Dear Winter Recreation Enthusiasts:

Tonight at the Friends of Olympic National Park board meeting we talked about winter access to Hurricane Ridge. The Friends agreed to sponsor a grant application to fund Monday road openings. Bill Laitner agreed to give permission for this.

Mr. Laitner was less enthusiastic about the Morse Creek winter trail option. New trails would require study and so forth. He was in favor in principle on the gated openings, but wasn't sure why they quit doing it that way, and didn't want to commit to it until he knew more.

What I need from you is letters of support, BY MAY 1, 2007 addressed to the Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program from individuals and groups. Via regular Mail, send them to the following address:

Greg Halberg
1507 East Beach Road
Port Angeles, WA 98363.
email greghalberg@hotmail.com.
Feel free to contact me at 360 928-3341.

Please forward this message to any groups or individuals interested.
Letters should mention some or all of the following talking points and more:

The current management policy of opening the Hurricane Ridge road only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays has several inherent problems:

1.  Hurricane Ridge is the only feasable access to winter recreation on the Olympic Peninsula.
2.  The road rarely opens on Friday mornings during the heart of the winter.
3.  Many people do not work on a Monday through Friday schedule.
4.  Often the weather is beautiful during the week, but stormy or rainy on the weekend. Stormy weekends require closure of the road on scheduled open days, further reducing an already limited schedule.
5.  Winter recreation enthusiasts don’t gamble on whether the road opens, and instead go to the Cascades, or do something else.
6.  Overcrowding and parking issues on weekends further limit access.
7.  The seasonality of the tourism industry on the Olympic Peninsula is exaggerated. Olympic National Park should be a major winter attraction. Winter access is one aspect in combination with storm watching, surfing, kayaking, biking, sailing, and other environmentally sound recreation experiences.
8.  Synergy between goals of Olympic National Park and Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program. See attachment.


Thank you very much,

Greg Halberg

Friends of Olympic National Park

Dear Mr. Laitner:

I would like to work together to solve problems associated with winter access to Olympic National Park for sightseeing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, winter climbing, back country skiing, ice climbing, and winter camping.

The benefits to the Park and surrounding communities are enormous. Participation in winter recreation is increasing, and the Olympic Mountains are a tremendous and underutilized resource. Increased and more consistent access would increase tourism revenue for the surrounding communities, and increase the quality of life for current residents. As more people visit the Park for wintertime recreation and tourism, businesses such as local restaurants, grocery stores, and hotels will reap an increase in off-season profits. Increased visitation to Olympic National Park would provide increased funding. Non motorized winter recreation opportunities help reduce obesity and associated medical conditions. Other areas of the state face increasing conflict between motorized and non-motorized winter recreation.

The Hurricane Ridge road already exists to the alpine zone. It is a question of management on how the road operates. I hope with the proposed increase in funding a few of these options will be considered:

1. Plan for more scheduled open days, weather permitting. If NPS funding is not feasible, partnerships with Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program (SnoPark), Clallam County, City of Port Angeles, the Department of Transportation, Washington Trails Coalition and other non governmental organizations and volunteer groups, could and should be looked at as alternatives. Cost: ~$50,000 paid by grants and volunteers.

2. Provide daily public transportation up the road. Having professional drivers with experience on the road is one way to eliminate risks associated with winter driving. Public transportation reduces emissions and environmental impact. Grant money should be pursued as well as partnerships with Clallam Transit and local providers. The Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (ATPPL) has $97 million dollars in grant money available. Cost: unknown, paid by grants.

3. Have other closure sites besides the Heart of the Hills. Until recently, this was the management policy. Gates and turnarounds already exist at the Tunnels, Double Parking, and Third Peak. A gate just above the current sledding area would eliminate the worst area of drifting snow. There are many days where the snow level is high or drifting snow is the primary threat. Having alternative gates would allow the flexibility to maintain access while minimizing the risk. As is the case now, when parking areas are full, the road could be temporarily closed. Cost: $0. Possible costs associated with ranger and maintenance staffing could be mitigated by creative scheduling.

4. Alternative gates could be made more attractive by creating trails from each of those spots that would wander through the Morse Creek drainage at about the 3500-4000 foot level, possibly connecting to Deer Park Road, creating loops with the Cox Valley trail, the PJ Lake Trail, and the Obstruction Point Road/ trail. This trail system already exists under the Alternative A : Current Management and Alternative C : Visitor Opportunities Emphasis in the Wilderness Draft Management Plan. These trails could be winter only, requiring only signs and some limbing of trees. Creating trailheads away from the main lodge area would disperse overcrowding and parking issues that currently exist. Dispersed use increases wilderness values. Cost: $10,000 for trail scouting and maintenance. Grant and/or volunteer funded.

