Mountaineer

March, 2010 The

Volume 104, No. 3
The monthly publication of The Mountain-
eers: Enriching the community by helping
people explore, conserve, learn about, and
enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific
Northwest.
w w w. m o u n t a i n e e r s . o r g
M5 Untangling the
bird’s nest at Reiter Budget shaving Retooling Reiter
stands to nick
M6 The Spiderman of
volunteers
hikers unless
voices are heard
M2 View from the Top
By Leesa Wright

H
Public Policy Associate

M3 Branches & Limbs iker Lobby Day drew 75

Karl Forsgaard photo

M4 Summit Savvy
M4 Conservation Currents
M5 Destinations
M7 In Support
Extraordinary service: pg. M6
Discover The Mountaineers
If you are thinking of joining -
or have joined and aren’t sure
where to start - why not attend
an information meeting?
Check the Go Guide branch
sections for times and locations.
Are you ready to jump right in?
Visit www.mountaineers.org.
Need to call? 206-521-6000.
POSTAGE PAID AT
hikers—many of them
Mountaineers—to Olym-
pia on Feb. 3 in hope of bending
the ears of their state legislators.
However, lawmakers may have to
hear more than footsteps to not
only reinstate a $278,000 fund that
would keep such popular trailheads
as Mt. Si, Gothic Basin, Rattle-
snake Ledges and Tiger Mountain
open, but come up with long-term
solutions to keep such hiking gems
from future peril.
Hikers from throughout the state at-
tended the lobby day, sponsored by
Washington Trails Association, to
advocate for rescuing state funds
for recreation from the budget
chopping block. The hiker advo-
cates and state lawmakers from
their respective districts scheduled
meetings with each other through-
out the day. Two bills evolved from
the event, but only one has sur-
vived—and it calls for levying yet
another hiking fee in order to keep
access to the affected Department
of Natural Resource (DNR) trail-
heads open.
The shortage of funds resulted
from a supplemental budget pro-
posed by Gov. Christine Gregoire.
A 2009-2010 budget hole of $2.6
billion prompted the governor’s
The Wild Sky Wilderness Area
(viewed above from atop the
Index Town Wall) and Wallace
Falls (left) are two spectacles that
will be more readily accessed by
hikers when assignation of routes
and trails in the much-trampled
Reiter Forest are finalized by the
Department of Natural Resources.
The Mountaineers as well as its
partner organizations toured the
area in late February to offer input
Washington State Parks Department photo
to DNR. See pg. M5 for details.
Go Guide on road to going green
By Brad Stracener by late summer. It is to be sup-
Managing Editor
planted by a robust web database
The Go Guide, a supplement to
that provides members with all the
The Mountaineer over the past
informational resources that the Go
nine years, is going green. In defer-
Guide hosts, but without expend-
ence to our strategic plan and our
ing 2,150 pounds of paper per
mission statement, we have set
month. By Going Green with the
a course to eliminate the monthly
Go Guide we are not only adhering
printed version of the Go Guide Continued on M3
Library reestablishes regular hours—check it out!
After a brief period of access by appointment only, The Mountaineers
Library has reinstituted regular hours: Tuesday through Thursday of
each week from 6 to 8 p.m.
The Library Committee and dedicated library volunteers are making
the library available for access to its world-class collection of books,
videos, periodicals and maps.

new document. The hole was cre-

SEATTLE, WA
PERIODICAL

For more information see “Off the Shelf” on M7 or go to the library

ated by a drop in state revenues website, accessed through the “Library” link, top center of The Moun-
from weak consumer spending, taineers home page.
Continued on M4

Upcoming
Climbing from ground level—You
have plenty of time to push and
shove your way into the short line for
the April 1 Intro to Bouldering Course
offered by the Seattle Branch. But
stand ready to enroll for this sure-to-
be-popular session that is limited to
the first 10 who register. See pg. 9 of
7700 Sand Point Way N.E.
Weather. See pg. 9 of the Go Guide
for details about this event, targeted
specifically to Mountaineers.
✔
Another pithy freebie—Hear from
Mountaineer Paul Griffith on how
he tackles climbs of Rainier with a
25-pound pack, including rope and
other team gear. Whether day hiker

the Go Guide for more details.

✔ or backpacker, this seminar shave
Talk about the weather and learn— some pounds off. See pg. 9 of the Go
Seattle, WA 98115
The Mountaineers

