Lookout:   The Park Butte work party for this year will be on Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22. Other campers please note: The lookout will not be available for overnight stays on those days.
The focus of the work will be painting the exterior of the lookout and the railings. Volunteers will be greatly appreciated – join us on both days or for any part of the weekend. For those planning to stay overnight, tents are allowed in an area below the lookout. Water is an issue so plan to bring some water and have filtering gear for obtaining additional water.
We'll be in the Park Butte Lookout parking lot at 8 am on Saturday morning, August 21st to meet those who can join the "painting party" and also carry up supplies. If you would like to volunteer to help with this project, we would greatly appreciate it! Please let us know if you plan to join us, our contact info: erbst@cnw.com or 360-336-5896.
If you or others you know are headed up to Park Butte a few weeks before the work party weekend and would like to carry some supplies up there, please do let us know.
Thanks so much. Marie and John Erbstoeszer, Park Butte Lookout Stewards


Index Climbing:  Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) is working to raise $300,000 to buy the Lower Town Wall and surrounding crags near Index, Washington.  The area is currently threatened with closure and even possible quarrying and we seek to preserve it as a climbing park.  In March of 2009 the owner put up no trespassing signs because she was prepared to market the area to interested quarry operators. Seeking to prevent any quarrying and loss of climbing access, the WCC secured an option to purchase this property in May of 2009.  WCC also obtained the owner's commitment to allow climbing to continue while we raise the money to buy her land.  Donations can be made online, by mail, email, or phone.

Erie Conservation Report:  The following is a brief outline of what has occurred since the draft plan was adopted:

Nov 2, 2009:   Anacortes City Council Adopts '09 ACFL Comp plan
Jan 14, 2010:   Notice sent out by Parks and Rec that instructional climbing groups on Erie won't need hold harmless, proof of insurance or waivers.   General rules: max group size 50, carpool to summit, pack out trash, and notify Parks & Rec of intended use.
Feb 4, 2010:   ACFL - FAB (Forest Advisory Board) approves Mt Erie Committee:

Tim Nelson (local climber), Dallas Kloke (local climber), Jason Martin (climbing guide),
Susan Wood (naturalist) and Laurie Quirk (Anacortes resident-at- large).
All three climbers were very involved in the '09 ACFL / Erie draft plan process.

Mar 4, 10 FAB meeting:  Items the FAB would like the Erie Committee to address:

-policy for placement of and replacement of "hardware"
-baseline for what "hardware" now exists on Erie
-concern that city not be responsible for anchors and climber activities
-concern with upper wall area environmental impact
-define what areas are used for "off trail travel" - ie scrambling
-how might the FAB communicate info and expectations to the climbing community?
-should there be a seasonal closure of some routes?
-a map of Erie trails and climbing routes.
-general topics: erosion, sanitation, cleaning of routes, hardware, flora/fauna protection, scrambling "trails", size of groups, policies regarding for-profit groups

Mar 11, 10 -First Mt Erie Committee Meeting:  Present: Susan Wood, Tim Nelson, Dallas Kloke, Jason Martin absent: Laurie Q.  Others present: John Lunsford (ACFL manager), Wade Bessett, Harold Mead and Maggie Sullivan.

-Tim suggested the group have a Mt Erie site visit to include high and low impact areas. He will design the site visit route.
-Have two small three sided Kiosks for climbers, one on top and one at the bottom. Possible uses: maps, leave no trace info., messages to include info on environmental topics, falcon protection, land ownership boundaries, etc.
-John L had a map of private property around Erie
-discussion of bolting types and ethics, city is not responsible for anchors or bolts and shouldn't get involved, education on bolting issues.
-question on FAB's issue with scrambling.  John L stated " the plan made it clear that scrambling occurs on the So. Side" and doesn't see a problem with that issue.
- John L questions putting up new routes and cleaning too much on routes.  Possibly have a public process for this.
-Tim wants to establish an email box for climbing related issues, and a suggestion box on the kiosks.
-Wade suggested an avenue for donations to Erie to allow the climbing community to feel involved and have "ownership".
-John L can set up a Mt Erie email and "Mt Erie maintenance fund".
-Seattle Mountaineers would like to have 75-100 people per day for their April 2011 climbing class. John L will bring in their letter at the next mtg.

May 26, 10 Site Visit by Mt Erie Committee:  Present: Susan W, Tim N, Jason M, Laurie Q, Jon L, Harold M and Maggie S. Absent: Dallas K and Wade B.

Route, lead by Tim Nelson:
We went up the Mail Wall Trail, then over towards Snag Buttress.  We looked at Zig-Zag, Frogs in Space and Pinhead as representations of popular climbing areas. Noted little impact on the areas.  Traversed over to the Main Wall Trail directly under Skyline Aręte to where Black Wall hits the Cedar Trail.   We looked at and talked about the Black Wall, Jungle Jim Wall and Big Snag Wall climbing areas....noted "historic pitons".  Went up the Cedar Trail, but didn't go as planned up to the old Cirque Trail due to slimy, wet rock and a possible turkey vulture nesting site.  At the top of Cedar Trail , we went down Sunset Trail...on the way looking at the top and bottom of Sunset Slabs.  The non climbers of the committee had never been to any of these areas. During the visit, we traveled over wet rock, it was raining, and observed bolts properly and improperly placed, discussed the right type of bolts to use, how climbers access climbing routes and witnessed high and low impact on belay stations.  Next meeting date and agenda to be determined.