N3C

Bumping Lake geography

2012-03-02T11:23:00.001-08:00

In past and upcoming issues of The Wild Cascades, we express grave concern about plans to raise the dam at the outlet of Bumping Lake east of Mt. Rainier and inundate some very rare ancient forest. To help illustrate the threat, here are a couple of maps.

First we feature a map drawn by our founder, Patrick Goldsworthy, an old-school cartographer and conservationist if there ever was one! We're proud to continue to feature Patrick's handmade maps in our journal and online. Thanks, Patrick!

Patrick notes on his map that Bumping Lake is adjacent to the William O. Douglas Wilderness, and that the site of Justice Douglas' cabin, Goose Prairie, is just downstream from the lake. Douglas was a tireless advocate for conservation and wrote Of Men And Mountains as a personal memoir of his time in the Cascades, a good deal of it in the Bumping Lake area. He would be appalled to know that the last big trees around his beloved Bumping Lake would fall as part of this water plan.

Now to a more modern map of the area, (c) DeLorme TopoUSA, highlighting the contour line that represents the area to be inundated if the dam is raised. Most of the land is relatively level on the south shore, part of an alluvial fan, covered with huge east-side ancient forest, very rare and beautiful but outside designated Wilderness or Park, and thus unprotected. In the upcoming issue of The Wild Cascades, we'll take you on a guided walking tour of this forest, so you can see just what will be lost if the dam is raised.

Join NCCC to get your copy of The Wild Cascades by mail first!

Go to: http://www.northcascades.org/signup.html

NCCC Board Member art show and statement

2012-02-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Bruce Barnbaum, long time NCCC board member, has an exhibit of 20 of his black and white photographs in Springfield, OR (near Eugene) from February 28 to March 30 at the Emerald Art Center gallery. The exhibit will be titled "Trees" (or something similar - the Gallery determining the exhibit's name). The gallery asked him to write an "artist's statement." We want to share that with you, with his permission of course:

Artist's Statement

I have dual goals for this exhibit: one artistic, the other educational.
Trees have always fascinated me for their sheer magnificence, their variety, and the diversity of their locations in which they grow. From the moment I began to photograph, trees were one of the subjects that I gravitated toward, both visually and emotionally. So, trees as photographic subject matter has been with me from the start. In my "Tone Poems ~ Book 2" the closing section, or opus, is titled "Among the Trees," featuring 45 images of trees.
I have found that trees are remarkable in virtually any type of lighting situation: from fog to bright sun, from dawn to dusk, from spring to summer to fall to winter, with leaves or without leaves, in whole or in detail.
Along the way, I have not only looked at, admired and photographed trees, I have learned a great deal about their extraordinary qualities and benefits. Loggers tend to see trees as wood. The thought is that if a tree has no value as wood—for furniture, construction, or any of a number of purely human uses—it has no value, whatsoever. The story of the Pacific Yew tree demolishes this viewpoint. The Pacific Yew tree, a generally scraggly conifer of the Pacific Northwest had no value for its wood—and therefore no value, whatsoever. Then it was discovered that a chemical in its bark, taxol, can be made into tamoxifen, which fights breast cancer. Suddenly, with a new human usage identified, the Pacific Yew tree went from the most useless tree in the forest to the most sought-after tree in the forest.
But all trees, whether they have value as wood or value as a cancer fighter produce oxygen in prodigious amounts. All trees purify water. Forests—even those on steep hillsides—moderate and slow catastrophic run-off from heavy rains or snow melts, often mitigating or even preventing catastrophic flooding. Trees provide habitat for any number of plant and animal species. Trees sequester carbon, and in today's world—except for those burying their heads in the sand on the issue of global warming—that is of enormous value. I can go on and on about the unseen benefits of trees, but the point is that even if we ignore direct or obvious human uses entirely, trees are essential to life as we know it.
Worldwide, we are destroying our forests. We have been doing this with ever-increasing efficiency for thousands of years. It's almost unimaginable today to recognize the simple phrase, "Cedars of Lebanon," for we can hardly picture Lebanon as a land covered with cedar trees. 95% of the original rainforest that covered the Pacific Northwest from Northern California to Alaska, has been logged off since Europeans came to the region. The remaining 5% exists primarily in isolated preserves. Today we are gutting the Amazon rainforest, the Central African rainforest, the Canadian and Siberian boreal forests, and the rainforests of the southeast Asian islands. In the process we are gutting a vast number both plants and animals, and in the long run, ourselves.
My hope is that in viewing these images, the viewer will see more than a group of 20 black and white photographs. My hope is that you will see some artistry in the way I have viewed the forests, and also you will see through the photographs to the real message that silent trees cannot convey themselves. Trees cannot trumpet their importance. Humans can learn about their importance. Humans can also learn how to live with and work with and love and respect and preserve trees for what they are. Humans have the intelligence to do this. The question is: do humans have the wisdom and the will to do this?

Bruce Barnbaum

Holden mine souvenir map

2012-02-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

This artistic map for sale on bandannas at Holden Village shows the extent of the mine tailings that have to be "mitigated." Let's not let a disaster like this happen anywhere else in our wild Cascades!

More from Jan Henderson

2012-02-24T11:39:00.004-08:00

From an interview with Jan Henderson to be published in upcoming issues of The Wild Cascades:

Q: NCCC has been very skeptical about “restoration” logging,or thinning, and the idea that it can accelerate the development of “old growthcharacteristics” in younger forests. Can you tell us what you think of suchclaims?

A: PersonallyI think the idea of "restoration" in this context is a ghost. It appears to some people as a single faintimage, to others as more defined but still vague images and to others, not atall. No one, in my opinion, haspresented a good vision of what is being restored or even how to do it. Yet there is a strong momentum to do"something". Doing somethingthat increases the diameter of residual trees has very little to do withactually restoring old-growth forests, and often does more harm in this regardby setting back the development of many other important old-growth related characteristics.

See our previous post on 1/27 re. JH. And keep in mind, NCCC members get their copies of TWC by mail several weeks before it's posted on the NCCC website, so join us!

Barron Basin and the effects of the 1872 Mining Law

2012-02-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

Rainy day today, good for reading hiking guides like "100 Hikes in Washington's North Cascades National Park Region" by long-time NCCC leader Harvey Manning. His description of hiking the PCT north from Hart's Pass includes this (p. 203)

Barron Basin is one of the most magnificent family-accessible family glorylands in the Cascades, but it is mainly "private property" and the "owners" have raised havoc, gouging delicate meadows with bulldozers, dumping garbage at will. This hike is bound to convert any casual walker into a fierce enemy of the ultra-permissive Federal mining laws, which make it next to impossible for the Forest Service to protect the land. Some of the desecration is very new, but much is a century old - note how long Nature needs to restore revaged meadows.

Another guidebook author notes the situation here, though it appears he hasn't experienced the same level of epiphany that Harvey did.

The 1872 Mining Law is notorious. Familiarize yourself with it here, and work toward ending its carte blanche for destruction of our unprotected wild public lands!

Jan Henderson interview

2012-01-27T21:48:00.000-08:00

Fewpeople have had such an interesting career in the outdoors as JanHenderson, recently retired Forest Ecologist for the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie andOlympic National Forests. During his 32 years as Forest Ecologist, Henderson's work took himall over both of these forests, often into obscure and remote places seen byfew others.

We recently interviewed him and will be publishing a few short excerpts of the interview here on the NCCC blog. The full interview will be published in the 2012 issues of The Wild Cascades. NCCC members get their copies of TWC by mail several weeks before it's posted on the NCCC website, so join us!

On climate change and so-called 'active management' of NW forests:

"If we knew what would be different aboutclimate in the future, we'd have a chance of prescribing some 'activemanagement' to anticipate such changes, but we don't."

The Wild Cascades current issue is now online!

2012-01-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Wild Cascades current issue is now online!

http://www.northcascades.org/public_html/twc-summer-fall-2011-web.pdf

In This Issue:

President’s report — Marc Bardsley
DNR plans new trails in Middle Fork and I-90 — Rick McGuire
Wild Sky “Trail Plan” — Rick McGuire
Homeland Security trumps environmental integrity — John S. Edwards
Okanogan PUD abandons plan for Shankers Bend Dam — Rick McGuire
North Cascade glacier climate project — Tom Hammond
Celebrate the American Alps Legacy Proposal on December 9th
American Alps Legacy Proposal released to public September 30 — Jim Davis
American Alps Legacy Proposal: What and why — Phil Zalesky
Granite Falls motocross project still alive — Bruce Barnbaum
A Pilgrimage to Image Lake via Holden, and a tale of two mines — Phil Fenner
NCCC membership application
NCCC, Sierra Club comment on Okanogan-Wenatchee National
Forest Plan — Karl Forsgaard
Roadless Rule upheld—huge win for conservation — Tom Hammond

Mining threat and American Alps

2011-12-18T10:31:00.001-08:00

Per my Thanksgiving post, many may believe the threats to the landscape are not real/realistic, and that we're engaged in arm-waving and over-dramatization.

My main contention of, and support for American Alps is rooted in a belief that the landscape is worthy of protection and recognition for a number of reasons, of which "threats" is only one. A functioning, robust ecosystem that recognizes the lay of the land--where watersheds and landform define the area of protection, not arbitrary lines.

The evidence of threats I provided then is legit, but now it's time to take it to the next level.
This is a letter I received from Earthworks, the leading organization in mining reform, and those best versed in the impacts of the General Mining Law of 1872. Extrapolate the below to The North Cascades, and imagine the upper Granite Creek Trench or Early Winters/West Fork Methow (which aren't even Wilderness).

==From Earthworks==
In northwest Montana, the Montanore copper/silver mine is proposed under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.It would blast miles of tunnels underneath the Wilderness – a vital refuge that supports:
*A struggling population of 30-40 grizzly bears (a threatened species).
*Important bull trout recovery streams (another threatened species).
*Wilderness lakes and streams that provide clean and abundant water.
*Dewatering Wilderness Lakes and Streams: to keep the mine tunnels dry, groundwater would be lowered 10 feet to 1,000 feet under the Wilderness -- substantially reducing flows in rivers and lakes that rely on this groundwater, some permanently.
*Harming Bull Trout: Reduction of stream flows in two of the most important bull trout streams in the region would be particularly harmful for bull trout which need these cold, clear streams for spawning.
*Threatening Grizzly Bears:The Cabinet Yaak grizzly bear population is already hanging on by a thread. Over a thousand acres of grizzly bear habitat would be destroyed if Montanore goes ahead.

===

I urge everyone to go to the Earthworks action page and submit your own letters on this matter.
I also urge you to reconsider how much (more) mining would take place in the upper reaches of the Methow and Skagit drainages if the area were designated National Park...

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9037&tag=EWemail

http://www.earthworksaction.org/

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the best to everyone this festive season!

Membership event a huge success!

2011-12-11T09:57:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all who helped make Friday night's membership event a big success!

A packed house!

Founder Patrick Goldsworthy thanks the membership

(Photos by Karl Forsgaard)

New MAP GALLERY available!

