Topography is no problem for the DBET.

There are multiple Discovery Bay East Trail routes that avoid Highway 20.  One is a  route that could run from the Larry Scott Trailhead, east along Discovery Road and Four Corners Road, south on Jefferson County PUD property, then southeast across Pope Resources property to Anderson Lake State Park, then south through the Park to Anderson Lake Road, west along Anderson Lake Road, south on PUD, Pope Resources and City properties past Eaglemount, then south using State and County roads and right-of-ways to the head of Discovery Bay.  Here's a Map of this possible route:

You can view an electronic version of the Map at:

http://arcg.is/1isyUiC

The Map includes layers showing the proposed trail, property owners and easements, elevations and grades, topography, satellite imagery, and the USGS topo map.  Click OK when you get the "Error" message, then click "Content" and check the boxes to see the various Map layers.


This route would be excellent for the DBET because among other things it would be:

• Away from SR20 all the way to Eaglemount Road and then again at Fairmount Road
• Mostly quiet and pleasant for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists and others seeking a tranquil and varied trail experience
• A good arterial to more specialized trails for horsemen, mountain bikers and hikers 
• Only occasionally under powerlines
• A direct connection to Anderson Lake State Park
• Possible to connect to other trails (such as the Rick Tollefsen Trail), parks (such as HJ Carroll Park and Gibbs Lake State Park), and communities (such as the Tri-Area and Port Ludlow) 
• Compliant with County, State and Federal design and grade requirements
• A relatively direct route for non-motorized tour groups, through-hikers on the Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail, and road bikers
• A route with some stunning views of Discovery Bay  

But this is not the only possible DBET route.  I'm working with Jeff Selby of the Peninsula Trails Coalition, and others, to try to get the County, together with the other stakeholders (the PUD, Pope Resources, State Parks, the City of Port Townsend, and the Washington Department of Transportation), to do a feasibility study the DBET.  Jeff and I will soon propose to the County and the other stakeholders a study "corridor" within which several possible routes can be found.  I'll post a map of this corridor soon.  Hopefully the County will include a feasibility study of possible corridor routes in its 2016 TIP, and the stakeholders and others in the community will work together to come up with the best possible route.  

Still five years, 353 days to go, but we've got to move fast to get the DBET done on time.