2008 XYNW Photo Contest

Calling all amateur photographers!

The Northwest is a region of tremendous ecological diversity, history, and natural beauty. As a way of honoring special places of the Northwest, Northwest Interpretive Association is holding a photo contest as a way to share images and let others know about the many sights to see and places to visit. With all the natural beauty that surrounds us, we at Northwest Interpretive Association, want to see some of the places you have visited and have been inspired by, and what these unique destinations hold.

Visit the Experience Your Northwest contest page on our website for more information: http://www.nwpubliclands.org/photo_contest_1.htm

The Rising Costs of Recreation

According to a recent article published by the Seattle P-I, recreation costs throughout the west are on the rise. Federal land agencies have been imposing and increasing fees at recreation sites in the western states to raise much needed funds for fighting wildfires. The article explains that firefighting costs are consuming 47% of the overall budget compared to just 20% of the budget in the 90's. And the budget just isn't there from Congress.

So, to make up for the shortfall recreation fees increase. We could get into a long discussion about the pros and cons of raising recreation fees, or even having recreation fees in the first place. I would like to relate a little story that happened here in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest several years ago that reinforces why I plunk down my $80 a year for an America The Beautiful pass.

My husband & I went for a short little hike to the Big Four Ice Caves. We still had another month left on our Northwest Forest Pass and it was a sunny late summer day. We hiked out along a comfortable wide trail accessible to anyone with mobility problems short of a wheel chair. We crossed new safe bridges, again wide with plenty of room to pass and high railings. We explored the ice caves, discussed the science of air flow, and admired the late summer flowers. When we returned to the trail head, Mr NW-Walker stopped to read the information posted there. On the reader board was a detailed report of the fees taken in the previous and the expenditures of those fees along with what was done to the Big Four Ice Caves trail, including widening the trail and building better bridges. We stopped on the way home to buy a new pass.

To me, paying a little more to help the Forest Service battle fires or the Park Service to maintain the infrastructure, is not up for debate. Of Course I will, because I would like to insure the wilderness to still be there when I want to enjoy a quick afternoon hike.

State Park Gems

If I were to ask you for a great place to go hiking and exploring our great northwest scenery, would you recommend one of the regions state parks? Actually, neither would I. However, my thinking has changed within the last couple of months after a few wonderful outings that make me want to recommend to you, and remember for myself, the hidden gems of our state park service.

My journey begins last year on my road trip to the southwest. I took a little detour to the Bruneau Sand Dunes outside of Boise. I had visited the Sand Dunes in Colorado years past and was surprised to find out that right in my own neighborhood were more! I spent a couple of hours running through the sand and basking in the sun before heading back to the highway but looked up the Idaho State Park system on my return home to find others.

I began to think back on other State Park experiences I'd had - swimming in the lakes near my childhood home, hiking trails to waterfalls in my teen years, picnics in meadows - all by the benefit of the State Park system. A few years ago, I slept out under the stars in an Oregon State Park near the John Day River and woke up covered in frost. What a memory!

Recently? I visited the Millersylvania State Park south of Olympia and snowshoed the Iron Horse Trail near Cle Elum. Both experiences were a bit surprising. Surprising that I had overlooked these destinations for hiking and recreation purposes.

My one word of advice - when looking for someplace to enjoy a little outdoor recreation, please don't forget your state parks.

Outdoor Etiquette

A few friends & I recently went snowshoeing along the North Fork of the Teanaway River in Eastern Washington. We took along our dogs who were just as excited as we were to get out into the snow. The sun made the snow around us glisten as we made our way along the combined snowshoe/ski/snow mobile track to where the machine track separated from the "foot" track. The silence of a snow-filled landscape was broken only by the crunch of our shoes and our laughter as we played and made snow angels. We stopped for lunch on a little hill with a view of surrounding mountains and the clouds that drifted by.

Then we heard it, the distinct buzz of snow mobiles. I'm not here to complain about snow mobiles in general. I knew that we'd hear them on this trail and had been expecting it. In fact, my sister who was along on the trip regaled us with tales of her adventures on a snow mobile. No, I've never been one to say that machines, whether they should be snow mobiles or dirt bikes, have no place in the wilderness - as long as a few pieces of etiquette are met. Courtesy to others on the trail is at the top.

As we returned to our car after a relaxing lunch and conversation, we met up with a group of snowmobilers on the combined track. Being good hiking citizens, we pulled ourselves and our dogs out of the way of the group - onto the snow bank next to the track. In turn the snowmobilers slowed down as they passed and gave us a wave. All, that is, except one.

One young lady sped around the corner and flew along the road ignoring her friends who tried to wave her speed down. One rider finally stopped his snow mobile in front of her to get her to slow down. She slowed as she passed and I looked into her mask and helmet to see if there was an apologetic look in her eye. The look I got in return was a glare.

My friends & I went on this outing knowing we'd run into both skiers and snowmobilers, activities we would need to be aware of and make room for as they passed. Is it too much to ask that they be made aware of us and give us a little room too?

A Few Northwest Notes

Just a few things I made note of this week.

There seems to be new activity at Mt St Helens. A few earthquakes and steam venting. This activity means that the mountain is not ready to quiet down just yet. The lava dome is still building. Haven't been the the volcano for a while? Maybe this will be the year to reacquaint yourself. Just remember that the Coldwater Visitor Center closed late last year and is not expected to re-open - ever.

Two climbers on Mt Hood made it off the mountain safely. After a storm hit them this weekend they dug in to wait out the storm. I feared it would be a repeat of last year's tragedy when three climbers were lost on the north slope after a severe storm pounded the area. The two men who came down safely didn't have to wait a week or two before rescuers got to them - the storm cleared quickly. And gives them a story to tell their grandchildren.

The migrating birds have settled in for a few more weeks. Sandhill Cranes can be found enmasse in eastern Washington & Oregon, Bald Eagles are in residence along the Skagit River and the Snow Geese are happily eating in the fields along the Skagit Delta. Tell me about your favorite birding areas.

Coal Creek Falls

As the snows coat the mountains here in the northwest, a hiker's eyes and legs wander to the forested slopes of the cascades. Sometimes heading to the snow just isn't an option. And neither is staying home on a beautiful winter day that peaks in through the cloudy days. For the Seattle area, the Issaquah Alps make a splendid destination.

I usually avoid the Issaquah Alps, mainly because they are so close to Seattle and being so close to Seattle you don't always get solitude. Tiger Mountain can be a rave party any time of year - if I'm looking for a little company, that is where I go. I have found some solitude while on these trails - mostly on the unpopular trails that take a little searching. Today I was going somewhere very popular.

I had heard some descriptions of Coal Creek on Cougar Mountain and the waterfall there and thought what a good idea - a walk in a sun-dappled forest to a year-round waterfall. My lab-mix Olympia decided that she too was getting a little cabin fever so insisted on joining me. The sun made an appearance sparkling on the snow that had dusted the low-lying mountains protecting the valley where Issaquah has been spreading its suburban tendrils. A quick stop for snacks and a short drive past the newish neighborhood communities took us to the quiet of a western Washington forest. Soon we were casually making our way up the hill drinking in the sun and the whitish bark of alders against the winter blue sky.

Although the parking lot was almost full, we met only two other people on our way to the falls. Olympia happily ran along the trail ahead of me, trotting back to check on my progress before going ahead. We heard the falls before coming to them, a good sign as most waterfalls are diminished or non-existent by this time of year. After admiring the falls, we continued on our loop to the ballfield meadow. Oh, if Camas has been replanted here, I'll need to come back in the spring for these beautiful purple flowers. On our way back to the car, we made a little side trip to see a some artifacts of the mining industry in the area.

We touched only a small portion of the views and trails on Cougar Mountain but I realized I really shouldn't avoid the Issaquah Alps, for solitude can be found here as well as natural beauty and a little history thrown in.

New Year Snowshoe

Panorama Point at Mt Rainier National Park

For the 1st day of the new year, my hiking buddy and I decided to head to Mt Rainier for a New Year snowshoe - a clean and adventurous start to 2008. A fresh blanket of snow covered the slopes behind Paradise and a sharp wind bit into our faces as we stepped out of the car at the Jackson Visitor Center. I will miss the visitor center once it's torn down later in the year. The design may not fit the alpine experience, but the 360 degree view sure is nice. I will often swing around after a hike to sit back to relax and thank the mountain for it's pleasurable company that day. The new visitor center just doesn't appear to have anywhere near as wonderful an observatory as the old one does.

But we weren't there to compare and contrast the old and the new, as many will during this transitional time. We wanted to start the year off with a good stretch of the legs and a warming of muscle, so up the hill we went. The powder was fresh and soft which made it a bit harder to walk through and slowed our progress. At the top of our first rise, I noticed the scenery around me seemed to sparkle even under heavy clouds. Off to the south filtered sunlight broke through to add color to an almost gray sky which also brought drama to the Tatoosh Range. Mt Rainier towered above us, the peak just barely visible in the clouds, bare rock ridges breaking through the snow cover. All around us were snow and ice encrusted trees looking as if they were wearing heavy coats to protect them from the winter chill.

At each rise along the way, I'd stop to admire these three beautiful views, each new angle, each new detail. I smiled at the icicles clinging to branches like Christmas Tree ornaments not yet ready to be boxed up for the season. Wind high on the mountain kicked up loose snow into a cloud around Camp Muir. And always behind us the toothy Tatoosh Range and the yellow/orange tinged clouds above.

Others had the same or similar idea as us this day and we passed a jovial group who cheerfully wish us a Happy New Year before rattling and blowing their noise-makers. Normally a tooting horn would be a disturbance in the wilderness, today it was cause for celebration - where else should a person rejuvenate themselves for a new year? Rattling a maraca seemed perfectly appropriate and matched the screams and laughter of the children sledding lower on the slopes.

We rested for a spell near Panarama Point before deciding it was time to head to the visitor center for a cup of hot chocolate, snow cushioning every footstep. Why can't we find something as soft to walk on in the summer so our knees don't get so banged up? Just as we started down the last hill we were greeted by a wonderful view of the old Jackson Visitor Center as it seemed to rise from the trees.