[Malachai Constant]

Sent mine in but was not well suited to participants from the great white north so put in my WA address.

[wamtngal]

Greens, outdoor groups: Rebuild key road into Cascades By JOEL CONNELLY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF Published 09:26 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012 A key road into the Cascades, giving mountain recreation access to Puget Sound-area residents, "has been inaccessible for far too long" and must be rebuilt to its entire length, according to a coalition of environmental and recreation groups. Washed out by a late fall storm in 2003, the Suiattle River Road provided access to whitewater rafting and car camping, as well as such renowned hikes as Green Mountain and the Miner's Ridge-Image Lake wonderlands of the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. The road has remained washed out for nearly nine years, and some radical environmentalists -- favoring what they call "re-wilding" of public lands -- filed a federal court suit to block its reconstruction. "It provides access to seven trailheads, two campgrounds, 27.4 miles of the Wild and Scenic Suiattle River, and tens of thousands of acres of forest that provide countless recreational opportunities for all ages," said a letter mailed Thursday to the Federal Highway Administration. "Our organizations value access to our public lands while working to protect them for future generations," it added. The letter is endorsed by 10 major conservation and outdoor recreation groups. The Federal Highway Administration has been doing an environmental assessment with alternatives ranging from keeping most of the Suiattle Road closed to reopening it to road's end. The end of the road is the start to the long Miner's Ridge-Image Lake hike, and access to the Pacific Crest Trail as it climbs high on the flanks of 10,541-foot Glacier Peak, Washington's "wilderness volcano." (Glacier Peak is briefly visible from Interstate 5 near Everett, and from Langley on Whidbey Island.) The reopen-the-road letter is signed by The Wilderness Society, the Washington Trails Association, Back Country Horsemen of Washington, the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, the American Alpine Club and others. Groups on the letter have been at odds with each other in past public lands battles. Since the 2003 storm, some of the state's best-known trails and river rapids -- and the south end climbers' fabled Ptarmigan Traverse -- have remained inaccessible to all but those with more than a week and the patience to walk miles over washed-out logging roads. "Together with the loss of the White Chuck River Road, the washouts on the Suiattle have rendered the west side of the Glacier Peak Wilderness and the upper reaches of the Suiattle River out of reach for many of our constituents," said the letter. "For nearly a decade, trail users have issued out on easy access to the meadows of Green Mountain, majestic views of Image Lake and wonders of the Pacific Crest Trail. Important conservation and recreation access priorities intersect on the Suiattle." A pair of big storms -- in 2003 and 2006 -- blocked access to many of Washington's great backcountry destinations. They include: -- The Dosewallips River Road, in Olympic National Park, provided trailhead access to Honeymoon Meadows and Anderson Pass, and the incredibly steep (3,400 feet of elevation gain in two miles) trail up to Lake Constance. -- The Stehekin River Road, up from Lake Chelan into the North Cascades National Park, accessed such great hikes through the Cascades as Cascade Pass-Sahale Arm, Park Creek Pass and the North Fork of Bridge Creek. -- The White Cluck Road was starting point for the hike (or horseback ride) up to White Pass and the Cascade Crest Trail in meadowlands south of Glacier Peak. A few groups, notably the North Cascades Conservation Council (NCCC) and Olympic Park Associates, have resisted reopening the roads. A lawsuit joined by the NCCC claimed that rebuilding the Suiattle Road would do environmental damage. The suit drove away the Federal Highway Administration last summer. In the other camp, such conservationists as ex-Gov. Dan Evans -- a veteran hiker and key architect of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act -- have argued that parks and wilderness areas were set aside, in part, for the enjoyment, education and refreshment of outdoor enthusiasts. Evans and famed climber-attorney Jim Wickwire have argued that without access to wildlands, fewer people will feel moved to defend them or advocate saving other mountain and coastline places. U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., has introduced legislation to reopen the Stehekin Road. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., hiked the washed-out section of the road (around aptly named Carwash Falls) two years ago. In concluding their letter, the conservationists wrote: "The recreational purpose served by the Suiattle distinguishes it from the many miles of spur roads that sprawl across the forest landscape, the decommissioning of which we have actively supported." Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Greens-outdoor-groups-Rebuild-key-road-into-3496108.php#ixzz1sYJNghbv

[bullfrog]

Sent my letter in tonight in support of Alt. B. It's not too late for others here to do the same!

[Kim Brown]

That's an impressive list of signers on the Alt B letter that Joel Connelly names I get dibs on site #8, Sulphur Creek campground. (or is it site 12....? I'll have to go back & see).

[JimK]

Last Day for comments! Still time to get one in. Either write your own with the info from page one, use the Wilderness Society automated comment, or just send in a one liner saying which Alternative you support. Alt B is to repair the road to the end. Automated Comment

[DIYSteve]

JimK, that link is no longer active.

[JimK]

Yes, they took down the link before the end of the comment period. Their reasoning is in this link: Wilderness Society For Alternative B Along with the info on page 1 of this thread it provides good ideas for a comment letter.

[tod701]

[JimK]

For you procrastinators, the Wilderness Society's automated letter generator is back up again. WS Automated Comment Letter

[More Cowbell]

Done.

[Martha Rasmussen]

We're not sure if Glacier Peak Cafe is closed for good. However our outdoor recreation opportunities are ever shrinking and that really hurts our economy. Many of us are sending out our letters in support of Alternative B for the Suiattle road. This would a wonderful thing for the community of Darrington! Thank you Kim for your continued support!

[Gwen]

I made sure to mention the economic booster shot Alt B would provide to Darrington when I wrote my letter.

[Martha Rasmussen]

Sloan Creek Road, FS #49 has been closed due to a bad contract with a bad contractor, (he didn't show up to do his work). The original plan was to repair a slide the proceed with road updates such as replacing the culverts which were rusted out with larger culverts for salmon habitat. They felt this road could be down for awhile because work was progressing on the Suiattle River Road. THEN THE LAWSUIT happened! So now both roads are down. I asked them to take the enter only with hardhat status down so people could hike in and they have. Work is expected to resume this summer during the fishery window, then the hardhat status will go back up. People are riding in and would love to see your post when you do.

[Kim Brown]

Good to hear Martha; about the Glacier Peak Cafe. Hope they get someone good to take it over. I would, but I'm a lousy cook. That didn't stop anyone else from owning it, though..... Giddyap, folks!

[Kim Brown]

Todd, that's fantastic! Once the road is open, motorcyclists can car camp and hike too; just like folks who drive cars, so yeah, your organization is relevant!