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Cascadians News and Events

July Potluck
July 30 meeting will be our annual potluck picnic 6:30 PM at the shelter at Kissel Park- West Mead and 29 Ave. Some left over plates, napkins, and utensils from our Jan. potluck will be available. Bring food to share and your beverage of choice.

Map and Compass Class
The planned map and compass reading class will be in early July on a weekend for one to two hours. Susie Ball has agreed to teach the class. To date ten people have shown an interest. There is room for more. Call Susie (248-6744) or Jim Hertel (469-4458).

Wanted: Leader Liability Sheets
More outings than are listed in the Annual did take place in 2007, but the record sheets were not completed or got lost. Cascadians are urged to turn in those liability sheets so that at year end there is a printed record of outing destinations; which is very useful as years go by and new leaders search for places to go. (Besides, lawyers advise us that we should hang on to those liability sheets for several years – just in case.) ~ Clar Pratt

Lynx Advice?
If you attended the April meeting on lynx by Gary Koehler and would like to give suggestions on how to improve lynx habitat, his e-mail is koehlgmk@dfw.wa.gov.

Proposed Policy Changes
The Cascadian board has proposed the following changes to the Distinguished Service Award and Honorary Life Membership. These changes will be voted on by the membership in our April 30 general meeting, so show up and cast your vote.

Proposed policy regarding the Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award shall be given to members who have made significant contributions of their time, talent, and energy to accomplishing and personifying the purposes of The Cascadians. Any member may present their nominees name, along with the reasons for nomination, to a current Board member. Nominations should be presented by November 30 for consideration.
The Board shall discuss the nominees and their qualifications, and vote on any nominees at the December board meeting. Recognition for the award will be on the basis of merit, and the Board shall have the option of presenting multiple awards, or none for the year.

Proposed policy regarding Honorary Life Membership
Honorary Life Memberships shall be awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the Cascadian organization and its purposes, over a major portion of their life. This award is different from the Distinguished Service Award, by the extended time of the members contribution, and the extent of the personal long term commitment and sacrifice involved. Any member may present their nominees name, along with the reasons for nomination, to a current Board member. Nominations should be presented by November 30 for consideration.
The Board shall discuss the nominees and their qualifications, and vote on any nominees at the December Board meeting. This award shall be given infrequently, for truly outstanding contributions. Annual dues shall be waived for Honorary Life Members.

Trail and Campground Volunteers Sought
Sue Ranger, from the Naches Ranger District, has indicated a need for volunteer assistance with trail and campground maintenance at various times throughout the year. Participants usually meet at the District Station in Naches at 8 am and are back by 4 pm. Interested Cascadians contact Bill Munson @ 697-7128 or Munsonjb@charter .net. The District will contact munson regarding time/place and activity and he will notify interested members.

Have You Renewed Your Membership?
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to fill it out your membership renewal form and send it in. The cutoff date to be added to the membership roster will be January 31, 2008.

Russell Ridge Project Proposed
The Naches Ranger District has proposed a vegetation management program on 7979 acres of Russell Ridge. The project is designed to improve the health and vigor of forest vegetation, and reduce fire danger in the area. Treatment proposals include thinning, harvest, prescribed underburning, slash burning, firewood harvest, chipping, mastication, composting and other treatments.
To get more information or leave comments contact Jane Dobbie (509) 653-1456, or Jim Bailey (509) 653-1479. Your comments are requested by Jan. 30, 2008

Winter Requires Extra Precautions in Backcountry
Skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to get out and enjoy the backcountry in winter, but the harsh weather and shorter days do require extra precautions. 1) Always make sure someone knows where you are going. This is true year-round, but especially so in winter. One unprepared night out could be the death of you. 2) Check the avalanche forecast before you leave. The Northwest Avalanche Center website is http://www.nwac.noaa.gov. 3) Avoid avalanche prone areas. Open slopes from 30 to 45 degrees are especially hazardous. 4) Always pack the 13 Essentials and know how to use them. It could be the difference between an uncomfortable night and a funeral casket. 5) Know how to use your map and compass. Winter weather can blot out tracks and recognizable landmarks in a matter of moments. GPS units are great, but cold temperatures can render the batteries useless. Best stick to the classics. 6) Dress correctly. Cotton has no place in the backcountry. Synthetic fleece is lightweight, warm, and won’t absorb much water. Wool has been under development for nearly 4 billion years and is hard to beat. Its warm even if its wet. 7) Make sure your flashlights have good batteries. In fact, bring along an extra set. Nights are long this time of year. 8) Extra clothing and food are part of the 13 Essentials, but you may want to beef these two essentials up in winter. A bit more calorie-rich food and heavier extra clothing are in order. 9) Have fun, but be prepared.

