World Hiker

coming to the airwaves soon! Yesterday I was on Steve Scher's Weekday program on KUOW 94.9 FM to talk about local hiking options and my new book Day Hiking Central Cascades. We ended up chatting a little about hiking in South Korea, France and Italy. Steve was intrigued to know more about hiking in Europe and I had so much fun on the program that I'll be coming back soon to do a segment on hiking in Europe. Now, I won't be talking about the Alps and the Cinque Terre- that and the pot bars of Amsterdam are Rick Steve's specialties. I'll be talking about hiking in the Apennines, Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, the English Lake District, Ireland, Slovenia, Bulgaria and the Pyrenees. Stay tuned here for when the program will air-I'll give you a head's up.

In the meantime-if you missed my talk yesterday- click here and advance the podcast 20 minutes-that's when the fun starts. And if you're interested in hiking in Europe visit Mountain Hiking Holidays-they're a great Northwest-based European (and World) hiking outfit that I have guided for. A bien tot!

(photo- trekking across the rooftop of Bulgaria-the Pirin Mountains)

On the Radio!

This week Tune in -Turn on-Hit the Trail!
I'll be coming at you over the airwaves twice. On Wednesday I'll be on Steve Scher's Weekday on Seattle's KUOW 94.9 FM. To you conservatives out there-that's an NPR station. Hey-I voted for McCain, so you guys can listen in for an hour! You might learn something!

On Friday I'll be on Lisa Bradshaw's show on Wenatchee's KPQ 560 AM. For you liberals out there, that station carries Rush Limbaugh first, so don't tune in too early. But don't worry- I think Rush is a fool too when it comes to conservation issues, so lend me your ear. You might learn something too! And Andy Dappen will be joining me for this program.

Seriously, both shows will be a lot of fun and the emphasis will be on hiking in Washington with a few conservation issues intertwined. I'll be looking forward to your call when we take them from the audience.

Forget the Tulips-

Let's hit Anderson Mountain!

From my home office window I stare out over the Skagit River to Blanchard and Anderson Mountains. Many a Northwest Hiker is well aware of Blanchard-but not many know of Anderson. In fact, if you were to ask many a Skagit County resident-you'd get a blank! Yet, Anderson is a fairly prominent peak rising over 3,300 feet above the Skagit Valley just a few miles east of Alger. It's owned mostly by private timber companies and the WA DNR. But the good news is the Pacific Northwest Trail traverses right over it. And while the peak is forested there are some nice clear cuts here and there. Nice clear cuts did you say? Heck yeah- they allow some amazing views from Lake Whatcom in the north to the San Juan Islands, the Skagit Flats and the Olympic Mountains to the south and west. And on this particular sunny Sunday there was no one out out there- no one except for a cougar that left fresh tracks in the snow and lots of winter wrens. The hike from the Alger CCC road is a good workout- 7 miles one way and about 2800 feet of vertical. Still lots of snow on the top but a good choice for a spring warm up. I'll probably put it in one of my books eventually-so get out there now before it gets "discovered." But, even then you'll have a hard time prying away most people from nearby Blanchard.

(photo- Heather hikes by a nice clear-cut view of Lake Whatcom)

Happy Arbor Day!

The original Earth Day!

Happy Arbor Day Everyone! Now go plant a tree. This holiday is one of our oldest having started back in 1872-the same year that America created the first national park (Yellowstone) and gave that concept to the world. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska (I actually have been there!) where planting trees on the prairie was looked at favorably during those homesteading times. If you live in Nebraska you get to take the day off from work today as it is a state holiday! The rest of you -when you get out of work- go hug a tree-plant one- and appreciate them for their beauty, utility and importance to ecological balance. Happy Arbor Day! The original tree-hugging holiday!

(photo- Shagbark hickory -one of my favorite trees. This one grows proudly in the Great Bay NWR in southern NH)

Too Dam Much Money

Too Damn Little for Trails

Here's the Good News- $62 million dollars of federal stimulus funds are heading to Washington's National Parks. Here's the Bad News-the majority of it-nearly $55 million worth is just for the dam removals on the Elwha River in Olympic National Park. That doesn't leave a whole heck of a lot for Rainier, North Cascades, and all of the National Historic Parks like, San Juan Islands, Fort Vancouver and Whitman.

