Adopt a wilderness
Join us in "adopting a wilderness," one or more of several roadless areas in the Columbia Highlands that deserve the highest level of protection under the Wilderness Act.
Today, roadless areas such as Thirteenmile, Twin Sisters, Bald Snow, Quartzite, and Hall Mountain/Grassy Top need your voice speaking on their behalf. We invite you to become a guardian by "adopting" one or more of several roadless areas in the Columbia Highlands–a free, easy and effective way to help these wild lands receive the highest level of protection under the Wilderness Act.
These are exciting times in the Columbia Highlands, with management of the Colville National Forest, including the future of wild areas in the Kettle River Range and Selkirk Mountains of northeastern Washington, gaining bipartisan attention from members of Congress.
Although the Forest Service, in its sneak preview of draft wilderness recommendations likely to be released sometime in 2010, gave serious wilderness consideration to just 4 of our 21 Colville National Forest IRAs (inventoried roadless areas) the final decision from the Forest Service and Congress on which areas will be recommended and designated wilderness is far from certain.
In wilderness campaigns across the nation over the many years since passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act, the voices of local people and other passionate citizens who know, love, and speak up for individual wild lands have often made the difference between areas receiving permanent protection or getting left behind in legislation.
Are you the one?
We are looking for people who already know at least one of these special places in the Colville National Forest, as well as people willing to commit to visit their chosen place and help us advocate on the land's behalf.
You may adopt as many roadless areas as you like; or, adopt an area with a club or group of friends.
After you have picked a roadless area, download our reporting form to document your experience. Hike, snowshoe, ski, horseback ride, backpack, or hunt in your adopted area—you can also plan a road trip and camp near the edges of your adopted area, or even take photos of it from nearby viewpoints.
Endless experience
The Columbia Highlands offer numerous opportunities to enjoy a wilderness experience!
You can snowshoe to the summit of Snow Peak in the Bald-Snow Roadless Area to see on a clear day the spires of the Cascades to the west and the crags of the Selkirks to the east—a reminder that these roadless areas provide a crucial landscape link for wildlife. Or watch for bighorn sheep graze the fescue meadows of Hall Mountain from a car parked at the placid shores of Sullivan lake. You are limited only by your imagination.
Get serious, share your story
Once you've visited your roadless area, we ask that you share your story. Write a trip report on the Washington Trails Association website. Upload pictures to the Columbia Highlands Flickr and Facebook pages. Inspire friends to join you on a trip to your area!
We hope that by adopting a wilderness area you become a lean, mean wilderness-advocating machine.
When it comes to the future of your area, we want to be able to rely on you to help inspire emails and letters, publish quotes in press releases and articles, record beautiful photos, write captivating testimonies of descriptions and experiences, and create compelling art, poetry, or even short video clips inspired by your special place. We may ask you to help inspire your friends, family, and coworkers to write letters supporting wilderness when the time is right.
Please adopt a wilderness area today. Your voice can ensure the permanent protection of the last remaining wild lands of northeastern Washington.
