Trail Funding Continues to Trail Behind

I miss the good old days of the 1970s and 1980s. Seems like back then we had more trails and more funding for trail construction and maintenance. That's because we did! State and federal governments under both Democrats and Republicans allocated fair amounts of money to parks and forests to build and maintain trails--and provide access to them. The money was never enough-but compared to these days of fiscal meltdowns-the money was a windfall. Sure, taxes were higher back then (you get what you pay for) and ironically the extraction of timber from our national forests meant a lot of money coming back to fund roads and trails. But alas, the timber industry has collapsed here in the Northwest and both the federal and state governments aren't giving out too much doe any more for trails and land acquisition. And roads and access? We continue to lose them too and our trail inventory shrinks while our population continues to grow.

What to do then? We certainly can wait for better economic times and vote in government officials that will give us sound fiscal policies and sustainable and adequate funding. But I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Instead, We the people need to get involved in the private sector and partner with state and federal agencies to help maintain our trails and acquire more public lands. Land trusts are great for protecting land and I belong and actively support a handful of them. Trail organizations fill the gap in keeping our trail system in good shape and I belong to a couple of these groups as well. I throw the bulk of my support to the Washington Trails Association which works statewide building and maintaining our priceless trails in a wide array of public lands from city and county parks to national park and forest wildernesses. But while our trails may be priceless, they do require some funding to keep them open. And that money isn't coming from the government. It's coming from you and me-or at least I hope it is coming from you and me. I invite you to join the Washington Trails Association and become one of thousands of Washington hikers who put their money where their mouths and boots are.

And I invite you to join the WTA through my 50 for 50 campaign. I have taken it upon myself to raise $10,000 for this organization by running in the White River 50 Mile Endurance trail Run in celebration of my 50th year here on planet earth. Please sponsor me by making a donation to WTA. Of course, any amount will help! But if you donate $20 or more, I will give you a special series Green Trails map ($12 value) and if you donate $40 or more I'll give you a map and you will become a WTA member which entitles you to a subscription to Washington Trails magazine (which I contribute to from time to time). How about it? Can I count on you for a donation and call you a fellow WTA member? It would be a great move to celebrate this year's National Trails Day!

(Picture-A WTA volunteer crew construct a trail on the future Miller Peninsula State Park, WA) 

Live Free and Pony up for Conservation!

While I have been living in Washington State since 1989, my heart will always be in the Granite State. New Hampshire made me who I am-conservation minded, fiscally conservative, fiercely independent, and socially libertarian. Boy, that’s a mouthful! My home state has always been independent and libertarian. The state’s slogan is, Live Free or Die. It was uttered by General John Stark (a New Hampshire boy of course) at the Battle of Bennington during the American War of Independence.

In New Hampshire money isn’t wasted. There’s no state income tax. No sales tax either. The state looks for creative ways to solving problems and making life better on very little public funding. The state has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, and some of the best schools and health care facilities. It is neither particularly liberal nor conservative. It’s New Hampshire—a place where you don’t have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, or wear a seat belt driving. You don’t need a license for a gun and you can get a marriage license if you’re gay.
When it comes to conservation, NH is bold and innovative. The state has been a pioneer in public-private conservation initiatives. Nearly 20% of the state’s land is protected. The state has the largest amount of federally protected land in New England. But the majority of the state’s protected land is through the private sector in land trusts and conservation easements. And almost all of that private land is open to the public.

I realized long ago even as a young idealist that it is true, that government is not the answer. We the people are. Of course we need government and we need regulations—and we need public land. But government simply cannot provide all of our conservation needs. I realized that back around 1985. I realized too that I had an obligation to help protect my planet. While I encourage my elected officials to do the right thing when it comes to conservation—and they do at times—I also realized that it is up to me and my fellow citizens to be involved, too. That is why I support land trusts and conservation groups. That is why I donate money and time to them. That is why I encourage all of you-liberal-conservative-moderate alike to get involved. Don’t wait for the government to buy that cherished open space threatened with development. You need to do it! Get involved with a land trust. They are some of the least-controversial conservation organizations around. You want to save land? Buy it! How American is that?

This year I received my 25 year lapel from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF). Founded in 1901, SPNHF is now one of the country's most effective statewide land conservation organizations. They are dedicated to protecting the state's most important landscapes while promoting the wise use of its renewable natural resources. SPNHF has been responsible for: helping to protect over one million acres of open space in the state; promoting good land stewardship through education and by example; and advocating for public policies that encourage the wise conservation of natural resources.

