Sisters Trails Alliance looks ahead to 2011

The Sisters Trails Alliance held its annual membership meeting last Monday evening at The Pines Clubhouse. Nearly every chair was filled as members and interested community members heard about Trails Alliance accomplishments in 2010 and what the next round of trail building goals involve.

According to outgoing chair John Rahm, nearly all the goals for the initial trails plan have been met. There is now a safe and well-used trail connecting Tollgate to Sisters High School. The Peterson Ridge Trail system is enhanced and enlarged, with several multi-use and equestrian-use trails completed since the Sisters Trails Alliance began in 2003.

Jeff Sims presented the updated trail plan, which is based on public input and the goals of the Sisters Community Trail program. It is an ambitious plan, containing fourteen projects with the first priority the building of a Crossroads-to-Sisters High School path. Environmental assessments will begin soon, said Sims.

Other priority projects are a paved path from Sisters to Camp Sherman, to be built out in three segments, and the North Pine Street Trail, connecting the subdivisions north of Sisters to the town. Those neighborhoods include Indian Ford, Sage Woods, Crooked Horseshoe and Trapper Point.

The Sisters to Camp Sherman Trail is slated to begin near Ray's Food Place and connects through Tollgate and Black Butte Ranch before crossing Highway 20 and ending at Camp Sherman.

Plans for horse trail loops from the Metolius-Windigo Trail to and from Graham Corral and Sisters Cow Camp are also included.

While planning new trails is a motivating endeavor, Gene Trahern reminded meeting attendees that the current system needs to be maintained. The Trails Alliance is implementing an Adopt-A-Trail program, in which interested parties commit to traveling their section of trail at least once per quarter, picking up trash and small branches and making minor repairs. Major fixes would be reported and completed by those certified to use chainsaws in the national forest. Incentives - possibly Northwest Forest Passes - are being negotiated.

Creative fundraisers, always a part of volunteer organizations, are ongoing. Jen and TR McCrystal are hosting an evening at Jen's Garden on March 12. Reservations are required. Sisters Elementary School teacher and artist Clay Warburton created a painting that is emblazoned on T-shirts, available for purchase from Eurosports and Blazin Saddles. The eye-catching design is bold and bright and a good advertisement for the Sisters area.

The Sisters Trail Alliance welcomes new members, and more information is available on the Web site at http://www.sisterstrails.com. The aim of the group, to build and maintain area multi-use trails, is combined with a desire to develop Sisters as a bike-riding destination.

"The community would be a dramatically improved place if we can implement these plans," said Rahm.