Navy volunteers pitch in to help blaze Olympic Discovery Trail link
Members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11 from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island work on the Larry Scott Memorial Trail near Port Townsend. The trail is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail network. -- Photo by Erik Hidle/Peninsula Daily News
By Erik Hidle, Peninsula Daily News
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"We think it's a gift to have them out here," said Linda Carson, member of the Jefferson Trails Coalition, on Friday.
"It's amazing what seven strong young men can get done here."
Carson said that it would taken much more time to complete the trail complete without the help of the members of the Naval unit stationed at Whidbey Island.
Chief Rick Smith said the crew was happy to help.
"This is what we do," Smith said.
"It's part of the big picture for us to get out and get involved.
"We would be doing this back home or overseas as well, because we really do want to give back."
Trail growing
The gift is a small part of the big picture that continues to grow across Jefferson County.
Members of the Jefferson Trail Coalition are working to connect the Larry Scott Memorial Trail to the Olympic Discovery Trail, which is planned to stretch across the North Olympic Peninsula through Jefferson and Clallam Counties, from LaPush on the west to Port Townsend on the east.
In March, the group extended the newest section of trail down to a new trailhead off of Cape George Road.
Last month, they completed the trail down to Four Corners Road.
Matt Tyler, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation manager, said at the dedication of the new trailhead in March that the new goal was to continue south to Discovery Road, while also acquiring rights to land and securing funding.
The Jefferson County portion of the trail runs about 4 miles from the Port Townsend Boat Haven to the newly constructed Cape George section.
It still has a way to go to connect its portion of the Discovery Trail to Clallam County's section, which now stops in Sequim.
Route across Peninsula
Clallam County is continuing to work on the trail from the tip of Ediz Hook to the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Center.
When that is in, only a route through the west side of Port Angeles and along the old Milwaukee Road railway grade will remain to be built for the trail to run from Blyn to the Elwha River.
To continue growing in Jefferson County, where funding is limited, the group is looking for people willing to work on the trail.
The unit from the Navy deals primarily in detonating explosives, not constructing trails.
"We are always looking for volunteers," Carson said.
"This Thursday, we had our first volunteer work crew day, and it went really well."
Carson said the crew is forming every other Thursday to work on the trail and to help maintain the current sections of the trail, beginning at the Port of Port Townsend trailhead.
Jeff Chapman, also a member of the Jefferson Trails Association said the effort is focused now on building more horse trails – like the Navy volunteers did – and planning beyond Four Corners Road.
"Getting volunteers out here is great," Chapman said.
"That is really what keeps this project going.
"It makes progress on the trail and it shows community interest, which helps with grants and keeps the project from stalling."
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 21. 2008 9:00PM