PORT TOWNSEND — Slowly but surely, the Larry Scott Memorial Trail, which is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail, is coming together.
But it’s not fast enough for some.
Those eager to see the trail built — a trail envisioned to eventually stretch 130 miles from the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven to LaPush — are gathering at 9 a.m. today at an undeveloped portion of the trail.
They will begin the preliminary work of clearing brush so that eventually walkers, joggers and equestrians can use previously inaccessible parts of the trail.
Jefferson County Public Works plans to construct the trail with a gravel ground.
The Jefferson Trail Coalition is hosting the volunteer effort.
“The only way the trail will work is if we have volunteers, because the county can’t afford it,” said Linda Carson, Jefferson Trail Coalition member.
“We have a lot of volunteers who are just dying to get in and build trail.”
The three miles of trail that Jefferson County Public Works has completed pales in comparison to the 50 miles that have been built in Clallam County.
The reason:
“They’ve done a hell of a lot better job working the federal government for line-item funding,” said Chuck Preble, president of the Peninsula Trails Coalition, which works with both Clallam and Jefferson officials to secure rights of way, grant funding and volunteers.
The Clallam portion of the trail is nearly to Blyn, about two miles from the Jefferson County line.
The Jefferson County portion of the trail will be about 23 miles.
So far, the Larry Scott Trail extends 2½ miles, from the Boat Haven to state Highway 20.
A one-mile gap, referred to as the “missing link,” has not been developed along Highway 20.
That connects with a quarter-mile portion that has been built off Cape George Road.
Jefferson County Public Works plans to continue work on the missing link this fall.
Lacks funds
Monte Reinders, Public Works engineer, said the process of building the trail has been slow because the county doesn’t have either the money for it or the staff to work to obtain grants.
“I’d be the first person to use that trail, but it’s a funding thing,” Reinders said.
He said that, because the trail work is in the category of roads, it is not a top priority when it comes to deciding what to fund.
“It’s basically like building a road — it ain’t cheap,” Reinders said.
Public Works is focusing on a short term goal of extending the trail to Four Corners Road, which is about seven miles from where the trail begins at the Boat Haven.
Most of the land easements have been obtained in that stretch of the trail, but not all.
The trail is expected to be completed to Four Corners Road in about two years.
Then, the trail will have to snake down to the foot of Discovery Bay and wrap the water line.
That exact route has yet to be determined because easements have not been obtained.
“In my lifetime I’m going to go from Port Townsend to Forks on this trail,” Carson said.
“That’s all there is to it.”
WORK ON AN undeveloped portion of the Larry Scott Memorial Trail, which is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail that is to eventually span the North Olympic Peninsula, will be at a land easement on South Edwards Road in Jefferson County.
To get there, take Cape George Road, turn south on Crutcher Road and left on Sand Road.
At the area where the completed segment of the Larry Scott Trail ends, take the left fork onto South Edwards Road.
Continue over a small hill to park on the left side of the road along a horse pasture.
For more information, phone Linda Carson at 360-385-2335.
________
Reporter Evan Cael can be reached at 360-385-2335 or evan.cael@peninsuladailynews.com.
