June Club Meeting
Wednesday June 2nd - 7 pm, 911
Center, 2911 E College Way
Climbing in Patagonia
Allen will show breath-taking pictures from his recent trip to Argentina and Chile.
>From tourist traps to majestic mountains, he found himself always enjoying the
4 weeks he spent there. Don't miss this chance to see a place you will want to
go to! You will also learn a bit about the culture and history of both
countries. Some of the places you will see are Mt. Tronador, Torres del Paine
National Park, Rafting on Manso River, Buenos Aires... Don't you want to go
already? Stop by and see your future!
Snacks will be provided by Brad and Kathy Monrad
Secretary’s Report
May 5, 2004
Sadly, I missed the opening remarks, but in the espirit de corps which
symbolizes all Board Secretaries everywhere, I was able to document the
following:
Old Business – Keith Kraft is
leaving our climes for milder ones, thereby creating an opening as Director. An
unfilled position of Director isn’t allowed per SAC by-laws, and so Harold Mead
was nominated to fill the void, he accepted, it was confirmed, and now Mr. Mead
joins Eric Sandbo in this esteemed role. Thank you, Harold!
New Business – Road and trail closures
have become normal in these parts and Veep Sylvia Trask will attend a US Forest
sponsored trail maintenance meeting in Darrington and we anxiously await her
report. I shall refrain from commentary until I hear the Offical Report from
Vice-President Trask and the US Forest Service. For those of you who are no
doubt on pins-and-needles in anticipation of my hopefully witty AND scathing
remarks, stay tuned!
If you’d like to fix the trails yourself, the estimable Pacific Northwest Trail
Association has work parties that go out every two weeks to do just that. Visit
them at www.pnta.org
Slide show – Feel like hiking 60-70 miles in a weekend? I know I do and if you
missed Mike Woodmansee’s incredible slide show, then you’ll have to buy his
book Trekking Washington available at finer book stores everywhere or at least
at Scott’s Bookstore in Mount Vernon.
Cinco de Mayo update! As the SAC meeting fell on one of the more reasonable and
useful holidays, Cinco de Mayo, a serious group of us put forth the effort to
find a margarita in Mount Vernon, which really wasn’t that hard. It did take us
two stops as the first Mexican place was apparently trying out their LOUD
speaker system with some seizure-inducing techno music. Sadly, our enlightening
conversation was drowned out before we were drowned in some tequila. Next stop,
we found another strangely similar Mexican place with friendly help and,
apparently, a one margarita limit. Anyway, good times were had, climbing
stories told, and, in case anyone was wondering, Brad Monrad knows Jack Sh*t.
Thanks guys!
Some Announcements...
Kari Sherman Finishes Mopping up Western
Washington: Now Ready to Take on the World
Our own Kari Sherman, daughter of Paul and Laurie is graduating June 11th from
high school. In the fall she will be attending Colorado College in Boulder
Springs, CO. Kari has become an avid rock climber and mountaineer and through
her experiences she can do anything she wants to, or at least have great time
attempting it. Paul and Laurie want to thank the club members for the great
examples and friendship they have been to Kari. There will a cookout at Bowman Bay
on Saturday June 12 as a celebration. Congratulations and Good Luck Kari. Send
us some good beta from the land of the dry snow.
Trail Maintenance
Pacific NW Trail Assoc.
Do your part to help maintain our local trails! There's been lots of
damage after the flooding last year. Join the Pacific Northwest Trail
Association on their Saturday work parties. They'll be meeting June 5
&19. Meet 8:15 at the Cook Road Exit. For more info call
360-424-0407. See you there!
Outings
June 19th – Samish Overlook
June 19 – Samish Overlook, 6.5 mi RT, 640 ft. eg. Get ready for
excitement on this trail. Besides the bountiful beauty of trees and trail
offshoots, the southwest end of Blanchard Mountain is a virtual hang-glider
base with 3 or 4 launching pads. Views are spectacular of the numerous
farms and across to FidalgoIsland. One may also see an eagle or two
amongst the gliders souring as equals. Will plan to meet at 8am. Call Ruth if interested at 360-445-3520 or grw.realenergy@verizon.net.
