Editor’s note: This letter is in reference to “A little off the top — King County proposes Mt. Peak tree cutting for view of Enumclaw, Rainier”, published June 15.

It amazes me that the county that drives habitat, ecology, and resource management in the state of Washington is considering destroying old second growth forest for the likes of a view. I spent a good deal of time on a land management task force with Govs. Booth Gardner, Gary Locke, and Christine Gregoire to ensure these parts of the county were protected from such maleficence and mutilation for the likes of a view. You want a view, go to Rainier – it’s just a few miles up the road.

The habitat at the top of Mt. Peak has matured over the 80-plus years since the last logging. Cutting this canopy will not only destroy that habitat but also open the top up to unruly winds and other weather most likely causing other trees to fall and at times making the top unapproachable during these events. With the removal of the trees it will almost certainly increase erosion of the already poorly maintained trails. Leaving the trees lay and not removing will be unsightly for years.

The regrowth will be thick and in a few years will have to be cut again to keep a view open – it will only get worse as the years progress rendering the open areas impassable for humans or animals adding to the fuel load making fires on Mt. Peak more likely. This would be a reoccurring cost that will most likely fall into the unmaintainable category as budgets for parks die, and county and parks prioritize other things they deem more important than a view of Enumclaw and the mountain for a few people who line their pockets at election time.

If the county is interested in spending money on Mt. Peak it should be allocated to trail improvement, signage, and security. Trails are rutty, rocky, slippery and uneven. Many folks new to Mt. Peak get lost because there are no signs to direct them to where they parked and often end up at the wrong parking place. Security, even in the south lot, is poor, and north lot you really take a chance losing a window even if there is nothing in your vehicle.

I frequent Mt. Peak often and enjoy the old timber at the top and the forest floor below. Destroying that for a view that is covered with clouds most of the year is pretty ridiculous in my opinion and will have a very negative impact to the look and feel of Mt. Peak in the future. Don’t do it – some things are just better left well enough alone.

Jon Akers

Enumclaw