Trail News PICKARD S TEVE S Four months after the murders of hikers Mary Cooper and Susanna Stodden, there are still no suspects. A special investigation looks at the issue of law enforcement on the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, the crime scene investigation and also talks with the victims’ husband and father, David Stodden. By Andrew Engelson and huckleberry turning color in the brief patrolling for signs of car prowls or suspi- autumn before snow falls. Trails here are cious activity. On Patrol familiar to many hikers from Everett Early on, he responded to a report of On a recent Sunday in October, Forest and the Puget Sound area: Lake 22, gunfire not far from the Verlot public Service law enforcement officer Mike Boardman Lake, the Walt Bailey Trail, service center. The suspects—several Gardiner set out to patrol the southern Mount Dickerman, Headlee Pass and youths—were found, and in possession half of the Mountain Loop Highway. His the historic Monte Cristo town site. of alcohol and marijuana. plan for the day was relatively simple: Gardiner is one of just four armed law Gardiner wrote tickets for sundry of- drive his patrol vehicle, a white Chevy enforcement rangers currently tasked fenses and impounded evidence. Further pickup, 20 miles up the Mountain Loop, with keeping the peace on the Mount up the road, he stops a car for speeding, a popular route into the and Gardiner finds the driver has Mount Baker Snoqualmie There are only five armed law enforcement a suspended license. The suspect National Forest. Driving is booked and sent to jail. The rest east from the town of Gran- officers working the entire Mount Baker of the day, Gardiner spends time ite Falls, he would check in Snoqualmie National Forest. I asked Rob Iwa- on a number of administrative at trailheads, campgrounds moto, forest supervisor for the Mount Baker tasks: writing reports, cataloging and other Forest Service Snoqualmie, if five officers was adequate to evidence. sites to the end of the enforce laws and protect public safety on the It had been an 11-hour day, Mountain Loop. and he’d made it only 12 miles up The road winds through forest: “No,” he said flatly. the road. “That’s a typical day,” the valley of the South Gardiner told me. “There’s just Fork Stillaguamish River, not enough of me to go around. a recreational paradise. Peppered along Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, You have to determine what are the most the road are trailheads to alpine lakes, which spans 140 miles of the Cascade egregious crimes and go after those.” to summits with commanding views, Range from Mount Rainier to the “Legally, I can only work 14 hours a and—at this time of year—the brazen Canadian border. Gardiner started his shift, but I’m permitted to do 16 with reds and yellows of vine maple, willow day early, checking in at campgrounds, approval,” he told me. “That’s a common WASHINGTON TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News PICKARD S TEVE Steve Spickard, a friend S of David Stodden, the husband and father of the victims, has been to the Pinnacle Lake area over a dozen times since the murders. “It’s likely the suspect just ran down the trail, but for anyone with a little experience in bushwhacking off trail, there are all kinds of options to get in and out of there.” occurrence all summer long.” of the county. Baker Snoqualmie Forest to help prevent One trailhead Gardiner often visits on “It’s a rare and tragic event,” Gardiner another murder like this from happen- his patrol of the Mountain Loop is the said of the killings. “But being so close ing again? Pinnacle Lake Trail. to an urban area, events like this are On the morning of July 11, 2006, going to occur.” The Forest Seattle hikers Susanna Stodden, 27 In nearly four months since the mur- There are only five armed law enforce- and her mother, Mary Cooper 56, set ders, much has changed and nothing ment officers working the entire Mount out for quick 4-mile hike to Pinnacle has changed. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, a 1.7- Lake and back. Some time on that day, Some hikers have modified their million acre parcel of public land larger somewhere on this short trail to a lovely hiking habits. Some have resolutely than the state of Delaware. The Mount little alpine tarn, the two women were continued to hike as they did before. Baker Snoqualmie is the fourth-most- shot and killed. A hiker discovered the Some hike in pairs. Some carry guns. visited national forest in the country, bodies not long after the two women had Some have avoided the Mountain Loop largely because it’s within a 70-mile died. The terrified hiker returned to the area completely. drive from 3.63 million people in the trailhead, ice ax at the ready, made his And four months later, no suspects Puget Sound area. Four law enforce- way to the campground