Volunteers clear Selkirks trail to Beehive Lakes
HIKING -- Trail 279 to Beehive Lakes got a facelift last weekend, tanks to nine volunteers from the Idaho Trails Association.
The group camped up the Pack River Road in the Selkirk Mountains and worked under the supervision of three Forest Service trail crew leaders to clear brush from the popular 4.5-mile trail.
This year the Sandpoint Ranger District budget for trails was approximately $10,000. No other funding was available for maintaining hiking trails on the district this fiscal year.
“The work these volunteers did was priceless,” said MaryAnn Hamilton, Sandpoint Ranger District Trails Coordinator. “It’s great to see hikers helping out with the trails they enjoy.”
The Idaho Trails Association incorporated in 2010 to, in part, help trail managers maintain hiking trails in the state, said
“We would like to express our gratitude for the volunteers that turned out to help keep this trail safe, sustainable, and enjoyable,” said Brad Smith, a member of ITA’s Board of Directors.
The group organized five other trail projects this year across Idaho. ITA’s mission is to promote the continued enjoyment of Idaho’s hiking trails.