Natural Resources Galbraith Mountain is a treasure.
To have such an extensive and diverse mountain biking resource right on the edge of town adds value to Bellingham and Whatcom County in ways that are just starting to be fully appreciated. Increasingly this mountain biking Mecca is becoming known around North America as a world-class pedaling destination. That’s a good thing. Quality of life (QOL) is precious and the recreational opportunities and beautiful landscapes that surround us here in Cascadia are increasingly understood to be a vital ingredient in the mix of elements that create this quality. We can think of QOL in economic terms - as a commodity. Like any other commodity, it is subject to the law of supply and demand. Look around the country. Clearly the demand for QOL is at an all-time high and growing. And at the same time, in our increasingly urbanized and resource-ravaged land, the supply certainly seems to be diminishing every day. I’m not an economist, but I think that means that its value is rising. We have it. Everyone wants it. Biking on Galbraith. Skiing at Baker. Hiking in North Cascades National Park. Sailing the San Juans. These and countless other ways to enjoy outdoor recreation in this most beautiful corner of the country contribute significantly to our growing appeal as a highly desirable place to live and work. Recreation is good business. It’s clean, it’s sustainable, it makes people healthy and happy and increasingly is being understood to fuel the economy. There’s so much heat (not so much light) about growing the region’s economy. A lot of the talk seems a little desperate to me;
coal terminals and the like. But what if we thought long-term? The beauty of the idea of QOL as a resource is that it is the preservation of the resource that pays off, instead of the usual model wherein the resource is depleted; gobbled up until it’s gone and then we look for something else. This old pattern is wearing thin. Think: timber, salmon, coal. Here in Cascadia we have an opportunity to model a new paradigm by embracing this truly renewable resource, our recreational bounty - and highlighting it. Clean air and water. Open space. Natural beauty. These attract visitors, residents and businesses. If we’re smart, we’ll embrace this reality, preserve what we have, and let the world know that when it comes to world-class recreation, Cascadia is the place - we’ve got it all. Back in 1899 when Mount Rainier National Park was established, the locals were amazed that people would travel long distances (and spend lots of cash) - just to look at a mountain! The idea was completely novel. And guess what? They’re still coming. Clearly, recreation and natural beauty have the potential to be drivers of prosperity. If we recognize the opportunity and treat the resource with care, we might just find ourselves with an economic model that provides for our children in a sustainable, healthy way. It’s like money in the bank.
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