Happy Holidays!
The entire Sterling Mine Ditch Trail System now contains thirty miles of beautifully maintained trails – and it is on its way to be a STATE SCENIC TRAIL! We were stunned when Annette Parsons, our gifted map maker extraordinaire, added up the miles. This means the Community and BLM have collectively clipped, sawed, dug and hiked over 30 miles of trail to make it look the way it does today.
Thank you to everyone in the community and at BLM who has made this possible through contributions of time, money or both. Donations are always gratefully accepted and, unfortunately, key to keeping the trail system expanding. If you would like to make a year-end gift to SUTA, click here to use PayPal or send your check to SUTA, PO Box 901, Jacksonville Oregon 97530.
We Thank You.
In 2014 the Siskiyou Upland Trails Association will continue to expand the recreational amenities of the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail system and take further steps along the path to create the Jack-Ash Trail. Two major accomplishments for the Jack-Ash started with this year’s construction of the new Grub Gulch trail and BLM’s re-opening of the Hidden Creek Trail. We are underway – slower than hoped but moving nonetheless.
Here’s a taste of our plans for 2014:
- Take the next steps in having the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail named a State Scenic Trail – which includes developing a long-term maintenance plan for the entire trail for starters;
- Finish installing the remainder of the kiosks at trailheads;
- Hosting our usual fun trail maintenance parties (which we hope all of you can come to);
- Installing interpretative panels;
- Moving forward with Phase I of the Jack-Ash trail – writing the EIS;
- Adding many more trail signs.
- Hosting some fun trail events – stay tuned…;
- Getting more people out on the trail to enjoy it and help us maintain it!
2013 was a year of tremendous effort by everyone and it is not over yet! A special thanks goes out to the over-worked SUTA Board members and their spouses, who were drafted into service too. Thank you for your hours of work organizing events, writing articles, leading trail work parties, doing paperwork for our grants, baking, making maps, building and installing kiosks and, of course, digging in the dirt along with the rest of the community. We could not create and maintain this trail without everyone’s involvement.
Thank you again to everyone.
We hope you take the time to go out and enjoy the trail! And bring your friends and neighbors to our work parties. Be sure to check our calendar often from upcoming events.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
~ Hope Robertson
A shot of our first new kiosk – Armstrong Gulch – Funded with a REI Grant
Designed and built by Jim Reiland
Many Hands Builders, Jacksonville OR
