Snow Shoe Trails and Snowshoe brochure NEW!   Older News: 2006 Annual Report The Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout has moved Land Classification in Mt Spokane State Park Trail Guide and Mt Spokane Bird List Large or Small version News and Help Wanted The Quartz Mountain Fire Lookout Photo Gallery 2003

Much was accomplished by the Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park during 2003 and 2004.  The Quartz Mountain lookout project literally got off the ground, a long range trail planning process was started, and the Knapweed eradication program on Ragged Ridge continued in its fifth year.  These projects are all described in greater detail below. In addition, we now have a group of three volunteers who are busy compiling and collating 75 years worth of historical data about the Park for eventual publication.  Volunteers are needed more than ever.  For example, we are still looking for a newsletter layout editor, and representatives for the  environmental community, nature based recreation, and passive summer recreation.  So if you would like to get involved, be sure to contact the Friends!

Trail Planning Started
The Mt. Spokane State Park Advisory Committee/Friends Group has taken on the task of creating a draft proposal for a comprehensive trail use and development plan for the Park.  As part of its long term park planning process, the Parks Commission determined that such a plan was needed for Mt. Spokane because of the many complex and interrelated issues involving environmental protection, recreational use, user conflict, and visitor safety that exist.  While the Commission intends to eventually allocate funding through its capital budgeting process for the development of  such a plan, it is extremely doubtful that funding will appear any time soon.  Meanwhile, no further changes or improvements to the trails can be made until a trail plan is brought before the general public and approved by the Commission.  Because the Friends Group has been collecting data about Park trails for several years, the group decided it was time to take the initiative and make a proposal.  Currently, there is an interim trail plan in place that addresses some of the more urgent needs, but that is the only template, since no Washington state park has ever done a comprehensive trail plan before.
        So far, the group has outlined the plan’s scope and put together a trail inventory.  Over the next year, the group will be discussing each trail in detail with regard to its current use, potential use, its current and potential user conflict, its condition, what improvements are needed, whether restrictions are necessary, how impact monitoring will occur, how the trail is accessed, how it is identified and signed, how it connects with other trails both inside and outside the park, how regular maintenance will occur, and whether the trail should be maintained as is, rerouted, or eliminated.  There will also be discussion around where new trails might go.  Of course, the ultimate proposal will need to be consistent with all previously approved Commission policies which govern trail use and development, especially the Park’s land classification system.
        State park planning is a very open process.  Anyone with ideas regarding current and future trail use and development at and around Mt. Spokane is welcome to participate.  No plan will be finalized by the Commission until after a full public review process has been completed.  Please contact the Friends Group if you would like to attend any of its meetings.  You can mail in your ideas or contact the group’s president by e-mail at criscurrie@igc.org.  You can also contact the Park by e-mail at mount.spokane@parks.wa.gov. 

Free Park Passes
Any volunteer who can document at least 20 hours of approved work for the Park is qualified to obtain a free Mt. Spokane State Park entry pass that is good for one year.  Once the volunteer completes 40 hours of work, a statewide park pass can be obtained at no charge.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Steve Christensen, the park manager, at 238-4258.

Current Advisors
The current members of the Advisory Committee/Friends Group Board for 2005 are:
Mark Augenstine, Anita Boyden, Mike Brixey, Ken Carmichael, Cris Currie, Tom Frost, Dean Kiefer, Jeff Gibson, Barbee Scheibner, Aaron Spurway, and Shelley Tschida.  Ex-officio members are Aaron Trainor, Brad McQuarrie, and Sam Deal.  Craig Bierly has been assisting with the trail planning and Karen Covelli is assisting the history committee. 

Ragged Ridge
Volunteers Bill Birk, Nora Searing, and Cris Currie completed the fifth consecutive year of Spotted Knapweed control on Ragged Ridge, the Natural Area Preserve within Mt. Spokane State Park.  The crew walks theentire ridge trail each June to spray the new sprouts of this noxious weed and then returns at least two more times to pull the survivors.  The project will continue until the plant is eradicated from the natural area.

Park Improvements
A number of additional park improvements were completed over the last year and a half by park staff.  New water wells were drilled for the alpine ski area, the ranger residences, shop and the Selkirk Lodge. Ceiling insulation was installed in the NOVA Hut.  The NOVA Hut and Selkirk Lodge had their exterior walls stained.  An unsightly surplus materials pile near the park entrance was removed.  And the camp sites on Bald Knob were renovated.  The Park also acquired a new tractor and mowing machine and an ATV for maintenance work.

New Park Ranger
With the departure of Ranger Patrick Henry to Field Springs State Park, Jerry Johnson was hired in January, 2005 as a Ranger 3.  Jerry has been with Washington State Parks for 20 years and he enjoys horse back riding, camping, and skiing.  His extended family all lives in Spokane, and he is also the father of six teen age children.  Welcome Jerry!  Clayne Perrins is continuing this year as a ranger-in-training, and Steve Christensen is continuing as park manager.

Volunteers Needed

The Friends Group is still looking for additional people to help collate the full history of Mt. Spokane State Park. If you like to dig up interesting facts and put puzzles together, this could be the job for you!

Volunteers will also be needed to help with the fire lookout restoration as well as the usual summer trail clearing. Contact Ranger Dennis Lotts (238-4258), the volunteer coordinator, if you would like to help out.

If you would like to serve on the Advisory Committee and Friends Group Board, call Cris Currie, President, at 466-9540.