SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8654

By Senators A. Anderson, Sellar, Ramussen and Morton

     WHEREAS, The ongoing preservation of historical and recreational landmarks furthers and enhances the unique cultural heritage of Washington State; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin, built by the Forest Service in the North Cascades Sawtooth Wilderness area in the early 1930's, is such a landmark located on public lands; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin, although in excess of sixty years old, is structurally sound and has been maintained over the years as a functional and integral part of maintaining an appropriate connection with our natural resource system; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin was historically used as a shelter for crews providing year-round maintenance on the telephone line, the only communication link to the outside world at the time for the remote community of Stehekin; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin is one of many landmark structures located on state wilderness and forest lands that have the potential for continued and critical use by the citizens of this state; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin and other similar publicly available structures located on state wilderness and forest lands also provide a variety of recreational backcountry opportunities for the residents of Washington State, including hikers, backpackers, campers, skiers, and horse riders; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin and other such structures located on state wilderness and forest lands provide shelter in certain emergency situations for various people such as fire fighters, individuals who are lost or injured, and those caught in the inclement weather situations; and

     WHEREAS, The War Creek Cabin and other structures located on state wilderness and forest lands should be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, educational, conservational, and use; and

     WHEREAS, It serves the best interests of the state of Washington to preserve, maintain, and make available for use the War Creek Cabin and other such structures located on state wilderness and forest lands; and

     WHEREAS, In the laudable spirit of public service the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington have expressed a desire to preserve and maintain the War Creek Cabin and ensure its availability for the use and enjoyment of the people of this state and for future generations to come; and

     WHEREAS, The Backcountry Horsemen of Washington is an organization dedicated to protecting our priceless backcountry environment, working with local, state, and federal agencies and the general public in cooperative work programs to maintain backcountry resources, and expanding responsible backcountry activities and opportunities for all the people of Washington;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the state of Washington declare its support for the continued preservation, maintenance, and use of the War Creek Cabin and similar landmarks and its gratitude to the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington for their generous offer to assist in ensuring its ongoing availability for the enjoyment of the citizens of Washington state.