Northwest Interpretive Association

2008 XYNW Photo Contest

2008-03-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Calling all amateur photographers!

The Northwest is a region of tremendous ecological diversity, history, and natural beauty. As a way of honoring special places of the Northwest, Northwest Interpretive Association is holding a photo contest as a way to share images and let others know about the many sights to see and places to visit. With all the natural beauty that surrounds us, we at Northwest Interpretive Association, want to see some of the places you have visited and have been inspired by, and what these unique destinations hold.

Visit the Experience Your Northwest contest page on our website for more information: http://www.nwpubliclands.org/photo_contest_1.htm

The Rising Costs of Recreation

2008-03-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

According to a recent article published by the Seattle P-I, recreation costs throughout the west are on the rise. Federal land agencies have been imposing and increasing fees at recreation sites in the western states to raise much needed funds for fighting wildfires. The article explains that firefighting costs are consuming 47% of the overall budget compared to just 20% of the budget in the 90's. And the budget just isn't there from Congress.

So, to make up for the shortfall recreation fees increase. We could get into a long discussion about the pros and cons of raising recreation fees, or even having recreation fees in the first place. I would like to relate a little story that happened here in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest several years ago that reinforces why I plunk down my $80 a year for an America The Beautiful pass.

My husband & I went for a short little hike to the Big Four Ice Caves. We still had another month left on our Northwest Forest Pass and it was a sunny late summer day. We hiked out along a comfortable wide trail accessible to anyone with mobility problems short of a wheel chair. We crossed new safe bridges, again wide with plenty of room to pass and high railings. We explored the ice caves, discussed the science of air flow, and admired the late summer flowers. When we returned to the trail head, Mr NW-Walker stopped to read the information posted there. On the reader board was a detailed report of the fees taken in the previous and the expenditures of those fees along with what was done to the Big Four Ice Caves trail, including widening the trail and building better bridges. We stopped on the way home to buy a new pass.

To me, paying a little more to help the Forest Service battle fires or the Park Service to maintain the infrastructure, is not up for debate. Of Course I will, because I would like to insure the wilderness to still be there when I want to enjoy a quick afternoon hike.

State Park Gems

2008-03-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

If I were to ask you for a great place to go hiking and exploring our great northwest scenery, would you recommend one of the regions state parks? Actually, neither would I. However, my thinking has changed within the last couple of months after a few wonderful outings that make me want to recommend to you, and remember for myself, the hidden gems of our state park service.

My journey begins last year on my road trip to the southwest. I took a little detour to the Bruneau Sand Dunes outside of Boise. I had visited the Sand Dunes in Colorado years past and was surprised to find out that right in my own neighborhood were more! I spent a couple of hours running through the sand and basking in the sun before heading back to the highway but looked up the Idaho State Park system on my return home to find others.

I began to think back on other State Park experiences I'd had - swimming in the lakes near my childhood home, hiking trails to waterfalls in my teen years, picnics in meadows - all by the benefit of the State Park system. A few years ago, I slept out under the stars in an Oregon State Park near the John Day River and woke up covered in frost. What a memory!

Recently? I visited the Millersylvania State Park south of Olympia and snowshoed the Iron Horse Trail near Cle Elum. Both experiences were a bit surprising. Surprising that I had overlooked these destinations for hiking and recreation purposes.

My one word of advice - when looking for someplace to enjoy a little outdoor recreation, please don't forget your state parks.

Outdoor Etiquette

2008-02-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

A few friends & I recently went snowshoeing along the North Fork of the Teanaway River in Eastern Washington. We took along our dogs who were just as excited as we were to get out into the snow. The sun made the snow around us glisten as we made our way along the combined snowshoe/ski/snow mobile track to where the machine track separated from the "foot" track. The silence of a snow-filled landscape was broken only by the crunch of our shoes and our laughter as we played and made snow angels. We stopped for lunch on a little hill with a view of surrounding mountains and the clouds that drifted by.

Then we heard it, the distinct buzz of snow mobiles. I'm not here to complain about snow mobiles in general. I knew that we'd hear them on this trail and had been expecting it. In fact, my sister who was along on the trip regaled us with tales of her adventures on a snow mobile. No, I've never been one to say that machines, whether they should be snow mobiles or dirt bikes, have no place in the wilderness - as long as a few pieces of etiquette are met. Courtesy to others on the trail is at the top.

