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Advocating, Building, Maintaining
The Olympic Discovery Trail
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Olympic Discovery Trail Maps Through the Years
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Community Through Shared Purpose
- - People come from across Washington state, the United States, and
even the globe, to see and experience the physical beauty of the Olympic
t', Peninsula.The Olympic Discovery Trail(ODT) itself was inspired by the
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region's stunning landscape and the dream of navigating it by bicycle,
foot, or hoof on a non-motorized pathway.
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;I, purpose. So it was that thirty-six years ago the Peninsula Trails Coalition
(PTC)was born.As we reflect on the PTC's accomplishments in 2024,
. our abiding thought is of the thousands of volunteers, civil servants,
supporters, as well as many other community leaders,who advocate for
building and maintaining the ODT.You'll read about their efforts in
2025 Board of Directors these pages.
We recognize especially the substantial contributions of three
Jeff Bohman individuals who stepped down from the PTC board in 2024.Together
President Andy Stevensen,John Dolansky, and Brian Anderson volunteered nearly
35 years of board service to the PTC. If you've been to any PTC event or
Merrily Mount meeting over the past fifteen years, chances are you ran into Andy,John,
VP Jefferson County or Brian.Their collective fingerprints are everywhere on this organization
and on the Olympic Discovery Trail.We'll recognize their service and that
Gordon Taylor of another former PTC Vice President,Jeff Selby, publicly at our 2025
VP East Clallam County annual meeting.
Our PTC coalition is the sum of the organizations—
Jan Whitlow governmental,voluntary, private, public, and tribal—and their members,
VP Middle Clallam County volunteers, and supporters,who also contribute mightily to our ODT
Molly Erickson community.The practical work of organizing and advocating for building
VP West Clallam County and maintaining the ODT is a case study in how diverse individuals and
communities can work together with a shared purpose to accomplish
Bob Petersen great things.
Treasurer Looking back on 2024,we're proud of the work that the PTC
accomplished, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed their
Judy Sarles time,voice,or treasure to our shared community enterprise.Thank you.
Secretary
Rich James SM"4-
Jeni Little Jeffrey R. Bohman, PENINSU
President, Peninsula Trails Coalition T R AILS
Don Willott
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Advocacy takes many forms. Meeting and greeting trail users through our Trail
Ambassador Program is one type of advocacy. Poring over maps and walking acre
after acre of potential trail to prepare for some future public hearing is another. Getting
neighbors together to envision a safer and more sustainable community with active
transportation corridors is yet another type of advocacy. The PTC, as you'll read below,
engaged in all of these forms of advocacy, and many others, in 2024.
The ODT: An Economic Engine Trail Ambassadors also encouraged trail users to
share their visit and photos on the PTC's social media
platforms. Facebook and Instagram play a big role in
For the second year running, PTC Trail attracting other visitors to the ODT — 26 percent of
Ambassadors greeted and surveyed hundreds survey respondents learned about the ODT online!
of Olympic Discovery Trail users, showing Trail Ambassadors- also collected valuable
strong economic impact. information by conducting over 1,250 trail user surveys.
These voluntary surveys help us learn more about
Stationed at busy ODT trailheads during the who uses the ODT, how they use it (i.e., their mode
summer and fall months,eight PTC Trail Ambassadors of transportation— most people walk or run but many
created a welcoming and informative experience for local also ride bicycles and horses),and what their experience
and visiting ODT users. From portable information using the trail is like.We also find out if trail users will
kiosks, Trail Ambassadors distributed detailed be pitching a tent, renting a house, or staying the night
00 recreation and trail segment maps; assisted with route in a hotel.
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planning and transit; helped locate amenities such as By recording user activities, demographics, and
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`, shopping, dining, and lodging options; and, perhaps experiences,we can identify potential trail maintenance
p most enjoyably, made personal connections with trail concerns, better understand where new trail amenities
> users (our Trail Ambassadors are always eager to trade are needed, assess the ODT's impact on local lodging
'Cl adventure stories!). and businesses, and supply prospective ODT project
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Advocate
supporters with relevant trail data. In 2024 in Jefferson Property owners who are uninterested in
County, for example, trail users accounted for nearly negotiating a sale or easement for trail development
22,500 lodging nights. In Clallam County, almost will sometimes sell,trade,or donate their land to a new
30,000 lodging nights were registered by overnight trail owner with a different vision. One of the key roles of
users. This is one way of showing how the ODT is an the PTC in advocating for the Olympic Discovery Trail
economic engine in our region. is to remain informed about opportunities for land
Understanding the ODT's economic impact is acquisition and to investigate potential trail routes.The
important to the jurisdictions that fund the PTC's PTC undertakes these efforts in close collaboration
Trail Ambassador Program. In 2024, the program was with jurisdictions across the Olympic Peninsula.
funded by lodging tax grants from Port Angeles as well By monitoring and responding to land
as from Jefferson County and Clallam County.
