Betsy Robblee
When it comes to building support for our advocacy priorities, there’s no substitute for recreating together with lawmakers and land managers out on public lands. Washington state’s congressional delegation is filled with champions of conservation and recreation, and Senator Patty Murray tops that list. Earlier this week, I joined partners from the Forest Service and the Wild Olympics Campaign to hike the Gray Wolf Trail on Olympic National Forest with Senator Murray, where we discussed her Wild Olympics Bill.
The Wild Olympics bill, or the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, would designate the first Wilderness areas on Olympic National Forest in more than 30 years and the first ever Wild and Scenic Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. The legislation would permanently protect clean water and wildlife habitat while also protecting and expanding world-class outdoor recreation opportunities offered by places like the Gray Wolf watershed. The trail we hiked travels through forest that would be protected as Wilderness and is within the Gray Wolf Wild and Scenic River corridor.
The gathering was a great opportunity to celebrate the important work that’s been done to build support for the bill and inspire Senator Murray to keep up the momentum for Wild Olympics in the months ahead in Washington, D.C. You can read more about the hike in Senator Murray’s press release.
The Gray Wolf River and Bridge from South Side Campsite, Olympic National Forest. Photo by Ginger Sarver.
Protecting the Wild Olympics
First introduced by Senator Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) in 2012, if passed, the Wild Olympics bill would protect more than 126,000 acres of federal land managed by the Olympic National Forest and designate 19 new Wild and Scenic Rivers in Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park. The bill enjoys broad and strong local support on the Olympic Peninsula and in the Hood Canal region.
The Wild Olympics bill was reintroduced last April and recently advanced out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The bill has also passed the House several times in recent years, and is poised for inclusion in a future package of public lands bills.
“It’s so important that we pass my Wild Olympics bill to protect this land and natural resources for generations to come,” said Senator Murray. “My bill already passed through the Committee, which was a big win, and I am going to keep up the fight to get this bill across the finish line.”
Over the past decade, we have worked with a diverse group of partners and coalition members to support Congress in creating more protections for wildlands and scenic rivers surrounding the Olympic National Park where we hike, camp, and explore.
Our Mountaineers community leads many trips to the Olympics, including hiking, backpacking, and stewardship activities, and we believe that protecting these beloved areas will ensure visitors can enjoy the lush natural beauty of the Olympic Peninsula for generations to come. Outdoor enthusiasts like you took action many times to help build support for these important protections, and our advocacy is not done yet.
We thank Senator Murray for her ongoing dedication to passing the Wild Olympics bill and ensuring that future generations of Washingtonians can connect to nature through backcountry recreation in thriving forests and free-flowing rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
Stand up for the Wild Olympics
With the 118th Congress winding down at the end of the year, there’s a chance that the Wild Olympics Bill could move with an end of year package of public lands bills, but we need your support. Raise your voice for wilderness protection on the Olympic Peninsula by signing the Wild Olympics Campaign’s petition.
The next time you’re out recreating on the Peninsula, consider spreading the word about the Wild Olympics initiative to your fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Together we can further protect one of Washington's special landscapes and the transformative outdoor experiences it provides.