As we returned to our car after a relaxing lunch and conversation, we met up with a group of snowmobilers on the combined track. Being good hiking citizens, we pulled ourselves and our dogs out of the way of the group - onto the snow bank next to the track. In turn the snowmobilers slowed down as they passed and gave us a wave. All, that is, except one.

One young lady sped around the corner and flew along the road ignoring her friends who tried to wave her speed down. One rider finally stopped his snow mobile in front of her to get her to slow down. She slowed as she passed and I looked into her mask and helmet to see if there was an apologetic look in her eye. The look I got in return was a glare.

My friends & I went on this outing knowing we'd run into both skiers and snowmobilers, activities we would need to be aware of and make room for as they passed. Is it too much to ask that they be made aware of us and give us a little room too?

A Few Northwest Notes

2008-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Just a few things I made note of this week.

There seems to be new activity at Mt St Helens. A few earthquakes and steam venting. This activity means that the mountain is not ready to quiet down just yet. The lava dome is still building. Haven't been the the volcano for a while? Maybe this will be the year to reacquaint yourself. Just remember that the Coldwater Visitor Center closed late last year and is not expected to re-open - ever.

Two climbers on Mt Hood made it off the mountain safely. After a storm hit them this weekend they dug in to wait out the storm. I feared it would be a repeat of last year's tragedy when three climbers were lost on the north slope after a severe storm pounded the area. The two men who came down safely didn't have to wait a week or two before rescuers got to them - the storm cleared quickly. And gives them a story to tell their grandchildren.

The migrating birds have settled in for a few more weeks. Sandhill Cranes can be found enmasse in eastern Washington & Oregon, Bald Eagles are in residence along the Skagit River and the Snow Geese are happily eating in the fields along the Skagit Delta. Tell me about your favorite birding areas.

Coal Creek Falls

2008-01-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

As the snows coat the mountains here in the northwest, a hiker's eyes and legs wander to the forested slopes of the cascades. Sometimes heading to the snow just isn't an option. And neither is staying home on a beautiful winter day that peaks in through the cloudy days. For the Seattle area, the Issaquah Alps make a splendid destination.

I usually avoid the Issaquah Alps, mainly because they are so close to Seattle and being so close to Seattle you don't always get solitude. Tiger Mountain can be a rave party any time of year - if I'm looking for a little company, that is where I go. I have found some solitude while on these trails - mostly on the unpopular trails that take a little searching. Today I was going somewhere very popular.

I had heard some descriptions of Coal Creek on Cougar Mountain and the waterfall there and thought what a good idea - a walk in a sun-dappled forest to a year-round waterfall. My lab-mix Olympia decided that she too was getting a little cabin fever so insisted on joining me. The sun made an appearance sparkling on the snow that had dusted the low-lying mountains protecting the valley where Issaquah has been spreading its suburban tendrils. A quick stop for snacks and a short drive past the newish neighborhood communities took us to the quiet of a western Washington forest. Soon we were casually making our way up the hill drinking in the sun and the whitish bark of alders against the winter blue sky.

Although the parking lot was almost full, we met only two other people on our way to the falls. Olympia happily ran along the trail ahead of me, trotting back to check on my progress before going ahead. We heard the falls before coming to them, a good sign as most waterfalls are diminished or non-existent by this time of year. After admiring the falls, we continued on our loop to the ballfield meadow. Oh, if Camas has been replanted here, I'll need to come back in the spring for these beautiful purple flowers. On our way back to the car, we made a little side trip to see a some artifacts of the mining industry in the area.

We touched only a small portion of the views and trails on Cougar Mountain but I realized I really shouldn't avoid the Issaquah Alps, for solitude can be found here as well as natural beauty and a little history thrown in.

New Year Snowshoe

2008-01-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Panorama Point at Mt Rainier National Park

For the 1st day of the new year, my hiking buddy and I decided to head to Mt Rainier for a New Year snowshoe - a clean and adventurous start to 2008. A fresh blanket of snow covered the slopes behind Paradise and a sharp wind bit into our faces as we stepped out of the car at the Jackson Visitor Center. I will miss the visitor center once it's torn down later in the year. The design may not fit the alpine experience, but the 360 degree view sure is nice. I will often swing around after a hike to sit back to relax and thank the mountain for it's pleasurable company that day. The new visitor center just doesn't appear to have anywhere near as wonderful an observatory as the old one does.

