At a time of major cutbacks for trail work, a popular route in the Chewuch is now cleared 5 miles to Black Lake, thanks to a crew of young people armed with clippers, shovels and abundant energy.

The robust crew of 16- to 18-year-olds from Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) just wrapped up two weeks of clearing downed trees and 8-foot-high ceanothus and other vegetation along the Lake Creek Trail. The relatively level trail, which melts out fairly early, was a priority because it’s a great entry-level route for beginning hikers and riders, Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) Trail Operations Manager Tim Van Beek said. The trail also boasts an impressive wildflower display.

Money for trail work has been scarce for years. But the need grew after the U.S. Forest Service banned hiring of seasonal workers last fall to address a budget shortfall, which meant the Methow Valley Ranger District (MVRD) lost three-fourths of its customary seasonal staff.

Van Beek had hoped to put NYC crews to work on even more trails, but additional cuts by the Trump administration this year have reduced the capacity of the Forest Service to administer grants — even when there’s money available, he said.

With the smaller work force, it’s taking so long for the Forest Service to process contracts that, “even if the money fell from the sky today, there’s no time to deploy crews,” Van Beek said. “Funding is complex, exciting — and, recently, it’s depressing.”

BCHW obtained a grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) that covered three-fourths of the trail project, and the Methow Valley Backcountry Horsemen kicked in the rest, Van Beek said. Van Beek also put the RCO grant toward projects in other national forests in the state.

Trail conditions

The NYC crew hacked through miles of towering shrubs that can grow several feet per year. Even this was just “triage” — the aim was to make the trail passable so people and horses could get to the lake, Van Beek said.

There were 10 people on the NYC crew, plus two young adult leaders. Some participants were from the Northwest, while others came from as far as Minnesota, Louisiana and New Hampshire. Most had never used trail tools, and several had never been camping.