Many visitors told us that their interaction
acquisition opportunities across various
with a Trail Ambassador greatly enhanced their trail jurisdictions, the PTC helps to ensure
experience, and that they're grateful for the program. that new construction opportunities
That's not surprising to us. We know that the North on the ODT are pursued promptly and
Olympic Peninsula is a stunning place to visit. What
makes the ODT and our home distinctive,however, are efficiently.
its people.That's why we're grateful in 2024 for lodging In 2024, EFM, a private forest manager that had
tax dollars that support the PTC's Trail Ambassador recently purchased a substantial tract of timberland
Program. Putting a friendly face on the ODT is an located in western Clallam County along the Calawah
invaluable trail enhancement and investment in our River, approached the PTC.We had previously studied
communities that always pays dividends. this land for its trail possibilities.We knew its potential
It's good to know that 94% of all survey for trail development.
respondents would recommend the ODT to a friend In support of EFM's sustainable land management,
or colleague. the PTC assisted in obtaining letters of support from
congresspeople,state legislators,and trail partners.Our
advocacy helped to bolster the landowner's applications
for conservation easements from the U.S. Forest
New Landowner Brings Big Trail Service. Later in 2024, EFM acquired additional land
Possibilities to Western Clallam County that could potentially accommodate another section of
the ODT.
Long-time PTC board members have toiled
for decades mapping potential trail routes,
walking acres of land, and imagining what = ..rIMP
could be. In 2024, a change of land ownership � • -11,
in Western Clallam County saw decades
of preparation and advocacy bring new
opportunities. The readiness is all. j
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Land ownership on the Olympic Peninsula is ever
changing. Tracts of land suitable for establishing the
new Olympic Discovery Trail route,whether privately or
publicly owned, change hands from time to time. With -14
new landowners come new possibilities.
4
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The PTC's advocacy, fieldwork, and collaboration
helped to secure over 30 miles of potential ODT . :., . :,!_.,. R � �` _ ,
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development in western Clallam County. In 2024, in
support of Clallam County staff,the PTC also examined .*` •j \ r • _* '� .a, Y ` -
a route proposal from the Washington Department of f�_1*,+ ,,:. At �1 1 ` `" �' L.
Natural Resources that would close approximately one- , :''. ,,,,� 4� ` i " altitF_ "
third of the"Joyce gap"—a stretch of proposed trail that `'-;,r� ` � • 'iv,.
runs approximately from the Elwha to Lake Crescent, � .`;, ,. ;_-� x ,�� ;, ,7. ,- ,
+ 4......ow t ' M
By monitoring and responding to land acquisition ;,
opportunities across various jurisdictions, the PTC !,� a
helps to ensure that new construction opportunities on
the ODT are pursued promptly and efficiently. r� "" -. 1'A
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East Jefferson Trails Connection Gives
� ~ `Voice to LocalCommunity Trail Planning - it� .
r Trail planning starts when people begin to 4 . ,•
imagine how their communities might be -
Kj safer, healthier, and better. In 2024, the PTC " "
helped breathe life into the East Jefferson
Trails Connection, a voluntary association --Jr.
that helps to ensure that development of the Every year, the PTC conducts countless meetings
ODT takes into consideration local places with landowners, stakeholders, and government
and voices. agencies with the single goal of connecting our North
Olympic Peninsula communities through a non-
When it comes to building new trail segments motorized, pedestrian trail: the ODT. These meetings
along the ODT, there are always obstacles to contend help to ensure that local communities have a voice
with — strategic, financial, ecological, political, and in the long-term development and planning of their
more.The PTC's role as the lead advocate for the ODT communities.
is carried out, in part, through hundreds of meetings Enter the East Jefferson Trails Connection: a
that navigate these obstacles. community organization formed in 2024 by PTC
representatives and community leaders in Chimacum,
Port Hadlock,Port Ludlow,and surrounding areas.The
group's purpose is, in part, to help formulate a plan for
µ connecting the ODT from the Hood Canal Bridge to
Discovery Bay.
