After Decades of Trail Restoration - "Last Week's Storm Set Us Back Years"
SEATTLE, WA (Oct. 30, 2003) - For the past decade, the Forest Service and volunteer groups like Earth Share of Washington member Washington Trails Association have worked tirelessly to restore our trail system to an acceptable condition. "In a single day, last week's storm set us back years," said Elizabeth Lunney, Executive Director of Washington Trails Association. "It's like working for years to pay off your mortgage, only to see your home destroyed the day before your last payment."
At least 20 trail bridges are known to have been badly damaged or destroyed. Slumps and washouts can be expected on many low elevation trails. The popular Kennedy Hot Springs was buried under tons of rock, gravel, and mud. If or when the springs bubble back up to the surface is anyone�s guess.
"Short of a volcanic eruption, this is about as much damage as I could imagine" said Gary Paull, Trails and Wilderness Coordinator with the Mt. Baker/ Snoqualmie National Forest.
Unfortunately, our parks and forests don't have an insurance policy to cash in on. The scope of the recent rain event will not be fully known until the snow melts next spring, yet it is already clear that the damage toll will be in the millions of dollars, on top of an already stretched trail budget. "It will be up to Congress to help make up the difference so that local residents and tourists from around the world can once again visit these special places," said Lunney.
Nor can the repairs be completed in a single year. Much of the damage repair will be beyond the scope of volunteers, such as heavy excavation, blasting and bridge construction, and will require Forest Service crews that would have been focusing on the normal maintenance issues that arise each spring.
In the immediate aftermath of last week's storm, several access roads to popular local recreation areas were closed due to washouts, flooding, and mudslides, including the North Cascades Highway, portions of the Mountain Loop Highway, the Hoh River Road at the Olympic National Park Boundary, the Cascade River Road, and others. Forest and Park managers are only beginning to discover the devastation left behind in the backcountry. Throughout Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest, important access bridges have been washed away and large section of scenic trails have slid down the mountainside.
Hikers and equestrians using the Pacific Crest Trail and those seeking loop opportunities in the Glacier Peak Wilderness will likely be hit the hardest. The primary access route (Sitkum Glacier) for climbers up Glacier Peak will be out of service for the forseeable future. No trail bridges remain between Red Pass and Miners Creek on the PCT. Those seeking extended season hiking and gentle forest walks, families, equestrians and hikers will miss the Baker Lake Trail for some time.
Trails and roads are very hazardous to travel as they may be undercut by the flooding. Huge log jams on the banks of the rivers on the north end of the Forest are tempting to play on, but are unstable and dangerous. The forest service advises against parking your vehicle miles up forest roads, as you may wind up leaving it there for the winter or longer.
"The key thing now is to try to quantify the damage," said Greg Ball, Director of Operations at Washington Trails Association. "Hikers can help us respond to these problems by filing trip reports at www.wta.org when they find trail damage." A few tips in reporting damage: note mileage from trailhead or other landmark; if possible, take photographs; measure or estimate the diameter of fallen trees; note any areas where water is running over the trail. These Trip Reports will help the Forest Service and WTA volunteer crews determine where work is needed most and what type or repair work will need to be done.
Hikers may be able to help the most by volunteering for a trail crews when the snow melts in 2004. "Stay tuned to the WTA website for opportunities to help with trail cleanup." said Ball.
