RUN Wenatchee

By RunWenatchee.com

WENATCHEE — A year ago, RunWenatche volunteers helped construct a short spur trail at Saddle Rock for the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust. This Wednesday, June 5, the running organization will take on a more challenging project: Helping construct the final quarter-mile of a new trail in the Wenatchee Foothills above the Horse Lake Reserve.

Horse Lake Reserve and the area around it is one of the jewels of the Wenatchee Foothills.

“It isn’t often you get to build a trail, particularly a new one and in a place as beautiful as the Foothills,” said Steve Maher of RunWenatchee. “It also meets RunWenatchee’s mission to give back to the community in as many ways as we can. We held the Horse Lake Trail Run in early May so it makes sense to help out in that part of the Foothills.”

Those wishing to help out on Wednesday are asked to meet at the lower part of Horse Lake Road — where it turns from pavement to gravel — shortly before 5 p.m. From there, people will carpool to Horse Lake Reserve. The work party is scheduled to last until 7 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves, snacks and water as well as any hand tools they may have. The Land Trust will provide some tools.

Hanne Beenner, Land Trust trails coordinator, said most of the new trail has been built by Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and Land Trust volunteers over the past couple weeks. The new trail begins where the Homestead Trail and Old Wagon Road merge and continues in a southwesterly direction toward Twin Peaks.

Beener said the trail, which hasn’t been officially named yet, will better connect trails in the Foothills. It also will serve as a good spot to observe wildlife because part of the path runs along a riparian area.

“They (RunWenatchee volunteers) will be working on the last upper section, probably the last quarter of a mile,” Beener said. “It would be great if we could knock it out.”

Anyone who wants to volunteer can just show up at the bottom of Horse Lake Road on Wednesday just before 5 p.m. Those with questions can email Maher at stephenmaher67@yahoo.com.