DOCSLIB.ORG

Roadless Rule and Dark Divide the Dark Divide Was Once Much Larger Than Its Current 76,000 Acres

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Exploring the PRING S RA Dark Divide I Despite its intimidating name, the Dark Divide is a place of sunny ridges and tremendous wildflower meadows. The region is endangered, however, by threats from off-road vehicle use. Southwest Washington’s threatened gem By Andrew Engelson soils and meadows. The region was A thick layer of ash from the 1980 excluded from the protections of the eruption of Mount St. Helens is still Don’t be afraid of the Dark Divide. 1984 Washington Wilderness Bill. prominent. Even with a somewhat ominous But hikers are slowly reclaiming the The region is home to a variety of name, this spectacular roadless area ridges with their boots. And there are forest ecosystems, all dependent on between Mount St. Helens and Mt. many reasons to go: unique geology, wildfires. Huge wildfires in the early Adams is actually filled with light: sun- abundant wildflowers and wildlife, 1900s left many of the open meadows baked ridges, subalpine forests, and and superb views. and silver-gray snags you’ll find there meadows exploding with wildflowers. The lava flows that are the founda- today. Even so, the region is home to Named for the 19th century miner tion of the 76,000-acre region are huge trees. Just outside the Dark and settler John Dark, the Dark approximately 20 to 25 million years Divide roadless area, you can find the Divide long served as hunting and old. Areas such as Juniper and world’s largest noble fir, near gathering grounds for American Langille Ridge were actually once Yellowjacket Creek. Pacific silver fir Indians. Sheepherders and miners valleys, into which the lava cooled, dominates the upper portions of came in the late 1800s, and in 1897 hardened, and remained after the Quartz Creek, and sizeable mountain and 1908 the lands were added to the hillsides eroded away. The rock hemlock can be found along the Dark Rainier Forest Reserve and the gardens and arches on Snagtooth Divide’s Boundary Trail. Elegant Columbia National Forest. Logging mountain contain “pillow lavas”— subalpine fir dominate above 5,000 took its toll in the mid-20th century, evidence of underwater eruptions. feet. and offroad motorcycle use has Glaciers carved much of the volcanic In early summer, the Divide’s damaged many of the fragile pumice region in the past 100 thousand years. meadows blaze with color from Exploring the Dark Divide ESTOCK B AUL P Roadless Rule and Dark Divide The Dark Divide was once much larger than its current 76,000 acres. Road building over the years punctured many of its pristine corners and severed acres from the core. For years, activists worked to stop the bleeding and keep road building from further fragmenting the Dark Divide. The answer finally came with the Clinton administration’s Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule would have placed unroaded areas of Na- Mount Adams from Juniper Ridge. Meadows created by fires in the early 20th tional Forests off limits to road century give many areas in the Dark Divide open, expansive views. building, preserving their value as recreation areas and wildife habitat. The proposal would have paintbrush, lupine, yellow wallflower, for increased ORV use. And more and protected 58.5 million acres penstemon, beargrass, and a host of more hikers from Southwest Washing- across the country, including 2 other wildflowers. In August, fields of ton and beyond are discovering the million in Washington. WTA huckleberries ripen on Juniper Ridge fragile beauty of the area. strongly supports the original rule. and Jumbo’s Shoulder. What can you do to help? First and Sadly, the Bush administration These ecosystems are also home to foremost enjoy the Dark Divide. Take has not shown the same commit- a parade of wildlife. The forests are a hike there, and let others know ment to our roadless areas. home to northern goshawk, Vaux’s about this unique area. Recently released alterations to swift, pine martens, red tree voles, Write your representatives and the the rule would allow governors to bull trout, and threatened salmonids. Forest Service. Let them know you petition the Forest Service to Pacific giant salamander, Northwest want to keep the Clinton exclude or include specific areas salamander and the rare Larch administration’s Roadless Rule in in their states. This rule change mountain salamander can all be found place and that you’d like to see areas places far too much power in the in the lowland forests. Deer and elk of the Dark Divide protected as hands of narrow interests when it move to the high meadows in sum- federal Wilderness. comes