2007  - A Summer of Success!
The Advisory Committee and volunteers have not only been watching but have been active on Russian Jack, East Northern Lights, T.K Coastal, and Campbell Creek trails through events and projects.  The following are some of the 2007 Trail Watch project highlights.

Ride and Roll Trail Watch Day - May 12, 2007
A low key recreational activity focusing on trail participation & safety was supported by Trail Watch volunteers and partners was a success despite the bitter conditions.  Riders, rollers and walkers were invited to be out on the two trail segments as a Saturday afternoon ride and roll supported at numerous stations. Four Trail Watch refreshment / aid stations and Kincaid Chalet, Lydia Selkregg Chalet, Westchester Lagoon Headquarters and Goose Lake Paddleboat Café, Trail Watch stations were open to support riders providing water, some snacks, bike checks / helmets for those kids without. Some of the focus points of success were:

• Over 50 bike helmets provided by AK Safe Kids / Providence were given away to youth on the trails.
• REI provided bike checks on over 30 bikes and spoke to another 30 trail users.
• Approximately 300 trail users had interaction with our station volunteers.
• Eighteen (18) volunteers contributed over 115 hours to the 2nd annual event.
• The event expanded out to Russian Jack Springs Park and trail.
• Many trail users expressed interest and desire to be part of the Trail Watch program.

National Trails Day - June 2, 2007 – What a Day for accomplishments!!
On June 2, National Trails Day, over 90 volunteers were making a difference on trails!!!. TW volunteers and committee project leaders focused on 4 projects joined by other user groups, BLM and the Far North Trails Advisory committee.

Russian Jack Springs Trail – Mark Fitch, Craig Torrey and Sam O’Conner of TW, directed over 20 workers completing nearly half or 1000 ft of trail of the project on the Russian Jack Springs Trail between the East Northern Lights trail and Russian Jack Springs Park. Additionally nearly 500 ft of the N. Lights Trail south of the East Northern Lights bridge was also opened up.  It entailed brushing back, deadfall removal and overall increasing the visibility corridor. A chipping crew from Parks and Recreation, Community Work Service chipped and re-distributed the limbs and debris back into the ecosystem.

Far North Trail Signage – Brian Looney of TW, Gordon Wetzel of the Nordic Ski Club and the Far North Trails Advisory Committee lead 37 volunteers  placing directional and information signs on 35 of the 45 "You are here" sign posts that were positioned on National Public Lands Day last fall. Additional sign posts and 6 trail head kiosks will be installed over the summer as part of the Alaska State Parks Trails and Anchorage Park Foundation grants.

Phase II Russian Jack Springs Trail Safety Make Over - July 21, 2007
Nearly 35 volunteers and staff completed the Russian Jack Springs Trail Watch focus project started on June 3 and nearly completed the 2006 National Public Lands Day - N. Lights Trail project started on September 29, 2006.  Mark Fitch, Craig Torrey and Sam O’Conner of TW, directed the 35 workers efforts in brushing back, deadfall removal and overall increasing the visibility corridor. A chipping crew provided by the Anchorage Fire Department chipped and re-distributed the limbs and debris back into the ecosystem. In summary:

• Thirty five (35) volunteers completed the second half (1200 ft) of the trail corridor segment from Pine Street to N. Lights Blvd along the Russian Jack Springs Trail.
• Nearly 800 ft of the East Northern Lights Trail between Goose Lake and Bragaw was also improved completing work started last fall. 
• The 2,000 ft of improved trail exceeded the efforts of June 2. A visual / safety corridor averaging 40 ft wide reaching a length of 3,200 ft exceeding work of June 2 (2,500 ft) when aligning the work on both sides of the trail, end for end was created.
• The Anchorage Fire Department supported the safety project effort by contracting a tree company to chip brush.
• Volunteers from the Elmendorf 3rd Air Wing, McLaughlin Youth Center  and Community Work Service volunteers joined Trail Watch volunteers in this project.

