OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF FRIENDS OF WEISER RIVER TRAIL

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY IN CAMBRIDGE, Fall 2020 . ISSUE 69

Pat Trainor President Council, Idaho 208-253-4433 [email protected]

Ron Hundahl Vice President Council, Idaho (208)566-1025 [email protected]

Barbara McGann Treasurer Eagle, Idaho 208-286-7279 [email protected]

Pam Lakey Secretary Ontario, (541) 889-6627 [email protected]

Elsa Freeman An autumn trail scene at Glendale - Don Dopf Photo Midvale, Idaho 208-473-6292 [email protected] A Message From President Pat Trainor Josh Stallings Weiser, Idaho Greetings Trail Members! I want to we did very well. Since the Boise Albertson [email protected] thank all of you for your support and interest Open was cancelled, we were pleased to re- in the Weiser River Trail. This year was full ceive strong support from Idaho Gives. In Karen Lakey of difficult decisions and hard closures. We addition, we received approval for two grants Payette, Idaho ended up cancelling all of our sponsored from the Idaho Parks and Recreation Depart- [email protected] events. In March, we decided that we were ment (the Construction and Repair Grant going to maintain and keep the Trail open for and the Lortz Trestle). We received a Mike Beavers use as long as it remained safe for users. $24,000 grant from the Laura Moore Cun- Wilder, Idaho Since March, we had Zoom monthly meetings ningham Foundation, Inc., towards the Lortz [email protected] and our first face-to-face (social distancing) Trestle. We have a total of nearly $30,000 was in October. Understandably, our mem- much appreciated individual donations from J. Alan Stoneman bership renewals were down this year. This all of you towards the Lortz Trestle. This Weiser, Idaho year was trying and difficult for everyone. repair is on schedule to be completed in the [email protected] However, we did have some very good fall of 2021.

news. Our Wye Campground had more visi- This year, two board members resigned: tors than any other year. People needed to get Bob Patrick and Gayle Poorman are already outside. So, use on the Trail was up. This sorely missed. may have been our busiest year. Financially, (Continued Page 2)

A Message From President Pat Trainor . . .

We have three new board members: friends. I would like to help the Weiser Josh Stallings (Weiser), Mike Beaver River Trail and Wagon Train continue to (Wilder) and Karin Lakey (Payette). prosper and grow.  They are a welcomed addition. We could- n’t operate without the continued sup- port from our dedicated contractor, Guy Amidon; Dan Haynes, “weed slayer” and “Trail captain” and John Spalding, our part-time Trestle decking specialist. It truly does take a village. These folks deal with issues immediately and responsibly until the problem or correction is reme- died. The Weiser River Trail Board wishes you happy and safe holidays and a KARIN LAKEY new and spectacular 2021. We look for- My name is Karin Lakey and I am ward to having you and all of our events interested in a position on the board of back next year. directors for the Weiser River Trail. On a personal note, I encourage you I grew up in Cambridge and the train all to stay safe, mask up and maintain track ran right in front of our house. I am social distancing.  ALAN STONEMAN a veteran of the United States Air Force. I An Idaho native, I spent my childhood served 13 years as an Intelligence Officer in Mann Creek, growing up in Washing- and retired as a major. ton County and graduating from Weiser I worked for the KBOI television sta- High School, and I feel a very special kin- tion for ten years and owned a small busi- Pat Trainor, President ship to the Weiser River Trail. I first be- ness in Payette. I now reside in Payette

