North Summit Horse Campground:
An Update in Photos
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| 06 26 NSHC Stringing the high lines. |
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6/26 NSHC (L-R) Bill Ford and Pete Stoothoff preparing to string high lines.
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6/26 NSHC Pete stringing the high lines.
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6/26 NSHC stringing the high lines.
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7/2 NSHC Clearing Campsite 11 (L-R) Ginger Reddington, Bill, Ashley Ahearn, Rick Jones and Tina Davis
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7/2 NSHC (L-R) Rick, Bill, Ashley and Ginger cleaning up at Campsite 2
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7/10 NSHC Putting up the base for the FS Campground sign. Pete Stoothaff on tractor and Mark Brantner steadying the sign.
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7/10 NSHC President Cathy Upper and Pete in front of the newly erected base.
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| 07 10 Putting up the MVBCH bulletin board |
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7/10 NSHC Cathy in front of the newly erected MVBCH bulletin board
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7/10 NSHC Pete pouring concrete in hole for Forest Service bulletin board support frame.
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7/16 NSHC Brett K cutting steel to length off site for hitch racks.
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7/17 NSHC Setting up six fire ring bases for filling with concrete at Cascade Concrete. Pete, Steve Campbell and Bennet Upper.
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7/17 NSHC Pouring concrete into forms for the fire ring base. (L-R) Pete, Roger Hammer (Cascade Concrete), Steve Campbell and another C.C. employee.
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7/17 NSHC Filled forms for fire ring bases. Pouring complete.
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June 2019
Update:
North Summit Horse Campground
By Bill and Jan
Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
Work has mainly been off site although Mike McHugh spent a busy day there with his excavator and a dump truck. He levelled the day area, checked for rocks at the site of the bathroom and shook earth off the remaining root wads in the burn pile and compacted it - among other tasks. President Cathy has also been at work sanding down and resurfacing the picnic tables from the JR campground. She has also got more chips around highlines.
Meanwhile there has been a storm of planning, consulting, buying materials, construction and preparation of campground fixtures going on off site. The highlines should be strung within the next week. The Forest Service is providing a campground sign to be put in place as soon as they have finalized its position (rock base is no longer required). Larry Zimmerlund and Pete Stoothoff have been constructing more picnic tables, Larry has also welded fittings for other fixtures.
Bill and Steve Campbell built a new bulletin board yesterday for MVBCH; this is ready to be moved to the campground to be installed together with the FS bulletin board and pay tube moved from the JR campground. The steel has been cut for mounting the individual campsite numbers needed to complement those from JR. We need to remove concrete from fixtures obtained from JR before they can be installed, (like the bulletin board, campsite numbers and, most of all, from the fire grills.) The grills have to be remounted in concrete to meet ADA specifications, this will be done at Cascade Concrete and they will have to cure before being moved to NSHC.
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| Mike McHugh working excavator and dump truck and extracting stump from site of bathroom |
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| Refilling hole for bathroom having checked site for rocks. | |
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| Shaking dirt off remaining root wads in burn pile and consolidating pile. |
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| Consolidated burn pile |
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| Leveling Day Area |
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| Sanding-staining 4 picnic tables. |
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NSHC signboard for Campground
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December 2018 - Year End SummaryUpdate:
North Summit Horse Campground
By Bill and Jan
Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
2017. When snow stopped work on the North
Summit Horse Campground (NSHC) in 2017, the campground had been surveyed, trees
removed from designated road and campsite areas, and roads were laid out.
2018. Work started again on June 13th, and
continued through the third week of November. Over this period 1065
volunteer hours were accrued and costs amounted to $69,728.
(From 2014 total expenditure has been $79,941).
Phase I is now over 90% complete
with the following tasks accomplished:
- The roads round the campground have been cleared,
leveled and developed along with the first six campsites.
- After inspection by the Forest Service Engineer, 1420
tons of gravel were spread, levelled and compacted on the roads and pull
through and back in areas for the campsites.
- Campsite areas were cleared where the picnic table,
fire ring and high line will be located.
- The area for picnic table and fire ring was leveled and
graveled at each campsite.
- The future community meeting area was cleared.
- Contents of the decommissioned Forest Service JR
Campground were moved to NSHC.