Youth Employment in Parks teens help users of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
On August 1 and 2, the Parks and Recreation, Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) teen workers and crew leaders tackled the blind corners & curves found on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The YEP kids opened up the corners & curves found along the trail from Lyn Ary Park to the Kincaid Hill a distance of roughly 7 miles. On Aug 8, Community Work Service (CWS) volunteers completed the safety makeover work on the remaining 10 corners found on Kincaid Hill.  In total 280 hours of effort was dedicated to the eradication of blind corners & curves over 7.7 trail miles.  Way to go YEP & CWS!!!

National Public Lands Day, September 29 - Record number of volunteers turn out
On Saturday, September 29th over 330 volunteers joined Parks and Recreation, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Campbell Creek Science Center staff on numerous projects as part of the efforts to celebrate National Public Lands Day, a Take Pride in America event. The following is a summary of success on three trail related safety projects.

Trail Watch Northern Lights Trail Safety Makeover A diverse group of volunteers gathered at the Goose Lake Trail head on September 29, nearly completing the safety makeover on the East Northern Lights Trail.

• Work crews completed makeovers on two trail segments between Nichols Street and N. Lights Blvd East High Bridge.
• 1250 ft of trail was improved contributing to the efforts of June 2 & July 21. A visual / safety corridor averaging 40 ft wide reaching a length of 1500ft when aligning the work on both sides of the trail, end for end was created.
• The Community Work Service program and United Rentals supported the safety project effort by providing brush chipper and chainsaw support respectively.
• 90 volunteers from the Elmendorf 3rd Air Wing, McLaughlin Youth Center, ARC of Anchorage, East High School, Girl Scout Troup 330  and Community Work Service volunteers joined Trail Watch volunteers in this project contributing over 375 volunteer hours to the project.

Far North / Hillside Trail System Safety Sign Project - Volunteers continued efforts to set posts and install the "You are Here" trail posts and signage at critical intersections and junctions on the park trail system.

• Twenty five (25) volunteers helped cut and set posts for trail signs that will inform users of the name of trail, winter use, a locator map, and the distances to nearest trail heads.
• Crew leaders Brian Looney of the Far North Trails Advisory Committee and Gordon Wetzel of NSAA also lead teams working on improving drainage on the Spenser Loop and dismantling and re-freshening two of the 5 trailhead kiosks.
• The volunteers form the various trail user groups contributed over 100 volunteer hours to this effort to improve trail & park safety.

Mile 1.1 Campbell Airstrip Trail Head - The parking lot island at the Campbell Airstrip Trail Head (Mile 1.1) received a seasonal pruning and trimming of new growth. BLM staff directed upwards of 15 volunteers who improved visibility from the road as a Trail Head Smash & Dash prevention project recording nearly 45 hours of volunteer effort.

Campbell Creek Trail Piper to Grumman - Members of Trail Watch and the Anchorage Fire Department continued efforts to reduce undergrowth and fire hazzards along the trail east of Piper Street.  Ten (10) volunteers improved the safety in select areas recording nearly 65 hours of volunteers effort on 550 ft of trail.

From the project leaders of Brian Looney, Gordon Wetzel, Mark Fitch, Craig Torrey, Sam O’Connor, Brian Dean, and Parks and Recreation, we all want to say thank you to all for your efforts of making Anchorage Trails more inviting and safe.

REI employees complete the E. Northern Lights Trail Makeover!
On October 3, Recreational Equipment Inc (REI) employees and Trail Watch tackled the final 650 ft of trail completing the makeover efforts on the East Northern Lights Trail.  As their 2007 community project, the Northern Lights REI store employees adopted this Trail Watch makeover effort.

• Work crews completed makeovers on two trail segments between Nichols Street and N. Lights Blvd East High Bridge
• Eighteen (18) employees and 4 Trail Watch volunteers lead by Craig Torrey of TW and Josh Morehouse of REI completed the trail makeover efforts contributing over 50 hours of volunteer effort. 
• 650 ft segment of trail was improved contributing to the efforts of many in 2007.
• A visual / safety corridor averaging 40 ft wide was created along the 6,150 foot section of the Northern Lights trail.