers while Moore Point is closed. 

Despite the sometimes harsh conditions that come with worksites in burn areas (think wind, sun and chilly weather) crews stayed productive and positive!

The making of a pit toilet: site selection and digging, putting up the privacy screen, more digging, et voila! Photo courtesy Lisa Black.

Rehabbing an Olympic Peninsula Favorite

The popular Lena Lake trail got some signature WTA care during an early May trip. Crews removed nine trees between the trailhead and the National Park boundary, brushed 1.25 miles of trail, and rebuilt a total of 112 feet of trail between the lower lake and on the upper Lena Lake trail. 

The trip had to be cut short due to high wind, but they got all their assigned work done in the days before the weather shifted!

Big smiles on the Lena Lake crew before heading home. Photo courtesy Rick Bennett.

Rocks and Sticks - Lost Trails Found Crews have been busy

Our Lost Trails Found crews are getting a ton of work done at Mica Peak, too. Their hitches are few days longer, allowing for even more time to play in the dirt.

In April, the small (4-person) but extra-mighty crew managed to get a ton of work done despite less than favorable weather at this peak just outside Spokane. They strengthened switchbacks with the construction of three rock walls, the longest clocking in at over 30 feet. A volunteer party joined the professional crew over the weekend and both helped to clear even more trail. Now, thanks to these crews, over 604 feet of trail was cleared for trail users in Spokane.

A few weeks later, the crew headed to Boulder River. Over the course of 7 days they made quick work of 23 hazardous logs on trail and over 1,000 feet of trail was recovered. In all, the crew repaired 1.4 miles of trail.

Big smiles next to BIG trees on Boulder River. Look at that nice clear trail. Photo courtesy Andrew Zimmerman.

There are more work parties coming. Look at wta.org/volunteer for your chance to join us for a day or more. Can't make it? Write a trip report. Your report of on-trail conditions helps both hikers and land managers understand what it's like on trail right now.