Now, don't get me wrong. I support the dam removals-say so right in black and white in my Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula Book. But I also support getting our trails and access roads back in shape-and that just hasn't been happening lately. I want people to be able to get out on their trails and enjoy their parks and have lots of opportunities to do so. The Elwha River Dam removals are important but so is restoring our park's trails, roads and visitors facilities. Seven million dollars left over for them is just too damn little. The Dam's portion of stimulus money is just too damn much.

Earth Day Soiled

Happy Earth Day 2009 everyone! I don't get too worked up today though. It's not that I don't believe in Earth Day. I do. It is just that I have always had a problem with this holiday. Not with its intent-I'm all for it! It's how it's practiced- often the way many Christians go to church once or twice a year-at Christmas and Easter- celebrate Jesus and His teachings-and then go back to living a life disregarding The Way the other 363 days of the year. I see many Earth Day Revelers the same. They plant a tree-ride their bike-then go back to over consuming and not addressing the real issue at stake when it comes to protecting the planet-Population Sustainability!

Earth Day Founder, Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin viewed the stabilization of the United State's population as one of the most (if not the most) important factor to preserving and protecting the planet. Among his most resonating quotes back in 1970 was this

"It's phony to say 'I'm for the environment but not for limiting immigration.'"

You can not have a sustainable planet (or country) when your population is growing unfettered. Adding one million plus people to the US's already burgeoning 300 million plus people will not yield earth Friendly results. So instead of planting a tree in your lawn this Earth Day, how about working toward a sustainable immigration and population policy. I haven't heard anyone in Congress, the President, or the mainstream Environmental community talk about this. Accomplishing a sane and sustainable immigration and population policy along with a reigned in attitude toward materialistic consumption would be an Earth Day achievement that I would gladly celebrate-and every day-and I'd even plant a tree in commemoration. So, Happy Earth Day everyone- now get to work making the planet and the United States truly earth-friendly by addressing immigration and population reduction. There's a lot at stake and it'll be much more difficult than recycling your Evian water bottles.

Oh yeah-and for Right Wing extremists who mock the whole concept of Earth Day by consuming more-you're far worst (and despicable I may add than the folks who want to do the correct thing but are misguided or afraid to tackle the real issues of population and immigration. Richard Nixon was president when our first Earth Day was celebrated and he proudly signed into law shortly afterwards the Clean Air and Clean water Acts. Many in the Republican party today need to remember how some of our greatest environmental achievements in this country came under Republican administrations.

Earth Day Bonus- Click here to read my 1996 UW Daily Earth Day editorial-classic Romano with the same message more or less.

More Green Acres!

The Mountains to Sound Greenway keeps getting bigger and greener and that's a good thing! Check out this article from today's Seattle Times:

Raging River forest acreage to fill gap in I-90 Greenway

Over 7,000 more acres of forest and ridge protected from being turned into a King County suburb. Most of this new acreage is within the Raging River Watershed east of Tiger Mountain. I look forward to more places to hike and I'm satisfied just knowing that in a county where 1.9 million people are stacked up on one another there are still vast areas of natural habitat remaining for wild critters.

Senator Gregg helps

New Hampshire Forests

get on the Omni-bus for funding for protection!

I received this press release from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Good news indeed for the Granite State, and yet another example of why Senator Judd Gregg is a conservation champion.

