RON STRICKLAND, AUTHOR/CONSERVATIONIST
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL AND THE SEA-TO-SEA
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RON STRICKLAND, AUTHOR/CONSERVATIONIST
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THE SEA-TO-SEA ROUTE
1996: Ron Strickland proposed creation of a 7700-mile transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route (C2C) to link existing long distance trails from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Ron's primary goal was to improve the National Trails System by creating an east-west backbone for the 8 existing national scenic trails. He felt that C2C would (1) unify what we already have and (2) encourage the development of more long distance trails. In that way it would ultimately introduce a new generation of hikers to love of the environment and passion for outdoors adventure. 2004-2005: To demonstrate the desirability and feasibility of this transcontinental pathway Andrew Skurka completed its first thru-hike on July 10, 2005 at Cape Alava. Andy's 11-month transcontinental trek is chronicled at http://www.andrewskurka.com/ .
Cape Alava, July 10, 2005: Ron Strickland and Andrew Skurka celebrate Andy's completion of the Sea-To-Sea Route For an excellent article about Andy Skurka's C2C trek, please visit Outdoors Northwest Magazine. Click here for a 2005-August: Backpacker Magazine named Andy Skurka its "Person of the Year" in honor of his amazing C2C thru-hike.
2005-October 8: ALDHA-East Gathering: C2C thru-hiker Andy Skurka receives a distinguished service award from Jennifer Tripp (North Country Trail Association) in recognition of his 11-month trek. 2005-December 3: The board of directors of the North Country Trail Association passed a Sea-To-Sea Resolution to explore the feasibility of establishing trails "in the gaps between existing trails and trail projects." They said that if the creation of the Sea-to-Sea Route proves feasible, they will "give consideration to fostering the creation of extensions of the North Country National Scenic Trail eastward and westward, if such extensions can be established consistent with the standards and uses already established for the trail and such extensions are authorized by Congress." They explained that, "The Pacific Northwest Trail, being developed from the Pacific Ocean in the State of Washington to the Continental Divide in Montana, spans more than half of the distance between the Pacific Ocean and the present western terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota. The Sea-to-Sea Route proposed by Ron Strickland is rekindling interest in and would fulfill the original intent of a cross-country National Scenic Trail in our Northern tier. Interest in the Sea-to-Sea Route has been further heightened by the 2004-2005 journey of Andy Skurka along this 7,700-mile route from the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada, to Cape Alava in Olympic National Park in Washington State.""The 4,600-mile North Country National Scenic Trail makes up the largest portion of the 7,700-mile Sea-to-Sea Route."
2006-March 18: C2C thru-hiker "Ambassador Andy" Skurka addressed the Annual Dinner of the Explorers Club in Manhattan.
Ambassador Andy and the Pathfinder at the Explorers Club Annual Dinner
2006-May 16-25: The National Park Service conducted a "brief reconnaissance" to examine options for connecting the western terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Montana. Seven different scenarios for making this connection were formulated. One or more will be further explored with potential partners in 2008. [The National Park Service published a September 2008 report about this trip.] 2007-June 9: Tom Gilbert (National Park Service, Madison, WI) and Claire Cain (North Country Trail Association) addressed the Annual Meeting of the Green Mountain Club at Hildene, Manchester Village, VT.
November, 2007: National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Andy Skurka “Adventurer Of The Year” after he became the first person to thru-hike the 6200-mile Great Western Loop. Having just rehiked much of the Pacific Northwest Trail as part of the GWL, Andy said, “I highly recommend the Pacific Northwest Trail to hikers for its superb combination of scenery and adventure. Congress should add the PNT to the National Trails System as soon as possible."
December 4, 2007: Tom Gilbert (superintendent, NPS, North Country National Scenic Trail) and Clare Cain and Bruce Matthews (North Country Trail Association) met with stakeholders in Addison County, VT to discuss the potential for extending the NCT eastward from its current terminus at Champlain Bridge (see photo) to the Green Mountains.
