BrinnonProsperity.org

I CAN GUARANTY THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF WTA MEMBERS WANT THIS ROAD.......the actions of WTA Directors do not reflect the wishes and needs of the membership ...... ken shock

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Taking the Long Way Around -
The WTA would like the Dosewallips River Road to remain closed

By Seabury Blair Jr., For The Kitsap Sun
June 27, 2006

[color=darkred]The Dosewallips River Road is still washed out, although some
organizations hope the closed road is all washed up.
Washington Trails Association, which once favored rebuilding the road
where it washed out in January 2002, now wants the road closed at the
washout. The nonprofit trail advocate has placed the road on its annual
list of Ten Threatened Trails.

Association volunteer crews have built an excellent, though steep,
trail bypass around the washout. It switches back into forest above the
damaged road, then drops back to the right-of-way.
The washout closed popular Elkhorn Campground in Olympic National
Forest and Dosewallips Campground in Olympic National Park. It added 5.2
miles to trails up both forks of the Dosewallips River to favorite hiking
destinations like Anderson Pass and Dose Meadows.
Since the river ripped out the 600-foot section of roadway 10 miles
west of Highway 101 at Brinnon, the road beyond has deteriorated. Eight
big blowdowns and three rockslides block or partially block the route.
Hikers will encounter an additional obstacle on the Dose Road this
summer: the culvert at Case Creek, about 2 miles below the big washout, has
been destroyed. The creek carves a ditch across the road and the
Olympic National Forest monthly report advises motorists to park at Case
Creek and walk the extra 2 miles to the big washout.
High-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles can make it across the Case
Creek damage. Several compact sedans were parked at the main washout last
week, indicating that some drivers were willing to risk the bumpy, wet
Case Creek area.
The monthly report says the Case culvert is scheduled to be replaced
"some time after" July 16.
Most of the closed road is in Olympic National Forest, which is
awaiting the review of a draft environmental impact statement by other federal
agencies. Dean Yoshina, Hood Canal district ranger, says the impact
statement should be available for public review within a couple of weeks.
The draft outlines 6 alternatives for resolving the road issue,
including leaving the road closed and repairing the road along several
alternate routes. Yoshina says that following public review and comment, the
Forest Service will issue a final impact statement, including a
preferred alternative.
Until there’s a final decision, the hike up the closed road makes a
pleasant day-hike or backpack. Families with younger children might opt
for the 2-mile roundtrip walk to the closed Elkhorn Campground, which
still has picnic tables and fire rings â€â€