Key Conservation Projects to Receive Federal Funding
The federal fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill was recently passed by Congress. The bill included funding for several Forest Society conservation priorities:
$1,200,000 from the U.S. Forest Service for the Forest Legacy Program to begin the conservation of Green Acres Woodlands, a 6,600-acre private working forest in Groton, Hebron, Rumney, and Plymouth;
$1,000,000 from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to conserve additional land around Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge at the northernmost tip of the state;
$100,000 in new funding from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support an ongoing Forest Society effort to conserve ecologically significant undeveloped land along the Merrimack River, such as the recently conserved March Pond Forest in Danbury and Andover.
Funding for all three projects was requested by U.S. Senator Judd Gregg, who has been a longtime supporter of these and other land conservation projects throughout New Hampshire, and supported in the House by Congressman Paul Hodes, whose district includes Lake Umbagog, the Green Acres Woodlands project, and most of the Merrimack River watershed.
“New Hampshire is home to some of the most diverse and ecologically significant ecosystems in the nation,” said Senator Gregg. “Our state has earned a reputation for making the conservation and protection of these special places a top priority. Unquestionably, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests clearly recognizes the importance of meeting this responsibility and has been the leading advocate on conservation projects throughout New Hampshire.”
“The Forest Society continues to be deeply grateful to Senator Gregg for making land conservation a personal priority as a Senator, both by directing funding to specific projects here in New Hampshire, and by fostering national programs like Forest Legacy and the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program,” said Forest Society President/Forester Jane Difley. “These programs have made possible the permanent protection of thousands of additional acres of working forests, watersheds and places of special scenic beauty in the Granite State. Senator Gregg’s commitment to conservation has spanned his entire public career—as a Senator, Congressman, Governor and Executive Councilor—which is why the Forest Society awarded Senator Gregg its “Conservationist of the Year” award.”
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. Supported by 10,000 families and businesses, the Forest Society’s mission is to perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire by establishing permanent conservation areas and promoting the wise stewardship of private lands. For more information, visit www.forestsociety.org.

(photo- Heather enjoys an October hike in the White Mountains. Private and public conservation lands now protect over 25% of New Hampshire)

Lions and Bears and Owls-

Oh My!

Well, it finally happened to me. It was only a matter of time before I would be attacked by a wild animal. After all I spend an inordinate amount of time in the woods-and it was bound to happen eventually. A bear? Nope! A mountain lion? uh-uh! A randy moose? Nah! How about an owl! Yep! I was off on a trail run in Alice Lake Provincial Park just north of Squamish, British Columbia, when a large barred owl flew onto a nearby limb. Gorgeous creature indeed. I tried to photograph him with my small point-and-shoot that I was running with. Watched him for awhile-tried to focus on him- (her actually) when she swooped down at me! Yikes! I have heard of this happening-now it is involving me! I started running down the forested trail and she came down at me a couple of more times. I start running faster- and that blasted owl kept flying down the trail at me. I picked up a stick and started singing in as a I ran- this would have made good video coverage- a crazy Italian lancing at the air with an alder limb! After about a third of a mile or so, the owl let me go! It was exhilarating and a bit unnerving. Of course there are bears and cougars in this park and I was out on an evening run all alone-but it was the owl that got me! Trust me- her chicks have nothing to worry about-I will not be returning anytime soon to look for them. Be careful out there-its a jungle outside!

Howe's the View!
From atop of British Columbia's Stawamus Chief-Howe is the view! Howe Sound that is, the southernmost fjord in North America. And to the north the view includes the city of Squamish, the Squamish River Delta and the massive glacial covered volcano, Mount Garibaldi. Named for the great Italian Patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi (from whom Giuseppe Gattino is named after), the mountain's presence is indeed liberating!

I was up in BC for a couple of days talking to retailers about carrying Green Trails' great new Whistler map. Good news- I got to go to Whistler! Bad news I couldn't afford to go skiing while I was there (hey I'm a writer!). Good news-it was a beautiful spring day yesterday. Bad news- I had to go to Vancouver to talk to retailers. Good news- I got to sneak out early for a hike up the Stawamus Chief. Bad news-the hike is brutal- its all on granite (just like hiking in the White Mountains) steep (2,000 feet of elevation gain in 2 miles) and my patellar tendinitis was painful! Good news- The view! Unbelievable- a cure to all of my mine and the world's problems.

