Letter from Alice Hurd

To the Editor,

Let’s talk about Mount Grant! For all the mailings, articles, buttons, hats, websites and talks, (don’t forget that fabulous float on the Fourth of July) there still seems to be some confusion about it. It is a new name for an old place; until recently it was known as “Lawson Ridge”. (Although long before that, it was “Mount Grant”) For decades, many Islanders have known how special it is and would visit its lovely woods and mossy summit overlooking Beaverton Valley, Griffin Bay, other islands, Victoria and more.

While privately owned, it was a somewhat hidden treasure, but now , with your help, it faces the future as a publicly owned and maintained preserve. Off of West Side Road, it is 144 acres of forested hillsides and natural areas, begging for a network of trails to guide us up to and around the crest. Opportunities abound for school groups, conservation work, photography, art , yoga with a view, star gazing, bird watching, picnicking, yodeling, you name it!

Two organizations are working together to purchase this parcel. The San Juan County Land Bank, a land trust supported by public funds, and the San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT), a private land trust supported by private donations. These two organizations will purchase it and maintain it forever, (a very long time! ) In addition to half of the purchase price, SJPT has agreed to contribute an additional $1.M to support the stewardship of the property. The SJPT is still working hard to raise this money. It is no small task and we are about half way to our goal. At this time, there is still money left to provide matching funds for donations made by the end of August! We need your help and appreciate all donations, large and small.

The Preserve is always open to people on foot, bike or horseback. There is a gate at the bottom of the road that you can walk around. Through August, the road to the summit is open to cars also on Sundays, 9 – 7. Please go take a look!

This may well be a place you will want to come back to again and again. When the ferns are green and hanging off the rock wall, when the trees are getting a frosting of snow, when the wildflowers are coming to life again, and when all those summer visitors need to get out of your kitchen!

As a Trustee of the San Juan Preservation Trust, a fan of the San Juan County Land Bank, and an Island resident, I encourage you to visit Mount Grant to see if you don’t agree that it is an exciting endeavor and will be a valuable & lasting legacy for this Island. And, that it is worthy of your support!

Thank you for your consideration,

Alice Hurd

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