Kautz Creek: Nature's power is evident

By Karen Sykes | Seattle Post-Intelligencer | August 27, 2008

I used to know exactly how many switchbacks it took to get to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground from Kautz Creek. I have forgotten the number, but there are many. I did remember most of the trail was in the forest, an advantage on a hot day.

This was not a hot day and we didn't get to Indian Henry's, but we had no complaints. In addition to wildflowers and a bear, we saw the destruction from floods that washed out bridges at Kautz Creek and tossed trees around like matchsticks.

The damage to Kautz Creek and other trails within Mount Rainier National Park was so extensive that volunteers from several organizations answered the call for help and have responded accordingly. At the trailhead we ran into volunteers from Starbucks working with the Student Conservation Association, a non-profit organization established 50 years ago. The focus of SCA is to restore and protect public lands for future generations.

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