They were the first conservation group I joined. I have been a member now for more than half of my life. I am very proud of this organization. They have done more to save and protect NH than any other organization or government. The state of New Hampshire and I owe them so much. I look at this organization as a model of what conservation organizations should be. There’s nothing extreme about them and they are made up of and supported by folks from all walks of life. They support protecting important wildlife habitat as well as maintaining sustainable natural resource industries, primarily forestry. They were one of the driving forces behind establishing the White Mountain National Forest too; the largest open space in New England.

The White Mountains and New Hampshire helped instill in me a strong conservation ethic. I thank SPNHF for all of the inspiration they have given me and I wish them the most success for the future. I plan on continuing to support them as well as the various other organizations that I have joined since here in my new home state of Washington. I actively support the Skagit Land Trust, Conservation Northwest, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge—three more organizations that are innovative and leading governments to do the right thing instead of waiting for the government to do it. Conservation starts with you. Get involved. Living free and living on a planet of plentiful parks and preserves unfortunately is not free. We have an obligation to put our money and our actions where our words and thoughts are.

A Reading from the Book of the Columbia Highlands

Today, Mitch Friedman of Conservation Northwest and I had the opportunity to talk about the Columbia Highlands on KUOW's Weekday program. To those who know this area, no introduction is needed. But to most residents of Washington state, a blank stare is what usually follows when you mention this area. Or worse, a false image. The northeast corner of the state from eastern Okanogan County to the Idaho border is a mountainous, forested, sparsely populated region. Politically, economically, and geographically resembling more the northern Rockies than the Pacific Northwest, it is truly a unique region of the Evergreen State. A good portion of the area lies within the Colville National Forest. Yet this 1.1 million acre public forest reserve only contains 40,000 acres of wilderness; a mere 3% of its base. Of all the national forests within the country, the Colville ranks among the bottom in wilderness protection. The Kettle River Range, the crown jewel of the Columbia Highlands was negotiated out of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act. One of the biggest conservation shames in our state's history. Conservation Northwest and others have been working hard to correct this--and we are getting really close to having new legislation introduced to protect over 200,000 acres of this ecological haven as federal wilderness. I hope you join in the movement. Below are some excerpts from my book, Columbia Highlands- Exploring Washington's last Frontier. I hope they inspire you to explore this area and vow to protect it.

Beyond the craggy and glacial-covered Cascades, and north of the arid Columbia Plateau lies Washington’s Columbia Highlands. Spanning from the Okanogan River to the Idaho border, this isolated region contains the wildest lands remaining in eastern Washington. Rising to heights exceeding 7,000-feet, the Highlands’ Selkirk and Kettle River Mountains are impressive and imposing landmarks.

But it’s not the lofty peaks, the highest in eastern Washington that attract me here. It’s the region’s pure wildness and remoteness that I find so alluring.

The Columbia Highlands are a land of incredible biological diversity; where east meets west in the Evergreen State. A transition zone between the wet Cascades and the drier Rocky Mountains, the Highlands act as a land bridge for wildlife populations from these greater ecosystems. Moose and lynx, species more associated with the Rockies, thrive here. Flora too mingles in this ecological conversion zone. Sagebrush creeps skyward on south slopes, while north facing ravines shade dense stands of moisture loving fir and cedar.

Deer are profuse in the region’s open pine forests and rangelands. This land is a refuge for grizzly, wolves, and wolverines. Black bear and cougar roam freely within this wild country, and woodland caribou hang on to their last stomping grounds south of the Canadian border.
To the Colville Nation these mountains are sacred-a sanctuary for young warriors engaging in vision quests. And I too, have felt spirits in these mountains; in winds whistling through silver snags and in thunderous clouds swirling over high peaks aimed toward the heavens.

Words like, awesome, stunning, and defiant roll off the tongue when describing the beauty of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. The mountains of northeastern Washington rarely garner such lavish praise. Here the landscape is more likely to soothe the soul than stimulate it. The beauty in this region is subtle. It is measured in rays of sunlight filtering through a cathedral forest of ancient pines; a golden hillside teeming with deer; an alpine meadow kissed by morning dew and brushed in a rainbow of colors; or a colonnade of blue peaks fading into the night. Solace is felt in the soft breezes that whistle through shiny snags perched in heavenly gardens. The highlands are cherished for its vastness-its lack of human intervention-its rejuvenating properties, and its abundance of God’s living creations.

Yet, while the Columbia Highlands contain some of the most beautiful, remote, and wildlife-rich lands in Washington, only a mere fraction of it is protected. Less than 3% of these public lands are classified as federal wilderness. Just one small wilderness area of 41,000 acres is all that has been set aside from the ever-present and ever-growing threats of road construction, resource exploitation, and off-road vehicles.

