Upcoming events and highlights from around The Mountaineers

October 2005


Welcome to Routefinder, our monthly guide to the best offerings from around The Mountaineers.

With the promise of another winter - and hopefully one packed with more snow that last year - we have more recreation choices opening up for us. Not only can we continue hiking, biking, kayaking and climbing, we can start waxing our skis, cleaning the dust off our snowshoes and unpacking our winter clothing. Our mild winters guarantee we'll still be outside having fun.

You might be considering enrolling in a course to take advantage of winter recreation. It's a good idea to keep in mind that a lot of our winter classes and courses start before the first snowflake has fallen, and there's a very good reason for this. By the time winter gets into full swing, you'll already have a wealth of knowledge and training under your belt. Which means more time to actually enjoy your new sport!

And to all of you who go into hiding for the winter: there's a lot of fun to be had in the snow, and a little cold isn't going to hurt you. I heartily encourage you to enroll in one of our basic ski or snowshoe classes and find out just how rewarding a day out in the snow can be. At the very least, check out one of the lodges this year - they are affordable, easy to reach and full of your fellow Mountaineers members. They are great getaway destinations whether you ski, snowshoe or just want to surround yourself with the white stuff!

Meanwhile, get out there and enjoy what dry weather we have left. See you on the trail.

Rich Barringer
Webmaster

We'd like to hear your comments about Routefinder, so use the e-mail addresses located in the Contact Us section to tell us what you think.

Mountaineers Library needs volunteers
Your Mountaineers Library needs volunteers, and you don't have to be a librarian to help out! The Mountaineers Library has an extensive collection of books, magazines, videos and maps accessible to both members and the general public. Shifts are 5-7 and 7-9, Monday through Thursday. Contact Librarian Kathleen McCluskey at 206-284-6310, ext. 2014, or kathleenm@mountaineers.org, if interested.

Hike
Oct. 15, Sat. - Spruce Railroad Trail. (E) (USGS Lake Crescent) 7 mi. RT. This rail track converted to trail on the N. side of Lake Crescent provides sweeping views of the lake, Aurora Ridge, and Mt. Storm King. Meet 8 a.m. at Poulsbo Church of the Nazarene. Doug Terry, dugterry@wavecable.com.

Snowshoe Lite and Winter Travel Courses
With snow ready to accumulate and the hiking schedule slowing down, it is time to turn your attention to traveling in the snow. Snowshoe Lite and the Winter Travel Course are excellent ways to maintain or improve your outdoor fitness while learning the best winter travel methods, winter travel safety and winter mountaineering skills. The courses are designed to accommodate a range of skills, from people who have no experience in winter travel to those who have completed our scrambles and climbing courses.

An informational presentation will be held at the Kitsap Cabin on Wed., Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. to briefly answer questions pertaining to the course

The Snowshoe Lite Course presents essential information to beginning winter travelers who want to know what to expect and the best methods for intelligently interacting with the winter environment. Topics of instruction include: selection and use of equipment; conditioning; outing and route selection and movement; snow-pack evaluation; and, winter specific first aid. Students will also determine causes of accidents studied in the book "Accidents in North American Mountaineering." Students will be eligible to participate in easy snowshoe tours with the confidence of having a basic foundation in winter travel.

The Winter Travel Course includes the Snowshoe Lite Course and offers detailed instruction in enjoyable wilderness travel techniques and alpine living for the Pacific Northwest winter environment. Topics of instruction beyond material covered in Snowshoe Lite include: advanced snow travel to include self-arrest; advanced snow-pack evaluation; avalanche awareness and rescue; navigation and route-finding; winter camping; building a snow cave; and, miscellaneous winter hazards. Students develop skills for participating in easy, moderate or strenuous snowshoe tours with alpine areas or non-technical climbs as destinations.



Olympia Annual Banquet
The Olympia Branch Annual Banquet will be held on Sat., Nov. 5 at South Puget Sound Community College. The social hour beings at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is at 7:30 p.m. There will be great food, awards and recognition, and a world famous speaker for the low cost of only $25. Last year's banquet sold out, so please reserve your spot early. Send a check to Olympia Mountaineers, PO Box 797, Olympia, WA 98507. Or you may drop your check in the Annual Banquet drop box at the Alpine Experience. For details, please contact Elaine Fischer, ElaineMFischer@msn.com.