Wolf Bauer’s big bash All you have to do is show up to hear

a free presentation by a regional pro-
Guide. For ways to make your food
cargo lighter via do-it-yourself dehy-
Watch for the April issue
fessional weather forecaster, Michael dration, see pg. 14 in the Tacoma
of The Mountaineer
Fagin, founder of Washington Online Branch section of the Go Guide.
March 2010
The
Mountaineer
Also see us on the web at www.mountaineers.org
The Mountaineers is a nonprofit
organization, founded in 1906
and dedicated to the responsible
enjoyment and protection of natural
areas.
Board of Trustees
Officers
President Tab Wilkins, 10-12
President Elect Mona West, 10-12
VP Properties Dave Claar, 10-12
VP Publishing Don Heck, 10-12
Treasurer Gavin Woody, 10-12
Secretary Lorna Corrigan, 10-12
Trustees at large
Kirk Alm, 07-10
Rich Draves, 08-11
Dale Flynn, 07-10
Ed Henderson, 08-11
Lynn Hyde, 08-11
John Ohlson, 09-12
Mark Scheffer, 09-12
Dave Shema, 07-10
Mona West, 09-12
Branch Trustees
Bellingham, Steven Glenn
Everett, Rob Simonsen
Foothills, Gerry Haugen
Kitsap, Jimmy James
Olympia, John Flanagan
Seattle, Mike Maude
Tacoma, Tom Shimko
Executive Director
Martinique Grigg
View from the Top
Looking ahead: lots to do, let's get started
A
few weeks ago, I found my-
self driving up to Mt. Baker
at 4 a.m. to make it in time
for my Avalanche 1 field trip at 8:30
a.m. It was pouring rain, I couldn’t
find the trailhead, and I forgot my
compass and extra batteries. I was
off to a slow start, but within a few
hours I found
myself excit-
edly probing
the snow, ea-
gerly digging
snow pits and
jockeying
with my fellow
classmates
to find the buried beacon the most
quickly.
My trepidation turned to exhilara-
tion and I remembered how fun it
is to be a beginner, to learn a new
skill, to meet new people and to
master new challenges.
My experience in that class is
not so different from my first few
months as executive director of
The Mountaineers. I have been
busy learning the ins and outs
of our organization, studying our
financials, meeting our volunteers
and staff, talking to our members,
taking our outdoor classes, getting
smart on our conservation issues
and visiting our lodges.
M
Managing Editor
Brad Stracener
Contributors, proofreaders:
Chris Austin, Christine Compton, Brian
Futch, Jim Harvey, Suzan Reiley,
Dorothy Stack
Photographers & Illustrators:
Karl Forsgaard, Dave Shema, Leesa
Wright, Gene Yore
THE MOUNTAINEER is published
monthly by:
The Mountaineers,
7700 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-521-6000; 206-523-6763 fax
Volume 104, No. 3
The Mountaineer (ISSN 0027-2620)
is published monthly by The Moun-
taineers, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E.,
Seattle, WA 98115.
Members receive a subscription as part
of their annual dues. Approximately
$12.42 of each member’s annual
membership dues is spent to print and
mail this publication. Non-member
subscriptions to The Mountaineer are
$32. Periodicals postage paid at Seat-
tle WA.
Postmaster: send address changes
to The Mountaineer, 7700 Sand Point
Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115.
Opinions expressed in articles are
those of the authors and do not nec-
essarily represent the views of The
Mountaineers.
During this time, I have been
amazed at the openness and
willingness of others to welcome,
teach and offer me advice. Wheth-
er trying out the rope tow at Meany,
attending my first climbing course
SIG group, or meeting with lead-
ers at REI, I have been welcomed
with enthusiasm and warmth. And
I have experienced the dedication
and commitment of our volunteers.
I have watched dedicated individu-
als spend long hours at The Moun-
taineers Program Center prepar-
ing courses and baking delicious
cookies at Baker Lodge. I’ve seen
volunteers expand the operations
of our library and band together
to jumpstart our youth and family
programs. The biggest education
I have received over the last few
months has been how important
our volunteers are to accomplish-
ing our conservation, education
and recreation mission.
In my conversations I have learned
what many of you love about The
Mountaineers, and the potential
that you see for us. As our outgo-
ing president, Eric, stated in his
last “View from the Top,” we must
“evolve and thrive to be the organi-
zation we know we can and should
be.”
The Mountaineer
Mission and purposes
To enrich the community by helping people
explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the
lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest.
“To explore and study the mountains, forests and other water
courses of the Northwest and beyond;
“To preserve by example, teaching and encouragement of
protective legislation our special places;
“Add value to our member’s and our community by providing
youth and adult outdoor education opportunities.”
Who ya gonna call? Your mentor, of course
Are you a new member wondering about the how-to, where-to and what-to-do with
your club? There are a number of resources available to you, not the least our
websites. Now there is also a real, live person. If you want to know about expected
conditioning for a hike, what not to wear, how to sign up for events or whatever call
or e-mail the “mentor of the month.” Mona West is this month’s mentor. Feel free to
contact her at west_mona@yahoo.com with your questions or comments.
Read The Mountaineer/Go Guide online, too!
Did you know you can find The Mountaineer and the Go Guide online?
Visit www.mountaineers.org and go to “monthly mangazine” in the top
menu bar.
Errata: In the February article on Service Award recipient Bill Deters, The
Mountaineer erroneously reported that there were no paid Mountaineers
staff members in 1980. Actually, the organization employed a mix of part-
time and full-time personnel, including a business manager, a director of
books, a professional accountant and other general office staff.
Many of you see opportunities to eyes and new perspective to an
establish financial stability, in- organization steeped in history and
crease membership, grow leader- tradition.
ship, youth, and family programs, There is a reason windshields
support volunteers, upgrade our are bigger than rearview mirrors.
program centers and lodges, and It’s time to look forward. Remem-
expand our conservation agenda. ber the thrill of being a beginner.
It is my hope that working with you Remain open to change, and tackle
we can tackle each of these chal- new challenges. We have a bright
lenges one by one and slowly turn future, but we have a lot of work to
ourselves into the organization that do to realize our potential, so join
we know we can and should be. me and let’s get started.
In my position as a newcomer, I Martinique Grigg,
have a lot to learn, but I also have Mountaineers Executive Director
the ability to bring a fresh set of
Buy a book, help The Mountaineers!
Shop at any Barnes & Noble store April 3-8, and
20% of your purchase will go to The Mountaineers!
Mountaineers author Craig Romano (Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula) is speaking
at the Silverdale Barnes & Noble on Saturday, April 3 at 3 pm. In partnership
with The Mountaineers, the bookstore chain is donating 20% of its proceeds
for every customer who presents this ad with their purchase. This special pro-
motion takes place April 3-8, and is valid at any Barnes & Noble store through-
out the United States! Feel free to pass this on to your friends and family, as
every sale helps The Mountaineers. For more information, visit
www.mountaineers.org or email richardb@mountaineers.org.
The Mountaineers
Bookfair ID: 10100030
The Mountaineer
New mission-related periodical to debut in fall
Continued from M1 Though we are modifying our print
to an integral part of our mis- media to comply more fully with our
sion— “enrich the community by mission and strategies, we are not
helping . . . to conserve”— but also ignoring the imperative of maintain-
to our strategic plan that calls on ing a Mountaineers countenance
us to “develop magazine, web and that is crucial to identifying our
publishing channels that bond the values and conveying them to the
community to The Mountaineers broader community. Therefore,
and its mission.” beginning in early fall, we will
While bonding ourselves to a com- present a fresh look and feel to our
munity that extols conservation, membership publication that em-
we will also be reducing a monthly bodies the values and aspirations
print expenditure in adherence of The Mountaineers. It will include
to our strategic plan to “promote mission-related content on access,
web-based trip reports” and “build a conservation, recreation, education
sustainable operating environment and perspective. It will include au-
of sound governance and finances.” thors from our vast resources such
MOUNTAINEERS NIGHT
AT MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR!
Thursday, April 22
30% off everything in the store!
Mountain Hardwear and The Moun-
4 - 8 PM taineers are coming together for a
night of great deals. Members who
visit the Downtown Seattle store
between 4 and 8 pm on Thursday,
April 22, get 30% off all merchan-
dise!
To get this amazing deal, you must
be able to prove membership -

