A Wild First Day for the Central Cascades Permits

A WILD FIRST DAY FOR CENTRAL CASCADES PERMITS

by David Rempel

As reported in the March/April Mazamas Bulletin (p. 20), April 6 at 7 a.m., began the first phase of the new United States Forest Service’s (USFS) process for obtaining permits to hike in Oregon’s Central Cascades (covering Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas access). In less than five-minutes we witnessed the best dates on the most popular trails snapped up by the quickest and most skilled permit getters.

PROLOGUE:

First, there was a problem that could no longer be ignored in our Central Cascades wilderness areas—overuse. Second, the USFS was tasked with solving the problem. And over the past 3–4 years they have engaged in a great deal of fact-finding and public testimony leading to our new permit system. Third, acquiring permits to hike/climb in the Pacific Northwest is not new, many of us have done it for years in controlled areas like the Enchantments, Mount St. Helens summit, Pamelia Lake (Mt. Jefferson summit access), and the Obsidian Trail (North & Middle Sister summit access). Fourth—AND MOST IMPORTANT—April 6 was only Phase 1, with half or more of the total permits still to be issued (for this summer)—more about Phase 2 later.

VOICES ON THEIR APRIL 6 EXPERIENCES:

As most of you have already heard, the April 6 (Phase 1) permit process ran the gamut from those who got their desired permits to those expressing frustration and disbelief for those who saw permits for prime dates on some of the most popular trailheads disappear by 7:04 a.m.! Some characterized the process as efficient and fair while others a fiasco and failed experiment—with some suggesting going to a lottery system in the future, like Yosemite (Fun Fact: The odds of getting a Half Dome climb lottery permit are about 7 percent for a weekday date and 2 percent for a weekend date).

USFS and recreation.gov help desk personnel reported a busy day of answering questions but not too negative. The biggest concern prior to April 6 being whether the volume at 7 a.m. would crash recreation. gov. Statistically, the first day of Central Cascade permits accounted for half of all permits purchased on recreation.gov for the day. Anecdotally, their impression was that it favored the experienced. MORE ABOUT PHASE 2—THE WEEKLY PERMIT PROCESS:

Folks wanting to access a trailhead (trail) will soon be able to apply for remaining permits one week in advance. This process begins May 21 at 7 a.m. (Pacific Daylight time) for a May 28 hike and will continue through September 24, 2021, the final day permits are required. In Phase 1, only 40 percent of the overnightuse permits, and 20 to 50 percent of the day-use permits (depending on the wilderness area) were allocated. This means the Phase 2 process will allocate the rest.

STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE SUCCESS: 1.Know the system. Overnight-use permits are required for all 79 wilderness area trailheads and yet, only 19 trailheads for day-use permits—and note that it is trailhead-based (i.e., not trail-based).

And so, losing out on the most popular trailhead may mean access from a less popular adjoining trailhead (usually a longer walk, but still an access to the trail). Note also that you are not locked into entering and exiting from the same trailhead—you must enter on day-1 of your permit from the trailhead permit you received, but can exit via another (e.g., Marion Lake Trailhead and trail interconnect with the Eight Lakes Basin and PCT/Jack Lake area—two other popular destinations). 2.Use the friends and family plan. If you want to procure permits for more than one trailhead this summer, split the assignments with your intended hiking buddies (and keep in mind, recreation.