The Wild Cascades The Journal of the Conservation Council Summer/Fall 2011

visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  1 The North Cascades NCCC Board Conservation Council was THE WILD CASCADES  Summer/Fall 2011 formed in 1957 “To protect and president preserve the North Cascades’ scenic, Marc Bardsley scientific, recreational, educational, In This Issue board chairman and wilderness values.” Continuing Founded in 1957 this mission, NCCC keeps government Patrick Goldsworthy SEATTLE, 3 President’s report — Marc Bardsley officials, environmental organizations, vice president 4 dNR plans new trails in Middle Fork and I-90 — Rick McGuire and the general public informed about Charles Ehlert issues affecting the Greater North Wild Sky “Trail Plan” — Rick McGuire Cascades Ecosystem. Action is pursued treasurer The President’s Report Summer/Fall 2011 5 homeland Security trumps environmental integrity — John S. through legislative, legal, and public Tom Brucker Edwards participation channels to protect the secretary lands, waters, plants and wildlife. Okanogan PUD abandons plan for Shankers Bend Dam — Rick Phil Zalesky Back in 2009, we started organizing the American Alps Legacy Project McGuire Over the past half century the NCCC executive director (AALP) to fill in some of the important areas left out of the North Cas- 6 North Cascade glacier climate project — Tom Hammond has led or participated in campaigns Jim Davis cades National Park (NCNP) when it was legislated in 1968. Since then the to create the North Cascades National NCCC and our partners in the “coalition” have done an amazing amount 9 Celebrate the American Alps Legacy Proposal on December 9th Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wilder- of work and accomplished much in the process of bringing about new 10 american Alps Legacy Proposal released to public September 30 ness, and other units of the National Bruce Barnbaum — Jim Davis Wilderness System from the W.O. legislation to complete the goal. At the time of this writing, we expect a Douglas Wilderness north to the bill to be introduced in Congress momentarily. 13 american Alps Legacy Proposal: What and why — Phil Zalesky Polly Dyer Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Henry M. Releasing proposal details to the public on our website, to key politi- Jackson Wilderness, the Chelan-Saw- John Edwards 15 Falls motocross project still alive — Bruce Barnbaum cians, and to local news media has generated lots of comment. In general, tooth Wilderness, the Wild Sky Wil- 16 a Pilgrimage to Image Lake via Holden, and a tale of two mines Philip Fenner the response to the proposed NCNP additions has been very positive. — Phil Fenner derness and others. Among its most dramatic victories has been working Sure, there have been negative responses in some editorials and letters to 18 NCCC membership application with British Columbia allies to block Dave Fluharty the editor, but we’ve also seen a comparable amount of support. In some the raising of Ross Dam, which would cases, critics have somehow confused the AALP with other more contro- 19 NCCC, Sierra Club comment on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Anders Forsgaard Forest Plan — Karl Forsgaard have drowned Big Beaver Valley. versial NCCC positions such as forest road rebuilding projects. Roadless Rule upheld—huge win for conservation — Tom The NCCC is supported by member Karl Forsgaard I want our members to understand that, despite misrepresentations Hammond dues and private donations. These by some, the American Alps Legacy Project was conceived primarily to Kevin Geraghty contributions support the full range provide and protect access for the public so they may enjoy these special 20 You’re invited! NCCC membership event, December 9 of the Council’s activities, including Tom Hammond places. In my opinion, the National Park approach is the best way to ac- publication of The Wild Cascades. As a 501(c)(3) organization, all contribu- complish this goal and to fairly regulate the use of the North Cascades. Fayette Krause COVER: Baker River upstream. —Sue Dabney photo tions are fully tax deductible to the 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. extent allowed by law. Membership Dave LeBlanc dues for one year are: Living Lightly/ The Wild Cascades Student $10; Individual $30; Family Betty Manning $50; Sustaining $100. Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council Carolyn McConnell Editor: Anne Basye North Cascades Editor emeritus: Betty Manning Conservation Council Rick McGuire Editorial Board: John Edwards, Philip Fenner, Tom Hammond, P.O. Box 95980 and Rick McGuire University Station Thom Peters Seattle, WA 98145-2980 Printing by EcoGraphics Mike Town The Wild Cascades is published three times a year (Spring, Summer/Fall, Winter). Executive Director, Jim Davis Letters, comments, and articles are invited, subject to editorial review. 1-360-296-5159 Laura Zalesky The Wild Cascades Editor NCCC Website North Cascades Conservation Council www.northcascades.org University Station, Seattle, WA 98145-2980

The Wild Cascades is printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

2  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  3 DNR plans new trails in Middle Fork and I-90 Homeland Security trumps By Rick McGuire environmental integrity The Washington State Department of Now that the land acquisition and land Trailhead parking planning and con- By John S. Edwards Natural Resources (DNR) is moving ahead protection jobs are largely finished, DNR struction–the logistics—can consume with plans to develop new trails in the is turning its attention to recreational much more time, money and effort than Be prepared for new congressional all bow to the perceived needs of home- vehicles to patrol, and set up monitoring Mailbox Peak/Granite Creek area of the development. Construction of a new trail the actual trail itself. It’s not easy to find assaults on environmental integrity this land security. equipment. This bill would also prohibit Middle Fork Snoqualmie. Most of the more to the top of Mailbox Peak at the entrance suitable places for parking lot construc- fall and beyond. Approval for piping the Imagine a zone stretching one hundred the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture than 20,000 acres of DNR lands in the Mid- of the valley is underway. Other new trails tion, especially in mountainous areas. bounty of tar sands from Alberta to Texas miles inward from coasts and borders from taking action on public lands which dle Fork have been protected in the Mt. to Granite Creek and Granite Lakes are ex- Since heavy use is guaranteed at new trails and postponing clean air are just a start. around the entire United States. Think of would impede border security on such Si and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural pected soon. DNR is also looking at other close to Interstate 90, trailhead parking ar- The Endangered Species Act comes up for the number of parks and wilderness areas lands. Resource Conservation Areas. NRCAs are trail options and hopes to initiate a public- eas will need to be large. Providing access renewal and we can expect a barrage of within that zone. For the Northwest it Another bill, the Wilderness and Road- the state’s near-equivalent of Wilderness. planning process to look at how and to a new trail or trails is perhaps the most amendments calculated to neutralize or includes Glacier, North Cascades, Olympic less Areas Release Act (HR 1581) intro- The DNR, especially in King County, where to develop new trails and facilities critical part of the process, and a critical sidestep it. and Rainier National Parks, and the Mount duced by Kevin McCarthy (R Calif) would has come a long ways from the days when in the entire North Bend region. Extensive factor in deciding where to invest in build- But that is not all: Under the umbrella Saint Helens National Volcanic Monu- withdraw protection from vast areas in the its initials were sometimes said to mean lands have been acquired not only in the ing new trails. of homeland security there are attempts to ment. HR 1505, the National Security and name of homeland security. While these “Department of Nothing Remaining.” Once Middle Fork, but also on Rattlesnake Ridge NCCC believes that many new trails dismantle or bypass legislation that repre- Federal Lands Protection Act, introduced bills have a way to go to passage (the most famed for rapacious logging, DNR has and in the Raging River valley to its south. need to be built in accessible, easily sents the entire history of acts to protect April 13, 2011 by Rob Bishop (R Utah) recent action on HR 1505 was July 2011, in become the undisputed leader in land con- The large acreage of new, easily acces- reached places. Trails located at the end the environment. In a phrase, homeland and 50 cosponsors, gives the Secretary for the House Natural Resources Subcommit- servation in King County. The jewel in the sible public lands presents opportunities of long, failure-prone logging roads will security trumps all. The Wilderness Act, Homeland Security immediate access to tee hearings), they are indicative of forces DNR crown is the Middle Fork Snoqualmie for many new trails for different user be increasingly difficult to access in years the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air any public lands managed by the federal that would explicitly dismantle decades of NRCA, with extensive low-elevation lands, groups. Trail planning might be thought of to come. DNR’s new trail developments in and Water Acts, the National Environmen- government for the purpose of conduct- environmental protection law. including much old forest. If the Alpine as easy: just pick an attractive destination, the Middle Fork and other areas around tal Protection Act, the Wild and Scenic ing activities that assist in securing the Lakes Wilderness expansion currently draw a line on a map and build it. But North Bend are just what is needed to Rivers Act, the Wilderness Act and the border. That includes access to maintain working its way through Congress is enact- there are many more considerations. Since allow more people to enjoy their public National Park Service Organic Act would and construct roads, construct fences, use ed, the combination of state- and federal- people drive cars to trailheads, parking lands. NCCC is looking forward to work- protected lowlands in the Middle Fork will facilities are a crucial factor. It’s a bit like ing with DNR and other stakeholders in surpass any other valley in the Cascades. the old saying about war: “amateurs think this exciting process. strategy, professionals think logistics.”

