
Trip Report
Stewardship - Woodard Bay
The Olympia Mountaineers volunteered to clear a very popular local trail after December storms brought down trees and debris, making it difficult for hikers to enjoy.
- Mon, Dec 30, 2024
- Stewardship - Woodard Bay
- Woodard Bay
- Stewardship
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The Woodard Bay Natural Area is a local treasure with a trail and wildlife viewing opportunities, located just north of Olympia on a Puget Sound inlet. It is a very popular destination for hikers, trail runners and families who want to enjoy the natural setting without a long or difficult drive. But winter storms can wreak havoc on the winding wooded trail and, with state budgets stretched tight, the Department of Natural Resources has a difficult time keeping up with the work. For the past four years, the Olympia Mountaineers Stewardship Team has partnered with DNR to provide the needed skills and muscle to keep the trail open to the public. We have found this particularly rewarding by providing stewardship opportunities during the winter months when more distant places are inaccessible.
On December 30, following several weeks of severe weather, a crew of 10 hardy Mountaineer volunteers tackled a particularly large number of downed trees and storm debris, enjoying the opportunity to be of service to our public lands and to the many folks who enjoy this area on a daily basis. The challenge was to remove six trees along with mountains of debris located in different parts of the 1.5-mile Loop Trail and gated access road. Fortunately our crew was populated by experienced certified crosscut sawyers plus one chainsaw expert and two very enthusiastic Mountaineer steward volunteers.
Dividing the crew into three teams working in different areas was a challenge for the Crew Leader who kept in touch with each team via walkie talkies. One team tackled a single tree across the trail at the lower end of the park before hiking on further to clear debris and branches impinging on the trail as it winds through lovely forest.
Meanwhile, the chainsaw team removed a large tree on the gated access road before moving on to remove a very large dead tree located at eye level across the trail at the far end of the Loop Trail.
The third team hiked in to a large pile of branches and debris covering a downed tree, essentially blocking the trail and necessitating off-trail travel for hikers to get around it. Using loppers, hand saws and one D-handle crosscut saw, they were able to clear this blockage and leave that section of trail in pristine condition.
By noon all three teams converged near the mid-point of the trail to remove what could only be described as a huge “train wreck.” Two very large maple trees lay across the trail with limbs and debris making passage very challenging and dangerous. One of the trees was uprooted as it came down, leaving a large rootball partially protruding into the trail.
With the help of our expert chain sawyer and the skillful experience and muscle of the rest of the crew working in close cooperation, we safely cleared this long section of trail, leaving it safe and inviting for hikers.
At the end of the day it was a happy crew, knowing we ended 2024 by making a difference for so many folks to enjoy safe passage on a beautiful trail.