Happy Birthday

Skagit County!

It was 125 years ago today that a bunch of "uppity" Skagitonians won their "independence" from their Whatcom County overlords. The new county with just over 2,800 residents then set out to establish their new county seat. Flourishing and "established" La Conner lost that bid to "big ambitions" Mount Vernon. Today Skagit County has 117,000 residents- not exactly a backwater any longer, but in Western Washington terms still quite rural and lightly populated.

Now a bunch of "uppity" Skagitonians, me included are trying to make sure that our home doesn't grow too big-like our northern neighbor Whatcom with its 190,000 residents and our southern neighbor Snohomish with its *gulp* 700,000 people. Yikes! Through the Skagit Land Trust and the Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland we are trying to keep our home somewhat free of the urban sprawl that plagues points north and south. Care to join us? Consider joining one of these two organizations and get involved with helping to keep this wedge of green between Seattle and Vancouver BC a haven for agriculture, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.

(photo- Pioneer Park in La Conner)

Happy Thanksgiving! Okay. Yep, I know the past few months have been tough. Believe me this self-employed writer is feeling the current economic meltdown too. We're heading into uncharted economic waters now. But you know, there is a silver lining to this. Perhaps now we Americans can begin rediscovering just what makes our country so great-and it has little to do with accumulating material objects. It has everything to do with the freedom to do so-and with that freedom comes responsibility. Happiness is not measured by consumption. Happiness is attained by strong bonds to family, friends, community and the natural world. Tough economic times? Hey we're Americans- resourceful people who etched out a great nation from wilderness- survived civil war- fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan, persevered through the Great Depression that lasted for over a decade. And you know what? We're better off because of all of these challenges. Sometimes we don't really see our true selves and real nature except in times of crisis. And we are in one now. We'll get out of it and we'll be better off because we worked to get out of it. This is a great time to reflect on what is truly important and to be thankful for all that we have-and we as a nation have so much! That's worth celebrating over- We've come a long way since Jamestown and Plymouth were founded in the early 1600s. The colonists then survived great odds. They were thankful for their bounties, the help of others (Indigenous people who had little to gain by helping them) and for Providence's divine hand. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving everyone for we have so much here to be thankful for!

(Photo- Not exactly a Thanksgiving dinner but the folks at tiny Frenchglen, Oregon know how to feast and celebrate)

Ceder Butt?
And just what the hell is a Ceder Butt? Evidently its the geodetically recognized little landform rising just to the east of Rattlesnake Lake outside of North Bend Wa. Is ceder anything like cedar? And is a Cedar Butt anything like Ash Ass, Cherry Cheeks, Basswood Buns, Hemlock Hynee, or Beech Bum? I hope not! The thought of slivers in a very precarious place immediately come to mind!
But seriously- Ceder Butt? What were the hiring standards like for the government back in 1937 when that benchmark was set? Yeah, I know-probably not much different from today.
Ceder Butt is one of the 50 featured hikes in my upcoming Winter Hikes Card Deck to be released next fall by Mountaineers Books. You don't need to wait that long though to see this nice butt! Get yours in gear and enjoy the hike!

Ira Spring Mountain it is!

It's official-The State Board on Geographic Names has approved renaming Spring Mountain near Mount Pugh in the Glacier Peak Wilderness after the late Ira Spring; a renowned outdoors photographer, conservationist and guidebook writer. And I might add someone who had an influence on my writing-someone who I highly respect and am honored to have worked on a book with and carry the torch forward for. I blogged on this back in August. It's great to have this bit of feel good news in this current environment of economic meltdown and political instability. Ira you live on in the Cascades and in the hearts and souls of hundreds of outdoors people and conservationists.

(photo- Ira Spring Mountain in front of Sloan Peak-taken from Mount Pugh)

Take Me Back to the 1930s
No, I'm not talking about the current state of the economy-although it does feel like we are heading there. Gulp- theme from the Waltons begin playing! I'm talking about spending some time in Washington's newest state park, Cama Beach, which will take you back to the 1930s in a warm fuzzy way. Yep! The park is a restored coastal resort from the good-ole-days. A living museum that allows you to head back into time when life was indeed simpler. Simple elegance and simple beauty is what this park is all about. The property was saved from being converted into mega-mansion trophy homes thanks to a dedicated group of Camano Islanders. After convincing the Washington State Legislature (which has never made our parks a top priority) to purchase the property (at a bargain rate thanks to the heirs) Washington State Parks did an amazing job restoring this wonderful last-of-a-kind cottage getaway to its former glory. And surrounding the rows of cabins is over 400 acres of supreme undeveloped Camano Island property, all now also a part of the Cama Beach State Park. Close to Seattle and priced for a recessionary budget, Cama Beach is worth a visit and some time. And there is some nice hiking in the park too- several miles worth of trails that radiate from the park and connect with nearby Camano Island State Park and other conservation properties on the island. I'll be highlighting one of these hikes in my due for next fall release Winter Hikes Card Deck (Mountaineers Books). But why wait until next year to visit. Head to this park now! It is destined to become one of the state's most popular. And it'll probably be just as popular tomorrow as it was back in the day!

Giuseppe says check out

CraigRomano.com

As my new office manager, Giuseppe would like to draw your attention to the launching of my new website CraigRomano.com. It's about time! In the conceptual stages for years I finally got my professional work site up and running. And I have Senator John McCain and President-elect Barack Obama to thank for it. For the day up to election day-election day itself-and the day after it-I couldn't concentrate much on writing prose or doing book work. I needed something I could get lost in-Voila- my website. While mostly finished and I will be adding a few more pages to it within the next few weeks. In particular one of news items relating to my latest releases and works, one of Northwest Runner interest, and one highlighting my commitment to the environment. Check it out and let me know what you think. And of course I'm always interested in new writing proposals too. Giuseppe and I look forward to hearing from you. Ciao!

(Giuseppe stretches before beginning his afternoon leg at the office)

Veterans Day 2008

To all our veterans and current members of our armed forces: Thank you for defending our freedoms and way of life. The millions of lives lost in wars and armed conflicts in our country's history are a stark reminder of the cost of freedom. While civilians and politicos can sometimes reduce those causalities to mere statistics-or argue the nobility or justness of war or conflict-our veterans are and always will be exemplary Americans who are willing to give their lives so that we can have the very right to even argue over whether an action is just or not. Thank you Veterans. America thanks you and is a better nation because of your service.

(photo- WWI memorial in Centralia, WA)

Watching the Winds of Change in Eastern Washington Last week's elections certainly brought change to the nation, and surprisingly to a few corners of the country that were probably not expecting it. One such place was Ferry County, home of the Kettle River Range, in Eastern Washington. Anti-wilderness incumbent Mike Blankenship lost his county commissioner seat to Bob Heath 1,672 to 1,441. This is of course bad news for Mike, but great news for those of us who are intent on seeing a Kettle River Range Wilderness.

But the news for wilderness proponents in the Columbia Highlands of Northeastern Washington is even better than that. According to Mitch Friedman, executive director of Conservation Northwest, the organization spearheading protection measures in this special corner of the Evergreen State:

"In each of the four counties of rural northeastern Washington–Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille – voters rejected an anti-wilderness candidate for county commission. Citizens chose collaboration over conflict, thoughtfulness over anger, solutions over reactions, tomorrow over yesterday. The Columbia Highlands will soon receive the wilderness protection and forest restoration it has long deserved."

I couldn't agree more, Mitch! The winds of change are a-blowin in the Columbia Highlands and I for one welcome this warming breeze!

(photo- Alan Bauer watches the winds of change-climatic in this case-blow in over the Kettle Crest)

Natural Skagit unveiled November 13th

This Thursday November 13th at the Skagit Valley Gardens in Mount Vernon, the coffee-table book Natural Skagit: A journey from Mountains to Sea will be officially launched. A compilation of the writings of 8 authors including moi, who penned the first chapter highlighting the area's people and history-and a collection of stunning imagery from local photographers including standout Lee Mann-this book is meant to celebrate the beauty of Skagit County and help protect it. One of the last rural regions on the I-5 corridor between Seattle and Vancouver, BC and one of the last agriculturally viable counties in Western Washington, development pressures are strong on Skagit County. The Skagit Land Trust is a driving force in protecting natural areas, productive farm and timberland and undeveloped river shore and shoreline in the county. I'm a resident of this beautiful region of Washington State. I am a proud member of the Land Trust. And I am an author on this beautiful book. I invite you to attend the launch and of course purchase a book. For more information visit Skagit County Land Trust.org

Darcy Burned!

