Fifteen hardy volunteers turned out for the 2014 trail project at Royal Columns. A formerly eroded mess on the approach trail was bypassed in favor of a more sustainable trail section. The area is now more user friendly and attractive as a result.
The Washington Climbers Coalition undertakes stewardship projects at climbing areas around the State. On October 25, 2014, we completed a re-route of an eroded section of trail and performed other stablization work at the Royal Columns, in the Tieton River Canyon near Yakima.
Projects like this offer climbers an opportunity to “give back to the land” and they demonstrate that “we care.”
We frequently work with other partner organizations including the Washington Trails Association, the Access Fund, the American Alpine Club and The Mountaineers on projects like this. In 2014, we did a project with the Leavenworth Mountain Association as well and Climbers for Christ and the Spokane Mountaineers joined us at trail projects in Vantage, and Tieton. The Access Fund Conservation Team assisted with a project in Darrington.
The mess.
Andy Fitz photo.
An eroded trail previously ran straight up the hill.
Andy Fitz photo.