Robe Canyon Volunteers
 

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Article: Local volunteers build trails at Robe Canyon
  Article: Volunteers reach site of historic railroad bridge at end of the Lime Kiln Trail
  Volunteer Accomplishments in 2002
 

Volunteer Accomplishments in 2003

 

In 2003, Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) and other volunteers invested a great amount of time and hard work in the River Loop trail segment at the end of the Lime Kiln Trail.  That segment was completed at the end of the summer.  We finished the year by making improvements to and finishing sections of the Lime Kiln Trail that had been skipped over in our initial rush to reach the end.  All of the critical sections were improved by the final 2003 work date on October 19.

This fall, Snohomish County Public Works replaced the bridge over Hubbard Creek (located at about the one-mile mark of the Lime Kiln Trail).  This an important accomplishment, as the County Parks folks had very much wanted to complete this bridge replacement prior to opening the new trail, due to their concerns about safety.

Remaining work needed to be completed prior to opening the trail:

1.  Make and install trail signs.

2.  Build the front ˝-mile of trail (currently only roughed-in).

3.  Construct trailhead parking area (to be done by Snohomish County Parks Dept.)

We have a volunteer (Terry Osborn) who has expressed interest in making the trail signs.  He will be working with Project Coordinator Steve Dean on that project during the winter.

Installing the signs and building the front ˝-mile of trail is our volunteer work for the coming year (these projects should not require a full year).

And the Snohomish County Parks Department was planning to build the trailhead parking area this winter; perhaps they've already begun.

It looks as though we should be able to open the trail sometime this coming summer, perhaps July.

The Old Robe Trail sustained a fair amount of damage during the fall flood.  It has been proposed to the County that we start our 2004 work on Old Robe Trail, with perhaps our first six work parties scheduled there.  We am currently awaiting a reply from them.  After receiving their reply, we will develop our 2004 volunteer calendar.  Folks who would like to be involved in the selection of volunteer dates should contact Steve Dean.  Also, if any qualified individual would care to lead some of our Robe Canyon work parties, we could schedule volunteer dates without being constrained by Steve's travel schedule for the new year.

See you on the trail in 2004!

 

Volunteer Accomplishments in 2002

 

  In 2002, volunteers continued the tradition of maintaining the Old Robe Trail, performing annual maintenance, installing log-railings, and relocating a section of trail lost to the river's winter rampages.  Yet, the major volunteer effort was reserved for construction of the new Lime Kiln Trail at the west end of the park.  In late fall, trail workers finally reached a significant milestone: the site of the historic railway bridge spanning the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River across from Tunnel #1.
  Joining in the trail-building efforts during the year were Boy Scout Troops #43 (Lake Stevens) and #28 (Granite Falls), Stillaguamish Citizens' Alliance, the Lake Stevens Rotary Club, and many members of the Everett and Seattle branches of The Mountaineers.

 

Volunteers reach site of historic railroad bridge at end of the Lime Kiln Trail (2003)

 For five years, VOW has led volunteer trail construction on the new Lime Kiln Trail at Robe Canyon Historic Park.  On November 9, the years of work were rewarded as volunteers stood at the end of the trail, on the banks of the South Fork Stillaguamish River where a railroad bridge once spanned the river, leading into the portal of the fabled “kissing tunnel” of the Everett & Monte Cristo Railway.  Dedicated volunteers Duane Acheson and Bob Keeney traded stories of the fifty-plus Lime Kiln Trail work parties in which each has participated in over the years, proudly savoring the special achievement.

 At noon, the crew of eleven followed a deer path to the sharp bend in the river one hundred yards north of the old bridge site.  Just five days earlier, twisted iron rods – the present-day remains of the 19th century bridge – had been visible on the far shore of the river.  The river had been smooth as glass, reflecting autumn colors.  On this day however, recent rains had swollen the river into a churning froth of gray silt, nearly covering the old bridge debris.  Bob Chesterman came prepared with camera to document the bridge debris – a moment he had anticipated for the past year of shoveling and mucking.  Undaunted by the river’s fickleness, Bob committed to be back with his camera at next year’s low water. 

 With luck, autumn of 2003 will mark another milestone in the development of the new trail.  VOW and the many dedicated volunteers who have worked to create the new trail hope to finish it next year.  Currently awaiting a county council decision on funding for the trailhead construction in 2003, volunteers hope to be working from the new trailhead by summer.  If all goes well, next year’s work could lead to a trail opening celebration by year’s end.

Local volunteers build trails at Robe Canyon

 While continuing to maintain the popular Old Robe Trail, over 90 volunteers pitched in to construct ˝ mile of the fledgling Lime Kiln Trail, tallying 262 volunteer days during 2002.

 The park at Robe Canyon was created in the mid-‘90s with plans for volunteers to keep the trails open for the public.  Since 1995, 400 volunteers have worked on trails in the park, investing over 9,000 volunteer hours.  Since 1998, the focus has been the construction of the new Lime Kiln Trail.  The trail traces the route of the 19th century Everett & Monte Cristo Railway as it winds it’s way above the tumbling waters of the South Fork Stillaguamish River and into the moss-clad rain forest of Robe Canyon.

 After five years of work, over 2˝ miles of the trail are complete.  When finished, the trail will span 3˝ miles, reaching from a trailhead near Granite Falls to the middle of Robe Canyon.  The trail passes the historic lime kiln at Cutoff Station where a number of logging railroads connected to the E&MC Railway and small sawmills dotted the landscape.

 The volunteer work at Robe Canyon is community-building in the truest sense.   The original Old Robe Trail was built by Lake Stevens Boy Scout Troop 43 in the late-1960’s.  Since then, Robe Canyon has been an all-volunteer effort.  Led by Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, volunteers from across Snohomish County, including many local scout troops and service organizations, have enjoyed the wilderness setting while building a legacy to be enjoyed by the community for generations to come.  

Robe Canyon, a place for volunteers

 The following organizations have contributed to the sweeping success of volunteerism at Robe Canyon.

Boy Scout Troops:
Troop 43, Lake Stevens
Troop 41, Lake Stevens
Troop 28, Granite Falls
Troop 51, Mt. Vernon
Troop 73, Bow
Troop 222, Granite Falls
Stillaguamish Citizens’ Alliance
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
The Mountaineers
Washington Trails Association
O.S.A.T.
Monte Cristo Preservation Association
Northwest Underground Explorations
Pacific Norwest Trail Association
Stanwood High School
Lake Stevens Rotary
Lake Stevens Family Center, and
CSR / Associated  
 
 
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