[Jimbo]

Figured I share with the group. We had a HUGE turn out this year, thanks. From the DNR. As you are probably aware, last weekend we launched our campaign to emphasize education and enforcement at Reiter Foothills. I’d like to give you and update on what happened last weekend, let you know what’s coming up at Reiter, and send out some well-deserved thanks, Update on Reiter Last weekend (May 2-3), we focused on enforcing general rules and regulations and educating visitors about upcoming changes in Reiter Foothills. For the most part, everyone was well behaved. Officer Ron Whitehall, DNR, reported that he and Officer Gary Marghaim, DNR, made 79 contacts to inform visitors about upcoming changes and let people know they violating, issued one infraction citation, and made two arrests for behavioral issues. (Both subjects were booked in Snohomish County Jail.) On Sunday, Officer Whitehall also helped out Snohomish County law enforcement with 10 target shooters on Sultan Basin Road, which was not on DNR property. This week at Reiter Foothills - We’ll start allowing limited camping in two temporarily designated areas in the gravel pit and the upper staging area. - Sani-cans will be installed in the designated temporary camping areas. - The gate to DNR’s May Creek Mainline Road will be permanently closed to street vehicles - Updating and installing new signs. - Issuing citations instead of warnings for illegal activities. - Distributing more informational flyers. (See attached.) Thank you, volunteers, and partners! Sunday’s Reiter Foothills Clean-up Day was a huge success! More than 300 volunteers from the ORV community came out to help clean up trash and debris from the area. Many thanks to the following for sponsoring this event: Washington Motorsports Dealers Association, Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association, Snohomish County Solid Waste, and Waste Management. We really appreciate all the hard work from our partners and volunteers. Together we can all make Reiter Foothills safe, healthy, and fun! If you have any questions or comments about Reiter, please contact me. Candace Johnson Assistant Region Manager, State Lands Northwest Region DNR (360) 854-2803

[Joey]

Jimbo, Do you know if it is mostly snow-free up to Deer Creek flats?

[Jimbo]

NO SNOW, we tromped to about 3500 on the South face. Have a call in to find out what gate there going to close

[Joey]

Thanks

[Hulksmash]

[Redwic]

This needs to be clarified. I have been planning to hike to Lake Isabel (and beyond) later this summer. Thank goodness I have family connections in Gold Bar (where I grew up), as it currently looks like they might need to drop me off along Reiter Road... although I prefer not to do that if not needed.

[Jimbo]

Hulksmash, Last weekend they painted the gate of Reiter road RED. I do think this is the one there going to lock up. I've been involved with this gig for about 2 years. There was talk about high water bars to keep most vehicles out maybe coming in from the parking lot so the jeeps and crawlers can get in still. Any ways I have called the DNR and am waiting for there call back.

[Hulksmash]

Don't see the point of painting the gate unless they plan of closing it. Honestly, if they close the gate, i can still get in there. But i will avoid doing so.. I dont want to be one of those asshats that gets the place closed for others just because i found my way around the gate.

[Kat]

It says it will be closed to "street vehicles". Does that mean we can slap on an ORV sticker and go?

[Sore Feet]

If the roadside gate is the one they're going to lock, it seems counter productive to me since the FS had identified the Isabel trail as one to potentially turn into an official trail with the formation of the Wild Sky. Why not turn the big area near the May Creek ford into a trailhead and construct a hikers only trail running up the creek that won't interfere with the ORV tracks and mountain bikers? Hell, I'm sure it could even be done by volunteers.

[GeoHiker]

That's going to suck! It will be the gate that goes left just past the staging area I'm sure. It was locked about 10 years ago, and the 4x4's just drove around it. That roads been a disaster for years, but at least allowed you access to Isabel without having to walk through Road Warriorville. How safe is that going to be having people walk that road with 4x4's and motorcycles ripping 90 mph through the puddles? The only purpose locking the gate will serve is shutting down the camping at the powerlines. The NO CAMPING had never been enforced, so why are they even messing with that area. It probably has something to do with this line. "Issuing citations instead of warnings for illegal activities" cha ching, I can hear the money come rolling in now when they ticket 100 people a weekend for illegal camping.

[Dogpatch]

[skidmark421]

I spend a lot of time in the Reiter area and have mixed feelings on this subject. There will still be access to the powerlines by taking the Sac Up trail, just past the hatchery road, to the mid powerline trail as there always has been, for those equipped. This, however seems to be the only other way in there if they gate the main road in. The only problem for me is the hill climb that most do downhill which will weed out just about anyone. There should be gate keeper obstacles out front to keep out unequipped vehicles like up at Walker Valley. The "hooligans" hang under the powerlines because, guess what, they can drive right in there in their Honda cars.

[Backpacker Joe]

I'm still trying to figure out if the May creek ford and the lake isabel trail is still open to wheeln?

[Jimbo]

WOW bee's nest here. Ok they told me NO ONE IS ALLOWED IN, just kidding. Really they said this is the beginning of keeping it open. I LIKE IT, I've been up there for over 25 years, now camp in GBNT and if we loose this place for off road stuff we are all screwed. So this is what has been hashed out with the land owner's, fish people and user groups. Our voice has been herd but must be in respect of land. The main gate on the Reiter Road will be closed as early as today. There is a road around it from the parking lot still They don't want camping for now out under the power line's. This will be a piece by piece add on to the plan. There has been stuff done on the upper part as you turn off the main road and head to Deer Flats. ALL GOOD, this place about got shut down by some Asshat's a few years back mashing through the mid section of Hoggerty creek and sent bad water to the stealhead hatchery. So Washington Quad Association and the jeep club's worked with them to keep them butt heads out of that area, and still is working. Ok I've gone off, sorry but for now the plan is to close off the main entrance and keep a side road open. NO HIGH WAY VEHICLES are wanted in Sunday I hauled out many bags of garbage and a couch in my truck from the river camping area. Last year I did 2 loads so I'm Glad to see this and still have a way in to 4X along. So we still can all go in and fallow the Hulksmash to the lake. If you have a Q's about this feel free to call them, we pay there bills and they like to here from us. Thanks for the imput. I didn't really think a group of hikers gave a hoot about Reiter.