Fairweather
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Yes, please provide the necessary. And a kind day to you good sir. Holy shit, I know this guy. What a small world it is. As for Ivan, I think he should surface that up or hold it in the parking lot until senior leadership has a chance to trickle it down to the teams.
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Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
I think this statement is revealing. Local sentiments like those expressed by Sol, Blake, Pete, and the "LMA" are always important, but most of the crags in question lie on federal property that is owned by us all. To grant too much weight to local sensibilities is to submit to a standard that could end up turning our shared heritage into a municipal park--or a private club. -
FWIW, I have copy-pasted the entire Wilderness Act here and applied bold font to some portions that may be relevant. The bad thing about the ACT, is that it sometimes conflicts with subsequent Acts of Congress--like the Washington Wilderness Acts of 1984 and 1988. I'm not sure to what degree it conflicts with the NCNP Act that created the park in 1968 as I haven't read that entire document. The 1964 Act is only 5-1/2 pages and leaves much to the interpretation of land managers--and those who control the narrative. Here it is: WILDERNESS ACT Public Law 88-577 (16 U.S. C. 1131-1136) 88th Congress, Second Session September 3, 1964 AN ACT To establish a National Wilderness Preservation System for the permanent good of the whole people, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. Short Title Section 1. This Act may be cited as the "Wilderness Act." WILDERNESS SYSTEM ESTABLISHED STATEMENT OF POLICY Section 2.(a) In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. For this purpose there is hereby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress as ''wilderness areas'', and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and so as to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character, and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness; and no Federal lands shall be designated as ''wilderness areas'' except as provided for in this Act or by a subsequent Act. (b) The inclusion of an area in the National Wilderness Preservation System notwithstanding, the area shall continue to be managed by the Department and agency having jurisdiction thereover immediately before its inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress. No appropriation shall be available for the payment of expenses or salaries for the administration of the National Wilderness Preservation System as a separate unit nor shall any appropriations be available for additional personnel stated as being required solely for the purpose of managing or administering areas solely because they are included within the National Wilderness Preservation System. DEFINITION OF WILDERNESS © A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM - EXTENT OF SYSTEM Section 3.(a) All areas within the national forests classified at least 30 days before September 3, 1964 by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the Forest Service as ''wilderness'', ''wild'', or ''canoe'' are hereby designated as wilderness areas. The Secretary of Agriculture shall - (1) Within one year after September 3, 1964, file a map and legal description of each wilderness area with the Interior and Insular Affairs Committees of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, and such descriptions shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act: Provided, however, That correction of clerical and typographical errors in such legal descriptions and maps may be made. (2) Maintain, available to the public, records pertaining to said wilderness areas, including maps and legal descriptions, copies of regulations governing them, copies of public notices of, and reports submitted to Congress regarding pending additions, eliminations, or modifications. Maps, legal descriptions, and regulations pertaining to wilderness areas within their respective jurisdictions also shall be available to the public in the offices of regional foresters, national forest supervisors, and forest rangers. Classification. (b) The Secretary of Agriculture shall, within ten years after September 3, 1964, review, as to its suitability or nonsuitability for preservation as wilderness, each area in the national forests classified on September 3, 1964 by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the Forest Service as ''primitive'' and report his findings to the President. Presidential recommendation to Congress. The President shall advise the United States Senate and House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to the designation as ''wilderness'' or other reclassification of each area on which review has been completed, together with maps and a definition of boundaries. Such advice shall be given with respect to not less than one-third of all the areas now classified as ''primitive'' within three years after September 3, 1964, not less than two-thirds within seven years after September 3, 1964, and the remaining areas within ten years after September 3, 1964. Congressional approval. Each recommendation of the President for designation as ''wilderness'' shall become effective only if so provided by an Act of Congress. Areas classified as ''primitive'' on September 3, 1964 shall continue to be administered under the rules and regulations affecting such areas on September 3, 1964 until Congress has determined otherwise. Any such area may be increased in size by the President at the time he submits his recommendations to the Congress by not more than five thousand acres with no more than one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of such increase in any one compact unit; if it is proposed to increase the size of any such area by more than five thousand acres or by more than one thousand two hundred and eighty acres in any one compact unit the increase in size shall not become effective until acted upon by Congress. Nothing herein contained shall limit the President in proposing, as part of his recommendations to Congress, the alteration of existing boundaries of primitive areas or recommending the addition of any contiguous area of national forest lands predominantly of wilderness value. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may complete his review and delete such area as may be necessary, but not to exceed seven thousand acres, from the southern tip of the Gore Range-Eagles Nest Primitive Area, Colorado, if the Secretary determines that such action is in the public interest. Report to President. © Within ten years after September 3, 1964 the Secretary of the Interior shall review every roadless area of five thousand contiguous acres or more in the national parks, monuments and other units of the national park system and every such area of, and every roadless island within the national wildlife refuges and game ranges, under his jurisdiction on September 3, 1964 and shall report to the President his recommendation as to the suitability or nonsuitability of each such area or island for preservation as wilderness. Presidential recommendation to Congress. The President shall advise the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of his recommendation with respect to the designation as wilderness of each such area or island on which review has been completed, together with a map thereof and a definition of its boundaries. Such advice shall be given with respect to not less than one-third of the areas and islands to be reviewed under this subsection within three years after September 3, 1964, not less than two-thirds within seven years of September 3, 1964 and the remainder within ten years of September 3, 1964. Congressional approval. A recommendation of the President for designation as wilderness shall become effective only if so provided by an Act of Congress. Nothing contained herein shall, by implication or otherwise, be construed to lessen the present statutory authority of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to the maintenance of roadless areas within units of the national park system. Suitability. (d)(1) The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall, prior to submitting any recommendations to the President with respect to the suitability of any area for preservation as wilderness – Publication in Federal Register. (A) give such public notice of the proposed action as they deem appropriate, including publication in the Federal Register and in a newspaper having general circulation in the area or areas in the vicinity of the affected land; Hearings. (B) hold a public hearing or hearings at a location or locations convenient to the area affected. The hearings shall be announced through such means as the respective Secretaries involved deem appropriate, including notices in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the area: Provided, That if the lands involved are located in more than one State, at least one hearing shall be held in each State in which a portion of the land lies; © at least thirty days before the date of a hearing advise the Governor of each State and the governing board of each county, or in Alaska the borough, in which the lands are located, and Federal departments and agencies concerned, and invite such officials and Federal agencies to submit their views on the proposed action at the hearing or by no later than thirty days following the date of the hearing. Any views submitted to the appropriate Secretary under the provisions of (1) of this subsection with respect to any area shall be included with any recommendations to the President and to Congress with respect to such area. Proposed modification. (e) Any modification or adjustment of boundaries of any wilderness area shall be recommended by the appropriate Secretary after public notice of such proposal and public hearing or hearings as provided in subsection (d) of this section. The proposed modification or adjustment shall then be recommended with map and description thereof to the President. The President shall advise the United States Senate and the House of Representatives of his recommendations with respect to such modification or adjustment and such recommendations shall become effective only in the same manner as provided for in subsections (b) and © of this section. USE OF WILDERNESS AREAS Section 4.(a) The purposes of this Act are hereby declared to be within and supplemental to the purposes for which national forests and units of the national park and national wildlife refuge systems are established and administered and - (1) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to be in interference with the purpose for which national forests are established as set forth in the Act of June 4, 1897 (30 Stat. 11), and the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of June 12, 1960 (74 Stat. 215) (16 U.S.C. 528-531). (2) Nothing in this Act shall modify the restrictions and provisions of the Shipstead-Nolan Act (Public Law 539, Seventy-first Congress, July 10, 1930; 46 Stat. 1020), the Thye–Blatnik Act (Public Law 733, Eightieth Congress, June 22, 1948; 62 Stat. 568), and the Humphrey-Thye-Blatnik-Andresen Act (Public Law 607, Eighty-Fourth Congress, June 22, 1956; 70 Stat. 326), as applying to the Superior National Forest or the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture. (3) Nothing in this Act shall modify the statutory authority under which units of the national park system are created. Further, the designation of any area of any park, monument, or other unit of the national park system as a wilderness area pursuant to this Actshall in no manner lower the standards evolved for the use and preservation of such park, monument, or other unit of the national park system in accordance with sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this title, the statutory authority under which the area was created, or any other Act of Congress which might pertain to or affect such area, including, but not limited to, the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225; 16 U.S.C. 432 et seq.); section 3(2) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796(2)); and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.). (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, each agency administering any area designated as wilderness shall be responsible for preserving the wilderness character of the area and shall so administer such area for such other purposes for which it may have been established as also to preserve its wilderness character. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN USES © Except as specifically provided for in this Act, and subject to existing private rights, there shall be no commercial enterprise and no permanent road within any wilderness area designated by this Act and, except as necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area for the purpose of this Act (including measures required in emergencies involving the health and safety of persons within the area), there shall be no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area. SPECIAL PROVISIONS (d) The following special provisions are hereby made: (1) Within wilderness areas designated by this Act the use of aircraft or motorboats, where these uses have already become established, may be permitted to continue subject to such restrictions as the Secretary of Agriculture deems desirable. In addition, such measures may be taken as may be necessary in the control of fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such conditions as the Secretary deems desirable. (2) Nothing in this Act shall prevent within national forest wilderness areas any activity, including prospecting, for the purpose of gathering information about mineral or other resources, if such activity is carried on in a manner compatible with the preservation of the wilderness environment. Furthermore, in accordance with such program as the Secretary of the Interior shall develop and conduct in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, such areas shall be surveyed on a planned, recurring basis consistent with the concept of wilderness preservation by the United States Geological Survey and the United States Bureau of Mines to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present; and the results of such surveys shall be made available to the public and submitted to the President and Congress. Mineral leases, claims, etc. (3) Not withstanding any other provisions of this Act, until midnight December 31, 1983, the United States mining laws and all laws pertaining to mineral leasing shall, to the extent as applicable prior to September 3, 1964, extend to those national forest lands designated by this Act as "wilderness areas"; subject, however, to such reasonable regulations governing ingress and egress as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture consistent with the use of the land for mineral location and development and exploration, drilling, and production, and use of land for transmission lines, waterlines, telephone lines, or facilities necessary in exploring, drilling, producing, mining, and processing operations, including where essential the use of mechanized ground or air equipment and restoration as near as practicable of the surface of the land disturbed in performing prospecting, location, and , in oil and gas leasing, discovery work, exploration, drilling, and production, as soon as they have served their purpose. Mining locations lying within the boundaries of said wilderness areas shall be held and used solely for mining or processing operations and uses reasonably incident thereto; and hereafter, subject to valid existing rights, all patents issued under the mining laws of the United States affecting national forest lands designated by this Act as wilderness areas shall convey title to the mineral deposits within the claim, together with the right to cut and use so much of the mature timber therefrom as may be needed in the extraction, removal, and beneficiation of the mineral deposits, if needed timber is not otherwise reasonably available, and if the timber is cut under sound principles of forest management as defined by the national forest rules and regulations, but each such patent shall reserve to the United States all title in or to the surface of the lands and products thereof, and no use of the surface of the claim or the resources therefrom not reasonably required for carrying on mining or prospecting shall be allowed except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act: Provided, That, unless hereafter specifically authorized, no patent within wilderness areas designated by this Act shall issue after December 31, 1983, except for the valid claims existing on or before December 31, 1983. Mining claims located after September 3, 1964, within the boundaries of wilderness areas designated by this Actshall create no rights in excess of those rights which may be patented under the provisions of this subsection. Mineral leases, permits, and licenses covering lands within national forest wilderness areas designated by this Act shall contain such reasonable stipulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture for the protection of the wilderness character of the land consistent with the use of the land for the purposes for which they are leased, permitted, or licensed. Subject to valid rights then existing, effective January 1, 1984, the minerals in lands designated by this Act as wilderness areas are withdrawn from all forms of appropriation under the mining laws and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing and all amendments thereto. Water resources and grazing. (4) Within wilderness areas in the national forests designated by this Act, (1) the President may, within a specific area and in accordance with such regulations as he may deem desirable, authorize prospecting for water resources, the establishment and maintenance of reservoirs, water-conservation works, power projects, transmission lines, and other facilities needed in the public interest, including the road construction and maintenance essential to development and use thereof, upon his determination that such use or uses in the specific