Pulaski Trail renovations done

WALLACE - It took eight years, but in that time the Pulaski Trail has undergone renovations that have transformed it from a neglected, washed out trail to the historical, national landmark commemorating the 1910 Fire it is today.

Although the final piece of the Pulaski Trail renovation fell into place after the centennial commemoration, it completes the visual storyboard of an event remembered as a time of heroism and change for the U.S. Forest Service.

The Pulaski Trail sits mostly on private land and had been left for Mother Nature to reclaim. A gathering of citizens on Oct. 31, 2002, marked the beginning of an effort to take the trail back and launch it into national fame as a historical landmark.

In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, the Pulaski Project Committee worked to clean up the trail, install bridges, erect informational signs and redesign the trail head and the destination loop. As simple as this may sound, the project lasted years as grants were written, cooperation was sought and a consensus reached regarding every detail of the renovations.

"The committee consisted of movers and shakers interested in saving the trail and preserving a national gem," said Pulaski Project President Jim See.

Archaeologists initiated a dig at the end of the trail in July 2008 to discover artifacts from the Aug. 20 and 21, 1910, fire so they would not be disturbed by development in the area as the renovation project entered its final stages.

Deep in the heart of this project is a crisis in the memory of the forests of the Northwest," said Ron Roizen, Pulaski Project director.

The 1910 Fire elevated fire protection to a No. 1 priority within the U.S. Forest Service, but now he worries politics and conflicting views may be getting in the way of maintaining healthy, growing forests.

"Retelling the story from the beginning is a way to draw attention to what we need to do," he said.

Funding that made the Pulaski Project possible was made available through various grants from Idaho Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Frank A. Morbeck Community Foundation, Inc. and various other grants.

In 2004 the Pulaski Project Committee even received $298,000 in appropriations through Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's office.

"This is a national treasure here," See said, estimating that renovations totaled almost $1 million. The use of helicopters was enlisted by the U.S. Forest Service, while materials and labor were funded by the Pulaski Project Committee. All efforts went to restoring the dignity and artistry of the Pulaski Trail and its history.

The money and labor that went into revamping the trail is visible immediately upon approaching the trail head on Forest Service Road 456. What used to be a gravel area to pull off and park has been transformed into a small parking area complete with a restroom. The first bridge of the trail was brought in prefabricated, lowered into place by cranes. Safety measures were taken as fencing and rock walls were created along the trail.

At the final destination of the Pulaski Trail a recreated adit was installed at the mine entrance, following the archaeology study. Cable fencing was repaired and near the trail head a guest register and donation box was installed.

Informational plaques guide trail visitors through Edward "Big Ed" Pulaski's journey to safety during the 1910 Fire. The installation of the placard at the Pulaski Trail head, which cost $20,000, marks the last of the planned improvements to the Pulaski Trail.

"For all intents and purposes, it's finished," See said. "It's one of the best trails-interpretive trails in the United States."