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SCENIC TRAILS Proposed national scenic and historic trails in Idaho Legend •••••••••••••• Desert Trail IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Pacific Northwest Trail oo--oo--oo-- Nez Perce Trail __ . __ . __ . Lewis & Clark Trail ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Continental Divide Trail ooooooooo Oregon Trail By PETE ZIMOWSKY The Idaho Statesman Idaho is the hub of the United States National Trails System. Six proposed national scenic and historic trails pass through the Gem State, more than any other state in the union. Idaho's special features such as mountains and deserts, its historic significance and its lo- cation contribute to the state's popularity for trails. The Desert, Pacific Northwest, Nez Perce, Lewis & Clark, Continental Divide and Oregon trails all pass through Idaho. The Lewis & Clark and Oregon trails fall into the category of historic trails. A bill is in Con- gress to establish a historic category within the National Trails System. The Nez Perce trail has both scenic and historic qualities. The re- maining trails are are scenic, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska are other states with a high con- centration of trails, between four and five. The National Trails System was created in 1968 by Congress to to provide public access to outdoor areas across the country. Ten years later, only two trails — the 2,000 - mile Appalachian Trail in the East and the 2,350-mile Pacific Crest Trail in the West — have been designated. The remainder of about two dozen long- distance trails are in the pro- cess of being studied or commented on by the public. The delay in designating some of the trails was a concern at the 1977 National Trails Sym- posium at Lake Junaluska, N.C. Dave Thompson, stale trails coordinator with the Idaho Department of Parks and R et rea ton, attended the symposium He said displeas- ure with the delay in designating some of the trails was discussed during the meeting. Trail studies are conducted by the Forest Service when lands concerned are adminis- tered by the Department of Agriculture. The National Park Service is involved when lands are administered by any other agency, or when both types of land are involved. Several steps have to be taken to make a na- tional scenic trail; public hearings, a draft re- port and an environmental impact statement. The final report must be submitted by the presi- dent to Congress, which must give a final de- signation. Just because a trail is designated by Con- gress doesn't mean development takes place. According to the National Park Service, "as a rule, funding is made available over a period of years. Full funding for both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail has still to be achieved, even though 10 years have elapsed since their designation by Congress." Trails don't receive any protection while they are candidates for the National Trails System. Idaho's trails offer much scenic variety. The Desert and Oregon trails pass directly through Idaho while the other four trails weave in and out of the state. The Desert Trail is a proposed border-to- border trail extending from Mexico to Canada, crossing as much desert terrain as possible. Public hearings are being held in the states in- volved. The Desert Trail would enter Idaho south of Homedale and travel across the Snake River Plain to a point in northeastern Idaho where it would connect with the Continental Divide Trail. Some points of interest would be the Owyhee River Crossing, Bruneau River, Indian Bath- tub, Bruneau Sand Dunes, Gooding City of, Rocks, Camas Prairie, Craters of the Moon, and St. Anthony Sand Dunes. The Oregon Trail, a wagon road that~ stretches 2,000 miles from Missouri to the Wil- lamette Valley in Oregon, cuts across southern Idaho. The Oregon Trail enters Idaho in the southeastern part of the state in Thomas Fork Valley and winds about 398 miles to the Snake River crossing at Old Fort Boise near what is now Parma. There is an additional 112 miles of trail in the south alternate route from Three Is- land Crossing near Glenns Ferry to the Oregon border. This route was used by those pioneers who couldn't cross the Snake River near Three Island Crossing. The Pacific Northwest Frail cuts across the Idaho Panhandle. It extends about 1,000 miles from the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park in Montana to Pacific Ocean Beach in the Olympic National Park in Washington. It would pass through the Kaniksu National Forest in northern Idaho. The Nez Perce Trail is the famous 1,600 mile retreat covered by the Nez Perce Indians led by Chief Joseph from near Wallowa Lake, Ore- gon to Bear Paw Mountain, Montana. The In- dians were trying to avoid forcible eviction by the U S Army from the their home in Oregon s 1k allowa country and subjugation on the Lap - wai Reservation in northern Idaho The trail enters north- central Idaho and leaves the state, entering Montana over the Lolo Pass. Passing through Montana's Bitter- root, Big Hole and Horse Prairie Valleys, the trail reenters Idaho through Bannock Pass. The trail passes around the southern flank of the Bitteroot Mountains and then turns east along the foothills of the Continental Divide. It leaves Idaho again near Yellowstone Park. The Nee- Me-Poo Trail as it is also known, is the aboriginal name of the Nez Perce Indians meaning "the People," The Continental Divide Trail is a 3,100 -mile route from Canada to Mexico following the di- vide through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Col- orado and New Mexico. The divide is consid- ered the backbone of the North American Con- tinent and separates major drainage patterns, with the western slope rivers ultimately flow- ing into the Pacific Ocean and the eastern slope rivers draining to the Atlantic. The trail enters Idaho at Chief Joseph Pass and wanders along the Idaho-Montana border to Yellowstone Park. In Idaho the trail passes through the Salmon and Targhee national fo- rests. The Lewis and Clark Trail extends 3,700 miles from Wood River, Ill. to the Pacific Ocean in Oregon. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned two Army officers, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain Wil- �� 6� J 7 Liam Clark, to explore routes through the newly purchased Louisiana Territory and to extend the claim to the Pacific Ocean. The trail enters Idaho at the Continental Di- vide at Lemhi Pass. It follows the Salmon River for a short distance and then crosses back into Montana at Lost Trail Pass. The second entry into Idaho is at Lolo Pass. After this the expedi- tion floated the Clearwater River until it left the state for a remaining float trip to the Pa- cific Ocean. A description of -the remaining nominees for the National Scenic Trails System outside of Idaho are: • Potomac Heritage Trail — A 825 -mile trail extending from the mouth of the Potomac River to its sources in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. • Old Cattle Trails of the Southwest — These trails extend about 800 miles from San Antonio, Texas, through Oklahoma via Baxter Springs and Chetopa, Kan. to Fort Scott, Kan. The Chis- holm Trail from San Antonio or Cuero, Texas to Abilene, Kan. is included. • Natchez Trace — This trait travels about 600 miles from. Nashville, Tenn. to Natchez, Miss. • North Country Trail — It branches off the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and travels about 3,200 miles through the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota to the Lewis & Clark Trail in North Dakota. • Kittanning Trail — Travels from Shirleys- burg to Kittanning, Penn. • Santa Fe Trail — Extends about 800 miles from Independence, Mo. to Sante Fe. 0 Long frail — Extends 255 miles from Mas- sa( husetts border northward through Vermont to the Canadian border • Mormon Trail — From Nauvoo, Ill. to Salt Lake City, this trail travels through Iowa, Ne- braska and Wyoming. • Gold Rush trails of Alaska. • Mormon Battalion Trail — Extending 2,000 miles from Mount Pisgah, Iowa, through Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to Los Angeles. • El Camino Real — Trail travels from St. Augustine to San Mateo, Fla. • Bartram Trail — Crosses Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. • Daniel Boone Trail — Extends from the vi- cinity of Statesville, N.C. to Fort Boonesbo- rough State Park in Kentucky. • Dominguez- Excalante Trail — Makes a 2,000 -miles loop along the route of the 1776 expe- dition led by Father Francisco Atanasio Domin- guez and Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante starting at Santa Fe and going through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. • Florida Trail — Extends about 1,300 miles from the Everglades National Park to the Big Cypress Swamp, Kissimme Prairie, Withla- coochee State Forest, Ocala National Forest, Osceola National Forest and Black Water River State Forest. • Indian Nations Trail — From the Red River in Oklahoma north to the Oklahoma - Kansas boundary, this trail is 200 miles long. J .4 tzt4r')� 0Z � HIGH COUNTRY's December, 1978 Cover Photo. Following The SAMPSON TRAIL The cover photo on HIGH COUNTRY'S December 1978 issue showed a woman stand- ing in front of the well house at Roseberry. On the well house was an advertisement for the Sampson Music Co. in Boise. The advertise- ment stirred the memories of John Olmsted of Grangeville and prompted him to write the following recollections of the old North -South Highway, now designated U.S. Highway 95. The man Sampson, of Sampson Music Co., had a unique advertising gimmick in the 1920's which not only publicized his business but served as an aid to travelers going north and south in Idaho. In those days very few directional signs existed on Idaho roads. Sampson traveled the North -South Highway (U.S. 95) from the Nevada border to the Canadian line, leaving an orange trail behind. He made frequent stops to place a swipe or two of orange paint on boulders, fence posts, buildings - any spot that would catch the eye. They were a great aid to travelers over what was in those days mostly dirt roads. My first acquaintance with the "Sampson lock New Meadows Cambridge The Sampson Trail (or U.S. Highway 95) Trail" was in June of 1924. My father, E. M. Olmsted, had sold the Upper Country News - Reporter newspaper at Cambridge. Together with my dad and my mother, Nettie K., and sister, Edith J. Smith, we headed north looking for another newspaper to buy. We traveled in a small Overland touring car, the style with the front springs projecting to a V -shape in front of the car. We carried chains which were put to good use on our trip that took us north as far as Sandpoint. Side curtains had to be put on when it rained. It was not a speedy vehicle, but the four cylinders would do 40 M.P.H., "either up or down" we claimed. Between `New Meadows and the Circle C i9`79 J* 14 [`�h layout there wasn't more than a half dozen houses until you reached Riggins. One notice- able building was a large road -house just before starting down the canyon containing the tumbling Little Salmon River. We wound along in the vicinity of Pinehurst dodging boulders and trees with splashes of orange paint on them. Mom named that section of the road "tin can alley". Pollock was only a small settlement then, with a few homes, a store, the post office and some evidence of mining. The Stewart Aiken barn was there in 1924 marking the south entrance to Riggins. And the Riggins Hotel, where one could get a country - style dinner for a quarter, was a landmark for many years. It has disappeared with the passage of time. Around Lucille there were large steel build- ings containing machinery; we were told plans existed to pump gold - bearing sand from the depths of the Big Salmon River. These build- ings, like the Riggins Hotel, disappeared sometime over the years. The huge black walnut tree which has become a landmark at Slate Creek was there then, but it didn't have the limb spread it has today. Miners were drilling holes in the canyon walls, or operating rockers, to get out enough gold color for sow -belly and beans. There was The highway between New Meadows and Grangeville had few improved sections. At one place we encountered a project in progress (I think it was in Box Canyon). Men worked with picks, shovels, wheelbarrows, horses pulling scoops and fresnos, and, of course, powder. Both sides of the White Bird Hill were built with those now - famous switchbacks and loops, but the road was not graveled. It had a natural rock covering. On the south side were two railroad -type steamshovels used by prisoners of the Idaho State Penitentiary in road construc- tion. Over the years vandals destroyed the shovels, and I think the scrap iron was eventually sold to the Japanese. A sixty years ago item in a recent issue of the Clearwater Progress, taken from the December 5, 1918 Kamiah Progress says, "The State Highway Commission recently let contract for construction of the Grangeville -White Bird link of the North -South Highway at approximately $297,000. This is of interest to us over this way, for when this link is completed and our Seven Mile road ready for use, Kamiah will have a much better road connection with the southern part of the state than it now obtains." On our trip we stopped -at every town along the way that had a weekly newspaper, hoping that one would be for sale. Returning from Sandpoint, we got off the Sampson Trail late one afternoon and ended up at Elk River. Our map showed a normal road from there to Orofino; we, however, learned that it was a logging road ending up with a very steep grade to the Clearwater river. It was slow driving with the darkness coming on and Dad developed one of his severe headaches. "If we ever get to the end of this finned narrow road and grade," he said, "I'm going to buy the newspaper in Orofino, for sale or not, and never leave this place! " He was feeling better the next morning after application of hot towels during the night and a logger's breakfast in the morning. From there we climbed another steep, narrow grade to Nezperce, only to learn that it's paper wasn't for sale either. We found there was not a short route between two points over Nezperce and the Camas Prairie. Roads were all dirt and not navigable in wet weather. They followed section lines, were full of comers, lacked Sampson paint to guide the way, and had only an occasional house set back. It was common to get lost on the prairie. Back on the Sampson Trail, we visited the Idaho County Free Press in Grangeville and learned that J.C. Safely was willing to sell the paper. Dad, however, thought the price was too steep so we returned to Cambridge. Later, Dad made a return trip to Grangeville and bought the newspaper. He rode the PIN Railroad to New Meadows and from there went