2011-12-05T15:43:00.001-08:00

Take a look at our new interactive Map Gallery, including boundaries of proposed Park additions and even a "Panoramio" layer you can turn on to show photos! Zoom in for details.

http://www.pacificbio.org/webmaps/AALP_webmap.html

Thanks to Pacific Biodiversity Institute for their help.

Membership has its benefits

2011-11-21T17:09:00.001-08:00

The latest issue of The Wild Cascades is in print and has arrived at the homes of most members by now. You won't be able to see it online for a few more weeks, so we once again urge you to join N3C to be among the first to get your copy 3 times a year. To join, visit: http://www.northcascades.org/signup.html !

In this issue

Wild Sky “Trail Plan”
— Rick McGuire
DNR plans new trails in Middle Fork and I-90

— Rick McGuire

Homeland Security trumps environmental integrity

— John S. Edwards

Okanogan PUD abandons plan for Shankers Bend Dam

  — Rick McGuire
North Cascade glacier climate project
  — Tom Hammond
American Alps Legacy Proposal released to public September 30
  — Jim Davis
American Alps Legacy Proposal: What and why
  — Phil Zalesky
Granite Falls motocross project still alive
  — Bruce Barnbaum
A Pilgrimage to Image Lake via Holden, and a tale of two mines
  — Phil Fenner
NCCC, Sierra Club comment on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Plan
— Karl Forsgaard

Roadless Rule upheld—huge win for conservation
— Tom Hammond

The North Cascades Conservation Council (NCCC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization formed to protect and preserve the North Cascades' scenic, scientific, recreational, educational, and wilderness values.

NCCC has a 50 year history of aggressively promoting National Parks and Wilderness, protecting old growth forests and pristine watersheds, conserving endangered wildlife, preventing off-road vehicle damage to public lands, and guiding Park and Wilderness management.

The Fallacy “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”

2011-11-18T15:26:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is a blog that actually employs real facts, with real citations.

The Fallacy of believing the upper Methow and Skagit drainages (The Methow Mountains and Granite Creek trench) are sufficiently protected, and don’t need to have legislative action such as National Park designation, is summed up by those opposed to American Alps as “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

I submit to you that the Northwest Forest Plan, and the Clinton-era “Roadless Rule” do not constitute real protection for this amazing landscape because they are administrative in nature. That is, the US Forest Service is directed to manage the land in a certain way with discretion.

However, if a law or laws are passed by congress such as the “National Forest County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act of 2011” , the Forest Service would be compelled to log the forests of the Methow Mountains, and permit mines throughout the watersheds.
Check these pages for a taste of reality:

http://naturalresources.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=260128

http://fseee.org/index.php/component/content/article/1002665#logging

Or how about the Roadless Rule? Yep, there was a big victory in the 10th Circuit Court, but soon after, we have this out of congress: HR 1581 – The Wilderness and Roadless Release Act. It would effectively repeal any and all gains/protections for our wildlands. Check these out:

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/112_HR_1581.html

http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=277&issue=021

Do you really think the Methow Mountains and other areas of the North Cascades are sufficiently protected with administrative rules (not laws)? The Senate could very easily flip, and then these laws become reality.

Many traditional allies of wilderness and lands protection have lost sight of who/what the real threats to the glorious North Cascades are, and rise in opposition (be it direct, or behind a cloak) to American Alps. It is baffling and disappointing.

Talk about egos and big dollars run amok…

I personally know many of the Forest Service staff of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. They are good people: dedicated, knowledgeable and professional. Many in American Alps have worked with them closely on the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan Revision. When I questioned one of the top officials on the Forest at a revision planning meeting about why the area of Liberty Bell-Early Winters was not recommended for Wilderness, I was told that Mineral Surveys indicate precious metals in the area, and they (the OWNF staff) don’t want Wilderness designation to run cross-wise with the General Mining Law of 1872.

Of course the OWNF staff doesn’t want to punch mines in, but they are federal employees who are compelled by law and duty to fulfill the laws that congress passes. Should any bill like those noted above make it through to law, there WILL be mines in the Methow (er, more mines in the Methow, there are already a couple of superfund sites with insufficient dollars for remediation—Gold Hill and Azurite).

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQoY6BdkOyoCAGixyPg!/?navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=stelprdb5313821&navid=120000000000000&pnavid=null&ss=110617&position=News.Html&ttype=detail&pname=Okanogan-Wenatchee%20National%20Forest-%20Alerts

(You don't think it's "broke" that there are huge areas at the headwaters of the Skagit in the US with which you literally cannot come in to contact without burning your skin?)

Plenty of tree extraction too, be it for biomass furnaces or a pulp mill.

So now tell me with a straight face that “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” applies.

Oh, and for you folks “living” in and around Mazama-Winthrop: I don't want to see your faces if/when adits are being punched in along the Early Winters drainage. You’re concerned about increased traffic from families sharing our treasure as National Park visitors? How about hundreds of trucks hauling cyanide and tons of rock to be smashed for a few pounds of gold, or hauling tons of "woody debris" off the forests bound for a biomass plant (that consumes more energy than it produces)?

How clean are modern mines? One need look no further than nearby Buckhorn Mountain, where that mine has yet to meet discharge limits on a consistent basis (oops, here come more FACTS with proper citation).

http://okanoganhighlands.org/buckhorn-bulletin

I have hiked, climbed, explored and lived in the North Cascades since 1983. I see how “balanced” the land use has been. I do not take for granted our Wilderness areas and National Park, and see how difficult it is to make these things happen. Then again, these lands are worthy, and I am so THANKFUL that others before me had the vision to create National Parks and Wilderness--timeless areas where all generations can continue to learn, discover and explore the limits of life.
Happy Thanksgiving.

From the Pres

2011-11-16T17:01:00.001-08:00

"In some cases, critics of AmAlps have somehow confused the AALP with other more controversial NCCC positions such as forest road rebuilding projects ... Despite misrepresentations by some, the American Alps Legacy Project was conceived primarily to provide and protect access for the public so they may enjoy these special places. In my opinion, the National Park approach is the best way to accomplish this goal and to fairly regulate the use of the North Cascades. Don’t be misled by those who say we are denying access. Rather, we are encouraging access for the public, now and in the future."

- Marc Bardsley, President, NCCC, The Wild Cascades Summer/Fall 2011

Of Access and Protection

2011-11-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

I find it interesting that so many are shouting and arm-waving that with the American Alps proposal, we're "trying to lock people out of the back-country!". At the very same time, and indeed, some of the same people are crying foul, and that we're inviting too many people in, and that with this National Park proposal we're "doing everything possible to build new visitor centers, parking lots, paved trails, and other amusements for lazy aged America."

Last time I checked the actual facts of the proposal, none of the above is true--we're not looking to lock people out, nor are we planning to pave any trails. But in this day and age, don't let the facts sway you, go with the burning torches and pitchforks--much funner that way, eh?

In my next posting, I'll take up the more factual and important issues of the current level of protection afforded to the lands included in the proposal. The "don't fix it if it ain't broke" crowd is a significant portion of the pushback on American Alps, and some fact checking and reality-based conversation is in order.

The Pedestrians

2011-10-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

John Edwards, on the team that completed the first successful winter ascent of Denali, recently wrote this:

The Pedestrians:
There is a view held by some in the climbing community that national parks are a Bad Thing. I know because in my fitter days I mingled with some who felt that National Parks restrict the freedom of the hills and hamper alpine endeavors through regulation and through the occasional actions of over-zealous rangers. The perspective of those climbers -The Pedestrians -reaches only as far as the end of their rope. They do not see that beyond the pitch is an ecosystem in far greater danger. We humans are not the only users of parkdom -for us it means recreation, both physical and esthetic. For the non-human inhabitants it is 24/7 a matter of life and death, of persistence and extinction. All the massive evidence that has been hard won in recent decades tells us that the larger a contiguous reserve, the more likely endangered (and non-endangered) organisms will survive. The chances of survival are diminished in lands open to exploitation. Just as the stock exchange thrives on predictability, so ecosystems thrive on long-term security from exploitation. So, fellow climbers, extend your view beyond your favorite climb, ask yourself whether that is a short sighted, even selfish Pedestrian view. Recognize our moral obligation to the countless animals and plants for their welfare when we humans manage our unique landscapes; those non-humans out there don't get to vote. And support the management choice that both provides for climbing activity and promotes ecological integrity.

American Alps featured in Skagit Valley Herald

2011-10-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

Check out this cartoon that ran in Sunday's Skagit Valley Herald!

Skagit Valley Herald editorial favors AmAlps

2011-10-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

New American Alps proposal map released

2011-10-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest map revision, and give us your thoughts!

Go to our AmAlps website maps page and click the map for a full-sized PDF version:

http://www.americanalps.org/mapgallery/index.htm

North Cascade Glacier Climate Project 2011 FINAL REPORT

2011-10-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Day after Autumnal Equinox, 2011.
I will keep this brief, as this was only a day trip.

The plan called for an overnighter along Lava Divide on the NE flank of Kulshan on behalf of NCGCP to obtain photos of the Rainbow Glacier. The idea was to see how much blue ice is exposed now that we've had a month of real summer (more than a week of 80F set a Seattle record for Sept), and this has been one of the driest summers ever (even if cool and cloudy).

Rainbow Glacier--note extent of blue ice visible.

As with all mountain trips, weather is the final arbiter, and the forecast went from "rain Sunday afternoon" to "Tstorms Sunday morning" to "Tstorms Saturday night" to "Tstorms Saturday afternoon", As such, we went with a daytrip--it was fun to watch the clouds roll in so rapidly--it went from bright blue skies to brooding storm clouds in a matter of 90 minutes right around noon!
As it is unusual for the NCGCP to use "remote sensing" methods such as photography, it is also unusual to go to such a spectacular place and not spend at least one night. Still, the goal was specific photos, and the photos/data were successfully collected! Indeed, Mauri had teams across the range: we were one of three teams, the others on Columbia Glacier and Easton Glacier.
Notable: there was a young man (mid 20s?) from Everett with a high powered rifle, a hunter seeking bear on Lava Divide (I broke with tradition and wore red specifically because I knew hunters would be there). As it turned out, there were half-dozen hunters, a team of two with a special goat permit, and a group of three seeking bear; plus 10 hikers--very crowded, all things considered.
Cody comported himself with intelligence and engagement, and I complimented him and his parents for teaching enjoyment and respect for the land, and to live life in something other than a video game. It was nice, even re-assuring to find people on different areas of the political spectrum engaged in good, friendly interaction--with many more things in common than in opposition.

As indicated, the weather rapidly changed, but not before we enjoyed views of glorious Kulshan--a 3,300 meter high stratovolcano draped with glaciers, and Shuksan. The interface between one million year old rock and 90 million year old rock literally at our feet, a rocking and rolling landscape worthy of every accolade you can come up with, and then a few more.

