Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
Established April 4, 1998 (1998-04-04)
18 years ago
Length 7 mi (11 km)
Trailheads Moscow, Idaho
Pullman, Washington
Use Biking, in-line skating, hiking
Elevation
Elevation change 180 ft (55 m)
Highest point 2,535 ft (773 m)
Lowest point 2,355 ft (718 m)
Grade 0.5%
Hiking details
Trail difficulty Easy
Season All
Months 12
Sights Palouse, Paradise Creek
Surface Asphalt
Right of way Palouse River Railroad,
formerly Union Pacific[1]
Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
Location in the United States
Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, between
Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is a paved rail trail in the northwestern United States, from Pullman, Washington, eastward to Moscow, Idaho. Completed 18 years ago in 1998, it follows the former Union Pacific Railroad[1] right-of-way and connects the rural university towns on the Palouse across the Idaho-Washington border.[2]

The trail

From Pullman, the trail's 7-mile (11 km) route gently climbs eastward along Paradise Creek, crossing it 12 times on original railroad bridges.[3] The elevation at its highest point, the eastern terminus at the Perimeter Road trailhead in Idaho, is 2,535 feet (773 m) above sea level and the vertical drop westward to Pullman is just under 200 feet (60 m).[4] The trail has two rest areas, three emergency phones, and multiple interpretive areas. It is south of and parallel to State Route 270, the Moscow-Pullman Highway, which becomes State Highway 8 in Idaho.[3] The BCPT is not only a recreational facility, but also a commuter route that connects the land-grant campuses of the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

After 12 years of community vision, perseverance, and donations, along with agency cooperation,[5][6][7] the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail was dedicated on April 4, 1998.[8] It is part of the federal Rails to Trails program, which preserves railroad corridors for non-motorized transportation and possible future transportation use. It is open dawn to dusk year round - day use only - and to all ages and abilities.[9] The trail is maintained and managed by a coalition of park and trail representatives from Whitman County, the City of Pullman, the City of Moscow, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University. With non-motorized traffic transferred to the BCPT, the highway was later improved and widened to five lanes (two lanes in each direction with a center dividing lane), completed in spring 2008.[10]

The extended time frame for completion was because the railroad was not yet abandoned. Two rail lines ran between Moscow and Pullman and the issue was which to consolidate upon.[11][12][13][14] The former U.P. line, operated by the Palouse River Railroad, ran along Paradise Creek, south of and parallel to Highway 270. Further south, the BNSF line arcs southwest from the state line to follow Sunshine Creek and then the old highway to Pullman Junction. When it was agreed that the BNSF route would remain, the old U.P. route was removed, beginning in October 1996.[15]

Trail connections

The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail ends 0.8 miles (1.3 km) into Idaho at the UI's Perimeter Road, but the trail continues eastward. It connects with the Paradise Path, which spans two miles (3 km) through the north and east edges of the UI campus and to the east edge of the Moscow city limits, where it seamlessly connects with the Latah Trail[16] at Carmichael Road. The Latah Trail travels 12 miles (20 km) east to the small city of Troy at 2,487 feet (758 m). Completed in October 2008, the 10-foot (3 m) wide trail was paved in stages over a six-year period.[17] It parallels Highway 8, the Troy Highway, for most of its length, separating to the north a few miles outside of Troy. All three trails follow former rail corridors and result in a total length of 22 miles (35 km) from Pullman to Troy.[18]

Bill Chipman

William Martin "Bill" Chipman, 51, was a dedicated father, businessman, and good friend of many on the Palouse. A member of Delta Chi fraternity,[19] a University of Idaho alumnus, and a longtime automobile dealer in Pullman,[20] Chipman died in January 1996 of complications from injuries incurred in an automobile accident.[21][22][23] The multiple-rollover incident occurred nearly a month earlier under icy conditions in Spokane County, on U.S. Route 195 south of Spangle.[24]

