Blanchard Mountain - Bow area

Finally!

We have what seems to be a compromise to the on-going battle to "Save Blanchard Mountain." If you are a hang-glider no doubt you've taken flight from the Mountain, hikers and naturalist abound throughout the many hiking trails.

According to the Skagit Valley Herald's article dated Thursday, January 25, 2007, after nine months of meeting, a nine-member advisory board has arrived at what they feel will be a win-win resolution to all sides involved in this long-drawn out battle. Apparently the plan would set aside the land containing the most popular trails, in exchange for money to purchase other land locally that can be logged. The monies would need to be provided by the State Legislature and could cost an estimated $15 milllion. Much of the timbered land on Blanchard is in trust for the Burlington-Edison School District and the annual revenues derived from logging have supplied the District with about $250, 000.

It will be interesting to see how everything will shake out, but for now it gives locals the opportunity to know that their interests have been taken seriously and the hope of saving Blanchard Mountain will be done.

To read more on the article that appeared in the paper log onto www.skagitvalleyherald.com , front page story.