Wildlife club to meet
The Vancouver Wildlife League will hold its monthly meeting on Dec. 5 at the WDFW Region 5 Office in Ridgefield at 7 p.m.
Joe and Megan Mallicoat will be the guest speakers and will talk to the club about Archery World, the Vancouver business, pro shop, and bow shooting range. There will be discussion concerning archery range options around Vancouver Lake, and more.
Recent trail openings, closures in Gorge
Horsetail, Ponytail & Triple Falls: Trail is open only to Ponytail Falls. Past the falls, the trail is closed because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek fire.
Larch Mountain Crater Loop: Lower trail open with hazards. Upper trail inaccessible due to snow gate.
Toothrock: Partial opening: Parking here and the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is open. Gorge trail #400 is closed.
Tom McCall Nature Preserve: The McCall Point trail is seasonally closed during winter during inclement weather conditions. The Nature Conservancy urges that in order to preserve the trail for future use, hikers should not use this trail when it is wet and muddy. (Friends of the Columbia River Gorge)
Expect winter conditions on Gifford-Pinchot roads
Winter conditions in higher elevations could exist on forest service roads. Please be prepared for winter driving conditions when visiting the national forest.
Carry chains, extra food, blankets, shovel and water in your vehicle when traveling the forest roads in winter and spring.
Please consult the Northwest Avalanche Center for the most recent avalanche forecast and observations.
For winter road closures, consult the Motor Vehicle Use Map online or pick up a free copy in person at any forest office.
DNR to hire 550 Seasonal Firefighters for summer
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun recruiting for 550 temporary firefighters to serve during the 2019 wildfire season with the state’s largest wildland firefighting department. In 2018, DNR crews responded to a record 1,826 wildfires.
First-time applicants should be able to fill positions from approximately mid-June to mid-September, though some temporary positions will be filled by returning firefighters as soon as April. With growing frequency, seasonal firefighters may also have the opportunity to work longer seasons – into October – when they are able and conditions dictate.
Having seasonal firefighters available to respond earlier and later in the season is one way that the agency is adjusting to our state’s changing climate. The agency’s last wildfire call was a recent as Nov. 21. And one hundred of the agency’s firefighters volunteered to finish out their season in November, assisting with California wildfires.
DNR provides hired firefighters with all required safety clothing, equipment and training they need. Applicants should be willing and capable of performing strenuous outdoor work. Positions span different kinds of wildland firefighting such as hand crews, engine leaders, helitack firefighters, and squad bosses. Those interested can visit DNR’s website www.dnr.wa.gov/employment, to scan firefighting job descriptions, or visit the agency’s blog post.
DNR is responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires on 13 million acres of private, state and tribal-owned forestlands.
