Outdoors offices emphasize cooperation between hunters, hikers

CRAIG PARRISH

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The need for cooperation among hunters, hikers and others enjoying the outdoors this time of year has been magnified this week after a Skagit County hiker was accidentally killed by a 14-year-old hunter Saturday, Aug. 2.

Pamela Almli, a 54-year-old from Oso, was shot as she hiked on Sauk Mountain near Concrete, the first non-hunter to die in a hunting accident in Washington state, Fish and Wildlife Capt. Bill Hebner told the Everett Herald. The teenager was reportedly hunting for black bear with his 16-year-old brother.

In the aftermath of the shooting, state officials and trail users have sought to place more emphasis on safety measures and the need for extra caution when the paths of hunters and others cross.

Easy: Hannegan Trail at mile post 46 off Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542) is a slowly descending trek into the Chilliwack Val-ley, said Sumer Singh, wilderness ranger for the North Cascades National Park. It then gains elevation as hikers continue toward What-com Pass. It also is recommended as a day hike, Singh said, as it leads to the national park, where hikers can camp overnight and other amenities are available.

Moderate: Copper Ridge Trail offers a more challenging hike, as it gains about 2,000 feet in elevation. For access, hikers first need to enter the Hannegan Trail. About five miles in, the trail splits; Hannegan Trail continues, and Copper Ridge Trail offers a more difficult alternative.

TRAIL INFO

Hikers are advised to check road and trail conditions before starting.
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/
Phone: For trails accessed from Mount Baker Highway, call the Glacier Public Service Center at 599-2714. Otherwise, call (360) 856-5700, ext. 515.
North Cascades National Park
Web site: http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/trail-conditions.htm

In a press release Monday, Aug. 4, the Washington Trails Association lamented the accident that killed Almli and stressed the necessity for hikers to take preventive measures.

Hikers are continually encouraged to follow a core group of rules while in the wild - keep hydrated, be wary of moving water, know your surroundings, don't overlook the snowmelt. But there are occasions in which hikers and walkers have to share ground with armed hunters.

"For many of us, the woods are a place we go to find peace and tranquility, and a connection to nature that is not easily found elsewhere," wrote Lauren Braden, communications director for Washington Trails Association. "Hiking is usually a safe and wonderful experience. But it does come with certain dangers, just like any other activity. Hikers should always take precautions and be prepared to follow their instincts."

The agency listed several recommendations for hikers:

Wear bright clothing. Make yourself more visible. Choose colors that stand out, like bright blue or green and avoid blacks, browns, earth tones and animal-colored clothing.

Make noise. Whistle, sing or carry on a conversation as you walk to alert hunters to your presence. Sound carries well across mountain basins, and hunters should be listening for any sounds of animal movement.

Make yourself known. If you do hear shooting, raise your voice and let hunters know you're in the vicinity.

Know when hunting seasons are. You can continue to hike, but be aware of where hunting is taking place. Grouse and bear hunting season is typically September through December. October is the high point of hunting season, including deer and elk. Hunting is not allowed in national parks.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) said in a press release that its managers "plan to examine hunter-education practices, possible hunting-age restrictions and other potential safety improvements for areas where mixed-use recreation occurs during hunting seasons."

The WDFW said the black-bear hunting season began Aug. 1, and that more than 200,000 hunters go afield each year in Washington.

Craig Parrish can be reached at craig.parrish@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2279.

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Thursday, Aug. 07, 2008

Outdoors offices emphasize cooperation between hunters, hikers

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