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U.S. Forest Service postpones initial release of Central Cascades Wilderness permits

Posted: March 27th, 2020, 2:17 pm
by MattPetersonFS
From a press release sent out this afternoon:

Springfield and Bend Ore.,—The Deschutes and the Willamette National Forests are postponing the initial release of the Central Cascades Wilderness permits due to COVID-19 public health and safety measures and to avoid potential issues with reservations. Permits were originally planned to be released on April 7, 2020.

“The uncertainties of COVID-19 are short and long term,” said Deschutes Forest Supervisor Holly Jewkes. “We continue to focus on the safety, health and well-being of our employees and the public at this time.”

Updates will be provided in early May about the availability of permits and implementation of the Central Cascades Wilderness permit system. At this time, we do not know if we would be able to honor early summer reservations.

Learn more about this project on the forests’ websites—Deschutes: https://go.usa.gov/xvccx and Willamette: https://go.usa.gov/xvc3J.

Re: U.S. Forest Service postpones initial release of Central Cascades Wilderness permits

Posted: April 2nd, 2020, 7:03 pm
by xrp
Uhm, just go w/o a permit.

Re: U.S. Forest Service postpones initial release of Central Cascades Wilderness permits

Posted: April 3rd, 2020, 4:06 am
by johnspeth
xrp wrote:
April 2nd, 2020, 7:03 pm
Uhm, just go w/o a permit.
It's a viable long term plan too :)

Re: U.S. Forest Service postpones initial release of Central Cascades Wilderness permits

Posted: February 16th, 2021, 9:15 pm
by Aimless
I received this email yesterday regarding the Central Cascades Wilderness permit program for 2021. It pays to read this carefully. I have bolded some details that seem especially worth absorbing:
-------------------------------------

The Deschutes and Willamette National Forests announced today that the two forests will move forward with implementing the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System this year. The initial implementation of the permit system was delayed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Friday, May 28 and ending on Friday, September 24, 2021 day-use permits will be required for 19 out of 79 trails in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters wilderness areas. During the same period, overnight-use permits will be required for all trails in those same three wilderness areas. There are some exceptions for PCT hikers, volunteers, and hunters. More information about the permits can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamet ... eprd688355

Reservations for the permits will open at 7 a.m. PDT on April 6, 2021 at www.Recreation.gov. The Forest Service encourages everyone to “go on-line, don’t stand in line”.

Permits will be available in the following way:

Overnight Use Availability:
-- 40% full season available on April 6.
-- 60% available on a 7-day rolling window.

Day Use Availability:
-- 20-50% of a trailhead’s full season will be available on April 6.
-- 50-80% of a trailhead’s permits will be available on a 7-day rolling window to allow for people to take more spontaneous trips.

Reservations can also be made by calling 1-877-444-6777. Individuals can also get permits at Deschutes and Willamette National Forest offices, but it should be noted due to COVID, National Forest offices may be closed to the public. People should call the office ahead of time to make sure it is open.

Processing fees will be applied to the permits regardless of how they are reserved. Day-use permits will be charged $1.00 per permit per person. Overnight-use permits will be charged $6.00 per trip. Overnight permits can include up to 12 people for a trip of up to 14 days.

Re: U.S. Forest Service postpones initial release of Central Cascades Wilderness permits

Posted: February 23rd, 2021, 1:37 pm
by Crusak
johnspeth wrote:
April 3rd, 2020, 4:06 am
xrp wrote:
April 2nd, 2020, 7:03 pm
Uhm, just go w/o a permit.
It's a viable long term plan too :)
😅 Seems a lot of people will be practicing their stealth camping and night hiking skills. ;)

The daily quotas for these areas seem ridiculously low and support for this program is severely lacking. In recent years I've had less than friendly encounters with FS employees, which is disappointing. We had our permits and were following all of the rules, but in each instance they insisted on giving us the full 45 minute 'leave no trace' lecture and scrutinizing our gear and intentions. Heck, I've been getting out in the woods for over 40 years now and I know what I'm doing, LOL.