Tip Toe Through the Humptulips! And what a glorious dance it was! Yesterday, James Johnston and Andy Stahl of FSEEE (Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics) accompanied me to lead a dozen plus admirers of ancient forests into the Campbell Tree Grove on the upper reaches of the West Fork of the Humptulips River. It was an introduction hike to the roadless Moonlight Dome Area, a 6,000-acre rugged tract of steep mountains and primeval forest that Andy, James, me and our hiking guests would very much like to see become a federally protected wilderness area. And why? The Moonlight Dome Area represents the last large tract of unlogged, unroaded, unmolested, un-trashed , unprotected coastal rainforest left within the Olympic National Forest. And we want to make sure that it remains unlogged, unroaded and unmolested-for its denizens-the elk, marbled murrlets, spotted owls, flying squirrels, cougars, bear, and a myriad of other species-and for its admirers-hikers and nature lovers here today and those that will follow generations from now.

Keep your eye here for updates on this campaign. I'll keep you posted on how it moves along. In the meanwhile, contact Andy at FSEEE on how you can help make the Moonlight Dome area a wilderness. If you live within Washington's 6th Congressional District, let Norm Dicks know how much you value an Olympic National Forest untrammeled-and how much you'd like to see this area become a federally protected wilderness. If you haven't visited this gorgeous natural area-I encourage you to. Pick up my Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula Book for a description of a hike within this roadless area. My book is the only hiking guide to cover this relatively unknown region of the Olympic Peninsula. And join us for another adventure into the area. Andy, James and I are talking about a summertime scramble up the Moonlight Dome with an apres hike camp out at the Campbell Tree Grove. We'll let you know about it once plans are made. In the meanwhile practice pronouncing Humptulips-it comes from the Quinault word for "hard to pole"-and hard to pronounce too if you're not careful!

(photo-James and Joan tip toe across the West Fork of the Humptulips in the Campbell Tree Grove)

Washington's Next Wilderness?

The passage this week of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act which created two million acres of new federal wilderness is certainly something to celebrate. And while Washington didn't receive any new wilderness, neighboring states Idaho and Oregon received substantial tracts. Now is the time to ride the momentum and secure some new wilderness areas for the Evergreen State. Rep Reichert has introduced a bill to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness by 22,000 acres. Senator Patty Murray has agreed to co-sponsor the bill in the senate. And while I am excited about this bill, the area included in it is not under immanent threat. What is under threat from ORV molestation and extractive industries are the following areas:

The Moonlight Dome Roadless Area-Olympic National Forest
Kettle River Range- Colville National Forest
Dark Divide- Gifford Pinchot National Forest
South Entiat Mountains (Upper Mad River)-Wenatchee National Forest
Eastern Sawtooth Range (Golden Lakes)- Wenatchee National Forest
Mount Bonapare- Okanogan National Forest

These lands are long overdue for wilderness protection. They were bypassed in the 1984 act and have repeatably been overlooked for wilderness in the past two and a half decades. Time is running out on these lands. It is time now for wilderness for these, some of Washington's last great unprotected wildlands. It won't be easy with the likes of Hastings and McMorris-Rodgers in Congress-but with Reichert on board he can help power broke. Start urging (if you haven't already) your elected officials to get on board!

(photo- Middle Fork Snoqualmie River-near Washington's possible next wilderness area)

A Lame response

from a Lame Governor

I'd like to share with you the uninspiring lame-o form letter response that Nine-billion-in-the-hole-Governor Gregoire sent me as her response to my concern about closing state parks.

Here it is:

Dear Craig:

Thank you for contacting Governor Gregoire about the budget. She appreciates every letter, message, and call she has received.

The Governor understands that many Washingtonians are concerned about the economy, struggling to make ends meet around their personal finances and fearful about state funding cuts. Like the rest of the country and the world, we are in the midst of an economic slowdown.

Governor Gregoire proposed and submitted her budget to the Legislature using the Priorities of Government (POG) approach that looks at the effectiveness of state programs to prioritize spending, focusing on services that matter most. POG is a sound method to determine the state's funding priorities, a process that designates items as "buy now" or "buy later" using funds the state has to work with. While she used POG to help inform her budget decisions, she also took into account the priorities citizens have for state government services and other important considerations.