Thank God that the Democratic fervor that swept across America this past November 4th didn't sweep out out of Congress, Dave Reichert (WA 8th District). I understand all too well why Obama was put in the White House-but unfortunately the coattail effect often puts people in power who don't deserve it-they just happen to be affiliated with the party that is currently in vogue-like Ms. Gregoire our free-spending governor. It would have truly been a shame if Mr. Reichert lost to political hack Darcy Burner. Dave is a good moderate Republican out of the traditional wing of his party. And Dave is no foe of the environment. Now that he has been reelected he can get the ball going again on getting his wilderness bill passed-a bill that will increase the size of the ever-popular Alpine lakes Wilderness. As for Darcy, perhaps now she'll have more time to work on her education!

Red, Blue and Purple!

Okay time for some fun (and parody and some sarcasm) with the election. After analyzing the 2008 Electorate map its time to announce the reddest, bluest, and purplest states in the nation. Of course some of the bluest states are actually our reddest (that is socialist red)-like Vermont-with its far left senator Barnard Sanders who when mayor of Burlington wore well on his sleeve the city's nickname of the Peoples Republic of Burlington. And some of our reddest states are actually the bluest (like depressed blue) because these states like Wyoming and Oklahoma are now clinging to their guns hoping the new administration won't take them away! And the most purple state is Missouri-right dab in the middle of the country just like most of us-in the middle. So the heck with states like Wyoming and Vermont (incidentally the two least populated states) anyways- who needs em? Well- maple syrup lovers and people who fuel their cars with gas actually-

Okay, lists please-

The Reddest States-places where Sarah Palin can go hunting anytime she durn shootin well pleases

1. Oklahoma (66% McCain - 34%- Obama)

2. Wyoming (65% McCain - 35% Obama)

3. Utah (63% McCain - 34% Obama) the other 3% to Marie Osmond perhaps?

4. Alaska (62%- 36% Obama) the other 2% to Tina Fey?

5. Idaho (61%- 36%) the other 3% to Pedro?

The Bluest States-places where Joe Biden can get a J-O-B or at least learn to spell

1. Hawaii (72% Obama- 27% McCain) the other 1% to Keanu Reeves?

2. Vermont (67% Obama- 32% McCain) the other 1% to I have a scream Howard Dean?

3. Rhode Island (63% Obama- 35% McCain) the other 2% to Peter Griffin?

4. Massachusetts (62% Obama- 36% McCain) the other 2% to some Kennedy?

5. Illinois (Obama 62%- 37% McCain) the other 1% to Bill Ayers?

The Purplest States-Least divided or most?

1. Missouri- McCain by a hair!

2. North Carolina- Obama by a slightly longer hair

3. Indiana- Obama by two hairs

4. Florida - Obama by two hairs and a few chads

5. Ohio-Obama by three hairs and a few plumbers angry at Joe.

And one final note- that purple state Missouri-where the race was the closest is the home state of one of my political heroes- Harry S. Truman! It's been hell, Harry!

In New Hampshire

Women Rule!

My home state of New Hampshire one again made history when it comes to women in politics. Earlier this decade the Granite State became the first in the nation to have all three branches of the executive chamber run by women; governor, house speaker and senate majority leader. In 2009, New Hampshire will become the first state in the nation to have a senate chamber with a female majority!

Read for yourself here from Nowhampshire.com

NH Makes History With First State Senate With Female Majority
By Ethan Kendrick Thu, 11/06/2008

New Hampshire’s State Senate is now unlike any in the country and unlike any before it. After Tuesday’s election, women now make up the majority of the New Hampshire State Senate. In an election year that saw Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Nancy Pelosi grab headlines and airtime across the country, New Hampshire didn’t just vote blue, it voted for women.
In addition to voting in a new state senate with a female majority, New Hampshire voted for the only female candidate in the primary, Hillary Clinton, and voted for the first New Hampshire woman, Jeanne Shaheen, to go to the US Senate.
Previously ten women held senate seats out of twenty-four in Concord, but now they hold thirteen. New Hampshire also made news in Washington where there are now seventeen women for the first time in the United States Senate because of Jeanne Shaheen’s win. To show the contrast, both United States Senate and House of Representatives are 17% female.
It looks like those millions of cracks in the glass ceiling are spreading.

(photo-townhall in Francestown, NH)

For Republicans: The Chickens have come home to the Roost.

