*** Wenatchee Foothills trails could be magnet ***

Wenatchee, Washington -- 08/18/2005
The rolling foothills west of Wenatchee have the potential
to become an outdoor wonderland for adventure seekers,
say some local recreation enthusiasts.

In June, local groups discussed ideas to improve trail heads
in the foothills and to connect a patchwork of foothills trails
with the community's waterfront trails.

With a comprehensive trails system, Wenatchee could become
more attractive to recreational mountain bikers and event promoters.

"Unfortunately we do not have the trail system for
(hosting competitions), but we do have the terrain for it," s
aid Matt Rose, a member of the Wenatchee Valley Trails
Coalition. "I'm sure some promoter will say we need to
hold a race here."

Hans Slette, director of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust,
said he has studied other cities with well-known trail systems.
They include Bend, Ore.; Moab, Utah; Missoula, Mont; and
Boise, Idaho.

Like those cities, Slette said, Wenatchee could attract
more people looking for outdoor recreational opportunities.

"I'm not talking about this big mecca for outdoor recreation,
but it's a way to attract more people to the valley," Slette said.
"We have first-class mountain biking potential."

Slette said he hopes an official plan for the trails systems will
be drafted this fall so he can begin looking for funding next spring.

Rocky Crocker, a local mountain biker, said Wenatchee's trail
system would be conveniently close to the city's hotels and restaurants.

Crocker, who has raced in Washington and Idaho, is a member of the
Wenatchee Area Racers, a traveling group of mountain bikers.

"There's so much more versatility here," he said.
"It's closer to town than most of the places I go."

Crocker said the layout of the foothills trails
would make it perfect for viewing mountain bike races.

In most races, Crocker said, spectators can only see the start
and finish. In Wenatchee, people would be able to view multiple
trails from one location, he said.

Slette said he was contacted by Justin Yeager, an adventure race
promoter, about using the foothills but Slette told him the trails
could not handle such on event right now.

Yeager, executive director of Northwest Adventures in Ellensburg,
inquired about using the foothills for a portion of an adventure race
held last year.

An adventure race location, Yeager said, needs a water
system and places for mountain biking and hiking in close
proximity.

"I wouldn't come to Wenatchee just for the trail system,"
Yeager said. "But would we use it? Heck yes."

While the foothills has the potential to host competitions such as
mountain biking, trail running and adventure races, it may never
happen.

For the system to support events, parties such as private land owners,
Chelan County and the U.S. Forest Service would have to be on board,
Slette said.

Even if the system is completed, he said, nearby residents
may oppose having competitions in their backyards.

"It's not able to accommodate heavy use at this point," Slette said.
"Some people don't want to turn it into a big deal."

Rose said the trails coalition has yet to consider whether a sporting
event such as a mountain bike race would even be feasible in the
foothills.

The coalition, Rose said, has been focused on creating a trails
system for recreational use and not so much to attract events.

Rose said the Wenatchee system may not work best for a mountain
bike race. Such races usually take place on a loop course. The trails
in the foothills run more north and south as opposed to a loop, he said.

This October, one of the rides during the first-ever Wenatchee
Valley Mountain Bike Festival will travel through the Sage Hills
area, near the west end of Fifth Street in Wenatchee.

David Stipe, general manager at Arlberg Sports who is organizing
the festival, said he would like to have the trails be used as
recreation
and not for competition. Something like a bike festival where people
ride together would be ideal for him.

Rose said a bike-a-thon for charity might be the type of event that
would have a better chance of gaining approval. If that type of
event succeeded, it could serve as a springboard for other events.

"We want to create a mind set and culture here in Wenatchee
where people are thinking about bikes," Rose said. "When people
think about Wenatchee, Washington, we want them to think
mountain biking."

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