The Governor did not like the budget she proposed, which included many difficult funding cuts. Her budget provides a solid foundation and starting point. However, since submitting it to the Legislature in December, as required by law, the deficit has continued to increase. We now face the loss of more than $721 million for the period ending June 30, 2009, and a nearly $9 billion shortfall for the 2009-11 Biennium, the largest budget shortfall in our state's history.

Governor Gregoire is optimistic about President Obama's efforts to provide the states with economic relief through the now-signed stimulus package that will address some of our revenue shortfall. However, the package is not a cure-all for either the recession or our state's budget deficit. Efforts to identify solutions to the recession and resulting state budget shortfalls are ongoing. State government will have to sacrifice and make hard choices just like Washington families. The final budget will include cuts, which are unavoidable. But families know, and we know, that tough people always outlast tough times and together we will emerge stronger from the challenges we face.

Again, thanks for contacting Governor Gregoire. She will be keeping your concerns in mind.

Sincerely,

Bill Wegeleben
Director of Government Operations
Christine O. Gregoire
Governor

Of course there is nothing here about addressing the point of my letter-state park closures and how reckless past spending lead us there. At least Representative Jeannie Darneille, chairperson of the state parks committee had the decency to respond back to me with a sincere response-and timely too. Thank you, Rep Darneille.

The governor in her finest fashion punts! She never takes responsibility that she got us here in the first place. And I love how she refers to President Obama's stimulus plan as a way to help get her off the hook. Yep-rob Peter to pay Paul. Or more like have Peter print up a few billion more dollars to grease the hands of Paul who spends money like a drunken sailor who just won the lottery. Yep, Governor, you give me much faith -thanks for getting us in this mess. I can only imagine what your next move (or more than likely inaction) is going to be. And thanks "for keeping my concerns in mind!"

Let Freedom Ring

from the hills of New Hampshire

I just received the great news a few minutes ago from Washington Trail Association's Andrew Engelson that the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 passed the house. The yes vote was overwhelming, 285-140. A pox on WA Representative Doc Hastings (next to Jim McDermott, my least favorite congressperson from the Northwest) for trying to derail the vote with a controversial gun amendment. And no, I am not against guns-it is just the proposal to allow firearms in National Parks should be debated on its own merit-not slipped in as an amendment threatening to stall this important bill. Now, President Obama will assuredly sign this bill and I await his signature-perhaps the first act of his that I welcome. I've written about national historic trails and wildernesses that will be created under this bill, but there are plenty of other great public lands and designations in it as well. Among them, the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area close to where I grew up in southern New Hampshire.

What is the Freedom's Way NHA all about?

According to its website:

This theme is about the land: the geological events that shaped the landscape of the Native Americans for thousands of years. It is also the story of the changes wrought by the past 300 years and the development of a conservation movement that includes Henry David Thoreau, Benton MacKaye, and the present-day efforts of people like Marion Stoddart and John Hansen Mitchell. In addition to local conservation trails, there are rail trails in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, some connecting. And there are Great Meadows visitor/education centers and trails, US Fish and Wildlife Refuges, State Reservations, Audubon sites, and The Trustees of Reservations sites. There are greenway trails too.

And plenty of wonderful historic sites and conservation areas that are dear to my heart. Benton MacKaye, if you don't know who he was, is the founder of the Appalachian Trail, the nation's first long distance national scenic trail. And in this bill, two new national scenic trails join the AT. How sweet is that? I'm looking forward (as always) to returning to the home front to check out how this new designation will play out in my beloved New England. Now it's time for that Chianti!

(photo- old Monson Village, one of NH's first interior settlements, a SPNHF preserve and part of the new Freedom's Way NHA)

Let's Go For a Moonlight Hike

on the Olympic Peninsula!
Well, not a moonlight hike in a lunar sense-you'd be hard-pressed to do one of those right now in the rainy Olympics. No, I'm talking about a hike into the Moonlight Dome roadless area. I am leading a hike here along with James Johnston of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. James and I worked together on the Columbia Highlands Book. Below is the press release. You're invited! Please join us! We look forward to sharing this special, remote, and little-known corner of the Olympic Peninsula with you.