Okanogan PUD abandons plan Wild Sky “Trail Plan” for Shanker’s Bend Dam By Rick McGuire By Rick McGuire The Okanogan Public Utility District low rainfall, and the river has a short peak more than their ratepayers. Most jobs at The Wild Sky Wilderness bill, which for people who may not be able to climb none. Bootleg trail builders gave the FS (PUD) has withdrawn its application with flow season in June. The most common PUDs tend to be well paid, secure, and not cleared Congress in 2008, included a 3000 feet or more. the “facts on the ground” that it wanted. the Federal Energy Regulatory Commis- reaction to the proposal was “are these very demanding – almost the definition provision directing the Forest Service (FS) NCCC and partner groups used to NCCC would like to see many new trails sion (FERC) to study construction of a people living in the real world?” of “sinecure.” People in such positions, to study trail opportunities in and around circulate lists of new trail ideas, but can no built in accessible places to provide oppor- dam at Shanker’s Bend on the Similka- What was the thinking behind it, then? especially top management, often come the Wilderness. The FS has solicited public longer do so because a certain segment of tunities for people to enjoy their public meen River. The dam would have flooded The PUD must have spent well into seven to believe that the things they want to be input, although there is no mandate, and the trail “community” has taken it upon lands and hopefully combat “nature deficit the Similkameen valley a fair distance figures on the small army of lawyers, true really are true despite overwhelming certainly no funding, to make anything itself to clear routes and build unofficial disorder.” But the activity of bootleg train north across the boundary into British engineeers and consultants who drew up evidence to the contrary. A crazy idea like actually happen. bootleg trails wherever it chooses. This il- builders makes it difficult to publicly dis- Columbia. Needless to say, the Canadians the ill-conceived plans. Could someone in Shanker’s Bend can take root, and no one NCCC and sister groups submitted com- legal and damaging activity has happened cuss where new trails should go. were not happy about that prospect, once PUD management, or a friend or relative, in the organization wants to contradict the ments supporting the development of new in at least two places suggested by NCCC The entire discussion may be moot, they found out about it from NCCC. The have gained from that spending? We don’t managers, big fish in a small pond who trail opportunities along Highway 2, and for new trails. Someone goes in and flags since the FS has almost no money for PUD neglected to inform them that they know, but we do know that the ratepay- control the jobs of those below them. recommending against building new trails and clears a route, and at first the “trail” trail construction. Although amounts are were considering submerging one of their ers of Okanogan PUD will end up paying Whatever the real story, the withdrawal that would depend on long, failure-prone is a delightful bed of moss. But with any steadily diminishing, millions of dollars valleys. for plans that never had a chance of going of the Shanker’s Bend proposal is a relief. roads for access. With money and re- degree of use, it soon becomes an eroding, still go into rebuilding crumbling logging The entire Shanker’s Bend proposal anywhere, to produce a negligible amount It was a crazy idea, but being crazy isn’t sources to maintain logging roads steadily muddy rut, especially in a steep wet place roads every year, most of which don’t go always had a strange air of unreality about of power for a PUD in no need of it. always enough to stop something. Luckily, diminishing and fuel prices likely to rise in like Skykomish. anywhere or provide any public benefit. it. The idea of backing up water into The public power movement is an iconic it seems to have been enough in this case. future, it makes sense to put new trails in Unfortunately, this problem is grow- But there is little or no money for trail Canada was absurd. None of the outlined part of Northwest history. Public utility Conservationists hope that the remains of places where people will be able to get to ing. It appears that the FS may have even building – an unfortunate state of affairs. alternatives would have made any sense, districts were a great idea when they were Enloe dam, another ill-fated and aban- them over the long term. encouraged it, or at least looked the other Perhaps wealthy individuals will step for- and even the PUD admitted that the proj- formed in the 1930’s and 1940’s, but sadly, doned dam that still blocks fish passage There are many places along Highway way, in places such as the “Pratt Connec- ward someday and offer to pay for them. ect would have generated little power for many of them have drifted far from their on the Similkameen below the site of 2 where new trails could be developed. tor” trail in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie only a small part of the year during high roots. Like so many “non-profit” entities, Shanker’s Bend, can be removed to allow Trails that climb to viewpoints that are not valley. The FS decreed that there was an runoff, when need is lowest. The Similka- many PUDs have ended up captured by salmon to return to the Similkameen. mountain summits would provide options “existing trail” when in fact there was meen watershed is an area of generally their employees and serving their interests

