August Newsletter

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

This year's Park Butte Lookout Work Party will be Saturday, August 9. The good news is that SAC members and other helpers did such a great painting job last year that no repainting is needed this year. The only needed repairs are some window caulking and some work on the door latch.

A special event this year will be mounting a plaque remembering and honoring Fred Darvill, first president of the Skagit Alpine Club and long time steward of Park Butte Lookout. Ginny Darvill will be joining us and we hope that many of you will also be able to be there.

We plan to meet in the Park Butte / Schreiber's meadow parking lot at 9 am on Saturday, August 9 and then hike in. Let us know if you'd like to participate.

1. Hiking Through History In Northern Spain
October 12 - 28th, 2008 submitted by Janell Werner

Hike the famous Camino de Santiago trail beginning at Burgos and finishing at
the Cathedral in Santiago. We hike the most scenic and interesting parts of
the trail.

Call Helen Hansen, 503-254-9465 for information and application. Come join us,
a mazama outing. www.mazamas.org

2. EZ PASS - We had a very successful work day on the Easy Pass trail. Replaced a post on the bridge, and then strung the cables across. Granite Creek was roaring with melt water! The rest of the crew worked on drainage ditches, roots, and cutting back weeds. Removed some blow downs and then it was time to head for Kathy and Brad's solstice party. THANKS to all 14 of the folks who worked with us that day - John, Maggie, Kerry, George, Rosann, Jeri, Frank, Peggy, Sylvia, Kathleen, Craig, and Lynn. A SPECIAL thanks to our new members Liz and Jeff who joined our crew for the first time. We did so well that Dan asked if we wanted to come back in September for another work party. Any interest?

3. PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL ASSOCIATION GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ Http://www.pnt.org 24854 Charles Jones Memorial Circle #4, Sedro-Woolley WA 98284 360-854-9415

Want to do some trail work? No matter where you work, wear long pants, have work gloves, have plenty of fluids to drink, and bring a lunch. Each person working will have to sign a liability release form. Parents or guardians of those under 18 must sign for the minor.

For information call 360-424-0407 anytime up until 8 a.m. the morning of the work party. Tools will be provided--hazel hoes, loppers, McLeods, Pulaskis, chain saws, brush cutters. You may bring your own tools if you wish.

If you can only work until noon, please call ahead to see if the work site will be conducive to your leaving early. Sometimes we will be working behind locked gates or far up logging roads and it would not be convenient for people to leave early.

Meeting place is the Cook Road Park-n-Ride, exit 232 from I-5 north of Burlington. Exit the freeway, turn right and then immediately turn right onto Old Highway 99. We meet across the street from the 76 gas station. Meeting time is 8:15 a.m.

GENERAL TRAIL WORK

2008 Skagit Trail work schedule for April through October

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

April 5 and 19 August 2 and 16

May 3 and 17 September 6 and 20

June 7 (National Trails Day) and 21 October 4 and 18

July 5 and 19

South Side Mt. Erie - Anacortes Community Forest Lands draft Comprehensive Management Plan

On July 1, 08, several of us attended the Advisory Board's continued discussion of the draft comp plan. Public comment to the board regarding the draft plan has been closed for two months. At this meeting they discussed the south side. Recommendations and discussion included:

-Should the south side be a separate management area? and be managed like the rest of the ACFL, ie with no off trail travel ? Are climbing and scrambling routes trails? Define "route maintenance".

-"Placement of fixed anchors, opening new areas to climbing or scrambling, and work parties to maintain climbing routes shall be approved the the Forest Advisory Board and coordinated with staff."

-"....Instructional climbing groups of any size (no mention of if for profit or not, as in the new city ordinance) need to contact the Parks and Rec. Dept. to discuss plans and size of their group. They must sign the city's hold harmless agreement, provide proof of liability insurance, participant waivers, date(s) of use, a diperasal plan for where they plan to climb on the mountain, and a sanitation plan. Proposed climbing dates should be submitted 3 months in advance to the Parks and Rec. Dept. Instructional groups need to have all paperwork submitted one week prior to use on the mountain. Climbers asked to 'leave no trace '. "

a. assist staff and board with questions regarding Mt. Erie management of climbing areas......

c. help organize volunteers with maintenance projects (approved by Parks and Rec Director)

Should these members be only Anacortes residents? Should they be only Fidalgo Residents?

- The board needs to protect the Forest Lands from tree climbers....it's a fad that's spreading across the country and we can't let this happen in the ACFL!!

So, in short, a lot of questions where brought up with no decisions yet made. Letters and verbal public comments have clearly made an impact on the direction the board is taking.....At the August 7th - 7pm - Advisory Board meeting, they intend to make some final recommendations for their draft plan. It would be a good idea for more climbers to attend this next meeting so the board sees that we are paying attention and have an interest in the outcome.