- A 500-foot post and rail fence with a double gate
across front of the campground.
- High line post/hitch racks were set in concrete at the
six campsites and wood chips spread in three of the high line areas.
- Three manure bunkers set up with ecology blocks.
- Transplanting work party moved young larches, rose
plants and other species to areas with sparse vegetation.
Work
to be done in 2019 to complete Phase I
- Move picnic tables and fire rings to prepared camp
sites. Concrete bases have to be made for the fire rings
before they can be put in place.
- Put up high line wires.
- Put up signs (including campsite numbers and directional
signs) within the campground.
- Erect two bulletin boards and pay tube.
- Build stone base for campground sign near the entry and
erect sign.
We hope that Phase 1 will be open
for use in late spring.
FUNDING FOR PHASE 1
MVBCH has covered the major costs of
Phase 1 (construction and gravel), using some of the income from our Spring
Ride.
Cash donations have contributed
about 30% of the total funding needed for Phase 1. Large donations were
received from individual and family members of our own chapter as well from
family members of another chapter. A generous grant was received from the
Jack and Shirley McIntyre Foundation.
We also thank the following 12
chapters of BCHW for their support:
Buckhorn Range,
Capitol Riders, Cascade Horse Club, Ferry County, Mt St Helens, Pierce County,
Ponderosa, Purple Sage, Scatter Creek, Skagit, Tahoma, Wenatchee.
PLANS FOR PHASE 2
Funding is being sought for Phase
2. The FS and MVBCH are jointly applying for a grant to complete the
campground.
If successful, the campground will
be completed when the grant becomes available in 2020. If not, it will be
worked on piece meal as we get funds.
December 14th
Bill Ford, Trail Boss MVBCH
wpjzford@centurylink.net
509-997-0133
October 2018
Update: North Summit Horse Campground
By Bill and Jan Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
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| 9//25 Putting up rails on front fence--ready and waiting. |
Since the report in
the last Horse Tails there have been eight work parties on site. Three were to
put up rails on the front fence, completed on October 1st. A work party on October 5th
completed graveling the last two of the six Phase I campsites and cleared
three sites for manure bunkers.
The last four work
parties were to put up the high lines at each of the six camp sites. On October 10th a tractor-driven
auger was used to dig holes. On October
12th these holes were completed to 36’ depth by hand and high line
posts/hitch rails were concreted in on October 18th and 19th. The last campsite should be completed on October
21st as there were too few people on the 19th to lift the
steel post/hitch rails into position.
Some statistics:
We have already
passed 900 volunteer hours on NSHC this year.
Since starting in
June and we have mixed and poured over 9,000lb of concrete in wheel barrows.
In addition Bill,
along with Pete and Cathy spend considerable time on administration. Currently Bill is working with Rosemary
Seifried on a large grant application which the Forest Service is submitting
for Phase II of NSHC. The dead line is
October 31.
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| 9/25 Putting up rails on the front fence. |
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| 9/29 (L-R) Bill, Dan and Mark putting up rails |
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| 9/29 Fencing gang for rails Kay, Dan, Mark, and Bill |
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| 9/29 Finished fence East of gate |
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| 10/01 Putting rails on the fence. Finished west end of fence. |
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| 10/01 The last nail in the last rail Bill and Mark (ecstatic!) |
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| 10/05 Clearing site for manure bunker between camp sites 2 and 4 |
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| 10/05 Clearing site for manure bunker opposite campsite 7. Pete on tractor Bill with rake |
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| 10/05 Graveling campsite 7. Mark (and Lucky), Bill, Pete on tractor,and Cathy |
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| 10/18 Holes for highline posts at campsite 2 |
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| 10/18 Highline post hitch rack. ready to be put in holes at campsite 2 |
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| 10/18 Mixing concrete. (L-R) Bill, Bennet, Kay, Rick and Dan |
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| 10/18 Pouring concrete to set braced post. Cathy and Rick |
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| 10/18 Posts set and braced at campsite 2 |
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| 10/18 Lunch time (Bennet and Bill away fetching more concrete) |
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| 10/19 Bill at campsite site 7. Highline pole braced and set. (concrete mixed on site) |
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| 10/19 Last hole dug out on last campsite. (Gampsite 11) Bill and Mark |
September 2018
Update: North Summit Horse Campground
By Bill and Jan Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
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| Jamie with big rock in fence hole (Dug by hand) |
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| Yes, it is big! |
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| Hand- dug holes west of entrance. Ready for posts. |
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| Getting it right. Pete and Bill setting posts |
