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Our Origins
Our Origins
Gray Wolf Trail Crew was started in 2007 by Don Stoneman, at the request of Christine Peterson, then Trail Coordinator for Hood Canal Ranger District of Olympic National Forest. Christine knew that many hikers like to get out early in the spring, as soon as low elevation trails became snow-free, but were hampered by winter storm damage. She asked Don to gather local trail volunteers whenever a nice spring day presented the opportunity.
Gray Wolf Trail Crew was started in 2007 by Don Stoneman, at the request of Christine Peterson, then Trail Coordinator for Hood Canal Ranger District of Olympic National Forest. Christine knew that many hikers like to get out early in the spring, as soon as low elevation trails became snow-free, but were hampered by winter storm damage. She asked Don to gather local trail volunteers whenever a nice spring day presented the opportunity.
Among those joining Don to form Gray Wolf Trail Crew were Don Abbott, Neil and Lisa Turnberg, Rod Farlee, Rik Scairpon, Mace White, John Boles, Wayne and Peggy Siscoe, Mark Clark, Daniel Collins, Scott Metzler and Ron Frisch. Initially focused on National Forest trails in the Dungeness and Quilcene drainages, the crew also reopened the Little River and Cox Valley Trails in Olympic National Park.
Among those joining Don to form Gray Wolf Trail Crew were Don Abbott, Neil and Lisa Turnberg, Rod Farlee, Rik Scairpon, Mace White, John Boles, Wayne and Peggy Siscoe, Mark Clark, Daniel Collins, Scott Metzler and Ron Frisch. Initially focused on National Forest trails in the Dungeness and Quilcene drainages, the crew also reopened the Little River and Cox Valley Trails in Olympic National Park.
Don's expertise in rigging and wood working enabled the crew to replace missing footlogs across Heather Creek, Sleepy Hollow, Gold Creek and several footbridges, puncheons and crib walls on the Gray Wolf and Dungeness Trails, all in Olympic National Forest, the 120-foot Barnes Creek footbridge in Olympic National Park, and Phantom Creek and other footbridges on the Maple Valley and Steam Donkey Loop Trails in Dosewallips State Park. Don received the 2010 Clallam County Community Service Award in recognition of the Gray Wolf Trail Crew.
Don's expertise in rigging and wood working enabled the crew to replace missing footlogs across Heather Creek, Sleepy Hollow, Gold Creek and several footbridges, puncheons and crib walls on the Gray Wolf and Dungeness Trails, all in Olympic National Forest, the 120-foot Barnes Creek footbridge in Olympic National Park, and Phantom Creek and other footbridges on the Maple Valley and Steam Donkey Loop Trails in Dosewallips State Park. Don received the 2010 Clallam County Community Service Award in recognition of the Gray Wolf Trail Crew.
Big Shoes to Fill
Big Shoes to Fill
After Don's leadership, Mike Bonomo stepped in and led the Gray Wolf crew for the next seven years. Mike is another one who seems to have extraordinarily large shoes (what IS IT with the large shoe sizes on this peninsula??) and under his tutelage the crew grew and thrived. His knowledge and dedication to the ONF trails tasked to the Gray Wolf crew was astounding and the crew got an amazing amount of quality work done on such trails as Lower Big Quilcene, Lower Dungeness, Slab Camp, Lower Graywolf, etc.. Due to the crew's ability to rapidly address key needs, the crew tackled additional tasks such as clearing forest roads and trails that others could not get to.
After Don's leadership, Mike Bonomo stepped in and led the Gray Wolf crew for the next seven years. Mike is another one who seems to have extraordinarily large shoes (what IS IT with the large shoe sizes on this peninsula??) and under his tutelage the crew grew and thrived. His knowledge and dedication to the ONF trails tasked to the Gray Wolf crew was astounding and the crew got an amazing amount of quality work done on such trails as Lower Big Quilcene, Lower Dungeness, Slab Camp, Lower Graywolf, etc.. Due to the crew's ability to rapidly address key needs, the crew tackled additional tasks such as clearing forest roads and trails that others could not get to.
Where We Are Now
Where We Are Now
Mike was succeeded by Rebecca Wanagel in 2022. Wearing a second hat as the trail project director for the Peninsula chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, she greatly expanded the interaction and cooperation between the two groups. Due to her love of the Olympic Peninsula backcountry, Rebecca has expanded the group's activities to include multi-day trail crews mostly in the Olympic National Park, while still leading day or weekend crews in the Olympic National Forest.
Rebecca also volunteers as a certified saw instructor / evaluator for BCHW. Martin Knowles does this as well. That way we are able to keep the skilled sawyers with the Graywolf Crew and BCHW current with their saw cards.
EXCITING UPDATE AS OF SEPTEMBER, 2025!
The Graywolf crew has been folded into BCHW as a program within the incredible Peninsula Chapter. This formalizes an already-great relationship! BCHW is a registered non-profit with 501c3 status. Now donors can give to BCHW, directed to the Graywolf crew, and have their donation fall under the tax rules of 501c3.
How You Can Support Us
As from the beginning, the Gray Wolf trail crew is fully a volunteer organization. Some join with previous trail crew experience from other groups, but others have joined as complete newcomers to the world of trail maintenance. Volunteers are welcome to work at as many, or as few, work parties as their desire, abilities, and availability permit. We welcome all those interested in seeing if trail work is where you might fit. See our page on What We Do for specifics on our actual trail crew activities.
If you wish to financially support the Gray Wolf trail crew, we are always in need of new tools and gear. See the bottom of our home page for how to donate to us. And, thank you!!
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