Field Notes From the Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway
If you've ever thought about visiting Kanaskat-Palmer or Flaming Geyser State Parks tomorrow is a free day at Washington State Parks. So take the opportunity to visit the Green River Gorge. Right now the river is running very high so stay safe but enjoy it's different mood.
On Monday February 13th the King County council voted unanimously to name four parcels of land the Green River Natural area located in the Green River Valley after Doreen Johnson.
Join the Black Diamond Historical Society. They are conducting the final tour of the year of the former coal mining town of Franklin on Saturday, March 4.
Franklin was a company-owned coal mining town in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The town site was nestled alongside the Green River Gorge and has many cement foundations, a 1,300-foot coal mine shaft, cemetery, and other reminders of what it was like when coal was king in the King County area.
When I started this documentary my goal was to pull together my 20+ years of experience working on land conservation and advocacy in the Middle Green River watershed.
The first exhibition from my Green River Gorge Greenway documentary in Enumclaw Washington on Friday February 3rd was a success.
The Story of Doreen Johnson added to the Green River Gorge Greenway website in honor of the upcoming ordinance, On Tuesday January 31st. a proposed ordinance will be considered by the King County Council Transportation Economy and Environment Committee to rename an area within the Green River Natural Area in honor of Doreen Johnson, to recognize her service, dedication and profound influence in southeast King County.
The City of Enumclaw’s Gallery 2017 presents:
Photographer: Lisa Parsons
Green River Gorge: A Visual Journey
February 2, 2017 through February 28, 2017
Join Photographer, River Conservationist and Adventurer
Lisa Parsons
for a Gallery Opening
on Friday February 3rd from 3—5pm
Brilliant autumn color in western Washington is never a guaranteed as it is in other areas of the country on the drier side of Washington state. No autumn is alike due to the influence of factors such as temperature and moisture before and during autumn.
I’ve heard people say “Technology is disconnecting our youth from nature”.
I thought about this as I set off to go camping with my nephew at Kanaskat State Park at the top of the Green River Gorge. At eleven years old Adam had just gotten a new iPhone. His first. Obviously he was excited and entranced by this new device. He spent his time in the back seat texting his friends while we drove out to camp...
Early this year I approached the Washington State Parks Foundation to see if they would be interested in acting as a fiscal sponsor for my documentary project that would document the conservation history of the Green River Gorge as well as people's stories of connection to this unique area. As part of the project I also planned on hiking the entire Green River Gorge to document every section of the river to capture video and photography of the amazing landscape. They accepted and I can receive donations and apply for grants under their umbrella. I also have support from Urban Sparks, a non profit.
Who knew? Guest appearances by two of our local otters in the Green River Gorge.
On September 14th I received a call from a fisherman friend of mine. He said "They're here!"
Luckily this section is a loop starting at the resort. Getting to our starting point on the river is a bit interesting. Approximately thirteen years ago a developer bought 4 sections of land from Plum Creek Timber. Those 4 sections of land are like four sides of a box and essentially lie between Washington State Parks land and Department of Natural Resources land. So in order to get to the river at the Jellum section of the State Park you have to walk along a chain link fence and through a gate at an old logging road. You have to cross this private ownership to get to the public land. It is convoluted and is a good example of the challenges of accessing public land in this area.
This weekend I complete my hike of the entire Green River Gorge from Kanaskat to Flaming Geyser. I believe I am the first documented person to hike it's entire length.
Great Blue Heron in the Green River Gorge.
Kanaskat State Park is located approximately 37 miles southeast of Seattle Washington. It is located at the east end of the Green River Gorge at the base of the Cascade foothills. It has a large campground and along the river is a day use area with covered picnic areas and three miles of trails. It also is a popular launch point for experienced whitewater kayakers and rafters who consider the Green River Gorge one of the top whitewater runs in Washington state.
I've been having a bit of fun this summer doing underwater video. I've found that watching my dog, Taz, swim underwater can be pretty entertaining, His white color contrasts really well with the deep jade green of the Green river. There is some rock diving and other fun antics in this video. Stay tuned til the end for a guest appearance.
I recently returned from a seven day whitewater rafting trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Seven days immersed in a the largest roadless area in the lower forty eight states. The Middle Fork of the Salmon seven day rafting trip starts in the mountains near Stanley Idaho and winds and drops over 98 miles from forested mountains to the tawny grass covered hills of desert country. In between is a wildness that pulses with the life of the plants and animals that call it their home. At night from the river you can see the lights of the Milky Way overhead.
Once back home I returned to the Green River Gorge to look for more Otters in one of the last relatively unfragmented east / west corridors of open space near over two million people living in King County. The gorge has few roads that cross over it’s fourteen mile length. Three to be exact and a river runs beneath their tall bridges. The wildlife can travel through the gorge without having to cross a road to get from the Cascade foothills to the lowlands of the Green river valley.
If I were an otter this is where I would want to live. This secluded spot on the river is the equivalent of a country estate or a riverside vacation home for otters. Giant sandstone cliffs create seclusion. Giant rocks poke above languid deep green pools of slow moving water. The rocks are perfect places to eat a catch or rest from the safety of a lofty perch. Otters can see what is coming. If there is danger they can slide quickly into the water and make a get-a-way. Water carved sandstone creates pools perfect for cray fish, an otter food source. The deep water hides sandstone caves and mazes of rocks to swim in between. Yes, if I was an otter I'd want to call this my home.
Michelle and I headed out to a more remote section of the Green River Gorge to search for river otters. This was the most remote area that I have spotted otter sign and it isn't easy to get to, as we found out on our hike.