Forest Service seeks Citizens for Resource Advisory Committees
Forest Supervisor’s Office in
Mountlake Terrace
Managers of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National are seeking nominees for three
Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) under Section 205 of the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393).
Each advisory committee consists of 15 members representing a wide array of
public interests. The committees’ duties include reviewing proposed forest
management projects in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and making
recommendations to the Forest Service coordinating with land management agency
officials, and providing opportunities for interested parties to participate in
the project development process.
Committee members should be individuals who are committed to working
collaboratively with other interests for the long-term benefit of national
forest system lands. The nomination period closes June 15, 2004.
The geographic boundaries of three local advisory committees are aligned with
subsegments of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The northern RAC
includes national forest lands in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, the central RAC
includes national forest lands in Snohomish County, and the southern RAC
includes national forest lands in King and Pierce Counties.
Committee members serve a three-year term without compensation, but may be
reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses. Meetings are generally held once
or twice yearly within the geographic area the RAC serves. Members must reside
within the State in which the RAC is located, and to the extent practicable,
within the RAC boundary.
Editor’s note: This would great
opportunity for someone from the club to represent the climbing community in
the Forest Service’s decision making process. I’ll be bringing this up at the
June meeting. If you are interested in this you can find the complete news
release at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/news/2004/nr_rac_recruit_051804.shtml
2004 Mountaineering Class
by Thad Hink
The Mountaineering class is getting close to its final outings. The Baker trip
will have happened by the next club meeting. We’re all hoping for good weather.
Three weeks ago the class went up to the North Twin Sister. The weather wasn’t
great but the class exercised their luck in different ways. The gate was
unlocked at the river and we were able to drive all the gear three miles up,
which saved on the effort of the crappy logging road approach. After an
allergic reaction scare, two students, Harold and Maggie headed down and the
rest of us made our way up the West Ridge. Everyone seemed to have a good time
climbing that phenomenally grippy rock. Just past our turn around time Brian
decided that we should descend the ridge since we had been hearing snow sliding
on the North side of the mountain all day and was unsure of its stability. By
the time we regrouped and started our descent the visibility had dropped to
about 50 feet with some light snow pellets falling from the sky. We got off
route (to far south) and had to work our way back to northern side of the West
Ridge. We had to set up a couple of rappels down some more tricky spots for
those who needed it. We got back on route and made it back to the logging road
without mishap. The group did an excellent job staying together in poor
visibility and regaining the route. A good learning experience for all.
Allen and I stayed the night with two students and Sunday we went up the bowl
between the two mountains and practiced rope team arrest skills. We never did
get to see the tops of either Sisters through the cloudy weather during the
weekend.
The next weekend was Liberty Bell. I went up Friday evening and Brad, Kathy,
Skye, and Shawn came about an hour or so afterward and we spent the night. Brad
and Kathy brought the dogs with, and let me tell you, that sitting out under a
clear, crisp canopy of stars at 7000’ with a nice warm dog cuddled up beside you
is a pretty pleasant way to spend an evening.
The next morning (after I got to sleep in until 8am) the rest of the group
arrived and we headed off for our climbs. Skye and Brad took Andy and John up
‘Overexposure’ and George and Shawn took Derek and Kelsi, and Allen and I took
Jonathan and Drea up the Beckey route. I think we set a speed record up the
Beckey route at just around 8 hours. I got to do a lot of coaching with Drea
and was happy to be part of something I’m sure she will remember the rest of her
life. Everyone got to the top and made it back to camp without problem. I left
Saturday evening and the rest of group stayed. Apparently the weather was foul
Sunday morning and everyone packed up and left.
The Snowking Outing was cancelled because of weather and part of the group
ended up over at Fun Rocks in Mazama and others ended up hiking elsewhere.
Allen and company made a run up Sahale Arm on Sunday so despite the weather
everyone did get a little exercise.
Trip Report
Dickerman Mountain, May 22nd
by Thad Hink
On a cool, rainy Saturday morning, MaryAnn and I left for Dickerman Mt. Our
original plan was to go up Dickerman and try to do the traverse to Twin Peaks.
In leaving two hours later than anticipated in inclement weather pretty much
killed that plan. We reduced our objective to Dickerman itself.