Congratulations Barack Obama on becoming our next president. I didn't vote for you. I'm concerned about your ascendancy to the presidency not as much because of your liberal positions, but because of your thin resume. We have never elected a president before with such little experience. Heck, even George W. Bush had some experience-he was governor of our second largest state.
And speaking of George W. Bush. Barack, you can thank him for helping you attain the presidency. He has damaged the Republican party. He has spent money like no other. Conservative? Hell no, his spending makes Teddy Kennedy blush. He and the neo-cons have sent this country in a bad direction and I, like all of your supporters, Barack, can't wait to see him head back to Texas too. The Republicans deserved to get spanked-but the country need not be punished. While I believe that our country has been heading in the wrong direction, I don't believe that it is fundamentally flawed nor does it need to be transformed.
Obama, I will support you as my president because it is the right thing to do. I hope that you prove my skepticism wrong and do indeed aspire to greatness. Do the right thing and never lose sight of our Constitution and guiding principles.
Okay-Now for some ramblings.
It is truly a milestone that we as a nation have elected a man to the presidency with an African heritage. Now, will Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and all the guilt-ridden White liberals that are convinced that America is the most racist country on the planet finally shut up. America is truly a land of opportunity for all. Right now our Speaker of the House is a woman of Italian descent and the Senate President is a Mormon. Obama's chief of staff is Jewish. Jewish, Mormon, women, Italian, and Black- all groups that have been strongly discriminated against in the past. Look at the strides we have made. Our country is truly a grand nation.
In New Hampshire politics we lost Senator Sununu in the senate but gained Jeanne Shaheen. Sununu had a good environmental record but Shaheen does too. They are both decent candidates- a rarity in most contests.
I didn't vote for Bush in 2004 putting me in the 47% minority. I didn't vote for Obama in 2008 keeping me in the 47% minority. Our country is still deeply divided. It has been since the Reagan years.
Two Udalls in the Senate is great for the environment.
Governor Gregoire's re-election baffles me. What is wrong with the people of my state? What the Democrats are doing to Washington state is the same thing the Republicans have been doing to the nation. Bankrupting it through reckless spending! I'm not a partisan, but evidently many of my fellow Washington voters are. I fear times will be tough in my state with this free-spending special-interest courting governor.
Darcy Burner? Give me a break!!! I'm rooting for you Reichert-please pull this one out!
Al Franken? See above-
John McCain goes back to the senate. Help keep the new president on the right track Mac!
And if things do get unbearable here in Washington State at least it is now easier to kill yourself. Sheesh-the culture of death marches on-
Over. Now I can finally get back to writing about hiking!

Vote! Election Day 2008! Exciting. Nerve-wracking. Anxiety-producing. Frustrating. Euphoric. It's all part of our democratic process. So regardless of your political leanings-get your ass to the polls. I don't care who you are voting for (well not entirely true), I just want you to vote. And if you don't like the ways things have been-or will be- if you don't vote I don't want to hear your opinion.

I've already cast my vote and as usual I vote all over the place. I am not a partisan. I lean left on some issues, right on others. I have to decide which candidates come closest to my values. As far as presidents go-my luck at picking them is about as good as picking stocks. I had Washington Mutual in my portfolio (Its still there-its just so small I can't see it anymore). As far as governor picking my record is a little better. Combine president and governor and I batted zero in 2004. So there you, libs and conservatives, figure that one out!

This year I voted for McCain for president. I trust him and he sees America as I do- a great nation to be proud of- a land of opportunity- a place where hard work is rewarded.

For governor I really like my home state of New Hampshire's democrat governor John Lynch, but I can't stomach Washington's democrat governor Christine Gregoire. I'm a fiscal conservative and I'm tired of the waste in this state and bloat in social programs- Rossi for governor!

For Congress-I casted my vote for Rick Larsen-Democrat- Rick is a good man but he voted wrong (for) on the bail-out.

Lands Commissioner, I voted for Goldmark-Democrat- Hey I am Green and I believe he'll manage our millions of acres of public land better than Sunderland (who isn't bad but still too industry influenced).

County Commissioners I voted D. I'm not for paving over farmland. State Senator I voted R. I'm not for spending wildly on useless social programs.

I'll be watching the data roll in later today. See if I hit at least 50% 100% would be nice! And one thing for sure is that once this election is over I can get back to working without so many distractions!

(photo- Old Glory flies from the top of Winchester Mountain in the Mount Baker Wilderness)

Franklin Pierce for President!
New Hampshire's only native son to sit in the oval office is generally regarded by historians as being one of our worst presidents. I, being of Granite State origins-the state that has greatly influenced my politics, have a soft-spot for Mr. Pierce. But, I'm a student of history and let the facts be told. Pierce served during a time of great cultural conflict in America. A northern Democrat who sympathised with the south (a doughface), Pierce just barely held the country together for another 4 years before the inevitable would occur-the Civil War.