L-CO LY M P I C Every month at public meetings hosted by
DSCOvely Finnriver Farm and Cidery, East Jefferson County
TRAIL community members share their vision for extending
t1/444/11... the ODT to their communities. They also develop
y Pathway to the' Pa tits strategies and tactics for ensuring that trail planning
`t and active transportation is prioritized in county
eC i rt. • ,. �� ffi and city comprehensive planning. City and county
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0 - tft t�-3jt - representatives along with partner organizations, like
" `..Y1'1`r'li the Jefferson Land Trust, also contribute their expertise
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84 Cities
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In 2024, the East Jefferson Trails Connection
featured guest presentations that gave context to the
regional ODT trail system and to the trail planning
process. Long-range planners from Jefferson County,
for example, discussed prioritizing non-motorized 10 Countries
transportation in the county's comprehensive plan. T -
Leadership from the Puget Sound to Pacific initiative
V - From around the
discussed alternatives to aligning trails along the t, ,
highway system. PTC board members showed how Port ' 0 world
Ludlow and Quilcene could integrate into regional trail
networks.
The ODT is a trail system linking together
many communities. As the system incorporates more
community voices and participants, it grows stronger Online Visitors
and more vital. By making their voice heard through
the East Jefferson Trails Connection, stakeholders in Unique Visitors: 208,335
East Jefferson County ensure that the ODT will serve
their communities, which will in turn make the whole AIMNumber of Visits: 818,634
trail system better. Page Views: 4,271,105
Source: 2024 PTC Trail Ambassador Survey Da, 1
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Iis easy to spot trail building in its end stage.Dump trucks,graders,caution signs, and flaggers
dot the landscape.Finally,there's a ribbon cutting ceremony.The roots that support trail
building run much deeper than the fruits that we enjoy.Trail building is about visioning and
planning and meeting and more meetings.Many more meetings.In 2024, the PTC celebrated
both the fruit of trail building and its root stock.We're proud of all of the seen and unseen
contributions of our coalition partners and supporters in building the ODT in 2024.
Hall Baetz Viewpoint Takes Shape on Designed with the donated services of the
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe's retired senior totem carver,
Discovery Bay in 2024 the HBV will be an ADA accessible structure along the
ODT.The structure itself is a central component within
The late Hall Baetz, for whom the viewpoint the complex of cultural, ecological, and community
is named, was an attorney, avid cyclist, and building projects that make up HBV.
a person whose adult years were dedicated Overlooking an estuary at the scenic and much-
in part to advocating for the creation of the beloved head of Discovery Bay, the shelter will be a
Olympic Discovery Trail. The Hall Baetz place for wildlife viewing and community gathering. It
will serve residents, visitors, travelers, and ODT users.
Viewpoint embodies the spirit of community The interpretive media within the shelter, which will
collaboration and long-term commitment be developed in collaboration with partners like the
that are at the heart of trail building. Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe,will also make the viewpoint
a source of environmental and cultural education.
In 2024, the log structure of the Hall Baetz
Viewpoint(HBV)on Discovery Bay began to take form. Since its conception in 2020, HBV has been a
Like all trail projects,the HBV is a long-term,multi-year collaborative community project.The materials used in
the construction of the wildlife viewing shelter,including
collaboration involving numerous entities and many
ivsupporters,volunteers,and trail advocates and builders. the cedar logs, were acquired, transported, and stored
While 2024 represents the first stage of building, the with the aid of PTC partners and supporters, including
project in its entirety will continue to unfold for years the Jefferson Land Trust (the HBV site landowner),
to come.
the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and Finnriver Farm
cin 6
Build
and Cidery. Many hands supported this first-phase of In 2019, the Jefferson County Board of County
construction. Commissioners authorized the Anderson Lake
This highlights an important feature of how trails, extension project, allowing the county's Public Works
including trail features like the HBV, are built. Private Department to begin land acquisition and preliminary
citizens, volunteers, municipalities, counties, tribes, engineering. Funding for the planning, acquisition,
federal and state agencies, voluntary associations, and development of the shared use trail was awarded
cyclists, runners, equestrians — can and must work to Jefferson County through the Washington State
together in their shared quest to build the community Recreation & Conservation Office's Washington
in which we all want to live. Wildlife and Recreation Program.
The HBV is more than a memorial to its namesake. Major land acquisition occurred in 2021, when
It is an enduring testament to the collaborative and far- Jefferson County closed on its purchase of 35 acres of
sighted spirit of our North Olympic community of trail forestland from Rayonier,securing 1.9 miles of the future
builders. It represents the best of us. trail. In 2024, after passing a six-year transportation
plan that budgeted for the Anderson Lake Connection
project, the Board of Commissioners approved $3.8
41
1 million for trail construction, which is expected to be
completed in 2025.
The progress made on the Anderson Lake extension
.,„..1 in 2024 was the result of efforts made by devoted
.•- °' volunteers, citizens, and public servants — including
those who attended public hearings, wrote letters of
''" ' support, circulated petitions, passed resolutions, drew-
up plans, or simply spread the word about efforts to
complete the ODT.