4  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  5 The Interface is where 90-million-year- Surreal. Ground mists would arise from mass balance (MB) for the Sholes, Rain- old schist and gneiss of Shuksan contacts the snow each evening, a layer about a bow unknown at this time. the one-million-year-old andesite flows of meter deep of cloud, tinged orange with We did not see the usual dozens of Kulshan. So cool to have these contrasting alpenglow. It’s all about the water, and this herds of mountain goats, an indication mountains so proximate to each other. was a magical experience with the most the snowpack is keeping them out of their Did I say proximate? In mountain important molecule we know. normal summer range. We did see a raptor terms they are very close, but in human August 6-8, snatch up a pica or marmot, and also saw terms the distance makes for heavy, hard Sholes and Rainbow Glaciers a coyote running incredibly fast across a hiking. More so this season because the steep snow slope. The fact we had to hike all the way from snow pack is at record levels—the most Shuksan to Kulshan in a day was both a We only saw three people in the three snow seen in August in the 28 years of the blessing and a curse. We were looking at days on Kulshan—the snow has thrown a project, and probably since the 1974-75, or more than 11 miles with full packs, most lot of hikers off the trail. Understandable, earlier. This year the Artist’s Point trail- every step on snow. As it was, we did considering there were times on the trail head was under about five meters of snow! about eight miles, most of us dragging a that I was gripping my ice-ax tightly, using This is good news for glaciers in our area. bit. Camping this far from the Sholes and the pick to get purchase on a particularly It isn’t huge winter snowfall but summer Rainbow would likely result in less time steep section of traverse. heat—or the lack thereof—that dictates on the glaciers; but the snow would be At the parking lot Monday, the US Forest snowpack survival from one year to the so deep that we wouldn’t have to take as Service asked about my car. They were next (glacier positive mass balance). By many measurements. Indeed, Mauri cut a about to form a search party for the owner August 1, Seattle had hit 80 degrees less day off our survey. since it had been there for so long. No than five times this year, and it showed in need for a search party, just a shower and the North Cascades. It was special to start the day on Mount Shuksan and end it on Kulshan. Upon ar- some clean clothes. August 4-6, rival in camp, at Ptarmigan Ridge, where Day after Autumnal Lower Curtis Glacier two ptarmigans were kind enough to Equinox, 2011 I enjoy hiking snow, and this year the share their spot with us. At points through The plan called for an overnighter snow is some of the best I’ve ever seen— the afternoon they were literally within a along Lava Divide on the northeast flank firm, with little breakthrough/postholing. meter or two of the tent, picking away at of Kulshan to photograph the Rainbow Measurements at the Columbia had been flowers and tender shoots just emerging, Glacier, in order to see how much blue ice limited due to the snow, but this would an oasis of food and solid ground in a sea is exposed after a month of real summer not be the case on the Lower Curtis, and of snow. Curiously, they were sporting (more than a week of 80F set a Seattle re- indeed, the snow allowed us to access the summer plumage even though only about cord for September) and one of the driest terminus. It was so spectacular to walk 10 percent of the normal amount of dark summers ever. As with all mountain trips, beside blue towers of ice, huge layered fins ground was visible due to the white snow. weather is the final arbiter. When the fore- stretching a neck-straining 20 meters verti- We surmised their body clocks only have cast went from “rain Sunday afternoon” cally above us—raining water constantly, so much time for mating, and thus aren’t to “Tstorms Sunday morning” to “Tstorms and throwing stones off at random, un- driven by conditions on the ground year Saturday night” to “Tstorms Saturday after- moving, but never still. to year. noon,” my wife Athena and I went with a The terminus has retreated laterally 117 Sunday found us making our way to the daytrip. It was fun to watch the clouds roll Contrasting mountains, positive mass balance: meters since 1985, and has retreated vis- Sholes. We discovered small areas of flow- in so rapidly. It went from bright blue skies ibly since I first saw it in 2004—some 30 ering lupine and assorted wildflowers, a to brooding storm clouds in a matter of 90 North Cascade Glacier Climate Project meters gone in seven years—that’s 30 me- welcome splash of color in an otherwise minutes right around noon! ters wide by 20 meters high, by a couple austere world of snow and rock. The As it is unusual for the NCGCP to use By Tom Hammond hundred meters long…gone. Sholes was buried—one specific area that “remote sensing” methods such as pho- Throughout the five days I was out, the is normally blue ice at this time of year tography, it is also unusual to go to such weather was perfect. Marine layers would was under three meters of snow. As Mauri lope and alpine glaciers act as ground.” Instead of remote sensing via in the range, and the northeast side of a spectacular place and not spend at least flex in and out of the area, driven by diur- noted, he’d never hiked so far to get so bellweathers for climate change. aircraft or satellite, data is gathered with Kulshan (Mount Baker), a spectacular one night. Still, the photos/data were nal heating and weak flow off the Pacific. few probe measurements—about six to fix Long before “global warming” and boots on ice, taking snow-depth mea- 3,300-meter stratovolcano draped with successfully collected! Mauri had teams It made for spectacular atmosphere/land the position and boundaries of “the blue “climate change” were part of our surements across transects of the glacier glaciers. Our team included Pelto’s son across the range: we were one of three interaction, with clouds forming and dis- ice area.” We lunched at the Portals, over- Slexicon, Professor Mauri Pelto picked the to give a sharp picture of mass balance. Ben, daughter Jill, and Ian Delaney. I teams, the others on Columbia Glacier and sipating all the time, every day. Evenings looking the Sholes to the north and the glaciers of the North Cascades to study cli- Crevasse stratigraphy is important in joined them at the second stop, the Lower Easton Glacier. Notable: our encounter would usually clear off and stay clear until Rainbow Glacier to the south. It became mate, as glaciers reflect long-term changes mass-balance data. As well, longitudinal Curtis Glacier on the southwest flanks of with Cody, a young hunter from Everett a few hours after sunrise. The rest of the obvious that we would not make it on to in climate, not just year-to-year weather profiles are conducted using laser ranging Shuksan. From there, we’d traverse across with a high-powered rifle seeking bear on time, clouds would shift and drift around the Rainbow proper—it was already early variability, with high fidelity. The North to measure the changing length and width “The Interface” to the Sholes Glacier and Lava Divide (I wore red because I knew the high peaks and glaciers, threatening afternoon, and a round-trip to get any Cascade Glacier Climate Project (NCGCP), of glaciers, and outflow (water running off the mighty Rainbow Glacier on Kulshan. hunters would be there). As it turned out, nothing more than a chance at missed probing or crevasse evaluation would take which Professor Pelto launched in 1984, the glacier) is measured when possible at there were half-dozen hunters, a team of award-winning photos. us hours, likely right up to dark. So we did surveys nine glaciers, chosen on the basis the terminus of glaciers in the study. two with a special goat permit, a group of Fortunately, I had the camera at the some photographic assessment (tons of three seeking bear, plus 10 hikers—very of location (wet west to dry east, south Each August for the last eight years, snow, terminus a bombed-out snow shelf) Members of the North Cascade Glacier ready and captured some amazing images. crowded, all things considered. to north), aspect (south-facing slopes I have participated in portions of the and I agreed to come back at the end of Climate Project field team traverse snowy It is so fun to be standing in warm sun through to north-facing slopes) and type NCGCP field season. This year, Professor September to do further photo compari- Cody comported himself with intel- Ptarmigan Ridge on the way to measure one minute, only to be engulfed by a thin (avalanche-fed vs. “traditional” slope). Pelto included me for the northern-sector son work. ligence and engagement, and I compli- the Sholes and Rainbow glaciers. veil of cloud, still able to see for miles, all The NCGCP is one of the only stud- glaciers on the flanks of Mount Shuksan, mented him and his parents for teaching —Tom Hammond photo objects sporting a halo of glowing vapor. Estimate there will be plus one meter ies in the world that gathers data “on the the most glaciated non-volcanic peak enjoyment and respect for the land and to

6  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  7 Meet the NCCC Board Members and Celebrate the American Alps Legacy Project Proposal