to managing lands that mer, and on the ridges you might spot And consider attending WTA’s everyone in the United States black bear, bobcat, wolverine, cougar annual Dark Divide Weekend, owns. These lands are an endow- and mountain goats. Raptors such as September 11-12. We’ll have a ment from visionary forebears, peregrine falcon and golden eagles campout, barbecue, guided hikes, and and handing their management soar above. a talk by Doug Scott, policy director to governors is a denial of that Much of this ecosystem has been for Campaign for America’s Wilder- vision. You can comment on the threatened in recent years—by ness. For more information, call WTA proposed changes at http:// logging in the late 20th century, and at (206) 625-1367 or visit www.wta.org roadless.fs.fed.us/#comments, now by motorized recreation. For and click on “Dark Divide Weekend.” or via postal mail at: years, WTA has sought protection for With more boots on the trails of the the region, and those efforts are Dark Divide, and more letters in Content Analysis Team beginning to pay off. In August, officials’ inboxes, you’ll help to save ATTN: Roadless State Petitions Congressman Brian Baird took a one of Washington’s magnificent but USDA Forest Service survey flight over the region to assess threatened places. ! P.O. Box 221090 what might be protected in future. Many thanks to WTA member Kurt Salt Lake City , UT 84122 Court victories have prevented the Wieland, who provided much of the Forest Service from “improving” trails information for this article. Exploring the Dark Divide Best Trails of the Dark Divide Trail Descriptions by steeply up the Badger Ridge Trail Susan Saul and Joan Burton for 1/4 mile, then turn right on Craggy Peak the spur trail to the summit. Just 13 miles round trip, 1,700 feet Badger Peak below the summit, the trail gain, hikeable July-Oct. 10 miles round trip, 1,600 feet crosses a steep gully that has Miles of forest ridges, a pretty gain, hikeable late July-Sept. snow early in the season. Wind little lake, and a scramble up This hike follows the Boundary around the peak to the blasted-off Craggy Peak make this a great Trail (the former boundary top where the lookout cabin once hike for viewing the Lewis River between the Columbia Forest stood. side of the Dark Divide. The first and Rainier Forest Reserves) to Getting there: Follow Road 90 part of the trail crosses clearcuts the site of a former fire lookout east from Cougar to junction with and Wright Creek, which doesn’t and sweeping views from Mount Road 25, continue on Road 25 to have a bridge and may pose a Hood to Mount Rainier. Elk Pass, which is about 40 miles challenge. This trail has some really bad motorcycle ruts. After The trail is mostly in woods, from Cougar and 24 miles from about 3 miles, the vistas begin as going up and down along the Randle. The Boundary Trail the trail ascends into thinner ridgecrest, for 4 miles to a parking area is located about 200 timber. At about 5 miles, look junction just before Badger Lake. feet north of the pass on the west down through the trees to see Walk over and take a look at side of Road 25, elevation 4,080 Blue Lake in a glacial cirque. Badger Lake before turning left feet. The trail to Badger Peak is Reach the Boundary Trail at 6 on the Badger Ridge Trail. Climb across the road from the parking lot. Green Trails McCoy Peak 333. miles. For the best views, Exploring the Dark Divide Best Trails of the Dark Divide scramble up the east face of 5,725- Getting there: Drive I-5 south foot Craggy Peak. Juniper Peak and find the exit for Highway 12. 8 miles round trip, 2,000 feet Getting there: From Cougar, go Drive Highway 12, continuing gain, hikeable mid-June-Nov. east on Road 90 to the junction south to Randle. Go south on just past the Pine Creek Informa- The trail traverses the east face of State Route 130 for 1 mile, cross tion Center, stay straight ahead on Juniper Peak; the off-trail ap- the Cowlitz River, then go left on Road 25 rather than turning right proach to the summit is from the Road #23, about 24 miles south on Road 90. At 5.6 miles, at the saddle on the south side of the from Randle. In about 5 miles first switchback after climbing peak. Views of Rainier, St. Helens, turn right or east onto Road away from the Muddy River, turn and Adams, abundant huckleber- 2324. Go right 5.6 more miles on right on Road 93. Go about 19 ries, and lovely ridge walking. rough road. Turn onto logging miles to Road 9327, turn left, cross Water is scarce, making this a spur Road 063 to the trailhead, Wright Creek, and find the better day hike than a backpack.
Recommended publications
  • GEOLOGIC MAP of the Mccoy PEAK QUADRANGLE, SOUTHERN CASCADE RANGE, WASHINGTON

