May 2018 - Out on the Border

Balsamroot and Mt Adams viewed from McCall Point. This area is near the proposed Weyerhaeuser clearcut, and its classic views would be marred.

FIGHT BACK: Weyerhaeuser Plans to Clearcut Our Gorge!

By Jenni Denekas | May 31, 2018

Weyerhaeuser plans to exploit a legal loophole and clearcut 250 acres in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Beautiful colors abound on a sunny fall morning in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Hood River. This is near the proposed Weyerhauser clearcut. © Brian Denekas — Beautiful colors abound on a sunny fall morning in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Hood River. This is near the proposed Weyerhauser clearcut. *© Brian Denekas*

I’ll get right to the point: This article from Friends of the Columbia Gorge offers a strong overview of this issue, and has links to sign a petition urging Weyerhaeuser to NOT go through with their clearcut.

So if you’re in a hurry: Read and Sign!

For those who have more time and/or are interested in learning more, I’ll enumerate a more extensive explanation of Weyerhaeuser’s proposed clearcut, and the reasons why this is unacceptable.

Weyerhaeuser’s Proposed Clearcut

Weyerhaeuser's clearcut plan. The areas slated for clearcutting are highlighted in red. This is just east of Hood River, south of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail, and IN the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This approximately 250 acre area would be the largest clearcut by far proposed since the establishment of the National Scenic Area in 1986. Image Courtesy of Friends of the Columbia Gorge — Weyerhaeuser’s clearcut plan. The areas slated for clearcutting are highlighted in red. This approximately 250 acre area would be the largest clearcut by far proposed since the establishment of the National Scenic Area in 1986. *Image courtesy of Friends of the Columbia Gorge*

Weyerhaeuser plans to clearcut approximately 250 acres of forest in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The site is southeast of Hood River, and directly south of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, including the beloved Mark Hatfield Trailhead. The photo to the right shows the proposed clearcut areas.

This proposed project would be the largest clearcutting endeavor since the establishment of the National Scenic Area in 1986.

A good summary of the proposed plan and community concerns can be found in this Hood River News article.

Environmental Impacts of Clearcutting

A coho salmon photographed in the aptly-named Salmon River on Mt. Hood. Salmon-bearing streams, which have often been painstakingly restored in order to support struggling salmon populations, are negatively impacted by clearcut-caused erosion. © Bureau of Land Management — A coho salmon spawns in the aptly-named Salmon River on Mt. Hood. Salmon-bearing streams, which have often been painstakingly restored in order to support struggling salmon populations, are negatively impacted by clearcut-caused erosion. *© Bureau of Land Management, Creative Commons*

Let’s begin by being clear about the definition of clearcutting. That means logging all trees in a swath of land, such that the forest is essentially destroyed and timber yield is maximized.

This practice obviously has a significant impact on local ecosystems. It destroys and disrupts wildlife habitat, and contributes to a phenomenon called habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation occurs when large swaths of green space that function as wildlife corridors (areas where wildlife can travel freely) are reduced to small “islands” of untouched land, leaving wide-ranging animals without sufficient space to hunt and roam. The destruction of habitat can lead to increased human-animal encounters, which can be dangerous for all involved.

Clearcutting also, obviously, has significant impacts on vegetation – including effects that extend well beyond the initial cut. Clearcuts are prime ground for the spread of invasive plant species, which thrive in disturbed areas with sunny exposure. From the initial logging onward, clearcut areas also suffer soil erosion. The initial logging process churns up the forest floor, and then the lack of tree cover and loss of living roots ensures that the erosion continues unabated from there. This impacts soil health in many ways, including diminished nutrient density. It becomes harder for the forest to reestablish itself, and harder for native species to gain a foothold. More on clearcutting’s role in habitat fragmentation and the spread of invasive species here.

