Two popular outdoor clothing retailers are encouraging their customers to visit the Olympic Peninsula and support the Wild Olympics campaign.
REI and Patagonia are promoting the Wild Olympics campaign at REI Seattle and online, encouraging customers to experience the diverse nature and outdoor recreation available on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The campaign supports the proposed Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, which was reintroduced last year by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Seattle, and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor.
The bill would permanently protect more than 126,000 acres of new wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest and 19 Olympic Peninsula rivers and their tributaries as Wild and Scenic Rivers — the first ever on the Peninsula.
Initiative’s shaping
The effort comes out of a process involving local communities, businesses and economic leaders of the Olympic Peninsula who helped shape the initiative, organizers said.
“For those of us that live on the Peninsula, we know about the natural beauty,” said state Rep. Steve Tharinger, a Sequim Democrat who represents the 24th Legislative District. “That’s the advantage of living here.
“You can choose to walk on the spit or go up in the hills and walk in the Olympics. There’s a lot of folks that don’t know the variety we have here.”
The North Olympic Timber Action Committee has been looking for a compromise to the legislation for the past several years that would help support the timber industry, said Carol Johnson, executive director.
NOTAC substantially agrees with the concept of the proposal but wants to remove areas that are routinely logged, she said.
“What we said is, make some adjustments to the proposal and bring into the plan a timber base that is routinely roaded,” she said.
“Make that part of the plan so we can have a sustainable harvest level in perpetuity and have our support.”
Connie Gallant, chair of the Wild Olympics, called the partnership with REI and Patagonia exciting.
“It is our hope that legislation happens in the near future because it will benefit our economy and environment a great deal,” she said.
Outdoor recreation groups REI and Patagonia unveiled a new “Destination Wild Olympics” map, highlighting some recreation places in the Wild Olympics proposal.
To view the map, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-wildolympicsmap.
The map highlights some spots on the North Peninsula that locals will know well, including the Dungeness River, Dungeness Spit, Sol Duc River, Sol Duc Falls Trail and local rivers.
Tharinger said one of the goals is to get more people outside the area enjoying the nature that is offered on the Peninsula.
“It’s a way to highlight the beauty and the wilderness in the park,” he said.
“When folks are searching on the internet for things to do outside, you’ll never know what will trigger their interest.”
Port Angeles City Councilwoman Sissi Bruch said she supports the new initiative.
“The idea of encouraging people who love the outdoors to come to our pristine wilderness areas while supporting their preservation has great synergy,” she said.
“This, in concert with Port Angeles’ designation as the second-best outdoor town, validates Port Angeles’ status as a world-class outdoor recreation destination and speaks highly of our need to protect this unique and pristine environment.”
The campaign comes from lawmakers and the outdoor clothing companies’ desires to protect and promote the outdoors, Tharinger said.
‘Promoting the outdoors’
“I served on a governor’s task force with people from REI, and they are interested in promoting the outdoors,” he said.
“I think it’s a synergy between Patagonia, REI and the folks interested in getting the legislation passed through Congress.”
Tharinger said there is concern about the designations regarding logging but that he doesn’t see an impact to the commercial logging industry.
“Making these designations is not going to impact the timber supply, but it does bolster the tourist industry,” he said.
Free hard copies of the map will also be available at REI retail outlets in the Puget Sound area.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
