Five-K Fun in Ferndale

Despite the fact that I have been spending almost every awake moment this summer hiking and writing about hiking, I'm still squeezing in some running-my second great passion. Heather and I ran in the recent Ferndale Old Settlers 5k in Ferndale, WA. Great time. The course was long- 3.25 miles- but who cares. I even placed first in my age division. Yep-there weren't too many competitive runners there. Anyhow, read next month's Northwest Runner magazine (and check out the new website) for a full account of running in Ferndale.

(photo- Heather running along the Nooksack River, Ferndale, WA)

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

Big conservation news coming out of Ontario this month. According to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) half of Ontario's northern Boreal Forest is on the verge of being protected. You heard that right- Half! Ontario is huge-the area to be protected is twice the size of England or 22.5 million hectares or over 50 million acres. Holy sprawling land mass batman! This is incredible and it involves some innovative land planning. Read the release below. Hope too that premiers Gordon Campbell of British Columbia (hey the Olympics are coming) and Ed Stelmach of Alberta (thar's oil in them thar sands) read the release. Canada may only have 33,000,000 residents but it is providing resources for billions around the world, especially we Americans-and this is having an amazing impact on some of the planet's last intact ecosystems. Hey-We're all interconnected.

Half of Ontario's northern Boreal to be protected
Posted on July 14, 2008
Historic announcement to protect area twice the size of England Toronto -- Today CPAWS Wildlands League congratulates Premier McGuinty on his vision to protect 225,000 km2 or 22.5 million hectares of intact Boreal Forest in Ontario in an interconnected network across the Far North. The future of Ontario’s northern Boreal lands and waters will be determined through an innovative Land Use Planning initiative with First Nations. The announcement includes an important commitment to work with First Nations to ensure their consent is given before any industrial projects go forward and resource benefit sharing. Also in the announcement is firm commitment to change the Mining Act from a ‘free entry’ system to one that respects the rights of First Nations and enshrines the duty to consult and accommodate in legislation in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. “This announcement sets out the most ambitious conservation agenda for the Boreal Forest in Canada,” said Janet Sumner, Executive Director of CPAWS Wildlands League. The area set aside for protection is twice the size of England. CPAWS Wildlands League, working with other conservation groups, has been a strong voice calling on Ontario to protect its intact Boreal forest for the past five years, given its critical global ecological value as one of the world’s most important remaining stretches of wilderness. It has also been a critic of the “free entry” mining system. “This is a visionary and unprecedented policy. Today’s announcement fulfills the Premier’s promise to protect the Boreal Forest by doing Land Use Planning before large scale industrial development. It sets out an incredible conservation agenda that will be a legacy for all our grandchildren and their grandchildren,” Ms. Sumner commented. “The commitment to revise the Mining Act is also extremely welcome. Ontario is now taking a leadership position in Canada on this issue, leaving behind an antiquated law that has no place in our future,” adds Ms. Sumner. In comparison to previous notable conservation area gains in Ontario, this one is unprecedented:
Greenbelt 728,000 hectares
Lands for Life 2,400,000 hectares
Algonquin 763,000 hectares
“Scientists say that we need to protect more than half of the carbon-rich Boreal ecosystem in order to ensure its ecosystem services and benefits are maintained in the long term. Protection must be designed to meet the needs of wide-ranging species such as caribou, which is the indicator for overall ecosystem health, support carbon retention and sequestration and of course, protect watersheds to maintain clean air and water,” Ms. Sumner said. The key to successful land use planning will be to work respectfully with First Nations in achieving the overarching conservation objectives and in providing business stability, the group noted. In this part of Ontario (encompassing nearly 45% of the province), the Boreal Forest is home to billions of migrating birds, threatened species such as Woodland Caribou, Polar Bear and Lake Sturgeon. It is one of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon storehouses. Each hectare of forest holds approximately 177 tonnes of carbon while the peatlands on average hold 1,294 tonnes of carbon. There are approximately 27 million hectares of Boreal Peat Lands in Ontario.
In 2008, CPAWS and Mountain Equipment Co-op founded The Big Wild, an initiative that enables people to support the vision that Canada will keep at least half of its land and water forever wild. Add your voice at www.thebigwild.org.-30- For further information, please contact: Janet Sumner, Executive Director, CPAWS Wildlands League416.579.7370 cell

(photo-Turtle River -White Otter Provincial Park near Ignace, Ont. Sept 2007)

Benvenuto a Giuseppe

Last week a new little fellow by the name of Giuseppe (full name Giuseppe Garibaldi Gatto) decided to take up residence with us. He is currently practicing his Italian, but so far can only say "meow-o." But, we have great expectations for this gattino, one of him becoming a trusty office assistant. He has already been prepped about the legendary Yellow Cat, longtime office assistant for fellow trails advocate Ann Marshall. Only time will tell if I can get this piccolo gatto on the trail. We'll see. Ciao tutti.

Road Closed My Arse!