by Cadillac touring car, used as buses then, to Grangeville. The last time I remember seeing any evidence of the Sampson Trail was a splatter of orange paint on a boulder near Ferdinand, Idaho. It was there until the road was changed. Sampson used good paint because in some places it withstood the weather for many years and was still visible even after the North -South i9 ,7 g _7'h 0 c51 -4-r - /�P vd S - McCall on bike BY TOM GROTE The Star -News gets outbid path route A Boise man on Friday outbid the City of McCall for a key section of land that the city has designated as part of a cross -town bicycle path. A city official said steps would begin immediately to acquire the land, either through condemnation or a negotiated purchase. Richard Hoyle, through a repre- sentative, bid $40,000 for the half - mile strip of state -owned land that runs along the former railroad right - of -way between Deinhard Lane and the McCall - Donnelly school com- plex. The auction was conducted on Friday by the Idaho Department of Lands at the request of McCall offi- cials. Under law, the state cannot sell public land directly, but must put it up for auction. The city wants the land as part of a planned cross -town bicycle and walking path between the McCall Airport and downtown McCall us- ing the former Union Pacific Rail- road right -of -way. A $1.1 million bond issue passed by McCall voters in 1989 contained funds dedicated toward purchase of the right -of -way and development into a path. The state regained control of the MD School W cn o' C CD CD N1 Airp LP Color shows area of land auctioned; dotted line is railroad right -of -way. 100- foot -wide strip of land after Union Pacific pulled out its tracks in the early 1980s, said Bill Petzak, McCall-area supervisor for the lands department. A clause in the original agreement with Union Pacific said the land would revert back to the state if the parcel was ever dsed for THE STAR NEWS - THURSDAY, SEPTMEBER 24, 1992 Peter Johnson, Howard Goul, set beams in place for bike path bridge. Dead Horse bridge built Work on a bridge over Dead Horse Creek for bicycles and pedes- trians is nearing completion as workers laid the foundation for the structure last week. The bridge, located along Warren Wagon Road north of McCall, is part of a planned path for non -mo- torized vehicles around Payette Lake. The work is a project of the Payette Lake Trail Committee sponsored by McCall/VALUED . Howard Goul and Peter Johnson, along with Ed Benson and Dristi Stevens from Ponderosa State Park, provided the manpower for the pro- t a i n e d the beams for sect. The bridge was designed by McCall/VALUED. Valley County Engineer Les Ankenman, and Goul supervised the construction. The 26 -foot long bridge is sup- ported by three beams donated by Trus Joist, of which Johnson is the former chairman. The beams were designed and developed specifically by the company to be used on rural bridges throughout America. Rick Thomas of Bridge Products Division of T.J. International, ob- The new bridge will connect with three miles of path, which begins at the bridge and goes to North Beach, built last fall by Idaho National Guard. The National Guard will be in McCall for the next two week- ends, finishing the bridge and con- tinuing the path southward toward McCall. Plans are to begin paving the path next summer. The bridge will be open to the public after Oct. 4. Thy S fd NOV ? 1' ?q Grants sought for ' " BY TOM GROTE "tile Star -News The Payette Lake Trails Committee and the city of McCall have submitted applications for grants totaling $1.1 million to build bicycle and walking paths around Payette Lake. The trails committee is seeking $805,000 from the Idaho Department of Transportation for sections of the bike paths outside the city, while the city is asking for about $319,000 for the part of the project within the city. The grants, if annroved_ would go a tong way toward completing a Project started two years ago by the Payette Lake Trails Committee, which is sponsored by VALUED, Valley County's economic devel- opment committee. An outline of the grant request was presented on Friday to members of the Idaho Transportation Board during the board's field visit to McCall. Trails committee chairman Candy Anderson urged board mem- bers to approve, the funds when the applications come before them in January. Anderson said that bicvcle nath., were urgently needed around the lake, not just for recreational pur- poses, but also for safety concerns. The number of cars traveling on Warren Wagon Road over the Labor Day weekend peaked at 5,000 cars per day, Anderson said. Those vehicles include dump trucks, logging trucks and recre- ational vehicles all competing for the same road, she said. Much work already has been done by the trails committee through volunteer effort and fund - raising, Anderson said. A total of 4.2 miles of road shoulder are now ready for paving on Warren Wagon Road and an eight -foot -wide bridge has been built over Dead Horse Creek. "We will get it done eventually, but is eventually good enough ?" Anderson asked the state board members. The trails committee wants to build the path on 7.1 miles of Warren Wagon Road north from McCall. A second leg would be built from the eastern city limits to Tamarack Bay condominiums, a to- tal of 3.6 miles. The city's portion would connect the two legs using Warren Wagon Road, Lake Street, Davis Avenue and Miles Standish Road near Ponderosa State Park. The grant request does riot call for building a bicycle path along an unpaved portion of Eastside Road that runs between Tamarack Bay and North Beach. It is expected that a path would ;be built there when fu- ture development warrants paving of that road, Anderson said. The funds being sought by the two entities is part of new federal money authorized by the federal ni.Ke patns government under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. These so- called "transportation enhancement" funds can be used for purposes other than traditional road building. Letters endorsing the application of the trails committee were submit- ted with the trails committee's fund- ing request. Endorsements included the Valley County commissioners, the McCall Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, McCall Memorial Hospital, the Payette National Forest, the Idaho Department of Lands, the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the West Central Highlands Resource Conservation Development. Each agency must put up 20 per- cent matching funds to qualify for the state grants. The trails commit- tee has pledged $251,000 in work already contributed as well as $50,000 in cash from donations. The city's share includes $40,000 from the city's general fund as well as $45,000 gained from the sale of surplus city property, possibly the old McCall Golf Course Clubhouse, McCall City Administrator Bud Schmidt said Monday. No funds are budgeted for the grant's matching share in the current city budget, and the council would have to reopen the budget if the grant is awarded, Schmidt said. McCall gets state grant for bike paths The city of McCall has been awarded a $318,000 state grant to build more than 5 -1/2 miles of bi- cycle and walking paths within the city. The grant will allow the city to build safe corridors for cyclists, walkers and joggers along major streets within the city, said Kathy Killen, a member of the McCall Parks and Recreation Advisor. Committee who helped promote th, grant application. The grant also will allow the city to pave pathways along the former Union Pack Railroad right -of -way between downtown McCall and the McCall Airport, Killen said. Those lands are row being acquired by the city using funds from a bond issue passed in 1989. The funds were granted by the Idaho Department of Transportation through the state's Transportation Enhancement Program, which are funds intended to improve trans- portation safety. The funds will not be available until Oct. 1, 1994, but planning and design can take place until then. Making improvements along the entire 5.64 miles of roadway and right -of -way is expected to cost about $403,000. The city's $85,000 share of the project will come from general tax dollars plus proceeds from the sale of the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse on Davis Avenue. The paths will be a boon to the community, Killen said. "This is for the local people, because our children spend a lot of time on bicy- cles, and for the visitors in the community," she said. "We will be able to encourage them to commute via the bike path." The paths to be built are in four sections: • From the eastern city limits along Miles Standish Boulevard to Davis Avenue, which passes near the entrance to Ponderosa State Park. • Davis Street from Lick-Creek) Road to Lenora Street. • Lenora Street via Park Street, Forest Street and Mather Road to the Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55. The path would then cross the North Fork of the Payette River over a $160,000 expansion of the bridge before linking with Warren Wagon Road. • Along the former railroad right - of -way from Lenora Street to the McCall Airport. 71,j Ypov� Payette Lake bike path committee given grant BY TOM GROTE The Stu -News The Payette Lake Trails Commit- tee received a state grant last week for nearly $700,000 to built almost 11 miles of bicycle paths around Payette Lake. The grant was awarded by the Idaho Transportation Board at a meeting held last week in Boise, with the money available starting Oct .1,1994. The grant for the Payette Lake bike paths comes six months after the city of McCall received a $318,000 grant to build 5.5 miles of bicycle paths within the city limits. If all goes as planned, nearly 16 miles of bicycle paths will be built in and around McCall by the end of 1995, said Candy Anderson, chair- man of the Payette Lake Trails Committee. "I'm really excited," Anderson said. "I am pleased that the transpor- tation board recognized the immediate need for a safe corridor for bicycle and pedestrian traffic." Much work still lies ahead for the committee, which was created in 1990 to promote bicycle paths around the lake. The group must raise $100,000 in matching funds by Oct. 1, 1994. So far, $23,000 has been raised through various fund - raisers, Anderson said. A solicitation campaign will be mounted soon to raise additional funds. Anyone wishing to make a Color shows section of path to be built with v ette rant money . er S y Star -News graphic by Tomi Grote contribution, or to get more informa- tion, should write to the Payette Lake Trails Committee, P.O. Box AO, McCall, ID 83638. The grant would provide a paved bicycle path next to roads around the lake which are already paved. The project includes a seven -mile section along Warren Wagon Road on the west side of the lake, and a 3.6 -mile section along Lick Creek Road and East Side Road along the east side of the lake. After the project's completion, only a 2.8 -mile section of unpaved road along the east side of the lake would not have an adjacent bicycle path. Part of the preparation work for the path has already been completed. The Idaho National Guard widened 4.2 miles of Warren Wagon Road during the summers of 1991 and 1992, and a donated bridge has been in- stalled over Dead Horse Creek on Warren Wagon Road. In addition, Valley County com- missioners pledged $154,000 in ma- terials toward construction of the paths, Anderson said. The county has also agreed to paint striping for the paths as well as maintain them, she said. In its application, the trails com- mittee said paths were needed to handle growing number of cyclists, walkers and runners in the area. More growth in recreational use is expected, but roads around the lake are too narrow to handle the traffic safely, the application said. The ITD staff recommended fund- ing the project, and letters of recom- mendation were written by state Au- ditorJ.D. Williams, Sen. Tent' Haun, D- Emmett, Rep. Gayle Wilde, R- McCall, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Director Yvonne Ferrell, Idaho Department of Lands Director Stan Hamilton and Idaho State Travel Council Director Carl Wilgus. N 1Ule W s .iu l tI j8, 99 Payette Lake bike path still in need of funds BY TOM GROTE The Star-News An Oct. 1 deadline is looming for the Payette Lake Trails Committee to raise matching funds for a $950,000 bicycle - pedestrian path extending 11 miles around Payette Lake. The trails committee, a private non - profit citi- zen group, has raised $33,400 toward its goal of $100,000. That leaves a gap of $66,600 that needs to be raised by Oct. 1 in order for the project to stay on track, said Candy Anderson, who chairs the trails committee. "One of our problems is potential donors are getting confused between our project, which still needs matching funds, and the city of McCall's bike path program, which is fully funded," Ander- son said. The trails committee has received a $700,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Transporta- tion for the project which requires the matching A; A� The committee's project would provide a paved bicycle - pedestrian path next to roads around the lake that are already paved. The project includes a seven -mile section along Warren Wagon Road on the west side of the lake and a 3.6 -mile section along Lick Creek Road and East Side Road along the east side of the lake. After the project is complete, only a 2.8 -mile section of unpaved road along the east side of the lake would not have an adjacent path. Part of the preparation work for the path al- ready has been completed. The Idaho National Guard widened 4.2 miles of Warren Wagon Road during the summers of 1991 and 1992, and a donated bridge has been installed over Dead Horse Creek on Warren Wagon Road. In addition, Valley County commissioners have pledged $154,000 in materials toward construc- tion of the path and has agreed to paint striping of the paths as well as maintenance. That leaves $100,000 of the $950,000 total to be raised by the trails committee. The bulk of the project is scheduled for construction in 1995. The city of McCall received a similar state grant to build about 5 -1/2 miles of bicycle paths inside the city limits, including an addition onto the Lardo Bridge over Idaho 55 and paving of the former Union Pacific Railroad right -of -way. The city received a grant for $318,000 from the state and raised its required $85,000 match by selling the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse in May. But Anderson said none of the proceeds from the clubhouse sale will go to the Payette Lake Trail committee, which is dealing with the state on an entirely separate grant. "We're delighted the city has raised its match- ing funds, and we are in the process of finalizing a joint agreement between the city and the county to jointly oversee the two projects," Anderson said. The state grant to the trails committee would not be lost if the committee -set Oct. 1 deadline is missed, but completion of the entire 11 miles would become more uncertain, she said. "One of our problems is potential donors are getting confused between our project, which tf still needs matching funds, N and the city of McCall's 6 bike path program. " — Candy Anderson,:`"`:'`''';':: Payette Lakes Trail Committee chairr�. � • � .emu �°fi�r .......