January, 2008: The Sea-To-Sea Route is America's newly-developing, transcontinental hiking trail. It links long distance trails from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The greatest challenges to completion of C2C have been the gaps in Vermont, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Progress continued in 2007 toward filling those gaps. First, the North Country Trail Association continued to work to expand its 4600-mile "national scenic trail" east into Vermont and west to the Continental Divide. Second, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association continued to develop its 1200-mile route from Glacier National Park to Olympic National Park; the PNT is likely to receive official status in 2008. Thus, the Sea-To-Sea Route is almost ready to take its place as the backbone of America's National Trails System. January 1, 2008. To encourage discussion about a future National Trails Center, Ron Strickland suggested that it might contain the following elements:
The National Trails Center
is a resource for America’s trails community and is the overseer for
congressionally-mandated parts of the National Trails System. Within the
Department of the Interior, the National Trails Center provides funding via
discretionary grants for trail projects nationwide. The Center’s director
reports to the Assistant Secretary for Fish And Wildlife And Parks. The
Center’s mission is to: January 29, 2008. The House Of Representatives passed HR 1528, the New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act, by a vote of 261 to 122. Action has been woefully lacking in the Senate on its version, S. 923. February 2, 2008. Pacific Northwest Trail Guidebook digital map: cartographer Ted Hitzroth created a GIS file to display the route of the Pacific Northwest Trail as described in our 2001 guidebook, The Pacific Northwest Trail Guide. We recommend that you obtain this file from us, then open it in Google Earth. Though not sufficient for navigation, this file will give you a good overview of the PNT at any scale you choose. (Note: about 12 percent of the Route has recently been relocated by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association; those changes are not reflected in this file.) April 7, 2008. At its March meeting, the board of directors of The Green Mountain Club, builder and maintainer of Vermont’s historic Long Trail, voted to notify Ernest Quintana, Midwest Regional Director of the National Park Service, that GMC supports continuing the process of exploring a North Country NST extension into Vermont. A letter to that effect was sent to Mr. Quintana, copied to Tom Gilbert of NPS and Bruce Mathews and Clare Cain of NCTA, on April 7. April 30, 2008. The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act of 2008 was introduced in the House of Representatives as H. R. 5926 by Congressman Norm Dicks and in the Senate as S. 2943 by Sen. Maria Cantwell. This important legislation would add the 1200-mile Pacific Northwest Trail to the National Trails System as a "national scenic trail." Under development since 1970, the PNT is one of America's finest outdoor resource treasures. Please write or FAX (202-225-1931) Hon. Raul M. Grijalva, Chair, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, 1324 Longworth Building, Wash., DC 20515. Ask that the Subcommittee hold a hearing on H. R. 5926. June, 2008. Congress has recognized no new "national scenic trails" in the past quarter century. However, thanks to the hard work of many, many volunteers, three outstanding long distance trail bills could conceivably pass (with your help) in the waning months of this 110thCongress. Scenic Trails Research advocates the creation of a Senate omnibus bill that would include the following:
June 17, 2008. Hearings were held on S. 2943, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Act of 2008. Please FAX (202-224-6163) a letter of support for the PNT bill to: Dear Sir or Madam, Senate Committee On Energy And Natural Resources, 304 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, DC 20510. Or send an E-mail to: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home Every day until July 31. Be sure to vote every day for the Catamount Trail in Redwood Creek Winery's $50,000 prize contest. Founded in 1984, The Catamount Trail Association (CTA) is a non-profit, member-driven organization based in Burlington, VT that builds, manages, and conserves the 300-mile Catamount Trail, a public-access ski trail. CTA will use the grant to conserve the remaining 90 miles of unprotected Catamount Trail. The specific project includes improving outreach to landowners, collaborating with local communities and partner organizations, negotiating trail easements with interested landowners, and completing these important land transactions. Vote daily at: http://www.redwoodcreek.com/greatoutdoors/index.html July 15: The Arizona Trail bill H.R. 2297 was the subject of a House subcommittee hearing to consider making the Arizona Trail an official national scenic trail. We hope that the Senate will pass its equivalent bill in September, probably as part of omnibus bill S. 3213 (which also includes the New England Trail.) September will be the make or break time for New England, Arizona, and Pacific Northwest Trail legislation. August 10: The news from the North Country Trail Association is that the NCTA's next annual conference will be held July 30-August 1, 2009 at Valley City, ND. The conference's theme will be "Westward Ho", the NCTA's push to extend the 4600-mile NCT westward all the way to the Continental Divide Trail. (That plus linking to the Appalachian Trail across Addison County, VT will give the NCT two new, very attractive termini.) Scenic Trails Research recommends that hikers from far and wide attend this important meeting to learn how to become involved in filling in a major gap in the transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route. Valley City's Bobby Koepplin (the NCTA's next president) and his wife Deb Koepplin (head of the Sheyenne Valley Chapter) will put on a fabulous program.