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| (L-R) Bill, Jamie, Ian and Pete taking a break |
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| (L-R) Bill and Pete setting posts |
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| Set posts East of entrance |
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| Set posts east of entrance. Last two (far one braced) are gate posts |
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| Moving highline post assembly off the flat bed. |
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| Carrying highline post assembly to 1st pull through campsite |
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| Second highline post assembly delivered to 1st pullthrough site |
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| High line post removal team. (L-R) Ian, Jamie, Bill, Steve |
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| Digging post holes for gate posts |
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| Digging the first post hole for the entrance gate. Our august president doing a quality check |
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| It takes three to make a perfect hole! Second gate post |
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| Mixing cement for gate post |
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| Pouring cement for gate post |
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| Terrific Trio Pete, Bill, and Cathy at the end of the day, and the photographer was laughing too! |
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| Bill praying the gates won't fall off pete's pick up as they are taken to the entrance site |
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| Pete checks the level of the line between the gate posts |
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| Checking the plumb line |
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| Pete drilling the first hole in the gate post, for the bottom hinge |
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| Two gates in |
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| Bill and Pete with the two gates hung |
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| Entrance with gates, before rails put up |
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| Gates with first rails up on either side |
August 2018 (addendum to August Update below)
Update: North Summit Horse Campground
By Bill and Jan Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
NSHC was a quieter place in August than it had been in July. Gravel deliveries for the roads and Phase 1 pull-through and back-in sites were complete and Mike McHugh’s big machines had gone to other projects.
The great milestone this month was receiving APPROVAL of the GRAVEL from Lori McAllister, the FS Engineer on August 15th. This is a real cause for celebration.
There have been numerous work parties, both on and off site, starting on August 1st with clearing some of the campsites. On August 8th Pete brought his tractor and, with the ground support of Mark Brantner (and his dog "Lucky"), and Bill and Jan Ford, he moved and smoothed out gravel in a few places, moved vegetation off camp sites and transferred a picnic table where it could be used in a shady spot near the communal area. Work continues on campsites and on getting ready the tables, fire rings and high lines for each of them.
Steel has been purchased and delivered for high line posts, hitch racks and table legs. Brett Koke (Cathy and Bennet’s son-in-law) has nearly completed welding the high line post/hitch rack combinations. Pete, assisted by Bill, has drilled the holes to take the bolts for the lines.
Other materials, such as concrete needed for the fire ring bases and setting up the high line posts, are being acquired.
Apart from the campsites, Bill and Pete have worked on the materials and layout of the front fence. We may have to wait to build this because of fire restrictions in the forest.
Work planned for the rest of August includes levelling and gravelling the campsites ready for placement of the tables, fire rings and high lines.
We are still actively seeking funding in the form of grants and donations. As a chapter we have used a lot of our own funds accumulated over the last seven or eight years, or more. Several individual or family members from MVBCH and from one other chapter have given substantial donations. We are particularly grateful to three other chapters of BCHW who have sent donations: Wenatchee, Ponderosa and Pierce County; we hope others may follow suit.
To see photos of the most recent progress, please click here to open our August "Horse Tales" newsletter and see pages 5 and 6.
August 2018
Update: North Summit Horse Camp
Moving Right Along
By Bill and Jan Ford BCHW Methow Valley Chapter
The
Methow Valley Chapter of BCHW (MVBCH) first reported on developing the North
Summit Horse Campground (NSHC) at Loup Loup in the March/April edition of THN
this year (2018). That report told how, when snow stopped work in 2017, the
campground had been surveyed, trees removed from designated road and campsite
areas, and internal roads laid out.
On June 13th this year, after the snow had gone and machinery
could be brought on site, construction work started again. The road round the campground was further
developed and the first six campsites (five pull throughs and one back in) were
cleared. After further levelling and
rolling, the Forest Service Engineer visited during the last week of June and
indicated changes and additions that were needed. When the roads had been widened in places and
more fill had been added, a further inspection took place on June 28th
and, this time, the roads and campsite pull outs were accepted as being ready
for graveling.
