Skagit Alpine

Newsletter of the Skagit Alpine Club -- March 2006 Volume 44 Issue 3

“To promote the use and prevent the abuse of outdoor recreation areas."

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March Meeting: Pacific Crest Trail
7 p.m. March 1 @ Burlington Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington
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Pacific Crest Trail
7 p.m. Wednesday, March 1
Todd Landwert will talk about his experiences and show slides from his 2005 Pacific Crest Trail hike. Todd comes to us via his friend and club member Sylvia Trask.
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New Meeting Location
Burlington Senior Center
Multipurpose Room
1011 Greenleaf Ave

Directions: From Interstate 5 take the Highway 20 exit and go east until Burlington Boulevard. Turn left (north) on the boulevard, and then turn right (east) on Fairhaven Avenue. Take Fairhaven east until you reach Regent Street. Turn right (south.) The center is on the corner of Regent and Greenleaf. Enter through the center’s front doors and go right and keep going until you enter the room. The center is attached to the Burlington Community Hall. No dogs or alcohol are allowed at the center. There is plenty of free parking.

Our club has signed a contract with the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department to be able to use this room the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30-9:30 p.m. through June. We also can sign up for an additional six months, if we like it.

The room is free, except for a $200 damage deposit and one catch: We need to give something in-kind back for payment to the Burlington community. For example, we could organize a public outing or program, such as sponsoring a hike through the parks deptartment. We’ll talk about this at the March meeting.
 

Secretary’s Report - Feb. 1

By Laurie Sherman

We met at the Skagit Airport thanks to Patsy Martin! The facility was great! Welcome to Patsy’s husband and son who also attended.

OLD BIZ:

DUES ARE DUE!

$25/household. The drop-dead date is the end of February. If we don’t hear from you, this will be your last newsletter. Newsletter, snail or email or both? Please let Jill know how you would like it, (the newsletter delivery, of course).

NEW BIZ:

Glacier Peak Washouts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is applying for grants to repair parts of the PCT in the upper White Chuck vicinity. As many of you know, several bridges washed out in the floods of October 2003.

The government wants to hear feedback on these projects by March 1. They plan to repair as many as 10 bridges, impacting flora and fauna in the areas. For more info, log onto the agriculture department Web site and select PCNST #2000.

Conservation Northwest

This environmental group contacted us to see if we would publish information regarding their focused action topics. We agreed that the SAC does not advocate commercial advertisements (gear swap aside) and will not publish their information.

Cross-Country Ski Destination

Ferrell Blanc told us about Echo Ridge near Chelan. She said the routes get up as high as 4,000 feet with fantastic views and weather. She has been there in the past and could possibly be talked into going again. If you are looking for a new place to go skiing, ask her for more details.

Highlights

Tee Shirts

We sold the last batch of shirts that were printed. If you don’t have one of our beautiful tee shirts with the SAC logo on the front contact Jill Youde.

Olympic National Park Beach Cleanup

The Fifth Annual beach clean up is scheduled for April 25. Doug Shepherd has been an advocate of cleaning Washington coasts in the past. He says there is a lot of garbage on the beach and the park is looking for help from the public to clean it. Each year the park provides garbage bags and free camping.

Doug says it’s a great way to help out and have fun at the same time. Doug wondered if we might want to make it a club outing? For more info contact Doug at 757-1801, shephiker@coupeville.net or the park’s Web site www.nps.gov/olym/.

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SAC Outings Schedule

To participate, call the trip leader. Space may be limited or there could be additional skill or gear requirements.

Anytime: Mountain biking and trail running in the Anacortes Forest Lands. Call George Reeves at 360-293-3417.

Late June: Climb Mt Baker, three-day trip. Call Rick Rogers at 360-220-3122 or stillyfish@valleyint.com.

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Interested in being a trip leader? Submit your trip to outings chair Lynn Postler at 360-428-4237 or sancho999@comcast.net. Please include leader’s name, phone number and e-mail, date to trip, total distance to be hiked/biked/skied, elevation gain, travel time to trailhead, days gone, cost, if any, and skill and gear requirements.

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        Skagit Alpine Club Officers Committee Chairpersons

President Wade Bessett, 770-0250, bessettw@hotmail.com                         

Conservation in transition

Vice President Jenny Baker, Baker_1240@yahoo.com                                  

 Lookout John & Marie Erbstoeszer, 336-5896

Secretary Laurie Sherman, 293-2984, shermanpt@verizon.net     

Treasurer Jill Youde, 202-7441, drjillo@yahoo.com                                

Website Steve Trent, smacktrent@hotmail.com