3&5"*-
4503&
r
4&"55-& bring your membership card or a
copy of the Mountaineers magazine
250 PINE STREET
S E aT T l E , w a 9 8 1 0 1
with your name and adress on it.
Partner with us in the fight against pediatric AIDS while having fun! American Foundation for
Children with AIDS provides life saving medicine, supplies and food to children who have been
infected with HIV/AIDS in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo. Climb Up
So Kids Can Grow Up consists of events which raise awareness and funds to support this mission.
CLIMB UP KILIMANJARO—September 11–22, 2010
Join us on this incredible adventure which benefits children affected by the AIDS pandemic. Team
up with a group of climbers as they travel to Tanzania where they will climb up Mount Kilimanjaro
while getting to see a bit of the African continent.
Visit our website for more information on this event and others:
www.ClimbUpSoKidsCanGrowUp.com
Branches
as Mountaineers Books, Conserva-
tion Division, partner organizations,
outdoor experts from around the
country and even you, the volun-
teer leaders who collectively keep
us on course with our mission.
The first phase of going green
began with strategic discussions
among some of our leaders, offi-
cers and volunteers, as well as oth-
ers who possess acuity in regard to
media and messaging.
The second phase has begun with
communication about the plan
and its timetable to our branch
representatives, division leaders,
officers and you, our members. It
will continue with presentations
to principals on committees and
boards with our various branches
to open a dialog and gain crucial
input as we execute on the details
of going green.
I personally am looking forward to
facilitating this mission-oriented
pursuit that I believe is long over-
due. We now have the forward-
looking energy of leaders—both in
the volunteer and administrative
realms—and a new strategic plan
that will help give us definition on
our path to bond with not only The
Mountaineers community, but also
the community around us.
March 2010
& limbs
Climbs to aid HIV children
The American Foundation for Chil-
dren with AIDS (AFCA) is sponsor-
ing a series of climbing events to
raise money for children afflicted
with HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saha-
ran Africa. The children, who have
no access to medical aid for the
disease, are provided the critical
medications, supplies and treat-
ment through AFCA that keeps
them alive and well.
Under the umbrella of “Climb Up
So Kids Can Grow Up” (see the
ad below), people of all ages are
encouraged to get outdoors and
do something they enjoy (hike,
climb, ride, run, walk) while raising
funds and awareness for the AFCA
program.
Following are the events planned
this year:
Climb Up the 50: June 26-July
5—Participants across the United
States climb, hike, ride, or run up
the highest peak in their state any
time during this 10-day event.
Climb Up Kilimanjaro: Sept.
11-22—A team of 12 will travel to
Tanzania and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Climb Up the World: Sept. 18-
19—Climb, hike, ride, and/or run
wherever you are, inside or out, to
fulfill pledges of support for your
activity.
Climb Up Charlotte: Nov. 7—An
event hosted by Inner Peaks
Climbing Center shares climbing
clinics, yoga, massages, chiroprac-
tic assessments, climbing competi-
tions, raffles, food, and more.
For more information about the
effort and how to participate in the
non-profit organization’s fundrais-
ing events, visit www.ClimbUp-
SoKidsCanGrowUp.com or contact
AFCA at climb@helpingchildren-
withaids.org, 717-489-0206.
Mazamas gear sale set
The Mazamas invite their kin to
the north, The Mountaineers, to
their annual used-gear sale on
Sat., March 27. Gear for climbing,
backpacking, hiking, backcountry
skiing and winter travel in general
will be on sale at low prices. The
Mazamas are also collecting cloth-
ing and gear for the needy. Visit
the Mazamas website for general
information: www.mazamas.org.
For more details, call the Mazamas
at 503-227-2345.
M
March 2010
Can you identify the summit in
the foreground here? Send your answer
(by March 10) by post or e-mail: brads@
mountaineers.org; Summit Savvy, The
Mountaineer, 7700 Sand Point Way
N.E., Seattle, WA 98115. If you guess
correctly, you’ll receive $10 of Moun-
taineers Money, good for Mountaineers
Bookstore merchandise, and we’ll
publish your name in next month’s
column. (In case of a tie, one winner will
be chosen at random.) Club employees
or persons shown in the photograph are
not eligible. Each month we’ll publish a
new mystery summit and identification
of the previous one.
conservation
CURRENTS
Urge your lawmakers to keep
access open to nearby trails
Continued from M1
coupled with a simultaneous surge
in state costs due to economic fac-
tors that have increased demand
for unemployment benefits, health
care and public education.
The supplemental budget, present-
ed by Gov. Gregoire in December,
must be based on current state
revenues, according to law. It will
require reductions in state spend-
ing on health, education and rec-
reation, among other state-funded
entities.
In light of the near loss of 46 of our
state parks in an attempt to bal-
ance the budget last year, it is clear
that The Mountaineers and other
outdoor recreation and conserva-
tion organizations need to work
together with public land managers
to come up with creative, long-term
solutions to secure funding dedi-
cated to recreation. The fact that
the proposed $278,000 cut to the
DNR’s recreation funding amounts
WWC conference set for April 8-11 in Berkeley
The Annual Western Wilderness
Conference will be held April 8-11
at the University of California at
Berkeley.
Sponsored by the California Wil-
derness Coalition, Sierra Club, The
Wilderness Society, and numer-
ous other organizations from all
13 western states, including The
Mountaineers, the conference will
focus on a theme of “The Role of
Wild Lands in an Era of Climate
Change.”
The WWC has recently placed em-
phasis on engaging young people
M
■ Send your photographs for pos-
sible publication as a mystery summit
