Comments from Merrick Re: 5 Finger Hill Closure

[Grumpy]

Somewhat true, the USFS is not doing this. The land that Plum Creek Logging owned is now managed Washington Department Of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). WDFW ended up with the land after the Nature Conservancy aquired it and did a land swap with Washington state. The manager of the Oak Creek Game Management unit put together a plan and put it thru the public comment process (where were your comments?) (this was a topic at a USFS sponsored TWIG mtg as well as at the PNW4WDA Wa exc Land Mtg) (and other WDFW meetings). WDFW is now starting to implement the plan. WDFW is not in the trail/road business, they manage wildlife and fish, so they are in the learning process with these lands.WDFW is mandating that the trails on their lands will be managed to state standards (Kinda like how DNR manages motorized lands) There is much to be done in the areas that WDFW aquired. A Discover Pass requirement is also part of that plan. With the numerous crossings of USFS and WFDW lands you best pay attention are you traverse the area. WDFW has enforcement in their plan. Woodpecker is being rerouted so that the start (lower end) of it is on the old Plum Creek road that PC put in for the last logging unit that PC harvested in the area prior to the sale of 16 sections in the Bald Mountain area. Other changes are to take place such as when multiple routes exist as part of the same trail they (the bypass's) will be closed down to where one will remain. Cow or Cattle Camp is on WDFW land as is Rock House, Bald Mtn, 4W675, 4w670, and numerous roads in the Rock Creek Drainage.The Motorcycle trail 966 will be returned to being a M/C trail (from Gold Creek to Bald Mtn)(short cut to Whistling Jacks from Bald Mtn).

It's been in the plans since WDFW aquired the lands. The last Nova funding cycle is where the monies came from. The plans were not fully funded. I know the Manager, he is a doer when it comes to these type of things.

Google Earth should show the trail that connects the FS1703(Gold Creek) (you must use the FS 1705, Spring Creek to get to the upper 1703) to Bald Mtn via a Motorcycle trail. Many years ago while under Plum Creek management the users converted the trail to 4x use. It is a very popular route. WDFW plans to return it to a M/C only trail.

Oh and by the way the FS1708 (Milk Creek) is open. It's back in pretty good shape to the point where it enters WDFW land (just past where the Lily Pond Trail spur road heads towards Lily Pond).