�N '� Rd. I.iclo Cr. Rd a M Payette Lake Trail City of McColl Trail I.S.P. & R. Trails Star -News graphic by Tomi Grote Map shows segments of around the lake trail and responsible agencies. "We would have some difficult decisions to make, such as whether to delay construction until we have raised the full match," Anderson said. "That could cost more money in the long run if we miss doing a joint project with the city." The trails committee will be using the two months until Oct. 1 in an intensive fund - raising effort. Direct contacts will be made with home owners around Payette Lake, and a general public appeal will be made. The trails committee suggests do- nors "adopt" a section of the lake trail. Sections are available at $10 per foot, with half -mile section available for $5,000 and one -mile sections offerM at $10,000. To make a donation, mail a check to Payette Lake Trails, P.O. AO, McCall, ID 83638. For information, call Anderson at 634 -8436. In addition to the projects by the city and the trails committee, Ponde- rosa State Park also has received ten- tative approval for a state grant to build bicycle paths at the park. The park is in line to receive a $357,000 grant that would build links to the city's planned bike -path system and cross North Beach with a bike path, including a suspension bridge across the North Fork Payette River. Ponderosa Park must come up with $71,400 in matching funds in order to receive the state grant. Photo by Roger Phillips Bike club to aid lake path Alan and Mike Busby of Gravity Sports in McCall present Rick Fereday with a $2,000 check for the Payette Lake Trails Committee. Fereday is forming the Payette Lake Cycling Club to raise money for the trails committee. All the proceeds from club memberships will go to the trails committee, which needs $100,000 by Oct.1 to be eligible for a $700,000 matching state grant. The money will pay for an 11 -mile bike and pedestrian path around Payette Lake. So far, more than a third of the money has been raised, but the deadline is looming. For more information on the Payette Lake Cycling Club, call 634 -7665. Croquet tourney raises s000 for trails This group of nattily -dress players took part in a croquet tournament held Saturday in McCall to ben- efit the Payette Lake Trails Committee and its effort to build bicycle paths around Payette Lake. More than $600 was raised by the tournament, called "Wick- ets and White," which was hosted by Gary and Toni Ryan and Wes and Barbara Rhoades and sanctioned by the "All -Idaho Association of Lawn Jockeys." All players were required to wear white clothing, and a round -robin tournament was staged on three courts. cep d4vc)"fe /, / ,3 /9-y Yacht Club's Octobeffest to benefit Payette Lake Trails - Bicycle path MCCALL — An event at the McCall restaurant, the Yacht Club, Thursday evening will benefit the Payette Lake Trails bicycle path project. All proceeds from the entry donation, auction and brown bags will be donated to the Payette Lake Trail. An Italian buffet will fea- ture a variety of lasagnas, chick- en Florentine, baked ham, sever- al different appetizers, rolls, and the Yacht Club's famous salad_ Several outstanding items have been donated for the auction, including mountain bikes, snow cat ski trips, and LeCreuset cook- ware, among others. Door prize items will include home decor items, clothing, and restaurant gift certificates. Anyone with good quality, use- ful or decorative items that they would like to donate to the cause should deliver it to Mountain Lakes Realty in the McCall Mall. All donations are fully tax deductible. The entry donation for the event is $15 per person and $25 per cou- ple, and the event will continue from 6 p.m. Thursday until it's over. Bike path group tops $100,000 grant match BY TOM GROTE The Star-News Construction of a bicycle and walking path around a large portion of Payette Lake is now assured with the smashing of a $100,000 fund- raising goal by the Payette Lake Trail Committee. As of Tuesday, the private trails group had raised $107,600, and ad- ditional donations were still being counted, said Candy Anderson, chairman of the committee. The fund drive was put over the top of its goal when a previously anonymous donor who pledged to donate the final $10,000 made good on her commitment. The contribution by part-time McCall resident P.J. "Phyd" Huffman, M.D., is the largest indi- vidual donation made to the bike path effort,, Anderson said. The trail committee had set a self- impo!ied deadline of Oct. 1 to raise $100,000, which will allow the group to receive a $700,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Transportation for the l l miles of pathway. "Our success means it will be safer for everybody who uses the roads around Payette e, the drivers, the zers and the bike rs. " —Candy Anderson chair Payette Lakes Trail Committee Anderson said she was especially ipressed that most of the dona- ms were in small amounts from dividuals, and there were no large ,rporate grants typically received similar fund - raising efforts. "It had lots of private donors, d that's wonderful for our com- unity," she said. The trail committee and the city McCall have agreed to cooperate joint planning and construction the Payette Lake path and 5 -1/2 miles of paths planned to be built within the city limits. The city has received a similar $318,000 grant from the state that was matched with $85,000 gained from selling the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse. The city and Valley County offi- cials have signed a joint operating agreement in which a three - member board will coordinate the design and building of all 16 -1/2 miles of path- ways. Construction is expected to start next year. The project funded by the trail committee grant will provide a paved bicycle - pedestrian path next to roads around the lake that are already paved. Plans call for a seven -mile sec- tion along Warren Wagon Road on the west side of the lake and a 3.6- mile section along Lick Creek Road and East Side Road along the east side of the lake. After the project is complete, only a 2.8 -mile section of unpaved road along the east side of the lake would not have an adjacent path. Part of the preparation work for the path already has been completed. The Idaho National Guard widened 4.2 miles of Warren Wagon Road during the summers of 1991 and 1992, and a donated bridge has been built over Dead Horse Creek on Warren Wagon Road. Valley County commissioners have also pledged $154,000 in ma- terials toward construction of the path and has agreed to paint- striping of the paths as well as maintenance. The trail committee would not have lost its state grant if the full $100,000 had not been raised by Oct. 1, but the project would have become more uncertain if the self - imposed deadline had been missed, Anderson said. Anderson hopes potential donors will still make contributions to the trail committee, because the funds raised so far will only build a basic pathway. "All the money we get will go back into the project and we will have a nicer, complete project," she said. More donations will' allow amenities, such as benches, to be installed along the pathway. Donations should be sent to Pay- ette Lake Trails Committee, Box AO, McCall, ID 83638. -s-Jan- /f (Jw-s Photo courtesy Wes and Barbara Rhoades Croquet tourney aids Payette L. bike paths Participants in the 2nd Annual Wickets and Whites Lake Trails bike path project. Spirited competition croquet fund - raiser pose for a group photo on Sat- took place over five separate manicured lawn courts. urday. The event, co- hosted by Toni and Gary Ryan The afternoon concluded with the crowning of first - and Barbara and Wes Rhoades, drew more than 60 place winner Kim Helmich, closely followed by Lee participants and raised $1,127.50 for the Payette Crawford in second place and Andy Burnett in third. 7- /,t<� - nlewy - People must provide energy to build 1st -rate trails system BY ROGER PHILLIPS The Star-News The time has come the walrus said, to talk of many things, of shoes with clips and mountain bikes, of Camel - baks and chain -rings, and whether trails are being built and whetherchain saws sing. Okay, it's a hack job on a great poem, but hopefully, it got your atten- tion. The question here is simple: Are we going to wait around for the Great Green Father to fill local forests with mountain bike trails, or are we going to take initiative ourselves? Thanks to mountain bikes, many people who once thought of bike riding as only a wistful memory are now back in the saddle and looking for trails. Building and improving trails for those people is not just a nice thing to do, it's a great way to attract people to the area and provide an amenity that locals will enjoy as well. The Payette Lake Trail's Bike Path is a stellar example of people thinking along those lines, and while I mean absolutely no disrespect to that fine project, it isn't a mountain bike trail that's being created. Mountain bike trails could do for summer recreation in this area what skiing did for winter recreation. The miles and miles of public land in this heart- wrenchingly beautiful country is a natural magnet for mountain bik- ers. It seems people's tails naturally wag a little quicker when there's a buck to be made, and the nice folks at Intio the ©u>fc�.rars Brundage Mountain Ski Area are the leading edge of this curve. They built mountain bike trails several years ago and outfitted their lifts to accommo- date bikes. Perhaps they went out on a limb at the time, but it already appears to be paying off. They will host their third nationally sanctioned mountain bike race on July 13 -14, which will also be the Idaho state championships. Par- ticipation at Brundage's mountain bike races has increased by 50 percent each year, and this year's race is ex- pected to attract 500 riders, according to Brundage's Mary Naylor. There is already a respectable trail system on the Payette forest, but it wasn't designed with mountain bikes in mind, and federal funding to main- tain trails has taken hits along with most other forest service programs. If there is money to be had for trails, looking to the east may be in vain, and looking south toward Boise doesn't look any better. The Idaho Legislature, that bas- tion of pay -to -play politics, voted down a bill last year that would have started a state trail fund derived from registration fees collected from moun- tain bikes similar to the system used by snowmobilers to pay for their trail grooming. Those situations have led to some innovative ideas in other areas to con- tinue trail maintenance and expand existing trail systems. Sun Valley and Ketchum bike dealers implemented a voluntary tax on mountain bikes where $5 of every bike sold and 25 cents of every bike rental goes to a trail fund. Last year, seven bike shops in the Ketchum area contributed $6,000 for trail maintenance, according to Don Wiseman, owner of Sun Summit Sports in Ketchum. When funding for forest service trail maintenance was cut in the Ketchum area, a coalition of all trail users, which included bikers, motor- cyclists, horse riders and hikers, raised about $30,000, enough to finance a forest service trail crew, Wiseman said. The Heartland Backcountry Horse- men have been voluntarily clearing and maintaining trails in this area for years, and there's no reason why local mountain bikers can't follow their cue. There needs to be some creativ- ity and "sweat equity" invested in local trails. Anyone who has watched moun- tain bikers crank up hills know there is one thing they aren't short of, and that's energy. It's time to channel some of that energy back into the land where we play and build a first -rate trail system for everyone to enjoy. afar- Yews - New bike path sections set to be built next Y ear BY TOM GROTE The Star -News Construction on more links of McCall's bicycle path network could start this fall, depending how quickly the Idaho Transportation Department can move forward with the work. Plans for more than $1.3 million of new bike -path construction, funded by grants, donations and other rev- enue, have been turned over, to the ITD, McCall City Manager Gary Shimun said. Since more than $1 million of the funds came from an ITD grant, the state controls the bidding, letting of construction contracts and supervi- sion of construction, Shimun said. Sections designated to be built are a one -mile stretch within the city lim- its starting at Lardo Bridge and extending down Warren Wagon Road. The city's project also will include paint striping to mark bike paths on Forest Street between Mather Road and Mission Street, and on Park Street between Mission Street and First Street. The city's path will link with a three -mile section to be built further down Warren Wagon Road located outside the city limits within Valley County. The first 1.75 miles of the county section will have five -foot lanes on each side of Warren Wagon Road. The path from the east side will then cross the road, where the path will widen into a two -way 10 -foot path for the next mile. A turnaround will be built at the end of the section. The ITD is now reviewing designs submitted by the city, county and a three - person oversight committee formed for the project. Bids are not expected to be awarded until October or November. The bulk of the construction should take place next year,-with completion likely by the fall of 1997. The sections of the pathway net- work selected for the grant funds were selected by the oversight committee following public comments and meet- ings held last summer. The city's section is funded by a $318,000 state grant awarded in 1993 and matched with $85,000 from the sale of the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse on Davis Av- enue. Townhouses now occupy the former clubhouse site. The county's portion was funded by a $700,000 state grant awarded to the county through the Payette Lake Trail volunteer group, which raised $100,000 in private dona- tions and has a pledge of $150,000 from Valley County commission- ers. The state funds came from the federal Intermodal Surface Trans- portation Efficiency Act, or ISTEA. When completed, the new bike path sections will join two com- pleted sections of the McCall -area bicycle master plan. Those sections are a mile -long segment between The Woodlands subdivision