Skagit Alpine

Skagit Alpine Club – March 2009 Newsletter

Skagit Alpine Club mission statement:  "To promote the use and prevent the abuse of outdoor recreation areas"....SAC Articles of Incorporation

Meeting:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  Our March meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 3rd at Skagit Valley College in Angst Hall A-22. The following shortcut is to a campus map http://www.skagit.edu/images/color_mvCampus.pdf. 

Secretary‘s Report:

Old Business:

Jason Griffith reminded everybody to make sure those membership dues are getting paid.

Food and Drink Schedule:

New Business:

·       Chris Danilson announced that there will be a Climbing/Volunteer meeting immediately following the regular club meeting. Danilson also gave the club a brief update about a meeting he attended regarding the Falcons and Mt. Erie. It is believed that there will be a significant area closure during the months of February though July. The exact boundary was unclear, however it sounds like the Powerline wall and west could be in the closed area.

·       Dave Myers, the Auto Hobby and Outdoor Program Manager from the Navy base on Whidbey was at the meeting. He is still interested in recruiting some help for the navy outdoor program. Guides and assistants are needed. Contact phone is (360) 257-0853 or email Dave.Myers@navy.mil
 

·       Steve Trent has requested that if anyone wants to get something posted on the SAC website, now is the time. He will be leaving the country soon and be gone for some time.

·       Jason Griffith brought up the question on whether or not the club will be having a gear swap for the upcoming climbing class. Many members supported the idea. It will be further planned at the next meeting in March.

·       What a treat to have had Steph Ebegg at the meeting. She amazed our eyes as she took us through her photo books of Birds, mountains, moonlit snow fields and the cosmos as seen from earth. Her presentation was filled with not only beautiful pictures but lots of advice on techniques and equipment. Stephs knowledge of the camera, lighting and the physics of how it all works, was enough to impress anyone. Thank you Steph

Program:

Pat Gallagher (Ed. Note: cool photo is hopefully on SAC website)

This month at the Skagit Alpine Club's monthly meeting, Pat Gallagher will share some of his alpine stories laced with song, movies, and images.  An eagle scout who climbed his first technical route 28 years ago, Pat's photography and sculpture may be viewed at patgallagherart.com. It's currently on display at Avanti Art and Design on Seattle's Phinney Ridge.  He show will be in three parts:  "Sweet Motion: North American Alpinism in 2008" - Alpine journeys from Alaska to the North Cascades.   "Bhajan Pon Pon: North American Alpinism in Three Acts" - A musical tour of alpinism in 2006 and 7.  And lastly "Snaffle Shorts"- A collection of animal films.  This show will not disappoint- We hope to see you there!

Lookout:

Outing(s):

2009   SKAGIT COUNTY TRAIL  MAINTENANCE  ON THE PNT

Want to do some local trail work with a wonderful group of people?  No experience needed.  Wear long pants, bring rain gear, work gloves, lunch, and get ready to have fun!  Meeting place is the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5 north of Burlington.  Meeting time is 8:15 AM.  If you have any questions email Lynn at sancho999@comcast.net.  Hope to see you there! 

GENERAL TRAIL WORK

Trail work will be done on the FIRST and THIRD Saturday of each month  EXCEPT JULY.

April 4 and 18 (Earth Day Activity)   

May 2 and 16                               

June 6 (National Trails Day) and 20 

July 11 and 25          

August 1 and 15

September 5 and 19

October 3 and 17

Conservation Report:

Special Announcement/Event:

·       From Steve Trent, our website guru:  I will be out of the country from the end of February to the beginning of June, and the website will not be maintained during this time.  Please submit any desired changes to the website by mid-Feb.

·       From Maggie Sullivan: Maggie was recently asked whether an advertisement for a commercial guide service or other type of for-profit (commercial) outing was allowed in our newsletter.  The short answer is no and Maggie has provided a reminder of the amended club’s bylaws, which were voted on and passed in 2004.  The club’s by-laws are on the website.  The relevant article to this issue is Article XV: Amendment, which states that the by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting.  Here’s the text from the February 2004 newsletter:

“Authored by Brian Heinrich, Maggie Sullivan read a statement that bans advertisement from the SAC newsletter.  After discussion, a slightly revised version the membership voted to adopt this policy as bylaw.

-editor’s note as stated in the bylaws: The Skagit Alpine Club does not accept commercial advertisements in the Skagit Alpine Club newsletter.  This policy reflects our commitment to further the Skagit Alpine Club’s effort to use the newsletter as a way to promote camaraderie, share information and discuss Club business.”

Trip Report:

Ed. Note:  Who has been out and has something to say about it?  Anyone want to write up a trip report about the SAC sponsored cabin rental at Mt. Baker over the last full weekend in February?

Climbing Class:

Submitted by Chris Danilson

SAC 2009 MOUNTAINEERING COURSE - BREAKING NEWS!!!

The mountaineering class of 2009 is definitely a go! I received notification through Skagit Valley College that the student enrollment took a drastic swing this year. After a week of open registration, the roster of 25 students is now full and we will wait list five additional students.

Thanks to everyone who helped get the word out this year. If you didn't catch it, the Skagit Valley Herald did a write up in last Thursday's paper, which I believe helped a lot. By the way, I NEVER said that mountains are "beautiful and neat".  (Ed. Note – there are several witnesses who might testify otherwise if ever forced to go under oath).

So, for those will be assisting in putting on the class, there will be no "false starts" this year. It's time (or past time) to start schlepping those packs again and getting the gear tuned up. A final coordination meeting will be announced shortly for those folks who have expressed an interest in helping with the class, so stay tuned.

I am looking forward to getting some new folks out in the hills with us and I hope you are too!

Just an FYI, but one small wrinkle on this is that, except for a couple of guest lecturers, anyone helping with the class may have to be members in good standing (i.e. paid up on dues). The Executive Committee is doing some research on this and it will be discussed at the next meeting.  If you have a strong opinion on this, one way or another, you should show up for the next meeting

Officers:

President – Jason Griffith (360) 419-7480 jkgriffith@gmail.com

Vice President – Jonathan Frostad jonathanfrostad@hotmail.com

Treasurer – Ginny Darvill gdarvill@fidalgo.net

Secretary - Chris Noskoff cnoskoff@gmail.com

Newsletter - Corrina Marote corrina.marote@gmail.com

Webmaster - Steve Trent skagitalpineclub@comcast.net

Programs – Jason Griffith (360) 419-7480 jkgriffith@gmail.com

Lookout - John and Marie Erbstoeszer erbst@cnw.com

Outings - Lynn Postler sancho999@comcast.net

Conservation Com- Maggie Sullivan 724-3158

Social Com- Wade Bessett bessettw@hotmail.com

Climbing Com - Chris Danilson