Dark Divide Debate

Trails

For 12 miles, the mile-high ridge called Dark Divide extends through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, rich with blue lupine and white lilies, offering views of mountains including Rainier, St. Helens, Adams and Hood. Features like 5,238-foot Dark Mountain and Dark Meadows are named for John Dark, a 19th century gold prospector and speculator.

Trails in the 55,000-acre roadless area west of Mount Adams in southwest Washington are open to motorcycles under the forest’s management plan but are too primitive for all but the most accomplished riders.

In 1994, at the urging of backwoods enthusiasts in the Northwest Motorcycle Association, U.S. Forest Service officials approved $150,000 to improve some of the trails.

Two months ago, acting on a lawsuit filed by the Washington Trails Association and 11 environmental groups, a U.S. District judge rejected the plan, saying that hikers’ concerns were ignored.

Justice Department lawyers filed notice of appeal last week.

The hikers are “absolute zealots,” said Dave Hiatt, 48, a motorcycle association activist and vice president of Hiatt Pontiac in Tacoma.