Meet Your New Board Members
New board and officers for 2008 are as follows:
President- Ed Huang; Vice President- Jim Hertel; Recording Secretary- Virginia Foley; Membership Secretary- Virginia Nicholson; Treasurer- Roger Short; Past President- Ted Gamlem; Other board members: Brenda Kelly; Bill Munson, and Shara Wright.

Changes in Alpine Travel Class
At the November Cascadian board meeting, the board met with several members who have spent many years organizing and teaching the Alpine Travel Class, in cooperation with YVCC. We discussed at length their experience during the last few years, as well as the future of the class. The discussion was prompted by the resignation of Kent Wilkinson as the principal organizer and teacher, and the dwindling interest and participation by club members and the public. Since no member has come forward to volunteer for the organizing job, it became important to decide, in the coming months, on the future of the class.
There was considerable debate about the form and content of the class, and the possible effect these have on potential students’ decision to sign up. Some felt the information was too extensive for people who don’t plan to backpack or hike in the backcountry. Others believe that the eight weekly sessions is a larger block of time than many people are willing to commit to. There was a definite consensus among the Alpine Travel Class instructors that the club needs to emphasize the education and practice of outdoor safety, more than we currently do.
As a result, the board has decided to begin incorporating 10-15 minute outdoor education segments into each monthly meeting, in addition to the business meeting and planned program. The subjects will vary from hiking first-aid, to maps and orientation, to outdoor equipment ideas and suggestions, and much more. The sessions will be short and geared toward preparing for safe outings of all types. We will also be exploring various alternative forms of presenting other, more in depth information, similar to the content of the Alpine Travel Class of the past. One possibility we discussed for the future is to offer separate blocks of study on the various subjects previously offered in the class, but excluding for now, more advanced techniques used in backpacking, snow travel, etc.
Please share your thoughts with board members so we can be confident that the result will be relevant and attractive to many of our members. Our hope is that we can find a format and content combination that is particularly relevant to the majority of members interested in day-long hiking and winter sports activities. We believe that reducing the time commitment and making the training more reflective of our members activities should be more appealing. The longer term result should be safer member outings, enjoyed by more knowledgeable and confident participants. We would also expect to open these sessions to the community in some way.
I believe, as one of the participants said, that our members may not understand the importance of their lack of outdoor knowledge, until an unexpected emergency occurs. After all, they’re just going for a day hike. - Ted Gamlem, President

Time to Renew Memberships
In this newsletter you will find a membership renewal form. Be sure to fill it out and send it in with your dues before the end of the year. The cutoff date to be added to the membership roster will be January 31, 2008. For those of you who do not get the newsletter, log onto our website at http://cascadians.org and go to the membership link. You can print a membership form and end it in with your dues.

Got Maps ?
Darlene McHenry is clearing out George's map collection and would like Cascadian members to have them. Eleanor Hayward has sorted them out and listed them for her. They are mostly USGS quads., about 50 in Washington State and a few in California, Colorado, Montana, and Mt. McKinley in Alaska. Please contact Eleanor Hayward at 575-0860, if you would like any of them. Eleanor will be passing them on to the Yakima Museum if they aren't claimed by the first of next year.

Notes from the Board
There has been quite a bit of discussion lately regarding mileage charges for sharing trip costs. Several members have voiced their opinions, and some agreements have been reached between certain members. The Board thought it wise to make the Cascadian policy, and the Boards current interpretation regarding cost sharing clear.
The clubs’ policy number five, established several years ago, urges members to contribute ten cents per mile to the vehicle driver. After discussing this at our last Board meeting, it was decided that the actual amount should be determined by the individual driver, and made clear to the riders at the beginning of the trip. We think the ten cents per mile should be considered the maximum, as it has apparently been for several most recent years. If drivers wish to charge less, either as a matter of principle or because they are carrying a larger number of people, it should be their choice.

Backpacking and Bicycling Chairman Positions Filled
We all owe a debt of gratitude to David Hagen for stepping up and taking on the position of Backpacking Committee Chairman. Likewise, we need to thank Eric Dolph for spinning into the Bicycling Committee Chairman position. Now, lets all do our part by showing our support with our feet and our pedals.