Hey-I have a deadline to meet. Do you think I am going to let a little thing like a road washout stop me from completing my latest guidebook? Hell, no! Alan Bauer and I recently spent some time in the Icicle Gorge Area finishing up scouting for our upcoming Day Hiking Central Cascades Book-due in your sweaty little hands this spring.

We finished up our Icicle work and move on to the Skykomish Area next where we'll deal with another washout and defy it as well. Heck, I didn't let all the washouts in the North Cascades and Olympics stop me from getting my other Day Hiking books out. Have mountain bike will travel.

Here's the lowdown on the Icicle Gorge Road. About a half mile of road is now river. Just incredible how this spring washout forced the river to jump its bank into the road. From high up on the Chatter Creek Trail you can see the earth moving culprit. Interesting enough, the slide originated in an old clearcut! Imagine that? The bad news now is that the road probably won't get reopened for at least three years-and that's if the Forest Service gets appropriate funding- (Go Obama or McCain-and write your rep!) and some whack-job Seattle enviro group doesn't decide to sue the Forest Service because they want to keep you locked out of your public land. I am a conservationist but also a trails advocate. I don't want any new roads-and I don't mind decommissioning many spurs-but when it comes to main access roads that have been around for decades (Dosewallips, Suiattle, White Chuck, Icicle)- Get them open!

Meanwhile on the Icicle, the Forest Service has built a .7 mile trail around the washout which is an easy hike or mountain bike back to the road. From the road closure at the Ida Creek Campground here is what you are looking at for distance to trailheads.

Chatter Creek 1.7 miles

Icicle Gorge 2.3 miles

Trout Creek 3.75 miles

Blackjack Ridge 4.75 miles

Upper Icicle 5.0 miles

Makes your trip a little more challenging now, doesn't it? But there is a silver lining to all of this. If you make the extra effort right now you'll get to enjoy an Icicle Gorge crowd free. Actually, practically deserted. Alan and I had Lake Edna to ourselves. Yesterday I shared the Upper Icicle Valley with a big black bear! Get that bike tuned and don't let a little thing like a road washout stop you from exploring your favorite places. And don't forget to ask Congress to help get these roads reopened (because not everyone can bike to trailheads) and fund our trails (like they deserve). The current trail funding deficiency is a far bigger threat to our trails than a washout!

(Photo by Alan Bauer)

Grazie Dio Io Sono Italiano

...but if I wasn't, I wish I was French! Readers of this blog probably realize that I am among other things, a Francophile. I grew up in New Hampshire, the state with the largest percentage of people with French Roots. I lived in New Orleans for a couple of months. I led hiking tours in France for five years. Montreal is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world and where Heather and I celebrated our honeymoon.

I love fois gras (Je suis desole all you PETA types out there), Chablis, agneau, canard, and creme brulee. And I love French film and music; Metis, Afro-French, French-Caribbean, and especially, Cajun. Last night Heather and I went to see BeauSoliel for the first time. They played right here in Mount Vernon at the Lincoln Theatre. Ces't Magnifique!

Now my heart is two-steppin-and hopefully that'll help me meet all of these deadlines I'm now facing!

A bien tot mon ami.

(Photos-BeauSoleil the island in Ontario, and the band from Lousiana. I got to experience them both this year!)

Scher Throws a Curve Ball

This morning I was on KUOW's Weekday with Andrew Englesen of Washington Trails Association to talk about what I thought was just going to be on where to hike right now. Host Steve Scher threw a curve ball at us by introducing Arlene Brooks of the PNW Four-Wheel Drive Association. Whoa-boy- I didn't plan on talking about this- I thought we were going to talk about pretty flowers!

Anyhow, I stated to the best I could in the small amount of time I had, my feelings on Off-road vehicles (in particular motorcycles) being on hiking trails. So, being one not to shy away from taking a stand (Hey-Stand for something or fall for anything) and being one who despises the polarized thinking of the far left and far right-let me reiterate my stance on motorcycles on our trails.

I'm no Harvey Manning in this department. You'll never hear me refer to dirt bikers as a blitzkrieg- in fact, the overwhelming majority of dirt bikers I have met on the trail are friendly, decent people. I have met far more jerky hikers on the trail than dirt bikers.

I don't dirt bike. I have little desire to. I prefer muscle powered. I love hiking, running, paddling, and cycling.

However, I believe that dirt bikers should be able to recreate on public lands just like all other tax-paying recreationists.

I believe that dirt bikers should have their own trail systems and I have no problem with multiple use trails where usage is extremely low.

However, I believe that dirt biking should never be allowed in environmentally sensitive areas, large roadless tracts and places that have wilderness qualities.

Most DNR areas that have been heavily logged in the past- dirt bike on them to your heart's content.

The Mad River Area of the Entiat Mountains with its pumice soils, pristine waterways, fragile alpine meadows-no way should motorcycles be allowed on it. But they are!

Why I share Manning and Spring's passion to see this area placed in the Glacier Peak Wilderness and I support every effort to do such- I will not demonize ORVers or disregard their recreational interests.

