Annual Recap

By Cris M. Currie

The year started normally with two successful Friends Group guided First Day Hikes on January 1st, followed by three more FG-guided snowshoe hikes organized by Spokane Parks & Recreation. On one of those hikes, I helped lead four vision-impaired snowshoers and their personal guides to the snowshoe hut. While not everyone actually got to the hut during the time allowed, all were empowered with the knowledge and confidence to try again on their own. The last meeting of the Mountain Recreation & Education Center planning group met on February 5th and concluded that the $25M project was unrealistic. About two weeks later, and after personally consulting with most of the group members, I submitted an alternative proposal to the Parks Commission on behalf of the Friends Group. This plan was later incorporated into the Commission’s capital budget request.

As COVID-19 began to wreak havoc across the world, activity slowed considerably. The park was closed for 41 days. The trails and parking lots reopened on May 5th while the buildings remained closed and social distancing measures were enacted. Volunteer activities were limited, but WTA was still able to contribute hundreds of volunteer hours maintaining trails and working on the Trail 131 reroute. Evergreen also had numerous trail maintenance work parties and continued work on upper Trail 290. They were also able to hire two professional trail builders from Terraflow Trail Systems to construct the top half of that trail. Early October snow cut that work short, however. I completed my 51st consecutive knapweed pull on Ragged Ridge and concluded that the weed has finally been eliminated from the entire ridge except for a handful of tiny spots in the original area of infestation which will require at least one more year of attention.

Unfortunately, the Vista House interpretive project made very little progress, and the Spokane Tribe interpretive project was set aside, while our proposed ADA interpretive trail around the Cook’s Cabin Heritage Area was rejected due to potentially high costs. However, work is nearly complete on our proposal for an interpretive sign to be mounted inside the restored CCC woodshed. I was also able to work with park staff over the summer to update the GIS trail map and the park brochure, but staff have yet to complete the final products.

At our virtual September meeting, I announced my retirement from the Board and the remainder of the year was spent clarifying the Friends Group’s role, organizing our archives, transcribing more of our history, trying to improve communications with staff, and reorganizing the group to better divide up the responsibilities. A trails committee was established. Its initial goal is to update the current trail plan with a formal recommendation to the Commission. An education committee was also established, and specific responsibilities were assigned to all of the officers. A group email address was created and an online application form was made for prospective new members.