(include identification for our benefit).
See e-mail and mailing address at
right. If we use your photo, you will
receive $10 in Mountaineers Money.
■ At the end of each year, all correct
respondents’ names are placed in a
hat and the winner of that drawing will
receive $50 of Mountaineers Money
good for purchases at The Moun-
taineers Bookstore.
■ No one correctly guessed last
month’s mystery summit, Bean Peak,
as photographed by Greg Marsh.
to little more than .01 percent of the
$2.6 billion budget hole illustrates
how desperate lawmakers are to fill
the gap.
In an address to the hiker advo-
cates on Lobby Day, Lands Com-
missioner Peter Goldmark outlined
two bills—House Bill 2840 and
Senate Bill 6237—that addressed
deficits in recreation funding on
DNR lands and waters. The bills
are informed by recommenda-
tions from the Sustainable Recre-
ation Work Group (SRWG) which
was convened by the Legislature
to “make recommendations for
improving recreation on state trust
lands, aquatic lands, and other
state-owned lands managed by the
(DNR).”
Among the SRWG recommenda-
tions were that DNR be given
authority to charge user fees at
high-use sites and to join other
state agencies in considering a
statewide recreation pass.
in the effort to keep wild places
free from development. Attendees
at the conference will meet new
allies and discover strategic tips to
Summit Savvy
Mountaineers members Peter Hendrickson (l), and George Chambers (r) flank
Public Policy Associate Leesa Wright at Hiker Lobby Day in Olympia.
SB 6237 failed to make it out of
committee. HB 2840 was revised
by the House General Government
Appropriations Committee to ex-
clude the SRWG recommendation
for a multi-agency (i.e., Department
of Fish and Wildlife and Washing-
ton State Parks) user-fee system.
Instead the bill now authorizes a
one-time $5 parking pass, a $10
dollar per night camping fee and a
$20 annual pass that would cover
both camping and parking.
Additionally, the bill would direct
the DNR to award volunteers an
annual pass only after completing
50 hours of volunteer hours for the
DNR.
The $278,000 reduction would af-
fect more than 20 trails, interpretive
centers and campsites maintained
by the DNR. The trails are used by
millions of Washington hikers. Mt.
Si alone receives 350,000 visitors
per year. Also, the 50 hours of work
strengthen their own environmental
campaigns.
In the last 4 years, wilderness
advocates have succeeded in
establishing over 2 million acres of
protected wilderness.
Visit the conference website, www.
westernwilderness.org, for informa-
tion on speakers, programs, and
outings related to the conference,
as well as for registering to at-
tend. For more information, contact
Vicky Hoover, 415-977-5527, vicky.
hoover@sierraclub.org.
The Mountaineer
required before volunteers are
awarded an annual pass is out of
step with other agencies, such as
the National Forest Service which
awards annual passes to volun-
teers after 16 hours of work.
If you are concerned about losing
access to these nearby trails and
the onerous 50-hour requirement
for annual pass awards to volun-
teers, please contact your legisla-
tors by calling the legislative hotline
at 1-800-562-6000. Urge them to
save DNR’s recreation funding
from the chopping block.
Deigned for Dyer
February 13 was declared Polly
Dyer Day by King County
Executive Dow Constantine and
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. Dyer,
a tireless Mountaineers volunteer
and advocate for the preservation
of wilderness, celebrated her
90th birthday among friends and
associates at The Mountaineers
Program Center in Seattle last
month. A Mountaineer for 60 of
her years, she was instrumental in
persuading lawmakers to set aside
the North Cascades National Park
and the Olympic National Park
Coast. She is both an honorary
member of The Mountaineers and
a Service Award recipient.
The Mountaineer
A bird’s nest of use about to become untangled at Reiter
An access hub for many hikers, yet a readily available playground for
off-road vehicles (ORVs), the Reiter Forest has begun to shuck at least a
portion of its identity crisis.
Bordering the Wild Sky Wilderness, Wallace Falls and Forks of the Sky
State Parks, Reiter Forest is a 10,000-acre block of forest land that over
the decades has proved popular to all-wheel-drive enthusiasts, motorcy-
clists, campers, hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers and hunters. The
conflicting activities and the overuse of the forest have created dilemmas
for the users and state agencies, especially the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), which manages the Reiter acreage.
In November, the State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tem-
porarily closed the 10,000-acre Reiter Forest to all motorized use.  When
it reopens in mid-2010, DNR is planning to limit ORV use to 1,100 acres,
while creating a new non-motorized area of similar acreage.
DNR has already conducted two field tours, which included some Moun-
taineers members, in order to gain input on creating the designated trails
so that Reiter can be reopened. DNR maintains that volunteers will play a
major role in the reopening the forest.
Destinations
Places to explore in the Pacific Northwest
Loneliest beach on the peninsula?
If our mild winter thus far has you wondering why spring doesn't just hurry
up and get here—damn the snow pack—and you are blue about purchas-
ing those new pair of skis last November that saw only two trips to the hills
and twice that many nicks from exposed rock, then give spring a little push.
Head to the coast.
One of the most pleasant, though distant, coastal haunts is actually a fine
trot in winter as well as spring, summer or fall: Leadbetter Point on Long
Beach Peninsula. The most pleasant aspect of Leadbetter is its amenability
to the entire hiking family, from toddlers to grandparents. Labeled “the lone-
liest stretch of beach south of the Olympic Peninsula” by Craig Romano in
“Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula,” Leadbetter offers a quiet maritime forest
g 2010 June May 30,
Sprin
KITSAP FOREST THEATER
,
July 31
g u s t 1
Au
 
