Covid-19

[drm]

This order includes all trailheads/state park access in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area within Skamania County.

[teachpdx]

The Skamania ban is confusing.

My reading is that it prohibits all hiking in the entire county.
And then it reiterates the Gorge areas, as they are the most popular.

But they need to clarify it. Both interpretations can be justified equally.

[retired jerry]

going back to Chip's question about what's ethical, maybe just make sure you maintain social distancing

because people behave stupidly and form huge tightly packed crowds, they have to make all these pronouncements

I'll just be staying pretty close to home. Walk around the neighborhood.

I need to get some chicken manure for my garden. They said I could pay them outside, they'd load it into my truck, staying within protocol

[drm]

would the Sheriff be patiently waiting?

Chip - The Sheriff is always waiting for you. And the ranger.

While social distancing is the primary priority, I think when law enforcement sees hikers, they see a SAR case in the waiting, and a drain on their medical services. Because isn't that what wilderness travelers do if they don't get eaten by a bear? They get lost or fall and hurt themselves, requiring rescue. The orders don't specifically say not to travel far from your home, but other do, and it is implied. Anybody doing recreation outside of their immediate home area should probably be prepared for nasty looks.

[Bosterson]

This order includes all trailheads/state park access in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area within Skamania County.

I just spoke with John @ Skamania County dept of emergency management. The entire county is closed to all hiking. It doesn't matter if it's not in the Gorge, not an actual trailhead. No one is allowed to hike anywhere in the county at all. The USFS is on board with this for the lands they manage. John said Skamania just doesn't have the resources to have any potential SARs, let alone having the crowds come, etc. Understandable, but still very disappointing.

[adamschneider]

Washington State Parks, DNR, & WDFW lands (outside Skamania County) are still open for day use, but all campgrounds are closed and dispersed camping is prohibited: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/washington- ... h-april-30

Obviously dispersed camping doesn't violate social distancing protocols, but I interpret the prohibition as "seriously, just stay home for god's sake."

[drm]

I just spoke with John @ Skamania County dept of emergency management. The entire county is closed to all hiking. It doesn't matter if it's not in the Gorge, not an actual trailhead. No one is allowed to hike anywhere in the county at all. The USFS is on board with this for the lands they manage. John said Skamania just doesn't have the resources to have any potential SARs, let alone having the crowds come, etc. Understandable, but still very disappointing.

So then that includes all of Indian Heaven, Trapper Creek, Falls Creek Falls, the west side of Mt Adams, Lewis River, etc. I'm guessing that neighboring counties will follow soon.

[xrp]

Skamania County just made all outdoor recreational hiking illegal.

https://www.skamaniacounty.org/home/sho ... nt?id=2391

From the document:

"Violation of or failure to comply with this Order constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment up to ninety days, or both."

So, LEO are pulling back resources and person to person contact because of Coronavirus and some jails are letting already convicted criminals out of prison because of Coronavirus. Now they're threatening to jail/fine people for going out and hiking in the outdoors because of Coronavirus?

Clown shoes.

Skamania County Sheriff's Dept is 16 full time deputies.

[adamschneider]

So then that includes all of Indian Heaven, Trapper Creek, Falls Creek Falls, the west side of Mt Adams, Lewis River, etc. I'm guessing that neighboring counties will follow soon.

I wonder. Skamania County suffers from proximity to Portland, and the VAST majority of the people hiking there are not locals. Klickitat County takes a bit more effort to get to, and doesn't have as many headlining destinations — aside from Catherine Creek and the Columbia Hills.

Of course, Klickitat County might now feel pressured to issue an order because of the displacement of previously Skamania-bound hikers. Sort of like how Lincoln County realized they had to act to close down their tourism industry after Clatsop and Tillamook did.

[adamschneider]

Now they're threatening to jail/fine people for going out and hiking in the outdoors because of Coronavirus?

Clown shoes.

Skamania County Sheriff's Dept is 16 full time deputies.

They don't want you there. It doesn't matter whether it's practically enforceable; if you go, you're just being a jerk.