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THE WILD CASCADES THE JOURNAL OF THE NORTH CASCADES CONSERVATION COUNCIL SPRING 1999 he North Cascades Conservation TCouncil was formed in 1957 "To pro tect and preserve the North Cascades' scenic, scientific, recreational, educa THE WILD CASCADES Spring 1999 tional, and wilderness values." Continu ing this mission, NCCC keeps govern ment officials, environmental organiza tions, and the general public informed In This Issue about issues affecting the Greater North Cascades Ecosystem. Action is pursued 3 The President's Report — MARC BARDSLEY through legislative, legal, and public par ticipation channels to protect the lands, 4 Mad River: Motorcycle Romper Room? Or Addition to waters, plants and wildlife. Glacier Peak Wilderness? — HARVEY MANNING Over the past third of a century the NCCC has led or participated in cam 6 Hot Flashes from Other Fronts paigns to create the North Cascades Na tional Park Complex, Glacier Peak Wil 8 Bad News for the Beckler — RICK MCGUIRE derness, and other units of the National Wilderness System from the WO. Dou Decision Time Nears for Middle Fork Snoqualmie glas Wilderness north to the Alpine Lakes — RICKMCGUIRE Wilderness, the Henry M. Jackson Wil derness, the Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness 9 The Northern Pacific Land Grant — Revest It Now? and others. Among its most dramatic vic Let's Be Practical: The Pragmatic Crusade — RICK MCGUIRE tories has been working with British Co lumbia allies to block the raising of Ross Volleys and Thunders — HARVEY MANNING Dam, which would have drowned Big The Railroad Land Grants Are Not History — GEORGE DRAFRAN Beaver Valley. REVIEWS BY HARVEY MANNING 13 New Books of Some Note — MEMBERSHIP North Cascades Crest: Notes and Images from America's Alps, JAMES The NCCC is supported by member MARTIN; Geology of the North Cascades, ROWLAND TABOR AND RALPH dues and private donations. These sup HAUGERUD; Sunrise to Paradise: The Story of Mount Rainier National port publication of The Wild Cascades and Park, RUTH KIRK; An Ice Axe, a Camera, and ajar of Peanut Butter, IRA lobbying activities. (NCCC is a non-tax- SPRING; Hiking Snohomish County, 90 Hikes & Walks, Plus Parks, deductible 501(c)4 organization.) Mem Viewpoints, Water Access & Campgrounds, KEN WILCOX bership dues for one year are: $10 - low income/student; $20 - regular; $25 - fam 18 Land and Water Conservation — POLLY DYER ily; $50.00 - Contributing; $100 - patron; $1000 - $ustaining. A one-time life mem bership dues payment is $500. Cover Photo: PARK CREEK PASS AND MT. BOOKER — TOM MILLER PHOTO The North Cascades Foundation sup The Wild Cascades ports the NCCC's nonpolitical efforts. Donations are tax-deductible as a 501(c)3 Journal of the North Cascades Conservation Council organization. Please make your check(s) EDITOR: Betty Manning out to the organization of your choice. The Foundadon can be reached, through Printing by EcoGraphics NCCC mailing.address: The Wild Cascades is published three times a year (Spring, Summer/Fall, Winter). NCCC members receive this journal. Address letters, comments, send articles to: North Cascades Conservation Council 77ie Wild Cascades Editor P.O. Box 95980 North Cascades Conservation Council University Station University Station Seattle, WA 98145-1980 Seattle, WA 98145-1980 • The Wild Cascades is printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. 2 THE WILD CASCADES • Spring 1999 NCCC Board President Marc Bardsley Founded in 1957 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Board Chairman Patrick Goldsworthy Vice President Charles Ehlert T& P/tffrJ&ht'* rtyv'rt Spring 1999 Treasurer Tom Brucker I suppose most of the civilized world can see the case fot minimizing pollution < global watming, and the waste of natutal tesources. We in the Notth Cascades Consetvation Council have specialized in the "not so clearcut" issues such as logging, Secretary mining, dam- and road-building, and species protection. We have had some success. Phil Zalesky While these problems have certainly not disappeated or become less important, it seems the affluence of the 90's has spawned another set of worties. It is ironic that the root cause of this latest dilemma is probably the biggest reason we got interested in Bruce Barnbaum the Notth Cascades in the first place. Dave Brower I'm talking about RECREATION. Out old friend, a part of our reason for organizing, has suddenly mutated to a form that we old-timers would have never Polly Dyer thought possible. Recreation has suddenly become the proverbial 800-pound gorilla swinging rudely through the public land management agencies. As always, money John Edwards talks. And this money, in huge quantities, is winning the hearts and minds of the Dave Fluharty managers and politicians with eyes ever on their budgets. Boating, skiing, RV's, snowmobiles, trail bikes, summer homes and the like have well-heeled advocacy Kevin Herrick gtoups and a very vocal constituency. Peter Hurley A very large part of the NCCC energy