7, 8


14, 15

21, 22

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2:00 p

March 2010
In addition, DNR is hiring consultants to assist with the design of the trail
systems for both motorized and non-motorized areas.
The assignation of trails provides an opportunity for volunteers with The
Mountaineers and those with our partner organizations to help land manag-
ers define hiking trails over routes that were once old logging roads or rail-
road grade. Indeed, of the 15 miles of non-motorized trail being advocated
by hikers, the portion that comprises the eastern approach to Wallace Falls
would traverse an old logging railroad grade.
Proposed trail developments fall within the trail study provisions of the Wild
Sky Wilderness Act. The trail development is hoped to mirror the strategy
used to create the Issaquah Alps trail system a generation ago—those that
take hikers up Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains.
Those wishing to attend a field tour at Reiter to help benefit hikers and
future generations of hikers should visit the DNR website (www.dnr.wa.gov)
and type “recreation planning Reiter Foothills” in the search field, or send
an e-mail to reiterfoothills@dnr.wa.gov. Let DNR know your contact infor-
mation and when you would like to go.
Brad Stracener photo
Leadbetter offers plenty of places to jump off trail and check out the bay or ocean.
and “bird saturated Willapa Bay,” as Romano puts it. A bear, deer, cougar
otter or flock of snowy plovers is sometimes a bonus along the route. More
5, 6
12,
31 than six miles of trail meander through 1,200-acre Leadbetter Point State
2:00 13 19, 2 Park, which offers access to both the Pacific Ocean to the west and Wil-
pm 0
lapa Bay to the east.
This time of year is a bit less hectic en route to Leadbetter because the
tourist trodden Long Beach isn't quite warm enough to usher the hordes.
In fact, the early season leaves a couple great eateries and historic settle-
ments, such as Oysterville, open to post- or pre-hike indulgences. The
destination is also only a 20-minute drive to nearby jaunts to jetties and
lighthouses at Cape Disappointment State Park south of Ilwaco.
Getting there: From I-5 south take the “Ocean Beaches” exit onto Highway 101
and continue until reaching the exit to Highway 8. Proceed on Highway 8 until
reaching the Montesano exit that leads to Highway 7 and connects to Highway 101
south through Raymond and South Bend. Continue on 101 to Seaview and turn
north onto Hwy. 103 all the way to the tip of Long Beach Peninsula.
The full story: See “Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula,” by Craig Romano and pub-
lished by Mountaineers Books. Go to pages 50-54.
Sum
m er 20
10

 





 

Conceived by John-Michael Tebelak

Music and new Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Escape to the Kitsap Forest Theater, located a short drive from the
Bremerton ferry. Enjoy a great day trip with friends and family!
Picnic under the firs before you stroll down the forested trail to our
unique and magical theater! Call today for tickets: 800-573-8484.
Shows presented by The Mountaineers Players
Tickets available at www. ForestTheater.com
M
March 2010 The Mountaineer