area will better serve the interests of the United States and the people thereof than will its denial; and (2) the grazing of livestock, where established prior to September 3, 1964, shall be permitted to continue subject to such reasonable regulations as are deemed necessary by the Secretary of Agriculture. (5) Other provisions of this Act to the contrary notwithstanding, the management of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, formerly designated as the Superior, Little Indian Sioux, and Caribou Roadless Areas, in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota, shall be in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the general purpose of maintaining, without unnecessary restrictions on other uses, including that of timber, the primitive character of the area, particularly in the vicinity of lakes, streams, and portages: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall preclude the continuance within the area of any already established use of motorboats. (6) Commercial services may be performed within the wilderness areas designated by this Actto the extent necessary for activities which are proper for realizing the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the areas. (7) Nothing in this Act shall constitute an express or implied claim or denial on the part of the Federal Government as to exemption from State water laws. (8) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the jurisdiction or responsibilities of the several States with respect to wildlife and fish in the national forests. STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN WILDERNESS AREAS Section 5.(a) In any case where State -owned or privately owned land is completely surrounded by national forest lands within areas designated by this Act as wilderness, such State or private owner shall be given such rights as may be necessary to assure adequate access to such State -owned or privately owned land by such State or private owner and their successors in interest, or the State -owned land or privately owned land shall be exchanged for federally owned land in the same State of approximately equal value under authorities available to the Secretary of Agriculture: Transfers, restriction. Provided, however, That the United States shall not transfer to a State or private owner any mineral interests unless the State or private owner relinquishes or causes to be relinquished to the United States the mineral interest in the surrounded land. (b) In any case where valid mining claims or other valid occupancies are wholly within a designated national forest wilderness area, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, by reasonable regulations consistent with the preservation of the area as wilderness, permit ingress and egress to such surrounded areas by means which have been or are being customarily enjoyed with respect to other such areas similarly situated. Acquisition. © Subject to the appropriation of funds by Congress, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to acquire privately owned land within the perimeter of any area designated by this Act as wilderness if (1) the owner concurs in such acquisition or (2) the acquisition is specifically authorized by Congress. GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS Section 6.(a) The Secretary of Agriculture may accept gifts or bequests of land within wilderness areas designated by this Act for preservation as wilderness. The Secretary of Agriculture may also accept gifts or bequests of land adjacent to wilderness areas designated by this Act for preservation as wilderness if he has given sixty days advance notice thereof to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Land accepted by the Secretary of Agriculture under this section shall be come part of the wilderness area involved. Regulations with regard to any such land may be in accordance with such agreements, consistent with the policy of this Act, as are made at the time of such gift, or such conditions, consistent with such policy, as may be included in, and accepted with, such bequest. (b) Authorization to accept private contributions and gifts The Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to accept private contributions and gifts to be used to further the purposes of this Act. ANNUAL REPORTS Section 7. At the opening of each session of Congress, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior shall jointly report to the President for transmission to Congress on the status of the wilderness system, including a list and descriptions of the areas in the system, regulations in effect, and other pertinent information, together with any recommendations they may care to make. APPROVED SEPTEMBER 3, 1964. Legislative History: House Reports: No 1538 accompanying H.R. 9070 (Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs) and No. 1829 (Committee of Conference). Senate report: No. 109 (Committee on Interior & Insular Affairs). Congressional Record: Vol. 109 (1963): • April 4, 8, considered in Senate. • April 9, considered and passed Senate. • Vol. 110 (1964): July 28, considered in House. • July 30, considered and passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R. 9070 • August 20, House and Senate agreed to conference report.
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I'm not a big fan of the concept of sport-routes in wilderness, but chopping the rap-station on a popular climb is an outrage and if this was a proximate cause of the recent fatality (and if it's actually true) then someone should be held accountable. Thanks to the NCCC and NCNP management's successful campaign to close virtually all road access, this park is now one of the least-visited national parks in the nation. Green-club rangers who toss registers off summits, kick over cairns (I assume), torch public shelters, force-march improperly permitted climbers back to Marblemount, and opine in local papers is another. It is for these reasons and more that the proposal to expand NCNP has little support from the people who actually use it--and even less from the people who live nearby.