came involved in 2007 when I traveled and I am retired. Meet Our New Trail with my late father, Joe, on what was to I have been involved with the Weiser become an annual event with the Wagon River Trail for the past five years as a vol- Boardmembers Train. It was at this time I met Shirley unteer for the bike events and the run- Atteberry and her sister, Pattie Heldt, ning event. I volunteered at the aide sta- who were instrumental in educating me tions for each of these events and in those on the dynamics of the Weiser River Trail five years I only missed two of the annual and the importance of events and fund events. I believe in the trail and that it is raising. preserving the train corridor. I appreciate The Wagon Train has become an an- that it is marked as a nonmotorized trail nual family outing for our family and after to protect it.  my father's passing in 2011, our family purchased a memorial bench, which was placed just north of Goodrich, where the Wagon Train camps on the last night. If elected, I look forward to continuing the legacy of not only the Wagon Train but participating as an active member of the board of directors in fund raising and MIKE BEAVERS supporting annual events.  My wife and I live in Wilder and are both retired. I am a native of Idaho and enjoy hunting and fishing in the beautiful back country. I first rode the Weiser River Trail in 2011 on horseback. My wife wasn’t crazy about riding horseback that far so, in 2012, we drove our Meadow- brook cart on the wagon train. After that, we were hooked! JOSH STALLINGS We now own Owyhee Express Car- My name is Josh Stallings, founder riage Co. and provide horse drawn ser- and president of Weiser MTB club, a vices including weddings and funerals. chapter of SWIMBA. I also founded We enjoy being a part of the wagon train Weiser bike donation program. Partners family and have met and made many (Continued on page 3) 2 in this include Love, Inc., Weiser Idaho, we will have to do in addition to the McGann Shares Notes Weiser Memorial Hospital, JD's bike Grants we have applied for to repair the shop Weiser Idaho, Eagle bike shop, Gar- trestle. I believe work will start on that Of Appreciation From den City, Idaho. in the Fall of 2021 when the waters have Pleased Trail Enthusiasts The reason why I feel I can be a good gone down enough to work. Part of the fit for director of the Friends of the $69,585 was a grant from the Laura As Treasurer, I get notes in the mail Weiser River Trail board is that my name Moore Cunningham Foundation. with your member contributions. I is well known in the mountain biking Thank you so much, LMCF! You just would like to share just a few of them: community. I continue to strive to make cannot know how much that means to the mountain biking sport large in the us! Speaking of grants, we have em- Dear WRT Board, Your 10/08 Weiser area, along with talking to finan- ployed Leslie Freeman to write and ap- request for support letter was one of the cial backers. My involvement in the sport ply for grants for us, and it has really nicest I’ve ever seen. I will always try to has gotten the attention of not only local paid off. She was responsible for the support the WRT, as it was one of the shops and organizations, but also outside LMCF grant, and several smaller ones finest experiences of my life to do the 2- of the area including Trailforks, Pink we did not even know about!! day, 85-mile trail ride (Octobertrek) a Bike, and bike companies such as Norco, Member dues are off just slightly few years back in Oct. Everything was Deity components, Foes bikes, and many this year, down from $20,600 to $17,142 absolutely perfect, from the incredible others. I will continue to strive to bring a this year. I truly expected those to be scenery to how well organized the entire positive attitude and continue to learn down even more, as the recession hits. rides was. Would love to do it again more to show more people to get them But it goes to show that even in a bad someday! —Terri Olson involved in the trail.  year, our members are willing to step up to the plate and contribute to the good Dear FWRT, We are staying at Treasurer’s Report Reflects work we do to keep an 85-mile public your lovely Wye Campground. It is one Good Financial Status resource open and available for recreat- of the nicest little campgrounds we have ing! ever found. And its perfect as we have Inspite of Covid Issues All told, our total YTD income is horses and you have corrals, water and a By Barbara McGann pull-through for our large Living Quar- $158,597, compared to $130,503 last year Since we were unable to hold an in- at this time. ters horse trailer! Thank you for think- person annual meeting this year, I On the expense side, we have ongo- ing of the equestrians. —Unsigned thought it might be useful to include ing maintenance costs. Our weed main- some financial information for the past tenance specialist, Dan Haynes, has been Greetings, Board Members, year in this newsletter. with us for over 10 years now and he is a Please find enclosed my ballots….Also 2020 has been a good year for the total professional and knows every inch want to say “thank you” to each board trail, despite the COVID problems. We of the trail. We have the ongoing main- member for all that they do! It is appre- were not able to hold our events (Bike tenance costs of rolling and grading the ciated, probably more than they realize. rides, Wagon Train, Relay Race) due to trail twice a year (thank you, Guy Ami- —Unsigned the restrictions of COVID and an abun- don), cleaning and maintaining 10 porta- dance of caution. Despite that, we have potties, and 3 double vault permanent Another aspect of being the Treas- made up for it in other ways. restrooms (Midvale, Weiser, and urer and getting the membership dues, In the revenue categories, our camp- Presley), re-planking and rebuilding we occasionally receive “directed dona- ground has almost quadrupled the in- trestles (each year, John Spaulding tries tions” that come directly from a person’s come to it, going from about $2100 in to get to at least 20 of them), weed killer 401k funds, or retirement accounts. 