Final notes: the bugs were more plentiful than all the other September hikes I've done combined. Especially on the hike out--they clouded around us, taking advantage of creaking knees and sore feet--all four major varieties represented, black flies the most numerous, and deer flies in full attack: eyes, nose, mouth and ears all subject to high speed impact. There were a few "ripe" huckleberries close to the trailhead, but otherwise, what few berries we saw were tiny green balls. Heck, there were decent patches of snow along lower lava divide (4,400-4,800 feet) this September--something rare even for this snowy place.
Another great day in our spectacular North Cascades.

Final mass-balance numbers for the year are some of the largest positives in all 28 years of the study (about 20 years negative mass balance on the order of minus one meter, four years of “break even", and four years of positive mass balance, usually on the order of one-quarter to one-half meter). Indeed, this year saw the smallest amount of ablation recorded in the 28 years of the study!

Columbia Glacier: plus 1.4 meters
Lower Curtis Glacier: plus 1.5 meters
Sholes Glacier: plus 1.6 meters
Rainbow Glacier: plus 2.2 meters
Easton Glacier: plus 1.7 meters
Ice Worm (aka Hyak Creek) Glacier: plus 1.6 meters
Daniel Glacier: plus 1.6 meters
Lynch Glacier: plus 1.2 meters

[There were many other interesting encounters with climbers, wanna-be climbers, and others, and of course the meaningful conversations with the team members, but I won’t go in to that here—trying to get these short. I will say I am so thankful and grateful to Mauri for being included on the project, and his honest and frank friendship. I am also thankful for the ability and desire to visit these places.]

See:

http://www.nichols.edu/departments/glacier/

Pictures at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/116543602651852680619/NorthCascadeGlacierClimateProjectUpdatedPhotosSept242011?authkey=Gv1sRgCPLPur-imJb9PQ&feat=email#

https://picasaweb.google.com/116543602651852680619/NorthCascadeGlacierClimateProject2011ShuksanKulshan#

Pete Jackson calls for completion of the Park on Crosscut.com

2011-09-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Pete Jackson calls for completion of the Park, on Crosscut.com. We couldn't agree more!

Completing the North Cascades National Park would be a gift for our future

By Peter Jackson

These feel like the worst of times, with a stymied economy and basement-level confidence in the nation's political class. All of us ache for something -- anything -- to restore a sense of hope and national purpose.

For lawmakers, Priority One must be jobs and the federal budget. Along the way, however, we also need to address the problem, real or perceived, of impoverished leadership.

There is an opportunity, however minor in the broader scheme of life, to demonstrate farsightedness and bipartisanship. It's called the American Alps Legacy Project, and it centers on our own back yard: the North Cascades National Park.

More... http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110925/OPINION03/709259983

Sheepherder encounters new wolf pack near Blewett Pass -King5.com

2011-09-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

See the King5 website for video:
http://www.king5.com/home/Wolves-Visit-Blewett-Pass-Sheep-Bite-Herd-Dog-129767188.html

Sheepherder encounters new wolf pack near Blewett Pass

by GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:47 PM

Updated Tuesday, Sep 13 at 10:42 PM

BLEWETT PASS, Wash. - You would think it would be easy to find 1,500 sheep grazing near a Forest Service road above Blewett Pass. It's not. We had to wait for sheepherder Heraclio De la Cruz to lead us two miles down a steep mountainside to find the herd.
They were peacefully grazing away there under the supervision of De la Cruz and his half dozen herding and guard dogs.
It was a different scene two weeks ago when De la Cruz's lunch break was interrupted by the howls of a herd dog. He dropped his lunch and, along with the rest of the dogs went to investigate. De la Cruz was about to become one of the first people in the state to have a confrontation with a pack of wolves.
"They were bigger than coyotes," said De la Cruz, who said one of his herd dogs, Gabby, got in between two of the four wolves and was being attacked. De la Cruz fired a warning shot and the wolves raced off.
State Fish and Wildlife biologists investigated and say, based on De la Cruz's eyewitness account and the injuries to Gabby, they have no doubt they had encountered the newly formed Teanaway wolf pack. They suspect the wolves were drawn to the herd area by the scent of a sheep recently killed by a cougar.
Now what?
De la Cruz's boss, Mark Martinez, says he doesn't know what to expect. Martinez's family has been grazing sheep on Forest Service land in Central Washington for three generations. They are the last of the big operators and they're worried.
"There's always been challenges," said Martinez, "but I don't know if this will be the final challenge that we have to throw our arms up in the air and walk away from it while we still can."
The state is in the process of finalizing a recovery plan for the state's wolves that biologists say migrated in from Canada, Idaho and Montana. The plan will include compensation for ranchers who lose livestock to wolves and if the wolf numbers improve to a stable level, there would be limited hunting and other population control measures allowed. The sticking points are a funding source for the compensation and disputes over how many wolves it would take to form a stabilized population.
Wilderness groups have repeatedly said they support compensation for ranchers. And they respect ranchers' rights to protect their cattle, horse and sheep herds but want them to wait until the wolves reach a healthy population.
The highly anticipated plan is due in December.
Gabby survived her wounds and will be back on the job soon, helping move the sheep down to the winter grazing grounds.

Dosewallips River Road: a case for going it afoot -From The Mountaineer

2011-09-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Dosewallips River Road: a case for going it afoot
By Tim McNulty

From: http://www.mountaineers.org/about/magarchive/Mtr05-11.pdf

The Dosewallips River is one of the most ecologically rich and strikingly beautiful natural areas in the Northwest, and a prime recreation destination. When the Dosewallips River Road washed out in the winter of 2002, I expected an easy and timely repair. The road provided motorized access to the Elkhorn campground in Olympic National Forest, the popular Dosewallips campground in Olympic National Park, and the Dosewallips and Constance Lake trailheads. But it soon became obvious that that the usual riprap-and-fill approach to road repair wouldn’t work here. The river now surges through the site of the old road bed, and the fresh cutbank provides an important source of spawning gravel for threatened chinook salmon.

As an alternative, the Forest Service surveyed a nearly mile-long route up and over the washout. That seemed logical. But when I hiked the proposed route for the new road, I was shocked. The route climbed an excessively steep side-hill (think roots for hand-holds) then plowed through one of the most beautiful old-growth forest stands I’ve seen in the east Olympics. Douglas firs and cedars up to six feet in diameter covered a mountain slope ribboned with streams. The survey markers and ribbons staked through the grove left me in stunned disbelief. The Forest Service and the National Park Service insist that restoring motor-vehicle access to upstream campgrounds and trailheads is their highest priority. In doing so, the agencies forego a rare recreational opportunity. They can easily convert the old road above the washout to an all-season, hiking, biking and equestrian trail along a spectacular wilderness river.

In the years since the washout, thousands have rediscovered the middle Dosewallips valley. The upper road attracts day hikers, bikers, backpackers and equestrians of all ages. Families with small children looking for a “starter” backpacking experience find Elkhorn campground a one-of-a-kind destination, just an easy mile from the car. Cyclists pedal modest grades through a forested river valley. Day hikers enjoy intimate encounters with thundering Dosewallips Falls that are impossible from behind the wheel. And backpackers find Dosewallips campground one of the most beautiful riverside camps in the east Olympics—without the noise, dust and pollution of passing cars.

The Forest Service and the National Park Service have a singular opportunity to look at future recreational uses for the whole Dosewallips valley: trail conversion, new trailhead, parking and stock-loading facilities, perhaps an all-accessible loop trail and downstream campground. But as of September 2010, the Forest Service is willing to commit up to $3.96 million strictly to build a road for motorized use. All else is off the table. At a time when fossil fuels are becoming scarce and recreational demands are changing, the Forest Service seems stuck in its road-building past.

The Dosewallips valley has something for everyone. But rather than taking my word for it, visit the Dosewallips yourself. Walk the upper road and enjoy a beautiful, all-season hike in a stunning wilderness valley. Then decide what’s right for the Dosewallips.

Tim McNulty is a writer and author of “Olympic National Park: A Natural History.” He is also vice president of Olympic Park Associates.

Officials hold Darrington open house to discuss the Suiattle River Road

2011-09-14T01:14:00.000-07:00

Everett Herald - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Officials hold Darrington open house to discuss the Suiattle River Road

An open house will discuss proposals to repair Suiattle River Road

By Gale Fiege, Herald Writer

DARRINGTON -- People with concerns about forest road projects and access into the Darrington District of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest are encouraged to attend an open house Thursday.

Federal Highway Administration staff plan to be there to talk about proposed repairs to the once popular flood-damaged Suiattle River Road, also known as Forest Service Road No. 26.

The 23-mile-long Suiattle River Road begins near Darrington, and heads east along the north side of the Suiattle River. The upper end of the road has been closed since storms caused major damage in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Washouts on the road have made it difficult for most people in Snohomish County to hike into the Glacier Peak Wilderness and get to the Pacific Crest Trail.

In the face of a lawsuit filed in April, the federal government backed out of plans to repair the road this summer. The Pilchuck Audubon Society, the North Cascades Conservation Council and Lynnwood engineer and hiker Bill Lider brought the lawsuit. They contended that the proposed repairs were not subject to a proper environmental assessment and would destroy old trees that are home to the northern spotted owl and the marbled murrelet, as well as damage parts of the Suiattle River, which has a scenic river designation with protection for salmon. Lider also objected to the use of emergency highway repair funds for the project, since the last damaging flood was in 2007.

Washington Trails Association advocacy director Jonathan Guzzo said he thought the previous environmental assessment for the road repair project was good enough, calling it "a significant and sufficient assessment." The lawsuit and the delay of repairs to Suiattle River Road 26 made a lot of hikers upset, Guzzo said.

The Darrington Area Business Association recently formed a committee of people willing to volunteer their time to make sure it's easier to get into campgrounds and trails in the forest.

"It is our position that, as industrial uses of the local forest have declined, we should be seeing an increase in recreational use as a means to help maintain the local economy through tourism," association President Nels Rasmussen said. "However, fewer miles of roads, fewer campgrounds, and trails becoming less accessible to families limits tourism possibilities which further squeezes the local economy."

In withdrawing its plans for road repairs this summer, Federal Highway Administration officials promised additional environmental analysis. A new assessment is scheduled for release later this year with a 30-day public comment period, said Renee Bodine, spokeswoman for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Federal High Administration and U.S. Forest Service officials propose repairing flood-damaged sites along Suiattle River Road during the summers of 2012 through 2014, with the hope of reopening access to trailheads, wilderness, campgrounds, hunting, fishing, gathering and tribal lands, said Darrington District Ranger Peter Forbes.

The Suiattle River Road was established in the early 1900s by miners packing out to work their claims. By the 1930s, the road extended nearly 20 miles to the Civilian Conservation Corps-constructed Buck Creek Campground. In the big timber heyday of the 1950s and 1960s, the road was used heavily by logging trucks.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110914/NEWS01/709149917

Open house in Darrington

An open house regarding roads into the national forest is scheduled from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the Darrington District Ranger Station of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, 1405 Emens Ave. N., on Highway 530 just outside of Darrington.