For decades the Columbia Highland’s best protection was its obscurity. But as Washington’s population continues to burgeon, pressure is mounting to open up these wild lands to development and other incompatible uses. How we respond to these impending threats depends on how much we cherish and value this special place?

You Can't Have It Both Ways!

We Americans are in a quandary. Many of us have grown quite alarmed at the size of the national debt. It is staggering and many economists believe that we are on a path to financial disaster. The current president and the previous one have exacerbated the debt to a staggering level. In the last 60 years only presidents Clinton, Johnson, and Eisenhower have resided over balanced budgets-and only for a year or two of their terms. We clearly cannot spend more money than we take in any longer and most Americans realize this. Whether Congress does or not is another story however.

And on the state level, the current revenue scene is even bleaker. For most states, unlike the federal government must balance their budgets-it is the law, cemented in their constitutions. Achieving a balanced budget is simple in theory. You either raise revenues-ie TAXES- or reduce spending-ie CUTS. Simple, right? But, just like losing weight it is easier said than done. You either eat less-or exercise more-everyone knows this, yet many of us continue to struggle with weight gain. And we continue to struggle with bloated budgets starved of revenues. The economy is whimpering, so revenues are barely trickling in. We don't dare tax more, especially when so many folks are losing their jobs, their houses, and soon the battle with inflation.

So, it's time to cut the budget-until it is your sacred cow that gets slaughtered. Parks are one of my sacred cows. They are good for society, nature, and our nation. I don't believe I have to argue that point to you. Our parks have never been funded properly even during good times. The slide to fee collections began during the booming 1990s. Many folks protested loudly over park and forest fees and understandably so-but many of these same folks would probably yell loudly if we raise taxes to pay for these lands. We simply cannot have it both ways. We must resign ourselves to accepting fees, or lest we lose our parks and forests. In the United Kingdom which is suffering from crushing debt right now, members of parliament have approved the drastic measure of selling off public lands. The bi-partisan commission here in the US which is about to release their suggestions on how to cut the debt also includes the suggestion of selling off public land. That would be a tragedy on so many accounts and an affront to the millions of citizens and thousands of lawmakers both Democrat and Republican that have fought hard over the past century assuring us a legacy of public lands. Ironically, one of the periods of the greatest acquisition and development of parks and preserves was during the Great Depression, our worst economic period in our nation's history.

Selling and shutting down our public lands should not-should never-be an option. And our nation must practice fiscal prudence and responsibility and get its finances in order and balanced. But we as a nation have to decide-are our parks worth paying for? One way or another-increased taxes or increased fees seem to be the only answer. We can't have it both ways-We can't demand no tax increases and fees and expect our parks and preserves to remain open. Some things in life are worth fighting for and paying for-parks are one of them. I hope that regardless of your political leanings you agree with me. We have our work cut out for us if we are to continue our amazing legacy of parks and conservation in this great nation.

Solitude and Serenity flow from the Kettles

In a state bursting with so much spectacular alpine scenery, it would seem hard to pinpoint my absolute favorite area. And it is. I have hiked Washington State quite thoroughly in the past two decades. From the soggy saturated Olympic Coast to the sun-kissed canyon country of the Blue Mountains—and everything in between. I love the teeming with wildlife Olympic Mountains; the icy cloud piercing jagged crags of the North Cascades; the sprawling flower carpeted alpine meadows of the Central Cascades; the glittering lakes of the Snoqualmie Region; the in your face superlative nature of Mount Rainer; the volcanic country of the South Cascades; the waterfalls and basalt walls of the Columbia River Gorge; the swaying grasses and basalt canyons of the Columbia Plateau; the emerald ridges harboring grizzlies and caribou of the Selkirks; and the lonely sun baked Blue Mountains.

And then there are the Kettles—which may very well be my favorite place in the state. Why? They are not the highest, most rugged mountains in the state. And they’re certainly not the subject of countless calendars and placemats either. What is it then about the Kettles that lure me to them over and over again? There is simply nothing else like them anywhere. When I hike these old rounded gentle giants, I feel like I am hiking in the Appalachians—but without the crowded eastern seaboard nearby. And when I look out at the golden rangelands and rolling empty hills below I feel like I am in the foothills of the northern Rockies, not the Pacific Northwest. And when I walk along the Kettles’ empty trails, I feel like I am in northeastern British Columbia—far removed from the burgeoning urban centers of the West Coast.