Now, I'm not suggesting that a president Obama will be a president Pierce. After all despite all the gaa-gaa that the media and his followers have for him-no one really knows what kind of president Obama will make. We don't know much about him-but what I do know bothers me.
Now, I'm no partisan, so don't throw a label at me. I have voted for a Democrat for president every time since I first started voting in 1980. The only exception- I voted for McCain in the 2000 primary and I'm voting for him again in the 2008 election.

What has happened to the Democratic party over the last 25 years is the same thing that has happened to the Republican party-it has shifted to an ideological extreme. Liberal colleagues of mine are quick to point out the Republican Party no longer welcomes the likes of a Dan Evans and Edward Brooke. And I quickly counter that the Democratic party of today is not the same party of JFK, Scoop Jackson and Harry S. Truman- all great Americans.


Our last great president was Reagan-before that, Nixon (except for Watergate), Truman, and both Roosevelts- a mix of democrats and republicans. Our worst presidents contain a similar mix. Are we now headed for a repeat of the post Jackson- pre-Civil War era of presidents where we are destined for a long line of lousy leaders?

But I'll try not to despair for even lousy and sub-marginal presidents do some good things. Clinton reformed welfare and protected a lot of ancient forest. W lowered my taxes and signed a bunch of wilderness bills. Hell, even Franklin Pierce did some good-like the Gadsen Purchase!

Now, on the eve of the 2008 election in which Obama appears to be destined to be our next president, I leave you this about Franklin Pierce.

Franklin Pierce began his political career in Congress after coming off of a successful law practice.
He was nominated as president as a dark horse (Hillary, are you paying attention?) at the 1852 Democratic Convention in Baltimore. Pierce won the election that year in a landslide defeating Winfield Scott (nickname "Old Fuss and Feathers"- McCain are you listening?) a general, national hero and person who was generally regarded as one of the most able Commanders of his time.
Pierce possessed good looks and an inoffensive personality gravitating many people toward him (Obama are you listening?), but he made decisions that were extremely decisive including supporting the Kansas-Nebraska Act and Ostend Manifesto which went against the widely held American ideals of manifest Destiny and Popular Sovereignty.

Historians Philip B. Kunhardt and Peter W. Kunhardt reflected the views of many other historians when they wrote in The American President that Pierce was "a good man who didn't understand his own shortcomings. He was genuinely religious, loved his wife and reshaped himself so that he could adapt to her ways and show her true affection. He was one of the most popular men in New Hampshire, polite and thoughtful, easy and good at the political game, charming and fine and handsome. However, he has been criticized as timid and unable to cope with a changing America."

America are you listening?
In any case, I leave you with this. Because I believe in my country, whomever wins the presidency tomorrow I will support-that is until he starts taking us in the wrong direction.

(photo-Franklin Pierce's homestead sits in a lovely corner of New Hampshire with lots of public lands and trails nearby)

The Buck hasn't stopped yet-and neither has the Maverick! It was exactly 60 years ago today that Harry S. Truman proved the pundits and polls wrong by winning re-election to the presidency. Give 'em hell Harry! One of our greatest presidents, Truman wasn't afraid to make a decision on a tough call. He didn't vote "present." He took action often at odds with his advisers. He faced incredible economic and social challenges during his time- a post war economy- a growing civil rights movement-and he accepted those challenges and helped direct this country towards further greatness. He had a solid record before coming to the presidency and he was always proud of his country. He faced criticism and low approval ratings and he was often compared unfavorably to his predecessor. Folksy and able to connect to the people (maybe not to the intellectual elites and kool-aid drinkers of his time-but to the salt-of-the-earth folks who make up the backbone of this great nation), his rural and modest upbringing was never forgotten. A veteran of WW II, a county judge, US Senator and vice-president under FDR, he had a significantly larger resume than say from a candidate that worked as a community organizer (whatever the hell that is) with people of dubious backgrounds and freshmen senator with no accomplishments per se than able to talk well.

John McCain is no Harry Truman, but he is an honorable man and a worthy man to assume the role of the presidency. He believes in his country, acts independently of party politics and believes in the American way-of life. He is a green elephant - a republican from the same mold of Dan Evans, Richard Nixon, Theodore Roosevelt, Judd Gregg, and John Chafee. He will protect and support programs benefiting our environment and public lands. He will protect the Constitution and our sacred American way-of-life. He is no George W. Bush and his opponent is no JFK. The country shouldn't be punished with an inferior candidatate for the failed policies of an ineffective president. Give em hell John. The buck hasn't stopped yet and neither has your campaign. Your country is depending on you!