Washington State DNR Releases Final Recreation Plan For Ahtanum State Forest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2010
DNR, Citizen Group Work To Improve Recreation Opportunities And Access
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today released a recreation plan for the Ahtanum State Forest, a 76,000-acre block of forested state trust land about 20 miles west of Yakima.
The Ahtanum State Forest is a popular year-round recreation area for visitors from both sides of the Cascade Mountains. Over the years, the area has experienced increased use from a variety of recreation activities including off-road vehicle riding, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding.
“This plan provides the foundation for creating safe, sustainable, and enjoyable recreation opportunities in the Ahtanum State Forest,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “The strength of the plan lies in the collaborative efforts of citizens representing diverse recreation interests who helped develop a vision for the forest.”
Categories: Access Tags: ahtanum state forest, biking, cascade mountains, cross-country skiing, dnr, four wheel drive, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, motorized recreation, non-motorized recreation, off road, public lands, recreation, sno-park, snowmobiling, state forest, washington, washington state, washington state department of natural resources, winter recreation, yakima
State DNR to hold public meeting on Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2009
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on a draft recreation plan for the Reiter Foothills Forest.
Reiter Foothills Forest is a popular recreation area located in eastern Snohomish County near Gold Bar and Index.
When: Wednesday, November 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where: The Commons, Monroe High School, 17001 Tester Rd., Monroe
In 2007, the Washington State Legislature recognized the challenges of managing recreational use at Reiter Foothills Forest and funded DNR’s development of a sustainable recreation plan. For the past two years, DNR has worked with a diverse group of stakeholders – including citizens, user groups, representatives from conservation groups, and local officials – to create a recreation plan that identifies long-term recreation uses and addresses problems in the area.
In addition to Reiter Foothills Forest, DNR is also doing sustainable recreation planning for two other forest areas in Washington State: Ahtanum State Forest near Yakima and the western portion of the Yacolt Burn State Forest, north of Washougal.
DNR will release the draft Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan on its web site on Tuesday, November 10. DNR is requesting feedback from the public about the findings and recommendations in this plan. In conjunction with the public review of the plan, DNR is also conducting an official State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process. The public comment period runs from November 10 through December 4.
For more information about the meeting, contact Candace Johnson, 360-854-2803 or candace.johnson@dnr.wa.gov .
The public can provide all written comments about the Reiter Foothills Forest Recreation Plan or the SEPA environmental analysis to:
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
SEPA Center
PO Box 47105
Olympia, WA 98504
sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov
Recreation On DNR-Managed Lands
DNR manages more than 5 million acres of state-owned forest, aquatic, agricultural, conservation and urban lands. Most recreation on these lands takes place in the 2.2 million acres of forests that DNR manages as state trust lands. By law, state trust lands are managed to produce income for schools, universities, prisons, state mental hospitals, community colleges, local services in many counties, and the state’s general fund. State trust lands are also managed to provide fish and wildlife habitat and educational and recreational opportunities.
DNR-managed lands provide 1,100 miles of trails, 143 recreation sites, and a variety of landscapes throughout Washington State. Recreational opportunities include hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, and boating.
DNR’s main recreation focus is to provide trails, trailhead facilities, and a primitive experience in a natural setting.
Media Contact: Toni Droscher, Recreation Program Communications Manager, 360-902-1523 or toni.droscher@dnr.wa.gov .
Categories: Press Releases Tags: ahtanum state forest, boating, camping, department of natural resources, dnr, fishing, gold bar, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, motorized vehicle riding, mountain biking, recreation, recreational, reiter foothills forest, snohomish county, washington, washington state, washington state department of natural resources, washougal, yacolt burn state forest, yakima
Survival Tips: How to Be Found When You’re Lost
Here is another article on what you should do (and not do) to survive when you get lost in the wilderness. The article was written by Dan A. Nelson of Puyallup and appeared in the Seattle Times. Even though the article’s focus is for the hiker, the principles apply to remote vehicular travel also. Winter is upon us and it’s even more critical to be prepared.
Read the article at How to Be Found When You’re Lost.
On a related topic, Dan wrote another article of interest titled High-tech Solutions to Getting Found where he discusses high-tech gadgets that may help you in a rescue situation.
Categories: On The Web Tags: hiking, survival, wilderness
A Very Dry Snoquera Falls
Yesterday (Saturday, 11.03.07), knowing very well that the falls was already dried up, I made the two mile hike to Snoquera Falls (Trail #1167) near Camp Shepherd off State Route 410 (east of Greenwater, Washington). I wasn’t concerned about the views, I just needed to get some exercise (plus its cheaper than driving around at $3.00 a gallon).
The hike climbed steadily through the forest from the trailhead near Camp Shepherd. No great views of the surrounding country side, mostly old growth forest with some deciduous trees mixed in (note there would be some great fall colors within the forest in late September).
Read more…
Categories: Adventures Tags: Adventures, hike, hiking, outdoors, snoquera falls, trail
High Rock Loop Backroads Tour – 06.24.07
Since I worked the night before and my wife's nephew was coming over for dinner, I had to keep the day's adventure somewhat local from my home. Flipping through the book Washington Byways, I found Tour 49 - High Rock Lookout Loop and it fit perfectly into the day's time restraints. I loaded up the dog in the Land Cruiser and headed towards the Cascades in hopes of finding some sun above the low hanging clouds.
Categories: Adventures Tags: 4wd, 4x4, adventure, Adventures, ashford, backcountry, backroads, cascade mountains, cascades, catt creek, cherokee, dnr, elbe, fj80, forest, forest road, forest service, four wheel drive, greenwood lake, high rock, hiking, jeep, kernahan road, land cruiser, landcruiser, lookout, mt rainier, national forest, national park, overland, packwood, park, randle, road, sawtooth, skate creek, snow, snowmobile, teeley creek, tour, towhead gap, toyota, trail, trailhead, trip, washington, wildlife, wrangler
High Rock Loop Photos
Last Sunday (June 24, 2007), I ventured into the High Rock area near Mt. Rainier. The weather was overcast and rain most of the day meaning in no great views of Mt. Rainier. These are the photos I shot on this adventure. Most are taken from the inside of my Toyota Land Cruiser.
The complete story of this adventure will be coming soon.
Categories: Photos Tags: 4wd, 4x4, adventure, Adventures, ashford, backcountry, backroads, cascade mountains, cascades, catt creek, cherokee, dnr, elbe, fj80, forest, forest road, forest service, four wheel drive, greenwood lake, high rock, hiking, jeep, kernahan road, land cruiser, landcruiser, lookout, mt rainier, national forest, national park, overland, packwood, park, randle, road, sawtooth, skate creek, snow, snowmobile, teeley creek, tour, towhead gap, toyota, trail, trailhead, trip, washington, wildlife, wrangler
Washington State Backcountry Road and Hiking Trail Damage Database
After the floods in the Fall of 2006, many of your favorite Washington state backcountry roads and hiking trails have some amount of damage. Before you head out you may want to find out if you can even reach your intended destination.
Even though many of you do not agree with their agenda, the Washington Trails Association has kindly provided a database and map of damages hiking trails and backcountry roads throughout Washington state that will be kept up to date as conditions change (and as the snow in the high country melts).
Categories: On The Web Tags: backcountry, hiking, road, trail, washington