I share these mountains with wolves, lynx, the occasional grizzly and the spirits of hardscrabble miners, prospectors, trappers, and First Peoples. I feel the hand of Providence here as only a divine being could be responsible for making this place so perfect. And I fear the power of man here, for only man can denigrate this place—if he chooses to—or preserve it and cherish it and seek it for rejuvenation and celebration if wisdom and stewardship prevail. I love the Kettles and have devoted a good part of my life as a writer to help protect this vestige of the past.

I invite you to walk among these mountains leaving your preconceptions behind. Here, you won’t have a two mile high glacial clad peak bringing you to your knees. But you will have a soft breeze whisk through you touching your heart and alerting your senses to an incredible natural world that remarkably still exists despite the advancement of civilization on practically every other corner of the world. These mountains are gentle and inviting but among the wildest places left in America. In the Kettles I seek rejuvenation and reflection, guidance and redemption. If you have never stepped foot in this wild and enchanting area, I urge you to do so. And if the Kettles touch your heart and tug at your soul, I invite you to join me and many others working to make sure this place remains wild and special forever. For more on the movement to protect the Kettles visit Columbia Highlands.org. For more information on exploring the Kettles check out my book on the Columbia Highlands. And at anytime you want to talk about the Kettles, I’m always interested in what you have to say.

Wilderness Through the Backdoor

So, there I was standing on a gorgeous remote Olympic Beach after trudging for over 10 miles on slippery rocks and soft sand-waiting out tides-gingerly skirting around rocky headland cliffs-and now I had a beautiful wilderness beach all to myself! Well, not exactly- Three people were camped on the beach and they were quite comfy-no scrapes, aching backs, nor tired legs after a hard day hike. And then suddenly a couple appeared on the beach fresh as the morning dew-no sweat-no signs of struggle -no problems getting to the beach that I toiled all day to get to. You see, there is a secret trail (actually not so secret thanks now to the Internet) that allowed these folks access to this wilderness beach by driving a maze of logging roads then following a bootleg path a mere mile (if that) to this special place. I felt robbed. Now, don't get me wrong-the folks I met that evening at the beach were nice folks-and some of them have gotten to the point that they can no longer backpack great distances-so getting to this beach would have been impossible for them the way I did it. But, still I felt that part of the allure and attraction of hiking the Olympic Coast is the wilderness aspect and that you needed to actually work to get to it. There are plenty of nice beaches in the Kalaloch section of the national park that are easily accessible to anyone. And while these folks I shared the beach with that evening were wonderful and the types of people you'd be glad to share a campsite and nature with-I know that judging by spent beer cans on the beach, that the types of folks you don't' want on a wilderness beach make their way here too-and surely they wouldn't if it involved actually hiking to this spot. Now, I have friends in Forks who cherish these secret trails and they take care of the land and this allows them a quick access to the natural beauty that they live so near. I would not want to deprive them of their simple getaways. But, then again the Olympic National Park is a wilderness coast that is one-of-a-kind and I know that all good things in life are worth working for. Can we have it both ways? What are your experiences here? Your thoughts?

Tracks of my Tears

I like to mountain bike too-so bear with me on this post-although I am more of a logging road type of biker than a trail rider, I see the fun and worth of this pursuit. But what I am growing more and more alarmed at over the years is the amount of backcountry degradation and disregard for land management rules that mountain bikers are responsible for. Granted, most mountain bikers are decent people who hold the natural environment in high regard-but I have found too many of them to be thrill seeking yahoos who don't. On a recent trip to the spectacular Columbia Gorge area known as the Coyote Wall, which is pretty much a mountain biking playground, you can see some serious environmental degradation. There are trails-or as the bikers like to call them-tracks- all over the place- gutted, rutted messes across gorgeous meadows- erosion-inducing gouges and flattened plants. I have seen motorized backcountry areas in better shape. And in the forest below the canyon wall there are all kinds of illegally built bike "catwalks"-again I have seen motorcycle areas in better shape. And this is just the Coyote Wall. I have seen plenty more fat tire mayhem on our public lands-it's growing. Harvey Manning was concerned about it back in the 1980s. I'm growing more concerned about mountain bikers on our public lands too-especially as they are getting more organized and demanding more land and trails being open up to them. Do you think that is a good idea? I love to mountain bike too-but I also realize that there are places that my bike shouldn't go. As the public weighs in on the Coyote Wall and nearby Catherine Creek, it's quite possible that two user groups (hikers and mountain bikers) that should be working together will instead be going to battle against each other. In the long run that is not good for either of us-or if you are like me-both of us. I think mountain bikers have to reign in more of their renegade riders. What do you think?

