The Lopez Community Trails Network will be hosting a trail building clinic from April 9-11  on Lopez. The Washington Trails Association (www.wta.org), known for their trail building and maintenance work, will bring trainers to teach participants all about the art of building trails, from initial planning and design all the way through construction and finishing. This three day clinic is a new direction for WTA, which ordinarily teaches volunteers the skills of trail building and maintenance while they are out working for a day or a week. Instead, the clinic will concentrate the training that is typically given to an assistant crew leader into three intense days.

Most of the training will take place at Odlin Park, where a new trail will be planned, designed, sited, and flagged. There will be time to discuss problems with trail design and to construct a section of puncheon and possibly a bridge. This is the time to learn the difference between a gabion and geotextile, a boardwalk and backslope, and a dam and decking and dips.

WTA wants to expand their volunteer base in the northwest corner of Washington, and the clinic will likely entice more volunteers for mainland trail opportunities. At the same time, the Lopez trails group would like to improve the skills of local people and highlight local trails.

The WTA will bring two instructors to the islands, and will limit the class to 22. There are a few spaces left. The cost is $100. Call Kirman Taylor at 468-2474, or email  kirmant@gmail.com for more info.