For more information about the open house, call the Darrington Ranger District at 360-436-1155 or go to http://tinyurl.com/darringtonopen.

Holden mine remediation situation

2011-09-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

I passed through Holden Village on my way to and from Image Lake a couple of weeks ago, and I checked-in with their manager of public works, Chris Shultz, who was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to update me on the remediation project.

Things are well under way. Alternative 14 is the actionable alternative, meaning during the 2 years of 2013 and 2014 Holden Village will only house remediation workers and staff, no guests. There will be "work camps" held at Holden during that time to the rebuild the power and water infrastructure, taking advantage of the two summers without guests. These improvements will include a new water main, a "purple pipe" for fire protection, and burying the power lines.

The soccer field next to the school has been transformed into a parking area for project vehicles and portable offices. A very large piece of equipment on tracks 10 feet apart had gone through the Village earlier the day we went through, requiring power lines to be raised to let it pass. Workers were seen cutting trees along the road, walking about the Village in their orange vests, and waiting by the Lucerne dock for the boat.

Holden Village infrastructure improvements are

ongoing, and some very big ones are planned

along with the mine remediation.

They anticipate having a new hydro plant once the project is done, as a much greater amount of power will be needed for water treatment after the 2 year remediation phase, and so a whole new "run of the river" hydro facility will be built along Railroad Creek itself, below the village, supplanting the antique hydro system on Copper Creek that runs the Village now.

Cutting has begun and will be extensive.

A logging team is on site now, and extensive tree removal will be necessary for the remediation, for several aspects:

27 turnouts will be added to the road to allow heavy equipment to move in both directions during the two summers.
Railroad Creek itself is planned to be relocated several feet toward the Village, so as to bypass the tailings. The current creek bed will then be a collection trench for water to be treated.
The water treatment area below the lower tailings pile will have to be cleared.
A new "bypass" road will be built, including a new bridge crossing Railroad Creek below the lower tailings, allowing access to the south side of the creek where the remediation work will be done without going directly through the Village to the only bridge currently in place above the Village.

Holden Village will have the option to purchase the timber being cut at a reduced rate.

Clearcutting along the Railroad Creek road is in progress.

A talings pile, laced with cyanide and acid-forming iron sulfides[1], waits for remediation.

One issue of concern is simply the source of all the crushed rock needed to build the new retaining walls, caps, and treatment facilities. Bringing all that material in from down-lake has been ruled out as too expensive, so a series of new quarries and gravel pits will be dug around Holden, many right by the access road, ironically because of the current Roadless Area boundary just a short way from the road on the north side of the valley.

The land along the Railroad Creek road, from the road northward to the Roadless Area boundary, can be dug-up for crushed rock without changing the administrative Roadless Area boundary, so rather than "hide" the quarries back behind a screen of trees, they will be in full view of all the visitors. Perhaps that's for the better, if it draws attention to the impacts of trying to remediate a disaster like this -- hiding the impacts might make the project appear more benign than it is. The only real serious loss will be some old cedars along the creek below the Village, the rest of the trees slated to be cut are not so large or unique for the area.

A hundred million dollars made -- and what's left

for future generations?

In the "Portal Museum" of mining artifacts, now housed in the Village Center, I saw a sign totaling the value of all the minerals extracted during the mining -- $100,000,000. The sign didn't say in what year's dollars that valuation was made. How much the remediation will cost can only be estimated. According to Chris, it's all coming from the successor to the company that did the mining, Rio Tinto (meaning "colored river" - from a river in Spain that has run red from acid mine drainage since antiquity from... you guessed it... copper mining).

After two years of work, starting in 2015, the water quality downstream and the works in place to retain the tailings will be monitored for five years, then any additional work required will take place in 2020. This compromise was negotiated partly to reduce the impact on the Holden Village operation. The good news is that after that 5 year evaluation period, Rio Tinto will not be off the hook! If more work is needed, they will continue to be liable until standards for air and water quality are met, Chris said.

We expect to be observing the remediation process and monitoring. Any N3C members who go through Holden in the coming years are invited file their reports to ncccinfo @ northcascades.org

And I noticed near that hundred-million-dollar sign, in a glass display case, there's a copy of none other than an old edition of The Wild Cascades from the 60s! NCCC has been advocating for the best outcome for the environment around Holden for quite some time, it seems.

HIKERS NOTE that the Copper Basin and upper end of the Railroad Creek trails are closed, and may remain so for the duration of the remediation work:

[1] Correction from original post which said "arsenic." Cyanide was used to separate gold from the ore and became mixed with the slurry which was dumped and became the tailings piles, per http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_misc_holden_tailings.pdf (p.16), also acid-forming iron sulfides are present (p. 17).

TWC latest edition now available online

2011-08-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

The "Spring" 2011 issue is a bit late. It was held-up for last minute changes to The American Alps Challenge event announcement.

N3C members will get their paper copies soon, but you can see an online preview now at:

http://www.northcascades.org/public_html/TWC-Spring-2011.pdf

In This Issue:

President’s Report — Marc Bardsley
It's in the air — John S. Edwards
Celebrating crumbling roads in the backcountry — Robert Kendall
Swamp Mountain: Perspectives on the Skagit river, source of Northwest life, livelihood and quality of life — Tom Hammond
Massive overbuilding threatens North Fork Sky road — Rick McGuire
American Alps Challenge, September 24
A brief history of the Wild Cascades: A call to action — Tom Hammond
In memoriam: Conway Leovy
NCCC joins intervention against Black Canyon hydro proposal — Rick McGuire
The Suiattle lawsuit: why it happened, what is at stake, and what comes next — Kevin Geraghty
Grizzly bear sighting confirmed in the North Cascades last fall — Mark Yuasa, The Seattle Times
Books and video available
NCCC membership application
You're invited! NCCC membership event, Dec. 9

North Cascade Glacier Climate Project, 2011

2011-08-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

The 28th consecutive North Cascade Glacier Climate Project field season is underway, and I was fortunate enough to have the founder and director of the Project, Professor Mauri Pelto, include me for the glaciers in the northern sector, on the flanks of Mount Shuksan and the NE side of Kulshan (Mount Baker).
The team this season includes Pelto, his son Ben who is considering his options for graduate school, daughter Jill, soon to be a freshman at university in the NE, and Ian Delaney, headed to graduate school this Fall. As with recent years, the team will be joined by various researchers and interested people during the course of the three weeks that are required to survey the nine glaciers across the North Cascades. The glaciers are chosen on the basis of location (wet West to dry East, South to North), aspect (S facing slopes through to N facing slopes) and type (avalanche fed vs. “traditional” slope).

This marked the first time since I joined the project in 2004 that I wouldn’t meet the team to start the season at the Columbia Glacier in the Monte Cristo region. Work, timing, and a desire to see Shuksan and Kulshan up close pushed me to join at the second stop, the Lower Curtis Glacier on the SW flanks of Shuksan. From there, we’d traverse across “The Interface” to the Sholes Glacier and the mighty Rainbow Glacier on Kulshan. The Interface is where 90 million year old schist and gneiss of Shuksan contacts the one million year old andesite flows of Kulshan. So cool to have these contrasting mountains so proximate to each other, and the different terrains involved.
Did I say proximate? In mountain terms they are very close together, but in human terms, the distance makes for plenty of heavy, hard hiking. More so this season because the snow pack is at record levels for this time of year. Yep, this is the most snow seen in August in the 28 years of the Project, and probably since the 1974-75, or earlier. I was forced to park at the ski area, adding some two or three miles to the hike, but more importantly, making the logistics of hauling/resupplying from the Shuksan portion to the Kulshan portion difficult—we usually carry minimum food and such to Shuksan and then reload at the car, which is normally available between the two trailheads. This year the trailhead (Artist’s Point) is under about five meters of snow!
As anyone who lives in the Puget Sound region can attest, this has been the “no summer” summer. And herein lies the key to glacier existence and survival in our area—for it is not a huge Winter snowfall that makes for big snowpack and glaciers, it is the heat, or lack thereof, in summer that dictates snowpack survival from one year to the next (glacier positive mass balance). I think Seattle has hit 80F less than five times this year, and it shows in the North Cascades.

Aug 4-6, Lower Curtis Glacier

I enjoy hiking snow, and this year the snow is some of the best I’ve ever seen—firm, with little breakthrough/postholing. The trip in to base camp at Lake Ann was no exception, and the team arrived a few hours after me, around sunset. Measurements at the Columbia had been limited due to the snow, but this would not be the case on the Lower Curtis, and indeed, the snow allowed us to access the terminus. It was so spectacular to walk beside blue towers of ice, huge layered fins stretching a neck-straining 20 meters vertically above us—raining water constantly, and throwing stones off at random, unmoving, but never still.
The terminus has retreated laterally 117 meters since 1985, and has retreated visibly since I first saw it in 2004—some 30 meters gone in seven years—that’s 30 meters wide by 20 meters high, by a couple hundred meters long…gone.
We were joined on the glacier by a guy who follows the project via the internet, and lives in Edmonds (apparently quite a climber). He had two 12 year old boys with him (both his sons?)—very cool parent, this guy. Talk about providing life lessons and skills!
The day was spent evaluating the glacier—clearly this will be a positive mass balance year. The final numbers are still pending, but we’re looking at about plus one meter MB.
I should note the weather. Throughout the five days I was out, and indeed, what appears will continue for the entire length of the project, the weather was perfect. Marine layers would flex in and out of the area, driven by diurnal heating and weak flow off the Pacific. It made for spectacular atmosphere/land interaction, with clouds forming and dissipating all the time, every day. Evenings would usually clear off and stay clear until a few hours after sunrise. The rest of the time, clouds would shift and drift around the high peaks and glaciers, threatening nothing more than a chance at missed award-winning photos.
Fortunately, I had the camera at the ready most of the time and captured some amazing images. It is so fun to be standing in warm sun one minute, only to be engulfed by a thin veil of cloud, still able to see for miles, all objects sporting a halo of glowing vapor. Surreal. Ground mists would arise from the snow each evening, a layer about a meter deep of cloud, tinged orange with alpenglow. It’s all about the water, and this was a magical experience with the most important molecule we know.

August 6-8, Sholes and Rainbow Glaciers

The fact we had to hike all the way from Shuksan to Kulshan in a day was both a blessing and a curse. We were looking at more than 11 miles with full packs, most every step on snow. As it was, we did about eight miles, most of us dragging a bit. We recognized camping this far from the Sholes and Rainbow would likely result in less time on the glaciers; but also recognized the snow drives back the foot that’s slow, and would be so deep on the glaciers that we wouldn’t have to take as many measurements. Indeed, Mauri cut a day off our time at this site knowing we wouldn’t have as many readings to take.
It was neat to hike all the way from one mountain to the other—not many people can say they’ve done that, and it was special to start the day on Mount Shuksan and end it on Kulshan. Upon arrival in camp, we were joined by two ptarmigans. Or more accurately, we joined two ptarmigans on Ptarmigan Ridge, and they were kind enough to share their spot with us. At points through the afternoon they were literally within a meter or two of the tent, picking away at flowers and tender shoots just emerging, an oasis of food and solid ground in a sea of snow. Curiously, they were sporting summer plumage despite the fact there is only about 10% of the normal amount of dark ground melted out from the white snow. We surmised their body clocks only have so much time for mating and such, and thus aren’t driven by conditions on the ground year to year (it sounds and seems obvious, but not always so—the scientific process being what it is!).

