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April 18, 2007

-Jadey Byers- Bellingham

April 10, 2007- Whatcom Watch- Reader Expresses Concerns About Blanchard Agreement

To the Editor:

While we can all certainly applaud cooperative agreements that work in everyone’s best interest, I find it questionable that the Blanchard Strategies Group (BSG) agreement discussed in the March issue by Conservation NW staff members Lisa McShane and Rose Oliver falls into that category.

When I was notified by the DNR that an agreement had been reached in January, I contacted the representatives of several conservation organizations in Whatcom and Skagit County to see what it was all about. Surprisingly, I found almost no support for the agreement, and one Skagit County organization whose president had been quoted as supporting the agreement hadn’t actually seen it (I had to send it to them), and their board had never discussed it — not exactly a resounding endorsement.

The BSG agreement, in short, strikes a deal involving “ecological” management of a 1,600 acre core area in exchange for the parties involved pledging to support efforts to replace the lost timber harvest in a variety of ways — including purchase of adjoining properties, and increasing timber harvest on private land in Whatcom and Skagit counties. The agreement has a timeline of five years, after which its goals and their achievement will be reconsidered.

While I do feel that there are some good folks at the DNR who want to help preserve Blanchard Mountain, I list the following concerns:

•The agreed-to core area is much smaller than that which has been fought for over the past 20 years. Those who have fought so hard for this area in the past are nearly uniformly opposed to this agreement.

•The proposed core area is quite fragmented, and new roads will be allowed in areas that are currently road-free. Two areas of marbled murrelet habitat (both occupied and unoccupied) will become even more fragmented if this proposal is adopted.

•This proposal allows intensive management of some areas that I feel the DNR would not dream of currently going into. The fear is that those areas will be harvested well within the five-year timeline of the agreement, thus losing forever our ability to save them for the future.

•And, finally, the agreement refers to an advisory committee (the Blanchard Forest Advisory Committee) that will “assist the DNR by making recommendations for the management of Blanchard Forest.” The membership of this committee is entirely up to the DNR, and I need only look at the composition of the Lake Whatcom Landscape Plan Interjurisdictional Committee (IJC) to see what is likely to happen. In that case, the IJC is stacked with forestry interests and has become a compliant “rubber-stamp” for all proposed forest practices in the Lake Whatcom watershed.

If this agreement is adopted, those who have worked long and hard to preserve as much of the area as possible will obtain only partial protection of the 1,600 acre core area, and will forever relinquish protection of an additional 1,200 acres.

The DNR and trust beneficiaries give up nothing, as they must be compensated or the agreement will surely be nullified after the initial five-year period. Industrial foresters gain a promise of support for increased timber harvest on private and federal land. Is that supposed to be a good deal, or even a fair deal for us? It is difficult for me to see it that way.

It might look like a significant accomplishment to some folks, but, unfortunately, I do not believe the BSG agreement will be much more than a brief jitter in the battle to save Blanchard Mountain.

Tom Pratum- Bellingham

March 14, 2007- (Letter to The Argus) Blanchard neighbor supports saving top county recreation site

I am writing in regards to the recent Blanchard Forest Strategies Group recommendations. My family and I live next to Blanchard Mountain and my children attend Edison Elementary.  We enjoy all this ecosystem has to offer; its aesthetic, recreational and educational value as a maturing forest far outweigh the tiny financial benefits our school district realizes from timber harvest.

This ecosystem is a rare jewel where the Cascades meet the sea and serves as an important wildlife corridor. It’s an educational resource and valuable retreat for hiking, climbing, horseback riding, biking, hang gliding and paragliding.

I believe the group’s recommendations are flawed as a direct result of timber industry influence and DNR’s overwhelming deference to their position. The recommendations do not represent the majority of Skagitonians’ or Washingtonians’ values and should not be adopted. The process should be repeated with the input of geologists and biologists, as well as economic, planning and recreational considerations. The upper slopes of Blanchard contain a tiny portion of Skagit County ’s harvestable timber. It’s time to acknowledge that these upper slopes have unique qualities that make them inappropriate for additional logging.

 My voice joins the chorus of others insisting on appropriate protection of Blanchard Mountain. I think it’s time for Skagit County and DNR to move toward a more balanced and long term view of managing our resources. Let’s put more importance on our children’s healthy futures and less on the short-term benefits of our timber industry.

Ryan Zebold –Bow, WA

March 4, 2007 (Letter to SVH) Urban sprawl is a separate issue from Blanchard Mountain.

To my friends, neighbors and citizens of Skagit County, by now you've heard about the DNR's triumphant compromise victory regarding the future of Blanchard Mountain. It was a long time coming, and required lots of hard work. Some of the best minds in the county in the critical area of land use crunched numbers and perhaps souls to arrive at the compromise.

 What did we get from this? Well, Blanchard is to be irrevocably altered from what it could have been, an awesome, rare self regenerated coastal forest, providing habitat for an increasing number of threatened species, to an abbreviated version, barely adequate for any purpose. Forget the murrelet rookery, forget the 10 mile hiking loop, forget the old growth stands of hardwood, with their primordial appeal.

It's amazing to me that environmental impact statements aren't required for an activity that so obviously impacts the environment, and that a biological study wasn't properly carried out to protect the interests of those who can't speak for themselves.

The big fear that turned the environmentalists on this issue was that of sprawl, which I feel is a separate issue, and something that should be dealt with as such. How our state laws and manifestos could result in such devastation on such a special place is beyond me.

We have so few such places left, that the necessity of protecting them becomes more and more important, and should be our number one priority. 

Dave Smith- Anacortes WA.

 March 1, 2007 - Expand the Core to 2400 Acres

Dear Mr. Sutherland, 

The following comments on the Blanchard Strategies Group Agreement are from the Mt Baker Group of the Sierra Club (with 1,400 members in Skagit, Whatcom, and San Juan Counties) and express the changes that we believe should be made to the Agreement in determining the future management of Blanchard Mountain.  In general we think that the increasing population density all along the Puget Sound Shoreline and its watersheds, especially in Skagit and Whatcom Counties deserves consideration in the management of state lands in that vicinity, and at Blanchard Mountain in particular. As such, there needs to be greater emphasis on preserving natural lands and ecologic systems so that there are some functioning ecosystems remaining within the extensive developed areas that are encompassing the Eastern side of Puget Sound.  Management of state of county forest board lands to achieve the goal of prolonging conditions that are rapidly changing and disappearing is counter productive.  More explicitly, income generation from timber harvest of state lands in urban and suburban areas, when the tax revenues for these communities far exceed the amounts generated by timber sale, and when there are revenue positive impacts to the surrounding communities from the recreational uses of state lands does not serve the people that live near those lands.   

The Blanchard Strategies Group Agreement discounts the obvious trend towards development in the areas surrounding Blanchard Mountain and the desire on the part of the surrounding residents to manage these lands for recreational and environmental purposes.  The need to maintain natural functioning ecosystems only increases as the areal extent of those functioning systems progressively decreases.  We believe the following changes to the Agreement are necessary to reconcile future management of Blanchard Mountain with the realities of land use in western Skagit County, in the Blanchard Mountain vicinity and to preserve the existing natural ecosystems that in their current intact state. 

The core zone should be expanded to 2,400 acres, as we have advocated for consistently in our communications with DNR over the many years that the Sierra Club has been working on Blanchard Mountain management. Include in the core the areas in the northern and western parts of the management area, so that the opportunities for wildlife and recreational movement to the lands of Larabee Park and the Puget Sound coastline are preserved.  Prohibit logging and road construction in the 2,400 acre core. 

To reduce future controversy, include on the Blanchard Forest Advisory Committee representatives from organizations that are selected by those organizations, and not by DNR.  Many of the problems and controversies with the current Agreement could have been avoided if actual representative governing practices were used in assembling the Blanchard Strategies Working Group.  In addition, the Advisory Group should include representation from the residents in the Lake Samish, Bow and Edison areas to allow adequate incorporation of local interests in the management of Blanchard Mountain.   

DNR should now begin to develop a prioritized package of private land acquisitions in the vicinity of Blanchard Mountain so that any funds appropriated by the Washington Legislature can be spent expeditiously. 

Lastly, it is not within the authority of the Washington Department of Resources, nor in line with the desire of Washington residents, who overwhelmingly supported the Northwest Forest Plan, to promote increased logging on National Forests.  For expediency, as well as clarity, Section II, parts C, D and E of the Agreement should be deleted.  

Thank you for your consideration of the priorities of the Sierra Club in relation to Blanchard Mountain in determining its future management.  Those of us who have spent years of our lives working to protect this Mountain in its current state will continue to work with DNR or in opposition to DNR, depending on the vision that the management plan presents.  We expect that DNR will consider that management of this last wild area adjacent to the shoreline of Puget Sound is important to Sierra Club members, the residents of Western Washington and the wildlife and natural systems that we all depend upon for our health and well being in deciding the future of Blanchard Mountain. 

Sincerely,  Llyn Doremus

Chairperson
Sierra Club Mt Baker Group  
 

February 27, 2007 (SVH-Letter to Editor) Traitors to Blanchard Mountain

The town meeting about Blanchard Mountain was well-attended, but few, if any, politicians were there. Tables with literature and maps showing “a working forest” strategy lined the walls. I appreciated the large lettering on plastic covered posters describing their plans. I was impressed with the whole event, which must have been put together by the Strategies Group. They must have spent lots of money on the campaign. Probably more than for all the trees on the mountain. Once the forest is gone, then it will be worth much more. It would be a great place to live, just ask the people on Colony Mountain to the south. Blanchard Mountain could never be developed, no matter how much money was offered. The DNR would see to that. A little open space on the top would be nice.

I was alarmed to see only one table representing “The Friends of Blanchard Mountain.” Even it was for the token “core,” or mountain top plan. Two men behind the table wore the appropriate yellow name tags. I had to call them traitors and asked them how they were paid off. I once knew them. I said the whole Chuckanut Range is a commons park. It is the people’s land and not for sale. This majestic range is one of a kind on this planet. It is priceless.

John Michael Simon- Bow-Edison

February 27, 2007 (SVH-Letter to Editor) Compromising Blanchard Mountain

Something’s askew on Blanchard Mountain. Local politicians are celebrating this “compromise” between disparate interests, but what’s
to celebrate? Continued public subsidy of the timber industry? New mill start-ups from out of state? The health and future of our school
children?

What’s missing at this collaboration party is dealing with the cumulative negative impacts such compromises have on our ability to
maintain a sustainable ecology and economy in this unique region. No one at the table is questioning the exhaustion of a finite land
supply for limited, short-term economic benefits. No one’s asking DNR to manage our forests and watersheds so they remain highly valuable as the diverse ecosystems and wildlife/recreation corridors they are. Places were set simply to show off a bountiful harvest.

Logging two-thirds of Blanchard will fund only one-tenth of 1 percent of the Burlington-Edison School District budget. Yet for this
minuscule amount, partygoers will carve out essential chunks of this forest ecosystem and drastically devalue it recreationally for the
60,000 hikers, hang-gliders, and wildlife viewers who annually seek refuge here. We would all be better off placing our public trust/tax
investments in industries that do not plunder our forests and mineral resources, destabilize our soils, pollute our air and water supplies,
or destroy our distinct remaining evergreen corridors. There’s a wealth of businesses out there just waiting to provide more responsible jobs and profitable alternatives. Let’s take off the party hats and demand our policymakers stop trying to have our cake and eat it, too.

