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We just got word about HR 4089, a House Bill that could significantly impact our National Forests. The bill, called the Sportsmen's Heritage Act, would give hunting, fishing and fish and wildlife management aimed at bolstering hunting and fishing top priority in Wilderness.

HR 4089 has the ability to fundamentally change the 1964 Wilderness Act by allowing the construction of roads to facilitate hunting and fishing, and it could be used to allow the construction of dams, buildings or other structures within Wilderness as well as habitat manipulations in Wilderness under the guise of "wildlife conservation" or for providing hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting experiences.

Specifically, it strips away the Wilderness Act's prohibitions on the use of motorized and mechanized vehicles, motorboats and aircraft, other motorized equipment, and structures and installations for any activity related to hunting, angling, recreational shooting, or wildlife conservation. It would waive "any requirements imposed by the Wilderness Act" for federal public land managers or state wildlife managers for any activity undertaken in the guise of wildlife management. 

Contact your senator now and urge them to oppose HR 4089!

The boys over at backcountryskiingcanada.com and innate-gear.com have created a new photo competition designed to put gear in your quiver on a weekly basis.

Enter on Mondays; win on Fridays. Pretty simple, eh.

Here's all the details

Summer Stoke Photo Comp

The current spell of great weather has created some fine snow conditions on Mt. Hood and other Northwest volcanoes. Still sporting near full winter coats of snow, spring conditions are evolving nicely, and the coverage is great. For skiers, now is an ideal time to climb Mt. Hood, attempt a summit ski or simply ski some of her more prominent features like Barret Spur, the Wyeast Face or even the killer circumnavigation of the full mountain.

Of course, cold nights are best for setting up safe and primo skiing and climbing conditions, so keep an eye on the weather before you pull the trigger for a day on the hill.

Check out our cool Mt Hood climbing routes and features poster; it's got aerial photographs of Mt Hood from all aspects with all of Mt Hood's climbing routes and their first ascent dates.

Hood River area mountain bikers should turn out to hear Jim Thornton from the USFS share his experience with building mountain bike trails for the USFS. Given the ice storm damage this winter and the industrious trail building scene here in Hood River, it's a great time to learn some of the finer points of trail design, construction and maintenance. Thornton has, dare I say, decades of trail building experience, and he is a passionate mountain biker. From design and ride flow to reducing impact and the best tools for the job,Thornton will share his years of experience.

WHEN: Wednesday May 16, 7pm

WHERE: Dog River Coffee

Thanks to the hardwork of WSDOT crews, the North Cascades Highway 20 is scheduled to open at noon on May 10 (today!). Crews started clearing the 34-mile stretch of closed highway on March 26 with their sites set on opening by the first week of May. Although they didn't quite meet their goal, we are psyched to see the road opening tomorrow.  Thanks to a March and April flush with storms, the snowpack is sure to serve up excellent spring skiing for many weeks to come.

For those in the know, Highway 20 allows some of the most extensive and varied roadside attraction skiing in the the lower 48. From the classic chutes and lines out of Hairpin Valley and Washington Pass to extended tours from Rainy Pass, the North Cascades have it all.

What are you waiting for? Get packing...need some beta