    GEOLOGIC MAP of the Mccoy PEAK QUADRANGLE, SOUTHERN CASCADE RANGE, WASHINGTON

    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Geologic map of the McCoy Peak quadrangle, southern Cascade Range, Washington by Donald A. Swanson1 Open-File Report 92-336 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 'U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Geological Sciences AJ-20, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................ 1 5. Locations of samples collected in McCoy Peak ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................... 1 {quadrangle ......................... 6 ROCK TERMINOLOGY AND CHEMICAL 6. Alkali-lime classification diagram for Tertiary CLASSIFICATION .................... 2 rocks in McCoy Peak quadrangle .......... 7 GENERAL GEOLOGY .................... 6 7. Plot of FeO*/MgO vs. SiO2 for rocks from TERTIARY ROCKS OLDER THAN INTRUSIVE McCoy Peak quadrangle ................ 7 SUITE OF KIDD CREEK ............... 7 8. Plot of total alkalis vs. SiO2 for rocks in McCoy Volcaniclastic rocks ................... 7 Peak quadrangle ..................... 8 Chaotic volcanic breccia ................ 8 9. Plot of K2O vs. SiO2 for rocks from McCoy Vitroclastic dacite and andesite breccia ...... 9 Peak quadrangle ..................... 8 Volcanic centers ...................... 10 10. Distrbution of pyroxene andesite and basaltic Regional dike swarm .................. 11 andesite dikes in French Butte, Greenhorn Age .............................. 13 Buttes, Tower Rock, and McCoy Peak INTRUSIVE SUITE OF KIDD CREEK ......... 13 quadrangles ........................ 12 Dikes ............................. 14 11. Rose diagrams of strikes of dikes and beds in Sills .............................. 16 McCoy Peak and other quadrangles ....... 13 Relation of dikes and sills ............... 16 12. Plcts of TiO2, FeO*, and MnO vs.
  • Gifford Pinchot

    Gifford Pinchot

    THE FORGOTTEN FOREST: EXPLORING THE GIFFORD PINCHOT A Publication of the Washington Trails Association1 7A 9 4 8 3 1 10 7C 2 6 5 7B Cover Photo by Ira Spring 2 Table of Contents About Washington Trails Association Page 4 A Million Acres of outdoor Recreation Page 5 Before You Hit the Trail Page 6 Leave No Trace 101 Page 7 The Outings (see map on facing page) 1. Climbing Mount Adams Pages 8-9 2. Cross Country Skiing: Oldman Pass Pages 10-11 3. Horseback Riding: Quartz Creek Pages 12-13 4. Hiking: Juniper Ridge Pages 14-15 5. Backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail: Indian Heaven Wilderness Pages 16-17 6. Mountain Biking: Siouxon Trail Pages 18-19 7. Wildlife Observation: Pages 20-21 A. Goat Rocks Wilderness B. Trapper Creek Wilderness C. Lone Butte Wildlife Emphasis Area 8. Camping at Takhlakh Lake Pages 22-23 9. Fly Fishing the Cowlitz River Pages 24-25 10. Berry Picking in the Sawtooth Berry Fields Pages 26-27 Acknowledgements Page 28 How to Join WTA Page 29-30 Volunteer Trail Maintenance Page 31 Important Contacts Page 32 3 About Washington Trails Association Washington Trails Association (WTA) is the voice for hikers in Washington state. We advocate protection of hiking trails, take volunteers out to maintain them, and promote hiking as a healthy, fun way to explore Washington. Ira Spring and Louise Marshall co-founded WTA in 1966 as a response to the lack of a political voice for Washington’s hiking community. WTA is now the largest state-based hiker advocacy organization in the country, with over 5,500 members and more than 1,800 volunteers.
  • Summary of Public Comment, Appendix B