If you haven't hiked this landmark-the second largest granite monolith in the world you owe it to yourself the next time you are heading north to Whistler. The hike is tough, so plan accordingly. And be prepared to socialize. The Chief welcomes over 50,000 hikers in the summer alone. People come from all over to hike it. I met people from Louisiana, Montreal and Lyon, France on the rock yesterday (a little of a French Connection!). The whole area is protected within a provincial park and it'll cost you $3 Canadian to park to hike it. What a deal! And guess what- even with a recession in British Columbia, they're not talking about closing their parks. Washington state-listen!

Scruffy Gray has returned!

The abandoned matted-fur (no more-he was shaved!) kitty that showed up on our deck about a month ago is now a permanent fixture in our home. We couldn't bear to let this gentle older cat spend the rest of his days in a shelter. He is slowly acclimating to our house. Meanwhile, top cat Giuseppe is not quite sure what to think about all of this. You can read some of his thoughts here in his blog. He'll give you his purr-spective on things!

Buona Pasqua

Happy Easter everyone-and especially to miei paesani en Italia. I know for many in the Abruzzo it will be a difficult time to celebrate. Easter is about rejuvenation and hope and in time the cities and villages of the central Apennines will rebound. Here in Western Washington, its another gray day. The tulips are starting to blossom however bringing new life and light to the saturated landscape. And here at the Romano household, Scruffy Gray is bringing new love and life to our humble abode. Giuseppe doesn't quite like it-but he'll get over it. He was expecting the Easter Bunny to make a short appearance, not an Easter Kitty to move in! Have a great day everyone!

(photo- Darn- I missed the Pope again!)

Who wants to take

Cathy McMorris Rodgers

for a Hike?

This in from yesterdays Seattle Times:

Murray, Reichert take a hike with reporters
MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Archive More land sought for Alpine Lakes Wilderness
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-8th take a hike with reporters and supporters in Three Forks Park near the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Snoqualmie River to talk up their bill Friday, granting Wild and Scenic River protection for the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers. The bill, introduced March 27, also would include wilderness protection for an additional 22,000 acres in the Alpine Lakes region.

That's great - bi-partisan support for wilderness. But how about actually getting Reichert and Murray into real wilderness and not some suburban park on the outskirts of North Bend? Be a real hiker and wilderness advocate like Peter DeFazio of Oregon. And how about taking Cathy McMorris-Rodgers for a hike along the Kettle Crest. Show her what wilderness looks like and show her what needs to be protected. C'mon Cathy, how about being a Republican in the traditional sense- like Teddy Roosevelt-Dan Evans-Richard Nixon-Judd Gregg, Silvio Conte, and Thomas Pelly?

I'll gladly take you on a hike here! Just shoot me an email. I'd love to show you why this place deserves to be wilderness. And I'd love to tell you why a good conservative believes in conservation. I'll be waiting by the computer for your response. I'll even bring along lunch for our hike-you like Tapenade and Foccacia?

(photo- Alan Bauer taking in the views from Wapaloosie Mountain in the Kettle River Range)

Good News on Good Friday!

I just received this release from Amy Brockhaus of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Excellent news indeed!

Mt. Si Natural Resource Conservation Area Expanded

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2009

SEATTLE, WA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved the addition of approximately 2,100 acres to the Mt. Si Natural Resources Conservation Area. “The addition of these lands to Mt. Si will enhance one of the most popular conservation and recreation areas in the Greenway,” says Cynthia Welti, Executive Director of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.

“With this addition, the Mount Si NRCA is now protecting more than 12,000 acres from development in eastern King County,” said State Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark.

The expansion will extend the Mt. Si conservation area boundary to the banks of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. “This is a spectacular low-elevation forest,” says Mark Boyar, Greenway Trust Board Member and President of the Middle Fork Outdoor Recreation Coalition. “It’s biologically rich, year-around habitat for many animals so permanent conservation of this area is wonderful news. It also happens to be a popular spot for hikers, kayakers, rafters, and fishers. The Washington State Legislature and the Board of Natural Resources have made a great move with this expansion.”

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust coalition has been working over the past two decades to conserve lands on and around Mt. Si through public ownership. The Greenway Trust in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources has undertaken major trail improvement projects on the 4-mile Mt. Si Trail and the 2.5-mile Little Si Trail over the past several years.
About The Mountains to Sound Greenway:
The 100-mile Mountains to Sound Greenway connects natural areas, trails, working farms and forests, historic towns and communities, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. The Greenway provides easy access to recreation and nature for millions of people in the Northwest, helping to ensure the quality of life in the region.

