For Immediate Release September 12, 2002	Contact: Tom Knappenberger (360) 891-5005 Dave Olson (360) 891-5154

'Pick Up the Pinchot' and Enjoy a Free Day
On National Public Lands Day

VANCOUVER, WA – Join us for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest's fourth annual Pick Up the Pinchot (P.U.P) clean-up day. Scheduled for Saturday, September 28 - National Public Lands Day – Pick-Up the Pinchot will be held at two sites this year. Also, in recognition of National Public Lands Day, no fees will be charged on Saturday, September 28, at Northwest Forest Pass sites, Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, and Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens.

The Cowlitz Valley Ranger District will host a litter pick-up along the Skate Creek Road north of Packwood, Wash., and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is sponsoring a clean up near Sunset Campground east of Battle Ground, Wash.

Nationwide, thousands of people will donate time to projects improving public lands on September 28.

On the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the clean ups begin at 9 a.m. at Sunset Falls Day Use Area and at 8:30 a.m. at the Packwood Fire Hall. Volunteers should bring a lunch, gloves, rain gear, and sturdy shoes or boots. Litterbags and snacks will be provided.

As part of National Public Lands Day events on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, the Government Mineral Springs Guard Station will be re-dedicated at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 29. This newly restored forest guard cabin was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is nestled in a grove of towering old-growth firs. For more information on this event, contact Rick McClure, Forest Archaeologist, at 509-395-3399.

For information on P.U.P events, contact Dave Olson, Forest Headquarters, 360-891-5154; Hans Castren at MSHNVM (360) 449-7855; or Steve Hoecker Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, (360) 497-1100 or visit the National Public Lands Day website to find other events in Washington State.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest
12 September 2002