May
Club Meeting
Wednesday May 5th - 7
pm, 911 Center, 2911 E College Way
Mike Woodmansee
Trekking Washington - Mike
Woodmansee will present pictures and tales from his seven-year effort to
identify, complete and describe the best trekking adventures possible, right
here in Washington State! The result of Mike's efforts are now available in the
book Trekking Washington, published by Mountaineers Books and Backpacker
Magazine. But seeing the pictures and hearing the stories first hand beats
reading about them in a book! A life-long Skagit Valley resident, Mike's life of
mountaineering and hiking got its start through the Skagit Valley College Basic
Mountaineering Class and the Skagit Alpine Club, just like many other club
members. So, grab your old friends, from climbers to walkers, and join in the
camaraderie of the evening as the scenes and stories from the most beautiful
places in Washington will get you completely psyched up for the coming outdoor
season!
Snacks will be provided by Sylvia Trask and Kim
Secretary’s Report
April 7, 2004
The Honorable Sylvia Trask called April’s Skagit Alpine Club meeting to order.
Old Business:
1. Climbing Committee – will be appointed by President Kathy Monrad in the
future. I might add that if anyone is interested in being on this committee, you
should contact Kathy or any member of the Executive Committee and we’ll notify
Kathy of your interest. To reiterate, the Climbing Committee will be responsible
for making recommendations as to the methodology of the Mountaineering Class.
2. Class Scholarship – recommendations were made by the at the February SAC
meeting and that subsequently did two things (according to my notes): First, the
head of the Scholarship Committee recommended “…that the scholarship will
provide someone who may not be financially able to complete the course the
opportunity to do so, promote the class, and build enthusiasm.” A motion to
accept was approved. Secondly, a motion was made to “…have the Committee
reconvene and provide a more focused example of what the scholarship is and the
approval process.” This was also approved. In hindsight, it appears we cannot
do both. And, as the class is already in progress it doesn’t appear likely
that we will fund the scholarship, nor will the Scholarship Committee provide us
with more examples. That sound you heard was Robert throwing his Rules of Order
against the wall.
New Business:
Mountaineering class is in full swing and it was noted that there was a
preponderance of fanny packs at the Blanchard Outing. Yours truly is a fan of
the fanny and of the pack, but neither the twain shall meet is my opinion.
Presentation: Outstanding presentation on Grizzly Bears and the Grizzly Bear
Outreach Program by Chris Morgan. Whether or not you believe that the Grizzly
should be reintroduced to the North Cascades or not, it behooves members of SAC
to become familiar with the issue as it is certain to be an issue that will
affect backcountry enthusiasts in the immediate future. For more information
about the Grizzly Bear Outreach Program visit www.bearinfo.org
Finally, much more was covered, the least of which being that those in
attendance will all be going on an all-expenses paid trip, by SAC, to Alaska for
the month of May. If you want to know more about how you can benefit, attend the
May meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Heinrich
Some Announcements...
Park Butte Lookout
The bridge over Boulder Creek washed out in the flood last fall. Contact
the Forest Service, Leif Hazelet 856-5700, ext. 260 for information. If you are
going up and can volunteer some help, call Darvills, 424-5854, or Erbstoeszers.
336-5896
Hidden Lake Lookout - As of this year, Fred and Ginny Darvill are no longer
responsible for the building. A new Friends of Hidden Lake Lookout organization
is forming. Call Chris Lynch 333-1240 to volunteer, or Leif Hazelet for general
information about the trail and building.
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 May 8, 22
and June 5,19. Meet 8:15 at the Cook Road Exit. For more info call
360-424-0407. See you there!
Outings
May 8th – Interurban
Trail
May 8 – Interurban Trail, up to 12.7 mi RT, minimal-300 ft. eg. The
historic Interurban trolley was the first rapid-transit system between
Bellingham, Mount Vernon, and points south. Now, the old rail corridor is used
by hikers and bicyclist coming and going between Fairhaven, Arroyo Park,
Larrabee State Park, and the Chuckanuts. There are various offshoots.