John Wick: ubiquitous as Spiderman in the volunteer world

“(Wick) operates under the following rules: 1) big of crushed rock from the Camp
Long parking lot down to the belay
hammers are more fun than little hammers; 2) the
tower runways—all by students
carrying the pea gravel in shopping
amount of noise directly equates to the amount of bags.”
fun; and, 3) if it doesn’t fit, get a bigger hammer.” Regarding the salvage of materials
from the old navy station mo-
tor-pool building that is now the
organization’s new program center,
Shema added, “Who coordinated
all of this and ensured that tools
were available? John.”
Often showing up two hours before
a work party was to begin each
morning, Wick would stage the
tools and work area so that the oth-
er volunteers could expedite their
contributions. He would then ar-
range the work teams and explain
each of their tasks before rolling his
sleeves up alongside them.
Shema, adding, “John has been
busy.”
W
ick’s penchant to chip in is
not by any means restricted
to his immediate environment. He
and his wife, Debbie, whom he met
through The Mountaineers climb-
ing program, have traveled to the
oxygen-thin villages in high Nepal
to deliver medicine and supplies to
villagers. Again, Wick’s organiza-
tional skills were employed. He put
Sherpa teams together, shepherd-
ed the delivery of equipment and
medicine from the West up into the
high Himalayas and even learned
what is at the sharp end of a zokio.
But all of that is another story to
glean from John at a later time.
Perhaps what inspires those
around Wick is what inspires him. “I

W hen the Naturalists began
the job of reclaiming the
south slope of the program center
grounds from encroaching black-
berry bushes, Wick put his crafts-
man skills to work. The volunteers
needed hammers to pound stakes
Dave Shema, Gene Yore & Brad Stracener photos through cardboard and burlap on
John Wick joined a hearty rank of volunteers who not only contributed greatly to which mulch was applied for soil
the remodel of The Mountaineers Program Center at Magnuson Park, but also
recovery. So Wick built 10 wooden
at its ensuing special events, such as “high-exposure” prep work (immediately
above) for the new building’s grand opening. mallets customized for the job.
“Over the summer you could find
Editor’s note: This is the final install- Mountaineers’ new program center
John pitching tons of woodchips
ment of a series on the most recent at Magnuson Park.
recipients of The Mountaineers Service from piles on the upper parking
Award, recognizing members for their In volunteer terms, the word “ubiq- lot onto the slope below,” noted
outstanding service to the club. uitous” could easily be comple-
don’t have the skills to explain the
sense of community that our club
has,” he noted. “That sense of ca-
maraderie I have found in climbing,
scrambling, kayaking or bicycling.
I know that it’s real and it is a main
part of me now.”
He maintains that the organiza-
tion’s major challenge is to find
ways to let “non-members and out-
siders know about this potential” to
enrich their lives with an inspiring
corps of outdoor enthusiasts.
Brad Stracener is managing editor
of The Mountaineer.

T
By Brad Stracener
he Mountaineers can be
grateful for big boots, espe-
cially when filled by volun-
teers with John Wick’s dedication.
It was the early 1970s, when Wick
mented by a picture of Wick—scal- BANFF
ing the side of the new program MOUNTAIN
FILM FESTIVAL
center to put a sign up, wielding a
rAdIcAL
beam that was salvaged from the rEELS
original structure of the remodeled TOUr
building, devising and installing
makeshift belay stations, helping
presented by

was just a teen, that the sight of

“these big leather things” on the
feet of his Scout troop advisor
piqued his curiosity. “When I asked
him about his boots, he said they
were climbing boots that he used to
climb Mt. Rainier.”
Upon further query, Wick found
out that the advisor learned how to
climb with The Mountaineers. “I fig-
ured if the group let him in and got
him up Rainier, then I had a pretty
good shot,” recalled Wick, who at
corral goats to eat invasive plants
around the new Mountaineers sponsored by
building, constructing a room to
house Players’ stage costumes
and gear, attending board meetings
as a trustee, or attending commit-
tee meetings and even a work-par-
ty barbecue or two at the climbing
plaza on the south wall.
One of his fellow volunteers says
Hang on to your
Wick “leads by doing.” seats for some of the
wildest high-adrenaline
A volunteer who ardently worked mountain sport films!

that point had already spent a lot of
time camping, fishing and hunting
with his family.
“I wanted to learn how to climb,”
he noted, “but I didn’t know any-
one that climbed.” So, he said, “I
figured out a way to get into The
Mountaineers” although he was
below the required age to join.
He immediately enrolled in the
climbing course that led to leading
climbs that led to sea kayaking that
led to leading kayak trips that led to
a host of other volunteer endeav-
ors, including the remodel of The
alongside Wick during the remodel
of the building, John Ohlson, con-
veyed, “(Wick) operates under the www.radicalreels.com
following rules: 1) big hammers
are more fun than little hammers;
Seattle
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 7 pm
2) the amount of noise directly The Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle
equates to the amount of fun; and, Tickets: $15 general, $10 Mountaineers. Tickets are available through The Moun-
3) if it doesn’t fit, get a bigger ham- taineers office, or by calling 206-521-6001. Please purchase in advance - this
show will sell out!
mer.”
Eat at the show! Dante’s Inferno Dogs will be on site for Radical Reels.
A s much as he is a volunteer,
Wick is a motivator, attests
Dave Shema, another dedicated
Olympia
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm
The Capitol Theater, 206 E. 5th Ave., Downtown Olympia
volunteer who has worked along-
Tickets: $12 general, $2 off for Mountaineers members. Available through the
side Wick. “He organized the Alpine Experience, Olympic Outfitters, or at the door.
‘bucket brigade’ which moved tons