Though jovially described by his widow Carol as more of a couch relaxer than an avid cyclist, community sentiment supported the naming of the new trail in his memory in August 1996.[25][26] Many donations were received in remembrance of him and the names of donors are listed on plaques at the main trailheads.[8]

Born in Hailey and raised on a ranch near Mountain Home, Chipman arrived in Moscow in 1963 as a freshman after graduation from Mountain Home High School.[27][28] He worked at the Chevrolet dealership in Moscow through college in the mid-1960s, stayed on, and became its general manager. Chipman became co-owner of the Chevy dealership in Pullman in 1976 and moved his young family there shortly after;[28] he acquired the Ford dealership in Pullman in 1992.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 Hallett-Wilde, Barbara (October 21, 1996). "Path backers aim for $200,000". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  2. ↑ "Bill Chipman Palouse Trail". Pullman Civic Trust. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Map: Bill Chipman Palouse Trail" (PDF). Whitman County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ msrmaps.com - USGS map - Moscow, Idaho - 1975-07-01 - accessed 2011-10-05
  5. ↑ Fisher, David (December 3, 1986). "Palouse Path may straddle main road". Idahonian (Moscow). p. 10A.
  6. ↑ Fisher, David (December 5, 1986). "Bike path along Pullman highway favored". Idahonian (Moscow). p. 1A.
  7. ↑ "Pullman-Moscow path gets boost". Spokane Chronicle (Washington). October 24, 1991. p. B2.
  8. 1 2 LaBoe, Barbara (April 6, 1998). "All-weather trail: rain doesn't dampen the fun as Chipman trail officially opens". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  9. ↑ "Bill Chipman Palouse Trail". Whitman County Parks and Recreation. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  10. ↑ "SR 270 - Pullman to Idaho st line - additional lanes - complete Spring 2008". Washington State Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ Smith, Georgie (January 17, 1996). "Grant for Palouse bike path threatened". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  12. ↑ Smith, Georgie (January 20, 1996). "Bike path supporter spurred into action". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  13. ↑ Smith, Georgie (April 15, 1996). "Path backers plan summit meeting". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  14. ↑ Hallett-Wilde, Barbara (August 10, 1996). "Bike-path construction could begin next summer". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 8A.
  15. ↑ Vogt, Andrea (October 24, 1996). "Right on track". Lewiston Morning Tribune (Idaho). p. 5A.
  16. ↑ "Parks and Trails". Latah County Parks & Recreation. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  17. ↑ Latah Trail Foundation.org - FAQ - accessed 2011-10-01.
  18. ↑ Latah Trail Foundation.org - History - accessed 2011-10-01
  19. ↑ "Delta Chi". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1964. p. 343.
  20. ↑ "Pullman's Chipman named as president of auto dealers' group". Lewiston Morning Tribune (Idaho). June 25, 1995. p. 2E.
  21. ↑ "Pullman businessman remembered as man of integrity". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). January 11, 1996. p. 1A.
  22. ↑ WSU.edu - WSU history - 1998 - accessed 2011-10-01
  23. ↑ familysearch.org - accessed 2010-01-10
  24. ↑ "Bill Chipman hospitalized after accident". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). December 16, 1995. p. 10A.
  25. ↑ Frisch, R.C. (August 10, 1996). "Palouse will remember Chipman's personality for long time". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 3A.
  26. ↑ Hallett-Wilde, Barbara (August 20, 1996). "Path will be named in honor of Chipman". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  27. ↑ "Obituaries: William Chipman". Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington). January 13, 1996. p. B2.
  28. 1 2 Hallett-Wilde, Barbara (August 20, 1996). "Chipman, like path, bridged 2 towns". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1A.
  29. ↑ Knowles, Skip (November 30, 1992). "Chipman to sell Chevrolets and Fords". Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Idaho-Washington). p. 1B.

External links

Coordinates: 46°43′57″N 117°01′32″W / 46.7324°N 117.0255°W / 46.7324; -117.0255

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