2012 Trails Conference Highlights WASHINGTON STATE TRAILS COALITION HIGHLIGHTS of the 2012 STATE TRAILS CONFERENCE CONVENTION CENTER, VANCOUVER WASHINGTON
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2012 STATE TRAILS CONFERENCE ~ HIGHLIGHTS Bridging Communities with Trails WASHINGTON STATE TRAILS COALITION Convention Center, Vancouver Washington October 25-28, 2012 Washington State Trails Coalition 2011-2012 Board 2013-2014 Board Pete Beaupain, President Sarah Krueger, President (Wa. State Snowmobile Assoc. and (The Mountaineers) Wa. Trails Assoc.) [email protected] [email protected] Vacant, President Elect Sarah Krueger, President Elect Don Crook, Comptroller (The Mountaineers) (Wa. Water Trails Assoc.) [email protected] [email protected] Don Crook, Comptroller Pete Beaupain, Past President (Wa. Water Trails Assoc.) (Wa. State Snowmobile Assoc. and [email protected] Wa. Trails Assoc.) Rick Hood, Past President [email protected] (Rick Hood Consulting) Greg Lovelady, Communications Director [email protected] [email protected] Greg Lovelady, Secretary John Ernest Berry III, At-Large (Recreation and Conservation Office) (Foothills Trail Coalition) [email protected] [email protected] John Ernest Berry III, At-Large Vacant, At-Large and Host Representative (Foothills Trail Coalition) [email protected] Vacant, At-Large Lisa Goorjain & Hailey Heath, At-Large Vacant, At-Large Host Representatives (Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation) [email protected] [email protected] For more information about the Washington State Trails Coalition, visit, http://www.w-s-t-c.org or contact Sarah Krueger, President at [email protected] For comments on this highlights document, contact Greg Lovelady, Communications Director at [email protected] Cover photo: Trail to Glacier Basin, August 2012; Greg Lovelady February 4, 2013 2/35 2012 Trails Conference Highlights WASHINGTON STATE TRAILS COALITION HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2012 STATE TRAILS CONFERENCE CONVENTION CENTER, VANCOUVER WASHINGTON 1) CONTENTS FRIDAY, 10/25/2012 WELCOME 1. Welcome 3 Pete Beaupain, President 2. Agency Leadership Panel 4 Washington State Trails Coalition 3. Legislative Leadership Panel 5 4. Keynote: Mickey Fearn, NPS 6 WSTC president Pete Beaupain opened the conference by expressing delight at the number of 5. Track 1: Community Engagement 7 people in attendance and thanking the many The Intertwine: A Website for the Portland Area 8 individuals and organizations responsible for Engaging Youth In Trail Maintenance 8 contributing to this year’s gathering, including: Trail Information and People with Disabilities 9 Volunteers: Building Community and Trails 10 The members of the Conference Committee Volunteer Stewardship Groups 12 The sponsors who made cash and material Bridges of Cooperation: Yacolt Burn 14 contributions: Parametrix, Green Trails, The Partnering with the Youth Conservation Corps 15 Mountaineers, Eddie Bauer and Cascade Designs Work Session for an Oregon Trails Coalition 17 6. Track 2: Planning for Success Track 17 The large contingent from the Recreation and The Carbon River Corridor to Mount Rainier NP 17 Conservation Office (RCO) for taking session The Story of the Cape Horn Trail 18 notes and running the audio-visual equipment The Trail-Transportation Connection 20 RCO again for the equipment loans and to Youth Engaged in Planning 20 Director Kaleen Cottingham for heading up the Doing Trails the Foothills Way 20 Agency Leadership panel San Juan Island Trails Committee Efforts 21 Washington State Parks, the Director and the Navigating the Environmental Process 21 Commissioners (four of whom are attending the 7. Track 3: Managing Trails on the Ground 22 conference) for their long-term WSTC support Multi-Use Mountain Bike Trails 22 Trail Etiquette, Ethics, and Education 23 The National Park Service for finding yet The Hood River Trail System 24 another amazing keynote speaker and many Trail: From Design to Construction and Beyond 25 other contributions Washington DNR’s Forest Watch Program 26 The conference keynote speakers, Mickey Fearn, How Do Trail Users Cross the Road? 27 Deputy Director of the National Park Service, Water Trails of The Columbia Basin 27 and Dave Hahn who has made extraordinary 8. WSTC Business meeting 28 mountaineering accomplishments 9. Keynote: Dave Hahn, Eddie Bauer Athlete 29 10. Conference Registrations 30 The Vancouver Parks and Recreation Department for working to make the Friday evening “Community Forum” a success. February 4, 2013 3/35 2012 Trails Conference Highlights displayed trail opportunities found in AGENCY LEADERSHIP PANEL: Washington’s State Parks: water trails, winter PROVIDING A FUTURE FOR TRAILS recreation trails; and State Parks’ five long distance trails – the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Moderator: Kaleen Cottingham, Director Columbia Plateau Trail, Willapa