5. Train or hire an avalanche expert to produce credible avalanche forecasts for the Olympics. The NWAC does a good job, but is focused more on the Cascades, and doesn’t have reliable data for the Olympics. The posted danger at the park entrance doesn’t always match the NWAC forecast, and doesn’t provide enough detail. Park staff should actively coordinate avalanche forecasts with the NWAC. One key to better avalanche forecasting is daily tracking of snow conditions. Daily access is a key. This is an opportunity for a volunteer organization such as the Winter Sports Club and/or Olympic Mountain Rescue. Cost: $2,000 to host avalanche expert to teach Level II and III avalanche courses. This cost could be defrayed by opening the class to paying members of the public.

6. There should be a relationship between what the NWAC states is the avalanche danger and road opening and closing. Road closures on scheduled open days do not seem to be related to avalanche danger. For example, on Friday March 2 there was an Avalanche Warning posted by the NWAC but the road opened. On Friday March 8, there was a moderate danger posted by the NWAC yet the road was closed due to “dangerous conditions.” Cost: $0.

7. Do a better job of communicating Hurricane Ridge information via telephone line and website. Anyone traveling from more than Port Angeles needs more lead time to make a go/no go decision. Stating a probability the night before would be nice. If the road crew works all day Thursday, then they should have a pretty good idea what is going to happen Friday morning, providing more information about weather and avalanche danger. Cost: $0.

8. When the road closes due to a full parking lot, establish a system such that when one car exits the park, one car waiting can go up the road. Cost: $0.

9. In conjunction with a Morse Creek winter trail system, open Deer Park road during the winter, or close it at varying elevations based on snow level and removal costs. Cost: $0 for variable openings, unknown for plowing.

10. The Sol Duc road should be kept open all winter. Cost: unknown.



The current management policy of opening the Hurricane Ridge road only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays has several inherent problems:

1. Letting the road sit fallow for four days increases the amount of snow to be removed, making it more difficult to clear the road on Thursday. The road rarely opens on Friday mornings during the heart of the winter.

2. Many people do not work on a Monday through Friday schedule. Those people are effectively eliminated from winter recreation opportunities on the Peninsula.

3. Often the weather is beautiful during the week, but stormy or rainy on the weekend. Besides denying access on beautiful days, stormy weekends require closure of the road on scheduled open days, further reducing an already limited schedule.

4. Winter recreation enthusiasts on the greater Peninsula need to KNOW road status in order to commit to the long drives associated with coming from Forks, Port Townsend, Silverdale, Bremerton, Bainbridge and Seattle. Even on scheduled open days, the 8:30 message doesn’t allow people traveling from Silverdale or Port Townsend time to drive to the ridge and enjoy more than half a day. Many days the 8:30 message says check back at 10:30. People don’t gamble on whether the road opens, and instead go to the Cascades, or do something else.

5. Avalanche conditions and snowpack analysis are not reliable.

6. Overcrowding and parking issues are increased because when the road is open people feel they need to take advantage. One viable access point also contributes to congestion. Creating winter trailheads away from the main lodge area would disperse use and create a better wilderness experience.

7. Opportunities are missed for education, recreation, tourism, and visitor experience.

8. Opportunities for synergy with regional government and volunteer organizations are missed.

9. The seasonality of the tourism industry on the Olympic Peninsula is exaggerated. Olympic National Park should be a major winter attraction. Winter access is one aspect in combination with storm watching, surfing, kayaking, biking, sailing, and other environmentally sound recreation experiences.


One immediate solution is to partner with the Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program. I envision applying for grant funding for two separate projects:

1. Weather permitting Monday road openings. Monday is the easiest day because the road will already be plowed on Sunday. The specific dates that would be added are approximately December 3, 10, 17, 2007; January 7, 14, 28, 2008; February 4, 11, 25, 2008; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2008. As is stated in park literature April should be excluded from the weekend only schedule. That is 14 more scheduled dates that the road would be open. The grant request would cover the cost of a plow truck, driver, fuel, oil and related costs.

2. Morse Creek Winter Trail. This project would apply for funding to develop and sign an ungroomed trail from the double parking area and the third peak parking area. This trail should connect to the Obstruction Point Road/Trail somewhere around the Waterhole.

It is imperative that we act quickly. The deadline for applying for The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation program grants for next winter is May 1, 2007.

