Get Outside! Glacier View

Mount Rainier is the iconic peak of Washington, and one Cascadia’s most amazing natural wonders. And it’s also extremely popular, drawing crowds of thousands to the trails and visitor centers at Paradise and Sunrise.

If you want to see Mount Rainier with fewer crowds, Cascadia Magazine hiking expert Craig Romano has a trail for you: Glacier View. A former fire lookout site in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, it’s got a stunning view of the flanks of Mount Rainier. Plus, it’s not too difficult, with around 4 miles round trip and a 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Plus, this time of year you’ll find a riot of wildflowers including beargrass and columbine.

The road to the trail is a little rough, and it’s off the beaten tourist track, so the crowds are minimal. It’s a fantastic hike to do right now. You’ll find the complete writeup, photos, and directions to the trailhead at this link online at Cascadia Magazine.

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Cascadia Magazine original:

Swanson Occupation: The Fight to Save Wild Salmon

First Nations on Vancouver Island have been fighting a long battle against open-net fish farms, which they say harm wild salmon. In an investigative report by Mychaylo Prystupa at Cascadia Magazine, you’ll meet Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred, who occupied a cabin on remote Swanson Island for 284 days to call attention to the diseases that biologists say are likely passing on to endangered salmon runs.

Can Vancouver get beyond ideology to address housing crisis?

Christopher Cheung, writing for The Tyee, examines the complex debate over sharply rising housing costs in Vancouver, and wonders if left-leaning activists, developers, and city government can overcome their biases to do what’s needed to increase housing supply. For more on what the three largest cities in Cascadia are doing to address housing costs, read Casey Jaywork’s detailed feature at Cascadia Magazine.

Seattle bans plastic straws, Starbucks is next

KUOW reports that Seattle city council passed a ban on plastic drinking straws. Starbucks announced it would also phase them out by 2020. Grist reports on how drinking straws became an environmental cause-de-jour.

Domestic violence is a huge problem in Spokane

Shawn Vestal, writing for the Spokesman-Review, calls attention to Spokane’s hidden public health crisis: domestic abuse. Meanwhile, the Portland Mercury has a well-written piece by Lance Garland on a case of sexual assault in the Navy that went hidden for years.

A pesticide is killing ponderosa pines in Oregon

The Bend Bulletin has a disturbing report about a relatively new weed killer, Perspective, that is killing scores of southern Oregon’s most important native trees: ponderosa pines.

Portland’s OMSI shows avant-garde films

According to Oregon Arts Watch, Portland science museum OMSI is showing a series of experimental films in its IMAX theater. In addition, the Hollywood Theatre is screening a series of films by iconic avant-garde filmmaker Vanessa Renwick. Check the article for screening dates & times.

“I’d Vowed,” poetry by Kary Wayson

Poetry Northwest has a great poem online, “I’d Vowed,” by Seattle-based poet Kary Wayson. Talk about fantastic line breaks…
“Last evening I:
sat for a while on the couch with B who lay on the pillow I:
held on my lap. He lay still while I:
examined his ear and hair and had really nothing to say (today I:
vacuumed)….”
Read the full poem online here.

That’s today’s assortment of news, arts, & culture from across the Cascadia bioregion. While I’m off in the North Cascades, Cascadia Daily will be on hiatus for the rest of the week. Have a great week & weekend, and see you all again on July 16! –Andrew Engelson

Photo credit: wildflowers on Glacier View trail by Craig Romano