Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest recognizes 100 years

North Bend Ranger Paul Pieper, 1938.
Photo Credit: US Forest Service

When the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest celebrates its 100th anniversary June 18, it will be looking back through more than a century of shifting philosophies, policies and boundaries that have created a controversial history.

For instance, Washington state citizens were outraged in 1897 when President Cleveland turned eight million acres of forest into reserves, keeping them from cutting timber, mining, farming and grazing. Although later legislative action allowed for these activities, it shows how much public sentiment about land use has changed.

In 1905 the forest reserves became part of the newly formed United States Forest Service. “The forest reserves were established under the Department of Interior, but then transferred to the Department of Agriculture with Forester Gifford Pinchot in charge,” said Jan Hollenbeck, forest archaeologist and historian. Pinchot was America’s first forester, best know for the agency’s guiding slogan, “The greatest good, for the greatest number, over the long run.” Hollenbeck explained that moving the Forest Service into the Department of Agriculture further defined its future purpose as sustainable use of the land versus preservation. (The Bureau of Forestry was in Agriculture doing the scientific work, with the land administration in Interior. Pinchot convinced Roosevelt to move the lands to Agriculture under the new U.S. Forest Service with himself as chief. See Harold K. Steen, The U.S. Forest Service: A History and Pinchot's autobiography Breaking New Ground.)

In the early years rangers watched over the forest, with their first duty to protect it from fire. Recruits withstood a three-day ordeal to apply for a Forest Service job in the 1900s, having to successfully complete such tasks as: “felling a tree 10 or more inches in diameter with an axe so that it drives a stake into the ground when it falls; tell the boss man what ingredients and how much of each to use in preparing a batch of biscuits; and, pack a horse with all the equipment and personal effects for five days while being timed,” according to a ranger’s letter in Hollenbeck’s archives.

In 1908 the Washington reserve was divided into two sections. From Canada south to the Skagit River, the Washington National Forest was established; and from the Skagit River to the Green River the Snoqualmie National Forest, which is what the Centennial recognizes. In 1924 the Washington National Forest was renamed the Mt. Baker National Forest. Throughout the years Congress shifted boundaries while forests shifted districts. For example, the Darrington Ranger District moved from the Snoqualmie to the Mt. Baker in 1933, and absorbed the Monte Cristo Ranger District 50 years later. The Mt. Baker and Snoqualmie National Forests merged in 1973.

Following is a timeline for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest:

1893—2.25 million acres; Pacific Forest Reserve, WA (included what is today Mt. Rainier National Park)

1897-1898—eight million acres in Washington, Washington Forest Reserve in northern Cascades; Mt. Rainier Forest Reserve in the southern Cascades President Grover Cleveland proclaimed Mount Rainier Forest Reserve, incorporating the Pacific Forest Reserve

1899—Mount Rainier National Park created out of the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve

1908—Washington Forest Reserve divided into two forests: northern—Washington National Forest; southern—Snoqualmie National Forest

1924—Washington National Forest renamed Mt. Baker National Forest

1926—Mt. Rainier National Park boundary expanded

1933—Mineral, White River, Naches, and Tieton Ranger Districts transferred from the Rainier National Forest to the Snoqualmie National Forest and the Rainier dissolved

1968—North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area created out of the Mt. Baker National Forest (301,000 acres)

1969—Mineral District dissolved; land transferred to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest

1973—Mt. Baker and Snoqualmie National Forests merged; Naches and Tieton Districts of the Snoqualmie National Forest transferred to the Wenatchee National Forest