File picture from Bend Weekly.
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The Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest has reported an 80% cut in their roadway maintenance budget over the last few years. At the same time, they’ve been hit with huge flood damage and new maintenance standards for forest roads require that the entire forest network be upgraded. As a result, roads throughout the forest are going to be closed. The same thing is happening in Okanogan, Wenatchee, Colville, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forests.
Major trunk roads and even the Mountain Loop Highway, which was previously designated a National Forest Scenic Byway and which has the support of various business groups as well as recreational users have been “out of commission” for several years. Just a few years ago, the Clear Creek road serving the Darrington climbing area washed out and the Forest Service was not going to repair it until we launched a phone and letter campaign. See successful campaign.
At present, there is an effort to catalog and rate National Forest roads for recreational access priorities. Hikers, boaters, hunters, and fisherman are participating in these efforts. We should too.
Here is a little background reading on this topic:
Seattle PI
Seattle Times
wilderness.org
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