2019 to over $6800 this year! The money chemicals for Dan to use, fuel and auto This is a highly beneficial way of donat- we receive each year from the Idaho Com- repairs to keep two trucks running up ing to your favorite causes, as the retire- munity Foundation continues to grow and down the trail, and much, much ment companies (Fidelity, Schwab, slightly…up to $39,885 in 2020, as com- more! The total maintenance and devel- Ameritrade and others) confirm the non pared to $36,566 last year. Our fundrais- opment expenditures for this time- -profit’s status and give you a unified ing efforts suffered this year with the loss period were $90,160, compared to donation statement for your year end of the Boise Open, as that has been our $80,444 last year. We did a few more taxes. major fundraiser each year. They were projects! The last directed donation we re- not able to have spectators, so of course, On the General and Administrative ceived was from Evelyn McGown, in no ticket sales! We have replaced that side, we have insurance, payroll taxes memory of her sister Rhoda Gerrard’s with the online Idaho Gives day (see re- and worker’s comp, legal fees, the cost of late husband, Roger. Roger and Rhoda port elsewhere on its success). This is a this newsletter, mailing to members, and were both trail members, and Evelyn new fundraiser for us, so it takes a few printing our brochures. That is it – no decided this would be a way to both years to really get it roaring like the Boise salaries for board members, no dinners Open was! We added a new fundraising honor Roger and Rhoda, and support out, no perks. We are super careful to the trail! appeal to our member support letters and spend our member’s money on the things our newsletters for repairing the Lortz Thank you, one and all, for your that are in our mission statement! nice letters of support and for thinking Trestle. In total, we have raised $69,585 With revenue of $158,597 and ex- of us in many ways! ª in designated funds for that project. That penditures of $114,256, that leaves us is more than enough for the match that $44,341 in the black for YTD 2020.  3 Donations from Idaho Gives Stoneman Shares Recipe Nearly Doubles in 2020 From Chuck Wagon Cuisine; How to “Bag a Pheasant!” Friends of Weiser River Trail joined other non-profits in Idaho to participate The ring-necked pheasant was in- th in the 8 annual Idaho Gives day as an troduced in Oregon in 1881 by Owed effort to broaden our donor base. Idaho Denny, US Consul General Shanghai. Gives is a method of donating online to multiple non-profits and charities in PHEASANT IN A BAG: Idaho. People from all over Idaho and all 1 T flour st over the world went online on May 1 to 1 large oven cooking bag the 8th to browse over 800 non-profits, 1 large pheasant search for them by name or category, and salt and pepper to taste give to one or ten or as many charities as 1 C chopped onion they like. Idaho Gives generated over 2.5 ½ C chopped green peppers million dollars for Idaho non-profits in 1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms 2020. 1 bay leaf We almost doubled the donations 1 C dry sherry this year compared to 2019! It probably juice from 1/2 lemon helped that we had solid match donors 1 C water and your dollar was matched 100%! Our online donations came to $9650, and with Guardian Management donated Grease a large roasting pan. Pour matching, added over $19300 to our fund- 100 pounds of native grass seed, and flour into oven bag and shake. (Make raising totals! Not bad for a one-day their employee, Matt Erickson, and his sure that the inside of the bag is evenly online campaign! wife, volunteered to harrow and seed coated.) Slice pheasant in half length- We will, of course, participate in the the entire section. wise and sprinkle with salt and pepper. May 2021 Idaho Gives, so if you are look- The City of Midvale is assuming Place the pheasant in a bag. Add onion, ing for ways to make a difference and help the cost of watering those two blocks of green pepper, mushrooms, bay leaf, maintain public access to recreational FWRT property. sherry, lemon juice and water. Tie bag trails, this would be an excellent way to Lane Williams and other volun- and poke hole in top of bag. Roast at do it. Please contact Barb McGann, 208- teers have been mowing and doing the 350 degrees for 45 minutes. This 286-7279 or [email protected] if trimming on the property through the method creates its own gravy and you want to participate as a matching summer.  donor. And please remember us next year This is a joint effort that will bene- bastes the bird at the same time. when May rolls around!  fit the FWRT and the town of Midvale