and Spring Mountain Ranch, which was funded by Spring Mountain Ranch. Another com- pleted section near the McCall Air- port connects Deinhard Lane and the undeveloped Riverfront Park. Several other sections of the city's master bicycle plan are in various stages of acquisition and construc- tion. They include: • First Street to Third Street: This section of the former Union Pacific Railroad right -of -way is to be acquired by a $157,000 grant awarded to the city through the state waterways fund. • Deinhard Lane to First Street: This section of the former railroad right -of -way is already owned by the city, but funding is still needed for paving. • Idaho 55 to Lick Creek Road: This section of the railroad right -of- way is within the McCall urban re- newal district, and plans call for the McCall Redevelopment Agency to fund the path through its special bonding authority. • Spring Mountain Ranch to Lick Creek Road: This section of the bike path was scheduled to be built when Spring Mountain Ranch finishes the city's east -side by -pass, but no schedule for the road work has been set. However, Shimun said he has been having discussions with SMR developer Peter O'Neill about mov- ing up the schedule for paving only the bike -path portion of the by -pass. • Lardo Bridge: Funding is still being sought to attach a bicycle - pedestrian bridge to the Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55. • Other Sections: Other un- funded sections of the master plan are Deinhard Lane between Mis- sion Street and Payette Lakes Middle School; Samson Trail between the middle school and The Woodlands; Miles Standish Boulevard adjacent to Ponderosa State Park; and the extension of Pine Street to Wooley Avenue. The Payette Lake Trail master plan calls for the Warren Wagon Road section to extend to North Beach. On the east side of Payette Lake, plans call for the path to fol- low East Side Road from Lick Creek Road to Tamarack Bay Condomini- ums. Funding for the uncompleted sec- tions may come from grants, dona- tions or direct tax funding from the City of McCall or Valley County commissioners. T h e ) d C L h e , L y r o u D W e i s e r S o m e s a y p r e s e r v i n g r a i l b e d f o r r e c r e a t i o n i s t s c o u l d b r i n g $ 1 . 2 m i l l i o n t o t h e r e g i o n 3 y P e t e Z i m o w s k y f h e I d a h o S t a t e s m a n t r i e s t o k e e p t r a i l o n t r a c k C O U N C I L T h e W e i s e r R i v e r T r a i l , a p r o - ` ) o s e d 8 3 - m i l e r e c r e a t i o n t r a i l a l o n g a n a b a n - l o n e d r a i l r o a d b e d i n w e s t e r n I d a h o , c o u l d v e n e r a t e a s m u c h a s $ 1 . 2 m i l l i o n t o t h e r e - n o n ' s e c o n o m y , a n a t i o n a l t r a i l s e x p e r t s a y s . " Y o u ' v e g o t a t r e m e n d o u s a s s e t i n t h a t r i v e r ) c o r r i d o r , " s a i d S t e v e E m m e t t - M a t t o x , ; o m m u n i t y a f f a i r s c o o r d i n a t o r f o r t h e n a - ; i o n a l R a i l s - t o - T r a i l s C o n s e r v a n c y i n W a s h - n g t o n , D . 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T h e a b a n d o n e d r a i l r o a d b e d f r o m W e i s e r t o R u b i c o n h a s i t a l l f o r h i k e r s , b i c y c l i s t s a n d h o r s e - I d a h o a l r e a d y h a s s e v e r a l , i n c l u d i n g p a r t b a c k r i d e r s p i n e f o r e s t s , s t r e a m s , m o u n t a i n s a n d s c e n i c t r a i n t r e s t l e s . T h e F r i e n d s o f t h e & t h e G r e e n b e l t i n B o i s e , W o o d R i v e r T r a i l W e i s e r R i v e r T r a i l w a n t t o s a v e t h e 8 3 - m i l e r a i l r o a d b e d f o r a r e c r e a t i o n t r a i l . n B l a i n e C o u n t y a n d t h e W e s t Y e l l o w s t o n e o W a r m R i v e r t r a i l i n e a s t e r n I d a h o . i n g , m o u n t a i n b i k i n g , h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g a p p - , o f W e i s e r . 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A g r o u p , F r i e n d s o f t h e W e i s e r R i v e r T r a i l , A t o n e p o i n t , i t g o e s t h r o u g h a 2 0 - m i l e A n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r t h e W e i s e r - R u b i c o n l i n e t r y i n g t o g a i n s u p p o r t t o s a v e t h e r a i l r o a d r o a d l e s s c a n y o n a l o n g t h e W e i s e r R i v e r , - h a d b e e n m a d e t h r o u g h t h e R a i l s - t o - T r a i l e d f o r a t r a i l f o r h i k i n g , c r o s s - c o u n t r y s k i - p r i z e d b y r e c r e a t i o n i s t s l i k e M a r g a r e t F u l l e r C o n s e r v a n c y P r o g r a m . I t p r o t e c t s t h e l a n d f r o m b e i n g s o l d w h i l e p r o p o n e n t s w o r k o n w a y s t o p r o - t e c t i t . E m m e t t - M a t t o x s a y s t h e W e i s e r R i v e r T r a i l w o u l d l i n k s e v e r a l t o w n s t h a t c o u l d b e n e f i t e c o - n o m i c a l l y f r o m t r a i l u s e r s b u y i n g g r o c e r i e s a n d g a s , e a t i n g i n c a f e s , u s i n g b e d a n d b r e a k f a s t a c - c o m m o d a t i o n s , r e n t i n g b i c y c l e s , n e e d i n g b i c y c l e r e - p a i r s , a n d b u y i n g l a s t - m i n u t e h i k i n g , b i k i n g a n d h o r s e b a c k - r i d i n g g e a r . " A n y e x p o s u r e y o u g e t i s o n l y g o i n g t o i m p r o v e y o u r b u s i n e s s , " h e s a i d . McCall bike paths launch with low bids Leftover funds may be used to pave more city sections sooner BY JEANNE SEOL The Star -News Construction on more links of McCall's bicycle path network is set to start this summer after bids to build three parts of the network came in almost $200,000 lower than engineer estimates on Tuesday. Eterna -Line Corp. of Boise was the apparent low bidder, at $518,843.52. Three bids, including the high bid of $563,067.19 from Roberson Construction of McCall, were opened at the Idaho Transporta- tion Department in Boise. Engineers estimated the project would cost about $713,000. Sections designated to be built are a one -mile stretch within the city lim- its starting at Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55 and. extending down Warren Wagon Road. The city's bike path will link with a three -mile section to be built further down Warren Wagon Road located outside the city limits and within Val- ley County. The city's portion of the project also will include paint striping on Forest Street between Mather Road and Mission Street, and on Park Street between Mission Street and First Street. A bicycle path will also be paved from Deinhard Lane to First Street following the old Union Pacific Rail- road right -of -way. The former right -of -way was purchased by a $1.1 million bond issue passed in 1989 that also built Legacy Park. Because bids were lower than what city and county officials expected them to be, more sections of McCall's master bicycle path network may be built sooner, City Manager Gary Shimun said. "This just allows us to do some additional work," Shimun said. The lower- than - expected bids ex- cited Candy Anderson, chair of the volunteer group Payette Lake Trail. Anderson's group raised $100,000 in private donations and received a $700,000 state grant awarded to Val- ley County to build the county's . portion of the project. The group also has a pledge of $150,000 from the Valley County commissioners. "It will be exciting to start up after all this time," Anderson said. "Hope- fully by the time fall hits, we should have some bike paths." The city's paths will be funded through a $318,000 state grant it re- ceived in 1993 and matched with $85,000 from the sale of the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse on Davis Avenue. Townhouses now oc- cupy the former clubhouse site. Construction is set to be completed on the new sections this fall. They will join two already - completed sec- tions of the McCall -area bicycle master plan. Those sections are a mile -long seg- ment from The Woodlands subdivision through Spring Moun- tain Ranch. Another completed section near the McCall Airport con- nects Deinhard Lane and the undeveloped Riverfront Park. Still on the drawing board Several other sections of the city's master bicycle plan are in various stages of acquisition and construc- tion. They include: • First Street to Third Street: This section of the former railroad right -of -way is to be acquired by a $157,000 grant awarded to the city through the state waterways fund. • Idaho 55 to Lick Creek Road: One more leg of the master bicycle plan will be built this summer on Railroad Avenue from Idaho 55 to Pine Street at the same time Railroad Avenue is being reconstructed by the McCall Redevelopment Agency. Plans call for the agency to fund the rest of the path through its special bonding authority. • Spring Mountain Ranch to Lick Creek Road: This section of the bike path is scheduled to be built when Spring Mountain Ranch finishes the city's east -side bypass. Spring Moun- tain Ranch officials say they may build the base of the path this sum- mer, with the city being responsible for paving the path. • Lardo Bridge: The city is nego- tiating with property owners around Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55 to attach a bicycle - pedestrian bridge and build access paths. • Pine Street to Wooley Avenue: City crews are scheduled to build this road beginning this summer and com- plete the street by fall 1998. A bike path will be built adjacent to the road. • Other Sections: Other unfunded sections of the master plan are Dein- hard Lane between Mission Street and Payette Lakes Middle School; Samson Trail between the middle school and The Woodlands; and Miles Standish Boulevard adjacent to Pon- derosa State Park. The city is working to complete the bike path network, Shimun said. The Payette Lake Trail master plan calls for the Warren Wagon Road sec- tion to extend to North Beach. On the east side of Payette Lake, the path is to follow East Side Road from Lick Creek Road to Tamarack Bay Condominiums. 6 7.02 S G S-_ 1 q/7 Horse club gets grant for trail work The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation recently awarded a $4,800 grant to the Heartland Chap- ter of Backcountry Horsemen for a trail rehabilitation and signing project on Council Mountain. The grant, which calls for a match with "in kind labor" was initiated by A] Becker, trails coordinator for the Payette National Forest, and will involve volunteers from the local club and members from the Payette Saddle Club and Council Mountain Cattle Association. The backcountry horsemen have been working with the forest ser- vice the past several years to de- velop a campground and facilities on Council Mountain for horsemen, as well as other campers. The group has also been involved in locating and repairing area trails to make them safer and lessen their environmental impacts. The trails also provide a wonder- ful hiking opportunity, featuring views from the top of Council Moun- tain. The backcountry horsemen are seeking additional volunteers - no horse experience necessary. Anyone interested in summer work or ride schedule, can call Presi- dent Linda Hemminger, 347 -2183; Vice President Joe Jordan, 253- 1103; Secretary /Treasurer Geri Hash, 253 -6825, or State Director Gretel Kleint, 325 -8768. 7 'Taking a I � M on IStory and photos by Pete Zimowsky The Idaho Statesman he roar of Goose Creek Falls could be heard at every bend in the trail traversing the mountains north of McCall. Nicolle Jones and Sarah Anderson fol- lowed the trail through a hallway of tower- ing pine and firs trees with the anticipation of seeing the unique waterfall. McCall is an ideal jumping off point for day hikes on cool, shady mountain trails. The Goose Creek Trail is one of many. Trails in the area, located about 102 miles north of Boise, beckon beginner and ad- vanced hikers alike. Alpine trails in the area range from short, easy one -mile hikes to 20 -mile expeditions. "It's like being in Oregon," said Jones, re- ferring to the lush -green forested terrain on the Goose Creek Trail, a trail recommended for families. "Hey, there are some wild strawberries," she said, "I can't wait until the huckleber- ries come out." Hikers, in addition to the scenery, can plan their hikes around huckleberry picking D� vva 0 F E The trail to Goose Creek is easy to fol- low and is well main- tained. It also offers plenty of vis- tas of forest- ed mountain ranges. Nicolle Jones, left, and Sarah Anderson make their way along the first part of the trail. d is side Get a Payette National Forest map and get more details on the trail and the many options for visiting high lakes. . '' _ ; .,., 1�7 - a The trail to Goose Creek is and easy, one -mile hike downhill. But remember, you have to walk uphill the same distance to get back to your car. It's well worth the hike to see Goose Creek Falls. Ile tCl4 Nicolle Jones, left, and Sarah Anderson are mesmerized by the churning waters of Goose Creek. The mountain canyon, with its cooling waters, is like nature's air conditioner on a hot summer hike. "aiiiiiM or mushroom gathering. The alpine lakes around McCall also pro- vide good trout fishing for hikers willing to carry a fishing rod and some lures in their daypacks. Here are the best picks of the REC staff for hiking around McCall (information is provided by the U.S. Forest Service): GOOSE CREEK FALLS ■ Pack your lunch and have a picnic near Goose Creek Falls. Kids will be fascinated by the falls and also the trail bridge that goes across rocky, splashy Goose Creek. The trail is one mile downhill, so conserve your energy once at the falls because you have to hike uphill back to the car. The ele- vation drop is about 700 feet. The trail is reached by driving Idaho 55 north out of McCall about four miles to Brundage Mountain turnoff. Go three miles to the trailhead. It's a ally called the Powerline Trail. UPPER HAZARD LAKE the ctu- ■ Here's a trail that goes through several nice mountain meadows and eventually reaches an alpine lake called Upper Hazard Lake. Don't forget your fishing rod. lIt's not steep. The trail is about two miles ong and only gains 348 feet in elevation. Drive north from McCall on Idaho 55 to the Brundage Mountain turnoff and go 27 miles to the Big Hazard Lake Trailhead. Take the trail to Upper Hazard Lake. DUCK LAKE ■ Here's another short hike for the fami- ly. The trail to Duck Lake is two miles round trip with little elevation gain. The trail is fun for kids because there are two stream crossings and they'll have to hop across logs and rocks to do it. To reach the trailhead, leave McCall and head out the road to the golf course. Contin- ue past the golf course on the Lick Creek Road past Slick Rock and over the summit. About one -and -a half miles past the sum- mit, is the trailhead