ARLINGTON — Cleaning up the half-mile of trail took hours of work and three tons of gravel.
That was the story Jan. 17 on the Pilchuck Tree Farm north of Arlington. So go the work parties of the Traildusters, a local chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington. The chapter counts more than 130 active members, spokeswoman Marykay Els said. They are looking for more, particularly young people. The only requirement is spending time outdoors.
The Traildusters work around the region, but they make it to the tree farm and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest every year, said Rich Guthrie, 77, of Snohomish. He and his wife, Louise, joined the Backcountry Horseman decades ago. He’s the local group’s “trail boss.” He got hooked on the backcountry when he was 14. Some family friends were going on a vacation and invited him along because he knew about horses.
“I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” he said. “I just really enjoyed this experience … trees fall down and the limbs fall down, so I’ve just been doing a little trail work ever since I was 14.”
Steve Reppert, 67, of Arlington, is part of the Traildusters and also is a teacher with Leave No Trace, a group that encourages good behavior, caution and respect outdoors.
“Our mission is to provide and keep trails open for recreational riding. We’re not a competitive-type thing,” he said. “We’re just all individuals who have a single-minded goal of keeping our trails open” for trail riding.
Earlier this month, the crews cut back brush, including blackberry bushes that like to take over trails. They have a lobbying branch, too.
Reppert has worked with the Traildusters at Lord Hill Regional Park near Snohomish and the Centennial Trail, and they’ve packed in tools for other groups to use on the Pacific Crest Trail.
Work is planned for June along the newly reopened Suiattle River Road outside Darrington.
“We try to spread it around. We don’t just get focused on one spot,” he said. “We really like to help out wherever we’re needed.”
Chapter president Cliff Benson, who describes himself as “75-plus,” and his wife, Judy, have always been horse people. Traildusters keeps the Bensons and their horses active, on what he likes to call “front country trails.”
“I’m the guy who has always worked and will always work,” he said. “It’s fun to get out and do it.”
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
Learn more
The Traildusters meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Eagles building, 1218 Broadway, Everett.
For more information, mail info@traildusters.org to go to traildusters.org.
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