(photo- rutted track on the Coyote wall-and this is one of the good ones)

Post Industrial Disease

You'd never know that there's a recession going on if someone dropped you off in the Lower mainland of British Columbia. Every time I venture into the region from Chilliwack to Whistler, I am constantly floored at the amount of development going on and at the pace its going up. High rises in Surrey, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver sprout like mushrooms after a deluge. And the deluge feeding this development frenzy is an unrestrained population boom fueled by immigration and migration. New residents need homes, roads, places to work and places to conduct commerce. The conversion of farmland and woodlot to high density urban development carries on in a frenzy. And along the new and improved Highway 99 thanks to an infusion of Olympic-inspired investment money, former gritty mining towns and timber towns are being transformed into tony vacation towns. All those folks generating new wealth need places to play. Squamish is rapidly becoming an urban exclave for the mountain biking, backcountry skiing, wouldn't it be nice to own a condo here in the wilds folks. I once lamented the loss of old growth trees that fueled the timber mills of Squamish. The mills are long gone-a victim of the WTO. Now I lament the loss of the former cut over timberlands-where once regeneration was possible to productive woodlots and viable wildlife habitat-now forever lost to golf courses, second homes, high density homes, shopping malls-sprawl. In 20 years Squamish has gone from a somewhat isolated small industrial town to yet another high density urban mess emanating from Vancouver. But, hey the folks who come here are "green." They ride their bikes and cross country ski and recycle. But their homes and business and continuous numbers of them use up incredible amounts of power lighting up their city-and powering their gadgets-and fueling their rigs to get them to the trailheads and back and forth to the city. And there's nothing green about unnecessary developments devouring wildlife habitat.

Yep-(sarcasm here) I'm glad the evil timber mills are gone-I much prefer to see them replaced with 1000s of condos sprawling across the valley and up the ridges to Garibaldi Provincial Park. Yep-that's the new economy-recreation based-and fueled by unsustainable and ecologically disastrous immigration and a whole lot of new wealth that does nothing but consume. And its not just happening in Squamish-this is playing out all over Canada and the states. Have you been to Bend, Oregon lately? Good thing those resource-consuming sawmills are gone, uh? They've succumbed to post-industrial disease.

(photo-a giant logger greets you in Squamish, BC. Loggers are all but gone from this town-and so too are the sawmills -replaced by a post industrial world of condos, shopping centers, golf courses, sprawl, and an endless supply of folks looking for the good life)

Build them and they will come (hike, run, walk and bike)

-but build them fast!

Although I am a fiscal conservative, let me be clear (to paraphrase our president) we can't spend enough money on parks, trails and nature preserves. I'm a utilitarian to some degree-believing in spending money for projects that do the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. Parks and trails fit the bill. As our population continues to spiral out-of-control and we continue to consume land for residences, industries, commercial establishments, roads, airports, power plants, wind farms, Walmarts, Costcos, etc,etc, etc-we are not keeping up with parks, preserves, open space, and trails. As American waist lines continue to expand and at ever younger and younger ages, we are not giving an increasingly large amount of them convenient access to trails and bike paths. We need to make the expansion of trails and parks a national priority. This administration is throwing around all kinds of stimulus money for roads, schools, rail lines, and God knows what else-and why I believe that some of this spending may be reckless, some of the projects being funded will indeed benefit the country. Expanding and improving our infrastructure is good. Our trails and parks are part of our infrastructure too for a healthy America. How about it, President Obama? Some money for parks and trails? And you governors? Insist on it! And the GOP-this is one area you don't want to say "No" to. Put this fiscal conservative on record. "I support spending more money on parks and trails--and I want to see it happen now!"

(Photo-Snohomish County's Whitehorse Trail. How much longer do we need to wait to run, hike, and bike this recreational treasure?)

Portland Metro's Natural Areas Program Makes its largest Acquisition!

I just returned from a great day of hiking at Portland Metro's Oxbow Park. Located about 10 miles outside of Troutdale, this gorgeous park on the Sandy River protects over 1,000 acres including prime riverfront and old growth. The park is managed to protect natural resources as well as provide exceptional hiking and camping opportunities. It is one of the 100 hikes featured in my upcoming Day Hiking Columbia Gorge Book. The Portland Metro area has several other wonderful properties within the greater Portland area as well. And this year they are adding Chehalem Ridge to their line up.

According to Metro's press release-

Straddling the top of Chehalem Ridge, Metro's newest natural area looks out over Tualatin Valley farmland and five Cascade Mountain peaks: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood and Jefferson.

