SEATTLE — Imagine a place that is one of the largest and wildest left in the United States. A diverse landscape that has more glaciers than any other place outside of Alaska; where clear, cold rivers give rise to much of the fresh water that flows into Puget Sound and the Columbia River; and is home to one of the largest winter migrations of bald eagles and a healthy return of the magnificent gray wolf. This place is right in our backyard; our own national treasure — the North Cascades.
SEATTLE — Today conservationists and recreational enthusiasts celebrated the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approval of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection (S.721) and Illabot Creek Wild and Scenic (S. 635) Acts.
SEATTLE - On behalf of The Wilderness Society and our 400,000 members and supporters in the United States, I want to thank the EPA for holding this public hearing in the Pacific Northwest.
The Northwest is rightfully proud of the beautiful peaks and glaciers in the Olympic Mountains and North Cascades; the mighty salmon and steelhead that populate our free-flowing rivers; and majestic forests that support exceptional biological diversity.
The sky is still pitch black when my dad and I arrive at the trailhead. There is a thin cloud cover that prevents even a glimmer of moonlight from reflecting on the hood of the burgundy Subaru. Dawn is still hours away.
If you’re ever in Seattle, the spectacular Alpine Lakes Wilderness is an absolute must-see getaway for jaw-dropping scenery. The area, accessible with just 45 minute drive from the city, is one of the country’s most visited wilderness areas, providing incredible wild mountain vistas, impossibly craggy peaks and lush old-growth forests – not to mention over 700 mountain lakes and tarns, living up to its namesake.
The number of great fall and spring outdoor adventure destinations is endless. Allow us to help narrow your search with some of The Wilderness Society’s favorite must-see wild places on and off the beaten track. Visit these lands and see some of the great places The Wilderness Society is working to protect. And don’t forget to leave no trace while there!
“The thing that surprised me the most is how really connected I became to the North Cascades. How deeply I began to care about my surroundings being there for a whole month. It was all a new experience for me,” said Laura Humes, a 16 year old who lives in Seattle, Washington and took part in a month-long study program at North Cascades National Park last summer.
Wilderness supporters celebrated Thursday as the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act (H.R. 1769 / S. 721) got one step closer to reality after House passage of the bill. The measure would protect an additional 22,000 acres of wilderness adjoining Washington state’s existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and would add 10 miles of the Pratt River and nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River to the National Wild and Scenic River System.
Hosted by KCTS 9's Enrique Cerna, North Cascades: People, Places and Stories provides an in-depth look at the region and its relationship to the community. Get a glimpse of North Cascades: People, Places and Stories, here:
