Columbia Basin Disabilities Unlimited

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To leave a message on our refrigerator just click on Note Pad above. To avoid postings that contain malicious or inappropriate content, all messages will be screened before being posted to the website.

GREAT WEBSITE!!

Received September 20, 2006

I'm very pleased to finally see a website for CBDU. It's been talked about for a few years now, thanks guys for getting it up and going.

Now we have to get the word out to others and let them see what we are here. If you know of some community websites that we might be able to get links onto, please let Roger (webmaster) know. The more we get our website out there, hopefully the more individuals will join our club.

Joyce

Happy Trails

Received August 20, 2006

Hi there. I recently received a copy of "Accessible Trails in Washington's Backcountry" from my sister. It is very informative and shows places where we can get off road and still get around. I went on a trip to visit her and stopped at a few of these "accessible" trails and found them to be quite refreshing and can be readily seen via a relatively short drive.

The first one I saw was at North Bend (exit 31) on Interstate 90. Drive into town and turn right on North Bend Way. One mile after leaving the city limits, turn left on Mount Si Road and drive 2.5 miles to a gravel parking lot on the left. Of coarse, the whole trail up Mount Si would be very difficult, but the first 1000-foot loop is really nice. It gets you out in moss covered pine trees, has its' own creek which the trail crosses twice, and sitting areas where a good book might come in handy. It's rated as easy, it is made of gravel and has some 5% grades but it is mostly flat.

The next trail I saw was called Tinkham Discovery and is at exit 42 on Interstate 90. Take this exit and take a left back across the freeway, continue southeast 1.5 miles to the Tinkham Creek Campground. Follow the campground loop to the far east end where the road turns north. The trail head is not marked too well and may require help getting down for the first 20 feet or so, but after that, except for the mosquitoes was a total delight with a beaver pond and an observation deck at the far end. The trails' round trip is about 0.5 mile. It is generally flat but has an 8% grade in the middle of it. It is mostly dirt covered with pine needles. One complication though is that there is no parking lot there so unless your actually camping there's really nowhere to park except in a campground lot number.

The last trail I went to was called Gold Creek Pond (exit54) on Interstate 90. Take this exit, then take a right and drive for about a mile until you find a dirt road signed Gold Creek. After 0.4 mile bear left at a fork in the road. The paved accessible parking is on the north side. The 1 mile paved trail that loops around the lake is really a nice one. The trail to the left leads towards the park/picnic area and the trail to the right leads up an 8% grade, but they meet in the middle so it really does not matter which one you take.

All of these trails had at least adequate parking and accessible bathrooms so I recommend them to one and all. Remember to take your gloves as I got a nasty blister going up the 8% grade at Gold Creek. Happy Trails...

Richard