Hiker Headlines: Update on Forest Service firings, repairs for Hoh Road, Dog Mountain permits
U.S. Forest Service probationary employees who were fired will be rehired on a temporary basis — the longer term status of those positions is still uncertain. Dog Mountain parking permits will be available on March 15 and the North Cascades backcountry permit lottery is closing soon. And the Upper Hoh Road is slated to be repaired.
It’s March 13. U.S. Forest Service probationary employees who were fired will be rehired on a temporary basis — the longer term status of those positions is still uncertain. Dog Mountain parking permits will be available on March 15 and the North Cascades backcountry permit lottery is closing soon. And the Upper Hoh Road is slated to be repaired. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.
Governor Ferguson announced today that $623,000 will be allocated for repairs to Upper Hoh Road, which has been closed since December. Photo by trip reporter Peace4Mel.
Forest Service staffing: On March 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that all probationary employees who were fired will be rehired with back pay. This follows a March 5 decision by The Merit Systems Protection Board — an agency that considers federal employee complaints against the federal government — that the fired employees should be returned to their jobs for 45 days.
Free day: Wednesday, March 19, is Washington State Parks’ 112th birthday, and you won’t need your Discover Pass when parking on areas managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Dog Mountain: Dog Mountain vehicle permits will be available starting March 15 — the permits will be required to park at the trailhead on Saturdays and Sundays between April 26 and June 15, as well as Memorial Day. Permits apply to all occupants of one vehicle, and must be obtained on Recreation.gov before arriving at the trailhead. Visitors parking at the trailhead will also need a Northwest Forest or interagency, senior or military federal land pass. Please note that the trailhead parking lot is small and a permit does not guarantee a parking space, so carpooling is encouraged. Those who take the Dog Mountain Shuttle do not need either the Dog Mountain permit or a parking pass.
North Cascades: The North Cascades backcountry permit early access lottery closes soon! Get your permit application in by 9 p.m. on Friday, March 14, to enter the lottery. Successful applicants will be notified on Friday, March 21, and will be able to apply for permits before they open to everyone.
Upper Hoh Road: Governor Ferguson announced today that $623,000 of Strategic Reserve funds have been allocated to repair the Upper Hoh Road, which has been closed — and prevented access to the Hoh Rain Forest area of Olympic National Park — since December due to erosion from the river.
March Madness — Washington Wildlife edition! Be sure to vote for your favorite Washington wildlife on our Instagram stories over the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for the first showdown soon! Your vote will help whittle down 16 animals to one winner. All images were submitted to WTA for the Flora and Fauna category of our 2024 Northwest Exposure Photo Contest.
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