Newsletter PNTA NEWS SPRING 2008
LEGISLATION TO MAKE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL PART OF THE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL SYSTEM INTRODUCED IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS! By Jon Knechtel, PNTA Acting Executive Director and Director of Trail Management With this being the 40 th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act and the legislation being introduced in both the House (HR 5926) and Senate (S 2943) for designation of the Pacific Northwest Trail as a National Scenic Trail, I feel like I’m on top of the world. As most of our members are aware, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail was a vision in 1971 for Ron Strickland and after 36 years I feel some progress in that direction is finally being made. Getting the legislation introduced is just the first step. Now support from all our friends, partners, and members is critical as we move towards the second step----- getting it through the committees and back on the floor for full vote by each house, and then on to the President for signage into law. Below is the link that can be accessed to add comments “for” or “against” the trail. I sincerely hope that all comments will be positive and that this beautiful and scenic trail can be added to the ranks of the other 25 National Scenic and Historic trails. http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_5926.html#commentform (If you do not wish to type in all of the above information, on your search engine type in HR-5926, National Scenic Trail legislation, and you should be able to access the Washington Watch site.) Along with all my other duties this year, some of my time will be spent in front of those committees, testifying as to the merits of having the PNT join the ranks of the other trails, boasting about the volunteers who have worked so long and hard working on the PNT, touting the hours spent by our SKY Education and Job Corps students, and thanking all those who have supported the PNT over the years. Without all of you, where we are at today wouldn’t be happening. I’d also like to give Ron Strickland huge thanks for his help over the last year, working with me in getting to this point. Patience and perseverance has been the key and will continue to play a large part in the future. Thanks to Tom Gilbert, National Park Service, for doing the original draft legislation and for being a friend. OF SKY EDUCATION CREWS, NATIVE PLANT NURSERY, AND VOLUNTEER VACATIONS by Nate Melanson Time to dust off the trail tools and get the camping gear ready. As the snow line retreats, we start to get a glimpse of what the mother nature has in store for our 2008 SKY trail crew. The crew will be busy year round again this year, working on the Olympic Peninsula, Eastern WA, and of course all over the Cascade West region. In addition to our regular year round trail crew, the Cascade West region will be running a summer SKY crew for high school age students. Students will be completing four 8 day front country camping trips, working on local trails, and getting a chance to experience life in the wilderness. If you know of any students that would enjoy and benefit from this program, please contact the PNTA main office at (360) 854-9415 for more information. This fall, we will be hosting 4 adult volunteer vacations in conjunction with the American Hiking Society. There will be two trips in the Mt Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest and 2 trips in Olympic National Park. Volunteers fly or drive from all over to join us in the back country for 8 days, while helping to maintain our National Forest trail system. Anyone interested in reading more information about our trips, or many others throughout the country, should check out the AHS website at: http://www.americanhiking.org. Spaces fill quickly, so act now! With the warmer weather on the way, the SKY Native Plant Nursery 07/08 planting season is coming to a close. We had a great year involving students in a wide variety of mitigation, restoration, and landscaping jobs. The nursery will remain open during the summer months by appointment only. Anyone wishing to visit the nursery can make an appointment by calling Nate Melanson at (360) 661-4280, or e-mailing skynursery@pnt.org. We are currently carrying approximately 25,000 native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in purchasing native plants or are looking to have us assist you with a project, mitigation, or restoration. More information can be found on our website: http://pnt.org/skynursery.html 2008 Trail Maintenance on the PNT If you wish to do some trail work during the 2008 season on the PNT in the RockyMountain or Colville regions, contact Jon Knechtel, cell 360-391-0788; jknechtel@pnt.org PASAYTEN REGION: Contact Ellie Braman, 509-426-312; George Thornton, 509-556-2343; or Rocky DeVon, 509-476-4444 OLYMPIC REGION: Contact PNTA Regional Coordinator Daniel Collins at CASCADE WEST REGION: Island County : Contact Hugh Cargill at 360-679-0373 or 360-679-2840 Trail work will be done on the FIRST and THIRD Saturday of each month, April through October. Meet at 8:15 am at the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5, across from the 76 Gas Station. If you can only work until noon, please call ahead to see if the work site will be conducive to your leaving early. Sometimes we will be working behind locked gates or far up logging roads and it would not be convenient for people to leave early. Whatcom County: Contact Tom Solin 360-738-4854 NATIONAL TRAILS DAY SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2008 The Pacific Northwest Trail Association will be involved in a number of National Trails Day activities. See the information below. Note about Trail Maintenance on the PNT: OLYMPIC PENINSULA Help build a new trail link that is the Larry Scott Memorial Trail , which ispart of the Olympic Discovery Trail and the Pacific Northwest Trail. The Larry Scott Memorial Trail is gaining momentum as it reaches out to tie into the building of the Olympic Discovery Trail. The former is the workhorse of trails in Port Townsend and serves all types of users beginning from the ferry terminal in town. While only 5 miles long, this trail is frequented by many. It is also the northern terminus of the developing Olympic Discovery Trail which will connect the entire northern peninsula on a 100 mile route. Even greater, this link is an essential stage of the 1,200 mile Pacific Northwest Trail that begins in western Montana. We’ll Meet: 9 a.m. South Discovery Bay Road - 3miles south of the intersection with Highway 20 right at Douglas Road just north of the Cape George Golf Course We’ll Provide: tools (all hand tools today), Helmets and safety equipment, refreshments and snacks Scope: We’ll take a newly created swath of trail corridor and clear the vegetation and shape new trail. Work will involve brushing, clearing organic debris, and building new trail using local materials and gravel, no experience needed, Jefferson County Staff to assist. Partners: Jefferson Trails Coalition, Peninsula Trails Coalition, Buckhorn Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen, Jefferson County,American Hiking Society Sponsored by: Pacific Northwest Trail Association FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: CASCADE WEST Help build a new trail that will be part of the PNT route through Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island. We’ll Meet: 9 a.m. at the Cranberry Lake parking lot in Deception Pass State Park or 8:15 a.m. at the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5 north of Burlington across from the 76 gas station. We’ll Provide: tools and safety equipment and a lunch at 2 p.m. at the Cranberry Lake Picnic shelter. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane & Joan Melcher, 360-424-0407 FOR OTHER TRAILS DAY ACTIVITIES IN OTHER AREAS OF THE PNT Contact Jon Knechtel, PNTA Acting Executive Director and Director of Trail Management ASSUMPTION OF RISK The fine print: Some risks are inherent in any PNTA activity. Each Association member, guest, or non-member participant agrees to accept personal responsibility for his or her safety and the safety of minors accompanying such persons. The Association cannot ensure the safety of any participant or hiker or activity. In participating in Association activities, each such person agrees to hold harmless and free from blame the activity leaders and the Association, its officers, directors, and members, for any accident, injury, or illness that might be sustained from participating in hikes or other Association activities. CASCADE WEST SPRING PROGRAM TRAVELS WITH HUGH AND WENDY ISLAND-HOPPING WITH THE KENDRICKS, 2006 AND 2007 Please join us for an evening show which will include the unique scenery and wildlife of Madagascar, the Falklands and South Georgia presented by our SRO guests Hugh and Wendy Kendrick. Date: Friday, 23 May 2008 |
