Above: A hiker follows the congressional route of the PNT on DNR lands near Mount Josephine.
Over 300 concerned citizens, including PNTA staff and members, joined Washington DNR to review maps, watch presentations, and submit comments at two community meetings as part of the ongoing Baker to Bellingham recreation planning process this February.
With your support, new DNR trails could potentially be developed that would benefit trailside communities in Whatcom County and greatly improve the route of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail between the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Chuckanut Range–the 50 mile portion of Section 7 which climbs the foothills of the Northern Cascade Range. Currently, the PNT passes through private property and DNR lands which are managed primarily for timber production.
A proposed trail along portions of the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River could offer an opportunity to relocate the PNT to the north and to greatly enhance the scenic quality of the trail. Ultimately, this relocation could achieve a quality of experience which is more consistent with the character of a National Scenic Trail across the length of Section 7, which includes world-class hiking trails in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and North Cascades National Park to the east.
You can read about the effort by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association to improve the PNT in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, in the eastern half of Section 7, here.
The next advisory committee meetings are open to the public and will be held in Acme on Tuesday, March 13th and April 10th.
Those who can’t attend a public meeting are encouraged to comment on the process. Writing an effective public comment does not have to be time consuming. Helpful comments can consist of just a few sentences that clearly and respectfully express your unique point of view.