Local Outdoor Guide Seattle 9/15/2023

All the Local Outdoor Intel You Need in Just 5 Minutes

🔥 Hazards

• The trail to Glacier Peak was closed because of the Airplane Lake Fire. The closure was marked about 9.6 miles in, at the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), before reaching White Pass and the Foam Creek boot path.

• Fire activity at Olympic National Park was minimal on September 8. The Hurricane Fire is 85% contained, with no major changes noted in the Eagle Point Fire and no smoke observed from the Diamond Mountain and Delabarre fires. The Martins Lake Fire grew slightly to 1.5 acres, while the Low Divide Fire showed low spread rates. No closures are anticipated at this time. More details can be found here.

• Between the evening of September 3 and the morning of September 4, multiple portable toilets along Hurricane Ridge Road and the restroom at Picnic Area A in Olympic National Park were damaged. (Instagram)

• Visitors planning to visit ONP (Olympic National Park) in early October are advised to prepare for possible operational impacts due to a potential federal government shutdown. The suggestion is to contact ONP for further information concerning what areas or services might be affected in the event of a shutdown, as happened during previous shutdowns in 2018-2019 and 2013.

• A photographer named Ken Kokko/Keys, known for taking pictures of kids at Duthie Hill Park has been identified as a Level 3 sex offender. (Read More)

🚗 Roads

• The Bainbridge-Seattle ferry service has resumed operations for vehicles. (WSDOT)

📅 Events

• Olympic National Park is participating in the International Coastal Cleanup on September 16, targeting Ruby Beach, Third Beach, and the Ozette Beaches.

  • Third Beach

  • Ruby Beach 

  • Ozette Beaches

• Sisters in Action Sports (SAS) is bringing six films to Seattle, showcasing the stories and adventures of women from around the world. The event will take place at The Collective Seattle (Tickets Here)

🚶‍♀️ Trails

• A black bear has been sighted in the area of NW Timber at Tiger, specifically near Atlas X. Multiple reports suggest this bear has established its territory in this location.

• A bobcat was spotted near the party wave entrance at Klootchy during a morning ride. The individual advises caution for those with dogs in the area.

🧗‍♂️ Climbing

• A new crag named Quartz Camp in the middle fork, bolted by Leland and crew, has been posted on Mountain Project. The rock quality is reportedly one of the best in North Bend, but the formation may seep considerably after rains (MTN Project)

• Seattle's Vertical World climbing gym and Colorado's C3 Manufacturing will pay a $6 million settlement for a 2019 climbing accident caused by a faulty auto-belay device. The incident revealed C3's awareness of defects and resulted in $300,000 in sanctions for withholding evidence. (Source)

🚵‍♀️ Mountain Biking

• A significant development plan is underway to build more mountain bike (MTB) trails in the Santiam Canyon, east of Salem. Feedback is being solicited from the public, with a chance to win a $25 REI Gift Card for participating (Give your feedback Here)

• The 5th annual Sasquatch Six-Hour Mountain Bike Endurance Race will take place on Sunday, October 8th, at Mount Emily Recreation Area near La Grande, Oregon. The race offers individual and team options, with a special challenge for bike and outdoor shop teams. (Register Here)

• On September 6, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) deputies recovered 15 stolen bicycles, primarily high-end mountain and electric bikes, estimated to be worth around $45,000. The suspect, a 16-year-old male, has been arrested and charged with Possession of Stolen Property 1st Degree. (source)

• Key Pen Parks is seeking public support for its project to acquire 360 Trails, potentially through a Trust Land Transfer nomination with Washington State. Messages of support for the project can be submitted via email to the office by September 25, and further details can be found here.

🏔️ Mountaineering

• The individual attempted the Twin Sisters Traverse but backed out due to patches of ice and crevasses on the glacier. They were alone and deemed it unsafe to continue the hike.

• A near-miss incident was reported on the "Crawl Traverse" section of Three Finger Jack due to an unstable rock breaking off. Climbers advise using protective gear and emphasizing rock quality and vigilance on exposed Class Four routes. They mention a hidden piton at the start of the crawl for added safety.

❄️ Snow Sports

• The new Skyliner chair at Mt Bachelor will not be ready for the start of the season, despite earlier claims that it was on track.

• Brighton Resort in Utah is nearing completion of its first next-generation chairlift, Crest 6.

👷‍♀️ Jobs

• Olympic National Park is hiring for the positions of Recreation Fee Clerk and Technician for Summer 2024. The deadline to apply is September 17th. (USAJOBS)

• Weeble Mountain Casting seeks adaptive, trail, and distance runners aged 18+ for a Nike video shoot in Portland, OR from Sep 26-Oct 5. Application deadline is Sep 17. (Apply Here)

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