You’re invited to a Moonlight Dome Hike!
March 29, 2009
Please join Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics for an interpretive hike into the prospective (not federal wilderness yet!) Moonlight Dome Wilderness in Washington’s incomparable Olympic Peninsula.
We’ll be accompanied by outdoor writer Craig Romano, author of seven books about the Pacific Northwest, including "Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula." Craig and FSEEE’s James Johnston will talk hiking, ecology, and opportunities to create new wilderness areas in the coastal old-growth forests of the Olympic Peninsula.
We’ll be doing an easy to moderate difficulty 3-4 mile round trip day hike along the West Fork Humptulips River Trail, through spectacular groves of old growth and views of rugged peaks.
We will meet at the Starbucks Coffee House on 1213 E. Wishkah Street in Aberdeen at 9:00 AM on Sunday, March 29.
Bring a lunch.
Come prepared for rain!
All FSEEE’s events are free, and this event will be fun for almost all ages and ability levels.
Please call or email James to RSVP or if you have any questions.
The proposed Moonlight Dome wilderness
photo Craig Romano
(Contact James at 541.484.2692 or james@fseee.org)
See you in Aberdeen on the 29th!

Get Ready to Chisel

"National Scenic"

into that boulder!

There is still hope for National Scenic Trail status for the Pacific Northwest Trail and the New England Trail as well as hope for over two million acres of new wilderness from Oregon to Virginia. After the let down two weeks ago of the House failing to pass the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, a new version was taken up by the Senate last week and it passed overwhelmingly by 77-20. The House should be taking the bill up on Wednesday and it should pass easily. Still, I refrain from tipping my glass of Chianti until I see the final roll call. And unlike many of our public leaders who didn't read the Stimulus Bill before signing it-I actually read through this bill. There is a lot of things to like about this bill especially as an advocate of natural resource protection and historic preservation. Among the tidbits in this bill are several new Civil War National Historic Sites, a President Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site (C'mon people-he was one of our presidents and W will get one too) and enlargement of the Martin Van Buren NHS (I kid you not!), a Cold War NHS, a possible Harriet Beecher Stowe NHS, new National Heritage Corridors in New England and elsewhere, new wilderness areas in Michigan and West Virginia and a South Park National Heritage Area in Colorado! Wow, I never knew Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman were such national treasures. Seriously though-there is much to like about this bill-check here to see what is coming your way if the House follows through for us. I'm looking forward to all the new great places to visit coming my way.

Washington Wilderness Coalition's

Photo of the MonthEach issue of Washington Wilderness Coalition's monthly e-letter includes a picture of the month of Wild Washington photographed by a WWC member or supporter. This month's photo of the month comes compliments of moi. It is of one of my favorite places in the state, the Kettle River Range, a large roadless area that I (and many other conservationists) hope that will soon be included in federal wilderness. Left out of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Bill, the Kettles have long deserved protection being one of the wildest and prettiest regions in all of Eastern Washington.

For more on the Washington Wilderness Coalition, click here.
For more on protecting the Kettle River Range, click here.
For information on my book on the wilds of Eastern Washington, click here!

And for more information about the picture of the month, read on!

Summer storm clouds dance over a procession of lofty peaks (Scar, Wapaloosie, Columbia, Sherman, Snow, Bald and White). The view south is grand from 7,140-foot Copper Butte, highest summit in the 75 mile long Kettle River Range and centerpiece of the 29,000-acre Profanity Roadless Area. Transition zone between the Cascades and Rockies, the Kettle River Range is an important land bridge harboring a wealth of flora and fauna including several threatened and endangered species. Photo by Craig Romano, used with Permission. Craig Romano is author of Columbia Highlands: Exploring Washington’s Last Frontier, and several other NW guidebooks. Visit him at http://CraigRomano.com

President Obama:

Stimulate This!

The Obama Administration is throwing around money like a trailer park hick who just won the lottery. And I pray that in a couple of years my country doesn't end up like that reckless hick-broke! (No offense intended for frugal hicks). Anyhow, needless to say I have mixed feelings on the current spending frenzy the Obama Administration is partaking in. But let me say this. If my tax dollars (and dollars that are just be printed out of thin air) are going to go to bailout bums, swindlers, hustlers, shysters, and morons-well can we at least get some of that money going into trails, parks, and recreation areas for we honest folk? It would be nice to send some of the manufactured windfall to help maintain and build new trails. Open and maintain parks. Add new parks. Employ rangers, naturalists and law enforcement officials. Build urban parks and greenways and rail trails and help get America's increasingly lazy and nature-deficit youth out running and hiking and biking in the great outdoors. How about it President Obama? Any money for worthy causes? If you are going to throw it out there, I'd rather my trails and parks receive some of it instead of GM, AIG, and God knows where else you are going to spend with reckless abandonment. And I thought that George W Bush was fiscally imprudent. Oy vey!

