Spring is finally here and we are enjoying the extra minutes of daylight that creep into the evening this time of year and the promise of warmer weather ahead.
It is time, too, for the annual migration of hundreds of thousands of shorebirds who will stop on their journey north to feed and rest here in the Grays Harbor estuary. Over the course of about three weeks, residents and visitors will be able to marvel at the multitude of winged creatures, including Dunlin, Western Sandpipers, herons, Plover, loons, Surf Scoters, swallows and pelicans. Folks come from all over the world to experience this spectacular event.
I look forward to this event with great anticipation, especially the hike I lead each year as part of the Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival. Even though I have been taking groups along trails in the South Quinault Ridge for 12 years, I still get a thrill out of seeing a child's reaction to the wonders this natural treasure has to offer right here in Grays Harbor County.
Starting at only 350 feet above sea level, South Quinault Ridge is home to the largest block of temperate ancient rain forest in the lower 48 states without permanent protection. Over the span of about three miles, the forested slopes steadily climb up from the southern shore of Lake Quinault nearly 3,000 feet into the mist that frequents the Quinault Valley. Old growth timber, including Douglas fir and Western red cedars — some more than 60 feet in circumference and 200 feet tall — help give the ridge its wild, unspoiled character.
On the nature trails that begin just across the road from the historic Lake Quinault Lodge, we run into people of all ages marveling at the enormous mossy trees and chatting excitedly about the wild creatures they saw or hope to see. One can often spot deer, Douglas squirrels, bald eagles, osprey, Roosevelt elk and even the occasional river otter.
I know the shorebirds stop in Grays Harbor because of the rich food sources. And many of us choose to keep our families here because of the area's unspoiled beauty and sparkling clear water. Even though the Quinault Ridge is not threatened under current Forest Service rules, there is no guarantee this incredible low-elevation old-growth forest will stay as it is. It needs permanent protection! Fortunately, a coalition of conservation and recreation groups called the Wild Olympics Campaign, led by local residents and forest users, have begun a dialogue on how to protect these spectacular resources for future generations.
They have built a broad and diverse coalition of local citizens, business owners, conservationists, fishermen, local elected officials, user groups and others to discuss how best to conserve what we love about the area. The coalition recognizes that there are diverse interests and opinions. A draft proposal would see some places on Olympic National Forest, including South Quinault Ridge and nearby Moonlight Dome, safeguarded as wilderness — the highest and best form of protection. This designation would mean that our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren will always be able to enjoy this backyard treasure. They will have a wide range of recreational pursuits including birding, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding here.
As the campaign broadens its conversations in Grays Harbor County, a few misconceptions have arisen — especially regarding recreational access — that are worth taking a moment to clear up here. Yes, mechanized travel is prohibited in wilderness, but what those opposed to wilderness designation fail to mention is that most trails on Olympic National Forest are closed to mechanized access anyway, as they are on South Quinault Ridge.
In addition, the Wild Olympics Campaign has been careful to draw its draft wilderness boundaries to come down to the perimeter of — but not include — the nature loop trails themselves. This means that while a wilderness designation would finally provide South Quinault Ridge the permanent protection it truly deserves, no existing trail use or trail access would be affected at all. Instead, it would provide an incredibly rare thing — a low-elevation Ancient Forest Wilderness area only a short five-minute detour off Route 101.This is family-friendly wilderness access at its best.
As they continue getting public input in Grays Harbor and the rest of the peninsula, the campaign continues to work with other local citizens to identify and resolve differences or clear up confusion over access or any other issue that remains. To learn more and offer your input into these ongoing conversations, visit www.wildolympics.org, or attend the upcoming Wild Olympics public workshop at the Hub in Grays Harbor College from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12th.
As I look forward to our yearly visit from the migrating birds and sharing this spectacular area with fellow hikers, I am encouraged by the robust discussion moving forward to keep some of this natural treasure in its wild state — not just for the birds, but for all of us.
Janet Strong is a resident of McCleary.
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