The Mountaineers
Maintaining access to Washington’s cherished landscapes and the recreational opportunities they support frequently requires partnership between the State and federal land managers. Drastic reductions to the federal workforce and a looming state budget deficit underscore the need for creative solutions to safe and sustainable access to Washington’s lands and waters this year and beyond.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson joined Mountaineers staff and our conservation and recreation partners at our Seattle Program Center on March 13 to announce $623,000 in state funding to restore access to the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park. Governor Ferguson is an avid mountaineer and understands the importance of recreation access to connect outdoor enthusiasts to the natural world across Washington, including on the Olympic Peninsula.
Last December, heavy rainfall and a surging Hoh River took out the Upper Hoh Road - the only road access to the Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center and popular recreational opportunities in the area. Community members and visitors have been unable to access Mt. Olympus and the Hoh Rainforest without the road. To fund the road repair efforts, the Governor’s office has directed the use of funds from the emergency Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account.
“The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the crown jewels of Olympic National Park and Washington’s coastal communities,” Ferguson said. “It is also a critical driver of tourism on the Olympic Peninsula. We cannot allow access to remain closed during the peak visitor season, costing Washington businesses tourism dollars that rural communities rely on.” During the press conference, Governor Ferguson also shared about his personal recreational trips to the Hoh Rainforest and the value of the area to recreationists and tourists from across the world.
The Hoh Rainforest and the wilderness areas of the Olympic Mountains continue to be a popular destination for Mountaineers programs and activities, from climbs of Mount Olympus for glacier travel students to backpacking trips along the Hoh River trail for our youth programs. Tom Vogl, The Mountaineers CEO, spoke at the press conference and shared that The Mountaineers already has seven trips scheduled for this summer that would have been canceled without the Governor’s leadership. “While there are unfortunately many barriers to folks getting outside, a washed out road shouldn’t be one,” Tom said. The Hoh River Road could reopen as soon as May, thanks to this funding and a new road repair plan.
Mountaineers youth trip in the Hoh River area. Photo by Jeff Otjen.
This announcement of plans to restore access comes at a time of uncertainty for our federally managed recreation lands. Last month, the Trump administration took steps to reduce the workforce at the National Park Service and Forest Service, and further reductions in those workforces are planned. Safe and sustainable access to Washington’s national parks and forests relies on a robust and thriving workforce of federal land managers. Take action to ask Congress to re-invest in the National Parks Service and Forest Service using our action tool.
To learn more, view the full video of the Governor’s press conference.
