From there they can snowmobile on the closed portion of the road, even though it is in the park, he said. Only a couple of people use them in the Stehekin area, Manns said. A Mount Rainier decision must follow National Park Service guidelines that essentially ban snowmobiles unless there are special circumstances. The environmentally preferred alternative in the current assessment would eliminate snowmobiles in part to lessen stress on about three dozen endangered or threatened species, including Northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Pacific fisher, wolverine and Canada lynx. A chance to see what's new in the paddling world comes next weekend at the 12th annual Seattle Paddle Fest at Stan Sayres Memorial Park on Lake Washington.
Paddlers can take out the latest models, attend clinics and talk with factory representatives.
Canoe Day is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28. Sea Kayaking Day is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29. Paddlers younger than 18 must have a parent's signature on a liability release. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Washington Water Trails Association and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. A good walk doesn't have to be physically challenging, or even involve altitude gain.