    Summary of Public Comment, Appendix B

    Summary of Public Comment on Roadless Area Conservation Appendix B Requests for Inclusion or Exemption of Specific Areas Table B-1. Requested Inclusions Under the Proposed Rulemaking. Region 1 Northern NATIONAL FOREST OR AREA STATE GRASSLAND The state of Idaho Multiple ID (Individual, Boise, ID - #6033.10200) Roadless areas in Idaho Multiple ID (Individual, Olga, WA - #16638.10110) Inventoried and uninventoried roadless areas (including those Multiple ID, MT encompassed in the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act) (Individual, Bemidji, MN - #7964.64351) Roadless areas in Montana Multiple MT (Individual, Olga, WA - #16638.10110) Pioneer Scenic Byway in southwest Montana Beaverhead MT (Individual, Butte, MT - #50515.64351) West Big Hole area Beaverhead MT (Individual, Minneapolis, MN - #2892.83000) Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, along the Selway River, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, MT Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, at Johnson lake, the Pioneer Bitterroot Mountains in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Great Bear Wilderness (Individual, Missoula, MT - #16940.90200) CLEARWATER NATIONAL FOREST: NORTH FORK Bighorn, Clearwater, Idaho ID, MT, COUNTRY- Panhandle, Lolo WY MALLARD-LARKINS--1300 (also on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest)….encompasses most of the high country between the St. Joe and North Fork Clearwater Rivers….a low elevation section of the North Fork Clearwater….Logging sales (Lower Salmon and Dworshak Blowdown) …a potential wild and scenic river section of the North Fork... THE GREAT BURN--1301 (or Hoodoo also on the Lolo National Forest) … harbors the incomparable Kelly Creek and includes its confluence with Cayuse Creek. This area forms a major headwaters for the North Fork of the Clearwater. …Fish Lake… the Jap, Siam, Goose and Shell Creek drainages WEITAS CREEK--1306 (Bighorn-Weitas)…Weitas Creek…North Fork Clearwater.
  • Geologic Map of Lassen Volcanic National Park and Vicinity, California by Michael A

    Geologic Map of Lassen Volcanic National Park and Vicinity, California by Michael A

    Geologic Map of Lassen Volcanic National Park and Vicinity, California By Michael A. Clynne and L.J. Patrick Muffler Pamphlet to accompany Scientific Investigations Map 2899 Lassen Peak and the Devastated Area Aerial view of Lassen Peak and the proximal Devastated Area looking south. Area with sparse trees marks the paths of the avalanche and debris-flow deposits of May 19–20, 1915 (unitsw9 ) and the pyroclastic-flow and fluid debris-flow deposits of May 22, 1915 (unit pw2) (Clynne and others, 1999; Christiansen and others, 2002). Small dark crags just to right of the summit are remnants of the May 19–20, 1915, lava flow (unitd9 ). The composite dacite dome of Lassen Peak (unit dl, 27±1 ka) dominates the upper part of the view. Lithic pyroclastic-flow deposit (unitpfl ) from partial collapse of the dome of Lassen Peak is exposed in the canyon of the headwaters of Lost Creek in center of view. Ridges flanking central area are glacial moraines (unitQta ) thinly covered by deposits of the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak (Christiansen and others, 2002). Small permanent snowfield is seen on the left lower slope of Lassen Peak. Area east of the snowfield is the rhyodacite lava flow of Kings Creek (unitrk , 35±1 ka, part of the Eagle Peak sequence). Dacite domes of Bumpass Mountain (unit db, 232±8 ka), Crescent Crater (unit dc, 236±1 ka), hill 8283 (unit d82, 261±5 ka), and Loomis Peak (unit rlm, ~300 ka) are part of the Bumpass sequence. Photograph by Michael A. Clynne. 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S.
  • The Role of Magmatic Sulfides and Mafic Alkaline Magmas in The

    The Role of Magmatic Sulfides and Mafic Alkaline Magmas in The

    JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY VOLUME 38 NUMBER 12 PAGES 1679±1690 1997 The Role of Magmatic Sul®des and Ma®c Alkaline Magmas in the Bingham and Tintic Mining Districts, Utah J. D. KEITH1*, J. A. WHITNEY2, K. HATTORI3, G. H. BALLANTYNE4, E. H. CHRISTIANSEN1, D. L. BARR1², T. M. CANNAN2 AND C. J. HOOK2 1GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, PROVO, UT 84602, USA 2GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, ATHENS, GA 30602, USA 3OTTAWA±CARLETON GEOSCIENCE CENTRE, AND DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA, OTTAWA, ONT., CANADA, K1N 6N5 4KENNECOTT UTAH COPPER, BINGHAM CANYON, UT 84006, USA RECEIVED JANUARY 1997; ACCEPTED AUGUST 1997 This paper reports the existence of abundant magmatic sul®des in INTRODUCTION latite lava vitrophyres and vent-facies dikes from the Bingham and The eruption of sulfur-rich magmas from El Chichon Tintic districts in central Utah. These dikes and ¯ows appear to (Luhr et al., 1984) and Mt Pinatubo (Westrich & Gerlach, be comagmatic with the ore-related monzonite intrusions. In addition, 1992) in recent years has attracted attention to the limited analytical data suggest that the magmatic sul®des contain most of solubility of sulfur in intermediate magmas and the factors the Cu and Ag present in the latites. Magmatic sul®des are preserved potentially responsible for the formation of magmatic only in the least oxidized and least degassed lavas and vitrophyres. sul®des and anhydrite. However, the occurrence of mag- Petrography of comagmatic dikes and intrusions suggests that matic sul®des in intermediate magmas is not universal; resorption and oxidation (S-degassing) of the globules may make many volcanic suites appear to be sul®de unsaturated.
  • Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Open File Report

    Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Open File Report

    STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BRIAN J. BOYLE, Commissioner of Public Lands JAMES A. STEARNS, Department Supervisor DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES Raymond Lasmanis, State Geologist GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSES, AGE DATES, AND FLOW-VOLUME ESTIMATES FOR QUATERNARY VOLCANIC ROCKS, SOUTHERN CASCADE MOUNTAINS, WASHINGTON by Paul E. Hammond Portland State University Department of Earth Sciences Portland, OR. 97207 and Michael A. Korosec Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources Olympia, WA 98504 Open-File Report 83-13 Prepared under U.S. Department of Energy Contract No. DE-AC07-79ET27014 for Assessment of Geothermal Resources in Washington December 1983 Table of Contents Page Introduction 1 Descriptions of the tables 1 Descriptions of the figures 8 References . 36 List of Figures Figure 1. ~ Index map showing zones of volcanism and project area in southern Washington Cascade Range 2 Figure 2. Al 2o3 vs. Si02 variation diagram 21 Figure 3. Fe (Total) vs. Si02 variation diagram 22 Figure 4. Ti0 vs. Si0 variation diagram 2 2 23 Figure 5. MnO vs. Si02 variation diagram 24 Figure 6. MgO vs. Si0 variation diagram 2 25 Figure 7. CaO vs. Si0 variation diagram 26 2 Figure 8. Na 2o vs. Si02 variation diagram 27 Figure 9. K20 vs. Si02 variation diagram 28 Figure 10. - P2o5 vs. Si02 varia~ion diagram 29 Figure 11. - Na 20+K20 vs. Si02 variation diagram 30 Figure 12. - Mg vs. Cao variation diagram 31 Figure 13. - Ti02 vs. K20 variation diagram 32 Figure 14. - The Fe (total)/Fe (total)+ MgO ratio vs. The Larson Index . 33 Figure 15.
  • Petrogenesis of the Oligocene East Tintic

    Petrogenesis of the Oligocene East Tintic

    PETROGENESIS OF THE OLIGOCENE EAST TINTIC VOLCbyANIC FIELD, UTAH Daniel K. Moore1, Jeffrey D. Keith2, Eric H. Christiansen2, Choon-Sik Kim3, David G. Tingey2, Stephen T. Nelson2, and Douglas S. Flamm2 ABSTRACT The early Oligocene East Tintic volcanic field of central Utah, located near the eastern margin of the Basin and Range Province, consists of mafic to silicic volcanic (mostly intermediate-composition lava flows) and shallow intrusive rocks associated with the formation of small, nested calderas. Radiometric ages establish a minimum age for initiation (34.94 ± 0.10 Ma) and cessation (32.70 ± 0.28 Ma) of East Tintic magmatism. The igneous rocks of the field are calc-alkalic, potassic, silica-oversaturated, and met- aluminous, and can be categorized into the following three compositional groups: the shoshonite-trachyte series, the trachyandesite series, and the rhyolite series. Based on composition and phenocryst assemblage, the shoshonite-trachyte series is divided into two groups: a clinopyroxene group and a two-pyroxene group. The rhyolite series consists of three field units: the Packard Quartz Latite, the Fernow Quartz Latite, and the rhyolite of Keystone Springs. The trachyandesite series is by far the most voluminous. This series is also subdivided into a clinopyroxene group and a two-pyroxene group. Temperature and oxygen fugacity estimates indicate that shoshonite-trachyte series magmas were the hottest and least oxidizing and that two-pyroxene trachyandesite series magmas were the coolest and most oxidizing. Clinopyroxene shoshonite-trachyte series magma evolved mainly by fractional crystallization. The high K2O, Rb, and Al2O3/CaO ratios and modest SiO2 enrichment of these rocks appear to result from extensive, high-pressure fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene (without plagioclase).
  • Cascade Forest Conservancy 2020 Annual Report

