Woods Trail

Original owners Mary Arnheim, Clara Rodgers, and Dorothy Wallace had the idea of creating a trail through the woods. A trail was laid out along a deer path, parallel to Tiba Road. Starting in the 80’s, Clara’s son Bob Rogers was the prime mover in maintaining the trail, known now as the Woods Trail.

 

Terry Ryan took an interest in the trail. He always liked to paint and after a trip with Sara to Alaska in 1994, he became interested in klinget art and started carving totem poles. He made one for Jane Lang and one for Ryans. He also made many smaller ones. He had built the bulletin board by the mailboxes and decided to create some woodsy creatures for Bob’s trail. Terry was fascinated by klinget ravens and those are the heads mounted along the trail. From there he carved bears, lizards, and anything else he could think of.

 

After Bob Rodgers passed away in 2011, several residents at the Annual Meeting thought there should be some sort of recognition for Bob’s contribution. Terry carved a head of Bob, perhaps not a perfect likeness, but the sentiment was there. It sports glasses and is mounted to a tree where Bob can watch over his trail. Thirty neighbors attended the installation ceremony in 2012!

 

Terry added items to the trail every so often. He also made the speed signs along road after his favorite ravens. At one time there were fifteen items on the trail, but the number now exceeds 50! Terry turned 84 in August of 2021 and has stopped doing some of the things he enjoyed.

 

Suzanne Tarkington has taken an interest in preserving the creatures that Terry created. Dorothy Byers and Berit Dayton have volunteered to help maintain the trail, which may require some occasional assistance to clear trees from Mike Tarkington.

 

Harold Byers took photos of the creatures, which can be viewed via the link below.  Enjoy a leisurely walk along the trail on both sides of Michabou Shores Road.  The segment south of Michabou Road exits near 1110 Tiba. The segment north of Michabou Road curves north and exits onto the fire lane between Michabou Shores and Hill Valley. Be sure to take note of the creatures, four of which are north of Michabou Road. Can you find them all?  Perhaps the younger generations will enjoy a treasure hunt to find them!