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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| View from the overlook parking area/hangliding launch spot |