At 1,143 acres, Chehalem Ridge is the largest property ever purchased by the Portland region's voter-approved Natural Areas Program. Along with all that land, Metro took on a lot of opportunities. The science team will spend a year or so learning more about the land's forests, streams and habitats, and considering options for public access.

This sounds pretty exciting-Read more about it here! And if I continue to write books on this region, you can be assured that this place will be featured in one of them!

Coming Home View Protected

Those of us who call the Skagit Valley home have an expression about the mood shift we experience on I-5 as we begin to drop into the fertile, green and rural valley--we call it the Coming Home View. It can be felt coming from the north down Bow Hill--but it is especially felt coming from the south cresting the first green wedge of a ridge after 100 miles of numbing suburban and urban sprawl in Snohomish, King, Pierce and Thurston counties. We want to keep our coming home view rural and pastoral-and not just for the view's sake. We cherish our agricultural heritage and its role in our region's economy. We understand that our county is one of the last in western Washington that has a viable agricultural component and we are one of the last rural slices remaining on I-5 in the Evergreen ever-growing state. Sure we have our big box stores too-but they're pretty much confined to just a two mile strip in Burlington. Head a half mile west and you're back in farmland=and it will remain farmland! And now our coming home view has just gotten a little closer to remaining the same due to the recent passage of the Agricultural scenic corridor bill. The governor signed it into law today. It states:

"Creating an agricultural scenic corridor within the scenic and recreational highway system" -- designates a portion of state Route 5 in Skagit and Snohomish counties as an agricultural scenic corridor, showcasing the state's historical agricultural areas and promoting their maintenance and enhancement.

Basically a 15 mile stretch of I-5, the first piece of interstate highway in the state to gain this designation. It won't stop development, but it will make it easier to secure funds and teeth for protecting farm lands and in our county folks of all walks of life and political persuasion have repeatedly shown that they support that! It is one of the things that makes living in the Skagit Valley special. You won't get this designation on the Valley Freeway in Kent and Auburn. Forty years ago however-it could have fit. We don't want what happened to the Kent Valley to happen here. We have seen the past and it is not what we want for our future. We've destroyed some of the best farmland in the west all ready in places like the Kent Valley. Let's keep Skagit green and agriculturally viable, not just for my view-but for our health and well being too!

George W Bush 11- Barack Obama 2

That's the number of endangered species that both presidents granted federal protection to in their first year of office. While George W Bush was perhaps one of our least environmental friendly presidents ever, Obama isn't exactly moving full steam ahead when it comes to endangered species and particularly wolves. Presidents Clinton and George HW Bush on the other hand were exceptional when it came to protecting endangered species-they averaged listing 58 (Bush) and 61 (Clinton) species each year while in office. Clinton had a wonderful environmental track record and so too (and much to the shock of many liberals) did the elder Bush. Read the full report here in Treehugger. I'm a little dismayed that many news outlets aren't carrying this story. My local paper did. But then again many newspapers were probably reluctant to carry this headline too. Sometimes the truth can simply baffle the perception!

(picture courtesy of wikipedia- Northern Spotted Owl listed under the first Bush administration)

No Mealy Mouthing Here

on the Mealy Mountain National Park!

To quote our president's most overstated phrase-Let me be clear here-Canada's new Mealy Mountain National Park in Labrador is now eastern Canada's largest national park!

According to a press release from the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society:

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society welcomes the announcements today by the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland-Labrador that they will establish a new national park reserve and an adjacent provincial waterways park in the pristine Boreal wilderness area of Labrador’s Mealy Mountains.

This area, which has long been treasured by Aboriginal people, shelters spectacular wilderness, along with a threatened woodland caribou herd, moose, black bear, osprey, bald eagles and a species of special concern, the eastern population of the harlequin duck. It is also a prime destination for salmon anglers.

Today's announcement by the Government of Canada to move ahead with the establishment of the Mealy Mountains National Park, encompassing 10,700 km2, and by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to designate 3,000 km2 of the adjacent lEagle River watershed for inclusion in a new waterway provincial park, will create a total protected area of nearly 14,000 km2 in central Labrador. It will become the largest protected area in Eastern Canada, and nearly double the total area protected within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Wow! Looking for a little adventure this summer? To counter-quote fellow New Hampshire native son Horace Greeley- Go East Young Man! (Heck Young woman too-old and middle aged men and women as well!)

