The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, USDA Forest Service, has revised alternative two for the Coyote Wall/Catherine Creek Environmental Assessment and is seeking public comments on the revised alternative. A public meeting will be held on March 2, 6-8 p.m. in the Gorge Room of the Best Western Hood River Inn, 1108 East Marina Way, Hood River, OR 541 386-2200.

Wanted: Nordic Issues committee members. Are there issues that you would like the club to address? This is the committee to handle very important issues that affect all of us. Please contact Louise Brown at louiseabrown (at) comcast (dot) net or (after April) Mitch Auerbach at mauerbachfso (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Nordic Issues February 2010

Join the Nordic Issues committee. Are there issues that you would like the club to address? This is the committee to handle very important issues that affect all of us. Please contact Louise Brown at louiseabrown (at) comcast (dot) net or (after April) Mitch Auerbach at mauerbachfso (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Nordic Issues January 2010

Dear ONC members. This is your club, there are many “Nordic Issues” out there, and our club urgently needs your participation as we provide input for the decision makers. Whether it’s the issue of the Cooper Spur land trade, the possible LPG pipeline, gambling in the Gorge, snowmobiles on Mount Adams, and elsewhere, cross country ski shelters on Mount Hood, possibly more cross-country ski trails, dogs on the trails, the Highway 35 bridge redo, cellular towers near Bennett Pass, and on and on, there is certainly to be an issue or two to generate your interest. The Nordic issue committee can only speak with an effective voice if we have enough active members to effectively advocate on behalf of the Nordic skiing community. I urge you to join this growing group. Please contact Mitch Auerbach at mauerbachfso (at) yahoo (dot) com (after April, 2010), or Louise Brown at louiseabrown (at) comcast (dot) net.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Nordic Issues December 2009

The ONC issues chair recently commented on the USFS’s options related to the Mt. Hood Off-Highway Vehicle Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (OHV Plan). Like the Mazamas, I wrote to voice my support for alternative four described in the Forest Service’s Plan.

This alternative takes into account a wide array of concerns and arrives at an approach to OHV use on Mt. Hood that is reasoned and balanced. It also is one that allows users of the Mt. Hood NF, whether they be on motorized vehicles or not, to enjoy the forest without impacting its long-term viability.

I, also, took the opportunity to express our concern the impact alternative three would have on the forest’s clean and healthy water supply, wildlife, and the interests of quiet recreationists who, recognizing that OHV use and quiet recreation are fundamentally incompatible, will avoid areas where OHVs may be heard. This issue is of importance to ONC members whether they are skiing or hiking.

In my comments to the Forest Service I also emphasized that well over fifty percent of all visitors to Forest participate in day hikes, with almost one quarter of visitors reporting this as the primary purpose for their visit. Other popular activities on Mt. Hood include backpacking, bicycling, skiing (downhill and cross country), family gatherings, fishing, picnicking, relaxing, and viewing natural features or wildlife. In contrast only .16% of all recreation visits to Mt. Hood National Forest were for the primary purpose of OHV recreation and only .52% of the all visitors to Mt. Hood participate in OHV recreation.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Nordic Issues November 2009

Highway 35 Bridge

At two public meeting in August the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) presented the details of their project to redo the bridge over the White River, which has suffered washouts and other damages recently. A new bridge will be constructed, beginning in 2010 (most likely during the summer), with the construction process, lasting about a year. Since the new bridge will be higher than the existing one, this project will include faculties for a raised highway grade, the improved bridge and culverts.

In the Teacup/Clark Creek area the Clark Creek Sno-Park will be removed and the area will be restored to a wetland. The Teacup Sno-Park will be enlarged by 70 spaces to the east resulting in no net loss of parking spaces. A USFS representative said that the ski trails accessed by the Clark Creek Sno-Park will not be maintained, because of continual damage from washouts.

This construction will not affect the White River West Sno-Park on the west of the Highway 35 bridge. It was suggested that a underpass be incorporated into the road work opposite the Sno-Park to give access to the Mineral Jane Trail on the south side of the highway, but there were concerns about the culvert getting jammed with snow from the plowing. FHWA is exploring how to incorporate a ski trail under the end of the new bridge over the river. Access to the Mineral Jane trailhead wouldn’t be quite as direct but could still work. FHWA is working on how to keep snow from blocking the ends of the trail under the bridge, but may have to wait until the bridge is built to see how it will work.

