To the editor:

On Dec. 11, 32 dedicated volunteers donned rain gear and muck boots, loaded shovels, hoes and trenching tools into their vehicles and headed for Putney Woods for a large-scale trail project.

A not-so-small pond has been forming across one of the trails for some time. The depth of water and mud was up to 2 feet deep. Trail users had begun to form a “bypass” trail to avoid the mud. Much to the consternation of adjacent property owners, the unplanned trail was very close to their property lines.

The project was organized by Randy Diefert of Island County Backcountry Horsemen. Diversion channels were dug to drain the puddle. A 50-foot elevated causeway, using 15 tons of gravel contained by layers of geotextile fabric and bolstered with blown-down timbers, was built.

I was one of the gravel-haulers, using our John Deere Gator. From the comfort of my heated cab, with each load delivered to the work site I was able to see remarkable progress as each step was completed. In spite of the mud and progression of rainfall from sprinkle to downpour, I observed the teamwork, and smiles on faces, even as the mud relentlessly migrated, covering work boots, pant legs, gloves and, in some cases, faces.

The volunteer crew represented multi-group users: hikers, bikers, dog walkers, equestrians, property owners and several civic minded individuals. The county provided the gravel and geotextile fabric.

The causeway is currently closed for some final touches. In the spring, the bypass trail will be planted with native vegetation provided by the Backcountry Horsemen.

At a time when government-bashing is popular and lack of cooperative effort in community and politics is a topic of discussion, it was delightful to witness a project unfold from conception to completion, carried out by volunteers and supported by government.

Connie Lloyd

Island County Backcountry Horsemen