But we weren't there to compare and contrast the old and the new, as many will during this transitional time. We wanted to start the year off with a good stretch of the legs and a warming of muscle, so up the hill we went. The powder was fresh and soft which made it a bit harder to walk through and slowed our progress. At the top of our first rise, I noticed the scenery around me seemed to sparkle even under heavy clouds. Off to the south filtered sunlight broke through to add color to an almost gray sky which also brought drama to the Tatoosh Range. Mt Rainier towered above us, the peak just barely visible in the clouds, bare rock ridges breaking through the snow cover. All around us were snow and ice encrusted trees looking as if they were wearing heavy coats to protect them from the winter chill.

At each rise along the way, I'd stop to admire these three beautiful views, each new angle, each new detail. I smiled at the icicles clinging to branches like Christmas Tree ornaments not yet ready to be boxed up for the season. Wind high on the mountain kicked up loose snow into a cloud around Camp Muir. And always behind us the toothy Tatoosh Range and the yellow/orange tinged clouds above.

Others had the same or similar idea as us this day and we passed a jovial group who cheerfully wish us a Happy New Year before rattling and blowing their noise-makers. Normally a tooting horn would be a disturbance in the wilderness, today it was cause for celebration - where else should a person rejuvenate themselves for a new year? Rattling a maraca seemed perfectly appropriate and matched the screams and laughter of the children sledding lower on the slopes.

We rested for a spell near Panarama Point before deciding it was time to head to the visitor center for a cup of hot chocolate, snow cushioning every footstep. Why can't we find something as soft to walk on in the summer so our knees don't get so banged up? Just as we started down the last hill we were greeted by a wonderful view of the old Jackson Visitor Center as it seemed to rise from the trees.

Snow Fun

2008-01-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

As the year starts on its way, we are looking forward to a fun-filled year in the great northwest. We're looking at several exciting events and volunteer opportunities - but more on those will come later.

What I'd like to discuss is the snow that's accumulating in the foothills and mountains throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. I can look out my window to the cascades and olympics covered in white, and no that's not the white of cloud-cover. It's the white that comes with the cloud cover - SNOW! By all reports the snowfall in the Washington ranges could reach if not surpass the record snowfall of 1998-99.

You might remember that winter if you were in the northwest. Mt Baker recorded 1140 (yes that is one-thousand one-hundred forty) inches of snowfall in that year, a new record. One of the ski lifts wasn't usable as it was buried beneath the drifts. And this year we can see more of the same.

My recommendation? Get out there and enjoy the snow! But please be safe about it. Call ahead to get information on avalanche danger - with high amounts of snow there are high occurrences of avalanche incidents. Washington has experienced 8 of the 13 avalanche deaths so far this season. Lets work on not letting it get any higher. Go to www.avalanche.org to get up to date avalanche reports and hazards for home and abroad.

Along this line, show us your images after your day in the snow at our Flickr site Experience Your Northwest. We are also sponsoring a mini exhibition each month in our discussion area. This month it's Snow on Trees. So upload your snow pictures and add some to the discussion.

Happy Hiking!

Our roads need a fix

2007-12-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, as Northwest residents and others around the nation watched I-5 near Chehalis becaome a roadway for canoes and rowboats other flood areas were largley ignored. Not to make the tragedy that befell the residents in Southwest Washington, but a little further north, on the Olympic Peninsula, damaged roads will hinder our ability to access this beautiful and remote land.

As the Chehalis river filled and overflowed it banks, so did the Skokomish, the Elwha, and the Hoh rivers as well as their tributary streams. When rivers run free of their banks, devastation usually follows. The Olympic Peninsula was not spared. According to the forest service website, hundreds of acres of forest land have been damaged as well as several roads, bridges and facilities. Assessment of the damage will continue through February and repairs may take up to a year. Progress is slow for every time they clear a landslide, they find another.

Olympic National Park faired no better. The popular Hurricane Ridge road is closed due to shoulder damage - from lessons learned from last year's storm and Mt Rainier, a road may appear drivable but the shoulder may be undercut. Also closed because of the storm are the Heart o' the Hills campground, the Sol Duc road, the Hoh road and the Quinault roads.

Again, the call for volunteers goes out to the northwest. Such a great response was made last year to get Mt Rainier re-opened, that we hope this year will also see people pitching in for public lands.

