Skagit Alpine

Newsletter of the Skagit Alpine Club -- May 2006 Volume 44 Issue 5

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

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State of the Glacier

7 p.m. May 3 @ Burlington Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington

Jon Riedel, a geologist from the North Cascade National Park, will speak on the current state of the glaciers in the park.

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Highlights

ADOPT A CRAG: Annual work and climbing party at Mount Erie from 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6.

Hosted by Solid Rock Climbers For Christ and supported by Access Fund.  Learn the routes on the mountain and help out at the same time. Meet from 9-10 a.m. at the start of the summit road to register and for work assignments. Work crews will concentrate on litter pick up, trail and belay platform maintenance and repair, parking space enlargement and route cleaning. Bring gloves and route cleaning tools or for trail maintenance, large pruners, shovel or weedwackers. Work until 1:30 p.m., then climb until 5:30 p.m. Social and gear drawing from 6-7 p.m.-plus at Village Pizza, 807 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Call Dallas Kloke at 360-293-2904.

ANNUAL BEACH CLEAN-UP APRIL 22 Ocean Shores, Olympic National Park. Camp and hike for free. For more info, log onto the park website. www.nps.gov/olym/

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Secretary’s Report April Meeting

By Laurie Sherman

New Biz:

BURLINGTON SENIOR CENTER PAYMENT IN KIND: This is a trade for SAC use of the space. Wade proposed that the club sponsor a few outings and offer an “Introduction to Backpacking” presentation to the public, from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 before our next meeting. George Reeves, Jenny Baker and Wade will lead the three hikes. For details, see the Outings listing. To help, call Wade.

MOUNTAINEERING EDUCATION: Several members have expressed an interest in increasing their climbing skills and reconnecting with club members. Do you have a skill you can offer to teach? Will you lead a workshop for your fellow club members? Let us know at the next meeting or put it in the newsletter.

MOUNTAIN GOAT SURVEYS: Chris Danilson is looking for 20 volunteers to hike and count the goats in the Glacier Peak Area in the month of June. Several club members did this past year and enjoyed their outings while helping Chris with his research project for the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe. There will be a one- or two-day training in May. Call Chris at 360-436-0738 or cdanil@sauk-suiattle.com.

JACK NEWCOMER: Anyone know him? He was a club member in 1963, ‘64 and '68. He recently passed away and his son is looking for trip reports, stories or remembrances of him. If you have some info, call Wade.

Old Biz:

BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN: Good news! The first major clear cut was postponed until 2007. Let Maggie know if you want to be on her action alert list. Every Sunday, Conservation Northwest leads a hike on Blanchard Mountain. For info, log onto www.conservationnw.org. If you would like to learn more about the issues or know someone who would, this is a great opportunity to meet people and get outside at the same time.

NORTHWEST AVALANCHE CENTER: Feryll Blanc reports that by some miracle (and a little help from our SAC donation), the center found the funding needed to get through the rest of this year’s avalanche season. Good thing too, as we seem to be having a never-ending snow season in the mountains. There is plenty of snow fun to be had for many weeks to come in the backcountry.

PNT PACIFIC NW TRAILS: The trail work parties happen on the first and third Saturdays of the month all summer. Call Lynn Postler at 428-4237 or sancho999@ comcast.net, if you would like to help.

DUES are still due! If you haven’t paid, you aren’t getting the newsletter, so you’re not reading this.  If perhaps you have snuck through the system, cough up the dough!

GRUB AND BEVERAGES: Kim Kelley (grub) and Peggy Ratermann (beverage), signed up to provide provisions for the May meeting sooo long ago. We have had stellar offerings, fresh baked brownies and cookies, dips and chips, nuts and fruit, mmm mmm. It will be hard to beat, but we are looking forward to sampling your efforts!

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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.

Saturday, May 6: from 9 a.m.-noon, an easy, round-trip hike in the Anacortes City Forest Lands. 1 to 4 miles flat or a few short hills, either in the Whistle Lake or Heart Lake areas. Call George Reeves at 293-3417 or climbingfool2000@yahoo.com.

Saturday, May 6: from 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ADOPT A CRAG, annual work and climbing party, followed by pizza social. Work half the day and climb the remainder. See front page for details. Call Dallas Kloke at 360-293-2904.

Sunday, May 7: from 9 a.m.-noon, a moderate, round-trip hike on Blanchard Mountain, starting at the hang-glider launch/overlook from 2-6 miles. Moderate hills and steep trails. Call Wade Bessett at 360-770-0250 or bessettw@hotmail.com.

Monday, May 8: from 5:30-8 p.m., an easy to moderate, round-trip hike at the Pilchuck Tree Farm (a few miles southeast of Conway), 3-5 miles with a low-angle hill. Call Jenny Baker at baker_1240@yahoo.com or 360-474-8435.

Memorial Day weekend: Backcountry hike/climb to Buckindy or a through hike to the Cascade River from Green Mountain, possibly to have two parties hiking opposite directions. Call George Reeves at 360-293-3417 or climbingfool2000@yahoo.com.

June 21-23: Backpack trip, location TBA to celebrate the summer solstice and club member Corrina Marote’s 40th birthday. Call Corrina at 360-856-1828 or corrina_marote@yahoo.com.

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