Erosion from clearcut forests also significantly impacts stream health, and therefore salmon and steelhead populations. It is well-established that clearcuts not only lead to increased runoff and reduced water clarity in nearby streams, but also that they negatively impact salmon and steelhead spawning. Read more here. Weyerhaeuser is choosing to disrespect the time, effort, and resources that Oregon has dedicated to salmon restoration by choosing to clearcut and damage stream ecosystems. This also is a slap in the face to local tribes, for whom salmon is a significant component of their culture.

Finally, timber harvest, generally speaking, is Oregon’s top greenhouse gas-producing industry, and clearcutting is the worst method of timber harvest in terms of climate impacts. Clearcutting emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, while simultaneously removing significant sources carbon sequestration – namely forests. Read more here.

The impacts of climate change are becoming visible, and our region and planet are at a crucial crossroads. For many reasons, Weyerhaeuser’s plan to clearcut in the Gorge is shortsighted, out of touch, and poses a threat to the local and global environment.

Human Impacts of Clearcutting

As discussed in the previous section, clearcutting predisposes the landscape to erosion. This not only means a loss of soil nutrients, but also means that the landscape becomes more prone to significant instability. It is well-established that clearcuts are more prone to landslides than undisturbed or even selectively logged forests. Read more.

These risks are most severe when steep slopes are clearcut. As you can see in the image to the right depicting the proposed Weyerhaeuser clearcut area, steep slopes WILL be clearcut. This is ill-advised to say the least, potentially endangering homes and other areas that hold significance for Gorge residents and tourists alike.

A bridge in the scenic town of Mosier, Oregon, and a portion of the annual Columbia Gorge Marathon. This area's scenic value would be marred by the proposed Weyerhaeuser clearcut, and at risk for landslides. © Brian Denekas — A bridge in the scenic town of Mosier, Oregon, and a portion of the annual Columbia Gorge Marathon’s course. This area’s scenic value would be marred by the proposed Weyerhaeuser clearcut, and the area would be at risk for landslides. *© Brian Denekas*

The slopes that Weyerhaeuser intends to log in the Gorge are directly adjacent to key recreation opportunities, chief among them the Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway and the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway State Trail, including the beloved Mark Hatfield Trailhead and Mosier Twin Tunnels. A landslide, therefore, would not only impact local quality of life, but also recreation-driven tourism, a key component of the Columbia River Gorge’s economy, and a key part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area’s raison d’être.

The other component of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area’s raison d’être is its SCENIC VALUE. And its scenic value will be significantly diminished if there are large-scale clearcuts along the Gorge’s famously forested hillsides. Weyerhaeuser’s plan is completely antithetical to the purpose of a National Scenic Area and an insult to the beautiful landscape of the Gorge.

Finally, as discussed previously, the erosion caused by clearcutting also impacts stream health, and therefore salmon and steelhead populations. Fishing for, and consuming, these delicious salmonids is a key component of Pacific Northwest living and tourism, and a crucial part of Native American culture. Risking the health of salmon and steelhead populations by clearcutting hillsides in the Columbia River Gorge is shortsighted and potentially a violation of tribal, state, and federal laws.

Legal Shortcuts and Dangerous Precedents

Conducting community outreach and soliciting public comments is a key component of the project planning process, at least, if you're not Weyerhaeuser. WordPress Stock Image — Conducting community outreach and soliciting public comments is a key component of the project planning process – at least, if you’re not Weyerhaeuser. They have avoided talking to community leaders and community members from the towns directly adjacent to their proposed clearcuts. *WordPress stock image*

Weyerhaeuser’s proposed clearcut in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area sets a dangerous legal precedent. They are exploiting legal loopholes that could become wider as a result of their ill-advised behavior.

Although the National Scenic Area designation promotes the preservation of the Columbia River Gorge’s scenic splendor (the word “scenic” is in the name, after all), the legislation also allows for diverse land uses in the Gorge, from recreation to agriculture. Logging is not explicitly prohibited, though there are non-binding guidelines for doing so in a way that is sustainable and does not harm the Gorge’s scenic value. Furthermore, it is my understanding that sustainable forestry practices are only required in Special Management Areas (SMA) of the National Scenic Area, rather than throughout the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – thus Weyerhaeuser can technically log this area legally.