Completing this non-motorized and multi-use trail
.rr.. A ) segment,spanning over 3 miles,will be a significant step
towards the objective of extending the ODT from the
Four Corners area all the way to Discovery Bay.
2024 Makes Milo Curry to Anderson
Lake Trail Extension A Reality
It's been a long time coming. Extension of
the Larry Scott Trail to Anderson Lake State
Park will be completed in 2025 thanks to a
culmination of efforts that came to fruition in
2024.
Creating a new segment of the ODT extending ..
from the south end of the Larry Scott Trail at Milo e T ...... i-
Curry Road to Anderson Lake State Park, has been a
dream of many trail planners and users for years. Some s i
adventurous trail users have even been making the trek _
along an undeveloped utility corridor. In 2025, they'll
no longer have to bushwhack their way to Anderson
Lake State Park.
7
City of Port Angeles and Clallam Transit
Install New Bike Lockers at ODT `_
Waterfront Entrance ��, �,,�, II -� h.
You want to ride the ODT from Sequim to j �: -: ,
q - . R..1' -r� ate >
Port Angeles and then hop on the Blackball -- m
ferry to Victoria on foot for the night. But ,' %az :, .
where to park your bike in a safe and secure
location? Clallam Transit has you covered.
In 2024,new bike lockers were installed at the City " "-l----
Pier parking lot in Port Angeles. These lockers,donated
by Clallam Transit, are designed to accommodate
both daily commuters and recreational users, such as
overnight campers. Located at an ODT entrance, these
lockers enable ODT users — whether they are heading Construction Begins on the PTC in 2024
west from Sequim, or east from Lake Crescent — to
store their bicycles at no cost while they continue their There's an essential part of trail construction
adventures.Trail users can rest assured that their bicycles that often goes unnoticed: building the insti-
are safe and secure as they hop on a bus to Hurricane
Ridge, jump on a ferry to Victoria, B.C., or go explore tution that supports and advocates on behalf
the City of Port Angeles. These new bike lockers are of trail building. The PTC maintains the
the result of a partnership between the Clallam Transit ODT, but who is maintaining the PTC?
System, the Peninsula Trails Coalition, and the City
of Port Angeles Parks & Recreation department. This Since its inception, the PTC has been managed
project builds on past collaborations that brought and operated by an all-volunteer board of directors with
occasional contracted help. What you may not know is
integrated bike accomondations to Clallam and
Jefferson County buses. that much of the PTC's work, whether it's accounting,
membership mailings, or clearing brush, is done by
volunteer board members. Some dedicate more than
100 hours per month to the PTC.
As the ODT and the PTC have grown, the tasks
associated with both enterprises have become too
numerous and, in some cases, specialized, for an all-
volunteer organization.This is a good problem to have.
, In 2024, the PTC took a hard look at itself as
.g, an institution. The Board of Directors worked with a
'1 y IA consulting firm to create a situation analysis that led to
a facilitated board retreat.The result of this analysis and
1111 —.:.-- 411,„410 planning is a clear set of action steps to transform the
organization from a working board to a management
board that will oversee a professional staff.
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One of the first steps is identifying and recruiting
the organization's first executive director in 2025.Some
PC , " of the most imporant construction in the coming year
will be on the PTC itself.
OMNI
Puget Sound to Pacific Initiative Takes Big Step Toward
Trail Development in 2024.
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The PTC is one of three organizations —along with trail connecting Puget Sound—beginning at the
the Bainbridge Island Parrs&Trails Foundation and ferry docks in Bainbridge Island, Kingston,and Port
the North Kitsap Trails Association—that make up Townsend—to the Pacific Coast at the Quileute tribal
the Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) initiative.The reservation in La Push,WA.
PS2P took one big step toward securing $16.3 million In 2023, the 14 jurisdictions encompassed by
in federal planning funds in 2024. the PS2P project were awarded a$16.3 million federal
RAISE grant, authored by the PS2P collaborative,
When you head out on any stretch of the ODT, to plan and design 34 multi-use trail components
the long-term work and vision that went into building addressing approximately 100 miles of trail gaps
the trail is never quite apparent. Even now,however, within those jurisdictions.
hundreds of private citizens,civil servants,and elected In 2024, the PS2P collaborative focused on the
officials are planning greater ODT trail networks and administrative tasks necessary for RAISE grant co-
systems that will be enjoyed by our children and our recipients to begin receiving funding. This included
children's children for years to come. Trail building is helping each of the jurisdictions implement the RAISE
an intergenerational endeavor.We enjoy today what grant by entering into agreements with the Federal
others envisioned and built yesterday. Highway Administration and Washington State
The Peninsula Trails Coalition (PTC) is a Department of Transportation.