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Trip: Mount Elbert, CO - NW Ridge Date: 9/22/2013 Trip Report: Flew down to Colorado to climb Longs Peak with my brother-in-law and nephew, but our plans were foiled by the recent flooding and its aftermath. Rocky Mountain National Park's east side remains closed--even though Boulder is almost back to normal, and Estes Park is on the way to recovery. As a consolation prize, we drove about 3 hours south to Leadville and hiked up the highest peak in Colorado--my first time higher than Rainier by a whopping 23 feet. Basically, a 4800' gain walk-up with nice views across the range, thin air, and beautiful groves of aspen far below just starting to turn golden color. Temps were below freezing, a bit windy, with some new snow on the upper 2000'. More of a hike than a climb; mainly of interest to "state high-point" collectors. Longs Peak: Trespassing in a national park: $5000 fine and 6 months in prison: Trespassing on private property: priceless: Mighty Elbert. Trail starts in the forested valley and goes up the center-left ridge facing the camera: The morning slog and a false summit: Mount Massive: Summit ridge: Looking north: On the top: Headed down:
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Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
Well said. Fire rings don't bother me either--except the ones littered with half-burned beer cans and empty shell-casings. I think there is a distinction that the "do-somethings" often fail to make between esthetics and degradation. One is easy to mitigate (as in your example), the other is not. I haven't seen or heard of anything that justifies this level of government intervention. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
Huh? Your organization posted their welcome announcement right here! And it most certainly is implied within the text of Sol's posts. In any event, I think you're being a little too sensitive--and feel free to keep the personal insults in check. I am quite literate, and I believe Water is phonetically apt. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
Not a big fan of the bouldering scene, but it makes sense that this may be where new sanitation problems are arising. Again, it seems that placing a few privies and hiring two seasonal janitors would be a more appropriate solution to what may or may not be a legitimate problem. I've tried to do a little research on LMA, but they don't really have a well-grounded site other than a blog post. I don't doubt that their intentions are good, but if they have attended USFS planning sessions as representatives of the climbing community, then maybe they should do some polling of a broader section before they petition for new enforcement rangers. This thread is evidence. Not to pick on Sol, but when I hear the word "resource" used to describe wilderness/recreation in just about every other sentence, I start thinking that maybe the org's goals lie less with an inclusive approach to nature, and more with one that is doctrinaire. There's nothing wrong with this, I just think the accurate representation of one's motives is important--particularly in the public sphere. Also, the original post names the WCC as a participant in this planning, but I don't recall MattP posting anything here. I haven't checked their site lately, so maybe I missed it. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
OMG. Obviously, they should be economists. Preferably Austrian school. Given the USFS's love of quotas, permits, manufactured scarcity and an otherwise commodified vision of wilderness for profit (in the form of jobs), I'd say they already have this one covered. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
I was talking about both rangers combined, and it was just a guess that I used for illustration. Not sure if these guys are seasonal, but I guess that would make more sense in a place like Leavenworth. My bad. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
I think history is on the side of the cynics here when it comes to the USFS and its penchant for new rule-making. If the Icicle is, as you say, "as beautiful and free as ever," then why is there a need for two new rangers? And, as Coldfinger and Water suggest, the annual $150-200k in professional-level salary and benefits in question here could probably be better spent on a few pit toilets placed strategically throughout the area. Hell, it could even be spent repairing a road, or two. -
Welcome Leavenworth Climbing Rangers
Fairweather replied to LeavenworthMA's topic in Climber's Board
I agree here. I guess I don't understand why the USFS claims it has to close 75% of its roads--including many popular trailhead access avenues--and yet can still find money for two new positions. You're absolutely right, Coldfinger, I suspect that fees are coming soon--to pay for enforcement of said fees. A self-serving bureaucracy. Wilderness = Management. Our escape becomes more and more an extension of our prison with each passing year. I guess I'll wonder out loud here and propose that we can interpret USFS motives right now by looking at the educational and experiential backgrounds of these two new rangers. Do they come from the biosciences? Quotas, permits, fees, and dogmatism coming soon. From law enforcement? Angst and fines headed your way. From the humanities, social sciences? This might be better news as it would indicate an attempt to find an informed balance between nature and human needs in our local mountains is underway. Unfortunately, I suspect it's choice #1. Sol? -
Trip: Lillian Ridge High Route - High Alpine Traverse - Date: 9/1-9/3 2012 Trip Report: Ok, a year after the fact, but I never posted this one as I was too busy to write it up last year. In any event, it was a September trip and I imagine conditions are similar right now. Greg and I did this traverse--another one of the routes listed in the Olympic Mountains Climber's Guide--and it is a very nice three day XC adventure. The trip begins at the Obstruction Point trailhead, but leaves the trail as it traverses over the Moose, descends to the headwaters of the Lillian River just beneath the now-gone Lillian Glacier, and then climbs to Lillian Lake. From the lake, the route follows an abandoned boot path into a born-again perennial snowfield, traverses beneath McCartney Peak, travels along a beautiful flower-covered ridge, and then skirts into Cameron Pass. From the pass, we dropped down the trail to Cameron Basin, dropped further into Cameron Creek Valley, climbed 3000 feet over Grand Pass, gave it all back by dropping into Grand Valley, then climbed another 3000 feet or so back to Obstruction Point. The trip loses and gains about 8700 feet. The route finding is generally easy, and the views of Olympus and the Eel Glacier on Mount Anderson are incredible. Anyway, here are some pictures: Lillian Lake Basin: Snowfield above the Lake: Behind McCartney Peak: Mount Olympus: Cameron Pass: Mount Anderson, West Peak, and the upper part of Eel Glacier: The Euro-trail down into Cameron Basin: Cameron Basin: Looking across the valley to Grand Pass: Cameron Glaciers: Grand Valley: Gear Notes: Ice Axe useful above the lake. Also, if there were snow below Cameron Pass an ice axe and crampons would be essential. Luckily, it was bare for us this time.
