Pulaski Tunnel Trail sees improvements and challenges

WALLACE— Grants acquired in 2016 have made possible the completion of three projects correcting bothersome problems and substantially improving the Pulaski Tunnel Trail.

Two new boardwalks have been installed, trail curbing has been repaired, and benches have been improved.

Volunteer labor was generously provided by Dwight and Kay Clift, Tristan Clift, Jim Penzskover, and Tom Harman.

Additionally, Tom Dabrowksi, who heads the Idaho Trails Association in Sagle, ID, organized a group of twelve volunteers to provide for brush clearing, drainage improvements, and milepost replacements earlier this season.

Though improvements have made the trail easier to hike, it remains classified as a “moderately difficult” hike owing to elevation gain.

A new bench is in the process of being constructed and will soon be installed at the guest register area.

The existing trail benches will be stabilized with rebar to prevent vandals from pushing them over the hillside.

The guest register recorded 814 hikers in June, almost 300 more than last June. The register shows that the trail remains popular with hikers from all over the United States and beyond.

Still more improvement projects and tasks need to be tackled on the trail.

For instance, someone tried to pry all three porcelain signs off the rock wall at the trail’s outlook site, overlooking the Pulaski Tunnel.

All three were damaged but fortunately the would-be thief vandal was unsuccessful.

The signs remain in their mounts and damage is relatively minimal.

They’ll be repaired in our next phase of trail improvement projects.

Additional information on the Pulaski Tunnel Trail may be found at the U.S. Forest Service’s website: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ipnf/special/pulaski.

That online source offers trail maps, route descriptions, educational resources, historic documents, and additional educational content on the trail, the Big Burn, the trail’s restoration, and more.