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Canyon Creek (Bearpaw) Update

S

snowracer21

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
As many of you know, the FS placed concrete blocks at 5.2 miles on Canyon Cr. Luckily this winter the snow was low enough to ride from the blocks. As of a few months ago, the snow level raised and Bearpaw was unaccessible.

A few weeks ago, someone moved the blocks (probably campers :face-icon-small-win)

Well, the FS found out and decided to do this:
attachment.php


It's difficult to tell, but, there is 5-6 very large tank traps, and large boulders throughout, and they buried the cement blocks, too.


The FS has the $$ to fix the washout, even though it doesn't NEED to be fixed, as there is already a driveable path around the washout...

The FS claims they do not have the money.

The FS instead, spent a large amount of money (fuel, wages, equipment etc) to absolutely destroy the road making in impassible for everyone.

When and IF the FS decided to fix the washout, they will now need to fix the tank traps, too, increasing the total project costs..

The FS works for us, US CITIZENS and TAXPAYERS! This is OUR LAND, the FS duty is to maintain our multi use land, NOT close off millions of acres of prime dirtbiking, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, camping PUBLIC LAND.


This is also a post to alert other riders who may have heard that the blocks were moved... do not drive all the way up there only to be disappointed.
 
hate to say it but for those that trusted that the FS was going to do the right thing without citizens standing up for their rights, this is what happens. this is what happens when the snowmobile community sits back and does nothing. The FS primary agenda is to close down as much public land as possible, they will lie and deceive to achieve that, and this is a perfect example. very sad. Schreibers will be next, that road is currently sliding and will no doubt be deemed "unsafe" soon as a tool to close access.
 
They did the same thing at Priest Lake years ago. They said the bridge was bad and it needed to be replaced. They removed it to to install the new one and never came back. That is how they do things. They can close areas without asking that way.
 
it would be great if the club could chime in here with some more info- i.e. has the forest service been contacted yet and what is the explanation.
 
this thread perfectly captures the essence of the lack of giving a chit by snowmobilers in this area. This is an incredibly unique one of a kind high mountain riding area in washington. i know, i have ridden it years ago when i lived in Washington. 565 people have viewed this thread and no one seems to give a chit. your willing to just let them take it away with no fight? what is wrong with you people? do you just routinely sit back and let the forest circus take away your riding areas with no involvement? do you guys have a pulse? hard to believe. Every day and minute that passes with this illegal "closure" will make it harder and harder to get it re-opened. I can tell you that no one else is doing the work like you might think- YOU need to get involved. WSSA will do nothing so forget about them. Sonny Perdue needs to hear from YOU. the pro access Trump administration provides a unique opportunity work in our favor for snowmobile access and potentially squash some of these liberal district rangers. but it wont just magically happen without EFFORT. i sent letters on this last summer and i don't even live in the state!! Wake the f up!! oh and bitc*ing about it on snowest is preaching to the choir, take it to the forest circus and the agriculture secretary!
 
Email

"anhall@fs.fed.us" Adrienne Hall USFS is a dead email as of today.
I have contacted Erin at 'euloth@fs.fed.us' in the past regarding Canyon Creek FS Rd #31 near Glacier WA.
 
Response

Regarding Repairs to Canyon Creek FS Rd # 31: Erin responds: "still estimating fall 2018. Fed Highways and the FS are both overwhelmed by roads issues and there’s a lot of work across the region to complete."
Make sure all your elected officials are aware we want that road fixed. Remember the FS is usually on our side as it is job security to most of them. The Whatcom snowmobile club should chime in. Washington State Parks and recreation needs to be alerted to stay on this.
Finally: We as a group may need to fund an attorney, just to keep the process "honest".
 
eddy said:
Regarding Repairs to Canyon Creek FS Rd # 31: Erin responds: "still estimating fall 2018. Fed Highways and the FS are both overwhelmed by roads issues and there’s a lot of work across the region to complete."
Make sure all your elected officials are aware we want that road fixed. Remember the FS is usually on our side as it is job security to most of them. The Whatcom snowmobile club should chime in. Washington State Parks and recreation needs to be alerted to stay on this.
Finally: We as a group may need to fund an attorney, just to keep the process "honest".
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting in touch with her. her response is a lie. "estimating" is the key word, zero commitment or accountability for the FS. the closure will set precedent for X amount of time and then its over, thats why shes dragging it on. Need action now. If anyone is motivated to do anything i would suggest a call to Sonny Perdues office. Again, no one else is working on this so don't be fooled that someone else is doing the work. WSSA is doing nothing, parks nothing, etc.
 
I wrote Erin a snail-mail letter, figured it had a better chance than her email inbox:

Erin Uloth, District Ranger
Mt. Baker Ranger District
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1263

The letter stated the importance of the Canyon Creek area to our family for recreation and asked:
a) That she would suggest any methods for helping facilitate movement towards the road repair process
b) For information on the FS road repair planning process & status updates.

