This week volunteers will eagerly sign up (we hope), and this Saturday, June 19, these hearty souls will don hiking and outdoor working gear, bring their ‘canteens,’ and join DNR and our partners in cleaning up and readying trails on Table Mountain. The 8-mile round trip has some very steep and rocky sections, but the Natural Resources Conservation Area’s two peaks provide spectacular views of Mount Adams, Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.
Saturday, June 19, 2010, is Natural Areas Appreciation Day.
Located within the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, this 2,837-acre area has generally undisturbed dry and wetland forests, mountain meadows, and rare plant populations. Two types of old growth forests appear — noble fir on the slopes of Table Mountain and old growth cedar in a wetland mosaic in Greenleaf Basin.
A large, fine population of Howell’s daisy, a Columbia Gorge species, is found on Table Mountain. This habitat is enjoyed by mountain lion, bear, and deer, to osprey, bald eagles and peregrine falcons. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western portion of the area. Beacon Rock State Park corners the NRCA on the southwest.
This fairly strenuous hike will start at Bonneville Hot Springs and volunteers and staff will do some trail clearing and other light trail work along the way. But, what better way to appreciate some of the most exquisite native ecosystems in Washington State than to improve a trail, and join in the comradely effort. The bonus is that volunteers will learn about rare plant communities on balds, and rare plant and animal species.
Call now and sign up today… for Natural Areas Appreciation Day.
Find out more about the many natural areas managed by DNR.
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