Trails Of The Past Needed For Future

Roads have become the primary routes through the West in the past century, but they haven’t replaced the human need for trails.

People who once walked through open fields behind their homes are now boxed in.

That’s why the Centennial Trail began drawing weekend crowds the day it opened.

But government recreation budgets are drying up.

“The Centennial Trail, as nice as it is, isn’t finished,” said Charles Korb, Washington State Parks Centennial Trail ranger.

“It should be something bigger, all the way to the Columbia. But with state funding as it is, don’t count on it.”

The growing popularity of mountain bikes worries Korb. “The soft trails in Riverside State Park are really feeling the pressure,” he said. “Bikes have opened up some of the remote areas, putting additional pressure on wildlife.”

This, he said, is another argument for designing and building more trails to channel use in the right directions.

“Mountain bikers and other groups need to volunteer.”

They could take a lesson from The Backcountry Horsemen, one of the region’s most reliable trail maintenance groups. The local chapter, as usual, will be celebrating National Trails Day, Saturday, with a trail work party at Mount Spokane.

In Spokane, however, this year’s Trail Day activities will focus on play. A large event featuring fun runs, bike rides, walking routes, canoeing trips and equestrian gatherings will be based on the Centennial Trail. Info: 324-1756.

Maybe the events will score needed trail supporters. A survey last year found that 60 percent of the Centennial Trail users are married homeowners with incomes between $25,000 and $50,000. But 88 percent of the users were NOT contributors to trail funding or maintenance.

Worst news: Only 30 percent said they were willing to contribute.