(photo-Snohomish County's Whitehorse Trail could use an influx of money to get its entire 27 miles open to the public)

Omnibus Public Land Management Act

Has Overwhelming Support in Congress

but Goes Down in Defeat!

Say What?

You have to love the way our system works sometimes (Insert sarcasm here). The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, a bill that would have established two million acres of new wilderness and make the Pacific Northwest Trail and the New England Trail National Scenic Trails among other things-a bill that had wide bipartisan support (73-21) in the Senate was defeated in the house by 2 votes.

Final Vote 282 For
144 Against
6 Not Voting

If it had 282 votes for it-then how could it have possibly been defeated you are probably thinking. Well- you are going to love this-the bill failed in the House of Representatives this week by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. Something that usually occurs for non-controversial legislation.

Repeat after me:
Un-insert a common profane modifier here-believable!

It appears that 141 of the 178 House Republicans and three Blue Dog Dems didn't like the bill. For the usual anti-wilderness forces its just business as usual-but perhaps for a few of the more open thinkers they got cold feet because of all of the crazy spending that has been going on recently.

Gotta love the irony of this session tough. Yep- Don't pay your mortgage- Congress and the Prez come to your rescue! Swindle tax payers with toxic mortgages and investments-Congress and the Prez come to your rescue! Run a major company that can't turn a profit-hey-don't worry- Congress and the Prez will come to your rescue!But try to protect a few small corners of undeveloped America for wild critters and future generations-and you can Forgetaboutit!

So I suppose its back to the drawing board and perhaps best so that any toxic amendments that were attached to this bill can be stripped off before trying all over again. Then again-we came so close-its so frustrating! Before we re-camp-be sure to check out the heroes and zeros below and let them know how you feel.

Heroes and Zeros

Thank your Democratic congressperson unless its James Marshall of Georgia, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, or Dan Boren of Oklahoma. Bobby Bright of Alabama, Suzanne Kosmas of Florida and John Hall of New York didn't vote and they could have made the difference on this vote! Ask them why they weren't doing their job!

Thirty-four republicans voted for the bill and they should be thanked-among them-
Michael Simpson of Idaho, Greg Walden of Oregon, Donald Young of Alaska, and our Dave Reichert of Washington.

Admonish Cathy McMorris-Rodgers and Doc Hastings of WA for voting against this bill-the only two Congressional members in the entire Northwest delegation (WA, OR, ID, AK) that voted against this bill! The entire New England Congressional delegation voted for the bill and they should be thanked.

(photo-A scene in the Holyoke Hills of Massachusetts where the proposed New England National Trail Travels over)

Back to Being in a Cold Garage

Well our garage is once again a cold lifeless place. Scruffy Grey had made it his home for three nights adding a little life and warmth to the place. He's at the Skagit Valley Humane Society now safe and warm and waiting to be groomed and checked out by a Vet. And after that he'll be waiting for a loving family to adopt him. He's a gentle loving cat and one that'll warm up your home like he did our garage. I'm sure Giuseppe has more to say about Scruffy, so you may want to venture over to his blog to see what he's purring about. And no-I am not Giuseppe's ghost writer in case you are wondering. I have enough things to write about without penning for my cat!

Picture of Scruffy Grey

Okay, Scruffy Grey might not be as beautiful as Dorian, and he's not wild either (sorry, Oscar!), but this little kitty has definitely touched our senses. Three days ago while Giuseppe and I were enjoying our lunch break, Scruffy Grey came out of the blue trotting across my deck. It was about 38 degrees outside and he plopped himself down in the sun soaking up the heat from the warmed planking. Giuseppe said it was okay for me to bring him some food. Scruffy Grey was quite thankful for this offering.

While he apparently appeared abandoned, his fur badly matted, little Scruffy was quite affectionate and has obviously been around humans. He pretty much stayed on the deck all day-and once nightfall arrived, temperatures now in the 20s, Giuseppe said it was okay for Scruffy to spend the night in our garage. We lined Giusppe's dreaded travel carrier with soft blankets and transformed it into a makeshift cat bed. Scruffy slept well that night.