Mount St. Helens

The Forest Service announced that Road 81 (which goes to Red Rock Pass) will re-open in mid October, offering more access to this mountain. The FS added that apart from this, a few sign modifications were also planned, but little else in the way of facility improvements.

Teacup

The Teacup chair reported that his group will be doing routine maintenance on some of the facilities there and that it also is increasing day use fees. He added that trails this coming ski season will continue to be groomed on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Mount Adams

(As reported by Darvel Lloyd)

For the past 35 years, large numbers of snowmobilers have regularly been illegally recreating on all sides of Mt. Adams, including runs to the summit and big gatherings in Bird Creek Meadows. Last winter, a snowmobiler was injured at about 10,000 feet on Mazama Glacier and had to be evacuated by helicopter. They access the area from Forest Service sno-parks and private logging roads.

However, an educational outreach campaign in Oregon and Washington over the past year has successfully informed hundreds of snowmobiling clubs, retail outlets, associations and individuals about the areas off limits to snowmobiling on Mt. Adams. The Yakama Tribe, with assistance from the Friends of Mt. Adams produced a color brochure-map of their “Mt. Adams Recreation Area”, clearly showing where and why snowmobiling is prohibited since they acquired the land from the Forest Service in 1972.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Nordic Issues October 2009

The sixth annual winter partnership meeting will be held Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m. at Rock Creek Center, 710 Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, WA. The meeting is for those who use the Southern section of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the Mt. Saint Helens National Monument, and the surrounding areas in the winter.

Nordic Issues September 2009

There was no Nordic Issues article this month. We look forward to a report on the public meeting about the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) final designs for the reconstruction of Highway 35 over White River and along the Teacup/Pocket Creek section that occurred on August 26 at the Forest Service office in Sandy.

Nordic Issues August 2009

Public Meetings on Highway 35 Reconstruction

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is working on final designs for reconstruction of Highway 35 over White River and along the Teacup/Pocket Creek section. During August, FHWA will host two public meetings to explain and discuss the designs. One meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday August 25th at the Forest Service office in Parkdale. The other meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday August 26th at the Forest Service office in Sandy. Tentative meeting times are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Final meeting plans and/or a general update on the Hwy 35 project, as expected soon from Ms. Carlsen’s office.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Nordic Issues July 2009

Highway 35 update: I participated in the June teleconference, along with a Mazamas rep and two people from Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) advised that because of limited budget that it might be scaling back the project a bit. It also said that it’s under consideration whether or not the realignment of the roadway might result in the loss of some parking at Teacup or White River on the other side of the road, but it quickly added that overall there should be no net loss in parking. They are still considering an underpass across from the current road access to the White River Sno-park so people would cross the road below grade to the Mineral Jane trail that comes out there. They cited budget and some possible safety concerns, while I highlighted our hopes that some sort of underpass still would be built in the new project. They didn’t rule it out, but added that there may be some safety issues with people having to scramble down an embankment on one side to go into the tunnel and then do the same in reverse on the other side.

FHWA also mentioned the subject of holding a couple of more public hearings, although it added that the last ones were weakly attended When it initially mentioned Hood River as a location, I advocated for also having one in Portland since a majority of the skiers come from here. ODOT quickly agreed, estimating that a public hearing might take place in late July.

Cooper Spur: There was a teleconference on June 17, during which the state of play on this ongoing issue was discussed and our onward strategy plotted. From the call, it was agreed that the Cooper Spur coalition will attempt to meet with Forest Service officials on this issue and also may try to keep this concern alive among the public, since many in the group are concerned that most of the public perceives that all of Copper Spur is now protected in the expanded wilderness area (which is, in fact, not yet true).