Sunday found us making our way to the Sholes.

We discovered small areas of flowering lupine and assorted wildflowers, a welcome splash of color in an otherwise austere world of snow and rock. The Sholes was buried—one specific area that is normally blue ice at this time of year was under three meters of snow. Indeed, as Mauri noted, he’d never hiked so far to get so few probe measurements--about six to fix the position and boundaries of “the blue ice area”. We lunched at the Portals, overlooking the Sholes to the N, and the Rainbow Glacier to the S. It became obvious that we would not make it on to the Rainbow proper—it was already early afternoon, and a round-trip to get any probing or crevasse evaluation would take us hours—likley right up to dark. So we did some photographic assessment (tons of snow, terminus a bombed out snow shelf) and I agreed to come back at the end of September to do further photo comparison work.
Estimate there will be plus one meter MB for the Sholes, Rainbow unknown at this time.
We did not see the usual herds of mountain goats (normally number in the dozens), an indication the snowpack is keeping them out of their normal summer range. We did see a raptor (believe hawk) snatch up a pica or marmot, and also saw a coyote—it was running incredibly fast across a steep snow slope.
We only saw three people in the three days on Kulshan—the snow has thrown a lot of hikers off the trail. Understandable, considering there were times on the trail that I was gripping my ice-ax tightly, using the pick to get purchase on a particularly steep section of traverse.
At the parking lot Monday, the USFS asked about my car—they were about to form a search party for the owner since it had been there for so long. No need for a search party, just a shower and some clean clothes.
[There were many other interesting encounters with climbers, wanna-be climbers, and others, and of course the meaningful conversations with the team members, but I won’t go in to that here—trying to get these reports short. I will say I am so thankful and grateful to Mauri for being included on the project, and his honest and frank friendship. I am also thankful for the ability and desire to visit these places.]

See:
http://www.nichols.edu/departments/glacier/

Pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/116543602651852680619/NorthCascadeGlacierClimateProject2011ShuksanKulshan?feat=email#

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest public meeting Seattle, August 13th

2011-08-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Considering it was a nice summer Saturday morning, there was a healthy turnout--about 75 people, including many from area conservation organizations, and some from the NCCC board. Most folks were concerned about removal of LSR designation, winter recreation that is motorized (noise issues) vs. non-motorized. Quiet is a value we should have in backcountry planning and designation.
And of course folks were concerned about the paucity of Wilderness recommendations.
Instead of Wilderness, the forest plan has a "Backcountry" designation.

I discovered that what the USFS calls "Backcountry" (Golden Horn area for example) takes in to account areas without roads, manages them to stay roadless, and emphasize non-motorized summer recreation, but also calls for winter motorized recreation in those same areas.

Also, USFS didn't make recommendation for more wilderness across lands they acknowledge are of Wilderness quality due to concerns about mineral rights, both existing mines in the Azurite and upper Canyon Creek areas (remediation is underway), and potential areas that have suitable minerals for mining, notably in the Liberty Bell area. That is, the USFS doesn't want to generate a conflict of laws between the General Mining Law of 1872 and Wilderness--areas like that already exist (surface governed by Wilderness, subsurface has legitimate patents, and the ensuing battles to meet both laws in direct conflict). As well, motorized interests and existing roads provide access that make Wilderness designation difficult. Finally, there is wildfire concern, and having the ability to fight fires in areas that are adjacent to communities.

Frankly, these issues are not in effect in many of the areas we want to see designated as Wilderness, including Mad River, Cedar drainage, and the upper Skagit and upper Methow drainages (see Golden Horn, Tower MOuntain, Mount Hardy, L:berty Bell, Early Winter Spires).

And really, consideration of mineral rights and potential mining in the Liberty Bell area? I wonder how many residents of the Methow will change their tune and support Wilderness or National Park status for these spectacular lands if planning moves forward for mining this area. Has anyone seen how often the (modern, environmentally aware) Buckhorn Mine has been in compliance for water quality effluent since it began operation?
Answer: not once.

Stay tuned, the comment period lasts until September 28th, so make your voice heard!

Send comments to:

Forest Plan Revision
Okanogan Valley Office
1240 Second Avenue South
Okanogan, WA 98840

Voice:
Okanogan Valley Office: 509-826-3275
Deborah Kelly, Plan Revision Public Information Specialist: 509-826-3275
Margaret Hartzell, Plan Revision Group Leader: 509-826-3275

TTY: 509-826-3765

Email: r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us

Website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQoY6BdkOyoCAGixyPg!/?ss=110617&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSBDEV3_053653&navid=130100000000000&pnavid=130000000000000&position=Feature*&ttype=detail&pname=Okanogan-Wenatchee%20National%20Forest-%20Planning

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Meet Forest Service officials on August 13, and tell them you want more Wilderness!

2011-08-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

THIS SATURDAY August 13 there will be a public meeting in Seattle regarding the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan Revision. The Forest Service is accepting written comments until September 28 on its Proposed Action, but this is the only public meeting that will be held on the west side of the Forest.

This is the first time in Washington State that the public has had the opportunity to comment on the agency’s Wilderness recommendations through the Forest Plan process. So it is important to be heard!

The Wilderness recommendations in the Proposed Action are a good start, but they omit too many iconic wildlands like the Mad River, Liberty Bell, Golden Horn, Cutthroat Pass, the Sawtooth Crest, Nason Ridge and the upper Teanaway. Please tell the Forest Service that you want these places added to the Wilderness recommendations.

At the August 13 meeting, Forest Service representatives will provide a brief presentation about the Proposed Action and the public comment process. You will also have the opportunity to learn more through one-on-one conversations with the land managers. After the meeting, Washington Trails Association and the Mountaineers will be co-hosting a free BBQ.

What: Okanogan-Wenatchee & Colville National Forest Open House & Cookout
When: Saturday August 13, 10 am - 12:30 pm, followed by a free BBQ from 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Where: Magnuson Park, Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle.
Why: Opportunity for the public to get involved in planning forest management for the next 15-20 years, by talking with land managers about what this plan means to you.

View Larger Map

For more information on the Proposed Action, including maps of the agency’s Wilderness recommendations, see the National Forest website:

http://bit.ly/qBQffO

Unfortunately, the Proposed Action does not address snowmobile use. Please tell the Forest Service to use land allocations or some other mechanism to manage the balance between winter motorized and non-motorized recreation. It would be unacceptable to ignore this growing management issue based on the higher impact technology of these machines and increasing incidence of Wilderness trespass by snowmobiles for the life of this Forest Plan which will be 15-20 years.

We support the Wilderness recommendations that the Forest Service make in its Proposed Action. These include the Rock Creek portion of the Entiat roadless area, some Pasayten additions, and some Alpine Lakes additions (Cashmere Mtn, Scatter Creek, Beverly Creek). However, many key areas were omitted from the agency’s Wilderness recommendations. These areas are worthy for their scenic and ecosystem values. Critical headwaters of some of the most important rivers in the region should be included in Wilderness, as they provide a livelihood and a quality of life for all residents of the State of Washington.

If and when you tell the Forest Service about places you want added to the Wilderness recommendations, it is important to state the names of specific places, and if you have personally recreated there, be sure to say so!

We are asking the Forest Service to add the following areas to the Wilderness recommendations:

In the Methow River drainage:

* West Fork Methow River and surrounding peaks, including Mount Hardy, Golden Horn and Holliway Mountain.

* Main stem Methow River, to include Tower Creek, Tower Mountain, Straight Ridge, Cataract Creek, The Needles (Peaks) and Leap Creek.

*Early Winters Creek arm of the Methow River and surrounding peaks, including Liberty Bell, Early Winters Spires, Copper Point, Kangaroo Ridge and the Silver Star massif. Also Pine Creek, Cuthroat Creek and Cutthroat Peak.

*Cedar Creek, to include those aspects of Silver Star and surrounding peaks.

Pond Meadow

In the Stehekin River drainage:

*Bridge Creek arm of the Stehekin River to include State Creek, Cutthroat Peak, Whistler Mountain, Stiletto Peak and all areas outside the National Park boundary.

The entirety of the upper Skagit River watershed should be recommended for Wilderness, as this represents the third largest river on the west coast of the contiguous United States and supports some of the largest runs of wild salmon in lower 48 states. Skagit headwaters include:

* Tower Mountain, Mount Hardy and Swamp Creek.

* Porcupine Creek, Porcupine Peak (Peak 7762), Cutthroat Peak, Whistler Mountain.

* Granite Creek arm of the Skagit River, to include all fronting mountains such as Black Peak, Corteo Peak, Fisher Peak, and NW through Elija Ridge, Panther Creek, Gabriel Peak, Beebe Mountain and associated creeks.

* Canyon Creek, to include Majestic Mountain, Mount Ballard, Azurite Peak, Slate Creek, and Mill Creek.

In the Twisp River drainage and north side of Lake Chelan:

* Copper Point, Lincoln Butte, Twisp Mountain, Hock Mountain, Gilbert Mountain, Abernathy Mountain and Crescent Mountain, to include all of the forks of the Twisp River.

* Sawtooth Crest, Horsehead Pass, Crater Lake, Eagle Lakes, Boiling Lake, Cooney Lake, Golden Lakes Loop, Martin Peak, Safety Harbor Creek, Uno Peak, Foggy Dew Creek

Whistling Pig Meadow

In the Entiat and Chiwawa River drainages and south side of Lake Chelan:

*North Fork Entiat River, including Fern Lake, Crow Hill, Graham Mountain and Pyramid Mountain (8,245 feet), the highest peak in the Cascades a hiker can reach by trail. (addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness).

*Entiat River, Myrtle Lake, Duncan Hill (addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness).

*Devils Smokestack, Garland Peak (addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness).

*Mad River country, including Mad Lake, Mad Meadow, Blue Creek Meadow, Whistling Pig Meadow, Marble Meadow, Pond Meadow, Klone Peak, Shetipo Creek, Three Creek, Cougar Mountain (addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness). In 1990, the Forest Service admitted that the Entiat Roadless Area has “high potential for wilderness [designation] as an individual area or as [an] addition to existing wilderness.” 1990 Wenatchee Forest Plan, Appendix C, at C-139.

*McCall Mountain (addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness)

South of Lake Wenatchee, these lands should be added to the Wilderness recommendations:

* Nason Ridge, Merritt Lake, Alpine Lookout, Rock Mountain

* Devils Gulch, including Mission Creek

* Icicle Ridge, Chiwaukum Mtns, Lake Ann, West Fork Teanaway, Middle Fork Teanaway, Esmerelda Basin, DeRoux Creek, Bear Creek (additions to Alpine Lakes Wilderness)

*County Creek and Morse Creek (addition to Norse Peak Wilderness)

*Bumping Lake and Deep Creek (addition to William O. Douglas Wilderness)

*Tenday Creek (addition to Goat Rocks Wilderness)

We will post more information here as we approach the September 28 comment deadline.

