BICYCLING — The Route of the Hiawatha rail trail near Lookout Pass will be open for the season starting Saturday, says Phil Edholm at Lookout Pass Ski Area.

That's great news for folks planning bicycling outings over the Memorial Day weekend.  Heck, people were skinning up and skiing the slopes in the area last week.

The nationally acclaimed 15-mile rail-trail uses the abandoned Milwaukee Railroad grade between the old town site of Taft, Mont., and the North Fork of the St. Joe River near Avery, Idaho. 

The unpaved route features 10 tunnels and 7 trestles as high as 230 feet within the Loop Creek canyon at the crest of the scenic Bitterroot Mountains. The grade is a gentle 1.6 percent.

Trail passes, shuttle tickets, mountain bike rentals, souvenirs and picnic lunches are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area, just off I-90 at the Idaho/Montana border 12 miles east of Historic Wallace, Idaho. 

Call (208) 744-1301 or visit www.ridethehiawatha.com for trail information. Equipment reservations are recommended. 

The Hiawatha Trail is set to be open daily through Sept. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

TRAILS — The half-realized dream of a national-class lowland trail running 130 miles from Port Townsend to the Pacific Ocean needs money, quickly, to deal with a new requirement for an environmental assessment.

The Olympic Discovery Trail, which volunteers have been piecing together for 24 years along the Olympic Peninsula’s north coast, has come to a land-use planning jam:

The group has until March 31 to raise enough money to construct an alternate trail segment plan the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is requiring to avoid a sensitive wetland area.

See a Rails-to Trails Conservancy report on the Olympic Discovery Trail.

TRAILS — The Inland Northwest, with its fabulous system of rail trails, has insight to what would be lost if a malicious defunding bill gets anywhere in Congress.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy is calling H.R. 7 — the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 — “atrocious” for several reasons.

If it passes the House floor and becomes law as it stands, the bill would:

• Eliminate dedicated funding for trails, walking and bicycling;
• Destroy a 30-year precedent of long-term dedicated funding for transit;
• Do away with the rail-trail eligibility category in the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program;
• Eliminate the Safe Routes to School program;
• Reduce job creation potential, since trail, walking and bicycling projects create more jobs per dollar than highway projects;
• Contribute to our growing health and obesity crises.

A coalition of groups, including cyclists, hikers, conservationist and others, is trying to get word out to defeat this bill when it comes to the House floor—expected to begin Tuesday.

Read an ABC News report on the bill here.

American Trails is keeping track of several trails-related bills.

WINTER SPORTS — The mountains are in need of new snow for skiers an the hopes of river runners.

But at the valley level north of Republic, Wash., there's boundless optimism for the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners Ski Day on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the old rail car loading area at the north end of Curlew. In the event of inadequate snow they plan on leading a walk along the Kettle River to the old railroad tunnel.

WINTER SPORTS — Alpine skiers weren't the only ones reveling in the early onslaught of winter and the deep powder in the mountains last week.

Cross-country skiers were having a great time making tracks from the back-country of North Idaho, on Mount Spokane's ungroomed but inviting nordic trail system, and even on the Ferry County Rail Trail, Golden Tiger section near Republic (above).

TRAILS — North Idaho continues to get a steady stream of good press from its world-class rail trails — the Route of the Hiawatha near Lookout Pass and the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes that runs from Mullan to Plummer.

A Rails-to-Trails Conservancy publication recently published a feature about Wallace entitled, “In Idaho, Former Silver Mining Town Reinvents Itself as Trails Destination.” 

“When we use the phrase “destination trail,” the Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho is exactly what we have in mind,” the author says. “The trail itself is the draw; people come from across the country, and sometimes the world, to ride this 15-mile rail-trail through the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains and wilderness area, including a 1.6-mile tunnel.”

As recreation enthusiasts add it to their “bucket list” of adventures, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy named the Hiawatha to its Rail-Trail Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The nearby Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, North Idaho Centennial Trail and Old Milwaukee Road corridor, has meant to local populations have made “giant impact” on local communities, Wallace businessmen told the writer. The 72-mile Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes passes directly by Wallace, a geographical key to transferring trail-user numbers into commerce that fills up to 20 percent of the beds in the Wallace Inn during the summer trail season.

Info:  Friends of the Coeur d'Alene Trails

TRAILS — The U.S. Senate voted 60-38 to reject Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky) amendment to siphon the only dedicated source of funding for walking and biking trails into bridge repair projects.

“The amendment was opposed by both Democrats and Republicans, important news as we head into what is likely to be months of more attacks on the Transportation Enhancements program,” said Jake Lynch of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Transportation Enhancements funds have been the largest and most cost-effective source of funding for trails, walking and bicycling during the last 20 years.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has posted a short story on both the vote and the amendment.

RAIL TRAILS – The popular Route of the Hiawatha Trail rail trail near Lookout Pass is scheduled to close for the season on Sunday, (Oct. 2).