September 11, 2008: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously ordered S. 2943 (PNT) to be reported out of committee. (Hooray! The Pacific Northwest Trail bill is on its way!) November 17, 2008: The Senate did not vote on the massive Public Lands bill, S. 3213. Thus, all of its provisions (including the three new national scenic trails) will remain in limbo until the new Congress convenes early next year. 2009: Ron Strickland's memoir, Autobiography Of A Trail, explores the many ways in which hiking is the perfect refuge for these troubled times. (Click atop this page on "New: Memoir" to read a sample chapter.) January 15, 2009: By a vote of 73 to 21 the Senate passed S. 22, "a bill to designate certain land as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes." The bill's many excellent provisions included designation of the Arizona, New England, and Pacific Northwest national scenic trails. If this legislation is next passed by the House and signed by the president, America will have its first new, official long distance trails since 1983! February 16, 2009: "National Scenic Status Sought For Pacific Northwest Trail" Seattle Times, front page article by Linda Mapes. February 18, 2009: "Pacific Northwest Trail Awaits House OK" Tacoma News Tribune, Adventure blog by Jeff Mayor.
Ron Strickland with Congressman Norm Dicks March 11, 2009: By a vote of 282 to 144 (with 6 abstentions) the House of Representatives voted down the Senate-passed S. 22 today. The measure failed to win two-thirds of the Members present and voting and thus lost by two votes under "suspension of the rules." TWO VOTES: we came so close! Two of the nay votes were cast by Republicans Cathy McMorris Rodgers of eastern Washington and Denny Rehberg of Montana (both of whom include portions of the Pacific Northwest Trail in their districts.) March 19, 2009: HR 146 was originally written to create the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Program. On March 3, the House passed it by a vote of 394 to 14 and sent it to the Senate. Senate leaders performed some legislative legerdemain on that modest bill. They invoked cloture, and amended the bill to include the provisions of the recently-failed Public Lands bill and to add new language to mollify the NRA's desire for guns in national parks. On March 19, the Senate passed HR 146 by a vote of 77 to 20. Next, House Democrats will take it up with a rule that will not allow a "motion to recommit." That means that the House will probably approve the omnibus public lands measure next week, and thus designate three new national scenic trails. March 23, 2009: "National Scenic Designation Likely For Pacific Northwest Trail" Seattle Times, by Lynda Mapes. March 25, 2009: By a vote of 285 to 140 the House passed H.R. 146 which, among other things, added three new national scenic trails to the National Trails System. The trails are: (1) the 1200-mile Pacific Northwest Trail; (2) the 800-mile Arizona Trail; and (3) the 200-mile New England Trail. Pictured below are three pioneers [ Jon Knechtel (PNT), Dave Hicks (AZT), and John Olver (NET)] whose leadership was crucial to develop these magnificent routes. Congratulations to them and to all of the volunteers who made this achievement possible!
The significance of this legislation goes well beyond the fact that these are the first national scenic trail designations since 1983. Obviously the PNT, AZT, and NET are superb additions to the National Trails System; each trail is a world class conservation and recreation resource. But, considered in the broader, national context, these routes are symbolic of a trend toward development of a more comprehensive network of trails in all regions of the Lower 48. In particular, designation of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail has the additional benefit that its 1200 miles can now be subtracted from the total of missing miles in the 7700-mile, transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route. (Anyone interested in helping to locate and develop the remaining 900 miles could make a much-needed contribution by joining the North Country Trails Association.) The ultimate significance of today's vote on H.R. 146 is that the dream of a transcontinental pathway across America is 1200 miles closer to reaching fruition. Today's successful vote is a magnificent achievement. But it highlights the importance of the next great challenge: to complete the remaining 900 miles of the transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route by the time of the fiftieth anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018. July 30-August 1, 2009: North Country Trail Association National Conference. Valley City, ND. The conference's theme will be "Westward Ho", connecting the North Country Trail to the Continental Divide Trail (as part of the Sea-To-Sea Route.)
