A proposal before Congress would designate another 47,000 acres of the Monongahela National Forest with special "wilderness" protection.
The different areas have been researched, adjusted, subject to public comment and negotiation. There has been input from state and federal forestry officials, hikers, hunters, fishers and local economic development groups during the last two years. Congress could not ask for a more reasoned and vetted proposal.
Washington state's delegation to Congress was finally able to exhale Thursday as President Bush signed a bill that established a new wilderness area in the Cascade Range.
The battle for Wild Sky Wilderness, which encompasses 107 square miles west of Stevens Pass and north of U.S. Highway 2, took six years to make it through the political thickets, but the bipartisan effort finally paid off.
It is said that good things come to those who wait. Well, maybe.
A case can instead be made that most often good things come to those who stubbornly refuse to wait. To those who work hard, persevere and slog steadily forward to transform a vision into reality. The creation of the Wild Skykomish Wilderness Area is such a case.
At long last, creation of the 106,000-acre Wild Sky Wilderness is official. President George W. Bush's signature on legislation capped years of hard work by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen.
Wild, wonderful West Virginia will become wilder, in a way, if the U.S. Senate approves a bill forwarded to it by the House of Representatives. The measure is a win-win not just for our state, but also for the entire eastern United States.
Under a bill approved by the House, about 38,000 acres in the Monongahela National Forest, all within West Virginia, would receive federal "wilderness" designation. That would safeguard the area against most development, preserving it for future generations.
Supporters of a wilderness designation for Rocky Mountain National Park have learned not to hold their breath.
Still, news that the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed legislation that would give RMNP wilderness status is welcome, if maybe a bit warily. After all, this effort has only taken 34 years to get this far.
After a breathtakingly up and down ride, a congressional bill creating the Wild Sky Wilderness Area is finally heading to President Bush's desk for a signature. The expansion of wilderness protection to lower-lying forests, streams and valleys in Snohomish County is a signal achievement that ought to point toward more preservation of critical lands.
If the best things in life are worth waiting for, the Wild Sky Wilderness area certainly qualifies.
On Tuesday, Congress finally gave its approval for creating Washington's first new wilderness area in more than two decades. That's 3,405 days after the effort began, according to a triumphant Sen. Patty Murray, who with Rep. Rick Larsen led the arduous legislative charge. President Bush's signature is expected to complete this long and winding process within the next two weeks.
The Badlands, located just 15 miles east of Bend, is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. This area was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations. This unique part of the Oregon desert needs to be permanently protected for generations to come.
We had set out to explore a bit of the Little Florida mountains outside Deming when a voice boomed from somewhere above us. "If you're lookin' for a trail to Needle's Eye," it said, "there ain't none."
A figure emerged from a rock outcropping just upslope, a bear of a man in a biker's vest with a beer in one hand and a funny cigarette in the other. He shambled toward us. Uncertain if he meant us good or ill, I took a few hesitant steps in his direction, extended my hand, and introduced myself.
EDITORIAL: Wild places worth saving
May 15th, 2008A proposal before Congress would designate another 47,000 acres of the Monongahela National Forest with special "wilderness" protection.
The different areas have been researched, adjusted, subject to public comment and negotiation. There has been input from state and federal forestry officials, hikers, hunters, fishers and local economic development groups during the last two years. Congress could not ask for a more reasoned and vetted proposal.
EDITORIAL: A Wild Sky ride, After six years, Cascade wilderness finally reality
May 13th, 2008Washington state's delegation to Congress was finally able to exhale Thursday as President Bush signed a bill that established a new wilderness area in the Cascade Range.
The battle for Wild Sky Wilderness, which encompasses 107 square miles west of Stevens Pass and north of U.S. Highway 2, took six years to make it through the political thickets, but the bipartisan effort finally paid off.
OPINION: Local woman key player in Wild Sky
May 13th, 2008It is said that good things come to those who wait. Well, maybe.
A case can instead be made that most often good things come to those who stubbornly refuse to wait. To those who work hard, persevere and slog steadily forward to transform a vision into reality. The creation of the Wild Skykomish Wilderness Area is such a case.
EDITORIAL: Wild Sky triumphs
May 12th, 2008At long last, creation of the 106,000-acre Wild Sky Wilderness is official. President George W. Bush's signature on legislation capped years of hard work by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen.
EDITORIAL: Wilderness Bill Good for Nation
May 9th, 2008Wild, wonderful West Virginia will become wilder, in a way, if the U.S. Senate approves a bill forwarded to it by the House of Representatives. The measure is a win-win not just for our state, but also for the entire eastern United States.
Under a bill approved by the House, about 38,000 acres in the Monongahela National Forest, all within West Virginia, would receive federal "wilderness" designation. That would safeguard the area against most development, preserving it for future generations.
EDITORIAL: Compromise puts RMNP on road to wilderness status
May 9th, 2008Supporters of a wilderness designation for Rocky Mountain National Park have learned not to hold their breath.
Still, news that the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed legislation that would give RMNP wilderness status is welcome, if maybe a bit warily. After all, this effort has only taken 34 years to get this far.
EDITORIAL: Wild Sky: Preserving a future
May 1st, 2008After a breathtakingly up and down ride, a congressional bill creating the Wild Sky Wilderness Area is finally heading to President Bush's desk for a signature. The expansion of wilderness protection to lower-lying forests, streams and valleys in Snohomish County is a signal achievement that ought to point toward more preservation of critical lands.
EDITORIAL: Wild Sky wilderness: well worth the wait
April 30th, 2008If the best things in life are worth waiting for, the Wild Sky Wilderness area certainly qualifies.
On Tuesday, Congress finally gave its approval for creating Washington's first new wilderness area in more than two decades. That's 3,405 days after the effort began, according to a triumphant Sen. Patty Murray, who with Rep. Rick Larsen led the arduous legislative charge. President Bush's signature is expected to complete this long and winding process within the next two weeks.
OPINION: Why Congress should classify Badlands as wilderness
April 30th, 2008The Badlands, located just 15 miles east of Bend, is a 30,000-acre area containing fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers. This area was named for its harsh terrain and fantastic rock formations. This unique part of the Oregon desert needs to be permanently protected for generations to come.
OPINION: Keep drillers out of our outdoor art museums
April 30th, 2008We had set out to explore a bit of the Little Florida mountains outside Deming when a voice boomed from somewhere above us. "If you're lookin' for a trail to Needle's Eye," it said, "there ain't none."
A figure emerged from a rock outcropping just upslope, a bear of a man in a biker's vest with a beer in one hand and a funny cigarette in the other. He shambled toward us. Uncertain if he meant us good or ill, I took a few hesitant steps in his direction, extended my hand, and introduced myself.