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization established in 1991 to protect the landscape surrounding Interstate 90 between Seattle and Central Washington. The Greenway Trust works to promote public land acquisitions, connect a continuous regional trail system, teach people of all ages about the importance of conserving forests and wildlife, improve recreation access, create new parks and trails and mobilize thousands of volunteers.

Contacts: Doug Schindler, 206.618.6265, doug.schindler@mtgreenway.org
Amy Brockhaus, 206.382.5565, amy.brockhaus@mtsgreenway.org

For More Information: mtsgreenway.org

(photo- Mount Si rises above Little Si, one of the featured hikes in my upcoming Western Washington Winter Hikes Card Deck (Mountaineers Books))

Good Friday

in the Apennines

While most of the Christian World observes Good Friday today, in L'Aquila in the Apennines of central Italy, the city buries its dead, victims of the recent earthquake. Ironically, an earthquake struck Jerusalem on this day nearly 2,000 years ago. But its aftermath was one of affirmation not despair. This is a time for reflection and renewal-and the city will rebuild and renew again. But for the families who lost loved ones in this natural disaster, renewal will be a long and difficult road. Nature is an awesome force that doesn't take into consideration whether man is secure within its confines. Man often looks to God for answers on why nature can sometimes be so cruel. The answers are there-they're just not understood. While it would be smug to suggest that people should just not live in such a disaster prone area-I would point out that most of us would have to leave our residences. But to where? No place is totally secure from the forces of nature. Without such awesome displays of nature's wrath, how could we possibly appreciate nature's soothing displays? Her sunsets, bountiful prairies and forests, awe-inspiring landscapes, and life sustaining waters? The cities and villages of the Apennines will continue to flourish-just as they have for thousands of years. The sun will rise once more over L'Aquila. Earthquakes shatter our sense of security. If Terra firma isn't so firm, what is? How about our human spirit?

(photo- a lone chamois (Camoscio d'Abruzzo (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata))in the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo. I hiked up to this basin to see them. The Abruzzo National Park ranks among my favorite places on the planet)

Holy Thursday

The Last Supper and lasting memories

I'm having European flashbacks. Perhaps it's because of the recent earthquake in Italy, President Obama's recent trip to the continent, and it's Lent. Throughout the 1990s and the first half of this decade I traveled to Europe at least once a year. Other than personal trips and visits to family and friends, my wife and I worked as mountain guides in the Pyrenees of France and Spain. I have also hiked in Scotland, England, Italy and Sicily, Austria, Slovenia. Malta, Bulgaria, and Ireland. I have a deep appreciation for the continent's landscapes-but even more so for its cultural attributes-particularly its churches and cathedrals.

I always feel the presence of God when I'm in nature. I rarely do in man's cities. However in the great cathedrals and churches of Europe, I often feel the Creator's presence. Perhaps its because of my Catholic upbringing-I love the statues, the stained glass, the incense, the candles-it is all so mystical -so celestial. And I love the artwork of the Middle Ages-it invokes in me reflection and awe. I have yet to make it to Milan despite my several trips to Italy. It is there that Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting hangs. I'll get there eventually. The Last Supper painting I've posted here is from the Louvre in Paris-it's by Philippe de Champaigne, a relatively unknown painter to the masses. The painting is never-the-less a work of art. Here in the Pacific Northwest I won't have the paintings and ornate churches and Renaissance art to spiritually inspire me, but I do have some of God's greatest works surrounding me. The Cascades, Olympic Mountains and coastline, and the area's ancient forests are some of the greatest shrines on the planet. I worship there often. They are sacred and precious and like the great cathedrals, basilicas and churches of Europe, these natural cathedrals are worth preserving, protecting and respecting.

Holy Moses!

To all my Jewish readers, I wish you a Happy Passover. Now, pass the Matza!

Trailcasts are back!