Separate but Equal
This is a follow-up on some discussion that was introduced at the February general meeting. It involved a couple of incidents Cascadians had with the Forest Service regarding snowshoeing on groomed trails. Members may be interested in some more details.
The incidents started with two groups of Cascadians being rather rudely confronted by Forest Service personnel on groomed trails, and told they had to find some other place to snowshoe. As a result, a group of Cascadians including Norb John, Mike Gunderson, Jerry Schroeder, and Ted Gamlem met with Forest Service personnel, including the District Ranger.
We were pleased with the reception at the District office. They listened to our concerns about the attitude of the personnel and the seeming confusion regarding uses of the groomed trails. They also understood there is an increasing popularity of snowshoeing in this area. They are willing to do a better job in their contacts with the public, focusing on education and proper etiquette, and with a positive message.
They agreed to improve signing, making policies more clear, and using the Yakima Herald article about skiing and snowshoeing as a guide for wording and explanations. They will have the Forest Service crew work on detour routes where needed, trying to use parallel tracks as much as possible to maximize the amount of trail available. They will look into additional routes, with emphasis on areas that can be accessed at the existing Sno-Parks.
After we met with them, they had additional follow-up FS crew meetings to begin implementing these commitments, and our primary contact, Mike Rowan a Resource Assistant, sent a very detailed email with all these details and more to confirm their intent and actions.
I hope members will thank these Cascadians and the Forest Service personnel for their time and effort. For you snowshoers, keep getting out there to enjoy the outdoors and the exercise, and remembering the general courtesy of avoiding walking on the ski tracks.
-Ted Gamlem

Keep in Touch with Cascadian Forum
Now you can keep in touch with your Cascadian friends, plan hikes, ask directions, seek out hiking destinations, or discuss outdoor topics by signing up as a member of the Cascadians Forum.
Here is how it works. Subscribers to Cascadians Forum send an email message to the forum which will automatically be sent to all other members of the forum. Anyone interested can respond. All subscribers will also get this response.
Its kind of like a conference call via email, and a heck of a lot easier and faster than phoning everyone in the club.
To sign up, simply send a blank email message to: cascadiansforum-subscribe@topica.com
To send a message to everyone on the list, send it to : cascadiansforum@topica.com
To read all the Cascadians Forum messages visit: http://www.topica.com/lists/cascadiansforum/read

Share the Snow, Not the Tracks
Eileen Ray writes to remind us about the importance of snow shoe wearers setting separate tracks from those made by cross country skiers. All of the snow parks in the Mt. Bachelor Oregon area have signs at the trail heads that read, "Share the Snow, Not the Tracks". These signs include photos of side by side snow shoe and XC ski tracks. Skiers expend a lot of energy setting tracks on the way into a destination so that they can kick & glide on the way out. Snow shoes destroy these carefully made tracks, leaving holes at uneven depths which make it difficult and sometimes dangerous for skiers to reuse the tracks. Eileen notes that this has only become a problem in the past few years, with the growing popularity of redesigned/user-friendly snow shoes among novice users.

Liability Forms
In addition to writing up a short spiel on your 2006 experiences and getting that to Karen, you need to turn in all liability sheets to Clar Pratt so all trips will be listed in the annual.

Cascadian Trailwork Valuable
At the December Forest Service fete for volunteers it was revealed that such services contributed $65 thousand this year, an The cascadians contributed an honest share of that. All who helped are to be congratulated for work that otherwise would not have been accomplished!

Sign Up for The Cascadians E-Letter
You can now get your monthly Cascadian Newsletter e-mailed to your home and/or work computer. To sign up for this FREE service, just send a blank e-mail message to:
cascadiannewsletter-subscribe@topica.com
What are you waiting for? Do it TODAY!!

Gentle Reminder - This Time
As mentioned on the liability release sheet that everyone on a Cascadian outing signs, party limit in local wilderness areas is 12 persons. Any group having more than this must break into smaller groups and remain widely separated (20 minute minimum) while in the wilderness (can’t get together at lunch). The Cascadians have been officially reminded by USFS on this requirement, and please do keep in mind that hefty fines do back this up (not to mention the public embarrassment). It is up to outing leaders to determine wilderness boundaries. Use the map! --Clar Pratt