If you're looking for someway to help check out the WTA (www.wta.org), the SCA (www.thesca.org), or NWIA (www.nwpubliclands.org).

Snow Links

2007-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and a young (or old) adventurer's thoughts start turning to snow sports. Whether you enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or just the crisp winter air, you resources to find the snow - especially this early in the season. My best resources are the Dept of Transportation's websites. Both Washington & Oregon DOT have forecasts with the snow levels on their websites. For ski/boarding conditions, I've found Onthsnow.com to be somewhat useful but the weather channel's weather.com seems to be more inclusive of the smaller ski areas.

What are your resources when looking for the best place to enjoy your favorite winter recreation?

Happy Hiking!

Staircase Closes

2007-10-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Starting November 1st, Forest Road 24 that leads to the Staircase area of Olympic National Park will be closed. There is still concern for debris fall in the area of last year's forest fire above the road. That danger is heightened with freezing temperatures and the normal wet weather. Always check with the Ranger Station before you go.

Also closing this week is Forest Road 6024 to the Barclay Lake trail in the Snoqualmie National Forest and the proposed Wild Sky Wilderness area. This is a seasonal closure, another sign that winter is just around the corner.

On a happier hiking note, along with the Mountain Loop Highway opening, Forest Road 9030 which leads to the ever popular Talapus Lake trail (as well as others) has also opened. Get your hike into Talapus and Ollalie Lakes in soon as the snows will be falling (as every skier, snowboarder, or snowshoer hopes).

See you on the trails!

The Mountain Loop Highway Re-opens

2007-10-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here is the best good news to come out of the Snoqualmie National Forest in years - the Mountain Loop Highway has been re-opened! I am jumping for joy! For those of you who don't remember (it's been so long), the Mountain Loop Highway which travels through the Cascade Mountains suffered major damage, not in last year's storm but the storm of 2003. The road has since been closed, blocking access from hiking trails, camp spots, and beautiful scenery.

Now, 4 years and $10 million later, travellers can once again travel this stretch of road into the Cascades. Be warned though, the road closes during the winter because of snow build up. I know where I'm heading next week.

Make sure you check at the ranger station in Darrington or Verlot for activities available and road and trail condition. Just because the road is open does not necessarily mean your favorite trail is ready to be hiked.

Painting the Town Green....

2007-10-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars - Saturday, November 3rd is the second annual Green Seattle Day! Throughout the city, teams of volunteers will be planting trees in Seattle parks, including Carkeek, Discovery, Magnuson, Leschi, Seward, and Lincoln.

The City of Seattle and the Cascade Land Conservancy have teamed up to create the Green Seattle Partnership, a public-private venture dedicated to restoring 2500 acres of forested Parkland in Seattle by 2025. So what are you waiting for? Pick your park and plant some trees!

67,000 hours later...

2007-10-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Mount Rainier Recovery Corps, led by the Student Conservation Association, has just wrapped up an incredible year of volunteerism on behalf of our beloved mountain. They're still doing the math, but the sheer amount of volunteer achievement is amazing. Here are some of the stats:

• Total Volunteers: at least 1,600
• Overall hours of service: over 67,000
• Estimated value of volunteer work: exceeding $1.3 million
• Campsites cleared/maintained: 335

Wow - that's a lot of work! It just goes to show how much we can accomplish together on behalf of our public lands. Congratulations to all involved in the Mount Rainier Recovery - what a success! To read more, visit Mount Rainier's blog or their official website.

Visionary

2007-10-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to share. Recently, I went to the Burke Museum in Seattle http://www.burkemuseum.org/ to see the Yellowstone to Yukon photo exhibit by Florian Schulz. Florian spent ten years chronicling the seasons, the scenery and the animals of the Rocky Mountain migration corridor. The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative http://www.y2y.net/ is an ambitious vision to protect the wildlife migration corridor from (as the title expresses) Yellowstone National Park in the US through the northern Yukon Territory in Canada. Florian's images enhance the vision of the Y2Y initiative. I encourage everyone to see his exhibit and read about the initiative. Both are remarkable.

Joys of Autumn

2007-10-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I recently made plans to hike to Sheep Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail as it goes through the Wenatchee National Forest. It's a short but sweet little hike to an alipne cirque with a fish laden hike. I often see fishermen (and women), both young and old heading from the lake, a contented smile on their faces if not fish dangling from their belts. I was looking for this same contentment as I made my way to the trail head off highway 410 - it had been a while since I'd been able to get some trail under my feet.