Hikes
Oct. 8, Sat. - Juniper Ridge, #261 (M) (GT McCoy Peak, USGS McCoy Pk. & Tower Mtn.) 8 mi. Gain, 2000'. Wander through forest to ridge-top meadows with views of Mts. Rainier, Adams, and St. Helens. Eric Quinn, jneq@mindspring.com.
Oct. 23, Sun. - Tolmie Peak Lookout (M) (USGS Carbon River) 6.5 mi. rt., 1020' gain. Forest hike from Mowich Lake, breaking into the open at Eunice Lake. Then 0.8 mi. more up to the lookout with stunning view of Mt. Rainier. Optional continuation 0.1 mi. along the ridge to Tolmie Peak at 5939'. A great, relaxed fall hike. Michael Silverstein, silvermas@comcast.net.




Basic Avalanche Awareness Class
A one-lecture and one-day field trip class providing an introduction to the avalanche phenomena. Students will learn the basics of avalanche mechanics, snow stability, safe travel, search technique and beacon use. This class is a prerequisite for signing up for most ski trips (excepting only basic Nordic trips), and required to graduate from most ski courses. The course fee is $35, and registration opens mid-October. Contact Gerry Haugen, Gerrylindaski1@msn.com, with questions.
Class schedules:
Lectures - 11/9, 12/6, 1/4, 2/8, 3/2
Field trips - 11/13, 12/10, 1/7, 2/11, 3/4

Beginner Hiking Seminar
Oct. 20, Thu. - 6:30-9 p.m. At the club headquarters in Seattle. No registration and there is no charge for this seminar. Learn what to put in your pack, how to dress for comfort and safety, and what to expect on hikes. We will discuss clothing, boots and packs, the ten essentials, seasonal trail hazards, how to shop for equipment (and save money), and how to research your trips. This seminar is designed to answer questions you, as a beginning hiker, may have about how to get started. We will show samples of our equipment and talk about some of our favorite places to hike. Informational handouts are included. You do not need to be a Mountaineers member to attend. Contact Kelly Cleman, masterhiker@hotmail.com, for more information.

Info meeting for Basic Climbing and Alpine Scrambling Courses
Wed., Oct. 12 - Registration for next year's Basic Climbing Course will open Nov. 1. Alpine Scramble Course registration opens in January. If you would like to learn more about these outstanding courses, attend the information meeting at 7 p.m. at The Mountaineers club headquarters. Representatives from the Alpine Scramble and Climbing Committees will explain the content of each course and the time and financial commitments involved. This meeting is informational; actual course registration is by mail only. Attendance is not required, except for applicants between 14 and 18 years of age who are considering the Basic Climbing Course; they must attend the Oct. 12 meeting, preferably with a parent, to be interviewed by a member of the Climbing Committee. However, if they are interested only in the scramble course, this meeting is not required.

Bicycle Tours
Oct. 1 Sat. - Aldergrove Lake Regional Park-Fort Langley. Meet 9:45 a.m. Aldergrove Lake Regional Park, Canada. Cross into Canada N. of Lynden at Aldergrove entrance. Right on Warner and right into park. Steady social-low moderate pace, 50 mi., and rolling terrain. Lunch in historic Fort Langley. Contact the office for more info.

Oct. 22, Sat. - Vashon and Maury Islands. 50 mi., moderate pace, hilly terrain. Bring or buy lunch at Barton store for picnic. Park in the N. parking lot at Lincoln Park. Meet at the ferry terminal in time to catch the first ferry after 10 a.m. Contact the office for more info.

Hikes
Oct. 2, Sun. - Lake Serene (M) (GT Index), NWFP, 8 mi., 2000' gain. Moderate pace. Side trip to Bridal Veil Falls (adds 1 mi. to main route, for total of 9 mi.). Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Brickyard P&R, Exit 22 off I-405 (1/2 hr). Sign up with club headquarters. Please make sure you make contact with leader or e-mail before hike. See erskine.frankweb.net for additional details. Laura Erskine, mlerskine@msn.com (s9/21-9/29) AL

Oct 15, Sat - Crystal Lakes (M) (GT Mt Rainier East), 6 mi., 2300' gain. A last chance to enjoy the Mt. Rainier area before it snows. Meet 9 a.m. at city park just E. of Charlie's Restaurant in Enumclaw off Hwy 410. 1-1/2 hrs. Bonnie Scott, blscott50@aol.com. (s10/4-10/13) MR

Photo outing
Oct. 16, Sun. - Quartz Creek (Index) Mushrooms and Forest Floor (3-4 mi. RT, 500' elev gain) Photograph 25 different species of mushrooms, macro lichens, mosses, and stunning yellow colors of the Douglas maple. Leader TBD. For info and registration, contact Sunny Walter, sunny@sunnywalter.com.



