[yew]

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/NEWS05/606230338&SearchID=73249267641141 says Sierra Pacific timber company bought forest timberlands from Crown Pacific. Sierra Pacific now owns timberland around Canyon Creek Lake in Whatcom County. (BTW a good place to hike, search for "Canyon Creek Lake" in Trip Reports) From what I've heard in the past, Sierra Pacific is a good company as timber companies go. They are in the business of growing trees as a crop and not growing wilderness or biodiversity just like I don't manage for those things in my backyard. I hope they're in it for the long haul and will not restrict non-motorized public access to their land. We should be grateful tht timber companies allow the public to go on their land. That's not the case in other regions of the US such as the South and parts of Maine where timber companies lease land to hunting clubs and restrict non-paying public.

[whitebark]

A lot of NW timberland is being sold to investment consortiums. Not all of them welcome walkers. That "Fruit Growers" outfit (not sure of exact name ) that bought the Mt McDonald timberland put up signs that simply say "no trespassing".... period. I hiked up Mt McDonald (near maple valley) last year with no trouble, but this year I hear that the unfriendly folks along Courtney Street have taken to yelling at hikers/bikers trying to use the traditional trailhead, and put up some sort of chicken wire barrier at the gate as well. There goes one good local hike down the drain. But yes, most of the new owners like Hancock Forest Industries have been reasonable.

[yew]

It could be worse and more widespread. It'll probably get worse as residential development and more people encroach on timberland. And there's not tradition of public access of privately-owned open space in the US like in the UK or Scandanavia.

[Timber Cruiser]

[yew]

Timber Cruiser: Thanks for telling us about the Open Space Taxation Act in 1970. That's a good idea for property to be valued at their current use rather than their highest and best use. Valuing at a highest and "best" use seems to promote development. After all, it'd be bad to pay taxes on a forestland based on its development potential if you want to maintain it as timberland land which may not be as profitable. The PNW seems to be an exception to other regions in the US. I have family in the South and mid-Atlantic states almost all the pine/oak timberlands there have No Trespassing signs. Sometimes the timber companies will let you on if you get written permission from them. The US's tradition of public access to private land is not as strong as in the UK or Scandanavian countries. For Norway: "The nation's open air, or allemansretten, act, passed in 1957, guarantees public access to wilderness areas even on private land from http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/travel/19norway.html?ex=1152936000&en=adc56af131fa1fcc&ei=5070 a good article. BTW,Boy, would it be great to go hiking in Norway! Looks like good terrain for ski touring. For the UK: " In 2004, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW Act) was passed. This Act opens up even more privately owned land to public access and includes some areas with "Open Access" where you do not have to keep to the footpaths, but can roam where you like" from http://www.slowtrav.com/uk/hiking/introduction.htm. In the UK they hike through sheep pastures and places like that. It was a shame when Longview Fiber stopped some public access to their lands in western Clark County and Skamania County due to due to dumping, meth labs, ORV abuse, slob target shooters, 4WDers going around gates, etc..