Weyerhaeuser is exploiting these loopholes. What they are proposing to do may not be illegal, but it is certainly against the spirit of the law that created the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Furthermore, Weyehaeuser is deliberately avoiding a key component of environmental policy best practices: Facilitating stakeholder discussions of any significant project that will have an impact on a community.

Weyerhaeuser has not even had the courage to face any representatives from the towns that this proposed clearcut will effect – specifically Hood River and Mosier. So it will perhaps come as no surprise that they also have elected to avoid hosting public information sessions or community forums. Weyerhaeuser is instead proceeding without public input, in a project that has potentially significant ramifications for Hood River and Mosier. This non-collaborative approach goes against the spirit of modern environmental decision-making and sets a dangerous precedent for corporations to override the will of local communities that will bear the brunt of the impacts of their projects.

Ethical Concerns

Weyerhaeuser’s flouting of environmental policy best practices demonstrates a lack of concern for collaborative decision-making, as well as a lack of concern for the impacts that their clearcut will have on local communities. By not soliciting community input and attempting to slip this project under the radar, Weyerhaeuser blatantly shows that they don’t care what local communities need or want. Indeed, it seems as though Weyerhaeuser is only concerned about their own bottom line.

The impacts of clearcutting on various ecosystems is not news: This is well-established scientific knowledge that anyone in the Pacific Northwest should be aware of. A northwest-based logging company like Weyerhaeuser cannot possibly be unaware of these risks. Thus we must assume that they simply don’t CARE about the ecological impacts of their proposed project. Again, Weyehaeuser seems only concerned about their own financial gain.

Finally, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area has had a hell of a year. With a still-smoldering fire that decimated an estimated 48,861 acres in September 2017, the Gorge is only just beginning to recover from a significant environmental and economic disaster. To propose to clearcut some of the Gorge’s remaining forest on the heels of the Eagle Creek Fire is tasteless and insensitive.

If Weyerhaeuser had any sense of decency, they would be helping with the Eagle Creek Fire recovery efforts, rather than proposing to destroy one of the few areas of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area that was spared from the flames.

Stopping Weyerhaeuser and Helping Our Gorge

A rainbow extends over the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area during the 2014 Columbia Gorge Marathon. This area, east of Hood River and near the town of Mosier, is just north of the proposed Weyerhaueser clearcut. © Brian Denekas — A rainbow extends over the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area during the 2014 Columbia Gorge Marathon. This area, east of Hood River and near the town of Mosier, is just north of the proposed Weyerhaueser clearcut. *© Brian Denekas*

First of all, I encourage you to read this article and sign the petition it links to.

Secondly, we should all contact our representatives – local, state-level, and national – and urge them to block Weyerhaeuser’s proposed clearcut:

Thirdly, I highly recommend becoming a member of Friends of the Columbia Gorge. Your donations help to power this nonprofit’s multilayered work for the protection of our beloved Gorge, and being on their email list will keep you abreast of new developments in this fight against Weyerhaeuser, as well as other topics ranging from Eagle Creek Fire trail recovery projects to group hikes.

And finally, let’s spread the word. The news only broke yesterday (May 29), so we need to begin mounting our defense. The bigger the outcry, the harder it will be for Weyerhaeuser to see their project through. Share this article, share the petition, and make a statement: YOU DO NOT MESS WITH OUR GORGE!

Thank you for your passion and activism.

Sunrise breaks in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, near Hood River. This is near the area that Weyerhaeuser plans to clearcut, and these classic views would be marred. © Brian Denekas — Sunrise breaks in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, near Hood River. This is near the area that Weyerhaeuser plans to clearcut, and these classic views would be marred. *© Brian Denekas*

Banner Photo: Balsamroot and Mt Adams viewed from McCall Point. This area is near the proposed Weyerhaeuser clearcut. © Jenni Denekas

My One-Year OCT Anniversary

By Jenni Denekas | May 9, 2018

Today marks one year since my completion of the Oregon Coast Trail (OCT), a 367-mile journey the entire length of the Oregon coast.