Click on over to Green Trails.com and download a Trailcast or two. What's a trailcast? It's a pod cast of a selected hike from one of my many guidebooks. And once you get it downloaded into your preferred listening device-its like taking me and Marc the Cartographer along as your guides. Heck-we'll even bring along Bodhi the wonder dog on occasion. So check it out and let us take you for a hike. You'll have to pack your own lunch though. We haven't figured out yet how to get some grub over to you via the web!

Now Appearing: Bellingham

Tonight at 7:00 pm at the downtown Bellingham Public Library, I'll be presenting a slide show and book talk on my Day Hiking North Cascades Book. The event is sponsored by the Mount Baker Club, an outdoors organization that among other things maintains the wonderful lookout at Winchester Mountain (hike no. 68 in my book). Come on down if you're in the area. Let me help get you motivated for the 2009 hiking season. Certainly these past few days of sunny warm weather has helped adjusted your attitude. I'll have plenty of books on hand for sale at the recession-proof price of $15-and that includes the tax-I'll eat it-the gov should thank me for that! And if I miss you here, I'll be presenting in Tacoma on April 17, Seattle on April 25, Issaquah on May 13, Wenatchee on May 15 and 16, Spokane on May 18, Walla Walla on May 21, Lynnwood on May 27, Bellingham again on May 28 and Port Townsend on June 5. Click here for details on all of these events. Hope to see you this spring--and this summer too on the trail!

Romano's Favorite Hiking Haunts No. 6

Italy's Apennines

It saddens me to hear this morning of the news of a 6.3 earthquake rattling central Italy. The epicenter is L'Aquila (the eagle) situated right dab in the middle of the Apennines. The capital city of the Abruzzo Region, many my fellow paesani here in America have family from this gorgeous mountainous region of Italy. Several years back I took the train from Rome to L'Aquila and caught a bus to Pescasseroli in the Abruzzo National Park. I spent one week here hiking in one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe. Old-growth beech forests, wolves, bears, eagles, and excellent food and vino afterwards. Hardly any Americans venture to this part of Italy. They need to now to help rebuild L'Aquila's crumbled buildings and the region's shattered villages. Nature is a powerful force and in the Abruzzo region she has once again shown man that it is she who is in charge. A prayer to Sant'Emidio couldn't hurt right now-nor can your support.

(foto- Vado a piedi en il Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo)

Sauntering along the Skagit

Heather and I took advantage of the "first weekend of spring" and went for a nice hike along the Skagit River on Sunday. Starting from Rockport's Howard Miller Steelhead Park we followed the Skagit-Sauk Reach Trail for about 3.5 miles. Fairly new and relatively unknown, this trail which follows along the mighty Skagit River on an old rail bed is a real gem. Unfortunately there is a small washout at 1.5 miles which requires some difficult and potentially hazardous dancing around. Most experienced hikers will be able to negotiate it. But this section will definitely require a reroute which requires two difficult to come by things right now- funding for trail work-and funding for an easement on private property. I hope that perhaps some of that stimulus money that President Obama is throwing around will land on the banks of the Skagit. And perhaps Congressman Rick Larsen, no shunner of earmarks can perhaps divert some of this money for trails and away from pavement. How about it Rick? Are you up for a hike this weekend? Let me show you a trail in need and a Skagit County asset worth fixing up.

Has Spring finally Sprung?

Okay, it hit 55 degrees yesterday. Still a degree below the normal high for this time of year-but heck, I'll take it! Heather and I participated in the 28th annual Tulip Pedal bike event. It was fairly well-attended, but not fairly well structured. You were pretty much on your own-so after we left the 40 mile group behind, it felt like we were on our own-and we pretty much were! But--this is our backyard so we were familiar with the roads and we had a great time putting in 63 miles. It was the longest bike ride the both of us have done in awhile. The sun was out-Mount Baker was out and a handful of daffodils were out as well. No tulips yet-it'll be another week or so for them-hopefully in time for our big Tulip Run next weekend. I'd like to see the Tulip Pedal organized as well as our run which is sponsored by the Skagit Runners. Hopefully we'll be able to give them a few good pointers to grow their event and make it a much stronger one. Never-the-less when the sun is shining and you're out exercising in a beautiful environment how can you not be enjoying yourself!?