The first loads of gravel were delivered on July 2nd.
This was a red letter day for us. Five
loads of gravel were hauled from Winthrop that day, and another eight days of
delivery followed, finishing on July 18th. In all, more than 1420 tons have been
purchased so far – costing over $25,000.
The cost of spreading, levelling and compacting the gravel
is substantial. It has involved an impressive array of machinery and a lot of
operator time. Total construction costs,
including preparation for graveling, are at least $36,000.
Six inches of gravel must be laid on the
roads and on the pull out camping areas. The six inches have to be compacted to
an average of four inches. The next
inspection by the Forest Service engineer will determine if this requirement
has been met.
In less than three weeks, between July 2nd and
20th, about 180 volunteer hours were spent by about 20 MVBCH members,
some of them bringing their own tractors and trailers. They cleared the areas in each campsite where
the picnic table, fire ring and high line will be located. The community meeting area was cleared and
branches were removed where they impinged on the road. In addition, members moved the contents of the
decommissioned Forest Service JR Campground to NSHC, about a mile away along
Highway 20. This Forest Service donation
provided some of the picnic tables and fire rings needed for the six campsites
in the 1st phase of NSHC, as well as some signage, fencing etc. Forest Service staff helped to uproot the
equipment with a mini excavator, and MVBCH members moved and unloaded it at
NSHC using their own tractors and trailers.
We appreciate the help that members of Okanogan Chapter gave
at one of the work parties. They also
provided a most welcome barbecue lunch with hot dogs.
We are now asking for financial help from other chapters to
complete Phase 1 of this campground. This includes development of the first six
of 12 individual campsites, construction of a highline/hitch rack for each completed
campsite, signage, bulletin board, manure bunkers and fencing. The campground
cannot be used until the Forest Service approves the completion of requirements
for Phase 1, nor can we proceed with Phase 2.
MVBCH has covered the major costs (construction and
gravel), using some of the income from our Spring Ride, and with the help of
donations from several of our own individual and family members (plus a
donation from family members of another chapter). We also thank Wenatchee and Pierce County
chapters for their support.
Can you or your chapter help? The North Summit Horse Campground is for use
by anyone. It is easy to reach, just off State Route 20, it gives access to
many trails and it will be a first rate facility for riders and horses of all
levels of ability. Not too many more
horse campgrounds (if any) will be built on Forest Service land in this state.
Visit MVBCH.com for updates on the North Summit Horse Campground.
July 2018
Update: North Summit Horse Camp
Moving right along...
The first three weeks of July saw great activity at
the North Summit Horse Campground (NSHC).
Construction activity during this period has involved much time and
machinery and has been costly. The 20 or so members who contributed some 180
volunteer hours on site could see a transformation as they worked.
Between July 2nd
and 20th:-
- We helped the
contractor remove branches etc. from the areas to be graveled.
- Gravel was delivered, and was spread and
compacted on the roads and pull-through campsites by our contractor, Mike
McHugh.
- Equipment (picnic
tables, fire rings, signage, fencing etc.) from the decommissioned Forest
Service JR Campground was uprooted with the help of Forest Service staff, Mike
Harmon and Dave, and MVBCH members moved it and unloaded it at NSHC using their
own trailers and tractors.
- We worked to clear
the common area and areas in four of the individual campsites where the table,
fire ring and high line were to be sited.
July 2nd
was the first of nine days of gravel delivery. There were four delivery days in each of the first two weeks and a final
day on July 18th. An average of five loads was hauled up from Winthrop
on each day of delivery. In all over 1,400 tons of gravel have been
purchased so far.
A major work party
was organized on July 12th to move the equipment from JR Campground
and to start clearing the common area. Willie Kemper and Pete Stoothoff brought
their tractors and Bill brought a flat-bed trailer. A great deal was achieved this
day; some members worked through until 6pm to get fire rings etc.
unloaded. Members from Okanogan Chapter
helped us on this work party, not only with the labor, but also by bringing a
barbecue and hotdogs. This was really
appreciated by all of us there.