Thank you for submitting your comments to the Forest Service!

Relay race won't be part of The Challenge this year... sorry

2011-08-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

We regret to inform you that we have cancelled the relay race portion of the American Alps Challenge for 2011. Registration for the race has been low, and the organization that had been making the arrangements has determined that it will not be able to operate it this year. Sorry to any of you who may have been thinking of joining us. Keep in mind, N3C will joing North Cascades Institute in hosting NCI's 25th Anniversary Picnic on 9/24, and we'll be working with Skagit Audubon to do the nature and birding hikes. Latest info at:
http://www.americanalps.org/challenge

SAVE THE DATE Dec 9th Membership Event!

2011-08-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

Swamp Mountain, July, 2011

2011-07-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

Swamp Mountain: Perspectives on the Skagit River: source of Northwest life, livelihood and quality of life

When I plan my big trip of the summer, I usually have a goal in mind as early as January and certainly by April for a climb in the high North Cascades. This year was different-- I didn't choose Porcupine Peak until mid-May. As with the past few years, my destination is influenced by conservation work, in this case American Alps Legacy (americanalps.org). I wanted to get right to the heart of the area that is currently unrecognized as anything more than a scenic highway. I should hope you'll find these pictures and wrds show something more than a strip of pavement.

[photo: confluence of Swamp Creek--flowing from right to left and Granite Arm, Skagit River--flowing left to right. Headwaters of the Skagit River in the Unites States]

[photo: Porcupine Creek flows to Granite Arm, Skagit River. Next stop for this snow is the San Juan Islands.]

May is late to select a destination, because much study of maps and consideration of route, climb and variables, not to mention a healthy dose of excitement/anticipation, go in to the pre-trip planning. As it turned out, I didn't make the final call on approach/route until the night before I left. And I scored a direct hit! Instead of going for the overland, no-trail route to a set of steep 200' pitches to reach base camp on a narrow ridge, I went with a more relaxed approach up Cutthroat trail, acknowledging my true climbing days are coming t an end, and I wasn't going to summit Porcupine Peak. I was going to (be in) a place to live and experience over the course of days--a mountaineering concept I've always embraced. That place is an unnamed ridge/mountain I've taken to calling "Swamp Mountain", as this 7,500’ running ridge defines and is defned by Swamp Creek and Porcupine Creek--the true headwaters of the Skagit River, the third largest river on the west side of the contiguous 48 states, and home to some of the largest runs of wild salmon remaining in the lower 48.
Even without a summit, there was so much snow that "the trail route" was no picnic. Here the mountains are much larger, much more challenging, and far less visited, at least with the healthy snowpack, so that I didn’t see another person for three days. Above Cutthroat Lake there were failing footprints leading to trackless snowy forest. Route-finding is key to any mission, and while not lost, I was feeling a bit uncomfortable as I wandered through the forest trying to pick my way--I had not studied this approach for months and have only hiked it once in my life. But using cues from surrounding peaks and a few goat tracks, I quickly got my bearings and had a wonderful ascent directly to the place I had hope to be--a lovely flat spot on a ridge close to the summit of Swamp Mountain (7,552').
Not even I, the Cornice Camp Kid, could imagine how great this camp would be. A double-cornice was waiting for me. On one side, the cornice was some 4 meters high/thick, overhanging 130 meters of free air above Swamp Creek. On the other side was a 35-degree snow slope for about 30 meters; both sides sculpted by winter/spring winds to make for a flat spot I didn't need to groom at all. Awesome.

The snow conditions were the best I've ever seen: firm and consistent throughout all elevations. I only punched through a few times down low in the forest, and up high, I used crampons until noon each day. I celebrate what many view as a constraint. No bugs, plenty of water, and a nice flat camp.
I counted more than 150 named peaks while on the summit, a narrow ridge with a billowing double-cornice that I kept well clear of other than to scoop out some snow for drinking water.
Living up there for three days and getting to know the landscape, it was hard for me to grasp that nothing I was looking at in the proximate area, or even the middle distance is recognized on a federal level as National Park or Wilderness. These mountains and valleys are key to the largest rivers in the region--the true source of life, livelihoods, and quality of life for everyone from fruit farmers on the arid east side of the Cascade crest to sport fisherman on the west side.
Many of my friends and colleagues on the NCCC board lament they can't do what I can do--they're in their 70s, 80s or older. Still, they stay engaged and work as hard for these summits as they ever have, trying to secure the proper protection and recognition so suitable for this incredible landscape. I am thankful that I’m still able to do as much backcountry travel as I do, and hope to never lose my sense of wonder and desire for exploration. I appreciate and am fortunate for the perspective my fellow NCCC board members provide—we recognize that our abilities diminish and accept it as a fact of life. I suspect it will not make us more inclined to call for trams or roads to summits.
I hope you’ll stay interested, too, for while you may not camp or climb these crags, they do contribute to your everyday life if you live in the state of Washington. Become involved, join the North Cascades Conservation Council, and help us in recognizing these lands.

www.northcascades.org

www.americanalps.org

Photo album at
https://picasaweb.google.com/tphammond/SwampRidgeJuly462011?feat=email#

Our Superstar Lineup!

2011-07-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

We're very proud of the newly expanded American Alps Advisory Committee! Check out our new web page of short profiles and quotes:

http://www.americanalps.org/advisory/index.htm

American Alps status report, July 2011

2011-07-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked what is happening with the American Alps Legacy Project itself. We’re happy to report that there is much more to the American Alps campaign than taking trips to the mountains and bringing back pretty photographs.

Hard work is taking place, both in Washington State, and Washington DC. Local, state and federal elected officials have expressed a new level of interest, and most importantly, support for our efforts to recognize these spectacular lands as National Park. Communities across the region have also expressed interest and support, as we have criss-crossed the North Cascades to engage citizens and hear their thoughts and gather local input.

There is much more work to do, but be aware -- this thing is really moving, and success depends on all of you being directly engaged!

We need you to send letters of support to your elected officials, especially at the federal level, several of whom have recently expressed a high level of support for American Alps.

As Harvey Manning once said in the original campaign for Park protection: “Your head bone is connected to your letter-writing finger bones!"

(That's Harvey above, ca. 1955, photo courtesy of Betty Manning)

Washington's Congressional contact info - click the links and tell them you support the American Alps Project! (Easier today than in Harvey's day, no envelopes or stamps needed):

Maria Cantwell: http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

Patty Murray: http://murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactMe

Rick Larsen: http://larsen.house.gov/contact/

Sending our representatives to Washington DC, where these decisions are ultimately made, entails expenditures. Now is a crucial time to keep the ball rolling! Donations are welcome and easy to make at our website: http://www.americanalps.org/donate/index.htm

Thanks for your support—your energy and engagement are absolutely critical to our efforts!

Lee Mann passing

2011-07-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

We saw Lee last at the Skagit Land Trust annual meeting in April, where he presented one of his last public slide shows. He will be missed. We honor his work in support of North Cascades National Park.

Skagit Herald photo

To listen to Lee tell the story of his career last April, download the mp3 recording of his presentation at:

www.northcascades.org/public_audio/110426_002.mp3

It's about 17MB. We apologize for some of the audio quality.

The following excerpt will give you a feeling for his passion:

55 years ago Lee Mann climbed to Sahale Arm above Cascade Pass. He slept under the stars, and next morning hawks are soaring on the ridges, and one lands near him "...about 10 or 12 feet above my head. And he looked in my eyes, and we had this little exchange. I looked at him and he looked at me, and it seemed to go on for a long time. And finally he's seen enough, and he took to his wings. I thought "That's really amazing!" And I sat up, and here were these beautiful mountains all around, and it was a crystal morning, and a dew had settled overnight, and every blade of grass, every piece of heather was covered with millions and millions of diamonds. And I was sitting there in this wonderland with millions of diamonds around me! And here I was - I had it all to myself, it was all mine! And suddenly something in my heart just changed. And I knew that my life was going to be different from there on out. I knew that my life was going to have something to do with the mountains."

Story from the Skagit Hearld:
http://www.goskagit.com/article_48711c84-b815-11e0-a83f-001cc4c002e0.html

Posted: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 5:45 am

Aaron Burkhalter

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Longtime nature photographer and naturalist Lee Mann died Thursday after a short and sudden battle with cancer. He was 75.
Over more than 40 years in photography, Lee Mann operated four different storefronts, including one inside the Space Needle in Seattle.
His photography prompted him to support organizations like the Skagit Land Trust and the creation of the North Cascades National Park.
“He loved this valley and he loved the environment of the North Cascades,” son Bryce Mann said. “It was his greatest joy and his life’s work.”

Conservation Can't Ignore Apex Species - Scientific value of predators like the gray wolf and grizzly bear

2011-07-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

"Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth Until recently, large apex consumers were ubiquitous across the globe and had been for millions of years. The loss of these animals may be humankind’s most pervasive influence on nature. Although such losses are widely viewed as an ethical and aesthetic problem, recent research reveals extensive cascading effects of their disappearance in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. This empirical work supports long-standing theory about the role of top-down forcing in ecosystems but also highlights the unanticipated impacts of trophic cascades on processes as diverse as the dynamics of disease, wildfire, carbon sequestration, invasive species, and biogeochemical cycles. These findings emphasize the urgent need for interdisciplinary research to forecast the effects of trophic downgrading on process, function, and resilience in global ecosystems."

-Abstract from Science 333, 301 (2011) used with permission.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6040/301.abstract

Clearly, an eco-system isn't the same without it's apex predators. How appropriate that they say loss of wolves and grizzlies can have CASCADING effects! We would argue the findings also suggest the urgent need to restore these apex predators to their former ranges.

Discussion of the article can be read here:

http://blog.nature.org/2011/07/conservation-apex-species-predator-peter-kareiva/

Town of Index blog!

2011-07-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Just noticed our friends in the gateway community of Index, WA, have their own blog!

Check it out at http://indexwa.org/blog/

Their slogan:

small town. big website.

North Cascades Institute Honored By National Park Service | National Parks Traveler

2011-07-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

N3C was a key player in the FERC re-licensing process of the Skagit Hydro Project, which mandated as mitigation for the environmental impact of the dams/reservoirs that an environmental learning center be built where a derelict old resort once stood on Diablo Lake...
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/07/north-cascades-institute-honored-national-park-service8413

MLive.com : Cascading beauty: 'Voluntourism' grooms trails in Washington mountain range

2011-07-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

A reminder that the North Cascades are a national treasure - and topic of travel stories in media outlets across the country, this one from Michigan!
http://mobile.mlive.com/advannarbor/db_/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=nrR5AIVt&full=true#display

PNWRiders forum

2011-07-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a forum to bookmark, whether you choose to join or avoid...
http://pnwriders.com/westside/154988-ride-sunday-july-17th-north-cascades-ride.html

Cunning carnivores

2011-07-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

http://thepnw.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/week-4-cunning-carnivores-in-the-north-cascades/
We are a team of filmmakers, photographers and environmental journalists documenting National Park Service research projects in the Pacific Northwest for the North Coast and Cascades Science Learning Network...

