Oscar Hoover Access Area — Tuesday, May. 20, 2025

This isn't a trip report. There is no trail here. Just a couple pull-outs along the river that have become a local hangout. It's managed by WDFW to give fishing access to the Snohomish River. You'll have to scramble down the bank and fight the bushes to cast your line. More of a place to drink and build (illegal) fires. As such, it gets a lot of trash left behind, yet always looks so clean.

That's because every day, an older gentleman, along with his dog, patrol the whole quarter mile picking up the trash. He's been doing it for years. When I asked him about the tires that were dropped off yesterday, I found out that he takes them down to Les Schwab in Snohomish. It's a lot of work and while I'm sure he'd rather remain anonymous, he deserves some sort of recognition.

So this report is to honor Doug and all the people like him who go out of their way to clean up the mess others leave behind. It's a selfless act that usually gets no thanks - just the satisfaction of leaving a clean slate behind, only to do it all over again. You will never even know they were there - until they aren't. If you don't see any trash in a spot like this, it's because someone picks it up. Here, it's Doug.