for years to come!  Encouraging News of Trail Presence in Midvale Lortz Trestle Reconstruct Expanded with Addition By Pat Trainor Chuck Wagon Essential Of New Sprinkler System This a little update on the progress

To Wagon Train Operation to complete the Lortz Trestle. Great The grass is greener in Midvale! By Alan Stoneman This summer a sprinkler system was in- news, we have now acquired funding stalled on two blocks of the Weiser River At the heart of all wagon trains is a approval for the remaining funds from Trail frontage bordering Highway 95 in chuck wagon. The chuck wagon is a the Idaho Parks and Recreation grant Midvale. Watering that area has made a portable kitchen made with compart- program! We are on track to start the huge difference in the appearance of the ments to store cooking utensils, food repairs during low river flows in 2021. town as one drives through, as well as staples, dishes and medicine. A barrel The cost to repair the Trestle is about creating a more usable space for visitors. with a spigot mounted on the side pro- $140,000. We have received many gen- There are quite a few trees in that area vided water for cooking and drinking. erous donations dedicated specifically that are thriving with regular watering. This was often limited and controlled to this project. So far, we have about This was a project coordinated be- only by the cook. The cowboy cook was $29,700 that you, our members, have tween the Friends of the Weiser River considered the king of the camp and donated. We also received a grant from Trail and the City of Midvale. The dona- able to draw top wages. Besides the the Laurel Moore Cunningham founda- tions by individuals and businesses have cooking, he may have done the wash, tion for $25,000. I wish to thank all of been much appreciated. cut hair, practiced first aid, a teamster you who have donated. Another big Lane Williams, one of FWRT’s and mechanic, and settled an occasional thanks to Leslie Freeman, who has original board members, donated the cost fight. Ranchers and trail bosses did worked hard at writing our grants this for Guardian Management to Install the year. I look forward to the day when I sprinkler system. what they had to, to keep a good cook. Midvale Telephone Company do- Happy Holidays and hope to see every- tell you the trail is now open across the nated personnel and equipment to bore one next year!  Lortz Trestle.  under the Trail to run the water lines. 4 Trail Riders Share Adventures on Weiser River Trail Editor’s Note: FWRT can’t always One the way back to the Wye TH, Kudos from Colorado guarantee a perfect experience when tak- the "closed trail" signs under the Lift FWRT Spirits ing on the Trail, but we can always Highway were put up, but since our guarantee an adventure of some sort. It Jeep was at the TH, we hurried August 30, 2020 is our intention for every trail user to through this section despite the My wife and I rode the Weiser expect the good, the bad, the ugly, just like workers on the highway yelling at us. River Trail last year. This year, we life itself. Adventure is what it’s all Yes, it is dangerous because con- brought three friends with us to about. We also welcome EVERY let- struction debris can fall off the ride it again. Four of us are from ter and appreciate the input.  bridge onto the trail (including or- Colorado, one from Oregon. ange peels) but we couldn't walk the We wanted all of you to know OPEN LETTER 10 miles back to the TH or ride our how much we enjoyed this great By Vicque Ebentheuer bikes on the very crowded highway. asset you have. We have also appre- May 2020 At a minimum, there should have ciated the Midvale Park (beautiful) been a sign on the kiosk at the Wye and the spotless restrooms! Started at Weiser. Got a flat regarding the closed trail. And there Thank You! within 3 miles of TH (trailhead). We is no mention either of the missing were riding our fat tire ebikes, each Lincoln, Heather, Dave, Judi, trail at the Starkey trestle or the clo- Susan approximately 70 pounds. We sure. pushed/towed/tugged the one flat The following day was a short tire bike to a road access point one, as we rode between Goodrich to through a private farm field, while Mesa Siding. Poor directions were my husband rode the one good ebike given both on the RTC (WRT) web- back to TH to get our Jeep and find site and (in) the brochures, so for me somewhere near a farm field. those who want to park at Goodrich, Pushing a 70 pound fatty in soft sand there are at least three spots on new can be a challenge... Found a bike gravel, but no room for trailers. Re- shop, JD's Bike Shop, in Weiser, but member to turn right at the Goodrich due to Covid lockdowns, he wasn't Creek road off of Goodrich road. Due open, BUT his phone was on and he to lots of housing development, there was hanging out at his place so he are alot of new roads, and we ended drove over to his shop on his Harley up making lots of u-turns. There is a and fixed our flats and a few other trail sign, but it can only be seen if issues we were having with our you drive from the Cambridge side. bikes. Jeff was a great guy, we dis- We drove in from the landfill side off cussed politics and pandemics and the highway as the brochure indi- Paul & Gayle Poorman — By Paul Collins for a mere $20 (and) we were off cated. This stretch of trail is very nice again to finish our adventure. with turkeys, quail and the smell/ The next day, we started at the spoor of a bear under or near the Wye TH and rode all the way to Weiser River bridge. No-one else Fruitvale and back. We noted that was on the trail and we were not the Highway 95 bridge was being near the highway so the peacefulness worked on, but the signs for closing was very relaxing. the trail were not blocking the trail This trail is nicer on the north (going south) so we navigated and middle parts, but the south part through the construction debris. At out of Weiser was not so good and Starkey, the trail is closed with a there are lots of puncture vine (aka number of signs and we were re- goathead weed) plants just waiting routed onto the adjacent road. We to flatten a tire. (per Jeff at JD's Bike saw why the trail was closed. There shop). Also there are very few places are two lengthy trestles between to sit and have lunch/snack. We Fruitvale and Starkey. The Starkey found only two benches on the north one is missing the entire rail/trail bed end, and only one bench by Good- due to washout. Only the railing is rich.   there. Repair for this will be costly. FWRT File Photo 5 Fall Along The Weiser River Trail