Everyone who is interested and involved with conservation in the state of Washington is invited to come on December 9th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. to meet the NCCC board members and celebrate the American Alps Legacy Project Proposal vision for extending the North Cascades National Park. The event also features international mountain climbers Jim Wickwire, John Roskelly, and Steph Abegg, who will share their experiences climbing live life in something other than a video decent patches of snow along lower Lava Upper Curtis Glacier as seen from the in the North Cascades. game. It was reassuring to find people on Divide (4,400-4,800 feet), something rare Lower Curtis Glacier. The western different areas of the political spectrum even for this snowy place. Another great portion of the glacier (left side as We hope you’ll join us in recognizing the NCCC engaged in good, friendly interaction, with day in our spectacular North Cascades. pictured) has thinned visibly over many more things in common than in op- I am thankful for the opportunity to the past decade. —Tom Hammond photo founders, learning more about the American Alps position. participate in the study and be a part of The weather rapidly changed, but not the team, and it was fun to have my wife Legacy Project Proposal, listening to some amazing before we enjoyed views of glorious Shuk- for a portion this year! I am also very chronicles of mountaineering expeditions, and san and Kulshan. The interface between thankful to have the ability, desire and one-million-year-old rock and 90-million- curiosity to explore our planet. Final numbers getting to know NCCC board members over light Columbia Glacier: plus 1.4 meters year-old rock literally at our feet, a rocking Final mass-balance numbers for the refreshments. and rolling landscape worthy of every year are some of the largest positives in all Lower Curtis Glacier: plus 1.5 meters accolade you can come up with, and then 28 years of NCGCP study (about 20 years Sholes Glacier: plus 1.6 meters a few more. negative mass balance on the order of one Rainbow Glacier: plus 2.2 meters See you on Friday, December 9, 2011! The bugs were plentiful. Especially on meter, four years of “break even”, and four Easton Glacier: plus 1.7 meters the hike out, they clouded around us, tak- years of positive mass balance, usually 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ice Worm (aka Hyak Creek) Glacier: plus ing advantage of creaking knees and sore on the order of one-quarter to one-half 1.6 meters The Mountaineer-Goodman B feet. All four major varieties were repre- meter). 2011 saw the lowest ablation rate sented, black flies the most numerous, and of any year over the history of the project, Daniel Glacier: plus 1.6 meters 7700 Sandpoint Way, Seattle deer flies in full attack: eyes, nose, mouth starting in 1984! Lynch Glacier: plus 1.2 meters and ears all subject to high-speed impact. For more information on the North Cas- Besides a few ripe huckleberries close to cade Glacier Climate Project, visit www. Please RSVP to [email protected] the trailhead, what few berries we saw nichols.edu/departments/glacier/. were tiny green balls. Heck, there were

8  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  9 American Alps Legacy Proposal American Alps Legacy Proposal released to public September 30 By Jim Davis

fter nearly three years of Advisory Committee. Representatives from included in a biodiversity report available wide-ranging species such as wolverines, to change under future administrations. Park down to the Highway and adding study, field checking, and pub- NCCC, the Mountaineers, Seattle Audu- on the American Alps website. Enactment grizzly bears, and wolves. Just as impor- Ongoing efforts seek to undermine the recreation amenities will increase visita- lic input, the American Alps bon, the Federation of Outdoor Clubs, and of the American Alps Legacy Proposal will tant, expansion of the National Park will conservation benefits of the Northwest tion and lengthen visitor stays in adjacent Legacy Proposal to expand the Republicans for Environmental Protection contribute significantly to biodiversity reduce or eliminate threats from mining, Forest Plan. Congressional action to create communities. After a full 20-year build-out North Cascades National Park have also contributed significantly to the conservation in the North Cascades. Low- hydropower, biomass removal, and other new national park land or wilderness is period, the American Alps Legacy Pro- wasA released to the public on Septem- project. Most gratifying is the support elevation wildlife habitats (essential winter extractive activities. Some critics claim needed to assure long-term biodiversity posal will have brought 1,000 new jobs ber 30, 2011. The proposal recommends received from local business owners, who and spring habitats for some species) were that the American Alps area is already conservation in the North Cascades. to communities adjacent to the Park. The converting 237,702 acres of National Forest recognize the importance of the American left out when the North Cascades National adequately protected under the Northwest Initial statements by American Alps full economic study (plus a much shorter and National Recreation Area lands to Alps Legacy Proposal to local economies. Park was created. Many pristine rivers Forest Plan and no additional action is proponents on the local economic benefits Executive Summary) is available on the National Park. The proposal also recom- Financial contributions from the Moun- and streams are not currently protected needed. This is dead wrong. As much as of national parks were challenged by some American Alps website. mends development of additional family- taineers Foundation, Patagonia, the Tul- in the Park, reducing the effectiveness of conservationists love the Northwest Forest opponents of expanding the North Cas- friendly recreation amenities in the High- alip Tribes, the JiJi Foundation, and many efforts to recover salmon populations. Plan, they must also recognize that it is a cades National Park. In response to this Preserving opportunities for way 20 corridor and other low-elevation other committed supporters have made all The fragmented nature of the current plan developed by the Executive Branch of challenge, project supporters contracted areas included in the proposal. of our work possible. Park also undermines efforts to recover the U.S. government and that it is subject with Power Consulting, an economic hunting, enhancing family Enactment of the proposal will bring the consulting firm based in recreation opportunities North Cascades National Park down to the Release meets Montana, to examine the Unlike National Forest and National Mount Baker American Alps Proposal Areas Recreation Area lands, hunting is not highway, protect fish and wildlife, elevate positive response Wilderness current economic ben- public awareness, increase visitation Release of the Ameri- 1 - Nooksack Headwaters efits associated with the allowed in national parks. Although the to front-country areas of the expanded can Alps Legacy Pro- 5 2 - Baker Rainforest North Cascades National number of hunters is gradually declining Park, and enhance economic benefits in 3 - Bacon Creek Park and future benefits in Washington State and throughout the posal prompted excellent «¬542 5 country, some hunters feel threatened adjacent communities. The American Alps newspaper coverage in 4 - Cascade River if the Park is brought down to the highway and by the removal of any land from the Economic Study demonstrated that more and around the North 1 5 - Skagit Valley than 1,000 new jobs will be created over family-friendly recreation hunting base. The American Alps Legacy Cascades. (See them via N 6 - Skagit Headwaters the next two decades in communities from o amenities are added. The the “In the Media” link Mount Baker r 7 - Liberty Bell Continued on page 12 Twisp to Concrete. The American Alps Leg- Wilderness t study revealed that the on the American Alps h 5 acy Proposal is a win-win-win proposal, C Pasayten Wilderness North Cascades National website.) The newspaper a enhancing conservation, recreation, and articles prompted several s Park (combined with economic benefits. 2 c the adjoining Ross Lake letters-to-the-editor. Most ad Visit On the American Alps website (www. were supportive, while e National Recreation Area) americanalps.org), you can find the full s is one of the least-visited other letters raised con- N www.americanalps.org Mount Baker o 6 i 20 National Park Service units Proposal, links to photos and maps of the cerns about expanding s Ross Lake «¬ Snoqualmie y for links to: - in the 48 states. As many area, the American Alps Advisory Commit- the National Park. These National Forest D NRA io b local residents will em- tee members, a list of proposed new rec- concerns include doubts s 5 5 • the full American Alps Legacy u d 5 6 phatically state, economic reation amenities, the biodiversity report, about the conservation 3 Proposal W i expectations associated the economic study, newspaper articles, benefits of protecting the ld Okanogan National Forest e r with creation of the Park • photos and maps of the area and of course an opportunity to help n land, doubts about the e s in 1968 never material- support the project with your financial economic benefits of park s N • American Alps Advisory a ized. The economic study contribution. expansion, restrictions 4 t Committee members io 6 further documented that Completion of the North Cascades on hunting, impacts on «¬20 «¬20 n «¬20 a enactment of the American National Park is a long-held dream of other outdoor recreation l • proposed new recreation P Alps Legacy Proposal will North Cascades Conservation Council activities, and limits on a amenities 7 s generate the economic logging. r s (NCCC) founding board members, includ- 4 k e

n • biodiversity report r benefits promised four n e ing Patrick Goldsworthy, Polly Dyer, Phil a l d l