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[TR]Hyder, Wrangell, and the Stikine Icecap w/ Dad
Fairweather replied to Fairweather's topic in Alaska
We're thinking just the lower flat-water part, of course. Looks like lots of views--and bears. I took some pretty cool video flying up the lower Stikine, the Chief Shakes area, and Shakes Lake/Glacier, and even though I was going up to take a look at Kate's and Devil's Thumb, I came away more inspired by the beauty of the river. Getting the canoe back to Telegraph Creek is the trick. -
[TR]Hyder, Wrangell, and the Stikine Icecap w/ Dad
Fairweather replied to Fairweather's topic in Alaska
Actually, the wife and I are thinking about a 165 mile canoe trip down the Stikine from Telegraph Creek to Wrangell--with a stop at the Shakes hot tubs and a couple of overnights in the nearby USFS cabins, of course--maybe within the next year or two. Has your brother ever jetted all the way back up to Telegraph Creek? BTW, Wrangell is a really neat place. Your brother is a lucky man. -
Spent two weeks in Alaska with my Dad back in July. Not a climbing report, but I've thrown in some good mountain porn of our flight up the Stikine Icecap to justify the [TR] status. We drove to Hyder, Ak., and then back-tracked to P Rupert to catch the ferry to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg. Hyder Alaska - A really cool place: The only place in town: The town is infested with bears: A nice fixer-upper. $400 or best offer: The best halibut on Earth. Caught two hours ago, not breaded, seasoned lightly: Fish creek just outside of town: The road up to Salmon Glacier is stunning: Dad meets "The Bear Man" Near the GranDuc Mine: Meanwhile, on the Canadian side of the border: And they also have a really cool toaster museum in Stewart: Me and Dad heading north: Along the Zimovia Highway, Wrangell Island: There's gotta be a reason I love this town. Can't put my finger on it... Looking down on Wrangell from Mount Dewey. John Muir was here: Wrangell cemetery. There were a half dozen "Unknown Soldier" headstones here. Question: If the soldier was unknown, how did they know where to bury him? Did some poor homesick Bostonian's mortal remains end up on a remote island in Alaska? Going for a plane ride: Fly up the Stikine River, turn left at Shakes Slough: Kates Needle: Devil's Thumb: Burkett Mtn. and Needle: ...and exit the LeConte: Not our boat. Our boat arrived 5 hours late...but that's another story: Oh yea, almost forgot: Ketchikan sucks. Not the same place it was twenty years ago
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1. Black Diamond Kilowatts - 173cm with Marker Baron bindings Garmont Axon boots (you'll have to buy your own liners) BD skins All in great shape - $650 2. K2 Shuksans - 167cm with Silvretta Pure Freeride bindings in great shape - $350 Send me a PM if interested
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[TR] Mt. Adams 8/22/13 - South Spur
Fairweather replied to Ptown_Climber1's topic in Southern WA Cascades
Congrats to the kid--and his parents. These are my favorite kind of TRs. -
I agree. The USFS roads were built to support consumerism (logs, mines) and recreation was just a side gig with a little designated wilderness thrown in after 1964 to placate the hippies. But the roads remain, and I think they now serve just as valuable a public purpose. One of my favorite enviro-philosophers, Holmes Rolston III, points out something I think is worth considering in this regard when he says “wildlands absorb a kind of urban negative disvalue and provide a niche that meets deep seated psychosomatic needs.” And Baird Callicott considers wilderness recreation to be an "escape valve" for our capitalist malaise. Anyway, all kinds of value in wilderness. Too bad we can't all agree on what it is. Best metaphor I've read in a long time.
