Friends of Badger Mountain

Traikwork Party - March 7th
2024-03-07 12:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
The work we are doing is raking the gravel back on to the Canyon Trail. The gravel forms a hard layer protecting the soft dirt from wear, without it the trails would rapidly turn into gulleys. Over time as we use the trails the gravel moves against the rock edge and the trailmaster would like to get it spread back across the trail. This week we will finish the top 700 feet of the Canyon Trail and then will start down the east Skyline Trail recovering the gravel and removing some of those rocks that sticking up. The ground is nice and moist, it is a good time to be doing this. We will be using rakes and McLeods. We continually move along the trail so please bring a pack to carry your water and extra clothes.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-day break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

Trailwork Party - March 3rd
2024-03-03 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Work this week will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 12:30 going to 4:30. We will be meeting by the restroom building in Trailhead Park at 12:30.

We have started out with raking the gravel back on to the Canyon Trail. The gravel forms a hard layer protecting the soft dirt from wear, without it the trails would rapidly turn into gulleys. Over time as we use the trails the gravel slowly moves to the downhill edge and the Trailmaster would like to get it spread back across the trail. Last week the crews completed about 70% of the Canyon Trail. This week we will get that finished and then will start down the east Skyline Trail recovering the gravel and removing some of those rocks that sticking up. The ground is nice and moist, it is a good time to be doing this. We will be using rakes and McLeods. We will be continually moving along the trail so please bring a pack to carry your water and extra clothes.

The Trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-day break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the Trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the Trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday into April to get some general trail maintenance along the trail system.

Trailwork Party - March 2nd
2024-03-02 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - March 1st
2024-03-01 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - February 25th
2024-02-25 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
The weather forecast predicts temperatures in the low 30’s in the mornings so we will be working 12:30 to 4:30 in the afternoons when it is warmer. We will be meeting by the restroom building in Trailhead Park at 12:30.

We will start out with some easy work, raking the gravel back on to the Canyon Trail. Last spring we spent a lot of time getting the middle section of that trail fixed up. Over time the gravel is worked to the edge of the trail and the trailmaster would like to get it spread back across the trail. The gravel protects the trail and we don’t want to rework that section anytime soon. The ground is nice and moist, it is a good time to be doing this. We will be using rakes and McLeods. We will be continually moving along the trail so please bring a pack to carry your water and extra cloths.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-day break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday into April to get some general trail maintenance along the trail system.

Trailwork Party - February 24th
2024-02-24 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - February 23rd
2024-02-23 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - February 22nd
2024-02-22 12:30 - 16:30 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 19th
2023-11-19 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States
The exact plan for this week will be posted once the weekly email has gone out.

The schedule this week is Thursday through Sunday – 8 AM to noon. We will be meeting where the trail meets Morency Drive near the top of the east shoulder of Little Badger. See the map below.

The work will be to do smoothing of the trail getting bumps and a rocks out. This will be completed mostly using rakes and McLeods and distributing the gravel as it is delivered, again with rakes and McLeods. The gravel hauler will also need to be loaded using shovels and buckets. If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday up until the end of November.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-morning break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

Trailwork Party - November 18th
2023-11-18 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 17th
2023-11-17 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 16th
2023-11-16 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 12th
2023-11-12 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States
The schedule this week is Thursday through Sunday – 8 AM to noon. We have moved the meeting location to the west end of Falconcrest loop, it is closer to the work.

We will be concentrating on getting the trail ready for gravel by smoothing out the bumps and getting the rocks out. The tools we will be using are mostly rakes and McLeods (big rakes). If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday up until the end of November.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-morning break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

Trailwork Party - November 11th
2023-11-11 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 10th
2023-11-10 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 9th
2023-11-09 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 5th
2023-11-05 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States
The progress has been slow this week, the weather turned cool and that apparently discouraged some volunteers, only a few helpers each day except Sunday’s crew of 5. The work is much easier now that we have completed the rocky section. We have completed about 600 feet of the 3500 foot long trail with gravel and another 750 feet is ready for the gravel. The trailmaster has provided the above map showing the progress. After Tuesday’s rain the ground is in great shape for the work but it can freeze solid soon.

The schedule this week is Thursday through Sunday – 8 AM to noon. We will be meeting where the trail meets Morency Drive near the top of the east shoulder of Little Badger. See the map below.

We will be concentrating on getting the trail ready for gravel by smoothing out the bumps and getting the rocks out. The tools we will be using are mostly rakes and McLeods (big rakes). If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday up until the end of November.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-morning break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

Trailwork Party - November 4th
2023-11-04 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 3rd
2023-11-03 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - November 2nd
2023-11-02 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - October 29th
2023-10-29 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States
The first week of the fall trail work season got a good start with the weather, sunny and warm all days. Last year we dug out the rough trail bed for a trail from Morency Drive to the summit of Little Badger and this fall we are completing it. In this first week we completed about 600 feet of the 3500 foot long trail. That should be the hardest section, it was in loose and some not so loose rock. We will continue the work for the next few weeks hopefully completing the trail in mid to late November.

The schedule this week is Thursday through Sunday – 8 AM to noon. We will be meeting where the trail meets Morency Drive near the top of the east shoulder of Little Badger. See the map below.

The work will be to do smoothing of the trail getting bumps and a rocks out. This will be completed mostly using rakes and McLeods and distributing the gravel as it is delivered, again with rakes and McLeods. The gravel hauler will also need to be loaded using shovels and buckets. If you can’t make it this week, there will work parties every Thursday through Sunday up until the end of November.

