The Heat is on!

Looks like many a community in western Washington will end up with a record high today. Forecasts are for Seattle to hit 101! Hotter than a Rolex in a Newark Market! Its a little cooler up here in Skagit-we should hit 95-molto caldo! But while we may see triple digits here for the first time, in many parts of the eastern half of Evergreen State it is pretty common, where ironically it is cooler right now in than in much of the western half. And just what is the state's all time high temperature? It's 118-set on August 5, 1961 at (ironically) the Ice Harbor Dam near Pasco. I imagine the lizards were cooking that day-just like we will be in a few more hours. Brace yourself folks-I wonder how many air conditioning systems are being sold around Seattle this week? There's money to be made in climate change! How many snow blowers were sold this winter with our near record snowfall? It's beginning to feel a lot more like New England out here-and meanwhile back in my old stomping grounds they had record colds and rainfall most of the spring and early summer-has the Northeast and Northwest been juxtaposed? If Mount Rainier gets record wind speeds anytime soon, the answer may very well be yes-. In the meantime, I wish I were in Dixie right now where Birmingham Alabama isn't expected to exceed 85 today!

(photo-Juniper Dunes Wilderness near Pasco, WA, a sizzling place indeed!)

It's So Hot Out Today!

How hot is it?

I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking!

Giuseppe and Scruffy Gray are not happy kitties today as the thermometer pushes past 90. Giuseppe is a Maine Coon with a thick coat of fur-and Scruffers is an old rescued kitty who has had a tough life as it is. Hey what's with this heat they're thinking. I thought we were in the temperate Pacific Northwest. Definitely the hottest weather I've been in here in my 20 years of living in Washington. So its time for a little trip down memory lane to put a perspective on this-

• I grew up back east where most of the summer is hot and muggy!
• I worked outside as a surveyor in Vermont in the summer of 1988, a record year with nearly half of July's days recording over 90 degrees
• I spent two weeks in the Amazon back in that same year!
• I've hiked in France in July and in Sicily in June- chaud and caldo!
• I hiked in Ybycui National Park in Paraguay- mucho calor!
• Hiked in Nevada and Eastern Oregon in August!
• Bicycled across Kansas, Colorado, Utah and southern Idaho in May and June in temps up to 110.

You know I'm feeling better already. Of course my buddies Marty and Rob in south Florida are saying-get over it and have yourself a margarita! Not a bad idea-but what can we give the cats?

Hidden Wilderness?

Try the East Humboldt!

In reference to Lauren Braden's WTA Signpost blog post today about Hidden Wilderness, if you really want to sample a hidden wilderness in the lower 48, try the East Humboldt in northern Nevada. Unlike the nearby more popular 93,000 acre Ruby Mountain Wilderness (a spectacular place and one of my favorite hiking haunts) the smaller East Humboldt Wilderness protects 36,000 acres of the East Humboldt Range and sees nary a soul. Perhaps that it is pushing 90 degrees right now in Western Washington is why I am waxing nostalgic over Nevada hiking! But don't think that this wilderness is a desert wasteland (not a real wasteland mind you). There are lakes there and they hit the spot after hiking through brushy prickly open slopes under scorching sun. Made the area sound enticing uh? Seriously, check this place out sometime. And for more info on all the wild areas of Nevada (no, not Vegas and Reno-the other wild areas) visit Friends of Nevada Wilderness. But just in case you're not interested in hiking in the Silver State, you don't have to go all the way to Nevada right now if you want a hot hidden wilderness. Right here in Washington we have our own little hot hidden wilderness. Juniper Dunes anyone? Its only 103 over there right now!

Wheels of misfortune

I don't know about you-but lately I have been seeing more and more evidence of illegal intrusions by the wheeled set. And I'm not just talking renegade ATV and dirt bike riders here-I'm talking about scofflaw mountain bikers that in many ways are turning out to be worst than the dirt bikers. For the most part, folks who engage in these activities are law abiding and decent folks. But there are some rabble rousers out there who like to ride their machines where they aren't allowed. Get over it- life has rules and we can't just do what we want to do. I recently came upon fresh ATV tracks in Vanson Meadows in the Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument (pictured on right) and mountain bike tracks on the Pacific Crest Trail near the Norse Peak Wilderness. With public land agencies operating on bare bone budgets that leave them with severely understaffed (if any) law enforcement departments-it is no surprise that SOB throttle-brains and girdle wearers are encroaching into areas that prohibit their activity. So where does that lead us the law abiders who cringe at this encroachment? Have you encountered one of these renegades in your hikes? How have you dealt with them? What can we do about these brazen law breakers? I for one welcome stiff penalties for these law breakers and a budget that allows for law enforcement to be on the trails catching these bastards. They'll continue to do this if there is virtually no way they will be caught and or held accountable for their actions. Like I said earlier-I am seeing more and more of this activity and I have been hiking for a long time. It's time to derail these scofflaw mountain bikers and dirt bikers before this problem becomes even worse!