regional leader and collaborator in various initiatives Signing federal paperwork may not sound like
aimed at establishing a comprehensive trail network much of a year-end highlight. Trail building, however,
that extends beyond the Olympic Peninsula. One of is as much about signing papers as it is about laying
these projects is the Puget Sound to Pacific (PS2P) gravel or concrete.We celebrate new trail segments
initiative, a partnership involving the PTC,the North with ribbon cuttings and speeches. Yet,the securing
Kitsap Trails Association,and the Bainbridge Island and allocation of large federal grants that fund new
Parks and Trails Foundation. trail building,are worthy of their own celebrations. In
The primary objective of the PS2P initiative is 2024,we count this as an important accomplishment
to develop 200 miles of non-motorized, multi-use and another big step forward.
9
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r's easy to think about the ODT as a static trail with a beginning, a middle,and an end.That's
how many of us experience it when we ride, hike,or hoof it.That's not how maintenance
volunteers experience it.To them,the ODT is a dynamic, living system.Now it's covered in
slippery,culvert clogging leaves.Now it's overgrown with grass and noxious weeds.A bank gives
way and now blocks the pathway into Port Angeles.And now a port potty needs servicing.
Coordinating an army of volunteers that helps to maintain the ODT and that supports the
tireless work of jurisdictions,is a central function of the PTC.In 2024, more volunteers
contributed more hours maintaining, servicing, and repairing the trail than any year prior.
PTC Trailer Adopters Volunteer Over Trail Adopters are passionate individuals,families,
clubs, organizations, and friends that volunteer to
5,000 Hours in 2024
monitor and maintain sections of the ODT all year
round. Since the maintenance needs for each segment
PTC volunteers have a multitude of responsi- of the ODT can vary, Trail Adopters use a variety of
bilities. Some assist with trail events, like mar- tools,equipment, and skills to keep the ODT open and
athons and bicycle tours. Others help with safe for users. They engage in a variety of maintenance
raising money or greeting trail user groups. activities,including clearing fallen trees and other debris
Trail Adopters are another, special breed of from the trail, trimming back vegetation, controlling
volunteer. They make a long-term commit- noxious weeds, monitoring erosion and water damage,
and repairing or refurbishing infrastructure.
ment to keep the trail clean, navigable, and
safe. Some Trail Adopters are responsible for reporting
damaged or missing guide signs and replenishing
O•-• In 2024, PTC Trail Adopters volunteered more
map kiosks. Serving as the "eyes and ears" of our trail
ell than 5,000 hours to maintain the ODT and Olympic maintenance program, Trail Adopters also alert their
CAdventure Trail(OAT).Trail Adopters are our front-line Section Managers of any hazards or conditions on the
... volunteers and are the essential element in the PTC's ODT that require additional equipment, workers, or
R overall trail maintenance program. expertise.
10
Maintain
Those who adopt sections of the ODT or OAT
are frequent users of the trail, and they often live close Who Are We Working With?
to the section they maintain. Some of them have spent •
decades helping to maintain the ODT. At any time of
the year, the Peninsula Trails Coalition usually has less The Peninsula Trails Coalition coordinates
than 5 of the 116 trail sections available for adoption. with and supports the 14 federal, state,
Trail Adopters embody the spirit of the PTC: publicly county, city and tribal jurisdictions that are
spirited individuals and communities coming together the public owners responsible for segments of
voluntarily to support a cause greater than themselves. the Olympic Discovery Trail.
We're proud of the work of our 2024 Trail Adopters.
Invasive Species Meets Its Match in Two Federal Agencies
2024: Broom Busters
U.S. Forest Service
Those who volunteer to maintain the U.S. National Park Service
Olympic Discovery Trail organize under (Olympic National Park)
a variety of banners, with support from a
variety of organizations. Meet the Dungeness
River Center's Broom Busters. Three State Agencies
Broom Busters, a group organized by Dungeness Washington Parks and Recreation Commission
River Center volunteer Gretha Davis,has been removing
invasive and noxious Scotch broom from locations across Washington Department of Transportation
the ODT for over a decade. Broom Busters borrow tools Washington Department of Natural Resources
from the Dungeness River Nature Center, the Clallam
Noxious Weed Control Program, the Peninsula Trails
Coalition, and fellow volunteers. Money raised for
Broom Busters helps to fund environmental education Two County Governments
programs at the Dungeness River Nature Center. We're Clallam County
grateful for the untold hours of work the Broom Busters
invest annually in helping to keep invasive plant species Jefferson County
off the trail.