is now focused on damage control of recreation-based situations. We have filed suit against the USFS to minimize trail bikes Conway Leovy in the Mad River area. Rafting and boating on our rivers and lakes demand more and more facilities, demands for more and wider roads in our National Parks and Forests Harvey Manning ate continual; snowmobiles and airplanes, both locally and nationally, are more than just a headache; and of course there is Stehekin where most of the demand for con Betty Manning struction is for accommodation of summer-cabin and recreation-based development. More and more, foot-powered people seem to requite wilderness amenities such as Carolyn McConnell bridges, trailhead expansions, hardened sites, permits, uset fees, and high-standard Jim McConnell trails. On a positive note, the National Park Service has recently decided to regulate jet skis. Rick McGuire I don't have the complete answer, but in the new millennium look to see a lot of Katie Sautet emphasis on eliminating machines from the backcountry. I expect a struggle between us good guys and a different bunch than we are used to trying to manipulate the use of Ken Wilcox public land. I think we will see mote people and corporations with expensive tastes demanding to use the commons for a playground. The rest of us, of course, will stand Hazel Wolf up for ourselves and for Mother Nature. Laura Zalesky Spring 1999 • THE WILD CASCADES 3 f^l^L )Q\J4AS. Motorcycle Romper Room ^V Addition to Glacier Peak Wilderness? For many years the Forest Service, were Northwest Ecosystem Alliance and U.S. FOREST SERVICE; THE HONOR insisting with straight face that "there is no The Mountaineers; more will be signing on, ABLE ROBERT WILLIAMS, in his official conflict between boots and motorcycles," as formal approval comes from their he hottest spot in the Thirty (or capacity as Regional Forester, Pacific has flagrantly violated the law embodied in national offices. Forty) Year War on National Forest Northwest Region; THE HONORABLE NEPA and orders by Presidents Nixon and June 18, Judge Barbara Rothstein trails between feet and motorized RJCHARD A. FERRARO, in his official T Carter. We have long known we would be entered a temporary restraining order — capacity as Deputy Regional Forester, Resolution Trail Use in Mad River wheels has just gotten a quantum leap forced ultimately to seek justice in the STOP WORK. hotter, and more quantums to come. Pacific Northwest Region; THE HONOR Portion of Entiat and Rock Creek Roadless courts. On May 14 a draft complaint was We rejoice — but we do not relax. It Our Summer/Fall 1997 issue o(The ABLE SONNY J. O'NEAL, in his official completed by Steve Davis (Lane Powell was only a 20-day restraint. The court set Areas - Wenatchee National Forest Wild Cascades took the campaign through capacity as Forest Supervisor for the Spears Lubansky), reviewed by Karl dates for the government to lodge adminis the Environmental Assessment of the Wenatchee National Forest; THE Forsgaard (Vice President of Legal Affairs, trative record; plaintiffs to file motion for a Goose-Maverick Tie-Trail Project, the HONORABLE ROBERT J. SHEEHAN, in WHEREAS, motorized use of trails facilitate motorized use, or any construc Optiva Corporation), Andy Salter (Miller preliminary injunction; government's Finding of No Significant Impact by the his official capacity as District Ranger, Lake in the Mad River portion of the Entiat tion of new motorized tie-trails in the Nash), and Ira Spring. opposition papers due; plaintiff's papers Lake Wenatchee Ranger District, and the Wenatchee District of Wenatchee National and Rock Creek Roadless Areas, Mad River area; and due. The last action took place Tuesday, appeal to the Regional Forester by the As the draft was circulating among Forest Defendants. Wenatchee National Forest Washing To protect the Mad River area, we July 6. The judge extended the restraining North Cascades Conservation Council, organizations, Karl Forsgaard sent out an ton, causes environmental degradation, oppose the use of any Off-Road Vehicle order and set a hearing for August 4. Washington Trails Association, Sierra Club, alert May 27: Vm. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHERE wildlife impacts and user conflicts; and (ORV) funds from the Washington Wilderness Society, Northwest Ecosystem "After weeks of phone tag I reached Much will be happening after we go to FORE, plaintiffs respectfully request that WHEREAS, user conflicts caused Interagency Committee for Outdoor Alliance, and The Mountaineers. — To cut Roger Ross, the Goose-Mav project press. Watch for the next issue! this Court: A. Determine and declare that by motorized use, including noise, dust, Recreation (LAC) grant program, or any to the chase, what this "Tie Trail Project" is person at the USFS Lake Wenatchee A concluding word (for now) from Karl the Forest Service's decisions approving the non-motorized user safety, deep, other source, to plan for or make trail about is an insistence that against all reason Ranger District.