The Skagit, Klickitat, Pratt, Snoqualmie (Middle Fork) and White rivers, and Illabot Creek, are Washington’s share of the federal Wild & Scenic River Act that has designated about 13,000 miles of protected rivers and streams in the United States.
They’re worth calling out because 2018 is the 50th anniversary of the act.
Washington state has more than 70,000 miles of rivers and, contrary to what one might assume, only six, with 197 total miles, have made the list. The Skagit River designation actually covers the Skagit River system, which includes the Suiattle, portions of the North and South Forks of the Sauk, and the Cascade River.
The Washington Trails Association’s website (wta.org) has a good overview of our Wild & Scenic rivers that includes hikes with short descriptions, photographs, trail lengths and elevation gains. If you are unfamiliar with some of the rivers, the thumbnail sketches may lead you to hiking some place new.
I have been a longtime fan of WTA. This month the site features nine approaches to adventure, hiking through grief, safe river crossings and spring hiking advice. WTA also has a hiker’s guide, trip reports (add your hike), trail parties (a chance to volunteer) and youth programs, as well as information on passes and permits, ranger stations and hiking with kids.
Those topics are timely and useful, but the advocacy work that WTA does is the most important facet of this organization.
We hike the trails but WTA fights for them, helps maintain them, keeps track of proposed legislation that may harm them and keeps hikers up to date on the latest trail-related news, such as the Department of the Interior backing down on the ridiculously high proposed national park entrance fees, and the recent protection of Fairhaven (Bellingham) Park.
A $50 membership includes a one-year subscription to its magazine.
Counting bills. Vaux’s swifts are migrating by the thousands through Snohomish County this month. Larry Schwitters reported on June 11 that previous night’s visitation of 5,829 swifts at and in the chimney at Frank Wagner Elementary School in Monroe.
At that time more were headed north, with counts of 224 in Chehalis, thousands at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and 4,500 at Tillamook Wilson School.
Check out the school chimney at dusk.
Sightings. Wilson’s phalaropes, and pectoral and semipalmated sandpipers, and a stray teal or two have been spotted at the Edmonds marsh. Along the Edmonds waterfront, sightings included four pairs of marbled murrelets, two rhinoceros auklets in breeding plumage and at least 10 pigeon guillemots.
Another anniversary. The North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco is the site of a June 2 celebration of its 120 years and place in history.
Family-friendly events include guided historical hikes, an open house at the lighthouse keeper’s house, and a tour of the Maya Lin-designed art installations in the park: the cedar grove, the Confluence boardwalk and the fish cleaning table.
A Discover Pass will not be needed for vehicle access to the park that day because June 2 is a State Parks free day, in recognition of National Trails Day.
The North Head Lighthouse was completed in 1898.
Major renovation of the lighthouse has been done sporadically the last four years and the lighthouse has been closed to tours. The Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse are again offering daily tours ($2.50 for ages 18 and older, free to ages 7 to 17) through at least July 9, the earliest that the third phase of renovation would begin.
Call 360-642-3029 for information.
Freebies. No Discover Pass is necessary for state park visitors June 2, 9 and 10. If you’re headed to a state park on days other than those three, Aug. 25, Sept 22 or Nov. 11, you’ll need an annual ($30) or a one-day ($10) Discover Pass. For information, go to discoverpass.wa.gov.
Sharon Wootton: 360-468-3964 or songandword@rockisland.com.
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