Attendees of the Greater Hells Canyon Council’s Base Camp presentation on the Blue Mountain Trail on April 25 saw an informative presentation. The presenter has provided additional information about the Blue Mountains Trail.
- The Blue Mountains Trail webpage can be found at: www.hellscanyon.org/blue-mountains-trail
- For those interested in shorter trips on the BMT, options are available at: www.hellscanyon.org/blue-mountains-trail/trips
- The summer outings and events calendar, including staff-led hikes and surveys, is available at: www.hellscanyon.org/event-and-outings
- For specific questions, individuals may contact Jared at jared@hellscanyon.org or Pip Redding, the Blue Mountains Trail Coordinator, at pip@hellscanyon.org.
- To stay informed about the latest news from the BMT and GHCC, people are encouraged to sign up for newsletters at: www.hellscanyon.org/newsletters
In response to a question about how western Oregon residents can support conservation in eastern Oregon, the GHCC staff recommends contacting Oregon Senators and local Representatives to express interest in conservation issues in northeastern Oregon and request more involvement on eastside issues. The organization plans to provide more direct guidance in the weeks ahead.
The importance of northeastern Oregon conservation extends beyond regional boundaries. The GHCC mission area encompasses approximately 10,000 square miles with about 100,000 inhabitants in a rural, economically disadvantaged region. Despite this, it remains a popular destination, with over 100,000 visitors from the Portland region annually.
Support from western Oregon residents enables GHCC’s conservation work, which impacts the entire state through watershed protection, endangered species habitat preservation, and trail maintenance. The organization protects major watersheds including the Grande Ronde and John Day rivers, which serve as critical cold water refugia for wild salmon and steelhead. Their efforts ensure endangered species like wolves have suitable habitat, and through the Blue Mountains Trail initiative, they maintain hundreds of miles of hiking trails across the region’s three National Forests.