STA volunteers rehabilitate trails

It was a chilly morning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but that did not deter 27 enthusiastic Sisters Trails Alliance (STA) volunteers who gathered at the Whychus Creek Overlook trailhead.

Donning hard hats and work gloves, they teamed up to help restore native vegetation in disturbed areas around the barrier-free overlook loop, repair trail tread issues on the southern leg of the Whychus Creek Trail and Whychus Draw Connector trail, and repair erosion and obliterate several "user trails" that had developed at key points along Whychus Creek.

Volunteers spread and raked-in approximately $1,000 worth of native grass and flower seeds (funded from a grant to STA from the National Forest Foundation), as part of an effort to rehabilitate the overlook area following years of abuse, fire and neglect. The group also repaired some one-and-one-half miles of trail.

STA's fully equipped tool trailer was parked on site to facilitate the distribution of hard hats, rakes, hoes, shovels, Pulaskis, McLeods - all the tools necessary to maintain trails.

Seeding crews were led by Maret Pajutee, retired U.S. Forest Service ecologist, mastermind behind the overlook project, now an STA member and a new Trail Steward for the Whychus Creek trail system (a job she shares with six other STA volunteers). The erosion and user trails obliteration team was led by noted "trails guru" John Schubert, also retired USFS. John was responsible for the design and layout of both the Whychus Creek Trail and the Whychus Overlook Loop. STA trails coordinator and board member, Gary Guttormsen, led the tread repair crews.

At the end, Pajutee provided everyone with delicious cookies and hot cider at the overlook wall, under bright sun with stunning views over the Whychus watershed.

"STA would like to thank each and every volunteer who made this work party a success," said STA President Chuck Humphreys. "We celebrate your spirit and devotion to our community trails."