Report Names Washington's Top 10 Endangered Hiking Trails
SEATTLE-- Washington Trails Association, the state's leading hiking trails advocacy group, today released its annual report of the Top 10 endangered hiking trails. And as expected, damage from last October's record-setting flood and several seasons of intense wildfires have had a devastating impact of many of the state's most popular trails. The report finds that the lack of emergency funding available for repairs from weather-related storm damage could keep some of the state's most popular routes closed for years.
According to the report, the ten most endangered hiking trails in Washington are:
1.Pacific Crest Trail, (Suiattle River/Milk Creek Loop) Statewide
2.Andrews Creek Okanogan National Forest
3.Lake Creek Okanogan National Forest
4.West Fork Methow Okanogan National Forest
5.Peek-a-boo Lake Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
6.Middle Cascade Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
7.Whitechuck Bench Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
8.Thunder Creek North Cascades National Park
9.Little Beaver Creek North Cascades National Park
10.South Fork Skokomish Olympic National Park
"The health of Washington's hiking trails isn't only important to hikers," said Jonathan Guzzo, Advocacy Director for the Washington Trails Association. "It impacts the local economies, state tourism and our Northwest quality of life. We have to invest in these trails or they won't be here for long."
Washington's hiking trails suffered a very difficult year. Last summer, enormous wildfires raged through the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, severely damaging trails. Devastating rainstorms swept across the Cascades, hitting the north Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest the hardest. Some of these well-loved hiking trails are now totally inaccessible or so heavily damaged that they are unsafe or impossible to hike.
The most shocking blow was to the Pacific Crest Trail / Suiattle River/Milk Creek Loop, which lost 23 bridges. Many Northwest hikers, as well as hikers around the world, dream of hiking portions or all of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail at some point in their lives. This might not be the summer to turn that dream into a reality.
On other lands, a lost bridge on Little Beaver Creek has taken out the most premiere, multi-day backpacking route through North Cascades National Park. In the Olympics, 150 feet of the South Fork Skokomish trail slumped into the river. Fires in the Okanogan National Forest ravaged the Lake Creek, Andrews Creek, and West Fork Methow River trails.
The repair estimate for storm-damaged trails in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie Forest alone is estimated at $4.4 million, more than twice the existing annual recreation budget of the Forest. Ongoing projects are on hold while the Forest tries to address some of the smaller repairs, but they can only stretch maintenance and repair dollars so thin.
Forest Service and Park Service budgets are already strapped as they have steadily declined over the past decade. With the help of groups like WTA, public lands agencies have gotten used to the tightening belt, using a combination of volunteer labor, user fees, grant funding and other magic tricks. There are no magic tricks left after the recent natural disasters.
"The very real and continuing decline in public funding can no longer be ignored, or hiked around," said Guzzo.
"Nothing short of a check from Congress will reopen these trails," said longtime WTA Assistant Crew Leader Pete Dewell. "Volunteers are working hard to do their part, but we can't fix much of this recent damage. It is simply beyond the scope of what volunteers can do."
Since 1993, WTA volunteers have performed almost 400,000 hours of trail work on public lands in Washington State, from the Olympic Peninsula to the Okanogan National Forest. This equals a contribution of more than $4 million dollars. Hikers wishing to volunteer to help restore a fire- or flood-damaged trail can learn more at www.wta.org, or call (206) 625-1367.
For more information on the Washington's Endangered Trails Report or a list of experts to contact on the topic, call Jonathan Guzzo at (206) 625-1367. The full report can be viewed here. Descriptions of specific trails throughout Washington are available; trips to an endangered trail near you can be arranged.
The report will be available to hikers starting Thursday, June 3, 2004 and will be distributed widely during this weekend�s National Trails Day on June 5th. Visit www.wta.org for more information.
The Washington Trails Association (WTA) is a non-profit membership organization that works to protect and enhance hiking opportunities in Washington State. Founded in 1966, WTA advocates protection of hiking trails, takes volunteers out to maintain them, and promotes hiking as a healthy, fun way to explore Washington. WTA volunteers contribute over 65,000 hours each year to build and maintain trails in all corners of the state. Washington Trails magazine and WTA's website feature the latest backpacking tips, hiking and environmental news, book reviews, our trail maintenance schedule and trip reports. This July 10th, WTA sponsors TrailsFest, a fun, free event for all ages, at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend. For more information on WTA: (206) 625-1367 / www.wta.org.
