Skagit Alpine

Newsletter of the Skagit Alpine Club

October 2006

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

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Skagit Alpine Club - October 2006 Newsletter

Meeting:

We have a new regular meeting location that should work for us at least through December and hopefully beyond.  Maggie helped set this up with the college - thanks Maggie! We're meeting October 4 in room N-123 (Nelson Hall) at Skagit Valley College at 7:00 pm.  Nelson Hall is located next to the library on the north side of it (this is south of the tennis courts).

Secretary‘s Report:

Wade called the meeting to order around 7pm and welcomed new and unrecognized faces.  Among them were two long-past presidents, Tim Place and Louise Harris.

Marta has passed the newsletter torch to Corrina.  Many thanks for Marta for her tenure as newsletter coordinator.  Thanks also - in advance – to Corrina for taking on this task. 

An article on SAC was printed in NW Adventures, a local publication that covers many outdoor activities and events in the northwest.  The article gave basic info about the club and our activities, and featured some photos from our website. 

John Erbstoezer gave an update on work completed over the summer at Park Butte Lookout.  There have been three work parties over the course of the summer during which volunteers painted the lookout and reinforced the glazing on the windows.  The Forest Service also replaced the roof, so the lookout is in tip top shape.

Mike Woodmansee has expressed an interest in leading the climbing class.  Wade will talk with him further to assess this possibility.  Paperwork is due to the college later this fall for a spring course offering.

John is looking for ideas for programs starting next month.  Please contact him if you have ideas: jseehorn@hotmail.com

Lynn announced that the Easy Pass work party will take place on Saturday, September 30th.  Please contact her if you are interested in participating.  The fall colors are wonderful in that area and you will have the opportunity to hike to the pass for a view of the peaks surrounding the Fisher Creek Basin. 

Maggie gave an update on what’s going on regarding Blanchard Mountain.  Much of the future activities on Blanchard will hinge on the County Commissioner elections this fall.  If Ted Anderson is re-elected, it is likely that DNR will move forward with harvest operations.  If his opponent (pro-conservation of Blanchard’s forests) is elected, then state legislation to protect Blanchard is almost certain to be approved.  It is the County’s opposition to this legislation that has blocked the protection of Blanchard to date.

Mark Nelson reported that the list-serve that he, Corrina and Wade dreamed up while skiing together has been a big success.  It allows for spur-of-the-moment trip planning, which, given weather in the Cascades, is essential.  There have been several postings per week since its inception.  Give your e-mail address to Mark if you’d like to be added to the list-serve.

A food and drink sign-up was passed around the group.  Hopefully it will make it to the next meeting for more sign-ups. 

Several strange stories were related to the group regarding Park Passes.  Having one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re free from tickets, but if you don’t have one, a warrant for your arrest may be issued…  good luck out there!

Jason Griffith gave a wonderful presentation about a couple of ski trips he took last winter/spring.  The first trip was the Wapta Traverse in the Canadian Rockies and the second was the Girabaldi-Neve Traverse near Squamish.  He showed beautiful slides of his adventures and shared stories about the characters, terrain, weather and other challenges encountered along the way.  Thanks Jason, for your inspirational and entertaining presentation!!

Thanks to all for attending last meeting. It felt good to have some of the old gang back !  Looking forward to seeing you all next month, Oct 4th!

Program:

Video of a backcountry ski trip to Whitecap Alpine Lodge, located in the South Chilcoten Mountains north of
Whistler, BC. John Erbstoeszer and Steve Luther were part of this fully catered and guided trip, which was taken in early March of 2006.

President’s Message:

An election committee will be selected.  Please volunteer to participate so you can research and nominate members for each of the 4 officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer).  If you don’t volunteer to be a nominating committee member then Jeff Smith will probably serve as the “committee” again and, in a fit of beer drinking, re-nominate the current officers whether they want to or can (no, we WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN!).  The new officers will be nominated at the November meeting and installed at the December meeting.

Officers:

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

Vice President - Jenny Baker baker_1240@yahoo.com

Treasurer - Jill Youde drjillo@yahoo.com

Secretary - Laurie Sherman shermanpt@verizon.net

Newsletter - Corrina Marote corrina.marote@gmail.com

Webmaster - Steve Trent smacktrent@hotmail.com

Programs - John Seehorn jseehorn@hotmail.com

Lookout - John and Marie Erbstoeszer erbst@cnw.com