,yr, Four City Governments
Port Townsend
• Port Angeles
Sequim
4 �� Forks
•
Three Tribal Governments
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
4,4tLower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Quileute Tribe
1 1
X • . s Clallam County Volunteers Replace
_ . Whiskey Creek Bridge
• `. 1�44
± , xfPg !�_ Many organizations and governments
S> . . - contribute to the maintenance of the
A
h" N ,� ' 'lir "' 'Cr:, ODT and OAT. When a major piece of
f
It • , infrastructure on the trail fails, it's all hands
' j.,-�r t4 . -I R • on deck. Replacement of the Whiskey Creek
p if 3 " a' �*w +t
.`�S'-r 1 , N c- .r-" Bridge in 2024 shows how governments,
f ,. N voluntary associations, and private individuals
y u ...- .fir s,
work together to maintain the ODT and OAT
t , year in and year out.
In April 2024, the Whiskey Creek bridge on
fir; ) }' "1113:. ~ .I* the Olympic Adventure Trail (OAT) collapsed. The
-, . ' deteriorating bridge, which was constructed around
' t. A. g,; `" a fallen Douglas Fir tree, failed after twenty years of
• 1 r_ supporting pedestrians and cyclists.
- ' '
Prior to the bridge's collapse, the Clallam County
' - t# Public Works Department — with support from the
4' 6, t ., Peninsula Trails Coalition, the Clallam County Trails
Slik !..-.
Advisory Committee, and Peninsula Adventure Sports
7_ , — applied for a lodging tax grant to pay for a new and
.- ram_ _ _
• k # improved replacement.
The Whiskey Creek Bridge Replacement and
tr 34 ` r. Improvement Project, as it was named, proposed the
..., construction of a new 60-foot long by 6-foot-wide fiber-
.. `
�-. 40411 - . reinforced polymer bridge located at the equestrian
'`� 4� N _ crossing downstream of the collapsed log bridge. The
'n. use of a low weight material like reinforced polymer
would make it possible for volunteers to haul materials
,t along the trail to the job site,which was necessary based
3- - - - . .,t"; on the remote location of the project.
"` The Clallam County Lodging Tax Advisory
""s '` ""'o° Committee recommended the application's approval,
the Clallam County Board of County Commissioners
0,, h ¢ - approved the grant award, and volunteers set to work
realigning the trail to the bridge's new location. By
t' August, the appropriate were approved bythe
-�,. .",. � � permitsPP
• ~} Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and
,,,fie
construction on the bridge began.
t,t i.- �; W"' " On September 5th, the bridge was completed.
,� ,..,. _ Twenty-four volunteers, led by former Clallam County
C • Volunteer Coordinator Jeff Ralston, spent over 800
hours executing the project. The new crossing, unlike
the previous log bridge, is suitable for all trail users,
12
Maintain
including equestrians. By spanning the full floodplain
and active channel erosion areas, the new bridge is also - ..t.N i� r'
designed to avoid stream impacts and, ultimately, serve " TM
Olympic Adventure Trail users for many years to come.
Making Bollards Safe for Cyclists
In 2024, jurisdictions and volunteers along
the ODT continued the work of replacing
damaged trail signs and hazardous bollards, F `
as well as creating new speed limit and trail 1
etiquette signage.
T
If you've never had the misfortune of running into i
a bollard at speed, you probably haven't given them a ,.
second thought.
Bollards are the vertical, and (ideally) high-
visibility posts that mark trail entrances. They play an
important role in trail safety,including the deterrence of .W.:*mil
vehicles from recreational pathways.Some
bollards, such as concrete or low-visibility bollards, can '
also pose safety hazards for bicyclists. _ iv
Replacing potentially dangerous bollards is a .4
priority of ODT stewards. In 2024, The Jefferson r':
County Public Works department removed numerous '"� ...,,,
decaying wooden bollards, replacing them with high- -/
visibility, flexible ones that feature street and trail -
identification. These new bollards deter unwanted
vehicles from entering trailheads without posing a safety .. ,-" Y, i .�.
. �+
threat to cyclists. '"''r� ,
O11.YMP1C y,g
CART Anniversary Signs Installed bisreve'y - l> 9
TRAIL 4; ram.