So, you make the choice and decided just how far you want to go and how
strenuous you want to make it. Will plan to meet at 8am. Call Ruth if
interested at 360-445-3520 orgrw.realenergy@verizon.net
Forest Service to Host Two Public Information
Open Houses
May 6 at Community Center in Darrington and
May 18 at Forest Supervisor’s Office in Mountlake Terrace
The U.S. Forest Service, Darrington Ranger District, is hosting an informational
Open House May 6 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Darrington Community Center. An
additional Open House will be held May 18 at the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National
Forest Headquarter’s Office in Mountlake Terrace from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The purpose of the meetings is to give the public an update on the status of the
environmental analysis process currently underway on repair of flood-damaged
roads.
Record rainfall in October 2003 produced some of the most severe storm damage
seen on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest lands in many years. Many roads,
bridges, trails, recreation sites, and watersheds were damaged, primarily in the
north half of the Forest (eastern Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties).
Particularly hard hit were many of the established Forest roads on the
Darrington Ranger District. Heavily damaged roads include: the Suiattle Road 26,
Gold Hill Road 22, White Chuck Road 23, and a section of the Mountain Loop
Highway Road 20 between Barlow Pass and Bedal Creek. These roads provide access
to numerous recreational sites and trails, which are now also inaccessible.
The U.S. Forest Service has begun the environmental analysis of needed road
repairs – as required by the National Environmental Policy Act – with
funding from the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program. The
proposed road repairs have been grouped, with an interdisciplinary team and
leader selected for each group of repairs.
These Open Houses will provide an opportunity for the public to meet with Team
Leaders and to review the various road repair project proposals and maps and
expected timelines for completion.
For additional information, call the Darrington Ranger District at 360-436-1155;
or visit the Forest’s web page at www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/flood-damage-roads/
.
Driving Directions to Darrington Community
Center:
>From Everett or Mt. Vernon allow approximately 1 hour travel time (depending
on traffic).
-North or Southbound I-5, Take Exit 208 - Arlington and Darrington exit.
-Turn East onto State Route 530, continue for about 4 miles to Arlington.
-Turn left at first stoplight onto State Route 9 (north), travel for about a
block.
-Turn Right (east) onto State Route 530/aka W. Burk Avenue. Continue for 28
miles to Darrington.
-Turn Right on Givens Avenue (just past the Fire Hall), travel 0.5 miles to the
end of the street.
The Community Center is on the right, go through parking lot to the south side
of building for parking and entrance to the hall.
2004 Mountaineering Class
by Thad Hink
The 2004 SAC Mountaineering class is under way and this new class seems to have
the luck of the Irish.
The Blanchard outing was met with clear sunny skies, short sleeves shirts and
shorts. Everyone had a good time and what was usually wet and mucky was dry and
firm making this first outing entirely pleasant.
Mt Erie rock climbing and rapelling outing was met with the same weather. Lots
of dry rock and sun countered the intensity of those first steep raps for the
students. There was plenty of rock climbing afterwards.
The snow climbing-self arrest outing at Whistler Mt was met with, you guessed
it, great weather. While the snow pack was less than last year we managed to
find good slopes to practice self-arrest on and by mid-morning we headed for the
summit. The snow was firm and surely beat post-holing up to ones crotch. The
students got a good workout kicking steps and nearly everyone made the summit.
We were greeted with with an excellent panorama above Rainey pass. I personally
began salivating while looking at Cutthroat peak to the north. That’s
definitely on my list this year. After some plunge stepping we glissaded nearly
to the parking lot.
If you are interested in helping out on an outing check out the SAC website for
the schedule and give the Trip Leader a call for that outing and let them know
you’d like to help. The trip leaders should be at the class preceding the
outing so you can stop by class on Tue evening, 6pm at F101 on the SVC campus
and talk to them then. If you have any other questions about the class call
Allen Grenz at 422-7593.
Confucius say...
Apparently the Forrest Service has been out-sourcing more than just maintainence.
I think they have hired copywriters from the fortune cookie industry for certain
public relation projects. Looking over a pack out waste bag from Mt Adams
wilderness one of the instructions is: “Do not urinate into paper bag.”
Sounds like good fortune cookie wisdom to me!
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 Keith Kraft 428-8568
Eric Sandbo 755-0746
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