The Greening of St Helens

I just finished up 37 miles of great hiking in the Mount St Helens area and let me tell you that it is amazing how fast the forest and landscape are coming back to life there. I first hiked the region in 1989 over a blasted land of gray, gray and more gray! Now the ridges are green-sub alpine firs are over 20 feet tall. Just amazing. Lots of wildlife and wildflowers and surprisingly very little people. My 21 mile loop down the Green River Valley and back along Vanson Peak and Goat Mountain I saw no one! And my 16.5 mile hike into the Mount Margaret Backcountry Lakes I only encountered one person-the backcountry ranger! No one around! So, if you are looking for a nice wilderness experience in the St Helens region-I have two picked out for you. They'll be in my upcoming book, Backpacking Washington. Next week I move back up to the volcano in chief, Rainier! See you on the trail!

American Beauty

This past Friday I did one of my toughest hikes in recent times- a 19 mile trek across American Ridge followed by a 4.5 mile run down highway 410 to retrieve my truck! It was a long and hard day-but quite spectacular. American Ridge in the William O Douglas Wilderness is one of the loneliest spots in the South Cascades. The ridge trail is rugged-non-existent in spots and climbs and drops repeatedly and steeply- if you want to do a backpacking trip and be all by yourself-this is a trip for you. Now, when I say all-by-yourself-I mean no other humans- I met over 30 elk on this trip-most of them in the Big Basin which is a great place to spend the evening and one of the more gentle spots along this rough and rugged ridge. Full details of this trip will be in my Backpacking Book. And you'll want those details too because the Green Trails map is wrong- the distance is actually longer than what is shown and Harvey Manning doesn't mention the 1,200 foot drop and climb between one high basin and the other!

(photo- Bumping Lake and Nelson Ridge from American Ridge)

Explore the Entiat this Weekend at Trailsfest

I hope to see many of you this Saturday at Washington Trails Association's annual Trailsfest at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend. At noon I will be giving a powerpoint presentation on the Entiat Country. Let me show you the amazing array of trails found in this fairly unknown (to west siders at least) part of the Central Cascades. I will also be talking about threats and conservation issues pertaining to this region, in particular the motorized incursions of de facto wilderness. Hope to see you Saturday!

(photo-View north from Duncan Hill)

A lot can change in 16 years

Which is why if a trail is going in one of my guidebooks, I head out to hike it again regardless if I have hiked it in the past-especially the distant past. I have read far too many guidebooks that have me questioning whether the author had actually ever hiked the trail--or hiked it within the last decade or two. Not the case with mine-I hike the trails-all of the trails-and again if may be as soon as I contract to do a new guidebook. I want my readers to be assured that they can trust my info-especially important information like whether a bridge is missing-as such is the case of the Waptus River Trail. Now does this still mean that my books are error free? Of course not-errors occur when you are putting together 85,000 word manuscripts and several people are working on production. But fortunately the couple of errors that have crept up in my books have been small and are quickly fixed in subsequent printings. I do my damnedest to make my books accurate. Of course, you my dear readers can help me out if you notice that I made a mistake-or if something new happens-like say a bridge washes out-I greatly appreciate your support and hearing from you. Enjoy the trails and stay-up-to-date on the conditions. The Waptus Bridge has been out since 2006. Back in 1993 when I had last hiked the trail (before last week) a majestic bridge spanned a roaring and intimidating stretch of the river. Ah memories-and a much easier hike!

Restless Souls in the Alpine Lakes

That would be the souls of my trail running shoes. They're restless and my feet are beat! My spiritual soul is just fine-very at ease actually! As most of you know I am currently working on a backpacking book. It is a little different than the standard backpacking books out there. It is meant primarily to be for weekend backpacking. Most of the trips are in the 18-25 mile range making them perfect for a one nighter for strong hikers are an extended trip for those who wish to linger. The book will include 70 trips from the Olympics to the Blues and almost all of these trips do not require a car shuttle-another hindrance to convenient trekking. The book is also meant to compliment the Day Hiking series--so if you like/have my day hiking books you'll want to add this volume to help you go a little farther down the trail. The research for this book is demanding. I currently have 49 more trips to complete --and mind you that I only have a few months to do it. So, how am I doing it? Well despite that the book is a backpacking book-I'm not actually overnighting on every trip. I'd like to-but time is a ticking. So, good thing I am a marathon runner because I am putting in some serious mileage-making sure the trails are fine-water sources are good- campsites are decent-all of that good stuff. I just finished my last two days over in the Salmon La Sac Area. Thursday did a 21 mile day hike to Waptus Lake and beyond- and yesterday did a 16 mile hike to Deep Lake. Good stuff-you are going to love hiking to these places-but do me a favor and spend some time-will ya? Okay-this week I'll probably be over in the Rainier area-and back in time to do my presentation on the Entiat at WTA's Trailsfest. Stop by and chat-I'll let you in on a few of the places in the new book. Some are popular-but others are hidden gems-all good stuff. Okay I need to rest before I head out again. Ciao.