I write to express my opposition to the Blanchard Forest Strategies Group recommendations. The concept that Blanchard must be a “working forest” with a tiny core protected area, construction of any new roads, and DNR’s design of the proposed Advisory Committee are all unacceptable. Blanchard’s timber is a tiny portion of the harvestable timber in Skagit County and the revenue is relatively insignificant to my children’school district budget. It’s time for the timber industry and DNR to stop carrying these flags and acknowledge that upper Blanchard Mountain is not appropriate for any continued harvest.  

Decisions about management of Blanchard should be based on economic, recreational and environmental concerns. The timber industry has the privilege to do the bidding of the people of Skagit Valley and Washington State after decisions of where and when to harvest on Blanchard are made. Just as a building contractor doesn’t dictate the size of a new home, the timber industry should have no role in deciding the fate of Blanchard Mountain. The timber industry may be Skagit County’s eldest child but, like a good parent doesn’t favor the oldest child, it’s time to accept and value our county’s other children. Commissioner Dillon’s recent election is an example of the other children demanding a voice. It’s time for DNR to listen and acknowledge the broader public opinion that the upper slopes of Blanchard Mountain deserve real protection. In spite of the Strategies Group’s hard work, “thumbs sideways” is not good enough for this special place.

Eric Stark, MD- Bow, WA

We are writing in support of the preservation of Blanchard Mountain, Skagit County, and the Chuckanut Mtns., Whatcom County, as a natural and recreational resource. This is a very special place, the only place where the mountains connect to the sea. This refuge of near wilderness is what makes this such a unique and beautiful place to live. It is a place of wildness, of old growth pockets and diverse habitat for many species, including salmon, steelhead, bats, and marbled murrelets, a threatened seabird. All are being crowded out by our increasingly urban world.

Times have changed, what used to be seen as just more trees to be logged is now treasured as a wilderness experience that’s right in our backyards! Because of their low elevation Blanchard Mountain and the adjacent Chuckanut Mtns. are accessible to be enjoyed all year long by hikers, backcountry horsemen, mountain bikers, fishermen, birders, hang/para gliders and native plant enthusiasts to name a few.

The Partnership for Puget Sound initiative includes restoring damaged forests, rivers, shorelines and marine waters. Here we have a beautiful, intact gem that merely needs to be saved. That is far, far less costly than spending billions to restore environments that are already degraded and polluted.

In addition, World Wildlife Fund has identified the Puget Lowland Forest Eco-region  as one in critical need of new protected areas. Mt Blanchard and the Chuckanuts are the only natural area left between Blaine and Olympia.

We had intended to write urging preservation of Blanchard Mountain. Now the proposal to create a Chuckanut Mountain Park District has come up. We embrace that as the very best way to preserve this unique natural resource. If this gem of an area was anywhere else in the nation it would be a park already.

DNR lands are public lands “held in trust for all of the people”. We can find others ways to fund schools, but we can’t replace rare and endangered species once they are lost. Sentiment has shifted to preserving this natural treasure for all the people to enjoy. Once the hard work of protecting this area is complete, we will proudly promote it as the natural gem of the north Washington coast.

We urge you to help protect this area, as much of it as possible, in any way possible. Protect Blanchard first if need be. But we believe a Chuckanut Mountain Park District is the very best solution.

September 27, 2006

Please leave Blanchard Mountain unlogged.

Dear Public Officials,My wife and I have been coming to Blanchard Mountain and the Chuckanuts for about three years. When we lived on Whidbey Island we'd drive an hour to spend the day in this beautiful piece of wilderness. Now we live in Anacortes and have even easier access to this great spot. We bring family and out of town friends to hike, run, and bike on and around Blanchard Mountain. In turn, those same trips bring us to Fairhaven, Bow, Edison, and points in between where we eat, buy fuel, food, crafts, art, and other things. We are touched and attracted to the local and natural type of culture and economy that living at the foot of such a mountain fosters. Logging, aside from destroying streams, water sources, and a habitat for many wonderful species of plants and animals would hang a dark veil over our County's most beautiful feature - not to mention adversely affecting the economies of neighboring towns that rely on the draw of Blanchard and the resulting tourism dollars. Let's not take for granted the good fortune we have to enjoy this natural masterpiece and sanctuary sandwiched between two growing counties.

Our eight month old daughter isn't old enough to realize the beauty of what we have in our backyard. I'd like her to have that chance as she grows up. Would the children we're trying to help through revenue for school budgets be proud of their parents' decision to wreck a unique ecosystem? Would they trade the lessons to be learned there in exchange for minimal dollars toward classroom education? Do we want to teach our children that the consequences of our actions can be ignored, that we can continue to scorch our environment because 'that's the way it's always been'?

Please leave Blanchard Mountain unlogged. Many communities would kill for what we have - and we want to kill what we already have. Blanchard is home to animals, streams, plants, trees, lakes and is an incredible place for us to immerse ourselves and our children in this environment. Please consider our thoughts.

-Brady and Melissa Turnage

September 13, 2006

Dear Public Officials,

Please make Blanchard Mountain a protected, permanent Recreation area.

It is one of the most unique and beautiful places in the state and is such a treasure for us to be able to use as it is. No other area in the state can claim to have such an accessible system of trails with tremendous views of the Puget Sound, San
Juan Islands, and Olympic Mountains and Peninsula.

As a Recreation Area, we can maintain the true value and beauty of the area for anyone to enjoy. Thank
you.

Mark Marti- Bellingham, WA

July 30, 2006- Letters, Skagit Valley Herald- Study Blanchard before weighing in    

One of the tools that is being used to plan the future of Blanchard Mountain is a report prepared for the DNR in 2002. The 79-page “Evaluation of Blanchard Mountain; Social, Ecological and Financial Values” is available online.

There are interesting points in that report, but one thing that surprised me is that much of the analysis is based on opinions gathered by a phone survey of 200 people in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Those folks were asked to rate the importance of “numerous recreational, environmental and economic characteristics” of Blanchard Mountain on both a personal and community level. The surveyors also told them, “You do not need to be familiar with Blanchard Mountain nor do you need to have visited the area to answer these questions.”

The people who took that survey had their views recorded. But wouldn’t they have liked a real chance to prepare for those questions?

It’s time for all of us to form opinions about logging on Blanchard. Look up “Blanchard Mountain” and “Blanchard Forest” online. Drive scenic Chuckanut; you can’t miss scars from recent logging. You’ll even see the bare areas from Edison Elementary School. The mountain’s “core” (upper part of the forest) has not been logged since the 1920s when it naturally regenerated. It is unique in our area. Take an afternoon, take your kids, and take a short hike. Take the time to see for yourself, then voice your opinion.

Elizabeth Murphy   Bow, WA

July 26, 2006- Canadian Tourist- One of our favourite hiking destinations is Blanchard Mountain.

I am a Canadian living in British Columbia. I belong to the Burnaby Outdoor Club, a non-profit group which draws its 100 outdoor enthusiast members from the Vancouver area.

We are regular visitors to Washington State, primarily to enjoy your State’s wonderful hiking and biking opportunities.  One of our favourite hiking destinations is the Blanchard Mountain (Oyster Dome) area.  There is nothing quite like this hike in BC, the combination of the coastal location, the “Bat caves” and the superb sweeping views over Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands are unrivalled.

We recently became aware that plans have been made to conduct extensive logging throughout the Blanchard Mountain area. This is devastating news! We are amazed that those who have been entrusted with representing the good people of WA State would dream of endorsing a plan which will create a long lasting ugly scar on the landscape. From not only an aesthetic viewpoint but also from economic and environmental ones this makes no sense at all.

The natural beauty of this area brings us to your State, when we come we always stop at Fairhaven where we buy gas, food, meals.  Sometimes we stop to eat at one of the superb oyster restaurants on Chuckanut drive. Without the attraction of hiking on Blanchard it is likely that we would no longer visit the area, and over the period of years which would be required for trees on Blanchard Mountain to regenerate there would be an economic loss to the state of literally thousands of dollars.  We are just one small club, multiply those numbers by the hundreds of other visitors to the area who would surely also stay away rather than face the stark ugliness of a stripped mountain.

There is still time for sense to prevail, act now to correct this error of judgment, which will have a long lasting negative impact on this beautiful part of the world. 

I am writing to urge you to protect Blanchard Mountain. I live on Chuckanut Drive, on the Skagit Valley floor, not far from the base of that mountain. I can see the scars from the last rounds of logging from most places on these five acres of land.

Those big, bare patches are the new backdrop for the eagles, hawks, herons and hang gliders that fly in front of the mountain. The logged areas confront anybody making the "scenic drive" up Chuckanut to Bellingham. In the last few years I have watched

local shops, restaurants and farms orient their businesses toward encouraging area residents to buy locally as well as inviting tourism. Local business people are working hard to maintain and develop an experience that is unique to this corner of

Skagit Valley and inline with growing public interest in fresh food , shopping locally, and leaving traffic and concrete for a rural adventure. Preserving the scenic integrity of the Valley and the surrounding mountains is essential to this facet of our economy.

I support the position of Friends of Blanchard Mountain. I believe the Washington State Land Trust Program is the best option for the mountain. Because it is a unique place between two rapidly growing counties it deserves special attention. The

mountain (especially the upper elevations) has more value as an unlogged, richly diverse, forest than as a "tree farm". Logging would have a dangerous impact on water quality, slope stability and wildlife habit. It is the only place where the

Cascades touch the sea and the recreational opportunities and ecological significance are unparalleled.

Skagit Valley is sheltered by beautiful mountains. Their topography, geology, vegetation and wildlife help give definition to our lives. Mountains are often thought of as a symbol of "protection" and it would be an ugly irony if we failed to protect Blanchard Mountain now.

July 19, 2006- Argus- Letters to Editor -PLEASE SAVE THE OLD FORESTS OF BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this as a member of a Seattle women's hiking group.  We hike or cross country ski every Thursday, year-round, finding a different trail somewhere in the Cascades, the Olympics, Mt. Rainer or places in between, such as Blanchard Mountain south of Bellingham.  One of our members lives nearby and took us on the hike up the mountain.

We've hiked many impressive routes, arriving at numerous pristine alpine lakes and other rewarding vistas at the end of the trail, but I will say that the panorama from Oyster Dome I saw a few weeks ago on Blanchard Mountain was a wonderful sight.

The joy that we felt being there however, was quickly replace with despair when we learned that this incredible wilderness is scheduled to be logged.  The trees, the ferns, all of the wonderful things that make up a forest like that of Blanchard Mountain should be preserved. We have precious little of our natural forest left.

Before taking even another half step towards approving such a devastation, I would ask you to take this hike yourself.  Emerging from the shaded coolness of the ancient forest and suddenly finding yourself at the top of nature's amphitheater with the San Juan Island archipelago spread before you with mountains behind them from Olympic National Park to Mt Washington in British Columbia, you will likely reach the same conclusion as those who've hiked this mountain before you:  this mountain should remain in its glorious state.

PLEASE SAVE THE OLD FORESTS OF BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN.