Guye Cabin Available to Cascadians
Are you looking for a quiet, secluded mountain retreat to get away from the hectic pace of Yakivegas? Are you looking for a few comforts after a day of climbing, hiking, skiing, or biking? Do you need a special place to celebrate a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or other special event?
Guye cabin (actually more of a rustic, mountain lodge), located at 3200í on Snoqualmie Pass, with views of Guye Peak, Kendall Peak, Denny Mountain, and Snoqualmie Peak, is owned and operated by the Washington Alpine Club. It has recently undergone renovations, and the Washington Alpine Club wants to make sure that Cascadians know they are welcome to use Guye Cabin at the memberís rate of $10 per night (kids under 13 stay free). This is a long standing agreement that dates back many years.
With 85 bunks, in womenís, menís, and coed dormitories, the cabin can accommodate large groups during weekdays, and on most weekends from May until Christmas. Weekends during ski season is when Guye Cabin is the busiest. (They don't accept large groups on the weekends during ski season). The warm and cozy Fireplace Room is perfect for reading, conversation, or playing games. Guye cabin has an outstanding library of outdoor literature and guides. Kids of all ages will find entertainment. Meal preparation at Guye Cabin is hostel style. The kitchen is stocked with an electric stove, two microwaves, and a complete set of dishes, pots, pans, and cups. Just bring your own food, and prepare it at your leisure.
The Cabin is non-hosted. It is open every weekend in the winter, but during the summer plan on attending scheduled events or get ìsigned offî to open and close the Cabin. To get ìsigned offî you must volunteer at least one day in some capacity for the club. Bunks have mattresses. Guests are asked to provide their own sleeping bags or bedding and pillows. The sleeping areas are not heated, so a 20 degree sleeping bag or better is recommended in the winter. Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper.
Guye Cabin is a community establishment. Please be respectful of those around you. Children must be supervised . Pets, smoking, alcoholic beverages, firearms, and amplified sound devices are prohibited. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Everyone must help to keep the cabin and the grounds clean. Most chores only take 15 minutes. Take the trash and recycles home with you.
If individuals, or groups of Cascadians would like more information, or are interested in using historic Guye Cabin please contact Mike Mahanay via email at mike@grandcanyontreks.org or 206-933-6801.

Geocaching Catching On
Are you a geocacher, or a geomuggle? Geocaching is a fairly new recreational activity which combines GPS technology, map and compass navigation skills, hiking, scrambling, and the thrill of treasure hunting. A geocache is a hidden box (generally an ammo box, coffee can, or Tupperware container) which contains a log book and assortment of trinkets. GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) to each geocache are posted on the web at http://www.geocaching.com. The object is to use the coordinates and a GPS unit to find the geocache and sign the log book. Successful geocache hunters are welcome to take a trinket as long as they leave something behind. Sound easy? Well, yes and no. Figuring out the general location of the geocache is relatively simple, but routefinding to the exact spot can get a little trickier. The cache can be a few feet from the road on easy trail, or miles into trail-less wilderness. The GPS unit can get you to within 5 to 20 feet, but once you arrive at the coordinates you still have to look for the hidden cache. Some geocaches are actually a series of caches, each giving coordinates to the next, until the final one is found. Some caches contain ìhitchhikersî or ìtravel bugsî. These are items placed in caches with instructions to travel to other geocaches. They usually have their own log books to record their travels. Some have traveled around the world. Intrigued? Check it out at http://www.geocaching.com. You can use their search engine to find local geocaches. There are dozens and dozens in our area. Maybe youíll become a geocacher, or maybe youíll remain a geomuggle (a non-geocacher - Harry Potter literary reference. A muggle is a non-magical person). Either way, at least now you know why those folks were wandering around in circles with their GPS units last weekend.

Drink Up!
Guest editorial by Ida Rink-Moore
We all know to drink plenty of fluids while hiking during the height of summer, but not everyone is so cautious during the cold months of winter or cool days of spring and autumn. Yet it is just as important to avoid dehydration in cold weather as it is in warm. Skiers, Snowshoers, climbers, and cool-weather hikers are especially prone to dehydration in part because they are unaware of how much water they lose due to sweat. The average person participating in moderate exercise at 32° F can lose up to 4 pounds of sweat per hour. Much of this water is drawn from the blood stream, decreasing its volume, causing the heart to pump faster and harder to keep the thicker blood flowing. This causes the body to feel fatigued and leads to a loss of muscle control and concentration, which in turn can lead to accidents.
In addition, each time you inhale cold air, precious moisture is used to humidify the dry air so it can be used by the lungs. Cold temperatures also trigger a response called cold-induced diuresis, which causes the heart to pump harder, the kidneys to work overtime, and excessive amounts of urine to be produced, further depleting your body of water. Furthermore, a rapid increase in elevation, say from Yakima to White Pass, also can trigger excess urine production.
Dehydration causes the body to pull blood away from the extremities and toward the body's core. This decreases circulation in the digits, making them more vulnerable to frostbite.

