| Ranger Report - A report from your hard working volunteers and crews. |
Monday, July 20th, 2009
| Hey, let us know what you see out there! Send a couple photos along with your hiking, biking, 4x4in, horseback riding, etc. dventure story. We are always very happy to hear from our trail friends. cleelumtrails@yahooo.com |
Wow! Sorry for not posting a Ranger Report in a very long time, but things have been
busy and…the truth is, I can be a little lazy when it comes to paperwork! It is a beautiful
season on the Cle Elum Ranger District! The wildflowers are beautiful in the higher
elevations! Here is what we have been up to for the past three weeks.
The weekday non-motorized trail crew has spent the last two weeks camping out and
working on the trails. They spent a week up on the Pacific Crest Trail above Waptus
brushing the trail and clearing timber. This past week they worked up at Hyas Lake with
volunteers from the Washington Trail Association. They are building much needed
puncheons near the lake.
The motorized maintenance crew is replacing the North Fork Taneum bridges (we lost
five bridges during the January rain on snow flood event). We weren’t sure we would be
able to replace the bridges, but it looks like all five will be replaced.
The weekend rangers, as usual, have been very busy! The Wilderness Rangers are
making it up to the higher Alpine Lakes on the District. You can know hike to Tuck Lake,
where snow and ice are hanging on, but the trail is clear. The Rachel – Rampart Trail is
clear and the lakes are snow free. You can also make the Cathedral – Deception Loop,
although the upper water crossing is still high.
Except for Blazed Ridge, the south side of the District has been cleared. The trails are in
fair condition, but they are dry and it is dusty! I am always amazed how fast that end of
the District goes from snow to dust! We were out at Blowout Mountain and Goat Peak
last Saturday and I was amazed to see so much fresh bear scat. It is obvious that they
have found the huckleberry patches, but we were unable to find along the trail. My empty
sandwich bag, unfortunately, stayed that way for the day.
I was up at Lake Ann yesterday and it was beautiful. There were a lot of people hiking
the County Line and Esmeralda Basin Trails and it was fun to see so many people
enjoying the stunning day! The huckleberries are a bit easier to find up near Van Epps
and down lower near Cooper Lake.
We have been involved in two Search and Rescues this month, both with wonderful
results; everyone made it home healthy. The lesson? Remember, even when you set
out for “just a day hike”, pack your 12 essentials. Like always, hope for the best, but plan
for a mishap! Even if it isn’t you who gets lost, wet and cold, or injured, you may run
across a person who needs your help. Both SAR situations could have been avoided if
the parties had packed their essentials. Not to judge as I have learned many lessons
the hard way. I I was just thankful our crew was there to help. Remember, you may
have to wait a long time for a rescue, so be self-sufficient and able to wait it out until help
arrives.
Kittitas County now is under a complete burn ban. That means no campfires on state,
private, or county land. The Cle Elum Ranger District has not restricted campfires yet,
but please call before you head out, as the rule can, and probably will, change any day
(509-852-1100). It is very dry out there, so please make sure that any campfire you build
is legal (where permitted and contained within a camp ring), and all fires are DEAD OUT
before you leave your campsite.
Tips and Regulations for Wilderness Travelers -
Remember No Campfires are allowed at these lakes.
The wood that is available in these rocky alpine areas needs to return to the soil for the
delicate vegetation that does grow there and not picked clean for campfires. The plants
are fragile and have a very short growing season when they are not covered by snow.
Nothing scars the land as bad as a campfire ring and nobody likes camping in ashes.
Fire rings also tend to attract litter.
Keep the campsites in better condition than you found them.
Protecting these lands is all our responsibility!
Leave No Trace Ethics are especially important at these popular destinations
busy and…the truth is, I can be a little lazy when it comes to paperwork! It is a beautiful
season on the Cle Elum Ranger District! The wildflowers are beautiful in the higher
elevations! Here is what we have been up to for the past three weeks.
The weekday non-motorized trail crew has spent the last two weeks camping out and
working on the trails. They spent a week up on the Pacific Crest Trail above Waptus
brushing the trail and clearing timber. This past week they worked up at Hyas Lake with
volunteers from the Washington Trail Association. They are building much needed
puncheons near the lake.
The motorized maintenance crew is replacing the North Fork Taneum bridges (we lost
five bridges during the January rain on snow flood event). We weren’t sure we would be
able to replace the bridges, but it looks like all five will be replaced.
The weekend rangers, as usual, have been very busy! The Wilderness Rangers are
making it up to the higher Alpine Lakes on the District. You can know hike to Tuck Lake,
where snow and ice are hanging on, but the trail is clear. The Rachel – Rampart Trail is
clear and the lakes are snow free. You can also make the Cathedral – Deception Loop,
although the upper water crossing is still high.
Except for Blazed Ridge, the south side of the District has been cleared. The trails are in
fair condition, but they are dry and it is dusty! I am always amazed how fast that end of
the District goes from snow to dust! We were out at Blowout Mountain and Goat Peak
last Saturday and I was amazed to see so much fresh bear scat. It is obvious that they
have found the huckleberry patches, but we were unable to find along the trail. My empty
sandwich bag, unfortunately, stayed that way for the day.
I was up at Lake Ann yesterday and it was beautiful. There were a lot of people hiking
the County Line and Esmeralda Basin Trails and it was fun to see so many people
enjoying the stunning day! The huckleberries are a bit easier to find up near Van Epps
and down lower near Cooper Lake.
We have been involved in two Search and Rescues this month, both with wonderful
results; everyone made it home healthy. The lesson? Remember, even when you set
out for “just a day hike”, pack your 12 essentials. Like always, hope for the best, but plan
for a mishap! Even if it isn’t you who gets lost, wet and cold, or injured, you may run
across a person who needs your help. Both SAR situations could have been avoided if
the parties had packed their essentials. Not to judge as I have learned many lessons
the hard way. I I was just thankful our crew was there to help. Remember, you may
have to wait a long time for a rescue, so be self-sufficient and able to wait it out until help
arrives.
Kittitas County now is under a complete burn ban. That means no campfires on state,
private, or county land. The Cle Elum Ranger District has not restricted campfires yet,
but please call before you head out, as the rule can, and probably will, change any day
(509-852-1100). It is very dry out there, so please make sure that any campfire you build
is legal (where permitted and contained within a camp ring), and all fires are DEAD OUT
before you leave your campsite.
Tips and Regulations for Wilderness Travelers -
Remember No Campfires are allowed at these lakes.
The wood that is available in these rocky alpine areas needs to return to the soil for the
delicate vegetation that does grow there and not picked clean for campfires. The plants
are fragile and have a very short growing season when they are not covered by snow.
Nothing scars the land as bad as a campfire ring and nobody likes camping in ashes.
Fire rings also tend to attract litter.
Keep the campsites in better condition than you found them.
Protecting these lands is all our responsibility!
Leave No Trace Ethics are especially important at these popular destinations