P(utiiK9!.'ft.'l,� r.IL0.' 4' i,�+- '
In 2019, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy chose '
the Olympic Discovery Trail as the western IEMI ,t I �,
terminus of the 3,700-mile Great American
Rail Trail (GART). The GART spans the ,
American continent from Washington, D.C., the Ka
de
to La Push, Washington. ii s, f�
r
_. r4V t
In 2024, signage identifying the ODT as a part
of the GART was added to locations across the ODT, �._
including Discovery Bay and the 10th Street trailhead ?.:
in Port Angeles. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy of f r
distributed 600 of these signs across the national trail in
2024. - s. -
13
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C all it a network, a system, or a connector: The ODT brings our North Olympic
communities together. It also links us to communities beyond the Hood Canal
Bridge.Yes, to Kitsap County and to Bainbridge Island. Also, to the rest of Washington
State and to Washington, D.C., by way of the Great American Rail-Trail. The truth is,
people come from far and wide to enjoy the ODT, and many come to participate in
events on the trail. The PTC supports over 50 events annually on and around the ODT
— that's nearly an event a week. We didn't set out to be event planners or organizers, but
we're pleased with our role as a coalition of community builders in 2024.
caT o ?&!
....____ ,
, --,
Aside from a great day cycling in the sun,the Tour "Metric Century"loop,and the 35-mile"Fun Ride"loop.
de Lavender is the principal community fundraising Both paths lead cyclists through distinctive lavender
activity of the PTC. In 2024, nearly 1,000 cyclists farms, the back roads of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley,
contributed through their registration to the PTC's and paved portions of the Olympic Discovery Trail.
annual fundraiser. As the Tour de Lavender grows in popularity, the
The Tour de Lavender takes riders through the PTC looks to expand the event in the coming years to
""' scenic lavender farms of the greater Sequim region. make it a peninsula-wide community trail celebration.
CParticipants choose between two routes: the 64-mile
aW
w
14
Events
The Warrior Bike Program exemplifies the value
e- that the ODT brings to communities outside the
Olympic Peninsula. Both locally and nationally, the
,''`,. ODT has a role to play in connecting communities and
f
-0- improving quality of life.
: N ',,,-r t',.,* " er/10". .°'%'*.,,,u < ,^' ....,
OWNF ,.
- -:��-,�.�.�1 : - r ; - _ IFiN'5 RIDE.
The PTC Supports Final Leg of • EST. 2016 •
Warriors' Cross Country Odyssey
La Push is the last call for combat veterans cycling Ian's Ride Highlights Accessibility & Grit
across America on the Great American Rail-Trail. Every
summer, a group of select combat veterans sets off from The ODT plays host to many events throughout
Washington, D.C., on bicycles as participants in the the year. Sea to Sound is a three-day, 74-mile event
Warrior Bike Program,a project of Warrior Expeditions. sponsored by Ian's Ride that emphasizes the accessibility
Warrior Expeditions is a nonprofit organization of the ODT.
that has provided outdoor therapy programs for wartime - :":r t
veterans since 2013. These programs are all long- _ '‘ " t"
.
distance expeditions designed to help combat veterans 4'
reintegrate into civilian life, improve their physical and
mental health, and form lasting bonds. Participants _ \ A
report substantial improvements in their mental health, = .gS\s „lltil, `� �„
both during and following their adventures. t't', . -
Ai o4o01w1/4kft,.- i
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itRlO1*. a i
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Many ODT volunteers and supporters take part in
A longtime PTC partner, Ian's Ride is a nonprofit
the Warrior Bike Program by offering board and lodging organization founded by Ian Mackay (pictured above)
to the veterans on their final leg of their journey,which
that advocates for accessible outdoor infrastructure
is coordinated by the PTC. The PTC also helps the and other services for those with mobility impairment.
veterans transport their equipment back home and Events like Sea to Sound encourage riders of different
coordinate ground transportation from La Push to the abilities to enjoy the over 100 wheelchair accessible
miles on the ODT.Ian's Ride is also a generous financial
airport.
supporter of the PTC and the ODT.
15
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aily! = 1
Q`,p,SCoyl� The NODM, along with the entire Run the
ip
Peninsularace series, is organized by the non-profit Port
4 fill°
aof �� AngelesMarathonAssociation. TheAssociationisaIrr
i long-time supporter of the PTC. Many of the runners
ac. s
y` Z opt to support the PTC's mission when they register.
The PTC is grateful for the generous support of the
' T'° ' '.F' Association and its runners in 2024.
North Olympic Discovery Marathon
Among the many running events held on the ,. • .
ODT each year, v r the annual North Olympic Discovery ``' ir-
.....
Marathon (NODM) weekend is the largest and most "'�
a +
well known. '- :11 f-'
In June 2024, over 2,000 participants from .. ' ° ,
'44Washington State, the United States, and around
the globe convened at the Olympic Peninsula for this ^1• - '
1
weekend-long event. Individuals of various ages and it may_
_ athletic abilities participate in the activities, which �!