TRAILS– Efforts to maintain and develop some of the region’s standout trails will be presented at the annual “state of our trails” program organized by the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition Thursday, 6 p.m., at Mountain Gear Corporate Headquarters, 6021 E. Mansfield in Spokane Valley.  (See map)

Groups and agencies will share information on what’s happening at Mount Spokane and Riverside state parks, Spokane County Parks and Conservation Futures areas, Spokane city parks and the Fish Lake rail trail.

Get a summary on area bicycle trails and river trails as well as the effort to secure a “Dream Trail” through the entire Dishman Hills area to the Iller Creek and Rocks of Sharon conservation areas.

Washington Trails Association members will update on volunteer trail work to improve routes in Iller Creek, Liberty Lake and the Colville National Forest.

Read on for a detailed list of the trails to be covered.

TRAILS — Today is a grand day for trails in northeastern Washington. In fact, it's a 17 Grand day.

The final eBay bid in the auction that ended today  was $17,100 for the ukulele Eddie Vedder has donated to the Ferry County Rail Trail Partners.

The gift from the Pearl Jam star will be a huge boost for the group that's trying to develop the abandoned railway trail that runs 25-miles from Republic along the Kettle River and Curlew Lake to the Canada border.

“Developing this trail has become a priority for a community that finds itself in the midst of both an economic and a public health crisis,” said Bob Whittaker, head of the rail-trail group who made the contact with Vedder. “Without question, a completed world class rail trail facility can be a big part of the long term solution specifically for these two issues.

“Eddie just called me to congratulate us, say that he was happy to be a part of it and wish Ferry County luck with its 30-mile rail trail project…  Big thank you to Eddie, Pearl Jam and the whole PJ management team for helping our community!”

The trail has it all: tunnels, a trestle across the north end of Curlew Lake, access to a state park and campgrounds, miles of tranquility along the river, a swimming beach and access to food, coffee and goodies in Curlew — and  safe way for local kids to commute to school and neighbors.  

For details, check out my story on the grass roots effort to push through the controversies and polish this gem in the rough.

Meantime, hats off to Vedder and all who made the auction possible. In the attached letter Vedder says the ukulele was used during the recording of his new solo album Ukulele Songs.

Documents:

BICYCLING – The Route of the Hiawatha near Lookout Pass will open Saturday for its 14th season, officials confirmed today.

 Lookout Pass Ski Area coordinates bus shuttles and bicycle rentals for the popular 15-mile rail trail that straddles the Montana-Idaho border.

The trail opened three weeks earlier last year when the mountains were not so loaded with snow.

The trail, which includes 10 tunnels and seven trestles as high as 230 feet, attracts visitors from around the world.

Crews have been working to clear snow from the trailhead at the east portal of the Taft Tunnel, which is the highest point of Route of the Hiawatha at 4,147 feet.

For details and bike rentals, call (208) 744-1301 or visit www.skilookout.com.

Read on for more details.

TRAILS — Vandalism has marred a mural in the Fish Lake Trail tunnel less than two weeks after volunteers had put all but the finishing touches on the colorful farm-to-rail scenes.

Apparently on Friday night, a paint roller was used to write graffiti and ruin every panel on both sides of the tunnel near Marshall, said Dan Schaffer, who heads the friends group that stewards the trail.

Eastern Washington University art students had worked for weeks to design and outline the farm-and-railroad-themed mural. Volunteers ranging from kids to retired helpers showed up on May 14-15 to add color to the outline.

 The popular paved railroad right of way starts near Sunset Boulevard and Government Way and runs 7.4 miles to Scribner Road near Marshall.

Email tips that might lead to the perpetrator to the Fish Lake Trail friends group at traildan@comcast.net.

Tax-deductible contributions for repairing the mural can be sent to Inland Northwest Trails Coalition, PO Box 3331, Spokane WA 99220-3331.  (Dan Schaffer funded most of the first round, including artist fees, by himself.)

Info: traildan@comcast.net

RAIL-TRAILS— Families chipped in for a kid-friendly event on Saturday and Sunday to add a splash of color to a tunnel on the Fish Lake Trail near Marshall and Scribner Road.

Families helped paint a mural designed by art students from Eastern Washington University and led by Tina Johnson, a senior in art history and studio painting.

Volunteer Dan Schaffer, working with the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition, organized the painting party as he continues to be a major influence in the development and enjoyment of this paved rail-trail.

The major trailhead in Spokane is at near the intersection of Sunset Highway and Government Way, behind the church on Milton Ave.

For information on volunteering for other Fish Lake Tail projects, contact Schaffer by email,  traildan@comcast.net.

TRAILS — The commission that governs the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes — which stretches 72 miles from Mullan to Plummer —is having a meeting Thursday, and the public is invited. 

The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at the Heyburn State Park Visitor Center in Plummer.

An agreement between the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe establishes a partnership for the ownership, management and operation of the trail. Part of that called for a six-member commission to oversee trail management, a joint news release said.

Meetings are held twice per year.

Info: call the tribe at (208) 686-1800 or the Department of Parks and Recreation at (208) 769-1511.