Golden Tiger Pathway

The last entry I managed to upload here was clear back in July. Gads! How is it that life buries us under such minutia of details we are always short of time? Speaking of which, here is a short story I'll share before I get to the topic I want to cover in this posting:

GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR:

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for ...hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.


He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.


A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.


As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!


MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up

* * *

Golden Tiger Pathway

Near the small mountain town of Republic WA, deep in the Okanogan Highlands, on the foothills of the Kettle River Range there is a 27 mile long stretch of abandoned railroad grade running from the town north to the Canadian Border. The first three miles of that grade have been partially surfaced over and form what is known at the Golden Tiger Pathway, which is the portion I'll mention here. The rest of the grade is now a part of the Ferry County Rail-to-Trail system (see Ferry County Rail Trail, ).

The western gateway to the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway also marks one of the parking / entrances to the Golden Tiger Pathway near Republic, WA. Photography by J. Foster Fanning

The southwestern entrance to the Golden Tiger Pathway is near Republic, WA. has two small parking lots, one located across State Highway 20/21 from the high school football field. The other entrance is at the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway sign along side Hwy 20/21.


The Golden Tiger Pathway has both an improved and unimproved surface.
Photography J. Foster Fanning


The pathway is well separated and above the state highway and for the most part is usually uncrowded. Often I find myself the only person walking or cycling the trail.  





An interpretative sign along the Golden Tiger Pathway.
Photography J. Foster Fanning

 There are some interpretative signs along the trail and I think the plan includes more as funds come available.

Big Gib, a steep mountain face overlooking the town of Republic WA seen from the Golden Tiger Pathway.
Photography J. Foster Fanning

This is a late summer image of Big Gib, the mountain overlooking the town of Republic. The vistas of the pathway have distinct seasonal changes as the cycle of seasons occur. The pathway is groomed for cross country skiing during the winter months.

A bench overlooking one of the many vistas of the Golden Tiger Pathway.
Photography J. Foster Fanning

I'll close this posting with this image of an inviting bench overlooking one of the many vistas of the Golden Tiger Pathway. If your in the Republic area this is definitely a walking or cycling path worthy of a visit.


For more info regarding the Ferry County Rails-to-Trails
http://www.ferrycountyrailtrail.com/