Sumas Mountain in Whatcom County

[G_Stratton]

I recieved a call today from Christ Thompson with DNR, about the resent surge of 4x4 activity at Sumas Mountain.

With the closure of the unofficial ORV trails at North Fork in Whatcom County, it seems a lot of users have moved over to Sumas Mountain.

What Christ wanted put out to the 4x4 community is all ORV use on Sumas Mountain is restricted to the established roads (logging roads). ORVs are not allowed on any other trails in this area.

Trespassing onto private property adjacent to DNR lands at Sumas Mountain has also been noted and DNR is placing up boundary and warning signs.

I’m expecting an official email from DNR on this and will post it to the boards as soon as I receive it.

Guy
VP of Northern Toys 4x4 Club

[Big_MARK]

Thanks for the update.


Bummer deal for you folks up North, seems like you guys have been geting the squeeze as of late.

:confused:

[Lynn Davison]

I should'nt be supprised at Christ Thomson or DNR's response, however, DNR made it very clear to me in the gravel pit at the North Fork, that all ORV use was to stop here and go to Sumas or Walker Valley.

DNR is closing all these areas up north with NO documented dammage reports to the inviorment or statistics to back up accidents.

I visited the FAQ section on the DNR web site. They answered with the same non-factual response. Below are a few questions I asked DNR to post answers to.



- Could you please compare and show the number of hiker, mountain biker, horseback rider and sightseer accidents or injuries compared to ORV accidents?

- Could you please show the sediment damage statistical facts from logging, natural weather, (ie. rain runoff), and Native American year round netting of our rivers, compared to ORV use?



I appreciate your efforts in providing a FAQ page for all to see.

Thank you,

Lynn Davison

[Kimmy]

Lynn, do you remember back in the 80's (and yes some of us are that old to have been 4 wheeling then) when there was an attempt to get an ORV park at Sumas Mtn, Van Zandt Dike...do you ever remember 4 wheeling at Saxon or even going the 7 crossings and ending up E of SW?, what about Cub Creek or the Vinyards, or even Galbraith before we got kicked out and the mountain bikers took over all the old 4wd trails... nothing really changes, once trails get made and people abuse them, the area gets shut down. Or if we are not "wanted" in an area, it gets closed rather than find a place for us to go.

Go out to Whatcom County Parks or the Bham Library in the reference section, there are copies of the proposed ORV area back then, until the county takes an active part in believing there is a 4wheel drive/ATV/Motorcycle community that needs a place to recreate there is no chance. Zoning needs to be changed (similar to Reiter). Let me know if you need help locating the materials...

[Lynn Davison]

Hi Kimmy, yes I do remember wheeling at all the places you mentioned. I will get copies of paperwork you speak of and start making the County Council get tired of looking at and hearing from me.

Need to try to get something going up here!

Thanks, Lynn

[Kimmy]

The guides or manuals are 1/2" thick each and there are a few of them, also there are or is a study that was done sometime in the '80's when we had Jennifer Belcher as the Comm. of Public Lands (she did not like motorized use) I think that may have been done by Whatcom County. Check it out from the Library - its a lot easier unless you just want to review it at the Parks dept office on Mt. Baker Hwy (dont think you can take them from the office)

[Lynn Davison]

This shows what an uphill battle anything in Whatcom County is. Chech out this site. :banghead:


www.savesumasmountain.com

SAVE SUMAS MOUNTAIN (part II) Home

No Designated ORV Use Areas In Whatcom County
The slopes of Sumas Mountain are a patchwork of private and public land. This lush lower mountain ecosystem provides a rich diversity of habitat for native species, forest products for industry, clean water for streams, recreational opportunities for the citizens of Whatcom County and the state, and a sanctuary for those who live in its shadow. These lands are a gift and responsibility and we don’t take them lightly.

We support the multiple use of public lands, but recently these lands are again coming under attack from a form of recreation that has not proved to be a good neighbor. Irresponsible ORV use is currently providing means for trespass on public and private property, spoiling streams, ripping up fragile slopes, causing erosion, and damaging forest resources in many areas.

17 years ago a Save Sumas Mountain campaign was successfully mounted against a group proposing an ORV area on Sumas Mountain, and they are working to open the area again. This is not something we want to support with our public money!

Please join us in taking action against the designation of any ORV public areas in Whatcom County.

[Kimmy]

Wheres Jim Putnam/PNW4WDA?

[samuri-on35s]

i know its been a while but wasnt there talkes of walker vally being closed too? at least to big rigs. isnt there money set aside just for a place to off road at? and if there is how come there are less and less places to four wheel at up norht here?

[korn]

I checked out the sumas mountain web site . Does anyone know who is heading this thing up? I remember a few years back when the mountain bikers were fighting to get us out of the lower north fork area and when the D'n R finally pulled the plug , they were shocked to find out that they to couldn't ride in the area. Anyway, I hope we can somehow keep the Sumas mountain area open to people as you see that the more places they close, it just pushes people over to another area. Bellingham being such a greenie town does'nt help either , but it is clear we need a orv park up here.

[Murk]

I just joined their group. One of the best ways to effect change with these orgs is to join and change the direction of the group. Change can often happen by following their own bylaws. If enough like minded people join we can change the direction of this group to one more slanted to our sport. All while still protecting the resource. Look towards the goals of the RTW. Perhaps not as simple as I make it sound but stranger things have happened.