at Gold Basin, have been identified, according to Rich ment officers are currently working the and contacted authorities to report the Niebusch, a spokesperson for the Sno- forest—one position is vacant and has murder. homish County Sheriff’s office. Four yet to be filled. Gardiner was called in that day to months after Pinnacle Lake there are I asked Rob Iwamoto, forest supervisor assist the Snohomish County Sheriff’s many unanswered questions: how and for the Mount Baker Snoqualmie, if five office to close the trail so that sheriff’s why were Mary Cooper and Susanna officers was adequate to enforce laws and deputies and detectives could begin their Stodden killed? Has the criminal in- protect public safety on the forest. investigation. Though the forest partners vestigation been handled in a manner “No,” he said flatly. “And the reason with the sheriff’s office to patrol the for- that will find the killer and secure a is, we’re seeing more and more use, and est, investigations are the responsibility conviction? And is there enough law with that, conflicts on public land.” enforcement presence on the Mount November/December 2006 WASHINGTON TRAILS COURTESY OF MAURICE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE STODDEN FAMILY WASHINGTON WASHINGTON that impressed alotofpeople.—David Stodden Both MaryandSusanwere activevolunteers—onadailyandweeklybasis—and Ithink many ofusvalueasaright aroundhere. I thinkittouchedalotof people,particularlyhikers.Hikingisjustsomething thatso I thinkonethingthataffected peoplewasthehorrendouswayinwhich theydied.And TRAILS November/December 2006 Trail News COURTESY OF THE STODDEN FAMILY Trail News Each of the five law enforcement of- interactions,” said Iwamoto. “This event made four separate DUI arrests in one ficers is based out of each ranger district reminds us we have to be prepared for evening this summer. It’s just crazy. It in the forest: Mount Baker, Darrington, human-human interactions.” keeps you very busy.” Skykomish, North Bend, and Enum- Even though violent crime is rare, Still, Gardiner believes they’ve made claw. Mike Gardiner, based out of the there are plenty of other crimes to keep progress, particularly in cracking down Darrington District, is responsible for rangers busy on the forest. Iwamoto lists on weekend parties. “It’s better than it an area reaching from Mount Pilchuck a litany of challenges his rangers face was three years ago.” to the Suiattle River to the crest of the daily: drug smuggling, methamphet- But the fact remains, that despite Cascades. Unlike most rangers, their heroic efforts, rangers law enforcement officers in the Mike Gardiner has seen it all along the here in Washington state and Forest Service do not report to Mountain Loop: dumped stolen cars, re- across the nation are having the district rangers, but to the a harder time dealing with regional office. mains of meth labs, wild parties. “I made a growing portfolio of law When a crime is committed four separate DUI arrests in one evening enforcement problems. Rang- on Forest Service land, it is the this summer. It’s just crazy. It keeps you ers—even those without police responsibility of local authorities very busy.” powers—can have an effect (usually county sheriff’s offices) on reducing criminal activity to investigate and solve crimes. merely by their presence. But Rangers and law enforcement officers amine labs, illegal parking, non-payment according to Iwamoto, the number of assist and can make arrests or issue of campground fees, domestic violence, rangers is declining precipitously. citations, but do not actively investigate partying, random shooting, dogs off In 2005, the Mount Baker Snoqualmie crimes. leash, illegal ORV riding, alcohol, had over 250 temporary employees and The murders at Pinnacle Lake have rowdiness, vandalism, car prowls and 125 permanent employees. This year, had “profound impact on us in the Forest marijuana growing. because of budget cuts and staff attri- Service,” said Iwamoto. “Ralph Waldo “These types of activities aren’t going tion, there were less than 200 temporary Emerson said, ‘What lies behind us and to decrease as the urban interface with employees. Many of these were work- what lies before us are small matters the forest grows,” said Iwamoto. Grow- ing on fire crews this season, making compared to what lies within us.’” ing populations—especially in the urban for even fewer employees engaging in “This was a horrendous tragedy. Ob- and suburban West—and relatively easy public interaction in campgrounds and viously, all of us have concerns about access are making National Forests a the backcountry. how this is going to effect recreation. place where crime is ever present, and “We’re losing our most experienced But these types of events are very rare where budgets for forest service staff people,” Iwamoto told me, frustration on public land.