The colors of fall splashed up the hillsides spleckled with the first snowfall of the season, but the air was warm from the sun beaming as if proud of its hillside artwork. I took a deep breathe of the fresh mountain air as my companion started happily down the trail ahead of me. I hiked as the whirl of reds, yellows, and oranges passed by . . . my companion kept her eyes peeled for the occasional squirel darting amongst the rocks and bushes. We were soon at the shores of Sheep Lake where we enjoyed the blue of the sky and colors of the hills reflected in the still waters. This was supposed to be our turn around point, however, the yearning look from my friend pushed us both forward, farther up the hill.

I had never hiked beyond Sheep Lake, athough the last time I was there the surrounding hills called to me beaconing further exploration. WHen Olympia turned left getting back on the trail instead of right, I happily followed her. Here the warmth of the sun had not fully pierced the early season snow, our footprints trailed behind us through the sections of snow then disapeared in the dry dirt beyond. I didn't have much time to reflect on this when I spied a red tailed hawk soaring on the thermals above - relaxed in his winged acrobatics.

He was right, that hawk soaring above. This was a pleasurable outing, I slowed my pace and Olympia slowed hers as we rounded the switchbacks and climbed the hills on our way to somewhere new. Fresh air, golden sun, the sparkle of brightly colored leaves, newly fallen snow . . . ease into the season, what a way to hike.

A Month on Mt Rainier

2007-09-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

I may not have spent all 31 days in August on Mt Rainier, however all four weekends found me on the slopes plus a mid-week day somewhere in the middle.

The first weekend, my adventure buddy and I hiked to Grand Park by way of Lake Eleanor. Grand Park is a two mile long meadow on the north slopes of Mt Rainier. Almost perfectly flat, its smooth surface is attributed to an ancient lava flow. Now the meadow of wildflowers is only broken by the few stands of trees. The quiet respite is broken only by your own mind.

That was followed by a photography outing with friends to Paradise. The meadows of Paradise are filled with extraordinary array of colors as the summer blooms fight for the attention of pollinators. We were visited by deer, marmots and pine martens as we wandered through the meadows trying to focus on every color we saw.

The next weekend I hiked alone for an overnighter at Summerland camp on the northeast slope of the mountain. Summerland is a popular hike to a fabulous meadow just below the alpine tundra zone. Here I watched a dipper dance in one of the several streams that trickle through the monkey flowers. Further down in the meadow marmots munched flowers fattening themselves up for the winter ahead.

An office outing to Sunrise came midweek. It was a day of enjoying each other's company outside of the office with a picnic lunch and a short hike to frozen lake for some of us and a quiet afternoon under a tree for others.

Inspired by our outing and a previous trip along the wonderland trail, my adventure buddy & I went back to Sunrise to hike up Burroughs Mountain. We sat above Emmons Glacier for lunch with the clouds sweeping up over the ridge engulfing us in their chilly embrace only to break apart as quickly as they came in.

Each weekend brought me a different and wonderful view of our mountain during my month on Rainier.

A Little Hope Goes a Long Way

2007-07-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

I’ve been over hearing some very diappointed comments lately. Comments that would lead one to believe that heading out into the woods not only would be a dangerous decision but a waste of time. “Isn’t Mt Rainier closed?” asked a friend (who should have known better). “What will you do now that you can’t get to the trails?” asked another.

Friends, I am here to tell you that there is hope and opportunity in the wilderness of the northwest in spite of what you read and hear from the news reports. Sure, some of your favorite trails may be inaacessible due to road washouts or dangerous due to trail damage. But there are still wonderful trails to hike. If you can’t meet up with an old friend, make a new one. With hope and a little sweat from the army of volunteers (tip of the hard hat to them) out working every day on the trails, you’re old friend may be back in action sooner than you think.

I read a note recently from a hiker who went to his favorite trail only to find it inaccesible. Along with the note was a donation to help with rebuilding not just that trail but all the trails. There is hope that hikers who may not be able to lend muscle lend finances. Mentioned in the Washington Trails magazine, a group of students also raised funds to help the trail rebuilding efforts.

