Washington DC is both a beautiful and ugly place to be. I visited last week in honor of President Obama proclaiming September National Wilderness month and met with Oregon's congressional delegation, encouraging them to protect Oregon's natural treasures.

While I was running around "the hill" from meeting to meeting in attire that is not at all suited to running, I was able to fit in a bit of sight seeing. The more beautiful part of DC on this trip was seeing the inside of the Library of Congress, with art surrounded by art surrounded by sculptures surrounded by lots of books. Pretty cool place, just teeming with history. The ugly in DC was the political landscape, bitter and contentious and everyone is on edge about the elections with more varying predictions than you can count.

In sticking with the positive and not getting into the mud slinging politics, I was carrying a message of Wilderness protection to our nation's capital. Fortunately, there is growing momentum for a public lands omnibus bill that could be passed by congress later this year. If that happens it would likely include permanent protections for several Oregon gems including the Devil's Staircase Wilderness and the Molalla Wild & Scenic River among others.

Our very own Senator Jeff Merkley spoke to Wilderness advocates from around the country at a Wilderness Week reception.  He too had a positive message and mentioned the importance of protecting natural treasures like Devil's Staircase and the Wild Rogue.

I enjoyed Washington DC, and being a voice for Oregon's Wild places...but it sure was nice to come home to Oregon.