Wilderness goal: get passport stamped for “Blue Mountains 7”

WILDERNESS — Maybe you’ve followed trails all over the Northwest, but have you visited all seven wilderness areas in the Blue Mountains that straddle the Washington-Oregon border?

The Blue Mountains National Forests (Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests) have introduced the Wilderness Passport Challenge to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act .

The passport has a page for each of the seven wilderness areas in northeast Oregon and southeast Washington — Wenaha-Tucannon , North Fork Umatilla , North Fork John Day , Hells Canyon , Eagle Cap , Strawberry Mountain and Monument Rock .

Get the free passport and have it stamped at a Forest Service office when you venture out to visit one of the wilderness areas.This will be a collector’s item with a lot of good memories and stories behind it.

The National Wilderness Preservation System, established by the Wilderness Act of 1964, has become one of the nation’s treasures.

The passport challenge is just one way you can join the many activities this year celebrating the Wilderness Act 50 ^th Anniversary.

Umatilla National Forest Headquarters

Pendleton, Oregon (541) 278-3716

North Fork John Day Ranger District

Ukiah, Oregon (541) 427-3231

Pomeroy Ranger District

Pomeroy, Washington (509) 843-1891

Walla Walla Ranger District

Walla Walla, Washington (509) 522-6290