Keeping Washington’s Trails Safe and Beautiful
Maintaining trails is an important part of stewarding the landscape of the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. Greenway Trust staff and volunteers work together to make trails safe and accessible for recreational use, reduce the impact on ecosystems and wildlife, and promote a sustainable balance between people and nature.
On June 6, our dedicated volunteers celebrated National Trails Day by teaming up to maintain trails and trailheads at four sites: Middle Fork Campground and Nature Trails, Camp Brown Day Use Area, Middle Fork Trailhead, and Garfield Ledges. Over three hours, volunteers removed 10 unsanctioned fire rings, brushed 0.5 miles of trail, cleared 5 downed logs, improved 12 picnic sites, decommissioned 1 unsafe picnic site and 3 unsanctioned social trails, and graveled 250 feet of trail to restore it to ADA standards. Together, their hard work made quite a difference!
Greenway Volunteer Spotlight: Kaytie Cardinal
This month, we are excited to highlight Kaytie Cardinal and why maintaining trails and protecting landscapes across the Greenway NHA is meaningful to her.
Kaytie started volunteering with the Greenway Trust earlier this year when she stepped up to help repair trails damaged by winter storms. Since then, she has been an active steward of landscapes in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley.
Q: How long have you been volunteering with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust? And what keeps you motivated to help the environment throughout the year?
A: I’m in my first year with the Greenway Trust, though volunteering itself isn’t new to me. I’ve spent the past few years working with the Snoqualmie Tribe and affiliated groups. It was actually the severe December storms in North Bend that pushed me to seek out opportunities along the I-90 corridor. What keeps me coming back throughout the year is honestly the current political moment. There’s so much that feels out of my hands right now, but showing up to do this work is something tangible and meaningful that I can do.
Q: You’ve spent many hours helping repair storm-damaged trails at the Camp Brown Day Use Area! What inspires you to care for Washington trails, and why is this work meaningful to you?
A: Camp Brown holds a special place in my heart. My prior work was at Seattle Children’s, where I helped kids with disabilities. Camp Brown is an ADA-accessible trail that allows wheelchair access to the day use area. The thought of my kids getting to enjoy a day along the water, eating a meal at a park bench, and being out along the Middle Fork River gives me particular joy.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or highlight from your volunteering experience?
A: It’s the positive attitudes that are always memorable to me. I could share names of people who make me feel inspired, but the list might take up a page! We are working hard at our own levels, sometimes dealing with inclement weather too, but everyone has a smile and feels the camaraderie of working towards a goal for the greater good. I love meeting the other volunteers and hearing their stories of what brought them out here.
Q: What is one thing you’ve learned through volunteering about the environment, history, or heritage within the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area that you didn’t know before?
A: I bought Mountains to Sound: The Creation of a Greenway Across the Cascades a few months ago, and between talking with Greenway Trust staff and reading, I have learned so much! I think the most obvious gap in my knowledge was the sheer area and size of the Greenway. I had no idea how much it encompasses between Seattle and Ellensburg, or how many trails, current and future, there are to maintain.
Q: What is your favorite place in the Greenway, and why is it special to you?
A: The Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley has so much to offer, one-mile loops or 10+ mile hikes, with a paved road to the trailhead parking lots and restrooms. They’ve really made it easy to access, and I love that the Middle Fork has trails for any ability. In my teens, I ventured out to the grand Mailbox Peak, and I assume at 90 years old, you’ll find me at the tranquil Oxbow Loop.
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to stay connected to the Greenway?
A: The best part is that there are so many ways to stay connected to the Greenway and your hobbies. If you want to go out and paint the Middle Fork mountain scenery, hit up Garfield Ledges. If you want some peaceful background noise to journal, then Otter Falls is your haven. If you want to check out native bird species or see how native plants thrive in their environment, or just want to disconnect and reconnect with nature, the Greenway NHA is a sanctuary.
Q: How has volunteering impacted your life?
A: Volunteering is good for the soul, and I would say it invigorates my life. My mental health depends on the physical activity, the common connections with other volunteers, and the endorphins I feel at the end of a job well done.
Q: Has volunteering strengthened your personal connection to the Greenway? If yes, how so?
A: Volunteering has strengthened my personal connection to the Greenway. I feel proud to call these trails and these people a part of my life. Providing access to nature also strengthens a sense of accountability to act responsibly to preserve this beautiful landscape.
Q: What advice or encouragement would you give to someone interested in volunteering with the Greenway Trust and/or doing trail maintenance?
A: I have been that new, unfamiliar person who debates in their head whether to embark on a journey alone to a trailhead and meet a group of people they don’t know. If you’re looking for a sign, here it is — do it. You absolutely won’t regret the decision. The introductions are short and sweet; majority of the group is or was new to the process, so we know you might not know how to use all the tools. The process of learning and socializing feels so organic because we all want to help!
I’ll also add that if you want to help but feel limited by age or ability, don’t let that deter you from joining. If someone walked up to me at a tree planting event and said they were unable to dig holes but would love to place the trees, I’d probably dig ten extra holes than I would have just to help them plant even more.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Greenway Trust community?
A: I have been practicing or working on recreating with respect to nature for years, but I would add, take the time to appreciate the effort your forest stewards put into making these trails accessible. I’ve been hiking in this area since I was a teenager, and it wasn’t until my 30s that I slowed down to appreciate the trail work; logs cut out of the way, steps placed to make an incline approachable, and trails rerouted around landslides. Those things deserve a moment of respect for the effort put into making your recreational experience enjoyable.
Thank you to all the volunteers who help keep Washington’s trails safe and beautiful. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on upcoming trail events and learn how you can get involved in making a difference across the Greenway NHA!