parking area. TWENTY-MILE TRAIL ■ If you're into longer hikes, follow the same directions to Duck Lake, but plan on continuing past the lake and the mountains to the Twenty -Mile Trail. This is a backpacking adventure because it eventually ends up on the Warren Wagon Road. It's a good idea to leave one car on the Warren Wagon Road from McCall. The trailhead is located 18 miles north of Mc- Call. With two vehicles, you can plan a 'Ataight- through hike. JOSEPHINE LAKE ■ It's steep but short. When the climb's over, you'll be at a beautiful 13 -acre lake hidden in a granite cirque. The elevation gain is 120 feet to the lake, which is at 7,400 feet. Tell Dad to pack his fly rod in to the lake to take a few casts. The trailhead is reached by driving the Warren Wagon Road from McCall past Upper Payette Lake. Look for the road on the left marked Josephine Lake. The first three miles of the road are rough but can be negotiated by a passenger car. The trail is one -half mile long to the lake. BOULDER LAKE ■ Here's another fairly easy hike to an alpine lake. The trail is in the mountains southeast of McCall and leads to several high - elevation lakes for hikers looking for a strenuous ad- venture. For beginners, though, take the trail from Boulder Meadows Reservoir for about two miles and stop at Boulder Lake for a picnic. Then hike back to the car. The trailhead is reached by driving Idaho 55 to the south edge of McCall and taking Elo Road to the east. The Boulder Creek Road branches off Elo Road. Follow it to Boulder Meadows Reser- voir. f,a r - - 74� 21 The first phase of ✓IcCall's long awaited ►ike path network to ►e complete this fall DY JEANNE SEOL The Star -News Construction on several links of McCall's bicycle path network is about half done with completion slated for early fall, Idaho Department of Transportation officials said. Crews have just finished creating the actual paths and laying out designated routes and are currently working on culvert con- struction, IDT Project Inspector Steve Gillis said. Paving and paint- striping will start in early August. Most of the new construction is taking place on Warren Wagon Road, where four miles of paths are being built from the road's intersection with Idaho 55 to Grouse Lane. "Every precaution is being taken to re- duce inconvenience for the residents and travelers along Warren Wagon Road," Gillis said. Any mailboxes or signs located in the path construction area will be moved as part of the construction expense, and tree removal is being kept to a minimum, Gillis said. New paths are also being graded from Deinhard Lane to First Street following the old Union Pacific Railroad right -of -way. Additional new paths will be created through paint striping on Forest Street between Mather Road and Mission Street, and on Park Street between Mission Street and First Street. The construction of new paths within the McCall city limits is funded through a $318,000 state grant the city received in 1993 and matched with $85,000 from the sale of the former McCall Golf Course Clubhouse on Davis Avenue. Paths outside the city limits on Warren Wagon Road in Valley County are funded through a $700,000 state grant, $100,000 in private donations raised by the volunteer group Payette Lake Trails, and a $150,000 pledge from Valley County commission- ers. Two months ago, bids to build the project came in at almost $200,000 lower than engineers' estimates. Eterna -Line Corp. of Boise is building the paths for $518,843. All new paths are five feet wide. The new paths will join two already - completed sections of the McCall -area bicycle master plan. Those sections are a mile -long seg- ment from The Woodlands subdivi- Sion through Spring Mountain Ranch. Star-News Photo by Tom Grote] Another completed section near the Crews this week worked on building a bicycle and pedestrian path on Mather Road near Idaho 55. McCall Airport connects Deinhard Lane and the undeveloped Riverfront Park. Several other sections of the area's master bicycle plan are in various states of acquisition and construction. Master plans call for a bicycle path to eventually wrap around Payette Lake and to wind through the entire length of the McCall city limits. I - Road i ✓/ 378 Loon Lake Trailhead Elevation: 5675, Chinook campground - - • _ TeX Secesh I off. • Trail G%.••'•..••••••� Bridge o Air plane crash site �Ps Loon Lake �� Elevation. 5800 -------------------------- - -- . ....... r THETRAIL Loon Lake Trail is a popular backcountrytrip for hikers, horse riders and motorcyclists, so bikers should expect to see othertraiI users and use proper trail etiquette. The trail goes through roll ingterrain with a couple steep spots and rough, rocky sections where bikers likely will have to walk their bikes. Most of the trail is ridable for intermediate mountain bike riders with some technical riding skil Is. Blowdowns area constant problem on the trail, so expect to see some downed trees. Many will be lodgepole pine trees, and they can often be moved off the trail by hand. HOW TO GET THERE Take Idaho 55 100 miles north to McCall and take Warren Wag- on Road 30 miles past the small community of Secesh and look for Chinook Campground on the right. The trailhead is at the camp- ground. BE PREPARED Riders should always be ready for accidents and breakdowns, but it becomes even more important in the backcountry. Help is hours away, so it is vital that riders be self- sufficient. Always carry a tire repair kit, pump and extra tube. You should also have a chain breaker, spoke wrench and alien wrench set. Bring plenty of water ora filtration pump, extra food and a small first -aid kit. Also, carry alight rain jacket or windbreaker. Tempera - tures can change rapidly in the mountains, and thunderstorms are common during summer. Also, bring plenty of insect repellent and use it frequently. — Roger Phillips Nearly 60 years after it crash landed onto the shore of Loon Lake, most of the plane's engines and fuselage remain. THE SAGA OF THE B -23 AND HER CREW In January 1943, a crew of airmen flying a rare B -23 bomber (on ly 38 were ever made) were return - ing to Washington from gunnery practice in Nevada when the plane ran low on fuel and experienced heavy icing. _ The pilot was forced to crash land the aircraft on the frozen lake. The I and ing was so violent the wings of the plane were sheared by trees as it slid into the shore. Al I of thee ight-man crew survived the landing, but the irordeaI had just begun. They were deep in the Idaho wilderness in the dead of winter. Four days after the crash, three of the airmen start- ed hiking in waist -deep snow. They hiked down the Secesh River, then up over Lick Creek Summit and eventually reached the Lake Fork Guard Station, a distance of about 40 miles. At the Guard Station they found a phone and called McCall for help. Meanwhile, their fellow airmen remained at the crash site and survived by eating woodpeckers, squir- rels and chocolate rations. Sixteen days after the crash, McCall backcountry pilot Penn Stohr was makinga scheduled flight to Warren when he spotted the men and their aircraft. Stohr made a daring landing on the frozen lake to res- cue the men. When they all arrived in McCall, the city closed schools and stores to welcome them back. The remains of the 13 -ton plane with a 92 -foot wingspan are still in the woods by the lake. A few years ago, airmen and women from the Mountain Home Air Force Base returned to the crash site and placed two interpretive signs memorializing the bravery of the men and those who rescued them. The first three miles of the Loon Lake Trail parallel the scenic Secesh River. A trail continues down- stream, but is not ridable for mountain bikes. On the cover: Wayne Ruem- mele of McCall cruises along the shoreline of Loon Lake. MORE BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS Check out these other backcountry bike rides around McCall: • East Fork of Lake Fork: Go east from Mc- Cal I on Lick Creek Road about n i ne m i les past the Lake Fork Campground to where a small bridge crosses Lake Fork Creek. The traiIhead is in the back of a primitive camping area justover the bridge. The trail goes 4.6 miles intothe backcoun- try before crossi ng a creek again. Most bikers turn around at the creek crossing. • Twentymile Trail: Take Warren Wagon Road north from McCall about 18 miles to the Twentym i le Trai I head on the right. Riders who start here typically ride about four to five miles and then turn around and come back. Another option is to do a vehicle shuttle up to Duck Lake Trailhead near Lick Creek Summit, then ride down to the Twentymi le Trai (head. • Rainbow Lake: Take Idaho 55 west from McCall to Brundage Mountain /Goose Lake Road. Follow Goose Lake Road about 30 miles un- ti I it dead ends at the Clayburn Creek Trail- head. The ride to Rainbow Lake is about 3.5 m i les, one way, and gives awe- some views of several 8,000 -foot peaks near- by. Loon Lake Trail offers scenic beauty, biking challenges and a little history Story and photos by Roger Phillips The Idaho Statesman The shady forest draws you in as you pedal into the cool dark- ness of Loon Lake Trail. It's a welcome respite from hot, dusty roads and relentless summer sun. Your senses perk as the scent of pine floods your nose and your ears tune in to the splashing and gurgling of the Secesh River. You dip and climb the con- tours of the loamy trail as your tires bump over rocks and roots that steal your attention away from the spectacular scenery. Before long, you're in rhythm with the trail as it undulates alongside the busy river, pulling you deeper into the wilds. This is what backcountry bik- ing is all about, and it's tough to beat the ride to Loon Lake. "You ride along a river and your destination is a beautiful lake," Wayne Ruemmele of Mc- Call said. Ruemmele is an avid moun- tain biker and a founding mem- ber of the Central Idaho Moun- tain Bike Association. Last year, he hosted the Inter- national Mountain Bike Associ- ation's national trail crew, and Loon Lake Trail was one of their first stops. "I think it's the best trail in these parts," Ruemmele said. "It's the Holy Grail of singletrack." Loon Lake Trail is a singletrack loop ride that offers challenging, but not too - difficult terrain, and spectacular scenery. There are two ways to do the ride. The easiest route is to cross the campground and go about Camgr four miles to the lake on Trail 081, No more wad i ng the Secesh R iver. I n 2000, the r oresi service placed a bridge across the river at Chinook Campground, which means trail users can do a loop without havingto wade. then come back the same way. Another route, which is a lit- tle longer and more difficult, is to follow Trail 080 down the Se- cesh River to a pack bridge. Cross the bridge and follow Trail 084 to the lake campground on Trail campgr 081. The loop is about 10 miles and in- volves a little more climbing. Either way, it's worth the ef- fort. Loon Lake is an idyllic high mountain lake ringed by pine forests and nestled beneath rocky, pyramid peaks that hold snow late into summer. It is home to deer, elk, bear and moose, which are frequently seen in the area. Once you reach the lake, there also is an opportunity to take a unique side hike to the crash site of a World War II aircraft that remains on the east shore. To get there, cross the stream at the outlet of the lake and hike about three- quarters of a mile on the eastern shoreline. The plane's wing is right on the shoreline, liIIe, and the fuselage and engines about about 150 yards into the forest. (See accompanying story about the history of the plane.) After your ride, backtrack on Warren Wagon Road to Burgdorf and wash away the dirt and sweat with a dip in the historic hot springs. As you soak in the natural hot water with the mountains loom- ing around you, it will feel like you've stepped back in time about 50 years, and you ck homebe in no hurry g Most of the Loon Lake Trail is ridable, but there are some rough sections. Riders should al- ways be on the lookout for rocky sections and downed trees. 'The Holy Grail of singletrack' The Weiser River trail cuts through deep forests and weaves back and forth across the river on its 84 -mile path. The trail also can be littered with deadfall, as rider Paul Poorman found out. �� diary Weiser River Trail offers downhill ride through forests, valleys and river canyon Editor's Note: Statesman colum- nist Dr. Paul Collins wanted to bike the whole Weiser River Trail. Here's his account of the two -day journey. Story and photos By Paul Collins Special to the Idaho Statesman CAMBRIDGE —What is 84 miles long, 100 feet wide, follows a river, exposes you to most of the ecosystems in Idaho, crosses only one major road, and can be ridden in two days without see- ing anyone else? The Weiser River Trail. The guidebooks will tell you this old railroad bed runs from Weiser to basically New Mead- ows, but they don't reveal the se- crets. They are the secret parts seen by those who ride it on bike or horseback. They include high trestles that cross the upper parts of the Weiser River and views of what the river corridor looked like in the beginning without highway traffic. It is a hidden treasure that is free to the adventurous, easy to use, a trail where there is no need for a map, and it's downhill all the way. Three of us decided to find out what the whole trail had to offer this spring. The Weiser River Trail fol- lows the roadbed of the old Pacif- i 2 and Idaho Northern Railroad that was built along the Weiser River corridor at the turn of the century to serve mining and log- ging of this fertile valley. As logging declined, and trucks grabbed much of the trans- port business, the railroad gave up the ghost in 1997, leaving a legacy trail running through the little- seen areas of the valley. The upper 8 miles already had been abandoned when the Friends of the Weiser River Trail organization received the 84 -mile remaining trail from the Union Pacific Railroad as a rail - banking agreement. We chose to ride the original length of the trail, from New Meadows all the way down to Weiser, mainly to see what the original route was, as well as to see the last 8 miles that was aban- doned before the trail organiza- tion was setup. Starting at New Meadows It was sprinkling rain when we met at the original Pacific and Idaho Northern railroad station in New Meadows to start, but we were not deterred. Rain gear and all, off we went. The first mile was on Idaho 95 until we could turn and connect with the rail bed. From there we were on our own. Despite having essentially no traffic for almost 30 years, this portion of the old railroad was in great shape. Be- cause it was graded to railroad standards, the 5 mile climb up to the start of the official Weiser River Trail was very gentle and easy. At the old town of Rubicon, really not much more than a place on the map, we picked up the offi- cial trail. We passed the lumber mill at Tamarack, one of the last patrons of the railroad, and from then on it was our own private trail with little exposure to anything but the forest. There were several bridges in this upper part of the trail that had not been decked, so we had to ride over the original ties. As the trail continues to be developed, these bridges will have decking placed on them, but for now they provide an exciting trip on a bike. You can see the river far below as you bounce along. In addition to bridges, you occasionally come upon the same problems the railroad encountered, such as fallen trees and rocks that have rolled onto the right of way. Farming valley After the trail crosses way be- low U.S.95, you start to ride into farmlands that the railroad served. From here on, the bridges have been decked and the trail surface rolled, so it is much smoother. You will go through towns like Goodrich and the hot spririgs at Starkey in the canyon. After Fruitvale, the canyon suddenly opens up and you are in the Council area. Council area Here the trail leaves the Weiser River and heads straight ahead into Council. Council offers a great place to stop and have a snack. The trail is paved, too. It is not a lot of pavement, but well appreciated, as is the trail kiosk and shade area recently put up by the trail organization. From Council, you soon drop back to the Weiser River, which has grown in size, thanks to sever- al tributaries. This part of the trail to Cam- bridge was one of my favorites, and if you only have a short time Check it out > To learn more, check out the Weiser River Trail organization atwww.Weiser RiverTrail.org or call at (888) MY- TRAIL. > The trail organization can provide you with maps and help with shuttles. > If you are going to ride the whole trail, the spring and fall are the best times. It can get hot below Midvale in the summer. Goat heads —those pesky bike tire puncture vines —can beeome a problem in late summer. > Use good tires and put a self - sealer in your tubes. Carry extra tubes and a good pump. to appreciate the trail, I would suggest this section. The scenery is wonderful, the trail is in a remote part of the river corridor, and it is well main- tained. On to Cambridge We arrived in Cambridge ready for a rest after about 8 hours on the trail. The first stop was at the Hunter Inn, a delightful place to get off the bike and relax. Dinner was at the Pioneer restaurant with Shirley Atteber- ry, president of the Weiser River Trail organization. She is well described as the "locomotive" for the trail. After the great dinner and a brew, I just made it to a comfortable bed Gayle and Paul Poorman of Meridian joined Paul Collins on his trek. They stopped at Cambridge for an overnight stay. before I was asleep. Into the canyon The next morning, we had a bikers' breakfast — lots of carbs — and were back on the trail again. Just out of Midvale, the ranch- es abruptly ended and you were back in your own canyon. There was only the trail, the river and the birds. Because we had come down over 1,000 feet from the start of the trail, the environment had significantly changed to a drier, less- wooded landscape. The course of the river kept things interesting by curving back and forth so that you could never see more than a mile or so ahead. This section also is well maintained. Again, you break out of the canyon into farms and ranches, but are never near a busy road. The lower portion from Cambridge to Weiser took an easy G hours, with only one stop to change a tire. our truck was shuttled down from New Meadows to the end of the trail, and after a snack we were on our way home. The trail was in much better shape than I had expected, even the upper 30 miles that still awaits development by the trail committee. Certainly, it is a relatively easy ride, and one that is unique in its remote qualities, yet still provides plenty of places for a rest or an overnight stay. Valley County Pathways to dedicate Crown Point trail on Saturday Valley County Pathways Inc., will dedicate the Crown Point Rail -Trail near Cascade on Saturday. The public is invited to walk, run, mountain bike, or horseback ride to the event. Valley County Pathways will hold a news conference on the north end of the 2.5 -mile Crown Point Rail -Trail at 11 a.m. Saturday. Those who wish to hike, run, bike, or ride horseback to the event should start at about 10 a.m. to make it to the news conference on time. During the news conference, Valley County Pathways officials will honor the Putman family for donating a strategic quarter -mile section of the former railroad right of way. Valley County commissioners and several other elected officials have been invited to participate as well. "We see this event as a great opportunity forfolks to get a little fresh air and exercise while cel- ebrating this wonderful addition to the Crown Point Rail - Trail," said Steve Stuebner, chairman of Valley County Pathways. "Come out and help us thank the Putman familyfor taking one giant step forward in seeing a val- ley-widepathway system become a reality," Stuebner said. To reach the dedication site, take Idaho 55 to Little Donner north of Cascade. Turn west on Crown Point Parkway, follow the road to Four Seasons Drive and turn right. Follow Four Seasons to the former railroad right of way before Vista Point and park on the side of the road. For more information, con- tact Stuebner at (208) 484 -0295 or sttuebner@tamarackidaho.com. Or, visit the Pathways Web site at www.valleycountypathways.org. Work moves forward on Bear Basin mountain bike trails Star -News Photo by Teda Markosky Payette National Forest Trails Manager John Groom ties a small flag on a stake near the nearly- finished Nordic ski parking lot near Bear Basin west of McCall. The parking lot will also service the future network of mountain bike and hiking trails. BY TECLA MARKOSKY The Star -News John Groom is deep into the construction of a mountain bike trail network in the Bear Basin area west of McCall. As trails manager for the Payette National Forest, Groom is leading the effort to build 14 miles of trail off King's Pines II Road. The impetus for the project was pressure from local bike riding clubs. "For about 10 years, they've been asking for mountain bik- ing trails and we never had the resources and the labor," Groom said. "This project was definitely initiated by the local community." To help make their dream a reality, the same groups have pledged volunteer labor and support. There is a real need in the community for good b ike trails within close proximity to Mc- Call, he said. "We had a ton of great singletrack," Groom said. "But it was an hour out of town. We wanted to give people the opportunity to go for a hike and bike ride close enough so they could do it in the morning before work or in the evening without having to drive a long way." Currently, the area allows motorized use. When the new Payette Travel Management Plan is adopted, the area will be restricted to nonmotorized. use only "It's ideal for bikers and hikers," Groom said. It's also a place where dog owners can run their pets off - leash, he said. Half the project will be funded by grant money given by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The other money will come from federal funds. The trail network will share the nearly finished Nor- dic skiing parking lot. "We're trying to make use of the Nordic facility year - round," Groom said. For more information about the trail project, contact Sue Dixon at the McCall Dis- trict office at 634 -0440. itt494 J/a q /o, Four miles of former railroad bed turned into bicycle path BY TECLA MARKOSKY The Star -News Valley County hikers and bik- ers have a new place to explore now that Valley County Pathways has opened about four miles of rail -trail south of the McCall Alsolast week, a contractorfor River Ranch was laying down a 10- foot -wide paved pathway that meanders along the front of that development adjacent to Mission Street south of McCall. The two new pathways are "a great cause for celebration County Pathways Chair Steven Stuebner said. "While some of these sections of the rail -trail have been used by people in the past, the properties were in private ownership and the rail -trail could have been bull- dozed over, paved over for homes nr other development without a Photo map shows the route of the Valley County Pathways bicycle and pedestrian path south of Mcuau. I�Z of q �01 yIrfv concerted effort to convert the rail ' Valley County Pathways now has a foothold in the north end of the valley and the south end of the valley, and we will work with many other landowners in between to create a continuous north -south trail corridor from Cascade to McCall," he said. Valley County Pathways has a county- approved 100 -mile mas- ter plan for regional pathways throughoutthe valley. Theformer Union Pacific Railroad right of way has been the group's highest priority for initial development, Stuebner said. The group's recent access agreement with Idaho Power, combined with negotiations with adjacent landowners, led to the opening of the rail - trail. To get there, follow the ex- isting paved rail -trail south of McCall- Donnelly High School to the airport, follow the new path in front of River Ranch, and then tie into the rail -trail south of Moonridge Drive. A sign at the trailhead in- dicates that the trail is open to nonmotorized trail users includ- ing hikers, bikers and horseback riders. In the winter, it will be open to cross - country skiing, Stuebner said. Getting so many miles of trail in place is a lot of work, but it's worth it, said Travis Hatfield of McCall, who worked on the original bike path in McCall in the 1990s. "That first attempt fizzled out," Hatfield said. "But the new one is phenomenal. This com munity needs it." Community benefits of a bike path like the one planned for Valley County include increased property values, new recre- ational opportunities and the opportunity to commute to work by bicycle, Stuebner said. Other benefits are increased local economic activity, a pres- ervation of open space corridors and the chance for members to increase physical activity and fitness, he said. "This pathway system is go- ing to benefit the whole valley" he said. Neal andPam Davis, who were riding b ikes on the trail last week, said their son regularly com- mutes to work on the rail- trail. "It's a great way for our son to ride into town for work," Pam Davis said. "We live right on the trail." See PATH, Page A -13 Path and songbirds. That makes it the perfect only a Valley County Pathways rule but a stipulationrequiredby land owners, includ- picnic spot for birdwatchers and some of the (Continued from Page A -12) photographers. - "We hope to put in a bench ing Idaho Power," he said. Cooperationfromlandowners The trail has many uses not limited to bicyclists, Stueb- next to the pond for people to sit ,> and enjoy the wildlife, Stuebner and area developers is critical for the continuation of the plans, just ner said. Ecologically, some landowners report an increased , said. The only firm restriction motorized vehicles, Hatfield said. Bor, the developer o amount of wildlife thanks to the nonmotorized rule. is against Stuebner said. Parts of the trail been used by motorcycles River Ranch, contributed to the success by paving his section A section of the trail slices through Buck Camp adjacent bird sanctuary pond built have and ATVs in the past, but those activities are not allowed any of the bike bath. When Judd DeBoer's devel- to a by Hatfield and hi s neighbors, which ishome to apair of nesting longer, he said. nt to note that use rule is not opment is complete, it will all connect," Hatfield said. sandhill cranes as well as ducks the nonmotorized McCall gets $81,000 grant to build bike path near school BY MICHAEL WELLS The Star -News The Idaho Transportation Department has awarded the city of McCall $81,000 to build a recreational path- way at the Payette Lakes Middle School. The money will be used to build 660 feet of paved pathway from the future bus exit at the school south to the intersection of Deinhard Lane and Samson Trail. Construction will begin in the summer of 2009, grants coordinator Carol Coyle said. The pathway will connect with a pathway the McCall- Donnelly School District is building from Floyde Street north to the bus exit. Once the two projects are completed, the pathway system will link the schools north to Lick Creek Road. Idaho for projects designed to encourage students to walk and bicycle to school. The funds are part of the Safe Routes to School program, a federal initiative to encourage and en- able children to safely walk and bicycle to school. ITD receives funding each year to distribute to projects selected by the Safe Routes to School Ad- visory Committee. "Fewer children are walking to school now than ever before," said Idaho Smart Growth Representa- tive Elaine Clegg said. See PATH, Page A -10 ketch shows the location of a recreational path to be built along Samson Trail using an $81,000 grant from the Idaho Transportation Department. Sketch courtesy Design West "We are pleased to have it," Coyle said. "We are going to do our best to make it a good thing and keep seeking funding for other projects in McCall." The city is also seeking funding from the ITD to construct a 1,600 -foot section of pathway that would parallel Deinhard Lane to the west to connect to the pathway that begins at the McCall Post Office. Funding for that project is estimated to be $370,000. If the project were built, the pathway system would be connected from Lick Creek to the Four Corners intersection of Deinhard Lane and Idaho 55. If the city is successful acquiring federal money for the pathway along East Deinhard Lane, there would be a $27,000 local match to go along with $342,000 in federal money. ITD gave out $890,000 this year to 19 cities in Path (Continued from Page A -1) "One of the goals of the Safe Routes to School program is to raise awareness among commu- nities about the need to provide good connectivitybetween neigh- borhoods and schools when planning development and future land use, to enable children who could be walking and biking to do so." The city is also seeking grant money from the Transporta- tion Enhancement program for Pathways. Safe Routes to School funding is limited to a two -mile radius of the school. The city is also seeking Idaho Department of Parks and Recre- ation funding for intersection improvements at the corner of Lick Creek and Davis, which will allow safer pedestrian use of the intersection, Coyle said. ' The city also uses Local Option Taxrevenuesforthe construction of pathways in the city. �;�r� "(We) felt that it would be appropriate to donate our property