This Earth Day, Come Play In the Woods
April 21, 2007

If you have the notion that you’d like to enjoy the Pacific Northwest to its fullest, Champoeg State Historic Area, St. Paul, OR, is the place to be April 21.

The Play in the Woods Expo will showcase clubs and organizations that promote physical outdoor recreation in the region’s wild areas. For the third year, Friends of Historic Champoeg and the Columbia River Orienteering Club host this event with the help of REI-Tualatin. Volunteers from more than a dozen organizations will tell you how to get started in a variety of activities, from walking along the Willamette River to summiting Mt. Hood. Parking is $3, but the event itself is free. Throughout the day, there will be a variety of clinics and workshops on subjects.

Thanks to a grant from Kaiser Permanente, orienteering lessons will be provided for free, with courses for all ages and abilities. We’ll also have a Nature-O course, where you’ll follow your map to the natural and cultural history highlights of this great park. Orienteering registration begins at 10 am; lessons begin between 10:30 am and 1 pm.

For more information, call 360-253-8632 or visit www.croc.org.

4th Annual Lacamas Lake
10-mile/5k Walk
May 20, 2007

The 4th Annual Lacamas Lake 5k and 10-mile Walk/Run is set for Sunday May 20, 2007. This annual event is presented by Fit Right Northwest. This is a well-organized, walker-friendly event with a beautiful course over road and trail.

Both the 10-mile and 5k begin on the grounds of Camas High School and proceed northwest around scenic Lacamas Lake. The paved country roads are tree lined and quiet, while the natural lake creates a serene setting.

Participants will travel along the Lacamas Lake Heritage Trail, which offers excellent footing and a few hills. Spectacular views of Mt. Hood provide additional motivation.

The 5k is mostly an “out and back,” covering the latter portion of the 10-mile course.

For a map of the course visit www.fitrightnw.com/lacamas.html
Mark your calendar — this is the first time the event is not held on the Memorial Day weekend. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Clark County Parks Foundation, which benefits Clark County’s trail development and maintenance program. This community event has something for everyone, so grab your special someone and enjoy a great walking event!

Walking Relay from
Mt. Rainier to the Sea
June 2, 2007

The Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay allows walkers to experience exquisite natural beauty while following the historic route of westward expansion. The 27-mile course, which follows the old Northern Pacific Railroad line, is ideal for competitive walkers, for team-building, for nature enthusiasts — or for anyone who appreciates a walk through the woods.

Even though it is among the newest long-distance races in the west, the five-year-old Rainier to Ruston has one of the longest histories. Its roots go back to 1864, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Northern Railroad Charter as part of his “space program,” thereby allowing for the construction of a line from the Great Lakes to Tacoma, WA. The Rainier to Ruston, which doubles as a 50-mile event for relay runners and ultra marathoners, celebrates this history with bell standards at each of the old railroad stops.

The race serves as a fundraiser for the Foothills Trail Coalition, which aims to develop a contiguous non-motorized trail from the banks of Mount Rainier to the waterfront in Tacoma, following the now-abandoned railroad line. The trail is not yet complete, but it is entirely navigable; the Rainier to Ruston serves as an annual reminder of the route’s past as a major thoroughfare and of its future as a recreational venue.

The relay is scheduled for June 2, 2007, which is also National Trail Day. For more details, visit www.rainiertoruston.com.