Yes friends, I am here to say that hope abounds in our trees and hills. Mt Rainier is open, there still are hikable trails, an army of volunteers has been unleashed on the storm damage, and people from the young to the old are lending their support in whatever way they can.

Solitary Hiking Hints

2007-06-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Looking for a little solitude while hiking? Try heading somewhere off the beaten interstate path. I found solitude this past weekend on the flanks of Mt Adams. It’s a little further to get to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mt Adams Wilderness, but the beauty and lack of crowds is worth the effort. I traveled up the Killen Creek trail and saw no-one else on the trail. Just make sure you check with the local Ranger District for current conditions.

Lessons on the Mountain

2007-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Adventure Girl is deeply saddened this morning. I logged onto the Seattle P-I to read about Jeff Graves, an experienced hiker who had been lost in Mt Rainier National Park since Saturday. His body had been found at the base of a cliff near Eagle Peak. My thoughts and prayers go with those left behind - not only will they mourn the loss of their dear husband, son, father, and friend but they will also be called on to answer the inevitable questions.

Questions such as why did he go alone, why wasn’t he properly prepared and why, why, why. To which the only answers could be because that is what he does. Please remember, Jeff was an experienced hiker. He left for his hike equipped for a dayhike - which let me tell you, going through his gear list is a lot better than I have seen on the trail. He took extra food, had a gore-tex jacket, enough water for a dayhike and a few extra hours. I have seen hikers climbing the steep slopes of Mt Rainier on hot July days ascend without pack or even a water bottle.

The same questions and speculations came after Robert and Frances Annette Blakely died in the Carbon River area earlier this spring. Speculations arose as to why they died - the mistakes they made. They were both experienced hikers who loved the outdoors and had been prepared for an extra night in the wilderness. But mother nature had other plans for them that bitter spring morning.

Why does disaster strike one individual and not another? I can’t answer that question - the most prepared hiker can meet with disastrous effects where the least prepared hiker has a glorious visit. My only advice is to be aware. Watch your surroundings as you hike and figure out what you can do when events start to take a disastrous turn. Prepare not only your supplies but your mind. A walk in the woods is anything but. This is not admonishment to those that have lost their lives on the mountain we so love. It is more of an admonishment to those that would question them and their friends and families.

My other piece of advice: let them rest in peace for peace is what they were searching for in the first place. And let their friends families remember their loved ones as the remarkable person they remember.

A Grand Re-Opening

2007-06-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Mount Rainier National Park, May 5, 2007 I could feel the anticipation from the crowd, the excitement of the park staff, the satisfaction from the mountain. May 5th started out a warm, brilliant day filled with hope and joy. As we drove to the Nisqually entrance of Mt Rainier National Park, M.W. & I noted that the mountain must have known what was about to transpire - she was gleaming in the moring sun, happy to welcome visitors back onto her flanks. Of course being NW-Walker, I couldn’t let this auspicious occasion pass without my presence. I had already missed one re-opening this spring - that of the Hoh River Road in the Olympic National Park just days before. This event had to be attended for anyone who cares about the northwest parks.

Now for those of you who haven’t been paying attention, the northwest was devastated by a series of winter storms this past November & December. For the past 6 months the Hoh River Road and the entirety of Mt Rainier National Park have been closed due to the damage. “Damage” seems such a mild word for what took place. It was a complete reshaping of the landscape. In just a few days time rivers carved new paths wiping out roads, trails, bridges and campgrounds. Hardly a park or forest between northern Oregon and southern British Columbia remained unscathed. And there lies even more damage as the snow melts and reveals what has been hidden beneath for the past 6 months.

But today we were celebrating; celebrating the hard work and efforts of park staff, government agencies, and the all powerful volunteers. We heard stories of the dedicated crews working 10-12 hour shifts for days on end, having to be shooed away by the superintendent on Easter Sunday. But they refused to give up - it was more important for them to give Washington’s crown jewel back to her people. As well as the volunteers, the opening ceremonies were attended by Congressman Norm Dicks, Congressman Dave Reichart, park rangers and representatives of several friends organizations including NWIA. Plus, the crowd that filled the roadway and cheered for the gate to open were tourists and climbers eager to explore their park.

A hearty thank you goes out to all the volunteers and others who were instrumental in opening our parks back up. But more work needs to be done, not only in Mt Rainier and Olympic but in all the forests of our beautiful Cascades and Olympics. Let’s get together this summer and help rebuild a trail.

A Little Good News

2007-05-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

Progress in our storm-damaged public lands has some good news this week. Six months after storms washed away roads, trails, and campgrounds, two areas are opening up.
First, the Hoh River road in the Olympic National Park opened on May 1st. Visitors may again now drive into the largest temperate rainforest. The visitor’s center will be open weekends until May 25th when it will open daily. Looking for a little camping while out there? Well, you’re in luck as the campground will also be available. The Hoh rainforest is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The sound of the rain as it drips and patters from the massive trees over head is so soothing it can put the grumpiest person at ease, just sitting and listening to the drip-plop. And if you are able to be there on one of those rare sunny days with sunlight filtered green through the forest, take a longer walk up the Hoh river trail, you might just spot a few of the valley’s resident elk herd.

Second, This Saturday, May 5th, the gate to the Nisqually entrance of Mt Rainier will be swinging open allowing visitors back into the northwest’s landmark park. It has been a long winter without the picturesque snowshowing that can be found near Paradise. If you are curious about what exactly happened to the park last November, park staff and volunteers will be available throughout the damaged areas to discuss what happens when buckets of rain flow into alpine rivers. There will also be a lecture at the Jackson Visitor’s Center at 1:00 pm. Be sure to stop by. If you can’t make it this weekend, make sure you put a visit to your park sometime soon. She misses us.

I am relieved that such progress has been made in getting our parks accessible again. These parks and all of our public lands are special treasures worth preserving for the enjoyment of all.

Happy Hiking! And I’ll see you on Saturday!

Trip Planning: Version 2007

2007-04-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

As the end of March approached, I decided it was time to hang up my snowshoes. A sad moment this year as the snow piled high but free and decent weekends were too few. I had hoped to strap them on 3 weekends out of 4 this year. However family and social obligations with infrequent good weather days kept them in the garage. But hope was near. With March comes an itch in my legs. I begin thinking of warm summer days lounging on a log with the prospect of sleeping in my tent after an 8-hour hike to get there. That is heaven.

So I begin planning for these idealic trips – in March, months before I can even think of actually getting to alpine areas. Lowland hikes will do for now, but I will chase the snow as it inches its way up the mountains. However, Mother Nature has thrown a monkey in my wrench this year. And if you enjoy the outdoors even half as much as I do, the redecorating that went on in the cascades this past November and December will surely have you scratching your heads while planning a simple day hike to a weeklong exertion.

Several roads and trails are inaccessible this year so be sure that during your trip planning a phone call to the local ranger district of park office is on the check list. I wouldn’t rely too heavily on the conditions reports on the websites. They are not as up-to-date as one would hope. Probably because the personnel updating the reports are out working on the trails. I’ve included here a short list of the roads and trails affected by last autumn’s storms.

Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: FR 6330, FR 15, FR 26, FR 9030/90310, Index-Galena RdMt Rainier National Park: Carbon River Rd, Highway 123Gifford Pinchot National Forest: FR 23, FR 24, FR 56Olympic National Park: Hoh River Rd, Staircase Rd

Again, call the ranger station or park office for the most up-to-date conditions and which trails are affected by the closures. Good Luck planning your trips and Happy Trails!

Snowshoeing at Heather Meadows

2007-04-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

If you ever ask me where my favorite place to snowshoe or hike is, I usually answer quickly with the last place I adventured. I will expound on how wonderful the scenery/flora/trail was and recommend to whoever is listening that they have got to go. There is one location, however, that brings me back any season - Mt Baker. Whether I’m kayaking on Baker Lake, hiking up the valleys, snowshoeing the meadows, or sitting in awe at Artist’s Point, I’m always happy when I return and will often start planning another trip as I head home.

Recently some friends & I threw our snowshoes in the back of the Subaru and drove off to Heather Meadows on the northwest side of Mt Baker. Heather Meadows is fabulous any time of year: spring and summer wildflowers dot the landscape, autumn burnishes the blueberry leaves, winter is thick with snow piled high. The forest service leases out ski slopes in the area and there several groomed trail and plus quite a bit of backcountry terrain reached with chairlifts for the skiers. There are also other slopes in the area accessible only by the hearty few who will climb with their skis to shush back down. The meadows and valleys, they are perfect for cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

For several years, I had been trying to reach Artist’s Point from Heather Meadows by snowshoe and had convinced my friends that this would be a good destination for us on this occassion. However, after only a half hour, we realized that not only was the snow extremely powdery (and hindering our momentum) but the wind was torturous. Each blast picked up tiny snow crystals from the surface and splashed them into our faces, feeling as if our faces were stabbed by a series of tiny pins. We finally took refuge underneath the boarded up visitor’s center in the meadows, had lunch and planned out the rest of our afternoon.