    Cascade Forest Conservancy 2020 Annual Report

    Cascade Forest Conservancy 2020 Annual Report Three months and ten days into our 35th year as an organization, the Board of Directors and I decided to ask our staff to work from home. At the time, we all hoped to come back to the office within a month. Two months seemed like a worst-case scenario. As I write this, we are still working remotely. At the beginning of 2020, none of us anticipated how different and how tough the year would be. Yet Cascade Forest Conservancy showed remarkable resilience at every level of our organization. Our staff continued to fight to protect and restore the southern Washington Cascades. Our Board continued to provide direction and leadership. And our community of volunteers, supporters, and donors showed up, again and again, to keep Cascade Forest Conservancy strong. Despite many challenges, we moved forward undeterred. We continued to fight to protect places like the Pumice Plain and the Green River Valley from harmful projects and mining. We expanded some ongoing restoration programs, like beaver reintroduction, and launched new ground-breaking projects like the Instream Wood Bank Network (instreamwoodbanknetwork.com). And we hosted successful online events to build community and support our work at a distance, such as our annual auction and screenings of documentaries and films like The Dark Divide. Many volunteer trips were reimagined to keep volunteers and staff safe from COVID-19. Our 2020 volunteers put on masks, stood far apart, and came out to donate their time and energy to important conservation and restoration initiatives that wouldn’t have been possible without their help.
  • New K=AR Age Dates, Geochemistry, and Stratigraphic Data

    New K=AR Age Dates, Geochemistry, and Stratigraphic Data

    NEW K-AR AGE DATES, GEOCHEMISTRY, AND STRATIGRAPHIC DATA FOR THE INDIAN HEAVEN 'QUATERNARY VOLCANIC FIELD, SOUTH CASCADE RANGE, WASHINGTON by MICHAEL A. KOROSEC WASHINGTON DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES OPEN FILE REPORT 89-3 December 1989 This report has not been edited or reviewed for conformity with Division of Geology and Earth Resources standards and nomenclature •• WASlilNGTON STATE DEPARTMENT Of ~~--==~:.- Natural Resources Bnan Boyle · Commissioner ot Public Lands Art Stearns - Supervisor Division of Geology and Earth Resources Raymond Lasmanis, State Geologist DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express of implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. Available from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia 22161. CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................... 1 Data Collection and Presentation ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 Unit Description for Indian Heaven Lava Flows and Cinder Cones •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9 Discussion .
  • Washington Trails Jul+Aug 2011

    Washington Trails Jul+Aug 2011

    Trail Work Myth-Busting, p.12 Maps You Need, p.33 Trappers Peak, p.51 WASHINGTON TRAILS July + August 2011 » A Publication of Washington Trails Association www.wta.org » $4.50 Head to the Crest Hike the Pacific Crest Trail for stellar views and soul repair INSIDE PCT Feats and Firsts Trail Angels Trail Magic Plus, How to Tell Better Tales Make Fish Tacos in the Backcountry This Month’s Cover » Photo by Karl Forsgaard Hiker Greg Jacoby amidst lupines and » Table of Contents bistort on the Pacific Crest Trail near White Pass July+August 2011 Volume 47, Issue 4 News + Views Backcountry The Front Desk » Craig McKibben The Gear Closet » Susan Ashlock, Why we need the PCT, even if we never Adam Scroggins hike it.» p.4 Navigate to the right map.» p.33 Family-friendly camping gear.» p.35 The Signpost » Lace Thornberg What motivates a PCT thru-hiker?» p.5 Sage Advice » Chris Wall How to tell spell-binding tales.» p.38 Trail Talk » Reader survey results and a Q&A session Trail Eats » Sarah Kirkconnell Dinner for two trailside.» with search and rescue.» p.6 p.40 Hiking News » 12Susan Elderkin Anniversaries and road closures.» p.8 Take a Hike WTA at Work Day Hikes and Overnights » Suggested hikes statewide.» p.41 Trail Work » Diane Bedell We take a pulaski to our favorite trail main- Nature on Trail » Sylvia Feder tenance myths.» p.12 22 You’ve seen krummholz before, but did you know what it was?» Action for Trails » Jonathan Guzzo, p.49 Ryan Ojerio A legislative session look back.» p.16 A Walk on the Wild Side » Why the Dark Divide goes too often unex- Elizabeth Lunney plored.» p.17 The essence of trail magic.» p.50 Membership News » Kara Chin Featured Landscape » Buff Black Hike-a-Thon—it’s on!» p.20 Why you really must visit Trappers Peak.» Heidi Walker p.51 On Trail Special Feature » All about the Pacific Crest Trail Best bets for a day or weekend.» p.22 PCT personalities.» 24 p.25 The PCT across a lifetime.» p.28 The PCT’s bold trendsetters.» p.31 Volunteer Vacations on the crest.» p.32 Find WTA online at www.wta.org.
  • The Dark Divide Have You Been There Lately—Or Ever? This Area Offers All the Charms of Its Well-Known Neighbors, but It’S Often Overlooked