Current Land Ownership e i decades ago. Bringing the h

Zalesky, and Laura Zalesky, all of whom W C Protecting biodiver- North Cascades National Park • economic study «¬530 e t h k are actively promoting the American Alps National Forest Wilderness o sity and promoting a t o L • media coverage

National Recreation Area w Map of proposed Legacy Proposal. Their efforts have been economic benefits Glacier Peak Wilderness S a supplemented by strong support from for- National Forest additions to the • an opportunity to support the mer Governor Dan Evans, Peter Jackson, Extensive documenta- Private or Other Lake Chelan NRA tion on the biodiversity Rivers and Reservoirs North Cascades project financially! Jim Wickwire, Estella Leopold and other Miles Highways and Major Roads 0 2.5 5 10 ² committed members of the American Alps benefits of the Proposal is National Park

10  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  11 American Alps Legacy Proposal American Alps Legacy Proposal continued from page 11

Project was conscious of this issue from mountain biking, the beginning. The final Proposal left out with no popular What and why? By Phil Zalesky about 160,000 acres that were initially mountain biking considered for park protection. Preserv- trails identified ing opportunities for hunting was one of in the area. Dog the reasons for eliminating these lands walking is an ac- very once in a while it is necessary been reached in the federal government, from the Proposal. The American Alps tivity that would to remind ourselves of the major and that drawing of the boundaries in the Legacy Proposal would designate less than be restricted conservation goals we are striving North Cascades National Park Enabling five percent of huntable public lands in under Park status. to achieve. This is true, especially, Act had been turned over to the Forest Eof our attempt to bring the American Alps Service. the North Cascades as national park, and However, as a Legacy Proposal to fruition. We all need most of this is low-elevation land along the dog owner, I Needless to say, the Forest Service was Youth enjoying nature near to be re-informed as to what this project Highway 20 corridor or in the Baker and know that there interested in the “low-hanging fruit” avail- Newhalem. — © Benj Drummond Nooksack River watersheds. These front- are many ideal is and why we pursue it. I will attempt able in low-elevation river valleys, the best country easily accessible lands are ideal dog-walking areas here to give our readers a briefing on the land for producing logs for the mills. Sena- for family recreation. Families visiting the in the North “what and why” behind the American Alps tor Jackson, chair of the Senate Interior North Cascades should not have to worry Cascades in the Legacy Proposal. Committee, told us this was the best he most North Cascades’ ecosystems. Salmon about a bear-hunting season that starts on more than 95 One of the areas proposed for addition could do. Senator Jackson said, “Maybe carcasses provide the nutrients and energy August 1st. Visitors will also appreciate im- percent of public to North Cascades National Park includes working on this in ten years or more you that support riparian forests along many proved wildlife viewing opportunities that lands not included in the proposal. Setting Skagit Valley from above Newhalem. federal lands extending along Highway 20 may have success.” We thought about of the rivers and streams in the North Cascades, including the Skagit River. Main- will come with reduced hunting pressure. aside less than five percent of the public —Kevin Geraghty photo from just east of Marblemount to Wash- continuing the struggle at the time, but we Limiting hunting in these low-elevation lands in the North Cascades for a dog-free ington Pass. This proposed park addition knew that our friends supporting creation taining healthy forests in these riparian wildlife habitats (i.e., creating wildlife wildlife refuge is not a major imposition extends on both sides of the highway, with of the park would leave us in their excite- corridors keeps the rivers cool. Main- refuges) will also increase game popula- on dog walkers. Motorized activities such most of the area touching the existing ment over any park bill passing. The Sen- taining cool rivers ensures good salmon tions and enhance hunting on adjacent as heli-skiing and snowmobiling will be North Cascades National Park and the ate and House of Representative’s bill had spawning areas and, ultimately, a healthier lands. The American Alps Legacy Proposal limited on Park Service lands, but the most suitable now for three- or four-season Pasayten Wilderness. This may be the last us over a barrel. Take it or leave it. Puget Sound. is a balanced and reasonable proposal that popular areas for these sports are outside recreation. large and suitable land mass in the conti- After much debate, we felt we had to More than 20 species of mammals preserves ample opportunities for hunting the final American Alps Legacy Proposal Awareness of these concerns prompted nental United States available and worthy accept it, but we resolved to come back reside in these riparian areas. Carcasses while enhancing family recreation oppor- area, including the upper Methow Valley several changes in the final American Alps to be designated as national park. in the future to achieve our conservation of salmon are tugged up on the shores tunities in the North Cascades. and the Highway 20 corridor (state prop- Legacy Proposal map compared to the Many people driving on Highway 20 be- vision. Now it is 43 years later and the by bears, river otters, raccoons, bobcats, The North Cascades is a popular area erty that will not be regulated by the Park original study-area map. Mountain biking, lieve they are traveling through the North national park idea is even more attrac- and coyotes. In succession, leftovers are with many users. Hikers, backpackers, Service). hunting, dog walking, and heli-skiing Cascades National Park. Instead they are tive to the public. Public Broadcasting’s tidied up by smaller animals such as horseback riders, paragliders, cross-coun- Areas on the west side of the North Cas- are popular in the upper now traveling through Ross Lake National recent Ken Burns television series on The skunks, squirrels, deer mice, and shrews. try skiers, climbers, and others cherish cades National Park were left out in 1968 watershed. National park impacts on these Recreation Area and Forest Service lands. National Parks has added to the spirit and Ravens, crows, red-tailed hawks, and to a their access to pristine lands in the North to enable continued logging of old-growth existing uses, plus local concerns about For the most part, these lands are covered values of the national park concept, mak- lesser degree even jays, ouzels, and winter Cascades. With the exception of free back- and mature second-growth forests on too much economic development near with virgin forests. The American Alps Leg- ing our proposal even more desirable in wrens join in the feast. All living things, country camping permits and party-size low-elevation lands. Although portions of Mazama, led American Alps supporters acy Proposal also includes low-elevation the eyes of the public. including birds, beetles, worms, bacteria and fungus, clean up the remains. Plants limits, most of these uses will continue these lands have been logged, significant to withdraw this area from the proposal. Forest Service lands in the Cascade River, The 1968 park bill excluded most of the use the nutrients that are left in the soils unchanged in the lands covered by the old-growth and mature second-growth However, Methow Valley residents are Bacon Creek, Baker River, and Nooksack low-elevation lands in the North Cascades of these forested riparian areas. A loss of American Alps Legacy Proposal. The free forests remain. Some opponents of the strongly encouraged to focus on future River watersheds. These proposed park ad- and set them aside for future logging. It is any part of the system affects the whole. permits required by the Park Service are American Alps Legacy Proposal hope for a management of public lands in the upper ditions are heavily forested, with extensive that future (extensive logging in the North Retaining the whole is the language of an designed to limit overcrowding in espe- return to the good-old days of the timber Methow Valley. The potential for signifi- old-growth remaining in some areas. Cascades) that a new act of Congress can ecosystem. If the Forest Service decides to cially popular areas. This enhances the economy. They do not want valuable tim- cant conservation gains still exists and Some of us in North Cascades Conser- prevent. That is the conservation legacy log these low-elevation valleys, for which experience of all visitors and preserves the ber “locked up” in a national park. In fact, major threats to biodiversity (mining, vation Council (NCCC), of which I was we are promoting with the American Alps they have very few long-term restrictions, pristine quality of the National Park. Party- local economies in the North Cascades hydropower, water storage dams, and founding member, and The Mountaineers Legacy Proposal. biomass harvest) still remain. Action needs the riparian areas and essential parts of size limits are designed to protect wildlife are now far more dependent on tourism (also a member) were the principal pro- If logging were to ever take place in the to be taken soon to protect these lands. the overall ecosystem could be damaged and enhance backcountry experiences of associated with outdoor recreation and posers in the 1960s of the idea for a North American Alps Legacy Proposal areas, ma- In contrast to east side concerns, local or destroyed. wildness and solitude. The Proposal rec- natural area visitation. Further, only small Cascades National Park. We were terribly jor North Cascades’ ecosystems could be demand for improved access to the North Partner organizations supporting the ommends continuation of current party- portions of National Forest lands in the disappointed that Congress excluded the critically compromised. The Cascade River Cascades National Park led to addition American Alps Legacy Proposal believe the size limits for backcountry camping involv- Proposal area are currently available for Highway 20 corridor and other Forest Ser- (leading to Cascade Pass), Goodell Creek, of land in the Nooksack headwaters that area can be best protected by the Na- ing non-profit organizations that provide logging (a few thousand acres in Bacon vice lands from the 1968 national park bill. Bacon Creek, and Thornton Creek, along would bring the Park down to Highway tional Park System, with its conservation services for youth. The near-vertical Creek). Low-elevation front-country lands Why were these lands not included in with their tributaries, are prime salmon- 542 and provide front-country access. terrain and dense forests of the American in the Nooksack, Baker, Bacon, and Cas- the park? We were completely surprised producing waters. Healthy salmon popula- continued on page 14 Alps Legacy Proposal area preclude most cade areas of the Proposal are much more Continued on page 14 to learn that a political compromise had tions are the key to proper functioning of

