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Hello All,
VOW received sad news last weekend
Ruth Ittner, a VOW founding member and long time Iron Goat Trail project coordinator passed away on Thursday, June 3 from a reoccurrence of her lymphoma.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 pm, June 27 (a Sunday) at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1217 Sixth Ave., Seattle
Her obituary appeared in Saturday’s Seattle times and can be read online at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012094632_ittnerobit12m.html
Dennis Evans, the current Iron Goat Trail coordinator provided the following remembrance:
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Ruth Ittner died on Thursday, June 3, 2010. She was 92.
So few words, so much import.
How does one express in just a few lines how much those words mean? For those of us who knew her, the few lines aren’t necessary. For those of us who did not know her, a few lines won’t begin to convey what she meant to us and what she accomplished for us.
Most of us knew Ruth through her association with VOW and particularly through her participation in the management of the Iron Goat Trail Project. It is true that Ruth did not build the trail without help, but it also true that without Ruth the trail probably would not have happened.
Ruth’s contribution to the trail was not in the construction of the miles of dirt and gravel path wending through the woods. Truth be told, Ruth actually did very little of that work. What Ruth did was something that most of us would have considered almost impossible and many of us would have rejected out of hand as being too difficult. Ruth was instrumental in overall planning of the trail and in planning and arranging financing for three significant trailheads and a large expensive footbridge. She worked on developing an interpretive plan and interpretive signs, a guidebook and a DVD. Without those contributions, the dirt path through the woods would have been meaningless. Ruth was also our “mother hen”. Before she became unable to come up to the trail on a regular basis, you could count on Ruth’s presence, giving directions, correcting mistakes. Every time I think of what she did in those areas I am staggered. Ruth dared to think of and then provide solutions that very few of us would even have considered. Is there anyone who believes that would have happened without Ruth?
When Ruth asked me several years ago to take over for her as the Iron Goat Trail Project Coordinator I remember thinking that I could not possibly succeed her. No one could ever “replace” Ruth and, of course, I haven’t. I am simply following the path that Ruth plotted so well so many years ago.
I am told that before she died Ruth told her niece that she was glad the Iron Goat Trail was finished before she died. So are we, Ruth.
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Sheridan Botts received notice of Ruth’s death from Ruth’s niece, Elizabeth Heldele who will be making the arrangements for the memorial service. Sheridan is in contact with Elizabeth and wants to coordinate the support from VOW for the service. If you would like to help with the service, email VOW at info@railvolunteers.org or call the office 206 517 3019.
Announcements, maybe of interest
There has been a lot of activity on the iron Goat Trail the last couple of weeks!
On Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23, VOW and WTA conducted joint maintenance work parties on the Iron Goat Trail. between the two organizations we turned out about 20 volunteers on both days. Most of the work involved restoring the tread on the upper grade to specified width. It’s hard to believe, but it has been 19 years since parts of the upper grade were built and it was due for some TLC. The work parties were very successful and everyone appeared to enjoy themselves. Many thanks to WTA for their support.
Dennis Evans led the annual Chinook Middle School hike on the Iron Goat trail on June 4.
There was a great National Trails day work party on the Iron Goat trail with over 30 participants. The event was sponsored by REI Seattle store. We had over 30 participants, perfect weather and a “burger and dog” feed afterwards. I cooked the bbq. and was able to get some “American Kobe” beef and a little buffalo for the event. Every one had a great time.
The Iron Goat Trail American - Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation is coming up, July 11-17. We have 20 AHS participants from 12 states including some from AmeriCorps. This is the 14 year for this event and we will be staying as usual at the Mountaineers Steven’s pass lodge. We are looking for drivers to help with the out of town volunteers to get them to the pass. Please email info@trailvolunteers.ogr if you can help.
So far, I am thinking of having a side trip over to Leavenworth to see one of the outdoor productions from the Leavenworth summer theater festival that runs during that week.
If you would like to come up for any of the work parties of stay overnight at the Mountaineers lodge during the week of July 11-17, contact of email the VOW office.
Vow's office
is located in Lake City at 12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I in the same building as
the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. The office is usually available for use
by our members for small meetings. Also, the larger Lake City Chamber of
Commerce conference room is available for free with prior reservations.
Those familiar with Lake City will find the office a couple of buildings
over from Dick's Drive In at Lake City Way and NE 30th.
Volunteer to help everyone
enjoy the outdoors,
Richard Botts Trail
Notes Volunteers for Outdoor Washington Phone: 206 517-3019 -- Member of the American Hiking Society -- |