    The Dark Divide Have You Been There Lately—Or Ever? This Area Offers All the Charms of Its Well-Known Neighbors, but It’S Often Overlooked

    July + August 2011 » Washington Trails WTA at Work « 17 The Dark Divide Have you been there lately—or ever? This area offers all the charms of its well-known neighbors, but it’s often overlooked Make it to the top of Snagtooth Mountain in Forest Service had not considered the environ- The Quartz Creek the Dark Divide Roadless Area and you’ll be mental impacts that such motorized recreation Trail features rewarded with the largest clearcut free vista would impose on the landscape. tremendous old remaining in the South Cascades. To the east, Of the area’s 18 major trails, only the Quartz growth. Photo by you’ll peer into the Quartz Creek valley, home Creek Trail is designated nonmotorized. In the Kurt Wieland. to towering old-growth trees. To the north, Quartz Creek Valley, where motorcycles are the spine of the Dark Divide is punctuated with craggy peaks. Ridgetop meadows ex- tend west and east separating the Cispus and the Lewis River drainages. At more than 75,000 acres, the Dark Divide is the largest roadless area in West- ern Washington, yet relatively few hikers venture there. Either they haven’t heard of it at all, or what they have heard of the Dark Divide—that its trails are motorized and unmaintained—keeps them away. The Dark Divide’s neighbors all have impressive titles: Mount Rainier National Park, Mount St. Helens National Monu- ment and the Columbia River Gorge Na- tional Scenic Area. The Goat Rocks, Indian Heaven and Mount Adams are designated wilderness areas, garnering more hiker attention.

  • 4. Alpine and Meadow Ecosystems

    66 Alpine and Meadow Ecosystems 4. ALPINE AND MEADOW ECOSYSTEMS ALPINE AND SUBALPINE Features of the Alpine ECOSYSTEMS, SPECIES, AND EXPECTED IMPACTS • High elevations and cold, harsh weather The picturesque scenes of snow-capped volcanoes • Low-lying grasses, shrubs and in the southern Washington Cascades are more than other uniquely-suited plants just a tourist attraction; they are also the home to • Rocky soil a number of species, such as the elusive wolverine • Presence of a distinct timberline (Gulo gulo), Cascade red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and marten. From emerald, grass-covered hills, to the rocky balds where you can find roaming mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) and American pika In the face of even mild to moderate warming, we (Ochotona princeps), to the pointed peaks with can expect to see a recession of glaciers and the year-round glaciers and dense winter and spring disappearance of snowpacks much earlier into the snowpacks, the subalpine and alpine regions of the summer. Since subalpine and alpine ecosystems Cascades play a very important role in the makeup depend on cold winters and mild summers, they are of the larger ecosystem and contribute to the considered one of the most threatened ecosystems biodiversity that is essential to the survival of many in our study area. Data suggests that in regions species in this region. of high altitude, the climate is changing more rapidly than elsewhere. We could easily see the High elevation ecosystems are considered one of the most threatened types of ecosystems in the region Photo by Adam Zucker Wildlife and Climate Resilience Guidebook 67 Alpine and Meadow Ecosystems disappearance of several notable glaciers in this transition from the conifer forest to the alpine region within the next century.