Volunteers make trails happy

Horseback riders, mountain bike enthusiasts and riders of off-road vehicles joined forces Saturday to help repair weather-damaged trails at Capitol State Forest as part of the Great Gravel Pack-In.

The fifth-year event is organized by the state Department of Natural Resources and is aimed at getting the nonmotorized trails in shape by the time they open May 1.

About 115 people worked on three sections of trails near the Margaret McKenny Campground and distributed nearly 100,000 pounds of gravel, organizers said. Although the trails were in relatively good shape after a milder winter, the state still is catching up on its trail work after recent winter storms, including a flood in 2007 that destroyed an old wooden bridge across Waddell Creek. It was replaced this winter with a fiberglass composite model, said Nick Cronquist, community outreach and volunteer coordinator for DNR.

Among the volunteers Saturday were Friends of Capitol Forest, a mountain biking club, and various Washington and Oregon chapters of the Backcountry Horsemen, groups known for riding horses and packing gravel to benefit trail repair throughout the region.

Friends of Capitol Forest member Brian McGovern of Olympia said he rides the trails twice a week because of the trail variety and the trails’ convenient location near his home.

“It’s important for future access,” he said of the trail work.

Barbara Downing of Puyallup said the Great Gravel Pack-In was the first this year of 10 to 15 events she rides in annually. Downing, 63, a member of the Pierce County Backcountry Horsemen, rode Lil’ Bit, a 23-year-old Arabian. She said the horse hadn’t tired after riding all morning and that it was good for the horse to get out and rebuild muscle after a sedentary winter.

“We all need to contribute to keep the trails open,” Downing said.

Also making an appearance Saturday was Traveler, a 17-year-old riding mule who was in much better spirits this year than last year.

Last year, DNR and the volunteers focused their efforts on repairing trails near the Mima Falls Trailhead. Traveler was there too, but was in such a foul mood that he brayed loudly at the other animals and volunteers. This year, Traveler was part of the regular rotation of 42 horses and mules and even allowed a friendly pat on the nose.

Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403

rboone@theolympian.com