The Nordic issues representative recently joined the Mazamas’ Conservation Committee, in his belief that there is strength through numbers and that unity brings greater power on these concerns. Finally, the ongoing effort of some to bring a casino to Cascades Locks, appears, for the time being, anyway, to be dormant.... probably due to the economic recession.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Nordic Issues June 2009

After being overseas for over ten years, I am pleased to have returned to Portland! As some of you old timers may recall, I lived in Portland from 1990-95, was active in the Nordic club back then, and even served a term as club president. Barely having moved back into my old house, I have lost little time in hitting the trails and enjoying this year’s abundance of snow and skiing opportunities. I also have volunteered to take on the task of Nordic issues chair. In that vein, with the active guidance of Pam, Louise, Ted, our club president, and others, I am rapidly being brought up to speed on the various Nordic issues of concern to the club. Whether it’s the Cooper Spur development, Highway 35, Mirror Lake, Government Camp or other issues, I look forward to helping the club develop a strong and unified message as we advocate for proper outcomes on our behalf. I also appreciate hearing from you in the weeks ahead on these (and other) issues that may concern you, contact me at 503 281-4809.

The Nordic Issues front has heated up a bit, in tandem with Portland’s long-delayed Spring! Please read on. The Cape Horn area of the Gorge, located on the Washington side, and one of the Gorge’s few easily done loop trails, has popped into the limelight recently. With the spotting of signs of the rare Peregrine Falcon (nests) in the area, the Forest Service, which manages the area, is considering several options including partial closure of the nearby hiking trails. In response, the Nordic Club, along with other interested parties, including the Mazamas and the Friends of the Gorge, is in the process of developing positions as we provide comment to the Forest Service in the weeks ahead.

We’re also in the process of finding out the status of the Cooper Spur land swap, which Mt. Hood Meadows would be doing for land near Government Camp. As provided for in the recently signed Wilderness expansion, once this land swap goes through Cooper Spur would be included in the expanded Mt. Hood Wilderness area. We’re keeping tuned in on this and hope to develop common cause with other interested outdoor organizations.

And last but not least, news about Mount Adams. Most of you probably associate this great mountain with snowy wilderness and solitude. That is true for Adams most of the time. However, unfortunately, a number of snowmobilers have a different take on this mountain, much of which lies in a designated wilderness area, and part of which sits on adjacent Yakima Indian lands. As a result, snowmobile traffic has become a real problem in recent years and it appears to be getting worse. The Nordic Club, along with other interested parties, has been corresponding with the Yakima Council and other interested parties in order to find ways to deal with this issue. In the weeks ahead, we look forward to further engaging other outdoor clubs, as well as the U.S. Forest service, in order to more vigorously convey our concerns on this issue.

Finally, my philosophy is that we are more effective when we leverage our strengths and expertise with that of other clubs, so that in the months ahead, I look forward to collaborating with the Mazamas, Friends of the Gorge and other outdoor organizations on these (and other) concerns. To this end, I have approached the Mazama’s Conservation Committee and look forward to hearing from them.

Mitchel Auerbach, Nordic Issues

Access to Siouxon Creek trailhead blocked

The popular Siouxon Creek Trail in Washington is not accessible due to road damage and may not be repaired until the fall or possibly next summer according to a posting on Portlandhikers Web site. Forest Road 54 is washed out six miles from Chelatchie Prairie General Store. It was also reported that there are multiple slides on the road as well. The trail closure is noted on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Web site. This trail, a favorite of some of our members, will be missed this summer.

Highway 35 reconstruction update

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is moving forward with the design of the reconstruction of the section of Highway 35 between White River and Pocket Creek Sno-Parks that has been washed out by floods in the past. Elisa Carlsen, Environmental Protection Specialist, informed us that the grade of the road bed will be lower than they first anticipated and that more culvert locations will be added “to carry as much debris flow under the road as possible.” They will put a bridge in at Green Apple Creek. These changes will not impact the plans for the sno-parks and recreational areas:

White River West Sno-Park will have a change in grade of the access road.

White River East Sno-Park will be a new configuration using input from snowmobile club.

Teacup Lake Sno-Park will be expanded to east or north (approximately 700+ feet) to replace the parking spaces that will be lost from the removal of Clark Creek Sno-Park

Clark Creek Sno-Park will be removed and restore to wetland areas

Pocket Creek Sno-Park will be replaced in kind, with the same length, width as the current one.

The ODOT Sno-Park Committee is to meet in June and FHWA will supply the project specifics to them at that time. The Forest Service will be preparing an application for the sno-park changes mentioned above. The Task Force, made up of FHWA, Mazamas, ONC-Portland, Bergfreunde Ski Club and Teacup Lake Nordic Club, will meet again in late May or June.

Pam Rigor, Newsletter Editor