We need dialogue, and I see opportunity in areas like the Lower Mad River Valley where hikers and ORVers can come together and maintain the trails together and perhaps learn about each other. Heck, I'd go for a ride once to see what it is all about. But not in the Upper Mad River Valley! That place is too sacred and fragile to be driven upon.

Coming to a Trail Near You

Mark next Saturday on your calendar to be over at Rattlesnake Lake for the WTA's annual Trailfest. This is a great all-day family friendly event covering multiple aspects of hiking and outdoor recreation. I'll be presenting a slideshow and talk on day hiking in the North Cascades and will be giving a seminar with Lisa Wogan on best places to take your dog hiking. Hope to see you there. And if you are a radio listener, I'll be on KUOW (FM 94.9) this Tuesday at 9 am as part of a morning talk show. Tune in if you care. And if you really want to come see me talk but will be out hiking this weekend-or live in a distant land, mark these dates on your calendar for some of my upcoming talks:

Tuesday, October 7 Olympia Mountaineers, Olympia WA

Monday, November 24 Chilliwack Hiking Club, Chilliwack, BC

Wednesday January 21 Mazamas, Portland OR

A Loo for Two

Here at the Loo for Two

There's always room for another to poo

So sit right down and shoot the breeze

While you take a dump right in front of me

We can talk about news, politics or sports

Just be sure when you're done-you pull up your own shorts

Here at the double seated crapper

I best be doing my business a whole lot faster

For peace of mind

For not being left behind!

(This dual dumper can be found in Stehekin Wa at the historic Buckner Orchard. Talk about those pioneers being a tight-knit bunch!)

Just like the Enchantments..

'cept no people!

As a guidebook author I have been fortunate to hike so many of Washington State's great trails. And I am always amazed that so many hikers always go to the same crowded trails over and aver again-especially when we have so many trails available. And it is always funny to hear many of these people constantly complain about all of the crowds on the trails and that they didn't get a wilderness experience. Well folks- you're not going to get a quiet wilderness experience off of I-90. You need to actually put some distance between you and the city- allot a little more time- and do a little research. The Enchantment Lakes are beautiful but you'll be surrounded by tons of people-and many not too friendly- they think they were going to get a wilderness experience! You want solitude? You want wilderness? Head to the North Fork of the Entiat River Valley. Fern Lake is gorgeous, lonely and as wilderness as you can get even though the area isn't in a federal wilderness. It's a 15 mile roundtrip. The only lake in the area-but what a lake! Want more info? It'll be in my new book, Day Hiking Central Cascades (Mountaineers 2009)-due for release next spring. And you know something? Even after the book hits the stands-most people will still be heading to the I-90 corridor and will still be complaining about how crowded those trails are! They can have 'em! See you at in the Entiat!

Spotlight on Endangered Trails

There's a good article in today's Everald Herald by Sharon Wootten spotlighting Washington's endangered trails. Specifically, the article addresses the four trails (out of the 10 that the Washington Trails Association chose for their annual report) included in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. All four of these trails are also highlighted in my recent release, Day Hiking North Cascades (Mountaineers Books). Read the article-read my book-go for a hike-write your member of congress-join WTA-and help save our trails!

(photo-Alan gives the thumbs up to saving the Miners Ridge trail from extinction!)

Happy Independence Day!

Let freedom ring from every mountain top! Happy 4th of July everyone. Take time today to spend with family and friends and give thanks for all of the freedoms we have here in America. Go for a hike-run-paddle-or just lounge by a lake or river and give thanks for all of our great public lands. I'm off to do a run now-then its the traditional BBQ and beer. What a life- what a great country!

(Me on Brace Mountain in New York's Taconic Range)

Endangered Trails 2008

The Washington Trails Association has just recently released its annual Endangered Trails Report. Focusing on 10 trails within the state, the report highlight the greater threats that many of our trails are facing. Threats such as lack of maintenance and access due to dwindling funds from overseeing land managing agencies-most notably, the US Forest Service. Other threats include motorized recreation and incompatible developments. But by far the biggest and most pervasive threat Washington's trails face is an indifference from government officials to adequately fund them. A complacent and apathetic public only insures that the situation will get worse. Get involved with the WTA and other like-minded groups and let your voice be heard on why our trails should be properly funded. Hundreds of miles of prime recreational gems are at stake.

(Endangered Trail- Miners Ridge in the Wenatchee National Forest-excellent views but a near impossible approach due to abandonment)

Happy Canada Day

Bonne Fete du Canada



To all of my Canadian friends and acquaintances and American friends and acquaintances who appreciate our northern neighbors, have a wonderful Canada Day today! And to my American friends who wonder if there is a Fourth of July in Canada-there is-as well as a 5th of July, 6th of July, etc.! July 1st is the day Canadians celebrate their country's birth -but not quite its independence-that would take another 100 years or so to break from those tea drinkers across the Atlantic. Canada Day, Originally known as Dominion Day celebrates the unity of the British North American Colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec into the Dominion of Canada in 1867. It has nothing to do with hockey, curling, Celine Dion or Tim Horton's.

(photo- Voyageur mural at the Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Park, Montreal, Quebec)