The following morning we let him out hoping that perhaps he had a home. At 9:00 pm he was on my deck again hoping to come in from another night of 20 degree temps. Back into his makeshift bed he went. Yesterday, Scruffy hung out all day and spent the night once more. Heather, Giuseppe and I talked about what to do with this very affectionate loving kitty. As much as we'd love to keep him we are not in the position to do so. Having Giuseppe is challenging enough with our lifestyle. We'll be bringing Scruffy up to the Skagit Valley Humane Society today to get him cleaned up and ready for adoption. By all means, if you'd like a loving kitty, consider taking home Scruffy Grey. He will definitely appreciate it.

I am guessing the word is out in the kitty circles that we are the house to come to if abandoned! Ever since we rescued Storm on a snowy cold night the other kitties have heard of our compassion towards felines. Storm is now in a loving family's home. We hope Scruffy Grey will be too-real soon!

For more information about Scruffy, visit Giuseppe's blog, Giuseppe Gattino. And no, I am not Giuseppe's ghost writer in case you are wondering. Ciao! I mean meow! And yes, Karen and Kim, I'm turning into one of those weird cat people- you can relate, right?

Worth $10.95

The Skagit Flats is one of the best places in Western Washington for birdwatching. Right now thousands of snow geese, trumpeter swans, tundra swans and a myriad of other avian critters are out and about on the farms, delta, and islands in the Skagit Valley. One of my favorite places for viewing them-and a great place to take an easy hike too is at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Skagit Bay Estuary Unit. Managed primarily as habitat for game birds and providing hunters with public land to exercise their pursuit-these lands are supported through hunting and fishing license sales. For non-hunters a vehicle permit pass can be purchased allowing unlimited access to this property and scores of other ones across the state. The cost? $10.95 for the year. Well worth it for purchasing and protecting public land. And I'd gladly pay $10.95 or more to support my state parks. If tax revenues can't support these gems, then user fees must take their place. Make the fee fair and equitable and get that money to our ailing park system ASAP!

Gregoire's State Park Legacy:

Close 'em and get rid of 'em!

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt increased our public lands and helped stimulate their infrastructure. Washington State governor, Clarence Martin, a fiscal conservative Democrat helped withdraw land for the public in the form of state parks, forests, fish and wildlife lands, and public works projects.

In the Great Recession of 2008-09-10? Governor Christine Gregoire- a reckless spending liberal Democrat has helped land our state in an $8.5 billion deficit. Sorry, Christine you can't blame this one on George W Bush. You own this fiscal disaster! And now your fiscal irresponsibility is going to lead to liquidating some of our state parks in an attempt to save a measly $23 million dollars. Outrageous!

In these hard economic times we need more parks-not less. Places where all Washingtonians can recreate-places where they can afford to camp, hike, fish, sight-see, picnic, relax, forget about the current state of affairs. But, no Ms Gregoire-your actions are leading to a liquidation of 11 of our parks and the mothballing of 33 more. Your park's commission wants to take out of commission 44 of our public places-44 examples of our natural, cultural, and historic heritage. That's some legacy you are going to leave us Governor. Some legacy indeed!

(photo-In Gregoire's Washington, state parks will be decommissioned instead of expanded like they were under the CCC, represented here in a Colville National Forest memorial)

Florida Saves their State Parks

Republican governor and concerned citizens put their money where their parks are!

Can't help but note the bitter irony here. Down in the south where people "cling to their religion and guns" they evidently didn't cling to their wallets when it came time to save their state parks. Floridians overwhelmingly backed a plan by their legislature to raise day use fees (some up to $8 to park) to keep their parks operating and open. And governor Crist, a Republican has allocated more money to the parks system to keep them open. Nice job Florida and Governor Crist, and nice to see that you cherish your outdoor and historic heritage.

Here in "progressive" (actually quite regressive) "green" (only if it concerns transportation in which everyone must take the bus except overweight mayors who talk a lot about other people taking the bus) Washington state we close parks. Our democratic governor and democratic-controlled legislature are going to allow the state parks commission to close and liquidate parks. And many of our over-caffeinated well-to-do SUV driving citizens balk at the notion of having to pay a day use fee to keep their parks open. Go figure! You get what you pay for folks. In Florida you get a beautiful park system that will continue to provide recreation and refuge for its citizens in this terrible economic time. In Washington, you get squat.