(photo-Deep Lake from above-boy was it a big drop-1,200-feet worth-and climb back out!)

Big Four Ice Caves

The abridged version!

No, the caves haven't gotten any smaller. They fluctuate in size year to year and they're just as icy, cavy, and impressive this year as always. What's abridged is the trail-A bridge once again spans the South Fork Stillaguamish River making this hike once again accessible to all and safe and perfect for families with children. Since the bridge and trail reopened two weeks ago, an avalanche of hikers have been flooding to the ice caves. But, this trail and bridge can take that sort of avalanche and flood, some come on down and check this very cool natural landmark out. And let's hope that this new bridge can withstand the next set of winter torrents that Mother Nature has in store.

(picture-the old destroyed bridge is now a memory like the old Big Four Hotel)

Start with Al, Henry, Nancy, and Oprah!

This in today's Reiters-

(bold face my emphasis)

New climate strategy: track the world's wealthiest
Mon Jul 6, 2009 11:04pm EDT
By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -

To fairly divide the climate change fight between rich and poor, a new study suggests basing targets for emission cuts on the number of wealthy people, who are also the biggest greenhouse gas emitters, in a country.

Since about half the planet's climate-warming emissions come from less than a billion of its people, it makes sense to follow these rich folks when setting national targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions, the authors wrote on Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As it stands now, under the carbon-capping Kyoto Protocol, rich countries shoulder most of the burden for cutting the emissions that spur global warming, while developing countries -- including fast-growing economies China and India -- are not required to curb greenhouse pollution.

Rich countries, notably the United States, have said this gives developing countries an unfair economic advantage; China, India and other developing countries argue that developed countries have historically spewed more climate-warming gases, and developing countries need time to catch up.

The study suggests setting a uniform international cap on how much carbon dioxide each person could emit in order to limit global emissions; since rich people emit more, they are the ones likely to reach or exceed this cap, whether they live in a rich country or a poor one.

For example, if world leaders agree to keep carbon emissions in 2030 at the same level they are now, no one person's emissions could exceed 11 tons of carbon each year. That means there would be about a billion "high emitters" in 2030 out of a projected world population of 8.1 billion.
EACH PERSON'S EMISSIONS

By counting the emissions of all the individuals likely to exceed this level, world leaders could provide target emissions cuts for each country. Currently, the world average for individual annual carbon emissions is about 5 tons; each European produces 10 tons and each American produces 20 tons.

With international climate talks set to start this week in Italy among the countries that pollute the most, the authors hope policymakers will look at the strong link between how rich people are and how much carbon dioxide they emit.

"You're distributing the task of doing something about emissions reduction based on the proportion of the population in the country that's actually doing the most damage," said Shoibal Chakravarty of the Princeton Environment Institute, one of the study's authors.

Rich people's lives tend to give off more greenhouse gases because they drive more fossil-fueled vehicles, travel frequently by air and live in big houses that take more fuel to heat and cool.

By focusing on rich people everywhere, rather than rich countries and poor ones, the system of setting carbon-cutting targets based on the number of wealthy individuals in various countries would ease developing countries into any new climate change framework, Chakravarty said by telephone.

"As countries develop -- India, China, Brazil and others -- over time, they'll have more and more of these (wealthy) individuals and they'll have a higher share of carbon reductions to do in the future," he said.

These obligations, based on the increasing number of rich people in various countries, would kick in as each developing country hit a certain overall level of carbon emissions. This level would be set fairly high, so that economic development would not be hampered in the poorest countries, no matter how many rich people live there.

Is this a limousine-and-yacht tax on the rich? Not necessarily, Chakravarty said, but he did not rule it out: "We are not by any means proposing that. If some country finds a way of doing that, it's great."

