Trip date: May 24th, 2014
Starway. Bluff Mountain. Silver Star. The trail's names speak for themselves: scenic cliff-side vistas abound; the beauty of the region is plentiful, and, for the most part, seen by few.
Starway. Bluff Mountain. Silver Star. The trail's names speak for themselves: scenic cliff-side vistas abound; the beauty of the region is plentiful, and, for the most part, seen by few.
We first saw these trails last June, for the SolstAss FatAss Trail Run. Our friends Joe and Ann organized it as a way to celebrate their love of trails and for each other; we ran up to 50k (or more, if you happened to take a few scenic detours...) on tough, beautiful trails, and then they wed the next day.
This year they're organizing the SolstAss runs as a fundraiser for Endless Trails. They get and share our love of the backcountry, of tough, remote trails, of scenic vistas and wildflowers and rocky footing. They, too, get goosebumps when looking across seas of beargrass; they, too, share our dreams of pristine trail systems across Washington. They, too, pick up trash when they see it, work on trails when the opportunity affords itself, are ambassadors for sustainable trails.
And so, when Joe and Ann sent out emails and Facebook posts about a trail work part on the SolstAss / Silver Star system, we excitedly confirmed we'd be there. We drove down Friday, then hit the trails Saturday. The Grouse Vista approach to Silver Star was in decent shape, all things considered; though it climbs at a grade that makes it an erosion channel throughout the spring, there were only a few spots that needed water diverted off the trail or brush cleared back. And, as we approached Silver Star itself, and consequently, more trafficked trails, less work was needed. But that was expected: It was the beargrass and huckleberry bushes that'd busily begun eating the Starway and Bluff Mountain trails that we were after.
We trimmed and chopped the day away, and several miles of trail are now freshly cleared, with plans to attack yet more trail in the coming weeks. More work awaits, and likely always will, but we're making progress. One day, and one trail, at a time.
More info about SolstAss and free online registration here! Maybe we'll see you there?
[To make a tax-deductible donation to Endless Trails in advance of the SolstASS festivities, click here.]
[To make a tax-deductible donation to Endless Trails in advance of the SolstASS festivities, click here.]
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