Many Northwest trails still need extensive work, funds

Wild fires. Wash outs. Slides. Lack of funding. Neglect.

All those factors contribute to losing trails or access to trails in this state.

Ten hiking trails are highlighted in the Washington Trails Association's annual list of trails most in need of help. Four of the trails are in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for different reasons. They are representative of the larger threats faced by the trail systems.

Craig Romano, Skagit Valley resident and author of several recreation-related books including his latest, "Day Hiking: North Cascades" (Mountaineers Books), is a strong supporter of healthy trail systems, but he's seen federal maintenance and development funding for the Forest Service decrease for 20 years.

He looked at four trails in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest that need help before they are lost forever.

Circle Peak/Crystal Lake: The two-destination trail (4 miles to Crystal Lake, 4 more to Circle Peak) is in the Darrington Ranger District and reaches a high point of 5,983 feet. Although the Forest Service and volunteers have made trail repairs, the washed-out White Chuck Road has cut off access since 2003.

"It's an amazing area but the washed out road rendered it almost inaccessible except for the hardiest people," Romano said.

"The irony is (one of) unintended consequences. When groups tried to stop logging, (they also stopped) the primary source of income for the logging roads. Logging almost ceased and that was the end of the money for roads. Most of those roads were built for logging operations, not for trails."

Headlee Pass: Although on state Department of Natural Resources land, the story is basically the same.

"Traditionally, DNR was interested in extractive industries, although that's changed. The road was originally built by miners so it never had the maintenance. DNR and (Gov. Chris Gregoire) have increased money for non-extractive activity and that's a step in the right direction."

Also in the Darrington Ranger District, the 3.5-mile-long trail reaches 4,950 feet but it's easy to lose in the lower sections.

Gee Point: The heavily logged area once had 40 miles of trail and a Forest Service promise to reopen the trails, Romano said. "But that never happened."

Ira Spring and Harvey Manning were advocates of trail work in this area of the Mount Baker Ranger District near Concrete. The easy but overgrown 1.5-mile trail is close enough to urban areas that more use would help relieve pressure elsewhere, he said.

Middle and South Fork Cascade River: The 5-mile hike is in an area that was hit with fire in 2003 that led to erosion and washouts.

"Part of the trail is obliterated. The fire hit it pretty hard. There's no money for the Forest Service to open it. People try to hike there and stop because it's too hard. Then the Forest Service says no one's using the trail."

For more information on how to help lobby for funds or work on maintenance projects, call WTA at 206-625-1367. Go to the Web site for more information of the top-10 trails at www.wta.org.

Tidbits
Recent improvements at Rockport State Park along Highway 20, 8 miles east of Concrete, have better aligned the 1-mile trail with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines; it is now 4 feet wide … Randall Hodges, a nature photographer based in Lake Stevens, offers a four-page photographer's guide to the Enchantments in the July issue of Washington Trails … A May 18 landslide blocked Icicle Creek and pushed water down Icicle Creek Road, effectively closing the road for the summer and rendering inaccessible Chatter Creek, Rock Island and Blackpine campgrounds as well as access to Icicle Gorge Loop, Chatter Creek, Trout Creek, Icicle Creek and Blackjack Ridge trails … Pilchuck Audubon Society's birding slide show will start at 7 p.m. July 11 at the Everett Firefighters Association's Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave. … Early warning: The annual TrailsFest will be July 19 at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend (www.wta.org; 206-625-1367).

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.