Get Ready to Chisel

"National Scenic"

into that boulder!

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

In Support of National Scenic Trails There was a front page article in the Seattle Times yesterday on the prospects of the Pacific Northwest Trail becoming our newest National Scenic Trail if the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 becomes law. The same bill also contains a provision for the creation of the New England National Scenic Trail. As someone who hikes frequently and loves the trails of both my home state New Hampshire and adopted state Washington, I couldn't be happier about the prospects of two new great long distance trails traversing my favorite hiking haunts.

Most Americans- folks from all walks of life support these trails. And it would seem that they are pretty non-controversial, right? Well, you'd never know it based on some of the idiotic posts on the Seattle Times article. Most of the drivel came from far right kooks convinced that the National Trail Act is a land grab or yet another way the Federal government is undermining a state's rights. Far from it! Most of the land that the trail traverses is already public land. Where it traverses private lands, the owners have consented to its placement there granting an easement. The owner does not relinquish his right to do what he pleases (within the confines of the law of course) with the rest of his property. And land grab? All that is purchased for a national trail in most cases is just a narrow corridor. Once again only from willing sellers and at fair-market value.


The National Parks Service has jurisdiction over the trail but maintains a very small role. Local land managers of lands that the trail traverses still make the land use decisions for those properties. Land managers work together- and that is a good thing- but the trail and surrounding lands are by and far managed by local people. And there is a huge amount of private participation in the form of financial donations and trail work. Most of the National Scenic Trails have private conservation groups working on their behalf-these groups are not funded by Congress, but by private citizens like you and me. So, will the anti-conservation, anti-trails, anti-public lands kooks stop sipping the kool aid for minute and actually do a little research on what they are so against? And then perhaps actually get out on one of these trails and see just what a great asset they are. Far better than another race track, mall, casino, and second-home development I assure you!

(photo- granddaddy National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail)