WTA - trail work parties

This past weekend on March 9th and previous weekends I've been having a wicked good time volunteering with the Washington Trail Association (WTA) building new trails and improving upon pre-existing trails in some of the states most spectacular parks.  My favorites in the past month have been Larrabee State Park up in the Bellingham area atop Chuckanut Mtn.  We're creating a new trail named "Rock Trail" which will allow for a short access from Cleator Rd to Lost Lake.  The trail is rather steep with an initial descent by rappel which is being switch backed and staircased, but the trail continues along side these impressive rock bands into unchartered territory.  We've been working here for several weekends now and likely will continue to do so for months to come, but the progress is grand and the trail is sure to be an epic addition.

But this particular weekend we were out at Sharpe Park that shares a boundary with a county park the Montgomery-Duban Headlands.  Also up North but West on Hwy 20 to Fidalgo Island, and just before you head over Deception Pass you veer off to the Right as you pass Pass Lake, and up 1.8 miles on the left.  A stunningly rock/cliff park that edges on the West side of the Island and overlooks the Strait, Lopez Island and the other San Juan Islands, and to the South Whidbey Island.  It's an excellent local to spot whales as they migrate and see into the distant Olympic Mountains or over to Victoria, B.C.  This day we improved an existing trail that needed some severe widening that rolled over some jagged rocks and up a rather good ascent just 200 meters away from a spectacular view point that shouldn't be missed.  Our primary focus was locating large rocks we could also move.  Several of these boulders took 6+ people to move into, a process we were all rather stunned we could actually accomplish.  I've added a few photos but only of the finished product not of a before and after, but mann what an awesome improvement.  And we couldn't have asked for a better weather forecast!

Check out the wta.org website on trail parties in your area around the state.  You'll meet some of the most energetic and positive array folks you'll ever come across!  Hope to see you out there soon...