M
The Mountaineer March 2010
Richard M. Pirret Jerry P. Scott Washington Mutual Em-
Russell T. Pogemiller Bridget Sevigny ployees Giving Program
Jeff Posakony Steven O. Short Griffith Way
Pamela M. Pritzl Michael W. Shurgot Karl H. Weyler
Ray L. Puddicombe Nedra G. Slauson Harold B. Williams
V. S. Raines Jay W. Snodderly John K. Wimpress
Merv M. Rasmussen Randolph L. Sperry Norman L. Winn
Mike Rees Jon G. Stutz Anne D. Woolf
Betty V. Renkor Geneva Sullivan Patricia F. Zeisler
David Robertson Joan K. Thomas Donna Zimmerschied
Paul A. Robisch Bill Thorness Charles L. Zwick

In support Craig R. Romano

Harry B. Romberg
Grace D. Roop
Marilyn Tilbury
John Titland
Norman F. Tjaden
Memorial contributions
were received for:
Robert [Bob] Neupert
Robert A. Rosen Paul Vonckx
The Mountaineers Foundation desires to acknowledge and thank all its donors. Willliam Newman
Elizabeth E. Rosenthal Roger Carl VonDoenhoff
Unless individuals request their names not be published, all donors will be acknowl- Ken Prestrud
James Samuel Janet M. Wall George Swan
edged in The Mountaineer on a quarterly basis (usually March, June, September, Todd Scheuer Bruce Walyor
December). If you have donated during the period of November 2009 through Janu- Cynthia Schraer Marilyn B. Ward
ary 2010 and your name is not on this list, please notify Paul Robisch, Mountain-

Off the shelf

eers Foundation, 206-363-1989, parobisch@earthlink.net, and your name will be
added to the next published list of acknowledgments. Donations received after Jan.
31 will be acknowledged in the June 2010 issue of The Mountaineer.
Wolfram A. Abicht
Christine Acarregui
Eloise Adams
Thomas E. Allen
Suzanne P. Anderson
Conny I. Anderton
Edward M. Andrews
Anonymous
Marjory A. Barbee
Nicholas P. Barnes
Richard C. Berner
Stella H. Bevens
Michael S. Bialos
Anne S. Biglow
Lorraine R. Blackler
Beth Blattenberger
David O. Bobroff
Boeing Gift Matching Program
Sandra Bowman
Kathleen A. Brammer
Gwynne F. Briggs
Gregory E. Brown
Richard W. Buck
Robert J. Burns
Wanda L. Butler
Beth A. Carlyle
Judy Case
James L. Chapman
Peter A. Clitherow
Janet H. Curran
Mike Dean
William Dershowitz
John Dickson
Heidi Diem
Jim Dobrick
Edward D. Dorr
James D. Dubuar
George B. Duncan
Sylvia Duryee
John E. Edison
John D. Edwards
William Lee Eichenberger
Sharon A. Ellard
Neil R. Ericsson
Delmar M. Fadden
Judith A. Finn
Dale Flynn
Gail E. Foster
Ueland Foundation
Jonathan Fox
Doug R. Frick
Mary A. Fries
Darrell E. Gee
Jiayi Geng
Diane Glenn
Robert P. Goldsmith
Donald J. Goodman
Thomas M. Green, III
John Griffith
Robert H. Gross
Juliane Gust
Bruce A. Hamilton
Katlin M. Hanson
Clifford N. Harby
Marcia L. Harper
David V. Harrington
David Hartley
William E. Hauser
James W. Hawkins, Jr
George S. Heffner
Peter J. Hemmen
Russell Hensley, Jr
Gardner W. Hicks
Douglas A. Hirsch
Samara K. Hoag
Dianne M. Hoff
The latest from your Mountaineers Library
Gwen M. Howard By Dennis Sampson, Chair of the Library Committee
Charles Hyde
Harvey H. Johnson Volunteer corps being organized to staff library
Janet Kavadas In the February edition of “Off the Shelf,” the Library Committee (LC) discussed
Robert W. King the challenges of maintaining an acceptable level of library services to both club
Michael T. Kovacs
Jean E. Kyle members and the outdoor-oriented public without having available the skills of a
Duane F. LaViolette professional staff librarian.
Ralph T. Leber
During discussions between the LC and the club’s controller it was recognized that
Greg E. Lewis
Alan Lincoln the original concept of having the club’s member services staff provide library ser-
Eric Linxweiler vice on an as-requested basis was not very practical because it would be extremely
Hillary P. Lipe disruptive to the staff in performing its regularly-assigned duties.
Donna M. Lipsky
Patricia M. Loveland The LC has thus organized a group of trained volunteers to open the library a
Heather Mack minimum of three evenings a week—Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday—for the core
Mark Malnes
hours of 6 to 8 p.m. and adding an hour on either or both ends as volunteers are
Ken Mapp
Daniel L. Mazur available.
Richard G. Merritt The volunteers operating the library have full access to the circulating collection
David L. Messerschmidt
Robert L. Michelson located on the open shelves and to the guidebooks and map collections located
Mark J. Millea in locked cabinets. In addition to the evening hours, two retired LC members have
Norman D. Miller agreed to provide afternoon hours by appointment for those wanting to do research.
Kira M. Misura The details as to the best way for individuals to be able to make appointments are
John L. Moen
Dennis T. Mooney still being worked out. 
Royce L. Natoli It is an unfortunate fact of reality that all public-access libraries, no matter how
Howard E. Nebeck
many precautions are taken, are subject to the occasional disappearance/theft of
Nancy A. Neyenhouse
Tom Nims library materials. It is also a fact that without the presence of a professional staff
Rose A. O'Donnell librarian to continuously monitor the collections, the probability of disappearance/
Donald L. Olson theft increases. Therefore, the LC is in the process of determining the best way
Robert E. Ordal
to allow limited access to the parts of the library’s holdings that are non-replace-
Gordon H. Orians
Bernd A. Paatsch able—e.g., a portion of the Special Collection, parts of the club’s historical records,
Mary C. Panza and the earlier editions of the bound journals dating as far back as the mid-19th
Harold A. Pelton century—without jeopardizing their security.