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| Lunch time on the 12th!! |
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| Lunch time on the 12th! |
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| Teddy Sharr from the Okanogan chapter serves hot dogs |
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| Pete Stoothoff unloads picnic tables for the pull-throughs |
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| Pete still on the tractor, unloads picnic tables |
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| Fire rings are loaded on a trailer by FS Dave |
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| Negotiating how the campground sign frame will be transported |
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| Still negotiating... |
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| Finally on the trailer! |
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| Betty Wagoner with a collection of wood debris |
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| Jan and Bill Ford dig up a rotted tree stump |
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| Kay MacCready hauls debris to the trailer |
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| Willie Kemper hauls away a load to the wood pile |
June 24, 2018
Update: North Summit Horse Campground
Mike McHugh, our contractor, started work on June 13th and continued work through June 22nd. Roads and pull-through camp sites were leveled. Additional rock was brought in to firm up soft, wet areas on the roads. A roller was used to compact the roads after water was sprayed on them (it was very dusty).
We are now ready for the next step which is to obtain Forest Service approval of the work done so far before the roads can be graveled. The inspection will be on Monday June 25th. After that, 1200 tons of gravel will be brought in to spread on the prepared roads and campsites.
A work party to move amenities from the de-commissioned J.R. Campground (fences, fire rings, signs, picnic tables, etc.) is tentatively scheduled for July 12th. This will be an important step in the development of the horse campground and we need a big turnout to accomplish this.
There will be updates via e-mail in early July. For now, let's take a drive through the campground with Jan and Bill as they look at all of the work Mike has done (follow along below):
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| First, the interior roads had to be widened... |
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| ...and the soft spots packed with boulders... |
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| ...to make a smooth and solid interior road. |
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| The main entrance to the campground. |
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| Turning right to the 1st pull-through. |
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| Continuing on past the 2nd pull-through. |
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| Then past the 3rd pull-through... |
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| ...and the 4th pull-through, and so on past the 5th and 6th. |
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| Parking is available for day visitors. |
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| End of the tour--leaving the North Summit Horse Campground |
Background: North Summit Horse Campground
The Methow Valley Back Country Horsemen (MVBCH) approached the Methow Ranger District (MRD) about seven years ago to discuss establishing a horse campground across the valley from the established Twisp River Horse Campground. In the Loup Loup Summit area there are many scenic trails to be enjoyed by experienced and novice equestrians alike, with stock of all levels of ability. After several possible sites had been considered, MVD and MVBCH agreed on the North Summit Campground location.
MVBCH has paid the Forest Service (FS) $5,918 for design and engineering in a 2014 agreement. An additional $4,300 was paid to Tackman Surveying for three surveys. A 2013 Title II grant of $5,103 went to the creation of a site plan. The 2016 Title II grant of approximately $21,000 has gone to FS salaries.
Finally, on September 15th 2017, an agreement to develop the North Summit Horse Campground was signed by the Supervisor of the Okanogan/Wenatchee FS. Preliminary road construction in 2017 was $9,752. Cost to MVBCH so far has been $19,970.
Phase 1 will add about $30,248 more to the MVBCH contribution. The entrance and front fence and campground roads will be constructed, as well as six complete sites. Each site will have a compacted gravel pad, table, fire ring and highline for four horses. Two manure bunkers will be sited within the camp. Phase 1 will be a dry camp with a toilet within walking distance. Total cost for Phase 1 construction will be approximately $76,321, including about $50,218 from the MVBCH Chapter.
Phase 2 will begin after a ‘sufficient use’ study period and after securing grant funds and /or donations from individuals or organizations. During Phase 2 the last six campsites will be developed along with bathrooms, more manure bunkers, horse water and a large picnic shelter in the middle of the camp.
MVBCH is asking for donations to be used specifically for the development of the North Summit Horse Campground. Our chapter is proposing single campsite sponsorship for $2,500. Sponsors may be individuals, chapters, or other groups of people or organizations. The sponsors will be recognized on the campground bulletin board. To date, we already have a sponsor for one site. Individuals and organizations will be recognized for smaller donations.
So, the campground is in the Loup area?
ReplyDeleteYes, the campground is located in the same entrance off Hwy #20 as the LoupLoup Ski Bowl.
DeleteThis is so awsome! Thank you.
ReplyDelete