Your Support Needed to Reopen Critical Access to Trails on Index-Galena Road
After a decade-long closure, hikers could see access restored to the Index-Galena Road, a critically important access point to popular trails like Cady Ridge, Heybrook Lookout, and many more.
- Summit ridge of Benchmark Mountain with Glacier Peak in the distance. This hike, and many others, will be more easily accessible when road repairs are completed. Photo by Martin Bravenboer.
After a decade-long closure, hikers could see access restored to the Index-Galena Road off of Highway 2 near Stevens Pass. The road is a critically important access point to popular trails like West Cady Ridge, Quartz Creek, North Fork Skykomish, and many more.
Snohomish County Public Works published the long-awaited Environmental Assessment (Read it online) for repairs on the Index-Galena Road earlier this month. In November 2006, the road was severely damaged by floods, and hikers have since accessed these trailheads from the Beckler River Road, a much longer route.
The Environmental Assessment is the last step before final repairs can be completed that will reduce the road's environmental impacts on the river. The EA also proposes a more sustainable alignment for the road, making future washouts less likely. Much of the road has been repaired, but the final piece has been delayed since 2011.
- Damage on the Index-Galena Road. Photo by Dean Zulic.
Your input will help decide the fate of the final repairs
Snohomish County has requested input on the proposal from members of the outdoor recreation community. All public comments will be considered in agency decision making on whether the project will be constructed.
Your comments must be submitted by October 31, 2016. To make the process convenient for you, we have drafted a letter to get you started. Please personalize it by adding your personal comments about why you care about access along the Index-Galena Road.
You can get more information on the project from Snohomish County.
Comments
Dr. Charles H. Kinzel
Please hasten the repairs on the Index-Galena Road as it will improve access to the trails into the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area and the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area. Thank you.
Posted by:
Chad on Oct 17, 2016 02:36 PM
$27 million to Support Timber Sales?
From the Environmental Assessment:
"The U.S. Forest Service’s timber sale planning and administration is hampered
due to adverse conditions for hauling logs over Jack Pass from the North Fork
Skykomish drainage. Recent planned timber harvest units and timber sales were
dropped because of poor access."
I would guess that timber sales would be planned again, once the road has been completed. $27 million dollars is also a lot of money for 1/2 a mile of road. Convince me otherwise.
Posted by:
Deben on Oct 17, 2016 10:34 PM
Mr.
Please work to get this open
Posted by:
Txpete on Oct 18, 2016 07:15 PM