Everything is on fire...what to do?

So I have not done much hiking lately because everything is on fire. In Yakima where I am, the smoke is causing the air level quality to go back and forth between "very unhealthy" and "hazardous", and officials are telling people to stay indoors as much as possible or wear a mask outdoors. Highway 410 is closed, cutting me off from Rainier. Teanaway Forest in Cle Elum is on fire, and now the Columbia Gorge is burning. All three areas I wanted to hike are inaccessible.

It's hard to watch these places go up in flames. Eagle Creek Trail, where 153 hikers were stranded when the fire broke out, was a hike I've been desperately wanting to do since May.  Oneonta Gorge was also on my wishlist. I've still never been to Multnomah Falls yet.

So I'm just sitting here, not hiking due to the fires and air quality, wondering what to do.

Several hiking groups I am part of are doing fundraisers to help give back. So I am linking to them here so you can help.

Pacific Northwest Outdoor Women (PNWOW) has two fundraisers going to support Washington and Oregon volunteer firefighter associations who are working overtime in this crazy fire season. For Washington, click here. For Oregon, click here.

Washington Hikers and Climbers (WH&C) is organizing a spring reforestation project for the Columbia Gorge. Details are pending as coordination with land management agencies and other officials happens, but you can RSVP to get updates throughout the year for the service project. Click here to visit the Facebook event page.

WH&C also has a fundraiser going for the Ronald & Roslyn volunteer firefighter associations. These communities in the Teanaway area have been affected by the Jolly Mountain Fire, with many residents under Level 3 evacuations. You can support them at this link.

And finally, a HUGE "Thank You!" to all the amazing firefighters out there fighting this enormous blazes. They are doing everything they can to preserve homes and historic structures and fighting fires on some of the most rugged, challenging terrain our state has to offer. I am immensely grateful for them. Keep up the amazing work!

A Call for Action - Preserving Blanchard Mountain

Hello. I didn't get a post up last week due to illness, and I didn't get a new walk or hike this week due to what I'll claim is busy-ness but is really laziness.

What I do have is an important message though. A local hiking area is in danger of being logged.

I haven't blogged about Blanchard Mountain's Oyster Dome yet. It's actually one of my favorite hikes, however. The Pacific Northwest Trail goes over Blanchard Mountain, and there are well-established parking and camping areas on the hill.

View from the top of the Oyster Dome

The mountain is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources as a "working forest", which allows it to be logged. Back in 2006, the DNR met with conservation groups to make a plan to preserve the core of the mountain that is used by hikers, horseback riders, campers, and hang-gliders. 1600 acres of the core were to be preserved by purchasing forests to be logged in other areas. So far, $6.5 million has been committed by the state legislature for this project. $7.7 million more is still needed to preserve the 1600 acre core of the forest, and the deadline is passing. If the funding isn't passed in the next supplemental budget, the Oyster Dome, campsites, Samish Overlook area, and other areas are in danger of being logged.

Lily Lake Campsite

These are well-established recreation areas. You can drive past the trailhead on Chuckanut Drive any weekday and it will be packed.

Chipmunk at the summit

Conservation Northwest has a link where you can contact the appropriate representatives to push for funding. I urge you to contact your legislators and push for this funding. This is a beautiful recreation area that needs saving.

View from the overlook parking area/hangliding launch spot