Hills Trail, the State Recreation and Conservation Office Spokane River Centennial Trail, and the Klickitat With 16 million acres of public land in Washington Rail Trail. and strong agency leadership, trails have become a She pointed out that a high priority at State Parks is vital part of Washington’s recreation scene. This nurturing trails and that the agency is now seeking leadership panel was conceived to discuss the grants for several trails, including the Olallie Trail creative ways our agency partners are dealing with and segments of the Iron Horse-Palouse Trail in disastrous budgets and working to bring about a Eastern Washington. positive future for trails through collaborative planning, public outreach, and more. Parks is currently nurturing partnerships with a number of organizations that provide volunteers The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is for trails, including the Evergreen Mountain a state agency created by a voter initiative in 1964 Bicycling Alliance, Washington Water Trails to provide grant funding for outdoor recreation Association, Washington Trails Association, and projects. Today, RCO manages more than a dozen the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. grant programs, including those that plan, build, and maintain urban, rural and backcountry trails. Parks is also working to develop on-line trail maps and is planning new trails at the Wenatchee Peter Goldmark Confluence and Cape Disappointment State Park. State Lands Commissioner But, the needs are great: for example, each of Mr. Goldmark is the state’s elected Commissioner Parks’ five long distance trail have gaps. At least of Public Lands and head of the Department of $150 million would be needed to bring all of Parks' Natural Resources and primary manager of the trails up to minimum standards. department’s more than 1,000 miles of trail and outdoor recreational opportunity. Maureen Hyzer, Deputy Regional Forester US Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service Mr. Goldmark announced that the department recently introduced the new, and soon to be annual, Ms. Hyzer pointed out that the National Forests Volunteer Hero Award. Volunteers play a key role exist for all of us and that Washington State’s in the success of many of DNR’s programs, and it Forests are, indeed, special. This is due, in part, to is fortunate to have thousands of dedicated our 65 wilderness areas, 5 wild and scenic areas, volunteers whose energy, enthusiasm, hard work, and 2600 regional trail miles. Whether using and time make it possible for visitors to enjoy safe, water, snow, motorized, or non-motorized trails, sustainable, and high-quality outdoor recreation Washington’s National Forests receive 26 million experiences on DNR-managed lands. visits each year. Mr. Goldmark also discussed the progress made in In recent years, several trends have become implementing the Reiter Foothills Forest apparent. For example, these days our Forests are Recreation Plan, the Naneum Ridge Recreation receiving fewer backpackers, and the hikers are not Plan, and the Tahuya State Forest. Also mentioned going as far nor staying as long in the backcountry were specific DNR managed recreation areas: as in the past. Mixed use trails are more common Walker valley, East Tiger Mountain., the Boulder place and mountain bicycles and trails for Lake Natural Resources Conservation Area motorized vehicles are more widely accepted. The (NRCA), the Granite Creek NRCA, and the Service is also converting more roads into trails, Mailbox trail. 2,000 miles to date. The demand for front country trails is increasing as are agency partnerships with Don Hoch, Director such organizations as Friends of the Gorge, Washington State Parks Washington Trails Association, and Backcountry Mr. Hoch announced that he recently appointed Horsemen. These partnerships have contributed to Nikki Fields to be State Parks’ trails coordinator. more than 260,000 hours of trail maintenance At this point, Ms. Fields presented slides that volunteerism in 2011. February 4, 2013 4/35 2012 Trails Conference Highlights The region’s annual maintenance budget is about State Parks' expenses, but it does help. $4 million which has led to the agency’s $46 Commissioner Goldmark said the program does million in deferred maintenance. have defects, but it is improving. For example, the pass can now be used for either of two vehicles, Randy King, Superintendent one at a time. He also said that the state's General Mt. Rainier National Park Fund is no longer available to DNR. One of the National Park Service’s (NPS) main Ms. Cottingham asked Superintendent King about conduits for assisting trails is its community the situation surrounding visitors’ motor vehicles assistance programs, including the Land and Water in Mt. Rainier National Park; will they continue to Conservation Fund grant program; the Rivers, be allowed? Mr.