A TRANSCONTINENTAL VISION In 1968 Congress created the National Trails System. Of its three categories of national trails, the "national scenic trail" category is of greatest interest to long-distance backpackers. Currently there are eight. Others including the Pacific Northwest Trail are under development. Unfortunately although more than three decades have passed, these great routes still lack the cohesion of a genuine "system." Interest in long distance hiking continues to grow at a rapid rate. To serve this conservation-minded public we propose an east-west route that links the three most popular north-south national scenic trails. This de facto Sea-to-Sea Route (C2C) uses the PNT, CDT, NCT, AT, and IAT to create a transcontinental passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. As of now, C2C is a concept route, not a club or a government agency. There are no employees and few volunteers. Instead C2C challenges us to create and explore a true, unified National Trails System. Europeans already have such a skein of routes to unify their continent. [ http://www.era-ewv-ferp.org/index.php?Epaths ] Isn’t it time that we in North America put it all together for this and future generations of backpackers? This transcontinental passage in no way diminishes the luster of its component trails. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Each leg remains as a fabulous, independent entity. Our goal is to create new opportunities for all walkers through C2C's enhancement of the National Trails System grid. The Sea-to-Sea (C2C) Route would begin at Cape Alava on the wilderness coast of the Olympic Peninsula. It would follow the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) east 1200 miles to Glacier National Park. A Sea-to-Sea Route backpacker would continue south on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) to and beyond the Bob Marshall Wilderness to the Benchmark campground. A gap of approximately 900 miles exists east from the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail to Lake Sakakawea and the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota. [Your financial and/or volunteer time help is needed to enable the North Country Trail Association to fill in this gap with an exciting new route near the Sun River and Missouri River.] The Sea-To-Sea-Route will follow the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) east 4600-miles to Lake Champlain on the New York/Vermont border at Crown Point. A 30-mile gap exists east from Lake Champlain to the Appalachian Trail. [Your financial and/or volunteer time help is needed to enable the North Country Trail Association to fill in this gap.] The Sea-to-Sea Route will follow the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) northeast to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The easternmost C2C segment will follow the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) northeast to Cape Gaspe on the Atlantic Ocean.
THE CHALLENGE Final development of the Sea-To-Sea Route will not supplant its constituent parts but enhance them as parts of a transcontinental vision. This route has history, scenery, and adventure. It mostly uses long distance trails that have already received public recognition. The Sea-to-Sea Route is the best way to link the three "Triple Crown" trails into a true national system. The 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's epic journey reminded us that exploration is an essential part of the human endeavor. C2C distills that spirit of adventure for 21st century walkers. In the 19th century, ordinary people talked of "lighting out for the territory." Millions sought their dreams over the horizon in the forests and on the prairies. From settled precincts to the wildest mountains, they made their way on foot and on horseback. Now, generations later, that excitement can be rediscovered on the Sea-To-Sea Route. Whether you have a day or many months, C2C's opportunities await you. Experience the simple joys of putting one foot in front of the other. Slow down. Open your eyes to the wonders of the North American continent. Discover hidden strengths within yourself. And know at the end of the day that you have accomplished something special. There is nothing chic or trendy about the eternal verities out there under the sky. But that's why decades from now people will still treasure a weekend or a fortnight on the Sea-To-Sea Route.
[Our C2C logo was designed by the very creative Pat Steeb ]
If you wish to become a Sea-To-Sea Route supporter, please send donations to Scenic Trails Research, 10 Pine Hill Road, Bedford, MA 01730. Thank you. (Scenic Trails Research is a project of a Spokane, WA non-profit called Adventure Trail.)
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