As I understand this road is maintained by the Forest Service (under the USDA), not sure of the impact of contacting Mr. Zinke at the Dept of Interior (BLM & Parks). That being said I'm sure glad to have Mr. Zinke running the DoI as opposed to his predecessor.

I'll post back with anything I hear...
 
LeftField said:
I wrote Erin a snail-mail letter, figured it had a better chance than her email inbox:

Erin Uloth, District Ranger
Mt. Baker Ranger District
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1263

The letter stated the importance of the Canyon Creek area to our family for recreation and asked:
a) That she would suggest any methods for helping facilitate movement towards the road repair process
b) For information on the FS road repair planning process & status updates.

As I understand this road is maintained by the Forest Service (under the USDA), not sure of the impact of contacting Mr. Zinke at the Dept of Interior (BLM & Parks). That being said I'm sure glad to have Mr. Zinke running the DoI as opposed to his predecessor.

I'll post back with anything I hear...
Click to expand...

well, your right it looks like Sonny Perdue is the guy! Trump appointed him as agriculture secretary a little over a month ago. thanks for writing your letter.
 
Block removal

Remember at the beginning of the season there was a.alot of talk of people bring up there own equipment to move the blocks. Many offered there time and equipment to help with this. Many other of us strongly opposed this. This is exactly what was said would happen. The forest service is just looking for a reason to shut this down. Now they got it. We can only hope it was campers that did this but I have my doubt.
 
Update / Response from USFS

Hi,

Got a prompt and nicely written response back from USFS regarding the Canyon Creek road closure/repair (Erin Uloth). She said this a popular year-round use road and indicated that they are in the process of planning and design on this and a significant number of other damaged roads from the past season. The funding for repair of this road will come from the Federal Highways fund (might be good news?) with an expected re-opening in 2018. Not ideal news but much better than the alternatives.

Left Field
 
i picked up the phone and called Erin Uloth on Monday this week. She answered and i had about a 10 minute conversation with her. Overall, it was a good chat. She got a bit offended when i stated that i believed the FS has an agenda to close public lands. She refuted that concept, which is to be expected, but i firmly believe they have that agenda which is driven by special interest groups such as the sierra club. She told me that the Canyon creek road should be fixed late summer 2018. she said Geotechnical engineers have been up there looking at the site in the last few weeks. When i asked why they went up and tore up the road she said it was for "safety", which i believe is BS. I told her that those funds to tear up the road could have been put toward repairing the road. she said the road repair will cost 250k and she had a couple grand in the budget to tear it up for "safety". I asked her if it is true that the US customs and border protection has offered funds to repair the road. she said it is true, but their funds are for "maintenance", not the actual repair. this was a bit odd. she said she hopes the funding to repair the road is coming from a federal grant. I'd strongly suggest that others call and keep the heat on her. Although i had a good chat with her, i still believe that her intentions are not in the favor of snowmobilers. Her direct line is (360) 854-2601. i will be putting a call in to the chief of the Forest Service in Washington DC as well regarding this road. In another tidbit i asked her why the FS is always broke and she told me half of the funding goes to firefighting. I did not ask her about this but I know a good percentage of it goes to settling lawsuits by enviro groups such as the sierra club as well. Sadly, this is a primary source of funding for many of these enviro groups.....yes your tax dollars are going straight to the Sierra club. Anyway, pick up the phone today and make some calls. her directly AND Her superiors in DC.
 
Thank you

New to the forum, rarely do the forum thing, let alone check emails.
Just wanted to say it's really inspiring to see how persistent people have been with inquiring about fixing this road.
By "fixing the road," I mean fixing what the forest service did.
Here's my 2 cents -
[In my opinion the washout is already fixed, the hill fell down which re-routed the river preventing further erosion, then somebody widened that spot making it safer. As a current employee for WSDOT, I can tell you that there are far scarier cliffs to drive off of up by the ski area. Look at the road to Artist Point...
I have a feeling, judging by the fashion of how substantial that tank trap **** was constructed, it's permanent.]
I also heard a rumor BTW. Apparently there was money donated by a certain bazillion $ organization to a certain snowmachine organization specifically for road repairs on canyon creek.. I know a kid in the forest service..

In conclusion, I own a 1ton 4x4 dump truck and am willing to volunteer my time/fuel to "fixing the road" up canyon creek.
It is a very special place for me and my family and friends to hike, ride bikes, and most importantly BRAAAAPPPPPPPP!!!
Let me know about any canyon creek volunteering
home - 3607386960 - paul

picture is my family up canyon creek, just across the bridge on the left (past the washout). My sledding pics are too much for anyone to handle... haha

DSCN1987.jpg
 
Last edited:
for info: the tank traps have been fixed, and the road is cleared all the way to the warming hut by excelsior.

BUT: the FS has installed a gate at the same location the road has been closed ~5 miles in.

Who knows if they'll open it during the winter?
 
I was walking up there with my family the other day and saw the new gate which appears to be permanent. A border patrol guy and forest service guy were on their four wheelers headed up the road with the gate closed behind them. Hopefully they don't patrol it in on the extra snowy snow days :):wine:
 
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