Micki Lippe -Seattle, WA

We urge you to block plans to log on Blanchard Mountain.  Blanchard Mountain is a hiker’s paradise and unique natural area that is a tremendous regional asset.  We frequently drive up from our home in Everett to spend the day hiking the beautiful trails, observing wildlife, and watching birds.  As a result of these frequent excursions, we regularly spend money in Skagit and Whatcom counties, buying gasoline, dining in Fairview, Mt. Vernon, or La Conner, and shopping at bookstores and gift shops in those areas.  You should not overlook the economic impact that a decision to log this area would have on the local economy when people like us no longer visit.  Most importantly, however, now is the time to preserve these natural areas for the sake of wildlife habitat and human fitness.  As Western Washington develops, there are ever fewer places to get out and hike in nature.  In a nation of overweight citizens, such opportunities are sorely needed and should be promoted through preservation.  Please halt these logging plans now and preserve Blanchard Hill in its natural state for future generations. 

Joyce S. Walker, Ph.D. & Stephen A. Breithaupt, Ph.D. -Everett, WA

July 12, 2006-Logging  Blanchard not  worth losses    

I want to sincerely express my interest in saving Blanchard Mountain from being logged in the near future. My family and I have been residents of Skagit County for more than 35 years and have enjoyed many hikes and wonderful recreational activities on Blanchard Mountain.

We, as much as any Washingtonians, desire the local economy to thrive but not by environmentally and socially unsustainable means — where the extrinsic costs to the local ecosystem and community outweigh the profits.

I believe if we choose to log Blanchard Mountain it will be a regretful indicator of how little value we tend to place on the less quantifiable things in life, such as quality time spent with loved ones in the wild beauty of the great Northwest. Moreover, it’s places like Blanchard Mountain that help keep families such as ours at peace with the continuous environmental, political and social changes of our world.

Logging Blanchard Mountain would be more than just a lost land trust — it would be a deeply regressive direction away from sustainability, away from public interest and away from the health of many species. I urge the community to seriously consider the losses — not just the monetary gains — we would incur by logging Blanchard Mountain and to do everything in our power to protect this precious  natural place and the quality of life that it supports.

Cherish Flint-Sedro-Woolley, WA

July 6, 2006-PLEASE SAVE THE OLD FORESTS OF BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this as a member of a Seattle hiking club, "Tenderfoot  Adventures".  We hike every Friday, year-round, finding a different
trail somewhere in the Cascades, the Olympics, or places in between, such as Blanchard Mountain south of Bellingham.  We've hiked many impressive routes, arriving at numerous pristine alpine lakes and other rewarding vistas at the end of the trail, but I can honestly say I have never experienced the breathtaking equal of the panorama from Oyster Dome a few weeks ago on Blanchard Mountain.

The elation we all experienced at the top of this trail, however, plummeted to the opposite extreme upon learning that this incredible
wilderness asset is scheduled to be logged.  As I write this, my feelings of despondence return, not as much for myself as for all those
other Oyster Dome first-timers who might no longer have the deep woods to inspire their trek to the top.  Rather than suffering the ignominy of logging, this mountain deserves the honor of PARK status; it is that beautiful.

Before taking even another half step towards approving such a devastation, I would implore you to take this hike yourself.  Emerging
from the shaded coolness of the ancient forest and suddenly finding yourself at the top of nature's amphitheater with the San Juan Island
archipelago spread before you like jewels in a showcase, with mountains behind them from Olympic National Park to Mt Washington in British Columbia, you will likely reach the same conclusion as those who've hiked this mountain before you:  You've just experienced such an epiphany, that for all your soul, you cannot possibly fathom this beautiful mountain standing denuded of trees.  You, also, would likely cry at the very thought.

PLEASE SAVE THE OLD FORESTS OF BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN.

Gifford T. Jones -Seattle, WA       
 

May 23, 2006 -Please don't build roads and log this region

 Dear Commissioners,

As a frequent hiker and naturalist I've come to love the Blanchard Mountain region. It's an excellent area for early season hikes. The Bat Caves and Oyster Dome are unique features that are enjoyed by many many others.

Please don't build roads and log this region. It will destroy this precious resource for another generation.

Peter Mitchell- Shoreline, WA

May 21, 2006 - Stop the plan to log Blanchard Mountain

Dear Public Officials

I am a Canadian from BC who has enjoyed hiking in the Chuckanut/Blanchard Mountain area for the past 10 years. Our hiking group loves that area. It is so beautiful and so accessible all year round. We have introduced many of our friends and family to its scenic trails. It would be a dreadful shame to log this part of the world. Over the years that we have been visiting this lovely place we have seen, owls, deer, porcupines and coyotes. What a wonderful experience to encounter Nature this way.

After our hikes we always feel refreshed and energized by the wonderful surroundings.

Please reconsider the plan to log this beautiful place. It would break my heart to see that happen.

Dawn White- Surrey BC

May 17, 2006- To Doug Southerland-Commissioner of Public Lands

Department of Natural Resources

Dear Mr. Southerland,  (Letter of the month.)

In 1992 I was introduced to Blanchard Mountain in Skagit County on my  first-ever overnight backpack trip to Lily and Lizard lakes with a church youth group from Ferndale, WA.  From that day forward I  developed a love for the outdoors and have subsequently climbed  almost every volcano in Washington as well as hiked across the  Olympic Mountain range.  During college I volunteered my time as a guide for Youth Dynamics Adventures, a Christian wilderness ministry  in Anacortes, WA.  Blanchard Mountain was the start of a lifetime of  outdoor exploration and admiration for the beautiful environment in 
which we live.

After spending several years at the University of Washington, I have  returned to Skagit Valley as the Director of Burlington Youth 
Dynamics, an outreach to teens in the Skagit Valley.  Over the past  two years I have regularly used Blanchard Mountain to take teens 
hiking, mt. biking, caving, climbing, and camping.  Blanchard Mountain is an indispensable resource for the local community and has 
positively influenced teens throughout our community.  For the hard  core teen who I counsel in juvenile detention and then let experience  the outdoors on Blanchard Mountain – the experience can be life changing.

I urge you to preserve Blanchard Mountain so that it can continue to contribute to changing the lives of teens.  Without this fantastic 
public resource we would not be able to do the same type of programs and outreaches.   Lives have been changed on Blanchard Mountain and  we would love to see it continue to impact teens in a positive way by 
preserving the mountain's natural habitat.

Thank you!

Mark Alway-Director, Burlington Youth Dynamics

I am writing you to urge your intervention to stop logging on Blanchard Mountain. This jewel of an area between Mount Vernon and Bellingham is truly one of the great examples of the environmental beauty that makes living in Skagit County so unique. This area, together with the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, is an excellent example of how keeping forested lands available for hiking and recreational use near urban centers can dramatically enhance the quality of life for people in this area.

Each year my son s Boy Scout Troop does a spring warm up camp out to Lizard and Lily lakes on Mount Blanchard. It is perfect for the younger scouts who are just learning to hike and are developing their outdoor skills. Logging this area will destroy this tradition of many years. Please realize how short sighted the decision to allow this gorgeous area to be logged is. Please bring pressure to prevent the logging.

Kenneth M. Oates, MD- Assistant Scout Master, Boy Scout Troop 81- Anacortes, WA 98221

I had the pleasure of hiking the PNT from Chuckanut Drive to Lily Lake on Monday on the recommendation of a friend. What a grand discovery! The Blanchard Mountain area is a rich resource of ecological diversity and recreational opportunity. The trail system connects to areas accessible to nearby population centers and feels like it is much further away.

As we develop and sprawl, having the opportunity to really hike more than a few miles in forested areas often requires a major drive and a full day. Being able to experience this beautiful hike, get muddy and sweaty, and be in Bellingham to meet my son by lunchtime is not something to be taken for granted!

As a teacher on Whidbey Island, I strive to promote a sense of stewardship, awareness, and appreciation in my students. It is their future we must consider when making decisions on logging and multiple-use areas. The economic advantages of logging must take into account the long-term view and the value of this remarkable area as a protected resource. I, personally, would be happy to pay a user fee in order to help offset the revenue loss of reduced logging revenue.

I am so appreciative of being able to experience Blanchard Mountain and am looking forward to sharing this beautiful area with friends and family.

I truly hope the decision to protect this resource will be seriously considered.

Susan Milan-Clinton, WA

I moved to the Skagit Valley in 1981 to be close to mountain and water. I have been grateful to have the opportunity to access the wonderful trails on Blanchard Mountain and their connecting trails throughout the Chuckanuts. We would loose this great resource by clear cutting the mountain.

Bob Shapiro - Bow, WA

April 10, 2006- How many public places are going to be stripped of it's beauty before the next generation of my family gives up on everything but playing video games?

Last weekend a friend of mine and I were at Blanchard Mountain. It was a great shock to read on fliers, posted throughout the trial, that this area was going to be logged. I do not consider myself an environmentalist by any means. I do not spend as much time as I should in the great outdoors of Washington. And I probably do not know enough information as I could to be commenting on this subject. But, I would like to touch on some of the things I do know, and that I do care about.

I know that region of land is said to have not been logged for close to two-hundred years. What a great achievement by man to leave nature alone for that long. Currently there is a grave concern with global warming and I'm sure chopping down the Ozone layers main source of fuel would not in any way make that threat decrease. How many public places are going to be stripped of it's beauty before the next generation of my family gives up on everything but playing video games? And finally, I work with and know a number of voters that enjoy this part of Washington, and the main reason they do is because of the name it has been given, "The Evergreen State". And for a politician to lobby for anything other than to protect areas like these will definitely be at a loss when those same people are at the polls.

Please consider these words not as a threat, not as a demand, but as a plea, a plea to keep this state a little bit more like it used to be.

David Parkhurst

March 28, 2006-Don't log Blanchard Mountain.

Last weekend The Seattle Outdoors Group (a growing group of around 300 members, now) had the pleasure of going on a hike taking just under 30 people to the Bat Caves.  The Hike was beautiful, enjoyable, and memorable.  Driving into the

trailhead and coming up the mountain I remember my first thoughts as I saw the clear-cutting that has already been done.  I had thought: "Man, this place is ugly!  This can't be the place they were all raving about!"  Finally as we got nearer the top, there were more trees and the mountain began to look more like aplace people would actually want to visit.  

  After crawling around in the caves and hiking to the viewpoint, I realized Blanchard Mountain would be a great place to visit again and again... but if the mountain is clear-cut like by the entry road, the pristine beauty will be destroyed.  Already on the trail there are steel cables left behind which ought not be there.  Mostly these cables are buried, but they awaken one to the fact that this beautiful land may not remain beautiful for very long.  

  The caves are an attraction to Cavers from all over Washington, and with the viewpoint of the Straight of Juan de Fuca above it becomes an attraction to anybody... not to mention that from the viewpoint no higher points of elevation can be seen with such a view... With the view and the caves so close together why would you want to destroy the quality of the location?  Make it a park, or a preserve... I'm sure there are grants for such a thing.  

 Also I was told that Pigmy owls live in those woods.  I didn't even know that Pigmy Owls existed.  They may not be extinct, but even with preservation of this rare animal not being an issue, the fact that people can get up-close to them makes this place even more special.