Read more here in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
(Picture of the new park from Parks Canada)

Ski-do's and don'ts of winter recreation

All it takes is a bonehead or two to ruin it for everyone and give the larger behaved group a bad reputation, thanks to the scofflaws. Apparently that is what is happening in regards to snowmobilers in northeast Washington's Colville National Forest. With gazillions of acres and miles of forest roads that these winter recreationists have legal access to, wouldn't you know that a few just had to break tracks on forbidden fruit. So, now the Forest Service is close to closing a main access area to them because too many renegade riders have encroached into endangered mountain caribou territory. The Selkirk herd of caribou represent the last herd of caribou in the lower 48. They rank among the most endangered species in the country and they deserve to be protected and allowed to reproduce without some moron buzzing by to disturb them. The current population hovering in the high 40s is recovering-but-slowly and it will take some time if the herd is to fully recover to a viable population. Once caribou roamed all across the northern states from Maine to Washington. Today the Selkirk herd on the Washington-Idaho border is all that remain of these beautiful and elegant animals south of the Canadian border. Responsible snowmobilers, this will make it all the more important for you to self police and make sure that the ding-a-lings out there don't cause more restrictions for you. And of course this is true for all trail users-be it hikers, mountain bikers, dirt bikers, dog-owners etc. Let's not blow it-most land management rules are reasonable and need to be adhered. Enjoy our public lands but enjoy them responsibly.

(Picture-Salmo-Priest Wilderness Oct 2008)

Clark County Shutters Its parks!

These are terrible economic times to say the least. Government agencies from coast to coast are scrambling to keep their parks open. Some agencies have become quite resourceful while others have thrown the towel in or worse. I can understand why Clark County wants to shutter up some of its county parks from Jan 1 to March 1. However, the move to gate parking lots along with closing restrooms and suspending services is not a wise move. Many of these parks are popular year round winter hiking-biking-and running spots and while in essence the parks themselves are still open to pedestrian use, how will users access them? I can see all kinds of problems from park users parking dangerously on road shoulders to trespassing on adjacent private property. The people of Clark County need access to these parks to stay fit and connected with nature during the dark and dreary winter months. Surely the parks department can unlock the gates and enlist volunteer patrols to keep an eye on things to make sure that the parks are still being respected in the absence of any formal operations. I hate to see a pedestrian hit by a car on a busy road or a heated argument with a property owner whose driveway has been blocked due to this action. And of course I believe fully that the people should have access to their parks.

(photo- a popular trail to Moulton Falls will be hard to access this winter)

Gregoire prepares to give government workers a pay raise during a $2.6 billion dollar shortfall!

Once again, Washington state Governor Gregoire displays who owns her (state unions) by going through to give state workers (which she increased substantially under her reign) a 5% raise during the worst economy since the 1930s. What the heck!?! While our resources suffer and many of us are lucky just to hold on to a job, our fiscally unsound Governor (who increased spending by 33% in her first 4 years- where did it all go?) is going through with giving state workers a 5% raise! That's $83 million dollars that comes from you and me. Let's see. An $83 million raise for government workers and how much for DNR recreation and state parks? And while you're crunching those numbers watching your favorite trail close or park get sold off to another agency take solace in knowing that Gregoire is heading over to Copenhagen right now (on whose dollar?). Christine, can you do us all a favor over there? How about a little climate change move by getting you out of Olympia and changing the economic climate here in Washington state. Perhaps President Obama can offer you a job. I like the idea of governor Owen more and more each day!

(Photo-will state parks like the Cowan Ranch ever get funding to open and serve the tax- payers of Washington State?)

DNR Does the Right Thing!

Back in 1989 when I first moved to Washington State, old-growth trees were being cut down faster than Congress can spend money on wars, entitlements, and subsidies. Matter-of-fact, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which manages over five million acres of our public lands had a hard time trying to convince me that DNR didn't stand for Department of Nothing Remaining! But common sense and a more balanced approach (not yet achieved by Congress however when it comes to spending) started becoming the order for DNR in the mid 1990s. Among the department's new enlightenment was that we didn't have to cut down every tree to fund our schools (which can probably do a little more belt-tightening-but that's another story). Yep, there were some areas, particularly groves of old-growth and exceptional wildlife lands that are more valuable to us standing for recreation, wildlife and watershed protection than by being piles of lumber. DNR continues to march to this new and improved management strategy by declaring over 10,000 acres of its Middle Fork Snoqualmie River lands as a Natural Resources Conservation Area. That announcement was delivered at the Mountain to Sounds Greenway Trust's annual dinner on December 2. Read here. What this means in the bigger picture for the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley, is that the move to declare adjacent US Forest Service lands as wilderness is all the more important now. For if the bill that is currently before Congress (thanks to Congressman Reichert and Senator Murray) is approved into law, a much larger contiguous piece of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie will now be protected. Good move DNR. Now, lets move Congress to get the wilderness bill passed. And hopefully our governor who has shown great indifference in her 5 years in office to adequately fund our state parks and lands (even during good times-where did all the money go, Ms Gregoire?) will see the light too and not fiscally destroy this valuable agency.