12  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  13 Granite Falls motocross project still alive By Bruce Barnbaum

he 75-acre set of seven moto- gasoline and other spillage, not to men- tions this project will cause. It apparently cross racing tracks four miles tion human waste issues, atop an aquifer. has no intention to change its ways now. American Alps Legacy Proposal up the Mountain Loop Highway PDS sees no environmental degradation All signs point to a hearing soon in front from Granite Falls refuses to with this project. of the Snohomish County Hearing Exam- die.T It appears that the Snohomish County PDS sees no problem with cutting down iner on the need for a full EIS and on the What and why Planning and Development Services De- 75 acres of carbon-sequestering trees to merits of permitting this project. PDS will partment (PDS) keeps it on life support, be replaced by 75 acres of carbon-emitting support this awful project. The Mountain Continued from page 13 despite its insurmountable problems. motorcycles. While there is talk nation- Loop Conservancy (MLC) is spearhead- More than a year ago PDS issued a deter- wide and worldwide about the perils of ing the opposition. You can contribute to Our Proposal mination of non-significance for the proj- climate change, nobody—certainly not this battle by sending a check made out to “ ect. But when three appeals were filed, PDS, nor the County Council, which can MLC, and send it to PO Box 1097, Granite PDS asked for a month delay, then quickly pass anti-carbon emitting laws—will do Falls, WA 98252. The MLC is a 501(c) 3 promotes what the removed the determination, saying that anything to stem our slide into permanent organization; all donations are tax deduct- North Cascades it had not received all necessary papers climate change. ible. Find them on the web at mtloopcon- from the project proponent. (Makes you PDS has not done its job of protecting servancy.org. wonder how they could have put out their its own citizens from the obvious degrada- National Park determination in favor of the project with- Enabling Act out all necessary papers being received.) A year-long delay was requested by the failed to provide, proponents for the project and granted. Nothing new happened and another year- completion of the long delay was requested. PDS allowed three months. Now, new papers have been North Cascades submitted, but no new analysis of key problems. National Park. Noise is the biggest issue. Proponents ” offered a noise report based on “point sources” of noise, but motorcycles rac- ing around a closed loop track produce scientists and dedicated funds to maintain Stiletto Peak and Copper Creek from Copper Pass. —Jim Scarborough photo “distributive noise” all along the route of this prime area at its highest conservation travel. So far, PDS has ignored that obvi- level. Congress provides the Park Service ous failing of the noise report. with funds to carry on the science. In con- trast, Congress charges the Forest Service The proponents claim that noise will be attenuated by a 25-foot-high earthen berm with a multiple-use mandate and provides cades National Park. We have produced a American Alps Legacy surrounding the entire project. According funds for forest silvaculture to assure final American Alps Legacy Proposal which to their own papers, the berm will require ample logs for the mills. is gaining the attention of national elected Proposal 850,000 cubic yards of fill dirt (all dirt, officials. Senate and House staff toured There is also a noteworthy scenic part Continued from page 12 no rock). They claim the material for the the Proposal area during the summer with of the American Alps Legacy Proposal. berm will come from “local construction American Alps project director, Jim Davis, Some of the most spectacular and peerless So, where do we stand politically? As of sites.” PDS has ignored the obvious fact and American Alps Advisory Committee mountain scenery in the United States is early October, the American Alps Legacy that in the past 10 years there have been co-chair, Jim Wickwire. included in the Proposal. Several near-ver- Proposal has been endorsed by the What- few local construction sites to supply that tical peaks rise to 8,000 or 8,500 feet. Gra- A significant proportion of the expenses com, Snohomish, and King County Coun- amount of material, and there are no such nitic, dramatic, rugged, and jagged! Most for the American Alps Legacy Proposal cils (all but one councilman voting yes sites on the planning books in the next 10 notable to visitors along Highway 20 are have been contributed by NCCC. We across all three councils). The Bellingham years to supply the needed material. The Liberty Bell Mountain and the Early Win- support the American Alps campaign City Council (unanimous), Bellingham proponents have offered no timetable for ters Peaks near . North of through your membership contributions Mayor, and Whatcom County Executive building that noise-attenuating berm, and the Pass is the series of peaks collectively and special donations to NCCC. Visit our all strongly support the effort. Numerous PDS has asked for none. known as the Golden Horn, named after website (www.northcascades.org) to make local businesses, conservation groups, and To build a berm of that size will require one of its most auspicious peaks. When a donation or join NCCC. recreation groups support the Ameri- Secretary of Interior Stuart Udall flew over approximately 50,000 gravel truck-loads It is a worthy cause, so please support it can Alps proposal. There remain several of dirt to be brought to the site. PDS has the North Cascades in 1967 to check on its generously. pockets of opposition to the proposal (see national park potential, he said this area asked for no traffic study for that amount above). However, national elected officials of truck traffic on a two-lane road. of the North Cascades could be made into are starting to show serious interest in The site of the project is atop an ac- six different national parks. sponsoring the park expansion proposal. knowledged critical aquifer-recharge area. Our Proposal promotes what the North Stay tuned for breaking news. Be prepared Project consultants and PDS apparently Cascades National Park Enabling Act failed to voice your opinion when the time is see no conflict in locating this project, Headwaters, Baker River. to provide, completion of the North Cas- right. which will surely create problems with —Tom Hammond photo