 Ironically, when I got home and told my family about Blanchard Mountain (I live in Gig Harbor,) I found that my brother had already been to the bat caves and says that it is a regular hang-out for the locals there in Bellingham.  He said that there are all sorts of activities you can do in that particular region, and that when he went to college up North he had visited the caves a few times.  We also visit family in Bellingham and with the population growing in that region, preserving such areas also means more recreation for families.  

 Don't log Blanchard Mountain.  There must be another way you can get your money. Please cooperate with blanchardmountain.org to come to a fair and cooperative resolution toward preservation.

Adam D Halvorsen- Gig Harbor, WA

March 25, 2006-  Show some true leadership and preserve what little is left.

To those who find themselves representing the public good and our trust by your authority and/or influence, please find a way to halt the DNR logging on Blanchard.

Our Blanchard and Chuckanut mountains are needed as habitat, enjoyed and needed by the nature-starved nearby human populations. These needs will only increase as population increases. It is time for our representatives to have vision beyond short-term profit for a few, show some true leadership and preserve what little is left. The short term gain surely cannot outweigh the long term gain for both human and animal populations alike. We all profit from habitat conservation.

Please stop this plan.

Ann Anderson- Seattle, WA

March 24, 2006 - Leave it alone...

March 11, 2006-When there are no longer places to enjoy and relax in the natural world, what will we do then?

Members of this community have stated the many reasons to save Blanchard. I would like to add to this list what Blanchard means to me. I am an Registered Nurse. I want to give you and the people you love the best quality care I can. My job, as most of you know, is very stressful and  physically taxing. Although my employment provides me with a comfortable living, I will not be buying my own private wild land preserve any time soon. To reduce stress and maintain my emotional, physical and spiritual health I am dependent on our collectively owned lands. Blanchard Mountain, snow free year round, is there for me when I need hiking trails,

breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and just good old fresh air. With 45,000 visitors a year I suspect there are others who teach your children, put out your fires, patrol your streets and provide a variety of services who have the same need. When there are no longer places to enjoy and relax in the natural world, what will we do then?

Patricia Sheldon- Mt Vernon WA

Hi, Some of you I know personally, including Dave, Harriet and Terry, as a co-worker or friend or fellow advocate of Democratic persuasion, while others I have for many years but followed your path in government sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing, or, as with the Skagit County commissioners, though I may have met you in my dual job functioning for thirty odd years in the Mount Vernon public schools, and though I admit I should take the time to address you individually, I am asking you, all of you, to exercise your position, authority and/or influence, to find a way to halt the logging on Blanchard and save this southern Chuckanut from further logging by DNR. Ever since my initial hiking of the Chuckanuts in the sixties, I have watch the systematic extinction of this second growth forest such that now, perhaps, only a tenth remains. Today you can easily walk from one road to another in two hours or less. I can only imagine what it will be like if the new proposed network of roads, befitting a major sub-division, is imposed on a track of land with outstanding beauty and unique value. It will be gone forever, and we will, once again, have squandered an opportunity to truly benefit the public. Instead we are proposing the extension of an already large and sterile Douglas Fir plantation to serve the insatiable need for toilet paper and chip board, when we should be addressing the recreational and educational needs of the present and future populations of the two county area and beyond, according to actual and ample survey interview information of the public. Today, while hiking up along the Lily Lake stream drainage with a brother, clearing an old trail on a third such outing, my view was continually directed to the stream where the awesome power of nature was displayed. A stream bed that a year ago was contained in a narrow chute is now as now as much as thirty feet of gravel across and some six feet below the high water mark. Imagine the erosion from the building of yea many proposed roads (check the map provided by DNR), yet alone from the logging that would follow. As with the Lily drainage, where so far only a few dozen trees have been tumbled into the narrow and steep ravine-like cut in it upper reaches (before it joins with the Lizard Lake drainage), all the stream drainages of Blanchard would eventually experience this fate, and worse. The narrow riparian zone canopy, especially along the steeply entrenched streams, will simply experience blowdowns as their edges have been made vulnerable to the fury of the wind. The root masses of these trees, most on the edge of the streams, as I have seen everywhere in the two county area, will serve to send a continuous load of sediment down stream, in this case, to the west and the important salmon spawning beds of Oyster Creek and its tributaries. The approved and proposed logging, coupled

Certainly the cost of this proposed road system cannot be offset by the value of the timber? From the figures I have seen the benefiting entities in Skagit County do not actually receive that much revenue. Certainly there must be way to find a trade off for the value of the timber that the state would receive? I can't help but wonder, with the expanding tax base, especially within the Burlington surrounds, if there isn't monies that can't substitute, and if the recreational value of Blanchard, with the areas' burgeoning population, should not be the higher priority. And also, what of the potential for outdoor studies of an established eco-system that no one disputes is truly unique? I ask you, each of you, isn't a primary responsibility of government to address the continually changing needs of its citizens? Please give your support to the Friends of Blanchard effort to save Blanchard.

John F. Bremer Sr.- Bellingham, WA
 

March 8, 2006- Fears losing Sumas, Blanchard Mountains-(Letter to Bellingham Herald)

Two much-loved local areas enjoyed by generations of hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers are crisscrossed with Department of Natural Resources timber harvest boundary signs. The bat caves, the Oyster Dome, Lily and Lizard lakes on Blanchard Mountain, the funky much-loved and repaired cabin, the mines, the pine ridges, and the green velvet cliff on Sumas Mountain are loved by generations of local families.
Small footprints in the mud on Sumas, and babies in backpacks on the Chuckanut trails, along with toddlers checking out the ferns and patting the bark of huge trees at eye level are testimony to the value of the wild heart of both places.

Both Blanchard and Sumas provide public access and are held in trust for the public. The view is spectacular whether seen from the cliffs above the bat caves, or numerous other rock outcrops along threatened Chuckanut trails, or the pine ridges, or the top of Sumas. The salt water is seen in a long sweep of blue, and islands all the way into Canada are visible.

Take away the wild hearts of Blanchard and Sumas mountains, and where (nearby) can local families go to share a connection with nature?

Teresa Morris- Everson WA

March 6, 2006- Reconsider logging Blanchard Mountain, as it is a rare treasure

My wife and I and our two sons have lived in Whatcom county for six years now, and the main reason that we moved up here and have stayed is because of the incredible mountains and trails in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. It is what draws us out and excites our world. Please reconsider logging Blanchard Mountain, as it is a rare treasure. My family and were hiking Blanchard Mountain yesterday and we passed many other hikers, all with smiles on their faces and a happy "hello" as we passed. The trails in our area are our link to our past and our future, as well as a link to our family and neighbors. The importance of protecting this part of our shared space is beyond words. Please take a walk along the trail with your own families and share in the warmth and comunity spirit that imbodies Blanchard Mountain before making any decisions about logging our forest. 

 Jason, Leanne, Joshua and Jacob Durfee- Whatcom County

March 2, 2006- Protect Blanchard, Chuckanut peaks   -(Letter to SVH)

Our Blanchard and Chuckanut mountains are enjoyed by many recreationists and are the only foothills in Skagit County that have not been clear-cut, privatized, locked up to the public, or covered with houses. As time goes on and the population density increases, these precious areas will become ever more treasured — think Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C. Once the ground is lost, we cannot go back.

Now is the time to maintain public control of these precious areas. We need to set this land aside so future generations can enjoy these mountains.

Darlene Mindrum -Bow  WA
 

February 23, 2006-Urge land-trust transfer for Blanchard -(Letter to SVH)

As Blanchard Mountain’s forests regenerated over the decades, they became something much more important to people in their surrounding communities than a 4,500 acre cut block. The DNR’s own scoping materials, available on the Web, make this abundantly clear. It is a place of marvelous diversity ecological and social.
 

Its natural recovery makes possible an ecological wealth tree farms cannot sustain. The many thousands of people who enjoy Blanchard’s trails, views and dynamic ecosystem include young families, retired folks, educational field-trippers, church groups, horse-folks, llama packers, canine hikers. In a world “thumb-wheeling” through life mesmerized by video games, I am always tickled to share hellos with groups of kids out for a hike. People from the whole spectrum of race, education and income enjoy life up there.
 

The future of all this is in our hands. The short-term view would clear-cut it for short-term funding. A longterm legacy would be to conserve this beautiful landmark as is. It is possible to transfer these 4,500 acres from timber trust lands to lands set aside for recreation and ecological conservation. The schools and county would be compensated and the upper mountain set aside as a legacy from our time for our descendants.
 

Please write your county commissioners to urge them to hand down this priceless legacy by supporting a landtrust transfer in this year’s legislative session. Please copy your state representatives, so they too can hear from you the importance of Blanchard Mountain to the people of Skagit County.
 

Anne Braaten-Sedro-Woolley WA

 

Letter of the Month!
February 12, 2006-It's logical to ask the DNR to reconsider their "Rush to Cut" policy! (Letter to SVH)

British Columbia has set a new standard for land management by giving 250 miles of BC coast varying degrees of protection. 4.4 million acres will be given complete protection and another 11.6 million acres will be managed to ensure sustainable forestry with minimal impact on the environment.

So let's consider Blanchard Mountain. Unlike the BC coast, Blanchard Mountain is the only place where the Cascade Mountains reach salt water. Unlike the BC coast, Blanchard (and the rest of the Chuckanut Range) has a large human population at the north end and a rapidly growing population at the south end. Unlike the BC coast, the Blanchard area is a mere dot on the map!

It is extremely short-sighted to ignore the unique location of Blanchard Mountain. There is no other habitat in Washington State quite like it. Undoubtedly, eventually the whole sweep of the Blanchard/Chuckanut area will be given some form of protection with perhaps certain sections of critical habitat protected for wildlife and the rest being used for recreation. For habitat reasons, it would be best to let the second growth continue to grow while the issue is being resolved. And, if I am wrong and the public decides not to protect the area? The trees will still be there, but bigger and more valuable!

It's logical to ask the DNR to reconsider their "Rush to Cut" policy!

Lee Mann- Sedro Woolley, WA

February 10, 2006-Blanchard is a precious jewel (Letter to Skagit Valley Herald)

Nowhere else along the coast of California, Oregon and Washington do the Cascades meet the ocean except here in our backyard where the Chuckanuts and Blanchard Mountain offer unmatched vistas reached by foot, auto and horseback.

Despite a public effort to protect a core area of Blanchard, plans for new roads and timber sales are being developed that will crisscross existing popular trails that meander through developing mature Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar, red alder, black cottonwood, bigleaf maple, birch, madrona, Alaskan huckleberry, salal, Oregon grape, trillium and carpets of bleeding heart and many more wonderful plants and mushrooms and even wildlife often hidden within.

This rare area is developing into a forest that has the potential to become old growth in our lifetimes and our children’s. An alternative for public land income for schools is out there somewhere if only we show the patience to work together.

Antiquated ways to do business to support education still exist and are threatening a precious jewel like Blanchard Mountain. I once worked with commercial forestry interests, even on Blanchard Mountain where I contracted and planted more than 200 acres in 1985. The lower reaches of Blanchard, where the plantations are located, will take more than 100 years to even remotely appear like the upper reaches, if left to mature to old growth. The plantations were planted with one species and later thinned. Let’s not do this to the upper reaches.