This week's climate talks in Italy are a prelude to an international forum in December in Copenhagen aimed at crafting an agreement to follow the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. At the same time, the U.S. Congress is working on legislation to curb U.S. carbon emissions.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

My take-I couldn't agree more. It just happens that the biggest climate change alarmists in this country are also some of the wealthiest people in this nation. Their plans to cap and trade and get us all into tiny cars or on crowded buses would only be a hardship to the middle class, working people and the poor. The rich can easily pay their tax proposals to assuage their guilt about their consumption. So let em! Oprah and Al- how much carbon do your jets emit on each single trip?! Yep-more carbon than you and I can possibly emit in our lifetimes! It's about time that the Als and Oprahs and Waxmens fess up for their own consumption and stop trying to put the blame (and burden) on the rest of us. And its also the Gores, Nickels, and Pelosis who spew the most hot air -let's cap their rhetoric and trade it for some sane energy policies that won't destroy industry and burden the middle and working classes in this country. Meanwhile China and India continue to add a carbon-belching power plant to the landscape every what now- three days?! Good grief!

(photo- Al Gore's house -what's the carbon foot print on this "little earth friendly adobe?")

Scruffers hates fireworks (and so do I)!

The heat this Independence Day weekend would have been enough discomfort for my two cats, Giuseppe and Scruffy Gray (aka Scruffers) but they had to endure the bombs bursting in air as well. I had to spend a good part of the weekend consoling my kitties-especially Scruffers who we adopted two months ago. This poor little guy has lived a tough enough life without having to freak out while neighborhood rowdies set the sky afire. But I have to admit that I too spent most of the weekend stressed- worried that my house would go up in flames from some idiot's errant bottle rocket. You know- I love the Fourth of July but I absolutely can do without the fireworks. And many of my friends it appears concur. I see no reason why we even allow fireworks to be sold (can't understand why it is okay for Native Americans to sell something legally that the rest of us aren't supposed to posses-and where is it in Native America culture that fireworks play? If anything-if we are going to allow a certain ethnic group a privilege that is not extended to the rest of society- we should allow the Chinese to profit on firework sales-after all they invented the stuff! But, I digress). Seriously, the Fourth is a great celebration-but blowing up things, terrorizing war vets and animals and setting the countryside ablaze makes no sense to me. Especially this year in the Northwest with our tinderbox fire conditions we allow for such foolishness to go on. As of this morning there were four fires burning in my county-only one of them was from a natural cause. Thank God it is raining today and thank God Scruffers is back to his snugly self no longer in a catatonic state hiding under the guest bed. Peruse the papers today and you'll read familiar stories of firework induced injuries and firework sparked house fires. Not a good price to pay for our Independence is it? Next Fourth of July, how about heading to the mountains to hike, bike, swim, paddle or just lounge around. Bring your loved one with you and perhaps you'll see a little fireworks-the safe kind-and the one kind to set over and over again. Scruffers encourages it-He wishes you all a safe rest of the summer.

Happy Independence Day!

Boy-talk about a late post. Got up early this morning- fed the cats-read the paper-hung the flag-headed to Sedro-Woolley with Heather to run in the Logerrodeo 5.17 mile foot race-hung out with friends-running club members-acquaintances-came back-took a nap- planned hikes for the upcoming summer-listening to Shania Twain and Martina McBride- going to fire up the grill soon-Ain't America great? Don't ever forget it! Happy Independence Day!

Horseshoe Basin is a real ringer!

I just got back from a short two day 26 mile backpacking trip to Horseshoe Basin in the Pasayten Wilderness. Talk about a fantastic place for exploring. Set up camp in the wide grassy basin and then choose among a half dozen 7,500 to 8,000 foot peaks to "walk up" and explore. I headed up Armstrong mountain-right on the BC border and Windy Peak the following day. Armstrong is amazing-all alpine tundra with lots of ridges and two border monuments. I bagged the high point over in BC and proved just how easy it is to walk back and forth over the border-yeah like the drug runners and illegal aliens don't know that already!

Windy Peak is south of Horseshoe with a trail up it. It is a hot hike through open tundra, rocky slopes and the Tripod burn zone. But what a view! You can actually see Baker peeking in the distance. I hiked off of Windy via the Clutch Creek Trail which is really difficult in spots with lots of bad tread and a steep hellacious climb out of the Middle Fork Toats Coulee. Oh well-that's why I do the research for you so you now know! This will all be in my upcoming Backpacking Washington book. I'll give you lots of pointers and suggestions in it on the region-but here's one right now- wait until late summer to come over here for the mosquitoes cant get enough hiker blood right now. By late summer however, much of Horseshoe's pretty wetland pools will be dry. Little buggers-only thing keeping this destination from being complete paradise!