Close the gate.
The spectacular natural resources of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are being loved to death, with only a lone ranger to patrol 900 miles of trails.
Who controls entry doesn’t matter as much as the fact that crowds are discouraged until a staffing and management plan is fully in place.
As The Times reported last week, the Enchantments are a popular hiking, backpacking and climbing destination in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of the Central Cascades.
Last year, the Forest Service employed 11 wilderness rangers to patrol the Enchantments and several thousand acres beyond in the Wenatchee River Ranger District. This year, the district is down to one, the result of staffing cuts by President Donald Trump and a Biden-era hiring freeze on seasonal workers.
Hikers set a new season record last month, as an estimated 2,400 people visited in one day over the July 4 weekend, according to an informal accounting. That is far higher than the previous record of roughly 1,800 hikers in a single day.
This kind of use has turned to abuse.
Piles of human waste overflow pit toilets, trash litters trailheads and roads, unprepared day hikers chase that TikTok dream with little outdoor experience or respect for Mother Nature.
Volunteers have stepped up to haul out refuse, and they deserve a hearty thanks.
But Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison says he is contemplating closing the last gate on the road leading to the popular Colchuck Lake trailhead. It’s one of the most popular locations, and a locked gate would add 7 miles of walking, eliminate most legal parking and send a signal that the free-for-all is over.
Does Morrison have jurisdiction?
A Forest Service spokesperson told The Times that there are no closure plans. It may take a decision from higher-ups in Washington, D.C., to restrict access in such a recreation area.
Better for Morrison to seek forgiveness than ask permission.
All the stakeholders, local governments and federal agencies must redouble efforts to find a workable solution to staffing and management challenges. But protecting the fragile alpine areas is obviously proving impossible while crowds continue to swarm.
Take a break, marshal resources, come up with a plan. The Enchantments are part of the magic of the Pacific Northwest. People around here have a stake in their enduring beauty, even if they never set foot on a trail.
Close the gate.