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I think you're mostly right. While "front country" use has increased, back country use has leveled off or, in some areas, begun to decline. Part of the problem is demographics. As minority populations in the US continue to grow, interest in hiking/climbing/camping drops commensurate with. The USFS has made much of this--you may have noticed the new billboards promoting the benefits of wilderness to children of color. In any event, it seems to me this is likely more of a socioeconomic issue than a racial one, but it's a sensitive subject for sure. Part of the problem remains, I believe, a betrayal of wilderness recreationalists by dogmatic environmentalists. It's ironic that you mention Harvey Manning, because the end-of-life feud between he and his longtime friend, Ira Spring, sums up the issue pretty well and is at the core of the roads debate. Here is a quote from Ira Spring's autobiography: “We may be appalled at 3,000 or more people a day walking the Paradise trails at Mount Rainier or 30,000 a year hiking to Snow Lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, but if that is what it takes for the support of trails to the year 2015, so be it. It is up to us to figure out how to accommodate so many people without harming the temple.” I spent a few days in Olympic NP earlier this week and it was sad to see not a single sole at Royal Basin--a supposed "quota area"--or on the trail over Constance Pass. In fact, the trail up from the long-closed Dosewallips is badly in need of maintenance and the boot path toward Mount Mystery has faded away. Some would say this is a good thing. I think it's kind of sad.
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Trip: Royal Basin to Constance Pass - High Alpine Traverse Route Date: 8/20/2013 Trip Report: Greg and I did another one of the Olympic Guidebook's "high alpine traverse routes" earlier this week. Traveling from our camp in Upper Royal Basin, we crossed over the divide into the incredibly beautiful meadows of Deception Basin, then down Deception Creek and around the back side of Mount Mystery--through nightmarish slide alder--where we emerged in the valley and snowfields north of Gunsite Notch. From here we descended the south side of the notch to a nice meadow campsite at the source of Twin Creek. In the morning we ascended DelMonte Ridge, then dropped down steep, hard scree to Sunny Brook Meadows where we picked up the trail to Constance Pass. From here, we hiked out the Dungeness Trail. The loop is 27 miles total, with 8 miles of off-trail. Also, the route does not climb Mystery Glacier to its head, rather, it drops below and around Mount Mystery, completely encircling it. Surprisingly, we saw no evidence of recent passage between Deception Basin and Sunny Brook--cairns, boot tracks, etc. Contrary to what I had thought earlier, I don't believe this route is very popular. It doesn't look like Mystery has been climbed much since the Dose Road washed out years ago. I will say that Deception Basin is one of the most beautiful mountain places I have ever been--particularly the wet, flowery meadow below the Mystery Glacier moraine that is fed by the glacier's terminal lake seeping through its own till. This would be a great place to spend a few days. In any event, I would advise anyone traveling this route to exit the basin on the right side of the creek (below Mount Deception) and then avoid traversing directly over to the hanging valley below Gunsite Notch since we spent more than three hours negotiating less than a half-mile of thick Slide Alder. Instead, I'd recommend giving up another 1500' on talus by descending all the way to the confluence of the two creeks, and then climb back up toward Gunsite. Also, it is nearly impossible to stay on DelMonte Ridge around Point 6666, so you'll have to give up 1200' or so by dropping to Sunny Brook Meadows and then climbing again to Constance Pass via the trail. In short, this route is more challenging than I thought it would be, but it was really neat to be in such beautiful places that few others see. Total gain/loss is about 9000 feet and there is lots of steep side-hilling on scree/talus, and a lot of big boulder-hopping too. Heavy boots work nice. Ice axe or crampons would be helpful for the snow below the notch, but aren't absolutely necessary. Marmot in upper Royal Basin Mount Clark emerging Mount Deception shoulder Mount Mystery and Deception Basin Mystery Glacier still breathing Lower meadows Deception Basin Looking across the "shortcut" (not) Three and a half hours of this shit Below Gunsite Notch Looking up to Gunsite Notch Camp at head of Twin Creek The Brothers' other side Sunny Brook Meadows Olympus from Del Monte Ridge The other side of Mount Stone Greg at Sunny Brook Meadows Yours truly at Constance Pass