David Crabb -Bow, WA

February 1, 2006-Open up land for all to use for recreation.  (Argus- Letter to Editor)

The only foothills in Skagit County that have not be clearcut, privatized, locked up to the public, or covered with houses are the Blanchard and Chuckanut mountains. Considering this and the increasing number of recreationists who enjoy the area, I think we really should set this land aside so future generations can enjoy these mountains. 

We have lost so much of the Skagit County’s foothills to clearcut, privatization, housing developments, and gated roads in the past 20 years it seems ridiculous- Devil’s Mountain, Devil’s Lake, Lake Ten, Day Lake, Cultis Mountain, Palmer Lake, Mt Higgins, Cabin Creek and the south fork of the Nooksack, Gilligan Creek, Dixie Lake, Larch Lake, Frailey Mountain- the list goes on. 

The general tax-paying public loses out every time one of these areas are sold off to private entities, clearcut, and sold to the public. Sportsmen can no longer use these areas to hunt and fish. Trail systems are destroyed so backpackers, horseback riders, and mountain bike riders can no longer enjoy them. Lakes planted with public funds can’t be reached by the public because of a gate across the road. How has our county government allowed this to happen? 

I would gladly pay a user fee for Blanchard Mountain. If 45,000 people a year use this area each year, it would not take long to generate some serious revenue. In the long run, much more revenue would be generated than by clearcutting the last unscarred and unprivatized lowland mountain in Skagit County. 

It seems like a no-brainer to me. While we are at it, how about opening up some of these areas I have listed so the paying public can enjoy the multiple uses of these wonderful areas. 

January 31, 2006-Wants protection for Blanchard Mt.

Blanchard Mountain is sandwiched between Interstate 5 and the ocean and between two growing populations.

Increasingly, people move to Skagit and Whatcom because of the scenic beauty, and the demand for recreation on Blanchard Mountain is only increasing.

Blanchard Mountain's recreation is part of what makes up our "quality of life" that drives our economy. This growing population means private lands are getting developed, which makes recreation destinations such as Blanchard Mountain all the more valuable.

The core of Blanchard Mountain is a roadless forest and the Department of Natural Resources is working on a management plan for the mountain that would allow for a networking of roads across the entire roadless area.

DNR needs to move forward and come out with a new management plan to address public concerns and protect the roadless core of Blanchard. A solution should be found that protects this roadless core for wildlife and people.

Erika Malone-Bellingham WA

January 28, 2006-Keep Blanchard Wild

     
RE: letters from Kenneth Osborne promoting logging on Blanchard Mountain. While I don’t live on Blanchard Mountain, or even near it, I take high offense at his letter.

The beautiful 15-acre woods next to us has been sold to a" development company” from Bellingham, a front for a logging company. Our sanctuary in the woods is destined to have three new houses and new wells. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?

Not! This logging company intends to log. When we moved in, there were No birds, or wildlife. It took awhile, but we now we have many songbirds, three kinds of owls, woodpeckers, thrushes, wrens — the list goes on. Also, we have acquired several hawks that use our feeders as a bait-station, and weasels, grouse, deer and more. We also have several “special” species of squirrels.

Along with federally registered wetlands, enough of the forest is dry enough that they intend to basically clear-cut. Not only will this destroy a thriving wildlife habitat, it will also heat our house more in the summer, and leave a scar in our hearts.

So, no, Mr. Osborne, I don’t believe a word of your clap-trap. There must be certain exceptions in any law. Blanchard Mountain is one of them. And I would give anything to find a way to save our woods. We tried to file a protest to the granting of the Forest Conversion Permit, and discovered that the “filing fee” is about $500. We decided to keep our money, assuming it’s futile. This whole episode has been very difficult, and we might just decide to move. Some moneygrabbing schemes are just too hard to swallow.

Diane Falk- Sedro-Woolley, WA

January 27, 2006- Save Blanchard by writing letters

As we all know, the Skagit Valley is a unique and abundant ecosystem; Blanchard Mountain is a substantial and visible part of that web. The forest is host to Marbled Murrelets and hang gliders alike. As our population grows, green spaces are increasingly important to the wellbeing of our communities. Logging Blanchard Mountain without regard for the value it holds not only as a habitat but as a recreational and educational open space is shortsighted and closed-minded.
 

Blanchard Mountain is a public land which means the land trust status can be changed. However, it will only happen when citizens of the Skagit Valley take steps to ensure that this irreplaceable environment is protected for both wildlife and human activity.
 

The steps include writing letters to our county commissioners. These elected officials need to know that the local community believes Blanchard Mountain has value beyond its timber harvest. No funding to schools should be lost if our representatives are encouraged to think outside of the box. The time to act is now. The logging roads are flagged and the sale for the Drake cut is pending. We must send a message to our county commissioners that we want to hand this legacy on to the next generation and generations to come.

Sarah Lowell Bishop- Bow, WA
 

January 27, 2006-People more important than logging

I am a fan of Conservation Northwest, which is located in Bellingham. It has accomplished much by way of protecting various aspects of both state and national forests in Washington as well as elsewhere throughout the nation.
 

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is charged with opposing duties, as is likely to be the ultimate case throughout most or all other states of the union. One charge is to assure that select trust lands are to be maintained primarily, if not entirely, as either for logging or for recreation.
 

Washington’s trust lands, many of which are to be maintained for a growing number of recreationists, i.e., persons who advocate that national and/or state parks, seashores, lakes, etc., be preserved in their natural state for recreational and other proper purposes, e.g. limited farming or scientific study.
 

Conversely, should the subject land be chosen for logging, not only the trees, but also the wildlife, the recreationist and the nation will lose. If or when it becomes necessary to decide, nature and the people ought both to prevail. At present, Blanchard Mountain is under consideration of being logged.

Charles F. Thomas- Anacortes,WA

January 27, 2006-Keep Blanchard for recreation

Saying the best use of a forest is for logging is like saying the best use of water is for flushing. Let’s not let those who value money over quality of life flush Blanchard Mountain.
 

It’s true the lower flanks have been logged over the years. These sections have been established into the farming rotation, but the part of the mountain that all the noise is about is the upper reaches, that haven’t been logged for 100 years. These parts have naturally regenerated, making them distinctly different from the “farms” you’ve heard about.
 

Blanchard has a real forest that is visited by tens of thousands of people every year. Contrary to what you may have read, these people are mostly young, and ethnically diverse. I know this because I go there. It’s a favorite place for Scouts and other youth groups. I love to see the young people enjoying the outdoors, and would hate to see the “money is sacred” people take this away.
 

If  Blanchard’s upper reaches were left alone in the hands of the DNR, no additional operating cost would incur. The task of the DNR is to manage land, not rubber stamp logging operations. Remember, we the people own Blanchard, and any privilege given in its regard would be to private companies making money off our land.
  

Please let the commissioners know we think the quality of our environment matters as much as money, which incidentally, is not sacred.
 

David A. Smith -Anacortes, WA

January 26, 2006- Alumni of Edison Elementary School

The DNR proposal to log Blanchard Mountain is a short-sighted plan to harvest a regional jewel. The DNR attempts to sell this as a revenue-generating measure for our kids' education. This argument reprises the timber industry slogan, "Log a Load for Kids." Is this sale of an uncommonly beautiful forest really about kids, or is it about somebody' sbottom line? My family goes back four generations on Guemes and Eliza Islands, before electricity. We value the natural legacy of this region.

I'm an alumni of Edison Elementary School and appreciate the public education which I received. However, children today are losing access to those forests and open lands which previous generations took for granted. If we're really concerned about kids' education, let's leave them a few natural classrooms to explore.

Pete Knutson- Guemes Island WA

January 26, 2006- To- Members of my community,

I am writing concerning the proposed logging on Blanchard Mountain. My family and I live at the foot of Blanchard Mountain and our children attend Edison Elementary. As a biologist, I know well the incredible diversity of flora and fauna that survived the first logging cuts in the 1800 s. I have found tiger lily, wood violet, twin flower, wild ginger, giant salamanders, mountain beavers, porcupine and many other species.

As a parent, I am grateful to be able to share this natural wonder with my children; teaching them the names of the plants and animals, getting exercise with them, letting them explore and connect in their own ways, sensing their developing delight and deepening understanding of nature. Indeed, the Blanchard Mountain area is the only place I know of that offers this experience of wilderness without having to drive and hike hours into the Cascades.

I am deeply troubled by having to explain to them that the flags we see on the trails represent boundaries for timber sales, the profit from which presumably goes to benefit their education; that with the proposed clearcuts, this classroom will no longer be available to them. My children do not understand the need for funding, resource use and development, or politics. They do understand their connection to their backyard .

I expressly support the need to fund our schools, but I cannot support the devastation of this natural resource which sustains my and all of our children s well-being. There must be alternatives to funding our public schools and I strongly urge our creative community to find them.

Elizabeth Zebold- Blanchard Mountain

January 25, 2005- A wonderful opportunity to to protect a true gem in Skagit County.

Dear Public Officials

You have a wonderful opportunity to to protect a true gem in Skagit County.

I speak of course of Blanchard Mountain and the proposed logging that is slated to happen over the next decade. This land belongs to the people of Washington as it is designated state trust land. The issue seems to be potential revenue and the benefits to the schools and other public uses. I understand the fundamental need to fund these institutions, however, I feel a terrible mistake will be made if it comes at the expense of Blanchard.

Thousands of people enjoy the many recreational uses at Blanchard annually including hikers, bikers, para-gliders, wildlife watchers just to name a few. This area also offers a unique ecosystem not found anywhere else in the Cascade Range. Please fight to save the permanent scars that are eminent if Blanchard Mountain is lost!

Mike Martin- Bellingham, WA

January 20, 2006- Blanchard is an educational tool.

As a parent of a youngster heading for the Burlington-Edison school system I can sympathize with the need to fight for every dollar it can these days, but we need to think out of the box and realize what a valuable educational tool having an intact forest so close by is for our kids. Within a half hour’s drive of every school in the district is a resource for discovery that can’t be replicated in any textbook at any price.

Kids can learn facts from textbooks — sure — but inspiration comes from the real world. My most memorable times in public schools were the field trips and what we have available here in Skagit County aren’t the aquariums, zoos and science facilities of the urban areas but actual healthy environments to visit and learn from. Let’s not sell our children short by cashing in on Blanchard Mountain now, its value will become apparent in the future as places like it become fewer and farther away.
John Mailhiot- Bow, WA

January 18, 2006-This plan must be stopped.

We have come out there and spent time (and money) enjoying Blanchard
Mountain. Once again we are seeing the destruction of something just so that
a few people can make some money no matter how many people lose out.
 
Money shouldn't enter into it, but if it must, remember that I not only
speak for my family, but several people that will obviously not be spending
any time and money in that area if all there is left is a hideously carved
up wilderness.
 
This plan must be stopped, please look at the big picture, not just from a
few people that want a profit for themselves.
 
The Howard Family

January 17, 2006- Please don't take Blanchard Mountain from us.

I moved to Bellingham all the way from Minnesota because I read that Whatcom County has the biggest trail system in the state. Whether this is true or not, it is one of the main reasons I still live here (3 years later) and haven't moved somewhere else despite less-than-great career opportunities. But I am willing to sacrifice a "career" to have a life surrounded in wilderness and nature that is accessible by a wonderful trail system. This is available to Whatcom County because of Blanchard mountain. Take this away and I don't think we will be "booming" like the city planned on. Our economy needs to improve but this is not the way to do it. Please don't take Blanchard Mountain from us.

