What next?

I love the outdoors. I cannot remember not feeling this way. Rather than sit and wonder, I would love to stand in a wild field of brambles and wait for a pheasant to alight; to look across a hillside of virgin timber and imagine that the whole country once looked this way; to sit silently for hours and wait for that first movement of a squirrel who finally realizes I am going to be there for a while and won’t be of any harm; to come over a rise or around a corner of a narrow trail and freeze in place as I am confronted by a calf moose, knowing that “mom” probably isn’t too far away; to be so far away from civilization that the only din I hear is from a waterfall across the valley.

Although I often use various modes of transportation to near these experiences, they always seem to happen while I am walking. The sloshing through mud or shuffling over leaves or tramping on snow provides for a satisfaction of achievement that is lost when you’re sitting down behind a window. You just don’t get the same impact while you are driving your car, motoring in a bus, or riding in a train. You might be able to view them, but at 15, 30, or 65 miles per hour, you never really get to FEEL them.

And so, when I saw a recent article appear online from About.com written by Lauren Himiak (http://usparks.about.com/b/2009/10/28/npca-disagrees-with-legislation-for-north-cascades.htm), I was curious. Apparently, a Bill (H.R. 2806) had been passed by the House and sent on to the Senate, even after the Department of Interior and it’s National Park Service, to whom the funding would be provided, said “No thanks.” From what I can understand, it calls for the repositioning and reconstruction of nearly ten miles of isolated roadway. When I say isolated, I do mean isolated. This road is located in the North Cascades National Park in Washington State and can only be reached by boat or plane. This stretch of road along the Stehekin River has twice been wiped out by flooding in the past 15 years; and was not replaced after the last episode in 2003. And, what makes this project even more perplexing is that there are no camps, no homes, no buildings whatsoever along this road. It is a dead end.

In fact, since the last Management Plan in 1993, the only motorized vehicle that has been allowed along its length has been a shuttle bus that was operated by the NPS. It was then, and continues to be, open to hikers, horses, and cyclists. But, no cars.

Now comes the biggest issue. In order for this roadway to be “repositioned”, it will require an Environmental Impact Study to be completed. Initial cost estimate - $500,000 – five hundred thousand dollars. Time to complete the study – 3-4 YEARS! Initial estimate to complete the work 1.5- 2 million dollars ($2,000,000). Annual upkeep – Your guess is as good as mine.

And why did the House pass this bill? Excellent question. Apparently, the Honorable Representative Hastings felt it was important that the guidelines laid out in that same Management Plan of 1993 be met in the strictest fashion; that everyone has the opportunity to experience the public lands that are our National Parks.

So, Representative Hastings, why don’t we construct a road to the top of Mt. McKinley. I’m sure the young, elderly, and disabled would love to experience that, too. It might increase the traffic there, which would likely assist the economy of that region, too.

There comes a time when money should not chase ideals, and this is one of those times. This roadway was built alongside a fast flowing river; one that accepts a large amount of springtime runoff from the Cascade Mountains. Normal and expected water action takes place along its shoreline and slopes; erosion, movement, replacement. To say that the road should be moved away from the Stehekin River is an admirable one. But, how far is far enough. An active river could easily outmaneuver whatever border you may wish to apply to it.

If creating access to the Cascade Mountains is your goal, then that is already in place. The fact that the road is now nothing more than a trail could very well be the reason that there has been an increase of visitors. Being able to traverse a distance of 10 miles alongside a flowing river using an old roadway base is much more desired than bushwhacking your way through.

And, finally, the fact that this area is truly isolated; that no tourist can drive a vehicle onto this roadway from any other public highway should tell you enough of what its value truly is to the American people.

Like the tenet that is in place here in New York State that applies to our great STATE park system; Forever Wild, Mr. Hastings. Forever Wild.