Dear Santa,
I hope it isn’t too soon to be writing out my Christmas wish-list but see, there is this Nature Writing Challenge thing and this week’s theme is “Your wish-list for Public Lands” and you seemed like the perfect person to share my wish-list with. You the professional procurer of wish-lists and all.
Santa, I’ve been really good this year. Not only did I sign up to donate regularly to the Washington Trails Association, I put in a bunch more hours volunteering for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. I even got an America The Beautiful Pass for reaching 250 hours, so you don’t have to worry about bringing me that this year.
Did you see how I finally became a crosscut sawyer? And helped replace the Northern Terminus at the Canadian border? There has to be some brownie points for that, I’m sure. Also, did you read all the Nature Writing Challenge posts I wrote advocating for public lands? I definitely have to be on the “Nice” list this year, right?
Anyway, Santa, I have just a few things on my list and I don’t think they will be very difficult AT ALL to get into your sleigh. Just tell Donner and Blitzen it’s for forests and water and all the places they like to run and play. I’m sure they will be happy to deliver!
Now, I know the topic is public lands in general but I couldn’t possibly have a wish-list that didn’t ask for things for my favorite use of public land, the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m sure some of the other writers in the challenge will give a shout out for the national parks, monuments and wildlife refuges. I gotta stay true to my love.
So Santa, here are the things I would love to have for the Pacific Crest Trail for Christmas this year:
The Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was a part of the 1964 Wilderness Act and helped protect 109 million acres of wilderness. Santa, the LWCF expired three years ago and received a three year stay that ended on September 30 this year without a vote from Congress. Don’t worry, I’m not mad at you that I didn’t get its renewal for my birthday because Christmas is your gig. But you could SO make things right in December. We just need our Senators and Representatives, most of whom support LWCF to reauthorize funding. I bet no one has more pull with Congress than you, Santa. This wish would definitely benefit the PCT and a lot of public lands. You can find out more here, Santa.
The Last 10% of Unprotected PCT
Santa, the Pacific Crest Trail Association has been doing some pretty amazing things to keep the trail as wild and maintained as possible. There is about 10% of it that does not fall under public lands protection yet and could be threatened by development that would ruin the wilderness experience that we have while hiking the trail. Just last year the PCTA was able to buy a section of the PCT at Stevens Pass from a private owner who wanted to close it off to hikers. The PCTA, then, turned it over to the US Forest Service to manage. If you could bring some much needed donations to The Land Protection Fund, the PCTA could work to make that happen for the last 10% of the Pacific Crest Trail, too. A lot of happy hikers would thank you, especially me!
Forest Management and Funding
It’s getting a bit smoky here during the summer, Santa, from wildfires. Summer is prime hiking and backpacking season, Santa. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we already have a short enough window for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and with all that smoke, it’s not good for the health to go out. Seattle had the worst air quality IN THE WORLD this summer! Now I know that there is this thing called global warming and it is very real. And I’m sure help with that is on a LOT of wish-lists, Santa. But some folks feel that wildfires could be the result of poor forest management and lack of funding and resources. Could you see to make sure that we have some more of that? And that those folks in charge of forest management are doing their best to prevent forest fires, even if it means thinning trees? I hear that might be a solution and if it is, I’m all for it. I know forest fires are a natural part of the forest but I understand that past forest management practices that suppressed smaller wildfires may be why we are having such devastating ones today. Santa, I’m sure you know just what to do.
Volunteers
Last but not least, Santa, I would love for you to slip a little something in every hiker and backpacker’s stocking reminding them about how volunteering to help with trails is one of the best ways to give back to the trails they love, especially the Pacific Crest Trail. We have some pretty amazing ones in the North 350 Blades, if I say so myself, but there is always room for more. Did you see how many logs were down on the trail and how much brush there was to push through? Trail work is never-ending, Santa, and if everyone did just a little each year, we could get SO much more done. Oh, and remind them that just 2 days of volunteering earns them their annual Northwest Forest Pass whether it is with the PCTA or the Washington Trails Association. I’m sure if they hear it from you they will be sure to sign up!
I know this was a bit long-winded, Santa, but I can only imagine you are a lover of public lands and can see how my wish-list would bring so much good for preserving the Pacific Crest Trail and public lands in general. I promise to keep being good for the rest of the year!
Oh, and Santa, if you wouldn’t mind throwing a pair of crosscut saw handles in my stocking I would be ever so thankful. My friend, Don, gave me a saw this summer for becoming a sawyer and it just needs a set. Thank you!
This post was written in one hour for the #naturewritingchallenge. Check out Twitter to learn more or see my other posts from the challenge here.
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