World Hiker Clarifies

Position on Climate Change

David has left a new comment on your post "Tenth Coldest March on Record!": I know being a skeptic of science the link below will not change your mind, but I thought it would be a good read. One thing I must ask is what you mean by "the climate always changes". Do you mean long term climate always changes or every day, short-term weather always changes? Oh, by the way, just because you are willing to be conservation minded does not mean everyone else is willing to make the changes needed (that you and I - a left wing "hypocritical" environmentalist) to conserve the environment or stop global climate change before it is too late to conserve what will and is being lost. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/cool-spells-in-a-warming-world/

Hey David—thanks for commenting. Let me clarify my position on this whole Climate Change thing. I am in between the naysayer Right-wing nuts and the world is coming to an end Left-wing kooks. When I state climate always changes-I mean both on a seasonal and long term basis. That’s my point. I do not believe that man has had as large of an impact on climate that the alarmists claim. I still say that it is part of a bigger climate change that is part of the way the world is heading-ice age-warming period-mini ice age-the beat goes on. With that-I think it is absolutely crazy to implement drastic measures to fight climate change (like fighting the sun from shining) which I believe will only destroy our economy, unnecessarily tax people (which will seriously impact lower income people-latte liberals have plenty of money to tax themselves-the folks don’t) for something that I believe we cannot warrant significant change or influence (or minimally at best and there are sounder wider reaching measures like land preservation that are far more effective than cap and trade) upon. I am all for sound conservation-like land preservation-energy conservation-alternative energy like nuclear which has the smallest impact for the most energy and population control which includes reduced immigration-especially the latter-we cannot add one million people to our population every year and expect energy consumption to go down-it will never happen. But, the left wing alarmists only want to regulate what kind of cars we drive, what we set our thermostats at, try to get us out of our cars, etc.etc, without addressing the real issues to a planet at peril- over population and over consumption. What makes so many of them hypocrites (and they aren’t all hypocrites-many are just misguided) is that often the ones that speak the loudest-and demand the most radical changes in personal behavior usually don’t carry though with it themselves. They want you and me to change but they won’t. Whether it is a certain overweight mayor that expounds upon the virtues of public transportation and riding a bike and shunning your personal vehicle-yet he has a limousine tote him around- a certain president that wants to implement cap and trade which will dramatically increase our electric bills-but he cranks his thermostat up- a certain ex vice president that claims the world is ending but he lives in a huge house and flies all over the world in a private jet-the list goes on-that and all the other well-healed limousine liberals that scream and shout about the world coming to an end-yet they continue to live in giant houses-or two-fly all over the world on vacations-import trendy food (with big carbon foot prints) use tons of energy for all of their electronic gizmos but think they are off the hook because they drive a Prius or bought some stupid green tag (indulgence)- I’m tired of this hypocrisy! None of them address their own over consumptive behavior (it is always yours and mine they want to address) and none of them tackle the real problems of over-population and over-consumption-because they are at the center of those problems by refusing to address them! Now, right-wing climate change deniers-they may not give a crap about the environment- but at least they’re not hypocrites-just selfish fools, The left wing do as I say not as I do types are worst-and I am tired of them trying to regulate my life while they continue to live a life of waste and largess. I’m all for real conservation methods- and I have been living them my entire life. The world is not going to end because of climate change-it is just going to be a different place-and that is not bad or good necessarily-just different—we’ll adapt-the planet will adapt-it always has-so let’s stop wasting time chasing windmills and instead work on real conservation issues- land preservation-reduced energy consumption, and sustainable development and population reduction! I hope I made myself clearer and thanks for having the dialogue.

Coming Soon

to a Bookstore Near You!

Day Hiking: Central Cascades: Stevens Pass, Alpine Lakes, Lake Wenatchee
by Craig Romano; photography by Alan Bauer
Available in May 2009
The Central Cascades in Washington State offer some of the most accessible wilderness areas
for urban Seattleites, with trails no less stunning or enjoyable than those in more remote
regions. Accompanied by stunning images from prolific outdoor photographer Alan Bauer, 125 cream-of-the-crop trails are presented here from Craig Romano, called “one of the better
guidebook writers around” by the Seattle P-I.

