By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Meeting number two of the Climax Canyon Trails project brought forth a proposed new trail that Jon Altschuld with Chinook Landscape Architects told residents about that has been plotted out after a couple of days of work in the Canyon.
The proposed new trail will be one that can accommodate both hiking and mountain biking and will add about four miles to the current three plus miles of trails in the canyon. The new trail will also include trails around Goat Hill and will allow additional access to the trail system.
Currently the trail system is maintained by volunteers but with the expansion and aging of the volunteers the city will need to look at using city employees to help keep up the trails. This will be part of the final presentation to the city commission. Altschuld noted that sometime in late October or November Chinook will present their final report on the trails project which will include the costs to build the new trail and upkeep of the trails in the complex.
At that point it will be up to the city to determine how the project will be funded. Depending on the costs grant applications will likely be one way to get funding for the new trails. These grants could come from the state or federal government or possibly even private sources that provide funding for such trail projects.
Currently there is a spur off the west loop that goes over to the picnic area near the iridium layer on the old pass road that has been improved and widened to accommodate mountain biking. The new proposed trail will be in many places above the existing trails and will come into the trail system at the parking area just west of Goat Hill. The new proposed trail will be designed with safety in mind to keep mountain biking slowed down near the existing hiking trails.