Glendale-Fruitvale and Cambridge areas.

Photos Courtesy — Don Dopf

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Become a Member

The Weiser River Trail is owned and managed by the Friends of the Weiser River Trail, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The mission of FWRT is to preserve the integrity of the rail corridor, manage it as a public trail, and conserve the natural habitats along its length. FWRT is a self-funding membership organization that depends heavily upon funds raised through membership dues, grants, and fund-raising efforts to cover ongoing maintenance and Back at the Council Trailhead! operational costs. Special Thanks to Patty Gross! We welcome your support!

 $15 Basic Member  $25 Trail Blazer Pacific and Idaho Northern Couple Donates Living  $50 Pioneer Railroad Depot Building Memorial Bench to Trail  $100 & Up Bridge Builder Comes Home Arvin and Peggy Mineer made the  $1000 Life Member This old railroad building is now decision they wanted to purchase a Me- back at the Council trailhead. It was morial Bench to be placed along the Name______originally believed to be located in Fruit- Weiser River Trail. The difference is vale, Idaho but was moved to Council, they did not want to wait until they Address______Idaho when the building in Council were gone to have the bench constructed burned down in 1915. The old building and installed. It is technically a Memo- City______was part of the original P&IN (Pacific rial Living Bench. Arvin and Peggy and Idaho Northern) Railroad that came wanted to be able to enjoy the bench State / Zip______to Council in 1901. themselves, build memories and make it We are not sure of the date that the a place the family can go to remember. Phone______building was sold to Patty Gross' family After ordering the bench they began by the railroad but it was probably in searching the trail for just the right place Email______the nineteen eighties and was sold by for it to be installed, and finally it was the Union Pacific RR, which took over decided, the bench was installed north Please Send your contribution and for P&IN in 1936. The building was then of Starkey on the trail. It is a serene membership information to: moved to Patty's property. Last year, place close to the creek and in the trees. Friends of Weiser River Trail Arvin reports that they have made sev- Patty Gross, our beloved Council City 9201 Grandmason eral trips to enjoy their bench. librarian, graciously donated it to the Eagle, ID 83616 Friends of the Weiser River Trail. If you would like to order a Memorial As the weather permits next Bench or a Living Memorial Bench con- If you would like to help work on the trail spring, the FWRT will begin restoring tact Pam Lakey at ange- or serve on a committee, Please call the the building to its original condi- [email protected] for more infor- number listed below. Your help would be ª tion. Once completed, the building will mation. greatly appreciated! then be used to provide information to Trail users about both the old railroad and the current Trail. If you would like more The building's move to the trail- Information about head was made possible with help from The Weiser River Trail, Bob George and Clayton Ellis. The Visit us on the web at: P&IN station picture on page 8 was provided by Dale Fisk. The “back at the www.weiserrivertrail.org Council trailhead” picture above was And for membership information provided by Pat Trainor. Call: (208) 286-7279 7

The Council Depot Post Card—Courtesy Dale Fisk

REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN

ID Cambridge,

10 No. Permit 83616 ID Eagle, Place, Grandmason 9201

PAID

TRAIL RIVER WEISER

Postage U.S.

THE OF FRIENDS

ORG. PROFIT - NON

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