Make your comments on the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests Forest Plan Revision!

2011-07-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to comment on the (in our opinion) inadequate provison for new Wilderness in the OWNF Plan!

http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/okawen/plan-revision

For example, for the Pasayten Rim roadless area (on p. 29) they recommend only 9400 acres out of 41,300 (23%) for Wilderness, with the exclusions based on "heli-ski permit landing spots, wildland urban interface, mining claims, and snowmobile use near Harts Pass."

Email comments to:

r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us

Or attend one of the meetings or webinars listed below!

U.S. FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE

Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests
Forest Plan Revision
Release Date: July 8, 2011
Contact(s):
Debbie Kelly, Forest Plan Revision Public Affairs Lead, 509-826-3275
Roland Giller, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF Public Affairs Officer, 509-664-9314 Franklin Pemberton, Colville National Forest Public Affairs Officer, 509-684-7177

Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests
Announce Plan Revision Public Scoping Meetings

The Forest Service has scheduled a series of public meetings in July and August to share information about the Draft Proposed Actions for Forest Plan Revision for the Colville and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests. The Draft Proposed Actions were released on June 30, 2011, initiating a 60-day public comment period that ends August 29, 2011.
The public meetings are intended to help the public become familiar with the proposed management of the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee Forests, said Margaret Hartzell, Team Leader for the Forest Plan Revision Team. “Our goal is to introduce people to the proposed action and help them understand the information so they can formulate their comments” Hartzell said. “These public meetings are an important part of the ongoing collaboration between the Forest Service and the public in the development of these forest plans.”
Forest Service representatives will provide a brief presentation about the proposed action and the public comment process, followed by a short question and answer session. Before and after the presentation, tables will be set up in an open house format to provide an individual opportunity to learn more about specific topics of public interest, and to have one-on-one conversations with Forest Service representatives. At the Colville, Okanogan and Wenatchee public meetings, small group discussion sessions will also be provided.
Topics highlighted during the open house include: Vegetation Management, Access (including motorized and non-motorized recreation), Recommended Wilderness, Wildlife Habitat, and the Forest Planning Process. “While these public meetings are focused on providing information, we will accept written comments turned in during the meeting,” said Hartzell.

Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan Revision
Public Meeting-Open House Schedule

Colville, WA, Saturday, July 16
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Community College, Institute for Extended Learning Center, Colville Center, 985 South Elm, Colville, WA 99114
Republic, WA, Thursday, July 28
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Republic Elementary School Multi-purpose Room, 30306 E. Highway 20, Republic, WA
Okanogan, WA, Saturday, July 309:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Okanogan County Fairgrounds, Agriplex Building, 175 Rodeo Trail Road, Okanogan, WA 98840
Spokane, WA, Monday, August 1,5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Spokane County Public Library, North Branch, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd
Spokane, WA 99218
Newport, WA, Tuesday, August 2,
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Newport High School Auditorium, 1400 West Fifth Street, Newport, WA 99156
Wenatchee, WA, Saturday, August 69:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Wenatchee Convention Center, 201 North Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801 (Next to the Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel).
Yakima, WA Wednesday, August 10,
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th St, Yakima WA 98901-2515
Cle Elum, WA Thursday, August 11
5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., Cle Elum Centennial Center, 719 E. 3^rd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922
Seattle, WA Saturday, August 13,
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Magnuson Park, Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115

Two Toll-Free “Lunch Time” Webinars—will also be held Tuesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 18 from noon to 1:30 p.m. to provide an opportunity for those people who may not be able to attend one of the other public meetings, or would like to participate in another review opportunity. More information will be announced via media release and posted on the project website when details become available.

Forest Plans provide broad direction to the Forest Service about how to manage the natural resources on national forest lands. “Much like county zoning plans, they allow certain activities and uses in certain areas and set the sideboards for those activities and uses,” explained Hartzell. “Comments provided at this stage in the plan development will be used to help us determine the scope of the environmental analysis and to develop a range of alternatives,” she added.

Comments are most helpful if received by August 29, 2011. Written comments should be addressed to the Colville and Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan Revision Team, Okanogan Valley Office, 1240 Second Ave. South, Okanogan, WA, 98840. Comments can also be sent via email to: r6_ewzplanrevision@fs.fed.us. Comments generated by the Draft Proposed Action are used to develop alternatives analyzed in an environmental impact statement.

To view or download the Draft Proposed Actions, and/or to access maps and other informational materials, visit the project website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/okawen/plan-revision or call Debbie Kelly, Forest Plan Revision Team Public Affairs contact at (509) 826-3275.

Green Mountain Lookout -- comments worth reading

2011-07-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Missoula Independent published an article saying it's OK to use any and all means, including illegal mechanized and motorized ones, to rebuild lookouts like the one on Green Mountain, inside Federally designated Wilderness Areas. The comments are the part that's worth reading - they state the case against such things eloquently!

http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/cabin-fever/Content?oid=1484273

Be a part of the Challenge. Learn more about what the North Cascades has to offer. Help protect this incredible wild place.

2011-07-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Announcing the American Alps Challenge!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

http://www.americanalps.org/

Click on the logo at the top of our home page for all the info!

Dickerman

2011-07-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, sorry this is a week late for those of you strongly desiring to know snowpack conditions. Ridge/summit cornices are anywhere from 1 to 4 meters thick through 6,000' in the upper Stilly/western North Cascades. Snow generally starts at 4000', lower on N slopes. The snow is some of the best climbing snow I can remember: firm from the get-go with a very narrow zone of punching through (minimal unpleasantness).

I went to Mount Dickerman as much to maintain physical and mountaineering chops as anything, though I knew I'd have the summit to myself if I spent the night, and the nice snowpack would afford a flat camp *right at the summit*. How often has anyone ever spent the night literally at the top of a mountain? I can assure you that in the North Cascades, most summits leave one gripping the rock, water ice or snow, aware that a single misstep can lead to a bad day.

I knew there'd be dozens of people there, thus making route-finding a non-issue. As it worked out, there were no less than 30 people on the trail, and most made the summit. Most from the Seattle area, and none aware this amazing place, the headwaters of a principal regional river, is unrecognized with any protective designation other than "roadless". I'm sure you will find these pictures reflect something a bit more.

A number of us conservationists envision this area for inclusion in existing USFS Wilderness, and the sooner the better.

PHOTOS: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=tphammond&target=ALBUM&id=5623047410834464673&authkey=Gv1sRgCLOF4_PRwYrWEw&feat=email

Funny anecdote: a few people puzzled at why I would spend the night in the snow when it was so quick to descend and head on back to the comforts of the big city. One guy I saw on my way out said "Wow, they have camping at the summit now?".

I responded with something about not knowing of "they", but the snow had provided a wonderful flat area for the tent with about 30 seconds of grooming. It's great to see people enjoying life in the PacNW, I just hope they recognize the biggest value of the land is the role it serves in water creation and distribution.

I would hope the reasons for spending the night are self-evident from the photos (and doesn't include another highlight, ISS brighter than I've ever seen, and I've seen it a hundred times or more--wonder if that's due to recent reboost).

Get out and explore your planet (maybe some others too). I am so thankful for the opportunity and ability to do just that every day.

Fourth state wolf pack confirmed | WDFW News Release

2011-07-05T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Teanaway Pack!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/release.php?id=jul0511a

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Cascade River visits, 2011

2011-06-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

I figured I should put a wrap on this year's visits to N. Fork Cascade River. Per earlier entries/reports, we made three visits to the valley this year, the final visit on June 3-4.
The main reasons we go at this time of year are because the road is closed (gasp, we access a place that is "inaccessible" due to the road being closed/snowcovered), and of course to watch avalanches.

Curiously, we didn't see much in the way of big avalanches this year, nor were they as numerous as in past years, especially considering the healthy snowpack. This is attributable to timing, as well as a generally stable snowpack. I should note we did see the remains of "Mr. Big" on the June 3 visit. Per the below photo, a huge slab, stretching from nearly the Triplets to Cascade Peak, and two or three meters thick let go, roaring in to the lower valley, and down to the confluence of Soldier Boy Creek!

(look closely--see the "white line" that rises from the sunny patch and extends left (East)? Below the line is much newly exposed rock, and above is generally still snow other than those rock islands. That's called a "climax avalanche" because it went right down to the bedrock. In the next picture, you see that snow filling the valley--some of the blocks are as big as trucks)

Oh, those snapped trees are not from avalanche(s)--they are from incredible winds. I should point out we saw more blow down this year than we have in three decades of visits. Must have been one hell of a wind-storm during the winter...
As well, see the streaks of dark material. Avalanches aren't just snow--they usually entrain tons of boulders, trees and rock, as was the case with this "Mr. Big".

And of course the crescent moon setting over J-burg (should be renamed Cascade Mountain) was spectacular...

So glad the road is closed in the Spring--this is a place of remarkable beauty and relief, It is a blessing to be able to hike/ski it and experience it as Wilderness. It's just not the same with cars chugging up and down.

Bike-hike combo at Monte Cristo -- let's make more of these!

2011-06-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

My family and I drove our pickup camper to the end of the Monte Cristo road back in the early 70s, "because it was there." That's what roads do, they make you want to drive them. I don't remember much of the journey, other than how the road was pretty nasty and narrow in places and it was tough when you met another vehicle going the other way. It seemed to attract a lot of others in cars, though, as I recall, many of whom didn't venture far beyond their cars.

Today, the Monte Cristo road is washed out so badly at the 1 mile mark from floods years ago, it was decided it would be silly to consider rebuilding it, and it's gated back where it branches off the Mountain Loop Highway at Barlow Pass now, where there's a parking area. When I first noticed that, I was thinking how I couldn't get up there anymore, with that closed road. Then I had and idea -- ride a bike to my favorite hike!

Now I love taking my mountain bike up there, riding the first easy mile, carrying my bike over the river ford, then biking up the old road to the end at the old mining town, locking my bike to a tree and hiking up to Glacier Basin.

On the way back out, I look forward to the ride down from the road end almost as much as I look forward to the spectacular scenery throughout the whole trip! Great fun, highly recommended, and quite popular. Be nice if some of the other rickety old roads around here, built for extraction of minerals and timber, were closed permanently below the big washouts and converted to bike-to-the-trailhead destinations. The Suiattle and Whitechuck would be ideal!

The advantages of this, over rebuilding the road, are numerous:
-Far less public expense

-Far less environmental impact
-Fewer vehicle miles driven = less oil consumed, less carbon emitted, more healthy population
-IT'S FUN!!

And I'll tell ya -- when I get too old for strenuous hikes, I'm going to hope there are more places like this to stroll alongside a beautiful river with views of high peaks. Old roads are great for less able hikers, especially after a few years of "greening up" so they look a little more natural.