14  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  15 and Rocks, the scenery was “stupendous.” tion workers and Holden staff, no guests. to bypass the tailings. The current creek A Pilgrimage to Image Lake via Holden, We were very lucky with the weather, and “Work camps” will be held to rebuild the bed will then be a collection trench for due to the late spring this year the wild- power and water infrastructure, taking water from the tailings to be treated. and a tale of two mines flowers were more like what you might advantage of the two summers without • The water treatment area below the expect in June of a more typical year. And guests. These improvements will include By Phil Fenner lower tailings pile will have to be true to the wilderness experiences of Har- a new water main, a “purple pipe” for fire cleared of trees. protection, and burying the power lines. vey Manning as he wrote about them in • A new “bypass” road will be built, in- The Wild Cascades: Forgotten Parkland, The soccer field next to the Holden cluding a new bridge crossing Railroad t wasn’t long of the Glacier we were visited by the classic Cascades School has been transformed into a park- Creek below the lower tailings, allow- ago that John Peak Wilderness “plague of flies.” We also were nearly hit ing area for project vehicles and portable ing access to the south side of the creek McPhee was northward to the by a couple of other flying objects (see offices. A very large piece of equipment on where the remediation work will be calling David Skagit River and sidebar). tracks 10 feet apart had gone through the done, without going directly through BrowerI an “Archdru- eastward around We met a few other hardy souls will- Village earlier the day we went through, the Village to the only bridge currently id” for his personal the upper end ing to make the trek to Image, and after requiring power lines to be raised to let in place, above the Village. efforts to stop Ken- of Lake Chelan. it pass. Workers were seen cutting trees chatting with one he revealed himself to • Holden Village will have the option necott from devastat- The focus shifted along the road, walking about the Vil- be an NCCC member from California, who to purchase the timber being cut at a ing the area around northward later in lage in orange vests, and waiting by the expressed his heartfelt thanks to us for reduced rate. Image Lake in the the Park designa- continuing to promote principled conser- Lucerne dock for the boat. One issue of concern is simply the Glacier Peak Wilder- tion process, but vation in the Cascades. It’s always great to Holden Village anticipates having a source of all the crushed rock needed to ness with an open-pit the Glacier Peak know our efforts are appreciated in the new hydro plant once the project is done. build the new retaining walls, caps, and copper mine. The Wilderness and the wider world! Much more power will be needed for treatment facilities. Bringing all that mate- legacy of that battle, views from Image water treatment pumps after the two-year On the return trip, we hoofed it up to rial in from down-lake has been ruled out and the current ef- Lake remained the remediation phase, and so a new “run of the ridge above Lyman Lake to get a view as too expensive, so a series of new quar- forts to limit the dam- classic “post card the river” hydro facility will be built along of Upper Lyman. New snow still blanketed ries and gravel pits will be dug around age from an earlier views” used to pro- Railroad Creek itself, below the village, the Lyman Glacier at all but its lower-most Holden, many right by the access road, mining operation at mote a Park in the supplanting the antique hydro system on terminus. Last winter was certainly good ironically because of the current Roadless Holden, were on my North Cascades. news for glaciers. Copper Creek. mind this summer as Area boundary just a short way from the Following notes On the way back we spent a day at A logging team is on site now, and ex- I backpacked from road on the north side of the valley. in an old guide- Holden Village. I checked in with Holden tensive tree removal will be necessary for Holden to Image book, we found Village’s manager of public works, Chris the remediation, for several aspects: Continued on page 18 Lake, on a pilgrimage the remains of Shultz, who was kind enough to take some to some of the most • Twenty-seven turnouts will be added to several adits (test time out of his busy schedule to update spectacularly scenic the road to allow heavy equipment to diggings) and me on the remediation project there. country in the North move in both directions during the two This could have been the scene around structures along Often incorrectly called a “clean-up,” this Cascades. summers. Image Lake – tons of mine tailings await the Miners Ridge huge project is starting up now. The goal • Railroad Creek itself is planned to be remediation near Holden Village. —Phil Few if any places trail. One old cabin is to contain the waste from a 20-year min- relocated several feet toward the Village, Fenner photo can compare to Im- was still standing, ing operation that ended in the mid 1950s. age Lake for scenic full of rusty gear The waste has been sitting there ever beauty and deep remnants, near since, and Railroad Creek has suffered wilderness isolation. a flat open area from acid leachate and bed cementation to DaKobed (Glacier that was prob- the point that it’s essentially devoid of life Peak) is really our ably the helipad below the mine. last Cascade wilder- Kennecott would I’ve written before on the Holden Mine ness volcano. We got have used to access problem in TWC* and lots of background our first look at it their claims. An information is available on the web. It’s from the shoulder of old map showed the biggest single environmental disaster Cloudy Peak on day dark grey squares area in the North Cascades. A low-grade two out of Holden. on the slopes copper deposit was extracted and concen- It remained in more here, exceptions trated, very similar to what was going to or less continuous from wilderness, be mined out of the open pit near Image view as we traversed marking where Lake, and similar also to what’s now pro- Miners Ridge toward the proposed posed for pristine areas like the headwa- Image Lake, crossing open pit would We spent all morning just soaking up this exceptionally fine view of Glacier Peak ters of rivers feeding Alaska’s Bristol Bay the former mining have been dug. I reflected in Image Lake. —Phil Fenner photo (the “Pebble Mine” you may have heard claim that was only said a few words about). Other comparables are the areas relinquished in a land of silent thanks to around Chancellor in the Harts Pass area swap last year, to finally close this case formation of the NCCC, which succeeded those who came before me in the NCCC (the Azurite Mine, also subject to remedia- permanently. at getting a Glacier Peak Wilderness Area for fighting tooth and nail to stop this tion). Why think of a trip here as a pilgrimage? designated before the Wilderness Act gave proposed project. Things are well under way at Holden How iconic is Image Lake? Take a look at the conservation movement a template We climbed to the ridgetop above Image now. Chris explained that Alternative 14 is the NCCC logo on page three of this jour- for “Wilderness with a capital W.” The Lake on the shoulder of Plummer Moun- the “actionable alternative,” meaning dur- nal. The fight to save this area from min- original proposal for a North Cascades tain to look north into Canyon Creek. As ing the 2013 and 2014 summer seasons, ing was a crystallizing force that led to the National Park was actually an expansion Rowland Tabor aptly described it in Routes Holden Village will only house remedia-

