Skagit Alpine

Skagit Alpine Club – May 2008 Newsletter

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

Meeting:

Beginning in May our meetings will be held on a new day!  Our new day is the first Tuesday of the month.  June’s meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on June 3 at Skagit Valley College in Robert Hall room T-41.  The following shortcut is to a campus map http://www.skagit.edu/images/color_mvCampus.pdf.

Secretary‘s Report:

Submitted by Jill Youde:

The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, May 6th, at 7pm.  A sumptuous appetizer spread was prepared by Maggie. We had 3 new attendees: Liz, Amber, & Katherine; welcome!

Old Business:

1. None to report

New Business

1. A proposal was made to spend $100 of club money for laser engraved memorial plaques in Fred Darvill's memory, which are to be installed in the Hidden Lake & Park Buttes lookouts.  The motion passed unanimously.
2. The SAC mission statement was reiterated: To promote the use & prevent the abuse of wilderness areas. The Blanchard Mt. debate rages on.  There is a committee devising a draft to change the management plan for Mt. Erie. The next meeting will be June 5th. If you have any new comments to make re. Mt. Erie, please write them & send them to Jon Lunsford et al. The Seattle Mountaineers have changed their climbing protocol on Mt. Erie to much smaller group outings. The folks at Ross Lake are looking for input on managing their slice of wilderness pie as well. Remember: if you don't speak up, you forfeit the right to complain later.
3. Lynn Postler badgered, hounded, guilt-tripped and browbeat members into signing up for the Easy Pass trail maintenance work party on June 21st.  When is that girl gonna run for office?  The good news: If you help out, you will receive a free National Forest parking pass.
4. The other good news: Kathy Monrad announced that she & Brad will be hosting a Summer Solstice party at their swanky pad down on the river, also June 21st.  People are welcome to pitch a tent & camp out.  If you've never partied at the Monrads', you've never really partied like a rock star, so don't miss it!
5. Bob & Karen Kandiko gave a colorful & inspiring slideshow of climbing & camping in the Sierras.  After our long damp winter, it was glad news to hear that one doesn't have to travel too far to find sunshine, warm dry rock & spectacular wilderness areas. "Like the Enchantments on Steroids",  to quote Bob. Sign me up!  A hearty thanks to the Kandikos for the eye candy & California dreaming on such a winter's day.
6. Please note: The meetings have switched to the first Tuesday of each month. If you missed the memo last month, you probably haven't payed your annual dues yet, so do it, & get a cool SAC sticker out of the deal!

Food and Drink Schedule:

Lookout:

Outing(s):

EASY PASS TRAIL WORK - This year we will be working on the trail in the spring sunshine!  Dan Rogers needs help putting up the cable handrails across the bridge, and the rest of us can work on tread and drainage on the lower part of the trail.  We'll be meeting Dan at 9 AM on Saturday June 21st at the EZ Pass trailhead.  If you want to carpool meet us at Cascade Middle School in Sedro Wooley at 7 AM.  Bring work gloves, lunch, and raingear.  To sign up for trail work please email Lynn at sancho999@comcast.net or call 428-4237.  This helps Dan figure out how many hard hats and tools to bring.  PS You get a FREE annual forest pass if you do trail work!

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRAIL ASSOCIATION  GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ Http://www.pnt.org

24854 Charles Jones Memorial Circle #4, Sedro-Woolley WA 98284    360-854-9415 

2008   SKAGIT COUNTY TRAIL MAINTENANCE ON THE PNT

     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. 

Conservation Report:

Submitted by Maggie Sullivan:

MT. Erie - Anacortes Community Forest Lands ( ACFL ): 

  According to Gary Robinson, Parks and Rec Director, the ACFL Board will discuss the Forest Lands Management Draft Plan at their next meeting on June 5, 08 at 7 pm at the Anacortes Senior Center on 22nd St.  Gary said that they may or may not make changes to the draft plan, and, depending on that, will have more discussion at their following meeting either in July or August.  John Lunsford, forest manager, told me that although public comment ended at the May 1st meeting, he still received more written public comments, which he will forward to the Board.  He said that at the next meeting on June 5th, the Board will receive general comments during their public comment period, but will not take anymore verbal comments about the draft plan at that time.  He did assure me that he will make available to the public the final draft plan.

  After the draft plan is finalized, it will go to the Anacortes City Planning Commission and then it will go to the Anacortes City Council for final approval. I have been told by city councilman Bill Turner that all public comments will be forwarded to the Council and therefore will be available to the public.  He said that usually the Council will hold another Public hearing at that time.  Bill also said "Attendance at these meetings is the best way to have influence."

