Recreation is critical to our mission of protecting wilderness and inspiring Americans to care for our wild places. Recreation is one of the wilderness values protected by The 1964 Wilderness Act and is also the primary way that most people experience our treasured public lands. These experiences and connections are critical to ensuring future support for conservation of wild places.
Our work in the North Cascades includes promoting and ensuring enhanced and well-planned recreation opportunities throughout the region. Here are a few of the recreation projects we are working on:
Whistler Canyon Trail
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest's Whistler Canyon trail once allowed hikers, bikers and horseback riders access to popular Mt. Hull in Okanogan County directly from Highway 97. The trail is also part of the newly designated Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Currently the trailhead is blocked by a quarry. In an effort to re-establish this critical recreational opportunity, Okanogan County and the Okanogan County Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington have both raised funds to acquire private lands that will be the site of a new trailhead. The County is holding those lands until federal funds can be found to convey them to the Forest Service. The Back Country Horsemen raised over $33,000 in a cost share for the federal purchase. The Wilderness Society is currently working in coalition with Okanogan County, the Okanogan Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association and federal agencies to gain funding through the federal Appropriations process. See our most recent letter advocating on this issue. And read a blog we wrote about restoring access to this trail.
Connecting Kids to the Land
Building the next generation of conservationists is extremely important. In September 2008 and on Public Lands Day in 2009, we partnered with Access Fund, Washington Climbers Coalition, Washington Trails Association, North Cascades National Park, and the Vertical World climbing team to help renovate the trail to the Newhalem Crags. This “Adopt-A-Crag” project involved 20 kids and parents and is a great example of connecting the next generation to the land.
Read a blog about this event.
