Endangered Trails 2008 Released

In late May, we were caught by surprise--as were many others--by the washout of the Icicle Creek Road.  Carrying 500,000 hikers, equestrians and campers every year, this road is a critical entry point for trails into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, as well as family hikes like the Icicle Gorge Loop.  While the washout will likely be repaired, it will come at the cost of many lost outings for hikers, as well as a substantial amount of money that the forest service can ill afford.  The road will be washed out for at least this season, and it is anybody's guess as to how long it will take to repair.

That's why we chose to include the Icicle Gorge Loop Trail in this year's Endangered Trails Guide.  This year, we're focusing on trails that need attention and aren't getting it due to more than a decade of chronic underfunding by Congress.  And while a recent Interior Appropriations budget increases funding for trails and recreation substantially, it's just a first step.  We're hopeful that the Senate will follow suit in their version of the budget, and that the new president taking office in 2009 will sign it into law.  But it will take the work of many hikers to defend our gains.

Here is our list of the ten most threatened trails in Washington state.

Circle Peak-Crystal Lake, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Icicle Gorge Loop, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Headlee Pass, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Gee Point, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Colonel Bob, Olympic National Forest

Loowit Trail, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Middle and South Fork Cascade River, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Miners Ridge, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Foggy Dew Ridge, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Boundary Trail, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

There are hundreds of thousands of hikers who love these trails.  We're fortunate that our congressional delegation supports hiking trails, but we need to make sure that in the long process of developing the final budget, the needs of hikers are not lost in the shuffle.  

Fore more information on Endangered Trails 2008 and how you can help, go to our guide release.  To request a print copy of the Guide, contact Jonathan Guzzo at jonathan@wta.org or by phone at 206.965.8558.