Tips for Cold Weather Activities
* Drink 16 to 24 ounces of water more than one hour before outdoor exercise.
* Brink before you are thirsty. Studies suggest you are already 2% dehydrated before you feel thirsty.
* Drink 6 to 10 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes.
* Watch your urine. It should be no darker than a pale yellow.
* Alcohol dehydrates you. Donít drink it until you are safe back home or in the lodge, and then only after you are well rehydrated.
* Contrary to all those sports-drinks ads, water will rehydrate you just fine. Life got along fine on this planet for 3.5 billion years without Gatorade. However, sports drinks are absorbed a tad bit faster, and contain carbohydrates and electrolytes lost during exercise.

Maps Anyone?
What your favorite outdoor friend might REALLY like (and maybe you too) is a 7.5 minute topo map of a really neat place. Here then, is the latest ordering information (if you canít find a copy at Churchillís or Hyperspud).
USGS topo quads now cost $6 each, plus a handling charge of $5 per order. You must first get a free "index" of the state in question so you can get the name of the topo quad you want. To order the index or quads by phone there is a new number (not even published yet): 1-888-627-3325. (The old Earth Science Info Center at Spokane, where you used to order, is now closed.)
If you lean toward the cheaper side, you can find scanned topo maps in a variety of scales on the Internet at http://topozone.com and print them off at home. The quality isnít quite as good as with a purchased map, but itís cheaper (if you donít count the cost of the computer, printer, ink, Internet access, etc.)

Paper Trail
Bob Fay had an idea the other day, and this one made some sense. Bob thought it might be a good idea for Cascadians who spend much time traipsing up mountains in the area to carry a small tablet of paper with them. It neednít be too fancy. Just a couple dozen sheets of 8.5 X 11 notebook paper stapled together at the top. If you ever discover a summit register in need of replacement all you need to do is write in the name and elevation of the summit, and that the register was placed by The Cascadians on such-and-such a date. Put the old register in your pack and mail it to our historian, Eleanore Hayward (218 S. 49th Street, Yakima, WA 98901) when you get home.

Cascadians Bike List Serve
If youíd like to be contacted whenever someone is interested in putting together a last minute bike ride, or maybe youíd like to let the other bikers in the club know youíd like to lead a ride, you should subscribe to the new Cascadians Bike list serve. This is a free service which will keep members notified via email whenever someone is interested in going for a ride, or wants to discuss a bike related issue.
Hereís how it works. Letís say that Dan in Toppenish wants to bike to Bickleton this weekend, but heís missed the newsletter deadline. As a subscriber to Cascadians Bike, he simply sends an email message to the list, saying something like, ìHey. Anyone interested in biking from Mabton to Bickleton and back this Saturday?î His message will automatically be sent to all other members of the list. Anyone interested can respond with something like, ìHeck yes! When and where do we meet?î All subscribers will also get this response. Pretty soon three or four cyclists are sharing info and planning a ride. Its kind of like a conference call via email, and a heck of a lot easier and faster than phoning all the bikers in the club.
To subscribe simply send a blank email message to: cascadiansbike-subscribe@topica.com
o post a message to the list, send it to: cascadiansbike@topica.com
You can also view all the messages at once, as well as post messages, by visiting the Cascadians Bike web page at http://www.topica.com/lists/cascadiansbike
This list is in its infancy, so it may take a few weeks to get subscribers on board. This is a FREE service supported by small ads inserted at the bottom of your messages. You can unsubscribe any time you wish.

Nature Conservancy Protects Tieton River Canyon
In an attempt to unite and protect more than 20,000 acres of prime forest and shrub-steppe along the Tieton River, The Nature Conservancy has agreed to purchase over 10,400 acres east of Yakima from Plumb Creek Timber Company and Elk Haven Timber Company.
The privately owned lands in question occur in a checkerboard pattern with federal and state lands. This purchase will unify 20,000 acres and transfer ownership to state and federal agencies as public funds become available.
This project is made possible by the combined support of The Nature Conservancy, Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife, US Forest Service, Yakima County, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Audubon Society, Yakima Kayak Club, and Central Washington Conservation Partnership.
For more information contact: Leslie Brown (206) 343-4344, ext. 379; or Betsy Bloomfield (509) 962-1333
You can also check out: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/press/press921.html

Bulletin Board at Meetings
There is a bulletin board erected at our monthly meetings and on it will be posted the multitude of literature, newsletters, and various other mailings we receive from other clubs and agencies. These mailings are free for the taking. Please donít be shy. Take a look-see and grab whatever strikes your fancy.

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