By Pepper Fisher

SEQUIM – On the heels of his trip to Port Angeles last Friday, Governor Inslee is scheduled to be in Sequim on Wednesday to take a bike ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) and attend the Rails to Trails Conservancy luncheon at noon.

The Conservancy’s dream of creating a coast-to-coast walking and cycling trail across America, known as the Great American Rail-Trail, moving fast. The 3,700 mile project is over 50% complete and spans 12 states, much of it along the route of abandoned railways. In 2019, the Conservancy made the decision to add the Olympic Discovery Trail as the western-most section of the trail.

Representatives from the Peninsula Trails Coalition, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, North Kitsap Trails Association, Bainbridge Island Parks and Trails Foundation will get together for a reception on Tuesday at the 7 Cedars Casino at 6:30pm.

Conservancy Vice President of Communications Brandi Horton explains why they’re holding this event in Clallam County.

“We’re so excited to be here to really celebrate the progress that is happening to connect the Great American Rail Trail across the country. And right now, the effort behind connecting the Puget Sound to the Pacific with the PS2P collaborative. It’s a really exciting project underway to build some additional momentum, get some hopefully federal funding in to help do that, and really, kind of, launch that vision of the Olympic Discovery Trail as the westernmost terminus of the Great American Rail Trail coming together as quickly as possible.”

Then, on Wednesday, Governor Inslee will attend a luncheon at the Red Cedar Hall on the Jamestown S’Klallam complex in Blyn, after a planned 30-mile bike ride on the ODT. Horton says Inslee’s support for the trail project has been invaluable.

“And he’s riding to an event where Rails to Trails Conservancy will honor him with our 2023 Rail Trail Champion Award. And that is an award we give out each year to recognize people who have gone above and beyond for the Rail Trail movement. Folks who have really, whether it’s through volunteerism, support leadership in different ways, have really made a difference for trails.”

These events are not open to the public, but we will continue to keep up with the progress of the Great American Rail-Trail.

(Photo: Olympic Discovery Trail)