All Activity

It's probably easiest to just paste what my public comment was, so see below. Maybe (hopefully) I'm overreacting? But I think what takes me aback is the apparent scale of the operation, lack of clarity of what areas are being impacted exactly, lack of clarity that this will actually work (is this an experiment on a huge scale? Or is there evidence that this restores long term forest health? Is this even about long term forest health?). Happy to hear your perspective on this. Thank you for the opportunity for commenting on this project. While I am no expert in forestry and forest management, I am a deeply concerned citizen who cherishes our forests and the MBS in particular. I know enough to understand the theoretical need to thin our young forests that were devastated by clear cutting and then overplanted. I have also always thought of forest thinning as a potentially good sustainable option for forestry, and I know there are examples of such forestry around the world. That said, there are many reasons that this project causes concern for me, and why, despite the above, I can't support this project with the information provided in the EAS. 1. The proposal appears to be for "the entirety" of the MBS forest land that meet certain criteria then goes on to say that the intensity of thinning will depend on the location, but no information on specifics is given. What parts of MBS are more intensely thinned? What parts less? What portions of MBS meet this criteria? Will portions bordering designated Wilderness Areas received less intensive treatment as a buffer zone? 2. The proposal seems to suggest that this will thin the forests to 35% coverage. What is the basis for this percentage? Is it scientifically validated as something that will increase the health of the forest? Or is it what is economically viable for the logging companies to make profits while having to practice the more labor intensive thinning vs. clear cutting? 3. One reason for thinning is to reduce potential for wildfire intensity and spread long term. The EAS seems to suggest the the risk for wildfire in thinned areas would increase after thinning due to the dead debris left behind. This seems counterproductive. Shouldn't the logging companies be required to clean up the sites appropriately? 4. The EAS says there will be temporary new roads for logging. How many? What density? Furthermore, from my perspective, the word temporary is misleading: roads cleared for logging are temporary on the scale of decades. The EAS seemed to allude to methods to replant logging roads to aesthetically beautify and hide them. Will this be required of the logging companies immediately after they conclude their work? 5. What evidence is there that this method of thinning, including laying down "temporary" roads, will actually help long term forest health? What evidence that human intervention on this scale can produce healthier forests long term compared to nature taking its course? While I'm sure these techniques have been used elsewhere, have the been used on the scale of the entirety of the MBS? This seems to me like an experiment on a vast scale. 6. What is the long term commitment to protecting the forest to ensure this thinning project benefits the regrowth of a healthy robust forest long term so they may return to a mature old growth forest state? Or, given that the EAS states only areas zoned for commercial timber harvest, is this a project to improve the tree health only to be cut down in the relatively near future? 7. What is the plan to ensure wildlife security? While I accept that thinning is preferred to clear cutting for less overall impact, the EAS gives an example image that clearly shows devastation of the understory immediately after the thinning. This proposal then seems to imply they will devastate the entirety of the MBS undergrowth habitat in the qualified zones in the span 30 years. Without understanding what portions of the MBS will be affected and where the affected wildlife will go, how much of land is affected, etc.

Had to bail climbing Leuthold Couloir because of weather and was too busy most of the winter/spring to climb much snow/ice/mixed. Had a good summer though and climbed some classics like Forbidden and other alpine rock. Going to Ouray soon to climb some ice and am hoping to get out more this winter and spring though. Let me know how Reid goes if you give it a shot

Hi there, Are you still looking for a climbing partner? I live in the PNW and would love to connect. -Rebecca

So it's now a year later, curious how your climbing season went? Stumbled upon this thread looking for recent beta on the Reid. Cheers and good luck.

Grivel G12s Hybrid Crampon - $40 Petzl Leopards - $40 Very Light Weight REI Ice Axe (about 70cm I think) - $30 Wild Country Overboot - $20 Size XL Mountain Tools Overboot - $20 Size L All items plus shipping.

I got the same grivel tools and poons. I really like those items so you dont have to talk them down. they are still worthy but I get out ice climbing as much as you do so what do I know?

build up some dirt ramps and Dukes Of Hazards over dat shit.

I'm looking for alpine climbing partners this winter. I'm based out of Leavenworth and mostly interested in winter climbing in the Stuart Range but am open to travelling. I can and have lead WI4, M4, 5.11+. AIARE 1 with six years of backcountry skiing experience, mostly in the PNW. Some routes I've climbed recently: Price Glacier, Argonaut NE Couloir, Kautz, The Hitchhiker on SEWS. Shoot me a message!

What are your concerns, specifically @aikidjoe? I work for an area Tribe, and often with the MBSNF, and have participated in a few of these thinning projects over the years (all in the Stillaguamish). On the ground that I am super familiar with, the proposed treatments all made sense and were needed due to the legacy forestry impacts from the post-war era. But....happy to hear your perspective on the latest proposal!

West Seattle. They could be shippable.

Hey, I am interested in doing Rainier sometime in the winter. I have summited Rainier six times, never in the winter though. I've done Baker, Adams, Hood, El Dorado as well.

I won’t sell it. I don’t feel like I “own” all these stories and information. I believe we can find a steward(s) when we need to. I’ll have to check out that movie!

Oh man super unfortunate but not unexpected. I hope they actually fix the roads this time instead of just "closing" them all and letting the forest take back over.

4-5 miles up there I think. Not my photo (cap from a vid)

I'm interested! Sent you a DM

Looks like a weather window is forecast for Hood after many storm cycles. Any predictions for how quickly the conditions will stabilize enough to climb a steep route?

Being in North Bend, maybe ya otter add Mt. Kent, Humpback Mt. (ephemeral), Turf Testament & other Snoqualmie NW face variations, Tooth east face direct-ish start, & North Grove area (Chair) to your 1-day windows.

I hope you don't sell it but no one will piss on your grave if you do. For reference: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bad_boy_bubby

Hey there, I figured I'd post this here in case others hadn't heard about it. I read through the Environmental Assessment Statement and had serious concerns. https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mbs/newsroom/releases/forest-service-releases-draft-environmental-assessment-forestwide

potentially interested in the pickets, where are you located?

I climb WI5, M5, 5.11-5.12 currently. but since ill be close to wayne's ill be spending a lot of time there sharpening my dry tooling skills. I have done m7 but its hard to count scratched out canadian rockies mixed climbs. i have plenty of gear, skis, etc. and an extra bed in north bend if you want to crash before an adventure. willing to travel around for routes. I am very open to climbing anything and just want to get out in the mountains but some routes currently on my list: -east face of the Tooth -multiple routes on Dragontail such as gerber sink, triple couloirs, direct north buttress -hot tubbs of Bryant peak -new york gully and snostril on snoqualmie -upper west side of chair peak -lots of stuff around baker such as the Coleman Headwall -any quality wi4-5 ice that comes in

Thank you. The worst and way too long is exactly what I am aiming for.

January is a terrible month to attempt Rainier. One of the worst. February or March are a better bet. Also, unless you fancy an extra 25 mile approach/deproach, cross Emmons off your list and stick to routes out of Paradise.

North Cascades shenanigans, celebrating that the site is NOT DEAD YET!

There have got to be some established web developer types that are climbers and could take something like this on? Would the Access Fund or Mountaineers help with incorporating into a non-profit? Or maybe an attorney like @mattp? We appreciate your vision @olyclimber, way to remain steadfast in the midst of the storm!