  Rockport State Park: 

  As you may know, this campground is closed for the season; the top 80 feet of a 700 year old tree fell to the ground last year, and other trees have also raised concerns:  should the camp ground be moved?  Should the trees be cut down? Rockport is one of the few old growth stands left in the Pacific Northwest.

   Kara Symonds, Environmental Specialist for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission informed me that they are in stage 1 of the planning process for Rockport State Park and a few other associated properties.  At their first public meeting in April, they collected comments on what issues the State Parks should cover when creating the long-term plan for the Rockport State Park area, which includes land classification and a management plan.  These issues can be found at:  http://www.parks.wa.gov/plans/rockport/     She will soon be posting a summary of public and staff identified issues to be covered in the process.  She said to please feel free to comment to the CAMP project lead at any point during the process (contact info on the website).  Kara will let us know when they schedule their next pubic meeting.

  Ross Lake General Management Plan:

  I spoke with Roy Zipp, Environmental Protection Specialist, about this project.  He told me that because of the National Environmental Policy Act, by law they are required to carry out certain steps for this process.  First they did a series of public comment periods, in where, by the way, most advised "no changes”.  Now they are developing their internal management plans.  Next they will hold "Alternative Workshops" open to the public to listen to comment on the proposals.   There will later be a review of the proposals and an environmental impact analysis.  Roy will let us know when the next series of public workshops take place.  Here's a link to their project website:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkld=337&projcetld=16940      We will also receive a hard copy of what information they now have.

Climbing Committee:

The climbing class has been cancelled due to low enrollment.

Trip Report:

Submitted by Chris Danilson:

South Early Winters Ski - May 3rd & 4th

The superstar cast included Paul "The Prez" Sherman, Miz Laurie, Dr. Jill, and myself.

While not able to talk anyone into tackling the southwest couloir route of S. Early Winters Spire, I did convince the group (during a rainy trailhead conversation) that an alpine camp would ensure that we got first tracks in the morning. Alas, the "weather models" I had consulted and used to cajole the group were a bit off and we had rain and snow during the 1,500' climb from the Blue Lakeparking lot to camp and as we set up. The weather improved as a soft snow ultimately yielded to blue skies and glimpses of the setting sun. From our camp we could begin to see Liberty Bell, and The Towers & Spires exposing themselves above us, while Whistler and Cutthroat Peaks were evident across the valley as the clouds lifted. All and all a nice evening around the camp with good food/beverages and, of course, lots of overexaggerated stories about past climbing feats and proposed "hard-man routes" for this summer.

We woke to a cloudless (27 degree) morning and during B'fast greeted a lone Herculean teleskier who was apparently getting his 5,000' vert. in before breakfast. We, of course, poached his skin tracks and got freshies on the backside of S.E.W. col. Our first run was fabulous, as we skied down about 1,500' of light snow on soft crust for our first lap. The blistering sun was quickly converting the snow to slush, so Paul and I took another lap on this side before conditions on this southern exposed slope was completely hosed. Upon our return to the pass, the "crack-o-noon" club had arrived and a swarm of about 20+ people were just arriving to ski this SLUSHY backside. This, of course, influenced our decision to make a run down the shadier front side, which involved dropping over/around the cornice at the top of the col. This turned out to be the best run of the day as the snow was in prime shape. After lunch back at base camp, we headed back up to the ridge and made a final run back to camp, before packing up and making a kamikaze run through the trees back to the parking lot.

Although we didn't bag a peak or ski anything super freaky on this trip, we had a pleasant mellow time and got some fantastic turns. As always, I was impressed by the vast and beautiful expanse of rugged wilderness of this area.

Notice:

Special Announcement:

Solstice party at Brad and Kathy Monrad's house.  Saturday June 21 around 5:00, after we get back from Easy Pass Trail maintenance that day.  This is to be a campout, Bar-B-Que, bonfire, hot tub, Bocci Ball, Badmitton, and lots of good times!  We will provide burgers and dogs and breakfast cassarole for the next morning.  Bring your favorite salad or desert or snacks, we'll have cups, plates and plasticwear.  BYOB and lawn chairs!  Call for directions, Kathy  360-853-8901 or 360-853-8684   Hope to see you there!!!

Officers:

President – Paul Sherman  293-2984 or 391-6078 (cell),  pshermanpt@verizon.net

Vice President – Jeff Smith 425-478-2698

Treasurer - Kim Griffith  (360) 419-7480 jkgriffith@gmail.com

Secretary - Angie Vandenhaak Angela.Vandenhaak@wwu.edu  (360) 756-6950

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