along the trail to the Pathways group so they can continue to work toward their goal of building a trail from McCall to Cascade." — Marvin Whiteman Pathways group secures key link south of McCall Marvin and Carol Whiteman have donated a 1.7 -acre strategic parcel of railroad right of way south of McCall to Valley County Pathways Inc. The donation will allow the Pathways group to provide new public access to several miles of trail between McCall and Heinrich Lane. Valley County Pathways also recently signed an access agreement with Lake Irrigation District, south of the Whiteman property. The two land transactions, combined with an existing long -term access agreement with Idaho Power Co., provide a continuous pathway corridor along the old Union Pacific Railroad right of Way between Moonridge'Drive and Heinrich Lane, a distance of about four miles, said Steve Stuebner, president of Valley County Pathways. The pathway corridor is being managed as a nonmotorized, four - season trail open to cross - country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, and hiking, biking, running andhorseback riding in the summer. "This was private land that could have been sold as a home site, so it's great to have it in public ownership to preserve the pathway corridor along the old railroad right of way," Stuebner said. The irrigation district access agreement al- lows the Pathways group to manage the district's land along the former railroad right of way as a recreation trail, he said. See PATHS, Page A -10 Paths (Continued from Page A -1) Work on anew trail bypass project should begin next summer, Stuebner said. Marvin Whiteman, now retired, ran a successfulbusi- ness in Boise for many years. He was a partner in the de- velopment of several McCall residential developments, including Payette River Sub- division, Aspen Ridge and Moonridge. "Steve explainedthe vision of Valley County Pathways to me, and Carol and I felt that it would be appropriate to donate our property along the trail to the Pathways group so they can continue to work toward their goal of building a trail from McCall to Cascade," Whiteman said. Valley County Pathways plans to hold an event next summer to showcase the i section of trail, Stueb said. For more information to www.valleycountypi ways.org_ Valley County Pathv has a county -appro pathways master plan envisions the creatiox more than 100 miles of destrian pathways bete McCall and Cascade. The group's highest p ity has been to secure ac agreements and blocl ownership to convert th, merrailroadrightof wa3 runsthelengthof LongV into a recreation trail. McCall pledges to `go . � /w9 /e green' with city projects, urges others to follow BY MICHAEL WELLS The Star -News The McCall City Council last week endorsed a policy to ensure city projects are built to environ- mentally sustainable construction standards. "I think it will, hopefully, encourage people to use green technology," Mayor Bert Kulesza said of the resolution. "This says the council supports building technologies that are energy efficient." does not The resolution, passed unanimously, obligate private developers to use the energy ef- ficient building practices, but does commit the city to do so in its developments. The council considered changing the city's code to require private developers to follow en- ergy- efficient standard. But the council decided against making the requirement, because the standards increase the cost of building. The resolution can be updated in the future to *reflect current construction standards and community values. "See GREEN, Page A -10 McCall ! Existing Pathway ..n • � INATS �W _ mamn Whiteman 1.7 acres Lake irrigation Destriat 9.6 acres �► Heinrich North Valley RR ROW Pathway 1 ® open Trail Trail open due to courtesy lake Fork Road Lake Fork s of private landowner Illustration courtesy Valley County Pathways Photo illustration shows the new segment of bicycle and pedestrian path to be opened to public use south of McCall. reen (Continued from Page A -1) All public projects con- structed in the city's airport and civic zones will now be built to environmentally sustainable standards. The resolution was passed to encourage andpromote the city as a "green community," and to provide incentives for green development and green businesses. "The City of McCall shall hereby use industry - leading social, environmental, and economic sustainability standards integrated into the environmental benetits that planning, design, construc- tion, and materials for allnew improve air andwaterquality in the city, should decrease City buildings and projects," waste, and could lead to a of the area's the resolution said. "These pillars of sustain- restoration natural resources, city . of- ability shall be considered together, as a whole, and not ficials said. , By passing the resolution independently," according to the city hopes to encourage clean light industries to relo- the proclamation. The resolution could have cate or build in McCall. History Histo / From "Haven in the Wilderness, The Story of Frances Zaunmiller Wisner of Campbell's Ferry, Idaho" by Carol Furey - Werhan Sister Mary Alfreda Elsensohn in her Book "Pioneer Days in Idaho County (volume two, pp 457 -458) cites information she obtained from the files of Payette National Forest at McCall that gives the following details of the Three Blaze Trail construction: As the Thunder Mountain gold rush boom developed, the need for a single direct route from the northwestern area direct to the diggings became evident. The demand grew until the problem was met by the donation method in the spring of 1900 when the sum of three thousand dollars was collected from prospectors, miners, and businessmen to construct such a route. Campbell and Stonebraker, transportation owners, were awarded the contract for location and construction. Starting from the present town of Grangeville they crossed the Buffalo Hump country, through Dixie, to the mouth of Trout Creek on the Main Salmon. Here Campbell constructed the ferry which still bears his name. They followed up Little Trout Creek to the present site of Burnt Knob Lookout, then along Highline Ridge south of Flossie Lake to the crossing of Chamberlain Creek at the mouth of Moose Creek, where a winter stopover cabin was built. This cabin, now fast decaying (1942) and known as the "Smokehouse," still stands about three miles up Chamberlain Creek from the present site of the Chamberlain Basin Ranger Station. Through Moose Creek Meadows, the trail climbs the ridge east of Moose Creek and continues on top to Ramey Ridge. From Ramey Ridge the trail comes to the mouth of Ramey Creek, then down Big Creek to the mouth of Monumental Creek and up Monumental Creek. Tragedy marked the trail the next winter after its completion when Campbell progressed ahead of his party and became lost in a heavy snowstorm near the head of Lodgepole Creek; he was never seen afterwards. Searching parties failed to learn what fate overtook him but the supposition was that a broken snowshoe spelled his doom in the deep snow. Jim Moore, who lived continuously near Campbell's Ferry, even prior to its construction, related the following data on the use of this trail: In two years, from 1900 to 1902, nearly 1,800 men passed Campbell's Ferry going into the Thunder Mountain area. Modes of transportation varied from back pack and mules during the summer, to snowshoes and skis, with supplies dragged on elk and deer hides, during the winter. Mr. Moore further stated that he carried on a profitable business in supplying hides and meat to these travelers. Warren and Rose Aiken Cook lived along the river and operated Campbell's Ferry in the early 1900s. Later Fred Silge (or Silgee), operated the ferry for a number of years. One day while making a river crossing, he fell into the river and his body was never found. Robert Hylands homesteaded the eighty-five acre Campbell's Ferry Ranch in 1927. In 1933, Joe Zaunmiller, who came to the river after leaving his father's wheat farm in Walla Walla, Washington, was working for Hylands at the ferry. Hylands later gave half interest in the ranch to Joe and his wife Emma. When Hylands died, the other half interest in the ranch was inherited by a sister and brother who sold it back to the Zaunmillers. Page 1 of 1 Rose Cook and Child Died in Childbirth 1905 N__U Phyllis at Historical Marker Crowe Cabin in Background The Three Blaze Trail is now called the Chamberlain Trail and is designated part of the Idaho Centennial Trail System. `E ille Herne __.J http://www.campbellsferry.com/CAMPBE—I/History.html 3/22/2009 More History H stor y Continued In 1940, several years after his wife Emma died, Joe Zaunmiller met Frances. Frances had come to Idaho's backcountry from Texas, in search of a remote place to get over a turbulent marriage that had ended in divorce. She hired on with Joe Zaunmiller as a cook and caretaker for his hunting outfit. In 1942 they married. In 1945 Francis began writing a regular column for the Idaho County Free Press in Grangeville. These columns were later published in a book titled, "My Mountains: Where the River Still Runs Downhill." This remarkable chronicle of life on the Salmon River is a priceless record of daily life at Campbell's Ferry. In 1958 with Joe getting on in age, they decided to sell the property. John and Mary Crowe from California bought the place, giving Joe and Frances lifetime rights to stay. The Crowes became good friends with Frances, providing much needed support in keeping the property up. In 1960 they brought in a Farmall C tractor. Lucille, as Francis named the tractor, became a major part of life at Campbell's Ferry. As I described in a recent article Frank Crowe wrote for a tractor collector's magazine, "Lucille was the taxi to get up to the runway to get people and the mail (along with any groceries you might have ordered.) She logged, making it much easier to get the winters supply of firewood. She plowed a huge garden (almost everything you could want, including something like eight varieties of raspberries!) She also mowed and raked hay for the milk cow and remaining horses and mules. She had a barn when it snowed, and was well cared for by the resident humans. Joe passed away in the 60's, but Frances stayed, with Lucille always there to help." Wood was gathered from downed or dying trees and brought in by the tractor. The now antique tractor was a part of Campbell's Ferry history for almost 30 years. The tractor was essential to maintain the runway, which was the primary means of access to the property. In 1962 Joe Zaunmiller died of a heart attack. In 1963, Frances married Vern Wisner. Vern was from Nebraska, half Sioux and a fair hand at carpentry. He helped Frances keep up the property until his death in 1974. Frances died in 1986. The Crowes sold the property to The Trust For Public Lands. TPL sold a conservation and scenic easement to the Forest Service and the deed to the property to conservation buyers Doug Tims and Brad Janoush of Boise, Idaho. Tims and Janoush made contributions to the Idaho Heritage Trust which were used for materials to restore the Zaunmiller Cabin. They are working to maintain the property as it existed in the 50's. The Ferry LrJcille Home Page 1 of 1 Frances and Joe Zaunmiller Nice Catch! Frances Zaunmiller Wisner 1969 Crowe Cabin Built 1960 Sawmill - Used to Cut Timber for Bridge in 1957 and Crowe Cabin 1960 http://www.campbellsferry.com/CAMPBE—I/More—History.html 3/22/2009 The Ferry The Last Ferry Page 1 of 1 In the late 1800's and early 1900's as the American west was settled, it was common for entrepreneurs to establish ferries as a method for moving people, goods and livestock across rivers. Campbell's Ferry was built by William Campbell in the 1890's. It was a source of income ($1 per head of stock, $.50 per person) for owners of the homestead until a bridge replaced it in 1956 as an easier way to cross the Salmon River. The ferry was located in a large pool upstream of the current bridge site. It was a large rectangular box structure with the ends swept up to meet the river current. A large cable was anchored on rocks called deadmen on each side of the river. The upstream end of the ferry was connected to the cable with a large pulley. A "sweep" or large rudder was used on the downstream end to angle the ferry to allow the current to push it from one side of the river to the other. In 1990 the current owners were cleaning Frances Zaunmiller's cabin and found the colorized photo below wedged between her desk and the wall. That is Frances at the helm. She had labeled it "The Last Ferry Boat." Click on the Bridge, Letter and History links to learn about the ferry and her work to replace it. The Bridge, a chapter from Carol Furey - Werhan's book "Haven in the Wilderness" Frances' letter to Idaho Senator Dworshak promoting the building IM of a bridge to replace the ferry. Hi =aur;+ Hurri http://www.campbellsferry.com/CAMPBE—I/The—Feny.html 3/22/2009 The Bridge The Bridge Page 1 of 2 From "Haven in the Wilderness, The Story of Frances Zaunmiller Wisner of Campbell's Ferry, Idaho" by Carol Furey - WeMsing the Salmon River in high water was for the most part impossible, in winter treacherous, and at all times dangerous. Frances had dreamed of a permanent bridge across the river -one that would be safe for both people and pack animals. She realized a bridge would open the trails to year round travel and she would no longer be living in a remote part of the world. Although she did not want to see her front yard crowded with people, she knew that a bridge could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. By 1952 the ferry boat wood was rotting and it was no longer safe to load up to eight mules at a time on the ferry as they once had. Water leaked in and was knee deep inside the boat when it got to the other side. One or two horses with their riders were all that Joe felt was safe. Frances held her breath each time she watched the ferry cross. Frances felt that Joe, now in his sixties, was getting too old to be making the crossing. "Joe, I don't want you to use that ferry boat anymore. It's an accident waiting to happen," said Frances. "We're going to get a bridge." True to form, once she made up her mind about something, the course was set. Readers of her weekly column in the Idaho County Free Press were made aware of the need for a pack bridge across the Salmon at Campbell's Ferry. A column she wrote in 1954 had the following: A Note to Mr. Chaney: Sir: If you had ever started across the Salmon in the ferry and had the "dead man" pull out and finished the crossing with the big cable in the water - I had less than half a sack of Bull Durham and only two matches. Not much smoking for the run to Riggins. I was a very happy girl when I landed, and Joe talked like a husband. In fact he bawled