16  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  17 Image Lake continued from page 17 NCCC, Sierra Club comment on The land along the Railroad Creek road, five years, then any additional work re- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Plan from the road northward to the Roadless quired will take place beginning in 2020. Area boundary, can be dug-up for crushed This compromise was negotiated partly to By Karl Forsgaard rock without changing the administrative reduce the impact on the Holden Village Top guns in deep Roadless Area boundary, so rather than operation. The good news is that after wilderness “hide” the quarries back behind a screen that five-year evaluation period, Rio Tinto The comment period on the “Proposed the Teanaway, Mad River and Chelan- ness, quiet recreation, and old-growth of trees, they will be in full view of all the will not be off the hook! If more work is We were in for a shock Action” phase of the Okanogan-Wenatchee Sawtooth areas which are highly worthy of forests. Its emphasis on flexibility and visitors. Perhaps that’s for the better, if it needed, they will continue to be liable National Forest (OWNF) Plan Revision wilderness protection. vegetation management returns us to an draws attention to the impacts of trying to until standards for air and water quality as we crossed the steep ended September 28. In addition to their NCCC also reminded the Forest Service era of increased logging and threatens the remediate a disaster like this — hiding the are met, Chris said. Let’s hope he’s right remnant snowfields be- comment letters, the Sierra Club and that it “should carefully consider recom- Northwest Forest Plan and the long-term impacts might make the project appear about that. tween Cloudy and Suiattle NCCC jointly submitted a map of pro- mending lands for addition to North Cas- survival of many native species.” We also more benign than it is. One serious loss We expect to be observing the remedia- posed wilderness. The Forest Plan Revi- cades National Park, such as the Golden supported the Proposed Action’s protec- will be some old cedars along the creek Passes. A pair of fighter jets tion process and the follow-up monitor- sion is the first time in decades that the Horn area adjacent to the Park. This Park tion of Wild and Scenic Rivers. below the Village. Luckily the rest of the went screaming up Agnes ing. Any N3C members who go through Forest Service will make wilderness rec- recommendation is now embodied in our The next public comment opportunity trees slated to be cut are not so large or Holden in the coming years are invited Creek valley and did a final ommendations forestwide. Unfortunately, American Alps campaign, and is consistent on the Forest Plan Revision will be the unique for the area. send their reports to ncccinfo@northcas- vertical maneuver to clear the Proposed Action’s recommendations with the wilderness recommendations Draft Environmental Impact Statement In the “Portal Museum” of mining arti- cades.org. the ridge, just a few meters were far too small, omitting any roadless made in the Sierra Club/N3C map for the (DEIS), anticipated to be released next facts, now housed in the Village Center, And I noticed in a glass display case areas with trails currently used by off-road Golden Horn / Skagit Headwaters and summer. The separate DEIS for the OWNF overhead. The noise was I saw a sign totaling the value of all the there’s a copy of none other than an old vehicles such as motorcycles, ATVs and Liberty Bell roadless areas.” Travel Management Plan, which will minerals extracted during the mining — edition of The Wild Cascades from the deafening. After checking 4x4s. The Sierra Club/NCCC map proposes The Sierra Club and NCCC letters designate which trails are open to off-road $100 million. The sign didn’t say in what 60s! NCCC has been advocating for the into the situation, the con- major additions to the Proposed Action’s found the Proposed Action to be “weak vehicles and which to hikers, bicycles and year’s dollars that valuation was made. wilderness recommendations, including best outcome for the environment around sensus of opinion seemed on protection of roadless lands, wilder- horses only, should appear later this fall. The remediation will cost an estimated at Holden for quite some time, it seems. $107 million in current dollars. According Once again I was reminded of how much to be that there was no to Chris, it’s all coming from the successor we all owe NCCC’s elders for stopping the point in complaining. Even to the company that did the mining, Rio open pit targeted for Image Lake. if we had the serial num- Tinto (meaning “colored river” — from a HIKERS NOTE that the Copper Basin bers on the aircraft, home- river in Spain that has run red from acid and upper end of the Railroad Creek trails Roadless Rule mine drainage since antiquity from... you land security would trump are closed, and may remain so for the upheld — guessed it... copper mining). I heard it said duration of the remediation work. any concern for wilderness that relative to Rio Tinto’s annual budget, values. $107M isn’t all that much, really. huge win for *See “The Holden Mine Problem,” How will it all turn out? After two years Spring 2009 issue of The Wild Cascades, conservation of work, starting in 2015, the water quality p. 4, at http://www.northcascades.org/ downstream and the works in place to public_html/TWC_Spring_09_web.pdf By Tom Hammond retain the tailings will be monitored for On Friday, October 21, 2011, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule NORTH CASCADES CONSERVATION COUNCIL after lawyers for the state of Wyoming and the Colorado Mining Association contend- Be part of the leadership of a vibrant grassroots network of advocates for protection of ed it was a violation of the law. unique lands, waters, plant life, and wilderness of the North Cascades. The Rule provides protection for nearly Yes! I want to support North Cascades Conservation Council’s efforts working on many fronts to two million acres of wild national forests establish new wilderness, defend our forests, support wildlife conservation and keystone species, in Washington and nearly 60 million acres and promote sound conservation recreational use. around the country. The Court upheld the Rule’s provisions protecting Roadless If you love our great North Cascades wilderness as much as we do, Name______Areas from road building and associated support the NCCC with a generous IRS tax-deductible contribution Address______“development” favored by extractive indus- in the amount of: City______State_____ Zip______tries. The Rule has been under attack in $10 Living lightly/student $30 $50 $100 Phone______various industry appeals across the coun- Email______try for almost a decade, but this influential $250 $500 $1000 ___Other decision ensures that the Roadless Rule is Cabin from the “Glacier Peak Mines” I would like to volunteer. Contact me. now national policy. operation of Kennicott Copper, remain- Send your check or money order and this form to: The Roadless Rule was put in place by Please send me occasional action alerts by email. ing from prospects of a 372-acre open pit Laura Zalesky, North Cascades Conservation Council, the Clinton administration in 2001, not mine on Miners Ridge, dating back to the Contributions include membership and subscription to NCCC’s 14905 Bothell Everett Hwy #207, Mill Creek, WA 98012. long before George W. Bush took office as You may also send in your contribution by internet logging 50s. journal, The Wild Cascades. NCCC is a 501 (c)(3) organization. president. The Rule followed more than into an account at www.northcascades.org All donations are tax deductible. two years of public hearings and 1.6 mil- —Phil Fenner photo lion comments.

18  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011 visit www.northcascades.org • americanalps.blogspot.com/ The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011  19 The Wild Cascades Non-Profit Organization Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council U.S. POSTAGE Post Office Box 95980 PAID University Station SEATTLE, WA Seattle, Washington 98145-2980 PERMIT No. 8602

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

You’re invited! n

NCCC Membership Event December 9, 2011 6 to 9 p.m. The Mountaineers Goodman B 7700 Sandpoint Way NE Seattle n

Lupine blooms amid snow and boulders, Kulshan seen beyond. —Tom Hammond photo

20  The Wild Cascades • Summer/Fall 2011