Our best bet would be to make our way into the valley holding Bagley Lakes – frozen over for winter and covered with snow. I had hiked around the lakes several times and am often intrigued by their utter disappearance during the winter. Where ferns and flowers grow during the summer only smooth snow banks exist after the first heavy snowfall. Even the shed-sized boulder where boys full of adventure jump into the lake is camouflaged as drifted snow. Here we were, our little band of friends, looking over the edge of the hill to the valley bottom and hidden lakes below trying to find the safest route to windless freedom, but the illusions of snow can be disastrous. One wrong step and we could be sliding out for control or even worse, start a small avalanche.

Since the slope seemed sturdy enough, G.H. started a traversing descent on our first steep incline. However, K.F., C.H. & I all had a different idea. The snow was soft, we had thick layers on and the slope looked too sweet to pass up. We stood side by side at the edge of the hill, sat down, and pushed off. If you haven’t got a sled, the next best thing is your own rump. But, the snow was soft and within a few yards, our butts were deep in snow with a large snow pile between our legs. We weren’t going any further. Nor did it seem were we getting up without a struggle. Giggling, twisting, turning, pushing and finally just rolling over, we got on our feet to walk and run the rest of the way to G.H. The next hill wouldn’t be as steep for us, so we just ran down the hill, at times sinking to our knees, if not face-planting into the soft snow. It took us some time to re-group (stop giggling) and shake out the more excess snow from our clothes. During this exercise, a group of free-heelers met up with us and we chatted about their sport and their dogs as they waited for a few friends. We soon met up with our car, finished shaking out the excess snow, and discussed how we need to get back out real soon and maybe next time, make it all the way to Artist’s Point.

Hiking Carbon River Road

2007-04-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

In January, after two months of watching and listening to the reports out of flood damaged Mt Rainier, my hiking buddy (M.W.) & I decided to walk up the Carbon River Road to survey the damage ourselves. The damage, we were told, begins 1 1/2 miles beyond the park entrance, wiping out the road to the point where rangers built trails around the damage. In January we had just reached the damaged section of road. I hopped up on the side of the road to snap a picture and hopped back to the road. However, my toe caught the lip of the road and I went down, hard. Rolling on the ice-cold road, my hopes of hiking this summer started to fade. What if I had really messed up my knee? It took us two hours to hobble our way back to the car, me using M.W. as a crutch for most of the way. How could I have done this - on a road? I could have taken the pain if I wasn’t so humiliated by my clumsiness. Luckily, I hadn’t permanently damaged my knee. I’m not too sure I can say that about the Carbon River Road.

After several weeks of recuperation, M.W. & I hit the road again. We passed the spot where I had fallen and just beyond that the stunning remnants of nature at her wildest. Rocks, trees, mud strewn about where the road we had just driven on a few months meandered through the trees. Now the road was itself a creek bed, water streaming through the rocks and around culverts that had once allowed the water under the road. They were now useless, some filled with mud, others yards from where they originally laid.

Sections of the road are still in good working condition, but others are ripped apart, by the storms that hit Mt Rainier in November. Trees, rocks, & mud lay across the road or a stream ran down the middle. By the time we reached Ipsut Creek Campground, we had crawled over logs, around root balls ripped from the ground, boulder hopped up the creek, slid through mud and marveled at the destructive force of nature. But we also knew that nature will be able to rebuild herself. How humanity can rebuild access to her beauty is another question. The road will not be open this year. But the superintendent has promised Carbon River Road will re-open.

At this point, M.W. & I are planning other hikes for the summer beyond Mt Rainier. Our quest to finish the Wonderland Trail will need to be put on hold - the park is not issuing back country permits for the wonderland this year. But there is hope; both the WTA & SCA will be coordinating volunteers to help rebuild the mountain and the other areas hit by the November storm. I plan on volunteering along with hundreds of other from around the world who have already promised their time and money. It’s the least I can do for Mother Nature who has shared so much with me.