As the 2023-24 season winds down, we wanted to take a look at some of what we accomplished this year and what’s on the horizon—and say a huge thank-you to the community that’s supported us over the past two years.
It’s been a busy year here at Cascade Backcountry Alliance, and we have a lot to celebrate. Here are some of the accomplishments we’re most proud of.
Learning about the CBA community: We were thrilled to get nearly 400 responses to our first community survey. We learned a ton about who’s using the backcountry, what your access needs are, and much more. This information is crucial for helping us set priorities and working on the issues you care about most.
Launching our Backcountry 101 series: We launched a new Backcountry 101 series to help new skiers, riders, and snowshoers get into the backcountry. Learn how to get the right gear, forecast Washington’s fickle winter weather, and plan your first ski or snowshoe tour.
Raising awareness around the proposed Gold Creek Valley closure: We asked our community to comment on the proposed long-term closure of Gold Creek Valley, and you responded—there are nearly 300 public comments on the proposal. We’ll provide an update when the Forest Service announces a decision (expected in September).
Encouraging comments on the proposed Baker backcountry huts: We also asked our community to comment on four proposed huts in the Mt. Baker region. The project received more than 230 public comments. The Forest Service is expected to announce a decision on the huts this summer.
Forming deeper relationships with backcountry stakeholders: Behind the scenes, we’ve spent a lot of time this winter talking with land management agencies, other winter recreation groups, and many other stakeholders in the region. The relationships we’ve formed will play a significant role in enabling us to push forward access improvements in the future.
Engaging directly with our community: We were excited to meet some of our community members at events like Snowbash, the Wonderland Backcountry Gear Exchange, and NWAC Avalanche Awareness classes.
Making headlines: CBA’s Kyle McCrohan was quoted in Backcountry Magazine alongside representatives from Tahoe Backcountry Alliance and Granite Backcountry Alliance. Our own Will Russack was also quoted in the Seattle Times about the proposed Gold Creek Valley closure.
There’s one more thing—CBA now accepts donations! We held our first fundraiser in partnership with Feathered Friends, kicking off their new backcountry stories series, The Bight. We look forward to using donations to improve opportunities for winter backcountry recreation. If you missed the event, you can still invest in our efforts to protect and improve winter access here in the Pacific Northwest.
We’re excited to build on this momentum heading into next season. Thanks for supporting CBA’s mission—we’ll see you in the fall!
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