A young volunteer works on the trail.
A recent trail-building event hosted by the Methow Valley Ranger District brought together volunteers to construct a sustainable access trail to a newly popular climbing area known as The Matrix.
Dozens of volunteers from the local area, and as far away as Leavenworth and Seattle, joined forces to construct the new more-sustainable trail and to remove and restore the user-built trail that was in a less desirable location.
The new trail, less than half a mile long, initially follows the Community Trail from the Goat Creek Sno-Park, before branching off to access The Matrix climbing wall through a series of switchbacks.
The work is part the National Forest Foundation’s “Treasured Landscapes: Majestic Methow” campaign that is underway in the valley.
“It was remarkable to see the climbing community show up in such force for this event and build an excellent trail in just a few hours,” said Natalie Kuehler, the National Forest Foundation Methow Valley staff member, in a press release. “The volunteers built much more than a new trail, however – the event was a successful step toward developing a cooperative partnership between local climbers and the Methow Valley Ranger District.”
“The success of the Matrix trail construction project is a model of how partnerships can benefit outdoor recreation and reduce resource impacts,” said Mike Liu, Methow Valley District Ranger.
Matt Perkins, a volunteer and member of the Washington Climbers Coalition and the Access Fund, succinctly summarized the event: “This is a fabulous day for climbing, and for recreation in Washington state.”