Proposed winter trail at 3500 to 4000 foot level in Morse Creek drainage.


In summary, the Olympic Mountains in winter are an essential element of the Olympic National Park experience. The future of Port Angeles business is linked tightly to outdoor recreation and tourism. To live in Port Angeles is to truly live where the Mountains meet the Sea. Creating a management plan to allow predictable and consistent year round daily access to the high country would allow tourists and local residents to better enjoy the wonder that is Olympic National Park.

The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program is an excellent candidate for potential partner. The current strategic plan makes the following statements (Italics are added for areas that I feel synchronize with the goals of ONP, FONP, and other organizations):

1. GOAL: The Winter Recreation Program is respected and trusted by its volunteer support, and is effective in the coordination and utilization of volunteers and volunteer organizations.
          A. Create formalized relationships with volunteers and volunteer organizations.
2. GOAL: The Program is guided by a comprehensive, forward-thinking Strategic Plan that addresses program management and provision of future facilities and services, and that is useful to other State Parks’ planning applications (such as Park Plans, the Trails Plan, etc.).
          A. Planning and development of future facilities and services will be responsive to user needs and concerns, and will address overcrowding and use conflicts.
          B. Utilize the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and input from other governmental organizations
              (such as the U.S. Forest Service and counties) in the planning of facilities and services.
          C. Encourage local stakeholders to cooperate with State Parks to develop area-specific plans that are consistent with and help implement the Strategic Plan.
          D. Planning and development of future Sno-Parks and trails should consider potential links to other attractions and amenities, including national, state and local parks, historic sites, and scenic views.
          E. Planning and development of future Sno-Parks and trails will consider length of season and reliability of snow cover.
3. GOAL: Sufficient opportunities for recreational access are available to meet user demand.
          A. Actively participate in land use planning processes carried out by various land management agencies to advocate for recreational access.
          B. Pursue the improvement of parking and trailhead facilities.
          C. Seek to develop a network of groomed and ungroomed trails that meet the needs of an existing and future population engaging in winter recreation in Washington.
          D. Pursue adequate access to off-trail recreational activities, such as snowshoeing, climbing, backcountry camping, sledding and general snow-play.
          E. Identify a list of desirable trailheads that currently do not have winter access, but have future potential.
          F. Establish more sno-parks and expand trail systems, including non-groomed trail routes into backcountry areas.
          G. Install more sanitation facilities where needed.
          H. Provide equipment rental opportunities at Sno-Parks.
          I. Explore the use of weekend Nordic bus service to Sno-Park areas to avoid parking problems.
          J. Provide plowed parking access to ungroomed trails and backcountry areas for snowshoers and cross-country skiers seeking a more pristine experience.
4. GOAL: Safety, education and enforcement are integrated into Program services.
          A. Pursue additional warming shelters in key locations.
          B. Require staff and volunteers to receive avalanche awareness training.
          C. Partner with other governmental agencies in training of volunteers to do trail maintenance.
5. GOAL: The public is aware of the services provided by the Winter Recreation Program and the availability of statewide recreational opportunities.
          A. Publish and distribute maps and brochures showing the locations of recreational opportunities (including groomed and ungroomed trails) and explaining program funding mechanisms.
          B. Utilize a variety of websites and links, including those maintained by State Parks, Outdoor Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, WSSA, and regular news releases about Winter Recreation Program functions, activities and projects.
          C. Provide consistent and periodic updated information on trail conditions and status.
6. GOAL: Program funding is sufficient to provide effective service to the public and distributed in an equitable and effective manner.
          A. Examine Sno-Park permit fees to ensure that revenues are adequately covering access for non-motorized activities, and to provide for development of new areas.
          B. Develop a program to better utilize available funding from other grant programs.
          C. Find and take advantage of other funding sources.
7. GOAL: The Program recognizes when uses are incompatible, and provides adequate separation among incompatible recreational uses.
          A. Sno-Park areas should serve dedicated trail systems when possible to meet the needs of a variety of incompatible uses.

If we can write a good grant proposal in time, it should score high on their criteria. Factors in our favor include: no SnoPark access on the Peninsula; partnerships with ONP, FONP, HRWSC, Clallam County, City of PA, and others; leveraged funding; demonstrated need with closures due to full parking lots; no potential snowmobile conflicts; strong community support; economic justification; long user season; unified land ownership and others.

I was going to save this for a FONP board meeting, but the May 1 deadline doesn’t give enough time. Thank you for your time

Greg Halberg
(360) 928-3341