me out in fine fashion. Since then we have pulled the "deadman" three times, each at a lower stage of water. My personal belief -to make successful crossings on the Salmon when the river is high, the boatman must be (1) at least as high as the river, or (2) a grade A idiot. To combine the 1 and 2 should make a perfect boatman for high water boating. Frances also started a letter writing campaign, mailing letters to anyone she thought might have any "pull" at all. Her letters to members of congress were unceasing. The river needed a good bridge and the old pack trail needed repairs. The Forest Service needed funding to provide these essentials. In 1954 she wrote to Senator Henry Dworshak of Idaho, to explain the need for a safe river crossing. Typical of her many letters, it was long and full of details: the history of the old ferry, the dangers of high water and winter crossings, the danger of having "deadmen" pull out while crossing, and the reasons to be able to cross the river in case of fire or to fight a fire. Her copies of letters, printed in the Idaho County Free Press, spurred others to write. Frances became a heroine to many who, perhaps caught up in the American "rat race," read her column and dreamed of life in the back country. She convinced many of her readers that there was indeed a need for a safe pack bridge. The letter campaign produced the pressure needed to get the job done. In the summer of 1955 bridge building became a reality. Parts for the bridge, perhaps one hundred tons or more, were floated down the river from the end of the Mallard Creek road to the bridge site. The main cable was heavy steel and impossible to boat down because they could not coil it into anything smaller than about sixteen feet. Instead, they packed it down the old trail using a mule train with a mule placed about every 20 feet with the cable tied on for the trek. Frances and Joe inspected the old ferry that April. While it still was able to float, water was always knee deep inside. "I think it's time to retire the ferry permanently, Joe," said Frances. "Yeah, but I want to keep some of these pulleys and cables -might come in handy sometime," replied Joe. They worked most of that day and into the next dismantling the ferry system. In the evening, Joe and Frances cut the old ferry boat loose, and, pushing and shoving with long poles to get it into the current they watched it float downstream. It either smashed on boulders downstream and ended up as firewood at someone's river campsite or it filled with more water and sunk to the bottom of the Salmon River. Joe and Frances would "make -do" until the bridge was completed. During construction Frances watched as men working ten hour days strung steel cables across the river. When she saw the concrete pilings set in place, it was a thrilling feeling. Steel beams crossed at the entrances on either side, and guard rails were bolted in place. The bridge was wide enough, for horses to cross -two at a time if needed. To Frances, it was the most beautiful bridge in the world, and she shared all the ongoing construction events with her readers. "That's my bridge," Frances told Joe. "It will always be my bridge. I'm so happy to see it coming in." Work continued throughout that year and into the next during good weather. The bridge was officially completed on April 7, 1956. Frances tied a silver ribbon across her side of the bridge on the Payette National Forest, for a "ribbon cutting" ceremony. The other side of the bridge is on the Nez Perce National Forest, therefore it pleased Frances to realize the bridge celebration spanned two National Forests. Frances told her readers: the r'amnhell'S Ferry hririne is finicheri Rinre Nn\ /emher the rrew hac heen wnrkinn Thiircriav thev finicheri Minn http://www.campbellsferry.com/CAMPBE—I/The—Bridge.html 3/22/2009 The Bridge Page 2 of 2 even the last little chore that makes a bridge a thing of beauty and service. Early Friday morning the bridge warming party started. It was quite a party. Chet Olsen, the Regional Forester, came from Ogden and Cecil Stowel represented the office at McCall. A lot of talking went on, tho' I don't remember any speeches. Pictures were taken. Mr. Olsen cut the silver ribbon that a mouse had tied across the end of the bridge. Dickerson, the superintendent who built it, was presented with a silver bell that had decorated the bridge. That afternoon, Frances, Joe, Avon Hill, who was working on the clean up, and Lady, the Appaloosa mare, went to her bridge. Joe and Frances took turns riding the mare across and then walking across the bridge, while Avon recorded the event in photographs. Travel across the river by Campbell's Ferry boat was over, and Frances had no regrets. "Frances' bridge" was officially named the Campbell's Ferry Pack Bridge and later the Frances Zaunmiller Memorial Pack Bridge. The U.S. Forest Service built an airstrip on the field above the orchard and a road to the bridge site to haul in people and other supplies during construction. It has been a private airstrip ever since. The Ferr;+ W: Letter Horne hk _s 'The_Bridge.html 3/22/2009 Access Page 1 of 1 Access Access to Campbell's Ferry is possible via trail, river or air. The Three Blaze Trail, established in 1898, crosses the property. To the North the trail winds up the canyon to Dixie, Idaho. To the South the trail follows Trout Ridge to the Chamberlain Basin. The trail crosses the river on the Frances Zaunmiller Wisner Memorial Bridge, built by the government in 1957. From Grangeville and Dixie, Idaho you can drive Forest Service roads to the Whitewater Ranch. From there it is a four mile hike downriver on the Salmon River Trail to Campbell's Ferry. The Ferry has a small, private air strip. Permission is required prior to landing. Weekly mail service to the site is provided by Arnold Aviation of Cascade, Idaho. The 700' landing strip runs up the hill in the pasture in the upper center of the property. Float and jetboat traffic on the Main Salmon River provide access via river. Both are limited by a management plan that governs use of the river. Crossing the Salmon River Home ]etBoats Chamberlain (Three Blaze) Trail crosses Trout Creek Take Off! - Ray Arnold Arnold Aviation, Cascade, Idaho http: / /www.campbelisferry.com/ Campbells _Ferry_Web_Site /Access.html 3/22/2009 FM Agreement opens 1.8 miles of new pathways south of McCall Star -news rnoto oy wua v. r ,11uuoN....u,.�.., _....- -,- At top, Jo Conn, director of sales at River Ranch, and Steve Stuebner with Valley County Pathways take a bike ride along the section of former Union Pacific Railroad right of way opened to public access south of River Ranch. At bottom, map shows the route of the newly opened path. "This trail is going to become a favorite place to walk, bike or cross - country ski." — Steve Stuebner, Valley County Pathways BY LUCIA V KNUDSON The Star -News Apedestrian and bicycle path extending 1.8 miles south of McCall was opened to the public this week. The newly created North Valley Rail -Trail opens a five - mile, continuous public trail corridor from McCall City Hall to Heinrich Lane one mile north of Lake Fork. The path's owner, McCall River Ranch Co.,, and the Val- ley County Pathways group announced on Monday the signing of access agreements to extend the path. The announcement, made at the River Ranch clubhouse, was attended by landowners and local dignitaries con- nected with the creation of a pathway system throughout Long Valley. Agreements between Mc- Call River Ranch, landowners Judd and Diane DeBoer, and the pathways group provide public access from the end of the existing River Ranch pathway to The Activity Barn, which offers lift- served snow tubing during the winter. The route is paved within McCall city limits and is composed of gravel and dirt outside the city. "We're thrilled to be get- ting official public access to these pathway segments from River Ranch and the DeBoers," said Steve Stuebner of Valley County Pathways. "This trail is going to be- come a favorite place to walk, bike or cross - country ski," Stuebner said. "It's a pretty flat trail so it's easy to use for just about anyone, particu- larly kids and families." Part of Master Plan Valley County Pathways has a county- approved path- ways master plan that would create more than 100 miles of nonmotorized pathway be- tween McCall and Cascade. See PATHS, Page A -2 J- 1 2, Paths: agreement opens 1.8 miles of new pathways (Continued from Page A -1) The group wants to secure access to convert the former Union Pacific Railroad right of way running the length of Long Valley into a recre- ational trail. Trail segments on DeBoer and River Ranch property will link to existing trail seg- ments to the south that Valley County Pathways manages through access agreements with Lake Irrigation District and Idaho Power Co. Last year, Marvin and Carol Whiteman donated a key piece of property just southwest of the Activity Barn near Nisula Road and Moonridge Drive. "Slowly, but surely we're putting the pieces together to fulfill our mission of creating a public trail along the railroad right of way," Stuebner said. The trail will be man- aged for nonmotorized uses and will be open to walking, running, biking and cross - country skiing, according to a Valley County Pathways news release. Horseback riding will allowed south of River Ranch. The agreements give in- centive to continue the main trunk further south to link with Cascade and the new Kelly's Whitewater Park, pathways group President Andy Olavarria said. Efforts to create branch access from outlying com- munities must also continue along with development of the north -south route cor- ridor, Olavarria said. The pathways group has received a $35,000 Forest Service grant through the Southwest Idaho Resource Advisory Committee to de- velop a portion of trail along Boulder Creek. Valley Couniy Pathways is organizing a volunteer trail day on Saturday, May 8, to clean up, remove brush, and install signs along the north - south trail. To volunteer to help out, contact Olavarria at 315 -4991 or aolava @citlink.net or Stuebner at (208) 484 -0295 or sstuebner @cableone.net. Pathway to link with Morgan, middle schools Contract will extend path to the end of Deinhard Lane BY MICHAEL WELLS and CARISSA SINDON The Star -News Work will begin this summer on a long- awaited link in McCall's recreation pathway system that will extend the path- way on East Deinhard Lane to Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School and Payette Lakes Middle School. Granite Excavation of Cascade had the lowest bid of four companies at $93,500, Mc- Call Staff Engineer Nathan Stewart said. The pathway on Deinhard Lane now ends at the U.S. Post Office about 1,700 feet from the intersection of Deinhard and Samson Trail. The city plans to build the 1,700 feet of new pathway across land owned by J.R. Simplot and the Idaho Department Pathway of Lands. The new section will improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the Morgan and middle schools. Now, pedestrians must either walk along Deinhard Lane or cross undeveloped property to get to the schools. The work will also include a small sec- tion east of Samson Trail to connect the new pathway to the existing pathway that runs north and south along Samson Trail, Stewart said. The pathway will be paved and will be 10 feet wide with one foot gravel shoulders on each side. Funds for the project will come from local option taxes and the city's general fund, McCall Parks and RecreationDirector Dennis Coyle said. Idaho Power Co. will bury utility lines in the area, Coyle said. Construction of the pathway will begin in July and be completed in August in time for the new school year, he said. See PATHWAY, Page 2 (Continued from Page 1) The McCall - Donnelly School District has formed an advisory committee to study how to best connnect the Morgan and middle schools with the new pathway, said the district's architect, Bill Hamlin of Design West Ar- chitects in Meridian. The district intends to have permanent improvements in place before students arrive to start the 2012 -13 school year, Hamlin said. Meanwhile, improve- ments to the existing pathway to the school will be completed when students arrive for this coming school year, he said. The funding for the in- terim improvements was incorporated into the im- provements to be made to the middle school, but ad- ditional funds will likely need to be expended for the permanent improvements, Hamlin said. Ste- /1� Outdoors Page The StarNews Page 1 of 1 Pathways group bridges gap in trail south of McCall Valley County Pathways recently bridged a gap on the North Valley Rail Trail, south of McCall, near The Activity Barn. With the cooperation of property owners Judd and Diane DeBoer, contractor Todd Clouser installed a culvert and dirt fill with a backhoe to create a bridge over a small creek. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided a permit to allow the construction. Volunteers removed the bypass sign at the Activity Bam to allow hikers, runners, bikers and horseback riders to directly through the - go area. z` The amount of public use on the trail has increased 10 -fold this spring since they has been dosed, said Valley County Pathways President Andy Olevarria, gap who lives adjacent to the pathway. wmo e� ee.. ae,.ee. il� :tuebun of BOW and fneud Huck ny out the uew mtheu bniige cn the North A'allez• 7tai1 south of McCall http: / /www.mccallstarnews .com/pages /outdoors _page.php 8/1/2013 Outdoors Page The StarNews Volunteers work on Bear Basin, Jug Mountain trails More than 30 people came out last Thursday afternoon for the McCall Community Trail Day sponsored by the Central Idaho Mountain Bike Association. The purpose of the event was to help clear trail for the new Bear Basin connector pathway that will connect McCall with Bear Basin west of town. Clearing the already cut logs, branches and debris took -; less than two hours, and the Vail should be complete and a% ready for use by early July, organizers said. �IfM The volunteer trend continued on Saturday as CIMBA hosted its annual Spring Fling at Jug Mountain Ranch. More than 50 people came out to build new trails and finish current trails, many of which will be used for the upcoming Kids Summer Mountain Bike Camp Tom Menten and Cory Nelson mope trees to help "There were more people than there were tools," said clear the Bear Basin connector hail. Heather Thiry, trail coordinator for CIMBA. "We are thrilled with our turnout!" Volunteers worked on North Elk Trail and South Elk Trail and hand -built a new trail at the reservoir above Jug Mountain Ranch. "Our goal was to get the trails ready before the kid's camp," CIMBA President Michelle Reagan said. "They are our future members!" http : / /www.mccallstamews.com/pages /outdoors _page.php Page 1 of 1 6/5/2014