Olympia volunteer reaches out to Woodland Trail forest dwellers

Every month, Jim Rainwood documents the homeless campsites and debris along “side trails” of the Olympia Woodland Trail.

The numbers fluctuate from month to month, but the story is the same.

“As far as I’m concerned, every tent I take a picture of represents people who need services,” Rainwood said. “For one reason or another, they’ve decided living in the woods is the best option.”

With walking sticks and a camera in tow, Rainwood hit the 11 side trails again last week, meandering deep in the woods surrounding the Indian Creek Ravine.

The Olympia Woodland Trail starts at the intersection of Eastside Street and Wheeler Avenue and stretches 2.5 miles to the Chehalis-Western Trail. Off the beaten path, Rainwood found abandoned tents as well as sites covered with trash and clothing. Some of those same sites had been cleaned up since the previous month’s trek. The more primitive campsites consisted of tarps draped over a line.

The recent expedition had seemed somewhat routine until Rainwood discovered four tents along one side trail. He talked with two men who were staying at the campsite. One said he had lost his family and construction job, and planned to camp in the woods until he could get his life back together.

Rainwood gave the campers trash bags and a list of social services they could find in town. He noted many campers are more than willing to clean up debris.

One question that Rainwood asks the campers he meets is what it would take to stop living in the woods. A question he asks himself is how case managers can help mentally ill or drug-addicted people who are living in the woods.

“My work has a great impact to me as a human being living next to these woods. I can’t conceive of doing nothing,” he said. “I want to be engaged with some aspect of this problem with homelessness.”

On his recent hike, Rainwood found seven campsites, compared with just one in February, seven in January and eight in December.

Rainwood has been photographing the trail’s campsites and debris since 2013. He sends the reports to city staff and posts videos of his findings on YouTube. Because of a lack of manpower, the city relies on Rainwood’s reports for code enforcement and debris cleanup.

David Hanna, associate parks director, joined Rainwood on last week’s hike. Hanna said Rainwood’s efforts are vital in helping the city pinpoint problem areas along the trail. He praised Rainwood’s continual involvement with the trail — from its acquisition and development in the early 1990s to its current maintenance today.

“He has a real passion for the corridor,” Hanna said. “He’s made a huge difference.”

The city has a plan to improve safety along the Olympia Woodland Trail, which is considered one of the parks department’s most challenging properties. The department will expand its patrol of these parks in 2017 with funding generated by the Metropolitan Parks District that was approved by voters in November.

This story was originally published March 6, 2016 at 9:43 PM with the headline "Olympia volunteer reaches out to Woodland Trail forest dwellers."