A year ago, I hiked 14 miles from Gearhart to Fort Stevens with my dad to complete my south-to-north journey on the Oregon Coast Trail. A year ago, I stood at the South Jetty Observation Tower in Fort Stevens State Park with my parents, overlooking the confluence of the mighty Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. A year ago, we had a meaningful yet quiet celebration before I unceremoniously fell asleep on the couch around 8 pm in our hotel room.

OCT Finish — I hiked the final 14 miles of the trail with my dad and my mom met us at the finish. She presented me with a thoughtful gift: This custom-made medal! *© Naomi Denekas*

A year ago, I felt that I had both completed and begun something. Accordingly, I was hoping that this anniversary would bring a renewed sense of pride and an opportunity to reflect upon a year well-spent.

My feelings on the matter, however, are much more complicated.

I will be bluntly honest: I have cried a lot today and yesterday.

I feel like I wasted the fitness I had built up on the trail. I had originally planned to run a marathon in late 2017, and to backpack a lot. I didn’t.

I feel devastated that I have STILL not found a job, nearly a year after interviewing at a nonprofit that I used to fastidiously volunteer for. It was May 10, 2017. I remember because I had to rush back from long-overdue family time on the coast for an early morning interview slot that they insisted upon. I found out during the interview itself that it wasn’t going to work out. Job hunting since then has been fruitless and discouraging.

Above all, I feel like I should be stronger than this. Wasn’t my time on the trail supposed to be about healing and getting myself ready to face my life again? What is with all this crying and metaphorical paralysis? What will it take to get me to feel functional and capable again?

Some of this speaks to the post-trail blues that many thru-hikers face. Finding a new path, and finding success on it, can be daunting after putting your heart and soul into a singular goal for so long. Then you have to factor in the loss of the daily endorphin boost of hiking several miles with a huge pack – and, in the case of the OCT, no longer hearing the daily exhalations of waves and wind, which were a balm for my seething thoughts.

Tiny House in Seal Rock — My AirBnB in Seal Rock, while on the OCT. This tiny house was simple yet beautiful, and a welcome break from camping in the rain. Aside from wanting to keep hiking and all, I desperately wanted to just live here! I still kind of do… *© Jenni Denekas*

In contrast, the city is loud, jarring, and not at all like the small towns and secluded campsites of the trail. It also felt so odd to return to a closet bursting with clothes, after spending 45 days with two outfits. Accordingly, I have pared down my possessions and sold or donated a lot of clothing and extraneous items. Similarly, it feels odd to be in a spacious apartment after tents and tiny homes and cheap motel rooms. I am thankful to have my own space, but it feels strange nevertheless.

It has taken me a while to adjust, and honestly I don’t know if I will ever fully reintegrate into city life. Part of me is still on the OCT.

Some of my discontent runs deeper – actually, no, shallower. Definitely shallower.

I have realized that, shamefully, I wish I could keep adding to my metaphorical trophy case. It’s a bit of a let-down to not have a litany of stellar accomplishments from the past year to point to on this anniversary. But what the hell is the point of that?

The whole point of a thru-hike, and the whole point of anything of substance, is not to check a box and say “I did that!” The point is to immerse oneself in the journey and to learn deeply from it. And the biggest learning opportunities are the ones that you don’t plan for.

Perhaps that’s what this past year has been trying to teach me.

Indeed, I didn’t just lose my post-OCT fitness through sloth. I was excitedly running and hiking better than I had in a couple of years… until I sprained my ankle badly last June. I remember that crushing moment, panting from the pain, sitting on a rock next to my boyfriend while I mustered the energy to shuffle the final mile back to the car. In spite of my high pain tolerance, it felt almost unbearable. I was convinced that I must have broken my ankle. It was a relief to discover it was merely a sprain, but it still was a long road back from that injury. And of course, when it finally felt strong again, I sprained the other damn ankle. Just my luck.