Oh yeah, and Florida doesn't have a state income tax either-yet they have figured out how to pay for their park system. I have said it before-and I'll say it ad nauseum -My fellow Washingtonians-if you care about your state parks and heritage hold your legislator's and governor's feet to the fire! NO STATE PARK CLOSURES! I for one am willing to open my wallet a little to help keep them open. I hope you are too-and I hope that my indifferent state reps and governor will give us this option instead of liquidating our heritage! ENOUGH!

(photo-St Joseph Spit State Park-one of my favorite state parks in the nation. Seven miles of undeveloped Gulf-of Mexico paradise-and worth paying a little extra for)

It's time we Mothball Gregoire!

I can't tell you how angry I am getting over how our state and incompetent governor are treating our state park system. It's not enough that Gregoire asked the State Parks Department to prepare for a $10 million reduction in their budget for the next two years and get rid of 13 state parks in the process. Now our bought by the tribes and WEA governor is asking the parks to prepare for a $23 million dollar deduction and think about getting rid of even more parks! This is insane! These are tough times for sure, but we don't need to do something so drastic and so short sighted in the short term and pay for it dearly in the long term.

I see several choices Christine that are far better than your commission's idiotic plan to liquidate our cultural and natural heritage because of your reckless spending-

1. Bring back a day use fee- make it temporary until we get out of this economic mess.

2. Consider privatization of certain concessions (like camping for instance) at some of our parks to reduce government expenditures and to bring in revenue.

3. Consider a lottery to help pay for parks- Your Tribal buddies owe you one.

4. Sell bonds like New Jersey is doing to keep their parks open

5. Temporarily moth ball some parks until they can fully be operated again when the economy turns around.

BUT DO NOT- ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIQUIDATE OUR PARKS!
I find it absurd that we are getting ready to celebrate our park's centennial in 4 years and this is how we'll show it by closing and liquidating our parks!
And I find it absolutely absurd that we are going to spend money (my money) on sending illegal immigrants to college and paying their health care, silly cap and trade initiatives and other dubious forms of my hard-earned tax dollars and not fund MY and every other 6,500,000 Washingtonian's state parks.

Its time that we mothball you Governor Gregoire before you get us into even more of a mess--and take Lisa Brown with you! I am absolutely fed up with your (and the legislatures of the past 20 plus years) lack of commitment to our state parks. What would Evans do? Maybe you need to consult him right now-and perhaps call on Governor Corzine of New Jersey and Governor Fitzpatrick of Illinois and see how they are saving (thanks to public outcry) their parks.

And to my fellow hard working citizens-call and write your governor and demand that our parks not be casualties due to their reckless spending and lack of caring for our natural and cultural heritage.

(Photo- Lake Sylvia, one of the nicest state parks in the system is on Gregoire's chopping block. Hey Christine, do you think that maybe you can actually head over to Montesano and take a walk here and explain to the hard-pressed residents of Grays Harbor County why this park should go?)

Romano's Favorite Hiking Haunts No. 5

The Salmo-Priest Wilderness

I love the mountains and backcountry of northeastern Washington. From the Okanogan River to the Idaho border some of the wildest and loneliest terrain left in Washington state can be found here. A sparsely populated and lightly visited region, I love venturing to the mountains of Washington's northeast-its Columbia Highlands-for solitude, reflection, rejuvenation and to experience a Washington not found west of the Cascade Divide. Here in the Kettle River Range and Selkirk Range-and especially in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness, some of Washington's rarest and most fascinating fauna roams. Wolverines. lynx, mountain caribou, wolves, and grizzly! The only wilderness area in the state's northeast and within the 1.1 million acre Colville National Forest, the Salmo-Priest must be enlarged to ensure the protection of these wild denizens. And to assure me and other seekers of solitude that portions of our ever-growing Evergreen State will forever remain wild and untrammeled. I'm doing my part to help get this area into wilderness. I'm introducing hikers to the wonders of this region so that they may take an active role in protecting it. I urge you to join Conservation Northwest which is leading the movement for an Eastern Washington wilderness bill. Come visit. Need ideas? My Columbia Highlands book will give you plenty. So will my Best Hikes with Dogs Inland Northwest Book. And my new backpacking book that I am currently working on will also showcase some mighty fine eastern Washington wilds. I'll see you over that way this summer-and in the Blue Mountains too-but that's another story-and one I'll save for a future blog entry.

(photo- view east into Idaho from Round Mountain in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness, Oct 08)