Cara Flora- Bellingham WA
 

January 15, 2006- Friends of Blanchard Mountain have a plan.

The Friends of Blanchard Mountain (www.blanchardmountain.org), after meeting with officials from DNR, Skagit County, legislators and the public, has developed a plan that (1) Preserves the core of the mountain for public use and benefit, (2) Does not impact the County or B-E School budgets & (3) Positively impacts Skagit County’s economy and quality of life.

Blanchard Mountain belongs to the people of Skagit County and the State of Washington. Because of its unique attributes including its location, diversity of timber growth, lakes, habitat and uses by the public, Blanchard is the perfect candidate for an existing program that allows the State to transfer it from timber trust land to another form of public ownership. By making this transfer, the beneficiaries of the trust (e.g., Skagit County and B-E Schools) are compensated for any lost revenue and the people at large benefit from the use of Blanchard as open space, habitat and a recreational area.

This plan is possible, but requires the support of Skagit County. Please contact the Skagit County commissioners (336-9300) and ask them to support trust land transfer for Blanchard Mountain in this year’s session of the legislature. The alternative is clear-cuts proposed by DNR; an action that will impact our County for decades to come.

Eron Berg- Bow, WA

January 13, 2006- To log it would be a shortsighted loss.

I would like to express my disappointment that Blanchard Mountain is being slated
for logging.  I often hike there.  The mountain as it is now, is a rare but
accessible treasure enjoyed by many.  To log it would be a shortsighted loss.
Jim Noonan Edmonds, WA

January 12, 2006-Save Blanchard from more logging

I live in Bow and hike regularly on Blanchard Mountain. It is beautiful and diverse now that it has recovered from previous logging. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot to log it again. 

In its accessibility there is nothing like Blanchard Mountain between Blaine to the north and Vancouver, Wash., to the south. It is only 10 minutes from Interstate 5. It is also the only place in our state where the Cascades meet the sea and it provides much-needed hiking to those who cannot hike in the higher elevations during the winter months due to snow. The trail system is great; one can walk for miles in the woods encountering lakes, creeks, large rock outcroppings, caves, beaver ponds, camping sites, and diverse flora and fauna. There are viewpoints from which Mt. Baker, the Olympics, the San Juan Islands and Skagit Valley can be seen. It is difficult to put a monetary value on something as rejuvenating to the human soul as a long walk through the woods. How do you measure that and the positive effect it has on our society?

Blanchard Mountain’s accessibility and beauty make it a rare jewel in our largely developed and logged I-5 corridor. Please speak out against DNR’s shortsighted plan to log Blanchard.
Ann Brooking  Bow

January 10, 2006-Please! No logging on Blanchard Mountain.

I am so dismayed to hear that anyone would even consider to log the area of Blanchard Hill.It seems like a national treasure and an ever more popular place to hike with all the development and population moving to the area.I have been hiking this area for years, I drive all the way north form Everett to hike the Lily and Lizard Lake Trails to Oyster Dome and Sammish Lookout and down to Chuckanut Drive. No matter what time of year what dayof the week or what the weather I always see lots of other people hiking biking riding. I am 57 years old, I love seeing and meeting the many college kids who are on the trails. They need this kind of experience to get outdoors and exercise, get a break from studying, and see the beauty of the area they are going to school in. They have good times with their friends and have a day of adventure together, creating great memories! What a shame if they lost this place, so many kids would lose so many experiences - how can people stay fit and healthy if there are no good hiking trails convenient to where they live? And these trails are not snowed in during winter months.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Dawe

December 29, 2005- Blanchard plan poorly considered

My wife and I live in Bow near Blanchard Mountain. We hike its trails and are joined by many other users: hang gliders, mountain bikers, birders, climbers, equestrians and school children. The Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) plan for timber harvest in such an environmentally diverse and heavily used recreational area is a poorly made and not well-thoughtout choice. It focuses on a short-term financial gain and does not consider the long-term environmental cost to this unique area.

How is it possible to educate children about environmental conservation and fund it with the proceeds from the destruction of such a special and rare ecosystem as Blanchard Mountain?

We urge the DNR and the Skagit County commissioners to keep the majestic beauty of Blanchard Mountain intact for future generations. It is important for people to experience and enjoy the ever dwindling wonders of nature — Blanchard Mountain provides that opportunity right in our own “backyard.”

 Steve Radeleff -   Bow

December 25, 2005-Blanchard Mountain is the precious jewel of the Cascades,

We have the power!  Are we going to stand by and be witness to the annihilation of another precious ecosystem? I believe that we of Skagit care about clean air, clean water, and to provide land for wildlife’s survival.  What will it be like for our kids to not experience nature? Our obsessive consumption results in the loss of creatures of this planet at an alarming rate.  I believe that we’re interdependently connected to all life.  This is a very fragile balance, as more wildlife goes extinct, the closer we come to our demise.

Cut off the source and the river dies.  Cut through wildlife corridors, the veins through which wildlife flows, and the animals die.  We are stewards of the Earth and the dominant creature. As we recklessly consume more than any other, I believe it’s our responsibility to protect whatever wildlife we can. 

Blanchard Mountain is the precious jewel of the Cascades, the only place where the Cascades touch the sea.  This treasure is not measured in board feet, but in the trees standing tall that offers refuge to wildlife and is also an abundant recreational paradise.

There is a timber sale for Blanchard Mountain slated for April.  Go to Blanchard Mountain.  Take a hike, ride bike, or check out the snow.  It’s so close to use all …so beautiful. 

If it touches you the way it does me, write to the Commissioners, the DNR , our legislatures. Tell your friends.  Send a letter to the editor!

Frank Eventoff- Bow, WA  

December 2005- Schools a Smoke Screen for logging 

I am one of a very long list of people in our county who would have signed Corwin Fergus' Dec. 18 letter to you (Actually Santa), about the Grinches who want to log Blanchard Mountain. The claim that the local school district depends on this income creates smoke screen. Who could deny our schools their necessary funding? Because a small fraction of this logging revenue actually goes to education, we urge the DNR to engage in serious creative thinking that might result in the discovery of an alternate funding source. It seems that some effort is already under way in this direction.

Blanchard Mountain is a unique 2000- foot peak situated near our coastline. It is stunning to look at even if you dont go hiking or birding there. Its natural beauty adds to our quality of life here in the valley, and deservers to flourish without new clearcuts. 

December 19, 2005-Grinches want to log Blanchard (From the Skagit Valley Herald)

Dear Santa:

It’s been widely rumored that after being wildly inspired by watching the sunset you begin your Christmas eve flight from the hang-glider launch on Blanchard Mountain.

You, like so many others: the hikers, bikers, birders, cavers, horsebackers, photographers, gliders, gnomes and wood nymphs know that Blanchard Mountain is a magical place. The best place in Skagit County for year-round recreation. So, here’s the deal, Santa. If you will protect this special place where we go to renew our spirits, we’ll be as grateful and joyous as kids fresh from their favorite playground.

But Santa, beware of the Grinches. Logging interests and certain county commissioners will tell you that only clearcuts will save children’s education. It is not true. Actually, only a tiny fraction of logging revenue from Blanchard Mountain goes to the Burlington-Edison School District.

There are several good plans afoot for replacing these revenues now. In the long run, recreation on Blanchard Mountain can generate more revenue in Skagit County than timber can. Nevertheless, the Department of Natural Resources has timber sales slated for this April, and is developing plans to put logging roads through most of the present trail system.


Okay, I lied about one thing. Santa is for kids. Adults must rely on democracy to get what we want. According to DNR’s own survey, we overwhelmingly want recreation, not logging, on Blanchard Mountain. But to make a democracy work, we must participate. So, let’s make some noise.

Corwin Fergus
Bow

December 8, 2005- ‘Protect’ not ‘manage’ Blanchard (From the Skagit Valley Herald)

I live at the base of Blanchard Mountain and hike its trails joined by hikers, paragliders, hang gliders, birders, classes of children, climbers and equestrians. DNR’s plans for timber harvest in such a heavily-used recreational area confirms their primary goal of logging. Unfortunately for the users of Blanchard Mountain and all of our children, our commissioners are also focused on timber harvest without consideration of the long-term cost. Together they constitute a potent force for unabated destruction.

Yes a small portion of the proceeds find their way into our schools’ budget. This is the flag carried by many to account for the disregard of Blanchard’s other assets. Forest Board revenues add up to a tiny percentage of the operating budget; the underlying beneficiaries are logging interests. My children attend Edison Elementary and so our family will live with the consequences of this hypothetical lost revenue. Shame on those who equate preserving Blanchard Mountain with “attacking our children’s education.” If the issue is financial support for education, then it’s not about Blanchard Mountain. It’s about war in Iraq and our military budget, pork barrel politics, government inefficiency and the glaring under-funding of education.

Blanchard Mountain is a unique ecosystem and irreplaceable recreational asset; we should be protecting its upper slopes. I have personally seen the timber sale boundaries and feel they are entirely inappropriate and disregard the recreational benefits and ecological value of this area. I hope DNR proves me wrong and presents an alternative plan demonstrating they also “protect” when appropriate, and not just “manage.”

Eric Stark
Bow Hill


December 8, 2005- Speak out against logging Blanchard  (From the Skagit Valley Herald)

I would like to bring to the attention of the citizens of Skagit County the impending destruction of a local forestland wonder. Recently when hiking Blanchard Mountain, I discovered logging boundary tags. I returned home and did some research. Blanchard’s to be logged by the DNR as early as next year.

I have nothing against logging except when it’s indiscriminate. Blanchard is special. It has the best yearround hiking trails in Northwest Washington. It has lakes containing beaver populations. On the west slopes are the Bat Caves, housing many species, including the threatened Big Eared Bat. Above the talus caves is the awesome oyster Dome, a shear rock cliff that offers a 5.9 rock climb (not for the faint of heart, but a real spectacle for regular hikers). This mountain is used by equestrians, mountain bikers and hang gliders. Watching the hang gliders is truly cool!

The activities on Blanchard make the people doing them better. Consequently, everybody in the valley benefits spiritually. We can’t afford to lose this. Our world will not be as good if Blanchard is logged. The DNR is required to have a public meeting prior to the commencement of the logging, and I urge everyone who cares about the quality of our world to watch for this meeting and attend it in force. Let’s let the DNR know that we the people will not tolerate the destruction of this local masterpiece!

Dave Smith
Anacortes
 

November 24, 2005- Message to Skagit County Commissioners..

Dear commissioners-  I along with many other concerned citizens and user gropes am writing and asking for your help to preserve Blanchard mountain from being logged and destroyed for ever.  Please save it for the recreational activities that it is now being used for I am one of many paraglider pilots that use it along with hang glider pilots, hikers, mountain bikers birdwatchers the list goes on and on. Now would be the time to make it a recreational park for Skagit county. The users the trails the lookouts the view the birds the wildlife are already here .

Please lets do it now before its to late. Thank you

Paraglider pilot
Sid Lindquist

November 16, 2005- Mr Quall-Keep the mountain as it is!!

Hello Mr. Quall. I have been informed that Blanchard Mountain is in danger of beings destroyed. I live on Chuckanut drive and I would be very saddened to see the trees removed, towers put up, trails demolished, heavy trucks moving through often, and a gravel pit located there. PLEASE know I am not the only one VERY concerned. MANY in our community love and enjoy the beauty Blanchard Mountain provides.

