NWTA + Orogenesis Rally to Reopen Forgotten Trails

Written by Nancy Stone

NWTA and Orogenesis Collective recently joined forces to log out and clear the Tillicum Trail, a vital connection in the Loowit Tier of the Orogenesis Trail.  After a month of near summer-like weather conditions, June-uary descended upon the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with ambitious vigor on Friday and Saturday. Sunday provided a well-deserved respite from warmer temperatures and dry weather, giving not only the campers an opportunity to dry out but also the mosquitoes to wake from their slumber. 

Against all odds, 27 volunteers brushed and logged out the Tillicum, Crab, and Speed trails, a total of roughly 8 miles. This endeavor restores 3 trails that haven’t seen maintenance efforts for the better part of 15 years, returning them to accessible recreation as well as re-connecting the Tillicum Trail to the Lewis River via the Speed Trail. 

Even with a short middle section of the Tillicum trail still needing some brushwork, the trail is a fun, loam-filled, flowy descent through a beautiful forest. This was put to the test on Sunday afternoon when the volunteers traded their chainsaws and brush cutters for bikes and finally outpaced the relentless mosquitos. There were smiles all the way around! With continued stewardship efforts, as well as some help from more tires on the tread, this trail will prove to be a great addition to the well loved trails in the Gifford Pinchot. 

It is impossible to ignore the amount of resilience and grit that each volunteer mustered over the weekend. Not only was it cold and constantly wet, but the scope of work was ambitious and demanding. Everyone rose to the occasion and did so with so much positive energy. Camp life and spirits were helped by a roaring fire and an endless supply of brownies and hot cocoa. 

If this sounds like a good time to you, consider joining NWTA for our next stewardship campout in July for the St Helens International Festival of Trails (SHIFT) or Orogenesis Collective’s Old Cascade Crest New Trail Build. Your support, both in time and donation help both organizations build and maintain the trails that you love on YOUR public lands. To ensure that public lands remain ours to enjoy, you can follow these easy steps to raise your voice.