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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Saltese Uplands trail undergoing upgrade

Ryan Hodge and Sarah Prior of Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance work on a new trail to accommodate bikes, hikers and horses at Saltese Uplands Conservation Area in Spokane Valley. (COURTESY PHOTO / COURTESY PHOTO)

Mountain bikers have been applying acquired expertise and skill to a new trail at Saltese Uplands Conservation area in Spokane Valley.

Evergreen East members are looking for more volunteers for a June 25 effort to put the final touches on a rerouted Short Draw Trail, which will be an improvement in many ways from riding pleasure to safety and environmental consciousness.

The group already has devoted more than 160 hours to the project with planning, walking, cutting and grading, said member Dan Wilson.

“It is not a huge trail,” Wilson said, noting that it will be 0.8 miles long, up from the 0.6 miles on the old trail that’s being blocked off.

“We have extended the switchbacks to make the grade reversals and kept the trail on the higher side of the valley to achieve a more gradual terrain and enjoy some of the gorgeous views across to Mica Peak and the Saltese marsh area, which was nearly a lake earlier this year.”

The new trail is special because it opens up scenic views, reduces drainage issues and secludes wildlife habitat near the creek. “It also brings in some nice variety to the trail including some natural rock features,” Wilson said.

“The trail was designed to be optimized for all user groups making it a nice hiking, walking or jogging option with a focus on sight lines to avoid trail conflicts.”

Considering that Saltese is a Spokane County Conservation Futures conservation area, the trail system isn’t expected to be expanded much more, Wilson said. The goal with any work Evergreen East does “is to make an enjoyable system while being environmentally conscious,” he said.

“At this point our focus will be on maintenance and brush cutting coming up very soon. We are also looking at options to best address the high grasses and weeds this year.”

Evergreen East has been heavily involved with designing, building and maintaining the mountain bike trails at Beacon Hill with current leadership under Kyle Jennings.

The group this year has cleaned up drug-related camp sites at Beacon.

The energy the members generate has attracted attention of other groups, including the U.S. Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape 336th training group, which joined members and applied muscle to the Saltese trails last month.