I know you are very busy so I'll keep this short. Although, I'm tempted to say much more. Please hear my cry and do all you can to keep the mountain as it is!! THANK YOU, for your time and for listening!!

Lynn Wade
Chuckanut Drive

November 10, 2005- We would be shooting ourselves in the foot to log it.

I live in Bow, Washington and hike regularly on Blanchard Mountain. It is beautiful, diverse and somewhat pristine now that it has had time to recover from previous logging. It needs protection and should not be logged again.

I know of nothing like Blanchard Mountain between Blaine, Washington to the north and Vancouver, Washington to the south in its accessibility. It is only 10 minutes from I-5. Not only that, but it is essentially the only place in our state where the Cascades meet the sea. The trail system on Blanchard is great. One can walk for miles and miles in the woods happening upon lakes, creeks, large rock outcroppings, caves, beaver ponds, camping sites and diverse flora and fauna. There are numerous viewpoints from which Mt. Baker, the Olympics, the San Juan Islands and Skagit Valley can be seen. It provides much-needed hiking to those of us who cannot hike in the higher elevations during the winter months due to snow.

We would be shooting ourselves in the foot to log it. It is used daily by many. DNR pretends to track use with a little kiosk at some of the trailheads. But it would appear that these are essentially ignored, as the paper provided in the box is old and faded and entirely filled up. I doubt DNR knows how much it is used by citizens and visitors for hiking, biking, horseback riding, mushroom hunting and flying.

It is difficult to put a monetary value on something as rejuvenating to the human soul as a long walk through the woods. How do you measure that?

Blanchard Mountain’s accessibility (due to the extensive trail system and nearness to the I-5 corridor and neighboring communities) and beauty (maturing forest and views east to the Cascades and west to the San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains) make it a rare jewel in our largely developed and logged I-5 corridor. Let’s protect it.

Ann Brooking
Bow, Washington

October 23, 2005- "The destruction of Blanchard would be one more way of assuring a new generation of people searching electronic devices for their realities rather than the awesome outdoors of which we have been so blessed with."

I would like to add my very strong support to all those folks who wrote about their opposition to the careless and short sighted logging operations proposed at Blanchard Mt.

Blanchard is a very special, unique place in that it offers quality hiking opportunities for those of us who aren't into snowshoeing the Cascades during the winter. It has a truly Alpine feel and yet is only minutes from certain urban areas. I have hiked it extensively for years, and have come to love the place. I find it outrageous that it would be sacrificed for short term financial gain. It has so much to offer, not only to hikers like myself, but the "fliers", the horse people and the bikers. There is something for everyone who cares to get out.

We are creating a generation of indoor people, and I don't believe that is healthy. The destruction of Blanchard would be one more way of assuring a new generation of people searching electronic devices for their realities rather than the awesome outdoors of which we have been so blessed with.

I think it is imperative that we do whatever we can to save this very special place.

Dave Smith
Anacortes WA

October 10, 2995- Blanchard Mountain is a precious resource and serves the recreational needs of many diverse groups. Logging the mountain would provide a financial gain for a very small number of individuals and degrade the recreational opportunities of many.

I would like to add my voice in supporting the effort to preserve Blanchard Mountain as a recreation area. Development is encroaching on and destroying far too many recreational areas that are easily accessible from major population centers, those few that remain now need to be preserved if we are to have any hope of maintaining our present quality of life in the Pacific Northwest or leaving any recreational legacy to the next generation. Blanchard Mountain is a precious resource and serves the recreational needs of many diverse groups. Logging the mountain would provide a financial gain for a very small number of individuals and degrade the recreational opportunities of many. That is not an acceptable trade off in my view.

Thomas Koge
Bellevue, WA

October 9, 2005- I have lived here for 25 years and I am very much opposed to doing ANY logging in this unique, rare biological habitat.

I live near the proposed logging to be done soon on Blanchad Mountain. I have lived here for 25 years and I am very much opposed to doing ANY logging in this unique, rare biological habitat. In addition to this place being an avian flyway and red fox habitat, its extremely valuable as an increasingly rare coastal forest , within easy reach of the public to enjoy hiking through and observing nature. Other no logging considerations are possible water supply impacts to our local communities, soil erosion and landslides from vegetation loss, increased log truck traffic on inadequately safe county roads.

Please do what you can to have the State reconsider the decision to log Blanchard Mountain. I and many believe the benefits of keeping it as it is surely outweigh any financial benefit to the state.

Kelly Stockton- Colony Mountain
Bow, WA 

October 2, 2005- Preserve Blanchard Mountain, so that all of us can enjoy nature at its best.

I would like to see Blanchard Mountain preserved for recreational use so that all of us can enjoy nature at it's best here in the great northwest. Let's preserve this natural habitat so that all of us can enjoy it for recreational purposes. There is nothing worst then looking at a bald mountain that was "Raped and Pillaged" of it's natural beauty. Let's work on finding other ways to utilize the natural beauty of this very rich, diversified, and historical natural habitat.

Mitch Wayman
Bow, WA

September 21, 2005- Blanchard Mountain land owner's thoughts.

The forests on the crown of Blanchard Mountain have now recovered from the logging that took place one hundred years ago.  The resultant environment acts as a magnet for approximately 45,000 visitors a year. Despite the mountain's attractions and the preference of area residents for non logging initiatives, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intends to conduct timber sales in late 2005. If the proposed logging road network is completed as planned, it is difficult to imagine that there will be many trees left when logging is complete.  Those desiring an example of  how a denuded mountain appears, need look no further than Lookout Mountain which is north on I-5. As a property owner on the mountain, I am concerned that the current logging proposals will  negatively impact the long term quality of
life for both residents and visitors alike.

Mark Thomson
Blanchard Mountain Land Owner

September 16, 2005- Mother supports saving Blanchard Mountain for her young daughter.

I was raised in Alger and have spent a lot of time on Blanchard. I love the view from up on the top. I was pretty shocked when they put up barriers and port a potty's. I got over it though. I really just wanted to let you know that I support saving the mountain and I think that it is an outrage how they have raped that mountain. Its such a beautiful place. Its a remote place not to far from Burlington or Bellingham. I think it is important to have a place to go and see nature. Everywhere you look there is concrete. My daughter just turned one and I want to show her that there is more to life then TV. Please let me know how I can be apart of saving Blanchard. Thank-you

Jennifer Twining
Alger, WA

August 6, 2005- Hang Glider Pilots and others in the Community want Blanchard Mountain to be a Nature Conservatory

As many of the locals know, Blanchard Mt. is one of the nicest piece of land on Washington coastline. Blanchard sits on the edge of the Puget Sound and is one/if not the only, mainland mountain that sits on the coastline. It's a beautiful place and is used by many different groups for recreation.

The mountain also has a history of being logged. It is currently full of trees on one side with logging projects removing trees on the other. Private parties are buying up the land to build large homes and neighborhoods, in a random way. Blanchard needs more managing attention to keep it in good shape so private property doesn't limit access to the beautiful sites and cause havoc among the community. We need a private group to manage the area, if the state cannot provide the protection.

I am in support of the 'Friends of Blanchard" and their intention to work with federal and state to manage the property of Blanchard.

Sincerely,
Russ Gelfan- Hang Glider Pilot

July 31, 2005- It is a paradise that needs protecting

I enjoyed watching dragon flies zoom over beautiful Lily Lake this morning. And looking at all the beautiful plants on the hike too the lake. I've never seen so much Wild Ginger! And I loved just the wonderful peacefulness of the place.

It is a paradise that needs protecting! I'll mail a check tomorrow!

Michael Hinkel
Bellingham WA

July 19, 2005- Blanchard for all

We love the view from Blanchard. Love to hike it. Love to fly (paraglide, hang glide) from it. Keep it lovely for all.

Lawrence Wallman

July 14,  2005

Hang Glider -"Keep Blanchard Mountain as an asset for the whole of the community."

I am recent arrival from Southern California. As a hang gliding pilot, I, like all foot-launched pilots, have the benefit of having a special perspective to appreciate the natural bounty of beauty the Pacific Northwest is graced with. I want to join my voice to those advocating for preservation measures destined to keep Blanchard Mountain as an asset for the whole of the community.

Respectfully, Enrique Bava
Portland, OR

July 14, 2005

Hang glider says "Blanchard Mountain is a state treasure that should be preserved intact for present and future generations."

I am a hang glider pilot and fly at Blanchard Mountain, year-round. The first time I visited the mountain I was struck with the tremendous appeal of  the setting with its stunning views overlooking the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. I believe that Blanchard Mountain is a unique location of great natural beauty and represents one of the crown jewels of the Pacific
Northwest.

In addition to being a flyer, I am also a bird watcher. While at Blanchard I have seen many Eagles (I once shared the air with a Golden Eagle), as well as Buzzards, Hawks, Goldfinches, House Finches, every type of Woodpecker (including the endangered Pileated Woodpecker), and Ravens. On one Saturday last winter I was standing at the launch on Blanchard when a flight of 12 snow geese flew by in formation--an unforgettable site. It is fun to share this site with the many hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians who
often pause to watch us fly.

Blanchard Mountain is a state treasure that should be preserved intact for present and future generations of Washingtonians and the tourists who visit our state to share its great natural beauty and help support our economy. I greatly appreciate the efforts of the Friends of Blanchard Mountain and all those who work to achieve this goal.

Vaughn Entwistle
 

June 2005-Mountain Biker says "Let the forest rebuild"

I have been riding on Blanchard for about 15 years, usually 6 to 10 times a year. It is a great place to ride, the trails are maintained and are always in good shape. The best ride I had was went there was 3" of snow and a full moon. I would like to see Blanchard left as is for all to enjoy. Let the tree mature and let the forest rebuild.

Bruce Rustad
Mountain Biker

April - 2005- Blanchard ride a great experience

I have been exploring Blanchard Mountain on my mountain bike. I though the public would like to know what I saw and experienced as it can be considered a moderate to advanced place to go explore. We drove through a clear-cut along the road to get to the parking area. From there we rode our bikes past the locked gate on a well-maintained logging road. We saw no signs of recent logging once we left the road, only an occasional discarded cable from long ago and the stumps of past logging efforts. It was quiet, and the trees were large with established ground cover of salal, ferns, wild currant and other shade-growing vegetation.

March 13, 2004-Blanchard Mountain is a sentinel

Blanchard Mountain is a sentinel in the northwest corner of our county. One can walk its trails through forests, by mountain lakes, to towering views unparalleled west of the Cascades. One can even drive up Blanchard Mountain to what is arguably the most awe-inspiring water view in the state.

In 2001, a group of Republican representatives studied the social, ecological and financial values of Blanchard Mountain. This study was paid for equally by the Legislature and by the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance and Sierra Club. Fifty-eight percent of Skagit County residents surveyed opposed logging on Blanchard Mountain even if it means less revenue, and 25 percent think things are fine as they are.

Through the state's trust lands transference program an opportunity exists to protect the most scenic parts of Blanchard Mountain, by substituting more productive, less scenic timberlands to produce revenue. Selective logging below the current roads on the mountain's south and west faces would deter erosion into salmon streams and protect our view of the mountain, while allowing the more timber abundant lower north and east slopes to remain in the timber rotation.