Help with Wolf Wetlands Preserve
Snoqualmie Foothills Branch has become official stewards of the Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserve in Sammamish under the auspices of the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC). One work party per month is needed to control noxious and invasive weeds and to monitor trail condition. Projects are being developed for a kiosk and a visitor register. If interested in helping with this site, please contact Katlin Hanson at snoqualmiefoothills@yahoo.com.



Tacoma Activity Fair
The Mountaineers Activity Fair at the Tacoma Clubhouse will be held Fri., Oct. 7, 6-8:30 p.m. Come view displays, demonstrations and special presentations by all branch activities. How about exploring the mountains this fall with seasoned hike leaders? Is this the year to take up skiing? Want to dust off those snowshoes and take a class? Climbing? Winter Travel? Mountain biking? Outdoor cookery? Photography? Folkdancing? Kayaking? Talk to Mountaineers who want to help you "get out there!" Plus get a preview and schedule of courses that start in the fall. All new and prospective members, friends and families are encouraged to attend.

Annual Salmon Dinner to Feature Eric Simonson
The Annual Salmon Dinner and Awards Presentation will be held Sat., Oct. 15 at the Tacoma clubhouse. The social hour, silent auction and no-host bar begin at 6 p.m. Silent Auction proceeds go to the HARK Fund (Hikes And Recreation for Kids). Salmon dinner will be served at 7 p.m., to be followed by the presentation of Service Award, Peak Pins, and appreciation awards.

Eric Simonson then headlines the event with a program beginning at 7:45 p m. The 35-year veteran of international mountaineering and professional guiding will share the inside story on a career marked with high adventure, political intrigue and all-around good fun. In his presentation, "Confessions of a Mountain Guide," Eric reveals the secrets to success and failure that have emerged during a lifetime spent with great passion for climbing, guiding and operating a business dedicated to mentoring and helping others to follow their own dreams into remote and high places.

What keeps a guide engaged, enthusiastic and alert on his 250th climb up the same route on the same mountain with yet another group of complete strangers on his rope? How does a boy from Tacoma who is formally educated only in the finer aspects of liberal arts and geology survive in the high-stakes world of corporate advertising, broadcast media and down-and-dirty global politics? When does a mountaineering leader abandon the summit goals of his team and the financial investment they have made in order to rescue other climbers who have chosen not to invest in the resources they now desperately need? Eric will answer these questions and more as he shares highlights from his career in the mountains. The Tacoma native has emerged as a world-renowned expedition leader in the realm of the highest mountains in the world. He has co-authored "Ghosts of Everest" and "Detectives on Everest," both published by The Mountaineers Books. Eric resides in Tacoma and is co-owner of International Mountain Guides, LLC, headquartered in Ashford at the base of Mt. Rainier.

Reservations: Register early using the registration blank at the end of the Tacoma section of the October Go Guide. Seating is limited to 100. This will be a sell-out.

Price: $20, Seniors 65+, $15. Your check is your receipt; tickets available at the door.

Hikes
Oct. 9, Sun. - Point Defiance Park. (E) 5-7 mi., 200' to 800' gain. Limit 12. Gas saving hike. Come enjoy 5 mi. of the trails this beautiful park has to offer as well as Owens Beach. Bring lunch or snack. Good beginner hike. Social pace. Map can be downloaded from park website: www.metroparkstacoma.org. Leader's permission required: Diane Malone, mypaldiane@hotmail.com. (s9/25-10/7)
Oct. 22, Sat - Crystal Lakes. (M) (USGS MRNP; GT 270 Mt. Rainier E.) 6 mi., 2300' gain. Limit 12. We'll hike as a group at a social pace, taking lots of stops for photos and to enjoy the views. Lunch lakeside. Leader's permission required: Amy Mann, agmann@comcast.net. (s9/25-10/20)

Mountain biking
Oct. 8, Sat. - Mt. Rainier Bike and Hike. Ride the West Side Rd. 8 mi. to the St. Andrews Creek trailhead, then hike 2 mi. to Klapatche Park. A side trip to St. Andrews Park is possible. Total elevation gain (bike and hike) is 3,000 ft. Leader: Graeme Blake, GBlake2935@AOL.com.

Snowshoeing Course info night
Oct. 17, Mon. - Winter Travel Information Night. Need more info before deciding which course would be best for you? Come to this session at Tacoma Clubhouse.
This course offers an introduction to safe, enjoyable travel for the beginner. This is not a full course, but a chance for those who want a taste of snowshoeing and pick up a few good skills without the commitment of a full course or learning ice axe use, building snow caves, etc.
Topics of instruction include: selection and use of proper equipment, conditioning, what to rent or buy, where to go, winter travel and safely choosing an outing. Students will be eligible to participate in easy snowshoe trips with the confidence of having a foundation in winter travel.
Class schedule
Dec. 12, Mon., 7-9 p.m. - Lecture at Tacoma Clubhouse. Doors open 6.30 p.m.
Jan. 7, Sat. - Field Trip. Depending upon snow levels, this will most likely be at Paradise, MRNP.

