tieton access

[rat]

from http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/weekendr/weekendr.htm

 

Wildlife viewing: The golden eagle pair that traditionally nests on the cliffs above the Tieton River, on a portion of WDFW's Oak Creek Wildlife Area in Yakima County, has picked its nest site for this year. And that means the closure since early February of the lower section of the Tieton River Trail has been lifted.

WDFW habitat technician Bruce Berry, who works at the wildlife area, explained that because the eagles pick a different nest site each year, the whole lower end of the trail is closed to all use until the eagles settle into nesting. "Then we post an off-limits area around that particular nest site," he said, "and allow hikers and climbers to use other parts of the three mile section." This year access to the Royal Columns and Bend climbing areas will be available because the eagles nested elsewhere. Berry noted that some years the eagles pick the climbing areas to nest and they are off-limits until mid-July. "This year everyone's happy," he said, "eagles and climbers." Berry said the nesting eagles can be spotted within 300 yards of the open portion of the trail.