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Greetings!
Welcome to the first issue of our newest endeavor, an E-Newsletter. We are starting this newest project with the hope of adding another option for members and the general public who are interested in the PNNST and the PNTA to be kept informed of what is happening with the trail. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions as to what you might like to see or read about feel free to contact us and let us know.
If at any point you decide you don't want to receive the Newsletter you can select the link at the bottom of every email to unsubscribe. |
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From the Desk of the Director of Trail Operations
Welcome to our first attempt at more frequent communications with our members, supporters, and agency partners. At this time our hope is to send out these communications every two months, with the possibility of moving to once a month, in the future. We will probably move towards only publishing the Nor'wester once a year, in the fall, where we can give a broad view of the work by our volunteers and crews over the previous summer.
The PNTA is looking for a lot of good things to happen along the Trail this year: we will have crews working in the Colville, Okanogan, Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie, and Olympic National Forests; we will once again partner with Montana Conservation Corps for work in Montana, and are proud to continue our partnership with the Backcountry Horsemen along the entire length of the PNNST for their projects.
The PNTA has started a series of facilitated focus group meetings, one in each of the counties along the Trail. These meetings are by invitation, to try and keep them relatively small, and are being attended by local business, government, hikers, equestrians, land trusts, agencies, educators, private land owners, timber companies, and Chambers of Commerce. The focal point of these meetings is to find out what recreation means to the local communities, the impact the Trail can have on local economic issues, and what can, or should, the PNTA do or be doing to help local communities achieve their goals. Meetings have taken place in Whatcom, Island, Skagit, Clallam, and Jefferson Counties in Washington; as well as meetings in Flathead and Lincoln Counties in Montana. Meetings are still scheduled in Bonner and Boundary Counties in Idaho, as well as Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille Counties in Washington.
Matt McGrath, the Forest Service Administrator for the PNNST, is hopeful in starting public meetings late this fall along the entire length of the Trail. This will be the next step in developing the Comprehensive Management Plan that will govern all aspects of the Trail into the future. This is not an overnight process, but a very lengthy and time consuming process and I can't think of a better person to have than Matt overseeing the process. For those of us who have made the PNNST a passion for over thirty years this is reality in the making.
Happy Trails,
Jon Knechtel
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National Trails Day
Organized by the American Hiking Society and launched in 1993 the NTD has grown and become a way for like minded people to spend time together. To be able to hike and work along side each other, meeting and making new friends while enjoying the vast and varied trails that are part of our national forests and parks system.
This year the National Trails Day will take place June 2, 2012. With everything going on in the world of politics and economics what better way to start or continue to find ways to de-stress and enjoy some of the world's most beautiful countryside. To learn about our country's trails and parks and the many ways it can be enjoyed. It gives veteran hikers, joggers, bikers, and horseback riders a chance to share their experiences and knowledge to those new to the outdoor experience.
So I would just like to say - Check out what events might be going on in your area to celebrate the day and maybe join up with one of them and see what is outside our doors just waiting for us to see, hear and enjoy.
If your trail crew, organization, or club would like to let others know about an event either for National Trails Day or any other event you have set up let us know and we would be glad to add it to our events list. You can contact us at 360-854-9415 or email us at ldowning@pnt.org
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Volunteer Work Parties
The backbone of trail organizations like ours are the volunteers and members who through their efforts help to maintain what is one of our country's greatest assests, its wilderness trails and parks. If you want to join a crew or if you, your club/organization or company want to put a crew together lets us know. You can contact us at (360) 854-9415 or e-mail either Lewis Trout, Trail Crew Coordinator at ltrout@pnt.org or Jon Knechtel, Director of Trail Management at jknechtel@pnt.org. If you want to let other volunteers join your crew we can add it to this list along with your contact information for those interested in volunteering.
Tips to trail work:
No matter where you work wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, have work gloves, and plenty of fluids to drink. If the crew is a day crew usually you will need to bring a lunch. It all depends on the crew's organizer as to what you need.
Notice:
Each person working on a crew will have to sign a liability release form. Parents or guardians of those under 18 must sign for minors.
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Skagit-Whatcom Trail Maintenance Organization
2012 schedule.April through October (First and Third Saturday of each month). Except for National Trails Day the meeting place is the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5 north of Burlington across from Starbucks. Meeting time is 8:15 am. For questions and more information call (360) 424-0407 or e-mail jdmelcher@comcast.net.
April 7th and April 21st
May 5th and May 19th
June 2 (National Trails Day)
June 16th
July 7th and July 21st
August 4th and August 18th
September 1st and September 15th
October 6th and October 20th
May 26th to the 27th (Memorial Day Weekend) the Oroville TMO and the Okanogan Valley Chapter BCHW will be working together in a joint work party. They will be logging out the Whistler Canyon trail from US Hwy 97 to the divide above the USFS Wilcox Trailhead and installing 3 new picnic tables and fire rings at the dispersed campsites at the Wilcox Trailhead. For questions and more information you can contact Tryg Culp at (509) 486-2061 or by e-mail at trygveculp@gmail.com
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| If you have any events you would like to have included or if you want to put together a volunteer work party and would like to have that information included in the newsletter you can contact us at (360) 854--9415 or e-mail us at ldowning@pnt.org
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Join Today
Your membership makes the PNNST possible.
It supports the construction, maintenance, and protection of the trail for current and future generations to enjoy.
To find out more about becoming a member click on the membership link below.
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Upcoming Events
April 22 is Earth Day if you are interested in finding out more and what events are going on near you
June 2nd, 2012
National Trails Day
Skagit-Whatcom TMO
Deception Pass, WA
For more information call
(360) 424-0407 or e-mail jdmelcher@comcast.net
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Okanogan Valley Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of WA
will be logging out the Antoine and Southside Trails on the north and west flanks of Mt Bonaparte. For more information call
(509) 486-2061 or e-mail trygveculp@gmail.com
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