My latest book is scheduled to start hitting bookshelves any day now! What will you find in it? Hikes from Whidbey Island to Lake Chelan- The US 2 Corridor- Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the new Wild Sky Wilderness-Icicle Valley-Wenatchee foothills, Entiat Valley, Lake Wenatchee, suburban Snohomish County and Stehekin.

Come down to the Mountaineers Club House Celebration on April 25th to learn more or one of my other upcoming appearances around the state from Spokane to Skamokawa. Check out CraigRomano.com for more info.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE OUR FORESTS MORE COMFORTABLE AND ACCESSIBLE

The Washington trail system is over-rated and over-used. How can one consistently derive pleasure from hiking trails full of suburban pot-bellied refugees huffing and puffing to get a view of Mount Rainier? How many times can you possibly look at that over-grown mass of rock and ice? I have found that in order to enjoy a real outdoors experience where I can be alone and commune with my surroundings, I need only to venture to the nearest area of clearcut logging. The trouble with forests is that there are too many trees. Trees block both the views and the sun - when it decides to make an appearance. There is nothing so awesome as looking out at an open and expansive landscape that has been thoroughly denuded of vegetation. The scenery is somewhat surreal, recalling post-World War I Europe. There is a certain romanticism to this beauty. Occasionally a lone raven will fly over the cut area. In Native American religion, the Raven creates. How ironic it is to watch this bird soaring over the altered landscape. How can you not admire the power of man over nature when you hike through one of these areas? Clearcuts of old growth forests are the most awesome. To see a tree over 1,000 years old come toppling down is an incredible experience. It is especially assuring to know the tree won't be wasted. It will end up as a cabinet in Tokyo or a beam in a Long Island cottage. I like to hike through clearcuts in National Forests. These are our forests and it is reassuring to see they are being managed wisely. What a waste to keep these big, old trees standing. Not only are they performing no economic good, but I can't see a damn thing when I hike through them. Clearcuts are great wildlife viewing areas as well. In forests, you can never see the bear, elk or owls. But in a clearcut you can see animals everywhere. Once I saw a huge flock of starlings land on a grove of stumps. What a shame it would have been if an eagle came by to harass them. Once I camped out with some friends in a clearcut area that was not too far from the Interstate. All night we could hear the cars and the semis buzzing by. The constant lull of the traffic put us to sleep. This experience stood in such a contrast to camping by water - usually the babbling of streams keeps me tossing and turning. The second night we were out we decided to bag some game to add to our experience. We were able to shoot a marbled murrlet that had returned looking for its nest in a freshly logged tree. What luck! We cooked him up and he wasn't too bad. Tasted a little like spotted owl. If I ever get lost while hiking in a clearcut area I just follow my beer cans out. If you are bored on the return and you can't find any small mammals, the cans make for good target practice. Clearcuts are rapidly being reforested in this state and they are getting harder and harder to find. Bleeding heart environmental commie pinkos are screaming that logging is destroying the earth. I saw no evidence for their exaggerated claims. I even saw a salmon in the silt of a stream running through a clearcut area. I know the big timber companies have my best interests in mind when they put up those neat signs along the roads that say, "Our forests are working for you!" We need to stop putting so much land in preserves where my recreational opportunities are so limited and start allowing for more cuts. Think of all the new views that would be created. When hillsides erode out and slash piles up, it only adds to the excitement of the clearcut adventure. There are so many good uses for trees I can't understand why any one would consider letting them stand. Write to your representative and demand that more cutting take place. Our state will be more beautiful and our planet a warmer place to hike. Think of it, a longer hiking season. Grab your chainsaw and go take a hike!

Oh yeah- And April Fools!!!!!

Thanks to Kim Brown for digging this article up-one I wrote for the UW Daily back in 1996 when I was a graduate student. I consider it one of my classic articles from my three year stint with the Daily.