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Hopefully, everyone knows that in addition to all the great activities and advocacy, The Mountaineers is also a publisher of outdoor-related books. And one of the finest in the world, we might add with just a wee bit of humility. Browsing the catalog shows an amazing depth: hiking guides, photo essays, histories, narratives, outdoor skills and more. It's fair to say that no other publisher can approach our quality and variety of outdoor books.

This month we're highlighting two recent publications that you shouldn't miss: Beyond Gorp and Washington State Parks, 3rd ed. And don't forget that members are entitled to a 20% discount on all titles published by Mountaineers Books. For more information or to place an order, contact the Mountaineers Bookstore at 206-284-6310 or bookstore@mountaineers.org.

BEYOND GORP: Favorite Foods from Outdoor Experts
By: Yvonne Prater, Ruth D Mendenhall, Kerry Smith (Ed.)
Price: $15.95 (member price: $12.76)

· 133 recipes from GORP to gourmet
· Stories behind the recipes and the people who contributed them
· Includes tips on outdoor cooking basics, food drying techniques, and trail food lore

Some of these recipes are prized for their outdoor practicality and functionality, such as Lead Bread (a brick-like loaf that will keep indefinitely and survive even an air drop). But then there are gourmet offerings (Cashew-Ginger Chicken and Rice and Trail Tiramisu) and ideas on preparing wild foods (Cooked Stinging Nettles).

This cookbook is as much about the people behind the recipes and their adventures-and misadventures-in the outdoors. Hear the stories behind the titling of Angry Moose Scrambled Eggs and Poison Ivy Pesto with Shrimp. Learn why outdoor writer Tim Cahill needs Fat Cocoa to guarantee a warm night's sleep; understand the expedition fare philosophy of mountaineer Jim Whittaker; and why Celebration Cous Cous was special for writer-conservationists Laura and Guy Waterman. Each of these recipes has been tested by Mountaineers Books staff and friends.

Yvonne Prater, an outdoor photographer and writer whose work has appeared in The Seattle Times, Sunset, and Ellensburg Record, has hiked and snowshoed most of her life. Ruth Dyar Mendenhall, author of several outdoor skills books, has happily combined climbing, skiing, backpacking-and outdoor cookery-in wild parts of the western U.S., Canada, and elsewhere.


Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide, 3rd Ed.
By: Marge and Ted Mueller
Price: $17.95 (member price: $14.36)

· Completely revised to reflect the status of new parks and park closings
· Expanded to include Point Doughty, Obstruction Pass, Griffin Bay, and Upright Channel, all in the San Juan Islands
· Updated information on facilities, recreation, fees, and more

Marge and Ted Mueller offer the most complete descriptions of more than 200 magnificent state parks in the Evergreen State in this updated guide. More than just a listing of campgrounds and picnic sites, Washington State Parks offers detailed information about camping, hiking, bicycling, nature viewing, and more. Detailed park maps help you plan your outing and choose the best campsite.

Marge and Ted Mueller have explored the Northwest's mountains, forests, and waterways for more than 40 years. They are the authors of all titles in the Afoot & Afloat series.





Quick and easy login
You want to get on to The Mountaineers website and find an activity, but if you're like a lot of people, you have to go through a bunch of clicks and pages to get anywhere. Did you know that you can set up the new database to automatically log you in? It's easy!

The first thing is to get to the Log In page. You can do this by going to www.mountaineers.org and looking for the "log in" link in the upper menu bar. Click this now.

Once on the log in page, enter your login and password.

Don't hit the return key or the "sign in" button yet! Look to the right of the login and password fields. You should see the sentence "Save password" and a couple of radio buttons that are labeled "yes" and "no."

Click on the button that says "yes." A black dot should appear in the circle.

Click the "sign in" button. You should be taken to the communities page.

Now that you've done this, you can go directly to any of the sections and be automatically signed in. For example, you can bookmark the activity search page. The next time you want to go online to this page, simply go to your bookmarks, select the activity search page and - voila! - you'll already be logged in and ready to start searching.

This reduces the need to keep going through the front page of the site, and you can go directly to those pages that you use the most. What could be simpler?




We would like to hear from you! Tell us what you like and don't like, what types of programs you would like to see and let us know what types of interesting adventures you're having out there.

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Subscribing takes only takes minute and these few steps:

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