Any revenue loss under such a plan would be negligible for the Burlington-Edison School District. Revenue produced from Blanchard Mountain goes to Department of Natural Resources, the state, the Burlington-Edison School District and the county. It is divided like property tax, except the schools do not get as much and what they get toward maintenance and operation from logging is later subtracted dollar for dollar from what they get from the state.

Corwin Fergus, Bow

March 4, 2005-Blanchard is a recreational treat.

Hang gliding at Blanchard Mountain is a fantastic experience. My routine at Blanchard includes my wife and other visitors. I get dropped off to fly while our friends breathe the fresh air and hike the trails, pick a mushroom or two while enjoying the beauty of the forest and the spectacular view of Skagit County, the Cascade Range and the San Juan Islands. It is a truly inspirational place that draws people from all over the Pacific Northwest.

While flying over Blanchard Mountain it is easy to see how lucky we are in Skagit County to have this special place right in our midst. Blanchard Mountain is unique as it is a naturally regenerated forest, not a tree farm, and it is the only place the Cascades touch the sea.

We hope the Department of Natural Resources and the Legislature, together with Skagit County, can find a way to manage Blanchard Mountain and Chuckanut Mountain for recreational uses rather than timber production. The Burlington-Edison School District may not have to suffer any financial loss if everybody is willing to be creative and give Blanchard Mountain over to the people of the area to enjoy now and in the future.

Konrad Kurp Anacortes

Feb 26, 2005 -Blanchard Mountain, A perspective from a "friend"

Asked for my favorite local recreational hangout aside from Mount Erie and the Anacortes Forest Lands right in my backyard, my vote and my heart goes out for Blanchard Mountain.

Way back, when we first came to this area, I was amazed at the way the fields and pastures of Skagit Valley's rich farm land all of a sudden give way to the rocky rise of Chuckanut Ridge butting up against Bellingham Bay like a mighty fortress… as if the distant foot hills, tracing a lovely silhouette all along the eastern horizon, right here at the mouth of Colony Creek decide to be fore real, extending their geological muscle from East to West, from the glacier peaked Cascades to the Inland Sea in one mighty sweep of undulating forest land. It's here where with some imagination and sense for the land you feel the connection to the big continental spine of the Rocky Mountains. What an awesome idea!

Frequent car outings along scenic Chuckanut Drive soon led to foot launched exploration. To our surprise and delight we discovered a rugged hinterland of steep hills, deep forests, hidden lakes, forbidden cliffs, caves, bare back rocks and spectacular overlooks: Oyster Dome, The Bat Caves, Samish Overlook, Lilly and Lizard Lake, these become familiar landmarks in the wild terrains of the land as well as in our psyche.

Over the years I came to realize, we were not the only ones valuing the treasure of these unique public lands. Trudging along the many trails I encountered a variety of devotees, commonly put in the category of "user" groups: hikers, bikers, back packers, horse back riders… local hiking clubs as well as those as far away as from our Canadian neighborhood, regularly hit the trail, as do interest groups with serious aspiration: bird watchers, rock hounds, mountaineers, mushroom hunters, botanists, geologists, students from nearby Bellingham using the mountain as an outdoor classroom…

Of course my favorite group of devotees is the flying community of hang- and para glider pilots - pardon my bias here since my husband is one of them! On any given day of the year with halfway promising weather conditions you are likely to see these folks "setting up" at Samish Overlook, strutting their stuff and tossing themselves into the air on colorful wings and canopies, joining the eagles in their quest for thermals… a spectacle of course, that adds to the attraction of Blanchard Mountain, not just for the flying enthusiasts themselves, but for any casual bystander as well: people out and about on a pleasant afternoon.

Blanchard Mountain with its clear cut since the 80ies, its thermal potential all along Chuckanut Ridge and its ample landing field down in the flats, graciously granted by a most generous land owner, is the most prominent coastal flying site of the Northwest, this side of the Oregon Coast.

Thus the popularity of this area as a public recreational playground is unquestionable and steadily on the rise. With growing population and development pressure, Chuckanut and Blanchard Mountain, commonly defined and referred to as DNR, public resource lands that is, with its invariably foremost mandate on logging, quietly has undergone a "paradigm" shift in the minds of people as they, precisely through their recreational pursuits, begin to connect to the land in a new way. There is a need - no doubt - to rethink and to redefine the status of Blanchard Mountain, to come up with management plans for the future which emphasize recreation and conservation rather than resource extraction.

I have this vision about Blanchard: perceived as this link to a far away continental divide it might just as well teach us about our own interconnectedness… what an "awesome idea" indeed!

Herta Kurp 

February 25, 2005-Most want less logging on Blanchard Mountain.

As a lover of Blanchard Mountain hiking trails and beauty, I really want to see logging slowed on the mountain. It is beginning to look quite bereft of the natural beauty we take for granted in the Northwest, and is starting to take on the look of a desert mountain and hills I see on my trips to California.

I participated as a survey taker in the DNR survey of the mountain in 2001. The findings of this survey, which are posted on the DNR Web site, showed that people valued these things: the mature forest land on Blanchard, the fact that those forests keep the slopes stable and control erosion. We valued diverse wildlife, the scenic views and viewpoints, and the streams, lakes and wetlands. We liked the opportunity for environmental education and the hiking trails. 58% of people wanted less logging on Blanchard, even if it meant less revenue. Only 15% wanted more logging.

It seems apparent that the wishes of the majority of people surveyed are not being listened to, and the 15% that want more logging are getting their way. What's wrong with this picture?

Eileen Andersen, Bow

February 17, 2005-Blanchard needs smart land use plan

In a recent Voices of the Valley column Ted Anderson dismisses the idea of conserving part of Blanchard Mountain in Skagit County as irresponsible. Anderson seems to think that the only value of this uniquely beautiful place is as a traditional revenue source. Ted also notes that logging will provide a "perpetual" source of funding, which is false. The accelerated cutting schedule proposed by the DNR will use up the remaining large trees in 10 or 15 years, without appreciable timber to harvest perpetually, the wild beauty gone for the foreseeable future.

Here is an opportunity to make some smart land use decisions for the future and preserve part of Blanchard Mountain as a jewel of natural beauty. We don't need to make every acre of public land with forest on it a tree farm. A forest with diverse wildlife and a tree farm with a 40 year production cycle laced with access roads are two different things.

A way to preserve the remaining forest is with Trust Land Transfer, a state program providing compensation for logging revenue loss.

Anderson further described the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance as "radical." That's code for extremist. What is extreme about people with common interests organizing to publicly advocate their interests?

According to polls most people in the U.S. want preservation of our very few remaining wild areas. It is commendable when citizens work with public land managers to identify areas where special attention is needed to preserve an irreplaceable natural wonder for real perpetuity.

Cris Feringer, Bow

February 12, 2005-Blanchard could teach stewardship

I've been hearing about logging on Blanchard Mountain, where it seems like a controversy might be brewing. Here's a suggestion coming from my perspective as an environmental professional figure out if we can log selectively and carefully while preserving ecological values. Logging operations on Blanchard could be extremely careful to retain natural character, prevent erosion, preserve water quality, and preserve threatened plants and animals. What better lesson to teach the schoolchildren? Yes, schools need money — but it's more important to teach our kids to be stewards of this great land for generations to come. (If the land and water "die", we die). Blanchard Mountain could be a model of forest stewardship we can teach our kids by acting as role models. It could be a great educational experience — learning how to balance the desire for money and the need to be wise stewards of the land and water. If we do it right, we could take the kids out into the forest and be proud to show them how these values can coexist.

Steve Hoffman, Bow

December 18, 2004- Canadian gives some good advice

I was shocked to learn recently, that Blanchard Mountain, after only just recovering from the logging of a century ago, is threatened by logging once again. Anyone who has driven the scenic Chuckanut Drive must surely realize that on terrain as steep as that, the environmental consequences, such as soil erosion, will be considerable. Additionally, valuable scenic and recreational values will be lost, as well as wildlife habitat. This need not happen.

I live in Tofino on Vancouver Island's west coast. Twenty five years ago, the oldgrowth forest on the mountainous island that looms over the village was threatened by clearcutting, so a group of citizens decided to fight those logging plans. After 5 years of countless meetings and getting nowhere, they joined forces
with the local natives in a non-violent blockade to prevent fallers from proceeding. The long and short of it was that with that action, and against great odds, the residents of the area won out against the dictates of a giant multi-national company and the government of the day. Today, the magnificent scenery of the area is intact
and Tofino, instead of being just another decrepit boom and bust town, is a thriving tourist town that 
attracts more than a million visitors a year.

My advice to my American friends is to think carefully about whether the logging of Blanchard Mountain will really benefit the the people and communities that surround it. If you suspect, as I do, that it will result in short term gain,  for long term pain, then be prepared to fight with dogged determination and win.

Adrian Dorst 
PO Box 503,
Tofino, BC
V0R 2Z0
www.adriandorst.com

 December - 2004 Help preserve Blanchard Mountain

After reading Mitch Friedman's piece on Blanchard Mountain, (Voices of the Valley) I must admit that he hit the nail right on the head. We Skagitonians should be "paying attention" and make sure we don't lose this gem to the short-term gains of logging this beautiful place.

We Samish Islanders are very lucky as we view this mountain each day and if we wish can hike to the top after a 5-minute drive to the base. More importantly an intact Blanchard Mountain will help check excessive runoff and flooding in the Samish flats and the Samish River.

This place is so special that both Seattle newspapers have done numerous stories on the Blanchard Mountain hike, which you can easily find by doing an Internet search. Outdoor enthusiasts from Seattle and B.C. make the drive to see and hike on this special place and when they are done for the day they visit a local restaurant or maybe one of the oyster farms that are fed clean water from Blanchard Mountain, or stay at a bed and breakfast nearby. We locals, from all over Skagit County, must all do our part to help preserve the beauty of this special place. Please join me in supporting Northwest Ecosystem Alliance efforts to save Blanchard Mountain.

I agree with Mr. Friedman, Blanchard Mountain does belong to all of us!

Brad Wellman
 Samish Island, WA

December - 2004- Local Elder Wisdom

Blanchard Mountain and all of the Chuckanut Range has been a part of my life since the 1950's. After my last afternoon class at WWSU, I would often grab my fly rod and trot up to Lilly, Lizard or one of the other lakes that dot the Chuckanuts to catch my supper. Most of the time I would not see another person on one of those forays and it was a great escape from a stuffy classroom on a spring day. I also figured that I was in good shape for bigger mountains if I could make it to Lilly in under 45 minutes.

That is the charm of the Chuckanuts It is the quickest escape I know of in an increasingly urbanized Northwest Washington! Yes, you can't make many trips these days without seeing other escapees, but it still serves the purpose of escape from our overly busy world. We must treat the area well because it is unique and more and more necessary!

I know the law mandates that school trust land must be managed in certain ways and schools are under-funded, but those laws were made when Washington was a frontier and trees were more of a hindrance than an asset. It is time for the legislature to fully fund schools as called for by our state constitution (but always ignored!) and provide equalization so that districts like Burlington can have programs that are comparable to those in richer districts. It's also time to take a long term view of the Chuckanuts!

Lee Mann
Sedro Woolley, WA