The trailmaster will provide all the tools and even some homemade cookies at the mid-morning break. Volunteers need to bring work gloves, water, and snacks with a small pack to carry them, and dress for the weather forecast. There isn’t any work for preteens and younger – it is hard to keep them motivated for 4 hours. You will need to sign-up so the trailmaster can plan the work and bake enough cookies. Please let the trailmaster know that you are coming by sending an email to trailmaster@friendsofbadger.org

Trailwork Party - October 28th
2023-10-28 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - October 27th
2023-10-27 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Trailwork Party - October 26th
2023-10-26 08:00 - 12:00 | Near Falconcrest Loop and Morency Drive, Richland, Washington, 99352, United States

Annual Friends of Badger Mountain Celebration (RSVP Required)
2023-05-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, WA, 99354, United States
RSVP and join us for our annual celebration Saturday, May 20th, from 4-6 PM at the Richland Community Center.

Hors d’oeuvres, wine, friendship, appreciations, elections, exciting news and … honoring special guests.

RSVP is requested as space is limited. Contact sharon@friendsofbadger.org and let her know how many you plan to bring.

Hike Through Time
2023-05-06 09:00 - 11:30 | Candy Mountain Preserve Trailhead, 71004 E 669 PR NE, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Rangers with Manhattan Project National Historical Park and Whitman Mission National Historic Site will lead a history hike up Candy Mountain on Saturday, May 6 from 9:00–11:30 am. The “Hike Through Time” ranger program is a free, guided 3.6-mile (5.8 km) round-trip moderate hike to the top of Candy Mountain.

There will be several stops along the trail up to the summit where rangers will share short histories about the events and people that shaped the mid-Columbia region. Hikers will move forward in time as the stops progress from the Ice Age Floods to the Manhattan Project and its legacies. Topics will include the Native Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the arrival of Christian missionaries, and the selection of Hanford for plutonium production during World War II. An outdoor educator from REI will also provide information on Leave No Trace Outdoor safety and ethics.

Hikers will gain 555 feet (170 m) of elevation as they hike to the top of Candy Mountain. Participants should be prepared to hike uphill, bring water and food, and plan for a variety of weather.

“The Tri-Cities region has intersecting histories that helped shape the development of the United States and the world order after World War II. We are excited to work with rangers from Whitman Mission National Historic Site to share this history that is right here in our backyard,” said Hanford Unit Site Manager Becky Burghart.

To learn more about the event, visit: www.facebook.com/ManhattanProjectNPS.

Earth Day at the REACH
2023-04-22 10:00 - 14:00 | REACH Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
The 2023 Earth Day event in the Tri-Cities is a partnership including Battelle Memorial Institute, Ben-Franklin Transit, the Tri-Cities Chapter of Citizens Climate Education, Sustainable Tri-Cities, Life@PNNL, and the Reach Museum, which is offering free admission between 10am-2pm on April 22nd.

The theme will be HEALTHY PEOPLE, HAPPY PLANET. Our goals are to engage all ages (especially kids) in adopting ways of living that are healthy for themselves, for their local environment, and for the global climate, and to make the event accessible to those without motor vehicles. With grant support from WA Ecology, Ben Franklin Transit will declare a fare free day on April 22nd to ensure that people from all walks of life can attend the Earth Day celebration in Richland. The $0 fare applies to all the big buses so people can “Try Transit” rather than drive to any activity they have planned for this Saturday from 7am to 10pm. Plus, we encourage all forms of eco-friendly travel, like walking, biking, rolling and ridesharing, so that Earth Day participants actively reduce vehicle emissions on April 22nd and beyond to support a happy planet. Parking will be limited so extra bike racks will be available for secure bicycle parking.

2023 Badger Mountain Adventure Race (Registration Required)
2023-04-15 08:00 - 12:00 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Running or Hiking – Choose Your Adventure

Half Marathon – 10k – 5 k – 1 Mile

$30 per participant

$25 for Registered Scouts & Leaders

$5 Discount for All Registrations Received Prior to March 1st

T-Shirt and a one-of-a-kind finisher medal included for all participants.

12th Annual Badger Mountain Challenge (Registration Required)
2023-03-24 00:00 - 2023-03-25 23:59 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Are you Tough Enough? Can you Endure?

The 12th Annual Badger Mountain Challenge!

15k, 55k, 50 mile & 100 mile events

The Badger Mountain Challenge has a small-town feel but with all the support of a big race. Even if you’re not competitive you can hike the course while enjoying the people, local ridges and open spaces.

Proceeds from the BMC will go to the following great organizations: Friends of Badger Mountain, Washington Trails Association (WTA), Girls on the Run, and Team in Training (“TNT”, which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). The Badger Mountain Challenge is also offering a scholarship to any eligible high school or college student. Please visit the “Scholarship” tab above.

Visit http://www.badgermountainchallenge.com/ to sign up

Spring Equinox Hike
2023-03-20 18:15 - 20:00 | Trailhead Park, 525 Queensgate Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
Monday, March 20, is the spring equinox, on which the last sunset of winter – or the first sunset of spring – occurs at 7:12 PM. Some of us will be on top of Badger Mountain to celebrate this biannual celestial event.

We’ll leave from the Badger Mountain Trailhead asphalt parking lot, at the top of Queensgate Dr, by 6:15 (feel free to leave earlier or later and we’ll see you at the top). We’ll go up the steps on the Canyon Trail to get to the western summit of Badger Mountain, at the second set of towers facing Rattlesnake Mt, before the sun sets. Bring a friend, a light jacket, and a flashlight in case you linger on the mountaintop. The weather is expected to be okay, with a high that day of 58.

In the ancient tradition of seeing winter’s end and welcoming spring’s arrival, let’s look to the sky while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Happy spring.