- include 5K and 10K races,a marathon relay,a children's
C marathon, a marathon walk, a half marathon, and a
traditional marathon.
w
16
Events
i
ii
' MUS
r
OLYMPIC DISCOVERY RELAY �,
Frosty Moss Olympic Discovery Relay ti.
1 =
One of the most beloved team events on the ODT `°
and OAT is the Frosty Moss, an annual relay event
brought to us by Peninsula Adventure Sports. In the
"Full Moss" event, teams of 2-5 undertake an 80-mile,
15-leg relay race that starts at the Camp Creek Trailhead
along the Sol Duc River and ends at the Jamestown
S'Klallam Tribe facilities in Blyn. This route takes par-
ticipants —
along some of the most cherished locations in Scr,,Q.0
htf
Washington, from Lake Crescent to the Dungeness Riv- �, •�
er Railroad Bridge. After the race,participants convene
•
at the 7 Cedars Resort for an epic celebration. A long- �` �
time partner and supporter of the Peninsula Trails Co- yf Et.�_,
alition, Peninsula Adventure Sports produces a range of
popular events, including the Olympic Adventure Trail Sequim Wheelers Bring t h e .I o y of
(OAT)Run,Gravel Unravel,and the Great Olympic Ad-
venture Trail(GOAT) Run. Cycling to the ODT in 2024
+ Not everyone can ride a bike for themselves. That
doesn't mean they can't enjoy the Olympic Discovery
N c get / Trail. Since 2018, Sequim Wheelers has offered riders
-THE u � and volunteers the opportunity to enjoy an hour of fresh
N,CI air and sunshine along the ODT on adaptive bikes.
The Sequim-based group has 66 volunteers who
2024 Traveler's Journal Series Raises take people out on the trail five days a week from May
Money for Peninsula Trails Coalition into October. The adaptive bikes are designed to let
volunteers do the pedaling while their guest enjoys the
Traveler's Journal is an annual series of view. The Wheeler's goal is to help others who cannot
presentations by world travelers at the Dungeness River bike for themselves get out on the ODT.
Nature Center. The 2024 Traveler's Journal lineup 2024 was the first full year the Sequim Wheelers
featured presentations on Patagonia expeditions,bicycle operated as an affiliate of Cycling Without Age,a world-
trips up the coast of Maine, Icelandic kayak adventures, wide adaptive bike organization that was founded in
and much more. Funds raised through this series pay for Denmark. There are chapters in 39 countries that have
supplies for volunteers working on Olympic Discovery served more than 650,000 people and provided nearly
Trail projects. In 2025, the Traveler's Journal extended three million rides.
its slate of offerings to Port Angeles. Traveler's Journal
was the first Peninsula Trails Coalition fundraiser and
has continued to operate for nearly 30 years.
17
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Thank You Assets
The Peninsula Trails Coalition receives funding
from governments, foundations,private businesses,and Cash Investment $948,552
individuals. Because the PTC is an all-volunteer orga- Other Assets $48,204
nization, we're a lean operation. As we look ahead to
2025, we'll be hiring our first executive director to lead
the organization into a new era with a professional staff. Total $996,756
For now,however,we want to extend our gratitude to ev-
eryone and every organization that supported the PTC
in 2024. Thank you!
Revenue Miscellaneous
Investments
Gifts and Contributions $235,422
Grants $93,194 Gifts&
Events $130,140 Membership Dues Contributions
Membership Dues $13,140
Investments $93,583
Miscellaneous Income $6,815 Events
Total $572,294
Grants
Expenses
Fundraising&
Outreach Program
Program Expenses $143,947 Expenses
Trail Building and Maintenence $181,406
Management and Administration $76,644
Fundraising and Outreach $110,766
Management&
Administration
Total $512,763
Net Revenue $59,531 Trail Building
&Maintenence
20
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KAYAKS
• EST.2018 • �►1D ANGf LES•WASHINGTON
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To make a credit card gift on- Photo contributors to the PTC's 2024 annual
�■ ';.2 0 line, scan the QR Code or go to: report include Jeff Bohman,Steve Durrant,Robert
�''' " �, https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/donate/
Neurenberg(cover),Daniel James, Don Willott,
• Michele Canale(back cover), Sara Tetreault,Merrily
��.tom 4_! Peninsula Trails Coalition is a 501 (c) (3) Mount,and the PTO's 2024 Trail Ambassador crew.
a �•�'�� nonprofit organization. Contributions to the
i. Peninsula Trails Coalition are deductible for The report was written,edited,and designed by
federal income tax purposes as allowed by law. Lemolo Bay Advisors,lemolobay.com.
21
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Peninsula Trails Coalition
P.O. Box 1836 . p i LO https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/
Port Angeles,WA 98362 TRAILS
COALI IT IO