About the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park

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The Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park The Friends Group is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1995 to enhance the programs and services of Mt. Spokane State Park and to encourage general awareness, further public interest, and provide public education in an effort to promote the responsible use of the Park and its cultural, recreational, historical, and natural resources. 

The Friends Group was formed by the Mt. Spokane State Park Advisory Committee as a means for coordinating volunteer involvement in the Park and as a vehicle for raising funds to support Park projects. The members of the Mt. Spokane State Park Advisory Committee are appointed by the Director of the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission. 

Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park
2005 Annual Report

Activity Highlights for 2005

The combined Mt. Spokane State Park Friends Group and Advisory Committee had eight meetings during 2005. The same two principal projects as last year dominated the group’s work for this year. The group assisted in final preparations for the July 1 opening of the Quartz Mountain fire lookout to overnight rentals, and it made substantial progress toward completion of a draft comprehensive Park trail plan.

By the end of 2004, the fire lookout had been moved to the summit of Quartz Mountain and fully enclosed for the winter. During the late spring of 2005, park staff finished the interior by installing a door and a new laminate floor, completing the ceiling and the window trim, painting, and installing the propane cook stove, donated by the Winter Knights Snowmobile Club. Furnishings including the 2 bunks and 4 mattresses, wood table and 4 chairs, storage cabinet, smoke alarm, and miscellaneous supplies such as cutting boards, an outside light, new screens, and a guest book were added. New exterior shutters were designed and built by a local teen volunteer as his Eagle Scout project. They were custom designed with hinges on both the top and in the middle so that they fold up and hang from the roof when not needed. The Friends Group covered the costs of these improvements which amounted to over $3600.

The group continued to work on a draft comprehensive trail plan for the Park. At the October meeting, a 17 page rough draft, based on the previous discussions and specific input from the Park Manager, was presented to the group for a detailed critique. The rough draft includes a trail inventory matrix listing 101 trails and associated data, including a revised numbering and naming system. Once the group completes its work on this plan next year, it will be presented to the Parks Commission and the public for comments and eventual approval and adoption.

Friends Group members returned to Ragged Ridge Natural Area Preserve three times this year to spray and pull Spotted Knapweed. This is the sixth straight year for the program and the number of plants continues to decrease dramatically each year.

The group’s history committee was also very active through 2005. They have created an outline for the history project and have interviewed several individuals with knowledge of more distant past events at Mt. Spokane. They have also met with local history writer Tony Bamonte, who offered a great deal of advice on writing a historical book.

2006 Roster
Mark Augenstine (Motorized Winter Recreation), Anita Boyden (Friends Treasurer), Mike Brixey (Active Summer Recreation), Ken Carmichael (Equestrians), Cris Currie (Chair), Tom Frost (Non-motorized Winter Recreation), Dean Kiefer (Education Community), Barbee Scheibner (At-large Member), Aaron Spurway (Secretary), Shelley Tschida (At- large Member), Sam Deal (Neighboring Business Owner), Brad McQuarrie (Concession Representative), and Rob Lindsay (At-large and Alpine Skiing). Craig Bierly and Karen Covelli have also provided invaluable assistance.

        
        Volunteers are still needed to fill vacant positions!! 

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