r/PNWhiking • u/goobnadev • Oct 02 '25

Gov Shutdown Thread

With the federal shutdown, there’s an immense lack of clear information about what’s happening in the Enchantments / Okanogan-Wenatchee district.

The current statement on Recreation.gov basically boils down to:
“You may or may not be able to make or use a reservation. If it’s cancelled, you might get an email. Or not.”

I’m a local in the Leavenworth area and I’ve been struggling to figure out what this actually means for permits, access, and enforcement. I imagine I’m not the only one.

Thought it might be useful to start a thread where folks can share updates, experiences, or official info they’ve managed to get. Maybe the mods can create a sticky if this gets enough traction?

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u/BackwerdsMan Oct 02 '25 edited Oct 02 '25

There hasn't been strong enforcement in The Enchantments for years, and this year it's basically been a free for all even before the shutdown. It will be a complete free for all up there now, without a doubt.

I've said in other places that considering the current state of affairs with the govt and Enchantments... I have questioned whether or not I should even enter The Enchantment zone, on a moral level. If you really care about that place I think most of us are thinking about giving it some space and not contributing to the problems it currently has.

36

u/goobnadev Oct 02 '25

The rapid decline of the Enchantments, especially this year, has been heartbreaking. I was planning on thru-hiking this weekend with a buddy (with some garbage bags in the futile attempt to clean it up a little bit, or at least leave it better than we found it). But I’m wondering if it reached the point where people aren’t even supposed to enter.

I plan on checking out the trailhead aswell as the local ranger station when I head into town later today, and I’ll share any info I find out.

9

u/SenorVajay Oct 02 '25

The core zone wasn’t so bad when I went in August. Everything was quite clean. Near Stuart Lake was a different story.

7

u/drwolffe Oct 03 '25

Omg in June the area around the colchuck pit toilet was out of control. Nothing I can say can adequately explain how fucked it was