So before you complain about a "lack of access" with your car to the end of every road in the mountains, think about getting there a different way, a way that might do you, and the world, some good!

Suiattle followup

2011-06-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who have taken the time to comment (well, at least those of you with civility and some sense of a shared reality). I certainly don't treat the blog with as much scrutiny as I do my articles for publication, but I do feel the need to address a couple of points.
Okay, I get it, we didn't WIN the lawsuit, the USFS walked away from the project. In every field of competition I've entered, when a team walks off the field during the game, it's called forfeit.
In such cases, the other team is credited with a win, as in W.

I said a preferred alternative would be to end the road "just before Downey". Allow me to clarify--to me that means a mile or two before Downey, not AT Downey.

I don't remember any of the commentors being with Kevin and I when we walked the proposed job site with the USFS in (2005?). It was a cordial, professional meeting, and I respect the foresters in Darrington, and indeed, across the state. We were disappointed when many of the items we discussed did not come to pass with this project (like a narrow single-lane road prism through the repair corridor, or ending the road around Green Mtn turnoff, and NO rip rap and bank armoring!).

What's all of this about lack of access? I'll say it again and again: access is still there! Ride a bike--I've done it with a full pack and it's not that bad. Or enjoy a lovely extra hour of lush valley hiking. There's a reason these roads keep failing, and throwing money at it doesn't work except to waste money year after year. The USFS actually had heavy equipment stranded above the MP12-14 washout in 2006 when those floods hit--they/we can't repair this stuff fast enough. Look no further than Tenas Creek for the same story. The $850,000 per mile may be "Federal Highway monies", but that means OUR money. All the hew and cry to cut the budget should apply here as equally as anywhere else...

Oh, and access for the infirmed and elderly? valley hikes along the spectacular Suiattle sound like just the ticket. I should know, my right foot was torn off 10 years ago. Should we build a tram so I can accomplish one of my life goals to stand at the summit of Shuksan?
Through life we go through changes, and we get old, and suffer accidents, and inevitably slow down. That's how it works.

Suiattle River road--the real story

2011-06-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

[NOTE: this area is not under consideration for inclusion in North Cascades National Park/not a part of American Alps. However, I feel compelled to address this since NCCC is deeply involved with many issues across the North Cascades, and there are those who would speak out about American Alps in conjunction with Suiattle (it's called conflation, but we're not above mucking it up to clear the air.]
We won our lawsuit against the USFS over the Suiattle River road rebuild. The USFS recognized they had stepped well outside the law on this one. Back to the drawing board, and as we have since 2003 (or is that 1953?), we don't just complain and sue, we offer reasonable, practical, affordable solutions to the situation (many NCCC board members want the road fixed at MP12-14).
There are those who contend we're trying to "lock people out of the mountains"--nothing could be farther from the truth. By encouraging lawful actions and supportable land-use plans by the USFS, and increasing land area recognized as National Park, we're trying to bring the Park to the people, and make back-country experiences possible for people now, and for generations to come.

Opponents point to NCCC participation in a lawsuit to stop repair work on the Suiattle River road (FS #26). We engaged in this legal action not because we want to keep people out, but because the USFS violated both the letter of the law, and the intent of the law by declaring the work did not need to be reviewed for environmental impact. They used a summary-execution rule called "Categorical Exclusion" to push ahead a project that was clearly beyond the purview of a CE.
See for yourself: https://picasaweb.google.com/kgeraght/SuiattleRiverRoad?feat=email#

In reality, several of the NCCC board members, including me, want to see the road re-opened to just before Downey Creek. We just want it done legally, and with minimum impact to taxpayers and to maximize the ecological health of the area. One can argue the wisdom of using TWO MILLION DOLLARS of Federal Emergency Highway monies to repair two miles of gravel road that's been out for several years (not an emergency, not a highway...), especially in this economy, but after looking at the pictures below, and the linked web-photo album, it is hard to argue the impacts on the land.

We measured the width of the recently cut swath at MP 14.4. It is between 100 and 120 feet wide, and 900 feet long. The original NEPA for this promised that "approximately a half acre" of forest would be logged here. This implies a swath width of ~24 feet, instead of the 120 feet we ended up with. Rather than a half-acre it is over two.

End the road before Downey Creek. Have Sulphur Campground be the premier deep valley experience--a real family-hike-in campground within an hour's hike of the trailhead. Flat, scenic and a chance to experience natural vistas and soundscapes.

For those who contend that closing a couple of miles of road "prevents access". Just take a moment to consider what we're trying to access. The idea behind going to these places is to engage in hiking, walking, and experiencing the outdoors, not to drive an automobile.

Wildlife encounters like the photo below (taken on the Suiattle road) do not and cannot happen from an automobile.

https://picasaweb.google.com/kgeraght/SuiattleRiverRoad?feat=email#

D-Day Anniversary, 2011

2011-05-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Update June 6th, 2011. I asked Phil and the other members of American Alps to not blog, and leave this blog as the headliner for the past week to commemorate Memorial Day and remember our countrymen in uniform. Much has been happening in the great outdoors, with vehicle access on forest service roads at the top of the list. We will address that tomorrow. For now, let's remember again D-Day, sacrifice and all who help us celebrate National Parks and lands protection...
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First, a sincere and solemn thank you to all who have given their lives, given their bodies, and given their energy willingly so that we can even consider creating and supporting National Parks and Wilderness.

American Alps Legacy Project is really all about the Legacy. The efforts of many regular people in the 1950s led to the creation of North Cascades National Park, The Glacier Peak Wilderness Area, The Pasayten Wilderness Area, and many other treasures of our incredible Pacific Northwest.

One of the main movers in lands protection was a couple from the midwest, Margaret and Joe Miller.

So what of Memorial Day, American Alps and Legacy?
It's not often an organization can claim a war hero as a member of the board of directors, but that's exactly what the NCCC had in Joe Miller. Here is an excerpt from an article I wrote upon Joe's passing a couple years ago. Note we finally got Joe's remains to Cascade Pass this past summer (see Summer/Fall edition of The Wild Cascades).
http://northcascades.org/public_html/TWC-Summer-Fall-2010-web.pdf

March 28,, 2008
I went to Tahoma National Cemetary today to pay respects to a true American hero: Joseph W. Miller. Joe served our country in the 1st Battalion of the 20th Engineering Combat Regiment--a combat engineering battalion that first landed at Casablanca and directly engaged Rommel at Kasserine Pass in North Africa. Many of Joe's mates died clearing mines and building the road that enabled the US and Brits to acheive victory there. Then the 20th hit Yellow Beach closely E of Licata on Sicily. Joe helped Patton reach Messina first. Then it was on to Omaha Beach, where a landing craft directly in front of Joe's was hit by an 88 and he watched as his comrades disintegrated in front of him. Joe's unit cut through tank traps and mines, and secured one of THE roads that allowed so many Brits, Canadians and US to escape the meatgrinder of those beachheads. Joe and his mates literally built the podium on which the generals stood to celebrate the liberation of Paris. Joe secured the road at Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge. Joe's was the first unit to enter Leipzig, and later shook hands with Russians as the forces linked in Czechoslovakia.

But Joe would be quick to tell you the greatest victory of his life was helping create North Cascades National Park, and saving Big Beaver Valley from flooding and chainsaws. You see, the reason I was there to pay respects to Joseph W. Miller is that above all he believed preserving our glorious wildlands was his primary mission--he was what some would denigrate as a tree-hugger. Joe was on the board of the North Cascades Conservation Council. Joe and his lovely wife Margaret worked for years volunteering with the National Park to catalog as many lifeforms and ecosystems as possible. They stood before Congress to testify in defense of the North Cascades. Talk about homeland security.

Big Beaver valley, North Cascades National Park. The entire lower portion of the valley (out of sight behind rocky ridge coming down from Mt. Prophet on the left) is still outside National Park status and full protection and recognition of what's really important to our way of life.

N. Fork Cascade River, late May

2011-05-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, don't want to get too long winded here. There are many things to blog about right now--Suiattle issues, Memorial Day and what it means to be a patriot and exercise true homeland security, and of course snowpack and avalanches. Let's start with something heavy like a sub-tropical rainstorm (note, broke several regional precip records). Later I'll blog a(nother) article about Joseph W Miller and Memorial Day...

May 15, 2011
You know the story: N Fork Cascade River makes for big avalanches. That's why I go back every nice weekend in the Spring (given snowpack/timing). As usual, the weather played a big role--temps on Friday the 13th almost made 70F, and in direct sunlight it was even warmer.
It was wonderful to have Athena along on this trip--the sun was there, my wife was there, but no bears, and very few small avalanches. Huh?
Oh well, it was a lovely day and we enjoyed the incredible scenery. Forecast called for Tstorms to show up Saturday, but as we left town, updated forecasts showed chance of showers in the North Cascades Friday evening...
"Showers" in the North Cascades usually means trouble.
Turns out the weather was about 12 hours faster than thought just 24 hours earlier.

Friday afternoon/evening, the winds really picked up, and high clouds streamed in. By dark, we were in the tent debating deploying the fly. Fly in wind equals LOUD NOISE, not too conducive to sleep. Then again, pouring rain on head doesn't make for good sleep either. The muted moonlight was a nice indicator of cloud thickness, so we got in some nice early zzzs. The sound of light rain tapping the tent woke us up, but moonlight could still be seen on the summits of Mount Torment a mile above us, so I figured this shower was tiny and we'd be okay.
Then flickers of lightning appeared. Hmmm.
Time to deploy the fly.
This meant the end of good sleep, which we found hard to come by an hour later anyway, when torrential sub-tropical rains showed up. Whoa, huge drops, and plenty of them. That was about 01:00. Athena and I agreed there would be avalanches now...
[At least I'm now sleep-shifted to watch the final launch of shuttle Endeavour on her final mission]

It rained for the next four hours. And yes, then the avalanches showed up. Rain from 1 to 6, Avalanches from 5 til after we left, and wind the whole time.

It was great to see Athena experience the North Cascades as she's never seen, and why most of us in the know try to avoid these mountains in stormy conditions. The rains returned as we hiked out at 10AM. Within 30 minutes, we we soaked to the bone--no rain gear matters when one is swimming across and through blowdown, struggling with a full pack that branches grab on to and won't release. Then came the avalanche crossings and stream crossings. We'd seen one big event on our side of the valley at about 9AM (see photo captions). Made it through the big ones in a warm rain that ate through the snowpack and swelled creeks and waterfalls by the minute. Indeed, a brook flowing across the road due to a blocked culvert below Midas Creek had turned in to a ground-trembling torrent a meter deep and a meter wide. Care to jump that with a full pack on? Oh, but stand around very long trying to figure a way across, and one can be sure ANOTHER blast of boulders, trees and snow WILL BE coming through!

It was really the rain and wind that caused Athena to soberly declare when we made it back to the car: "I will NEVER hike in conditions like this again". Smart girl, she is.

The North Cascades just being who we thought they were!