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By Mike, February 16, 2012 8:47 PM

Explore new territory! Join Island Rec on three wonderful off-island hikes happening this spring.  Register now for one or all three hikes in the series.  Register online at www.islandrec.org.  All transportation costs are included in fee.  Difficulty level varies depending on location.  Call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more details.

Saturday, March 24^th – Orcas Island – Turtleback Mountain: $14

A rugged yet tranquil hike on Orcas Island, Turtleback Mountain provides a diversity of incredible views that are unrivaled in the San Juans.  This is a wonderful opportunity to explore this newly opened natural gem on a moderate/hard 4-5 mile hike. Participants will meet Island Rec staff and van at the ferry landing near passenger loading area.  A minimum of 7 participants must be registered by March 14th or program may be canceled.

Saturday, April 21^st -  Lopez Island – Iceberg Point & Watmough Bay: $14

Stunning views and spring flowers on Lopez Island! Approximately 3 miles of easy trails contour bays, beaches, and wetlands along dramatic cliffs.  Meet with a local land steward to learn more about local plants and history.  Trip will visit Fisherman Bay village before catching the ferry home.  Participants will meet Island Rec staff and van at the ferry landing near passenger loading area.  A minimum of 7 participants must be registered by April 11th or program may be canceled.

Saturday, May 12^th – Baker Lake Trail: $29

Wander through giant old growth forests!  This trail winds along the Baker river and provides spectacular views of Mt. Shuksan and Baker Lake.  This is a wonderful, easy to moderate 6 mile hike for the whole family in all seasons of the year.  Participants must meet at the ferry landing for the red eye ferry leaving Friday Harbor.  Participants will meet Island Rec staff and van at the ferry landing near passenger loading area.  A minimum of 7 participants must be registered by May 2nd or program may be canceled.

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By Mike, February 16, 2012 8:27 PM

link to PDF suitable for printing

Mitchell Hill, Roche Harbor Highlands and English Camp

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By Mike, December 16, 2011 5:59 PM

As of October 1, 2011 WSF charges no bike fee if the bicyclist uses a passenger/commuter book ticket.  A commuter book ticket for a passenger fare covers the bicycle for free.    Buying just a single ticket as a bicyclist costs quite a bit more than just a single passenger ticket.  WSF is supporting bicyclists by charging this lower rate for a commuter book of 10 tickets which still must be used in 90 days.

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By Mike, January 29, 2011 7:33 PM

Present: David Aas, Sheila Aas, Peter Dawson, Davis Dehlendorf, Eileen Drath, Louise Dustrude, Jill Johnson, Mike Lazzari, Kyle Loring, Cinda Pierce, Tracy Roberson, Bill Severson, Dave Zeretzke.

Notices:

Saturday, Jan. 22^nd, 1:00pm, Hike American Camp with Mike Vouri, a National Park Service historian. Meet at American Camp visitor’s center for this 3.5mi. easy hike. Wear clothing and footgear appropriate for a dirt trail that may be wet in places. The first of our 4^th Sat. Hike events.

Wed., Feb. 2^nd, 5pm, Steering Committee meeting at Whidbey Island Bank.

Wed., Feb.16^th, 4:45pm, Trails Committee meeting at Whidbey Island Bank.

Wed., March 9^th, Trails Annual Potluck at the Mullis Center. Sign up to help! Contact Alice Hurd, Jill Johnson, Louise Dustrude, or Eileen Drath.

Volunteer Hours this Month:

Call to Order:

4:45p: Social Gathering and light refreshments.

The regular meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dave Zeretzke at 5pm. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved as circulated by email.

Old Business:

1. Annual Potluck- March 9^th is our annual Trails Potluck, to be held at the Mullis Center at 5pm. The theme is “Signs, Gates, Stiles, Bridges and other trail features”, so we are asking you to send any interesting photos from your travels that fit into this category. Please send them to David Dehlendorf dauffa@gmail.com. He prefers a thumbnail drive, or email. We need submissions by Feb. 20^th. David has graciously volunteered to put together a slide presentation, so a description should accompany the photos.

Eileen Drath announced that representatives from the Lopez Island Trails group will be attending and giving a brief presentation of activity on Lopez.

1. 4^th Saturday Trail walks: Volunteers are needed for these events, especially those with CPR certification. Trails representative on the hike will be responsible for the sign-up sheet and bringing the first aid kit (which will be supplied). Dogs on leashes are ok.See the website at www.sanjuanislandtrails.org for details. Eileen Drath is the contact and organizer for these great hikes.
2. Public Works Trail Standards Draft for Road Right -of -Way (ROW): Dave Zeretzke presented the Public Works handout with the proposed County road pedestrian trail dimensions and reminded us that the submission period for public comment is until January 31^st. A group discussion followed on the pros and cons of the proposed trail standards.

Concern was expressed about the increased cost of trail building, the difficulty of compliance in rural and rugged areas and the environmental impact in those areas. Dave Zeretzke drafted a letter to Public Works that the Standards are most appropriate for urban communities and that we believe they will not work in many areas of rural San Juan Island. Two examples were the Land Bank properties on the Westside of San Juan Island from Deadman’s Bay and South; and the Cattle Point Lighthouse to the concrete blockhouse east of American Camp. The letter has been sent to the Island Rec commissioners for revision and approval. Tracy Roberson will inform us when the letter has been sent.

It was pointed out that WSDOT has a history of allowing exceptions when necessary. We are all encouraged to send letters to Shannon Wilber at Public Works, pubwks@sjcpublicworks.org.

Dave Zeretzke said that at the State Trails Conference, most rural Trails Committees are working with railroad ROW and BLM ROW, and not Public Works ROW which is fairly unique to our situation.

Thanks to Mike Lazzari and David Dehlendorf for asking thought provoking questions at the Steering Committee and to Dave Zeretzke and Tracy Roberson for working on the letter of our concerns with Island Rec.

1. Strategies for Implementing the San Juan Island Trails Plan: Bill Severson asked for an update. Dave Zeretzke spoke with the Farmer’s Market and we will sponsor an information booth this Spring. He and Alice Hurd are the leads for the booth at the County Fair.

David Dehlendorf, Mike Lazzari, and Steve Ulvi are leads on developing a template for protocols that may include a list of partners, landowner and neighbor relations guidelines, timelines, progress notes, etc.

Dave Zeretzke, Jill Johnson, Louise Dustrude, and Eileen Drath are the leads on sponsoring partner breakfasts. The first one is planned for Feb.24^th for public agency partners. Invitations are going out the first of Feb.

For future consideration: Can the Trails Committee have a role in the updating of the SJC Transportation Element and Non-Motorized Transportation Plan? Dave Zeretzke will have a conversation with Shannon Wilber about the process.

Respectfully submitted,

Jill Johnson

Secretary

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By Mike, December 26, 2010 6:31 PM

SJI Trails Committee KNOW YOUR ISLAND walks, January through October,  4th Saturday of each month. Walks will take place rain or shine so come prepared. For more information, call 360-378-5646.

KNOW YOUR ISLAND WALKS 2012

Sat. Jan. 28, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park. Walk the trail from the Visitors’ Center to South Beach.  Learn cultural, historical and environmental history of the area. Meet and park at American Camp Visitors’ Center. Length is 2 mi. RT; terrain is grass and gravel path.  Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome.

Sat. Feb. 25, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Boyd Pratt, local historian and author to walk from the Roche Harbor Hotel to the Mausoleum, learning history of the area. Meet in front of Roche Harbor Hotel. Park on lower road that leads to the boat ramp and market. Length is 2mi. RT.  Terrain is paved road and wooded path. Rating is easy-to-moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome.

Sat. Mar. 24, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Marilyn O’Conner, Director, Port of Friday Harbor, to “Walk the Port” (airport to boat harbor) learning history and local color. Meet and park at Skagit Valley College parking lot.  Length is 2 mi. RT.  Terrain is sidewalks, wooded trail and pavement. Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

NEXT: Sat.  April 28, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Doug McCutchen, Land Steward for the San Juan County Land Bank and Boyd Pratt, local historian and author.  “They clear-cut all the forests to feed the lime kilns…or did they?”  Learn history, mystery, and myths about the limestone mining and lime production on San Juan Island, and how our unique natural history played an important role in its success. Meet and park at Lime Kiln State Park.  Length is 1.5 mi. RT. Terrain is wooded trail. Rating is easy-to-moderate. Dogs on leashes welcome. A Discover Pass is required for parking at the State Park. They will be available on site. Payment may be  made by cash or check please.

Sat. May 26, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Sandy Strehlou, Town of F.H. Coordinator of Historic Preservation and Kevin Loftus, Director of San Juan Historical Museum.  Take the first ever tour of Post War Architecture Friday. Also known as Recent Past Architecture; 1945-1960. Discover why these familiar and often under-appreciated buildings are considered historic and important to our heritage. The walk ends with a private tour of the more distant past at the San Juan Historical Museum with eight buildings each holding displays and exhibits. Park at the Courthouse Parking Lot and meet under the heritage black walnut tree in front of the SJC Courthouse. Length is 2.mi. RT.  Terrain is sidewalk and museum grounds. Rated easy. NO DOGS, please.

Sat. June 23, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, to walk at English Camp, learning about life in the camp, where the officers lived and about its historical and cultural history.  Meet and park at English Camp parking lot.  Length is 1.5 mi. RT.  Terrain is wooded trail and grass.  Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Sat. July 28, 1-4:00pm.  Meet Mike Buettell, Roche Harbor resident and volunteer trail builder, to walk and explore the Briggs Lake Trail in the Roche Harbor Highlands.  Meet and park at the intersection of West Valley and Roche Harbor Roads.  Length is 4 miles RT.  Terrain is slight uphill and downhill sections on service roads.  Rating is moderate.  Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Sat. Aug. 25, 1-4pm.  Meet Eliza Habegger, San Juan Island County Land Bank steward and walk the King Sisters Preserve trail.  Learn about agriculture and the preserve.  Farmer Rob Waldron will give a special off-trail talk and tour of the farm operation.  Meet and park at 3827 San Juan Valley Road, where the road takes a 90-degree turn to the north.  Look for orange cones at the open gate. Length is 1.5 mi, RT.  Terrain is wooded path and meadow.  Rating is easy.  NO DOGS, PLEASE, due to presence of livestock.

Sat.  Sept. 22, 1-4pm.  Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, to walk Mitchell Hill, the newest piece of our island’s National Park.  We will see work done by the Trails Committee and Island Rec in conjunction with the Park and generous volunteers.  Meet and park at the English Camp parking lot to carpool. Length is 3 mi. RT.  Terrain is wooded trail.  Rating is moderate.  Dogs on leashes welcome.

Sat.  Oct. 24, 1-4pm.  Meet Dona Wuthnow, Director of County Parks, to walk San Juan County Park. Learn about its cultural and natural history highlights, featuring the newly restored Brann Cabin, believed to be the only homestead cabin on the island in its original location on public land. Meet and park at the San Juan County Park office on Westside Road.  Length is 1mi. RT. Terrain is road and rustic trail.  Rating is easy.  Dogs on leashes welcome.

Know Your Island Walk June 25, 2011