Let’s talk about Mount Grant! For all the mailings, articles, buttons and websites, some confusion remains.

It is a new name for an old place; until recently it was known as “Lawson Ridge.” Many islanders have known how special it is over the last few decades, visiting its lovely woods and summit views overlooking Beaverton Valley, Griffin Bay, outer islands, and more.

While privately owned, it was a hidden treasure, but now, with your help, it faces a future as a publicly owned and maintained preserve. Off 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 summit.  Opportunities abound for school groups, conservation work, photographers, yoga practitioners, star gazing, bird watching,  yodeling with a view, you name it!

Two organizations are collaborating to create this.  The San Juan County Land Bank, a land trust supported by public funds, and the San Juan Preservation Trust, 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 will contribute another $1 million to support its stewardship. The SJPT is about halfway to the goal. We need your help and appreciate all donations, large and small.

The preserve is always open to “non-motorized” visitors. It is a one mile trip to the summit. Walk around the gate. Through August, the summit road is also open to cars on Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Go take a look! This is a place you will want to return to again and again. When the ferns on the rock wall are green, when the snow is falling, when the wildflowers are  returning, and when all those summer visitors need to get out of your kitchen!

As an SJPT trustee and  a fan of the Land Bank, I urge you to visit Mount Grant to see if you don’t agree that it is an exciting endeavor worthy of your support. Please help us create this valuable and lasting island legacy!

Alice Hurd

Friday Harbor