Giving Credit where Accreditation is Earned

The Skagit Land Trust has joined an elite group of 78 Land trusts across America by receiving accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance.

According to the Land Trust Alliance:

Land Trust Standards and Practices are guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, which is run legally, ethically and in the public interest and conducts a sound program of land transactions and stewardship.

The Land Trust Alliance originally developed the standards and practices in 1989 at the urging of land trusts, which believe a strong land trust community depends on the credibility and effectiveness of all its members. Land Trust Standards and Practices was last revised in 2004.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, provides independent verification of the 37 indicator practices from Land Trust Standards and Practices that show a land trust's ability to operate in an ethical, legal and technically sound manner and ensure the long-term protection of land in the public interest

Indicator practices are chosen based on the following criteria:

•Responsible governance of the organization
•Protection of the public interest with sound and sustainable land transactions and stewardship
•Ethical operations
•Accountability to donors and the public
•Compliance with all laws, such as IRC §170(h) and §501(c)(3)

Visit the Land Trust Alliance website to learn more about this program.
Visit the Skagit Land Trust to learn more about them and about joining.

The Skagit Land Trust along with the Jefferson Land Trust are the only two accredited land trusts in Washington State. Good job Skagt land trust-now go out there and save some more land!

Trying to understand the Forest Service

Okay, let's get someting straight. I am a big supporter of the Northwest Forest Pass, but as long as:

A. The pass is kept at a fair and equitable price
B. The money collected remains in the national forest and is not siphoned to pay for wars, bail out Wall Street or go to corrupt agencies like ACORN
C. The Forest Service doesn't waste money trying to collect the fees in the first place
D. The money actually goes to trail maintenance and development and less so for quarter million dollar privies-
E. Fees are charged at only developed trailheads

Okay, D seems to be an issue, but I'll bring that one up later. Right now I want to address E. The majority of trails that require a Northwest Forest Pass tend to be developed. That is they have ample parking, a privy, perhaps a picnic table or two and some other amenities like a reader board. Then why does the Marten Creek Trail off of the Mountain Loop Highway require a Forest Pass when this trail doesn't even have a place to park! Yep, you need to squeeze on the side of the road. Privy? Nope! Reader Board- yep, but only this year thanks to an Eagle Scout, but there is no information on it!

But here's the real point what I can't understand why the Forest Service requires a Trail Pass on this trail. It hasn't been maintained since the Eisenhower administration. Okay I exaggerated-probably the last time a trail crew came down here was during the Bush administration-and no not W's , it was during his old man's tenure. Yep, we are looking at least 20 years, probably longer since this trail has had any work on it. So, why then require a pass? Again, I have no problem displaying my pass (I buy an annual America the Beautiful Pass, so I guess it doesn't really matter to me if a pass is required or not)-but it does seem kind of silly to require one here when we the fee-paying public aren't getting anything in return. Yep-we need a citizen action trail crew here ASAP. Which is fine because I don't want to depend too much on government anyway. I think its great that we have volunteer trail crews. But if the government is going to require a fee for this trail, then the government needs to at the very least deliver something in exchange. Instead, we continue to get a growing backlog of trail maintenance and a growing debt that is going to ruin this nation. Sigh.

Time to Adopt a State Park?

These are tough times for state parks across the nation. States grappling with record deficits are cutting from their appropriations funding to their parks and forests. Not, that they ever funded them adequately even during good times. Now a state senator in New Hampshire is proposing legislation to adopt a state park to keep them afloat. Read and listen here from NH public Radio.

Adopt-a-Park: A Plan for New Hampshire State Parks
NHPR, by Rick Ganley

New Hampshire has 71 state parks. It's the nation's only self-funded park system, and it's operating at a loss. That leaves many smaller, lesser-known parks with little care and oversight. State Representative Jeffrey St Cyr, a Republican from Alton, thinks he has a solution. He's proposing legislation to form an adopt-a-park program.

Is this a good idea? Any other good ideas out there to keep our parks afloat during the Great Recession? As more people lose their jobs and scale back their budgets, our public lands are more important than ever!