I had not been up Dickerman before, but in talking to friends I was told that
there is a hiking path to the top, though at this time of year there would be
some snow. This would be a good opportunity for MaryAnn to practice some snow
climbing skills and ice ax arrest.
On the drive down the rain kept getting worse and at about 10 miles from the
trailhead on the Mountain Loop Highway, with the wipers going full tilt I
waited for MaryAnn to bring up plan B, which was to go to Seattle and goof off
for the day. Instead she said, “If it’s like this at the trailhead we can still
hike up for a while…” Am I lucky or what.
Amazingly, when we pulled into trailhead parking lot it had stopped raining. We
slung our packs on our backs at 10:45 and headed up the trail. After 2 or 3
miles we finally hit the snowline at about 4000’ and were able to leave the
monotony of the trail behind us. We headed up a moderately steep gully in the
direction of the summit. Running into a party coming down, they assured us of
good glissading above. There was a couple of guys descending over a steep rocky
side of the gully into a nice patch of slide alder. I made a mental note that
we didn’t want to take that route down.
Above the gully was 1500’ vertical feet of the most pleasant snow climbing. The
snow was just soft enough for one easy kick to make a step, but firm enough to
keep from postholing. Sparse trees and moderate steepness let us push upwards
without having to trudge. The only problem was that the poor visibility was
getting worse. We had a Green Trails 15 min map along which really doesn’t help
much other than in general terms. The compass came out and we started shooting
bearings and flagging a few trees so we could follow a route back to the proper
gully that would lead us back to the trail.
At about 300’ below the summit MaryAnn was running out of steam. I climbed some
moderately steep snow and decided that she could stay put if she wanted. She
thought this was a good idea and got comfortable. I shot another bearing in the
direction I thought the summit was and ran up there. Eight minutes later my
altimeter told me I was there. Mindful of the cornices on top I sucked down a
GU and had a drink. I’m sure the views were spectacular but by this point the
visibility was down to less than 100’. I turned around and followed my course
back to MaryAnn. We then made our way back down the slope, retrieving our
markers and finally to a couple nice glissades.
Before we exited the snowslopes we found a nice steep side of the gully to
practice ice ax arrest. We did all the different scenarios until we were good
and wet. Convinced that MaryAnn’s new ice ax had been properly broken in we
descended the rest of the gully and back to the trail. We were back to the car
by 5:30 and staring at a nice steak at Outback by 7pm. It only rained for about
30 minutes on us the entire hike and climb. MaryAnn got some great practice
arresting, kicking steps and plunge stepping. She was still beaming on Monday.
The Dickerman Mountain trailhead is 4.5 miles east of Silverton on the Mountain
Loop Highway. The hike is 4.5 miles long with an elevation gain of 3923’ from
the trailhead. There is trail that goes all the way to the top so go early in
the season and pick your own path. It is reported that the alpine traverse to Twin
Peaks is nice also.
Mission Statement
To promote the use, and prevent the abuse, of all outdoor
recreational areas, particularly the North Cascade area and Olympic Mountains,
the San Juan Islands, and the Pacific Beaches; to provide companionship and
fellowship between outdoorsmen; to disseminate information regarding the safe
and pleasant usage of the outdoors; to function as a group dedicated to the
preservation of reasonable recreational and wilderness areas on the county,
state, and national level.
Skagit Alpine Club
PO Box 1054
Mount Vernon Washington 98273
www.skagitalpineclub.com
Officers
President Kathy Monrad 853-8901
Vice President Sylvia Trask 856-4050
Secretary Brian Heinrich 756-6950
mtkulshan@yahoo.com
Treasurer George Reeves 293-3417
Climbingfool2000@yahoo.com
Directors Eric Sandbo 755-0746
Harold Mead 299-8196
Committees
Conservation Fred Darvill 424-5854
Lookout Fred & Ginny Darvill 424-5854
John & Marie Erbstoeszer336-5896
Programs Maggie Sullivan 724-3158
Outings Lynn Postler 428-4237
sancho@fidalgo.net
Website Allen Grenz 422-7593
allen@gotooasys.com
Newsletter Thad Hink 770-4528
sacnews@thinkstudios.net