North Cascades National Park
By eCountryLifestyle Staff Writer
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the North Cascades Act on October 2, 1968.
On that day, North Cascades National Park was officially born.
History
The first Europeans to set foot in what we know today as North Cascades National Park were fur traders. In the 1700s, they came to the area in hopes of supplementing their meager incomes through the fur trade.
Between 1880 and 1910, prospectors tried their luck in the gold fields but so little gold was found that the quest was quickly abandoned. Homesteaders and loggers came to the area at the turn 20th century. Three dams were built on the Skagit River between 1924 and 1961 by Seattle City Light.
Native Cultures
For centuries Native peoples have made their home along the Skagit River. A wide variety of bands and tribes have lived in the Skagit Valley. The Ross Lake region was home to the Upper Skagit band more than 8,000 years ago. They lived off the land by gathering, hunting and fishing. They made winter clothing from mountain goat wool. Archeologists have been working in the Park for years and have yet to discover the entire story of the ancestors of bands and tribes who have called the region home.
Ancient Forests
If you plan on visiting North Cascades National Park, you’ll want to see the ancient forests. One of the best is Happy Creek Forest Walk, which is located at mile 134.5. Take the boardwalk through the low elevation old growth forest, which is fully accessible. Hikers who wish long hikes should consider Big Beaver Trail or Thunder Creek Trail.
Glaciers
For breathtaking views of glaciers, take the trail on the south side of Mt. Baker. Scott Cross Trail, which is six miles long, crosses the moraine at Squak Glacier. The Trail ends at Mt. Baker’s eastern glacier.
Wildlife
North Cascades National Park is alive with animal life. Watch bats glide on leathery wings as dusk falls. View ponds that teem with beaver. Dams, mounds and gnawed trees give evidence of their presence though the rodents are very seldom seen. Flying squirrels are active after dusk and before dawn. Marmots bask in the sun and mountain goats frolic on mountain peaks and cliffs. Snowshoe hare, weasel, a wide variety of bird species, such as pileated woodpeckers, Swainson’s thrush, purple finch, Stellar’s jay, ruffled grouse, song sparrows and chestnut-back chickadees all make their home in North Cascades National Park.
Black bears, grizzlies and cougars roam North Cascades National Park. When walking trails, be sure to make lots of noise. These powerful and dangerous creatures avoid contact with humans as much as possible. Use your bear and cougar knowledge in all wilderness areas. Always keep children nearby when visiting the Park.
Near Ross Lake, timber wolves roam in packs. Coyotes also roam the area. Use caution if either of these animals is spotted.
Fishing
Cast your line into the crystal clear waters of lakes, rivers, streams and ponds within the boundaries of North Cascades National Park. A valid fishing license for Washington State is mandatory and it must be on your person. Rules and regulations must be strictly adhered to.
Pets
No pets are permitted on trails or in wilderness areas of North Cascades National Park. One exception is the Pacific Crest Trail where leashed dogs are allowed.
Climate
Always be prepared for rainy and windy conditions while visiting the Park. Summer is the perfect time to visit North Cascades. Take along rain gear. Heavy warm clothing is necessary in spring, fall and winter.
For a wonderful and memorable wilderness experience, be sure to add North Cascades National Park to your destination list. It is located at 810 State Route 20, Sedro Wooley, Washington.
Press Release
The Western Dude Ranch Has Always Been Green
The Dude Ranchers' Association
CODY, Wyoming— With so much media attention focused on the earth’s limited resources, environmental awareness is soaring to new heights. Many consumers now say they prefer their travel “green,” prompting major hotel brands, airlines, and tour operators to tout new conservation practices and “earth friendly” philosophies.
Yet, one vacation destination, the Western dude ranch, has been a quiet champion for the environment since its existence. The chief organization for Western dude ranchers is The Dude Rancher’s Association, or DRA. Formed in 1926, now claiming more than 100 member ranches in the Western U.S. and Canada, the DRA promotes the Western dude ranch vacation and works closely with government agencies to preserve and protect public lands.
It’s not uncommon for a single ranch of several thousand acres to border sizeable national parks or forests forming a vast parcel of remote wilderness. It’s also typical for family ranches to be passed down from one generation to the next. So, it’s only natural for ranchers to think of themselves as stewards of the land. Or as one DRA ranch member, Zak Wirth puts it, “Out West here we develop an emotional attachment to the land.” Wirth, (a fifth generation Montana rancher,) and his family own and operate the Rocking Z Ranch surrounded by 250,000 acres “of riding land” where the western prairie meets the Rocky Mountains.
A desire to keep the “Rocking Z” a viable enterprise for future generations, Wirth looked for ways to cut operating expenses. He explored alternative energy sources for his 8 diesel powered machines. For the past two years, Wirth has converted recycled vegetable oil to bio diesel fuel, a clean and economical (after converted, his cost is $2.30 a gallon,) energy supply. Today he claims to be the only U.S. rancher using 100% recycled vegetable oil to irrigate his hay meadows. The ranch buildings he designed are low, compact and so energy efficient he claims rooms can be “heated by just a candle.” By 2009 he plans to transfer the interior and exterior lighting of each building to a solar powered system. Wirth says “Everyday I feel a sense of accomplishment,” confident the land and business will sustain another generation of Wirth family ranchers.