I have also been slowed by gastrointestinal issues (which fortunately turned out to NOT be parasites from my trip), headaches, nausea, horrific depression and anxiety, and, most recently, random ovarian pain that forced me to spend a couple of days curled into a ball. It has not been an easy year for me, physically or mentally, and as much as I wish things were different, I consider myself lucky to still be here.

My depression and anxiety were really that bad for a while.

In that context, I feel silly for lamenting my weight gain and my lost fitness – which, of course, are not one and the same, as I explain here. I should focus on being thankful for surviving – and for those who helped me to pull through.

Love is bringing your asthmatic girlfriend a particle mask and chocolate while her favorite place burns — My boyfriend is a wonderfully supportive and kind person, and I feel so much love and gratitude for him. *© Jenni Denekas*

My wonderful boyfriend in particular has been there through all the ups and downs of this year. He helped me to get through the worst depressive downturns, to take care of me when I was ill, and to smile (a bit) when the Eagle Creek Fire tore through my favorite place on Earth. I feel so lucky to be with someone so caring and kind.

When my health allows, I also have been slowly but surely trying to find a job. I recently had an interview again – my first in nearly a year. I feel a glimmer of hope again.

As a stop-gap, and as part of the fulfillment of a longtime dream, I founded my own greeting card brand in fall 2017, Borderline Cards. It’s been an enjoyable and fulfilling endeavor, not the least because it has gotten me back into the habit of drawing regularly. But it was also somewhat born of my diminishing trust in my ability to ever find a job.

It’s also been a struggle to trust people. And perhaps not many deserve my full trust. Perhaps that has been my mistake before.

Accordingly, I have been paring down my inner circle since I completed the trail. I am done with expending more emotional energy and effort than I get in return. In turn, that gives me more time and energy to dedicate to those who deserve it. I have made a point to focus on the people who bothered to be part of my journey, and who generally give me as much as I give them.

Indeed, on this anniversary, I am reflecting gratefully upon everyone who was part of my journey on the OCT. It took time, effort, some unintended side effects (like trench foot, and the death of a cell phone), planning, caring, and commitment to make that happen, and I am very grateful for all of your contributions. Thank you, Dani, Aaron, Steph, Rosemary, Charissa, Joe, Stacey, Susan, Mom, and Dad.

And again, I feel so thankful for the beautiful relationship that my boyfriend and I have built over the past year, which has its roots in the OCT. When Aaron joined me for a weekend on the southern coast, we felt something beginning. We got together shortly after I returned from the trail, and we will be celebrating our first anniversary later this week.

Love — Aaron and I in December 2017 at a friend’s beach birthday bash! *© Stephanie Hughson*

Aaron has always been a dear friend, and became my rock during the horrible winter that drove me to do the trail in the first place. He joined me on a portion of my journey on the OCT, and stayed in touch with me throughout the rest of my trip. He has always been a calm, consistent, kind, and humorous source of support. (And to be clear, we do have a lot of fun together! I’m not always a crying mess!) I am truly grateful for, and humbled by, his love.

This anniversary of my completion of the OCT marks a year of unexpected events. Many were – and are – ugly and frustrating. But the truly beautiful surprises – including my relationship with the sweetest person I have ever met – are better than anything I could have planned.

And that’s the thing: Life unfolds as it sees fit, and all we can do is embrace the good that it gives us.

I will finish by quoting one of Cheryl Strayed’s many pearls of wisdom from Tiny Beautiful Things:

You don’t have a right to the cards that you think you should have been dealt. You have the obligation to play the hell out of the ones you are holding. And my dear, you and I were granted a mighty generous hand.

Banner Image: Two people who look suspiciously like me and my boyfriend embrace in a burnt forest. Image drawn by yours truly. The Eagle Creek Fire was another devastating loss in the past year, and like everything else we’ve faced together, my boyfriend and I helped one another to stay strong through it.