In order to maintain adequate service, more dedicated and committed volunteers

are needed to staff the library, to attend new-member nights (first Wednesday of
each month) and to help publicize the library to both members and the public. The
LC will provide the necessary training to certify you as an “illustrious” Mountaineers
Library volunteer. To volunteer your services contact Dennis Sampson, LC chair,
librarycom@mountaineers.org, or the volunteer coordinator, libraryvol@mountain-
eers.org. 

The LC is preparing a grant request to The Mountaineers Foundation’s designated

Friends of The Mountaineers Library Fund (FOML) to fund the bare-bones costs of
operating the library using volunteers for the rest of 2010. Tax-deductible dona-
tions to the designated FOML can be mailed directly to The Mountaineers
Foundation, P.O. Box 25590, Seattle, WA 98165 (be sure to indicate FOML on
the check) or can be made online at www.mountaineersfoundation.org. All
donations are welcome, no matter the amount.

Mountains Join us for the documentary

“Mountains Don’t Care, But Come Sailing!
Don’t Care, We Do,” a history of moutain
rescue in the Pacific North-
west. This gripping story fol-
But We Do lows efforts to organize local
rescue groups, which eventu-
A fundraiser for ally led to the formation of
Seattle Mountain Rescue the Mountain Rescue Associa-
tion.
Friday, March 19 Dee Molenaar, author of the
7 pm book the film is based on,
Mountaineers Program Center will be in attendance to share
7700 Sand Point Way NE stories and experiences. April 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2
/>ŽiÊ >ÈVÊ
Ài܈˜}Ê
>ÃÃÊEÊ->ˆÊvœÀÊÀiit
Seattle This is a free event, but dona- There
Crewingisnow
Register noforbetter
Course wayWednesday
offered
the Basic to experience
Crewing Course
tions will gladly be accepted. sailing,
in Seattleand
and the
learncourse fee
everything
evenings at 7 p.m., April 2-30. isSee
youstill
need attoits
the
Free event! same
know tolow price.
qualify as aWednesdays
crew memberat for7Moun-
p.m.,
Donations gratefully accepted Beer and wine will be avail- Seattle Sailing section for more informa-
March
taineers31-April 28. See
sail outings! Seethe
the Seattle
Seattle Branch
Sailing
at the door. able at the event. tion onsection
sailing
section enrollment.
for morefor details.
information.

M
March 2010
Kruckeberg’s 90th to be a garden party
Arthur Kruckeberg, Mountaineers
Books author and co-founder of the
Washington Native Plant Society, is
turning 90, and his friends are hold-
ing a “garden party” in his honor.
The celebration for the professor
emeritus of botany at the Univer-
sity of Washington will be held on
Thu., April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the
Shoreline City Hall.
œ“iÊiÝ«œÀiÊ̅iÊ
>À̅½Ãʈ}…iÃÌÊ*i>ŽÃÊ
Proceeds from admission fees will
go toward the Garden Party Fund
to benefit the Kruckeberg Botanic
Garden in Shoreline.
Author of “Gardening with Native
Plants of the Pacific Northwest,”
Kruckeberg is also co-author of
The Mountaineers-published “Best
Wildflower Hikes: Washington.”
Our beautiful Northwest
gardens provide food,
shade, privacy and
enjoyment for you
and your family.
M
The Mountaineer
The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
features wonderful native plants
and trees as well as unusual variet-
ies from around the world. The gar-
den exhibits the legacy of our own
Northwest native plants to inspire
and educate both young and old.
Tickets may be purchased at www.
kruckeberg.org.
܈̅ʜ՘Ì>ˆ˜ÊÕÀÕð°°Ê
Escape with The Mountaineers
Upcoming Trips! Everest Base Camp
May 3rd & Oct 18th - $3500
Mt. Baker Lodge
ÊÊ/i°Ê{Óx‡Ç{™‡Ç{Ó£ÊÊʈ˜vœJ“œÕ˜Ì>ˆ˜}ÕÀÕðVœ“
only steps from hiking trails
ÊÊÜÜÜ°“œÕ˜Ì>ˆ˜}ÕÀÕðVœ“ÊÊÊ-˜œµÕ>“ˆi]Ê7
Ê Ê and chairlifts
www.mountaineers.org/lodge/baker
To schedule a free site visit, Kitsap Cabin
please call enchanting old-growth preserve,
Michael Lockman forest theater, salmon safaris
206-459-7022 www.kitsapcabin.org
or visit us online at
www.we-design.net Meany Lodge
winter sport lessons, learn, explore
www.meanylodge.org
Snoqualmie Campus
camp, picnic, snowshoe
Our services include design
and installation of: only an hour from seattle
www.snoqualmiecampus.org
Drought tolerant and native plantings
Rockeries and stone patios
Edible landscapes &
Backyard wildlife habitat
Stevens Lodge
ENVIROSTARS RATING
LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED #WEDESDI938K9 ski in, ski out, relax
www.stevenslodge.org