Jefferson County has done a fine job with its part of the Olympic Discovery Trail ... so far.

Working with the City of Port Townsend and the Peninsula Trails Coalition, among others, the County has completed the beautiful Larry Scott Trail: http://www.countyrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=9906>.  

Here's a County Park and Recreation Department map, showing the trail from Port Townsend linking to the north end of the proposed Discovery Bay East Trail (DBET):

The County is also about to start construction on the two million dollar Discovery Bay South Trail (DBST):  http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Agenda/2014%20Attach/102714_ca02.pdf .  

That new ODT section will link the south end of the Discovery Bay East Trail, at point 490+00(2) on this County photo, to the south end of the Discovery Bay West Trail (DWeT):

Jefferson County's Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan Update 2015 describes its plans for the Rick Tollefsen Trail between Hadlock and H.J. Carroll Park: http://www.countyrec.com/forms/6081_final_draft_jefferson_co_pros_062915_final.pdf, 

The Rick Tollefsen Trail could eventually link to the ODT at Anderson Lake State Park.   

And with regard to the east Discovery Bay section of the trail, the County's Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan Update 2015 states, at page 82:

The Olympic Discovery Trail will extend from the end of the Larry Scott Trail at Four Corners on SR 20 around the southern end of Discovery Bay to Clallam County. In 2010 Jefferson County initiated development of the Olympic Discovery Trail / Discovery Bay estuary connection on the abandoned railroad grade which develops a route connection around the southern end of Discovery Bay.

In 2014 Jefferson County applied for grant funding from the RCO under the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) for matching funds appropriated by the 2015 Legislature in their capital budget. Trail advocates have taken the lead on planning a back country segment from Four Corners through Anderson Lake State Park to Discovery Bay. This trail uses existing utility easement, logging roads and constructed trails. 

Yet, despite the County's statement (in the above paragraph) that it has "applied for grant funding," and the implication that this funding would be -- at least in part -- for the "back country segment from Four Corners through Anderson Lake State Park to Discovery Bay," this key trail segment has not yet been included in the County's Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).  Why not?  As I understand it from conversations with County employees, the three keys to getting the East Discovery Bay Trail into the Jefferson County TIP are:

1. Topography:  The County needs an DBET plan that effectively deals with the difficult topographical challenge over Eaglemount hill. 
2. Landowners:  The County needs some assurance that the affected land owners will agree to the DBET on their properties.
3. Funding:  The County needs a reasonable funding plan for the trail.

I think we can provide the County what it needs to move ahead.  I'll discuss these three needs --  topography, landowners and funding -- in upcoming blog posts.  If I'm correct and we can give the County what it needs, we should be on track to get the DBET built by August 26, 2021 (5 years, 364 days to go).

  

Hiking, biking or horseback riding directly from the end of Port Townsend's Larry Scott Trail, at Milo Curry Road, to the Olympic Discovery Trail, at the head of Discovery Bay, is practically impossible.  Only one public roadway -- State Highway 20 -- runs south (from the end of the Larry Scott Trail) to the head of Discovery Bay, seven miles away.  Those seven miles of Highway 20 are always frightening and sometimes terrifying for hikers or bike riders (and impossible for equestrians).  The highway shoulder, which is rarely wider than three feet, narrows at times to a few inches, often on steep uphills or downhills, with steel guardrails to the right, cliffs or steep drops outside the guardrails, and 50-mph cars, RV's and trucks to the left.  Traffic both ways is sometimes heavy, so even courteous drivers cannot easily veer across the highway's double yellow lines and rumble strips to give hikers or riders a wide berth.  E.g. http://rp.bikepdx.net/2014/08/21/day-9-epic-solo-bike-ride/#respond:

Yet, this section of Highway 20 has been federally designated as link in the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNNST):(http://www.pnt.org/files/2214/1238/2135/PNT_Sec09.pdf maps 09-02 and 09-03); 

identified as the first section of the Olympic Discovery Trail's (ODT) connection from the head of Discovery Bay to Port Townsend: http://www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com/trail_maps.html; 

and mapped by the Port Townsend Bicycle Association as its Discovery Bay bike route:
 http://ptbikes.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/NJC_BikeMap13_3s.pdf.

Why?  Because there is no suitable alternate route.  One alternative is to walk or ride southeast to Rhody Drive, then to Chimacum, then south down Center Road to US Highway 101, then northwest on the shoulder, eight more miles to the head of Discovery Bay.  This detour gives little relief from highway travel, substituting twenty miles for seven, with eight miles of the substitute on an even busier federal highway -- albeit one with a wider shoulder.

Like many others, I want to find a suitable alternative to Highway 20 -- a Discovery Bay East Trail (DBET) that will safely carry hikers, bikers and equestrians from Larry Scott to the head of the Bay, allowing vehicular traffic unimpeded use of their narrow road.  Properly done, the DBET will join with the Pacific Northwest Trail, the Larry Scott Trail, and the Olympic Discovery Trail and make a lasting contribution to the recreation, education, and enjoyment of present and future generations of hikers, bikers and equestrians.

I want to see this done in six years, so I can ride the DBET when I'm eighty.

This blog will chronicle my efforts to get it done.