E X P L O R E
Mountaineer
Ready, set . . .
inside
12 Getting and staying fit
Be ready for 2012 activities and courses
13 Winter course mini-guide
Start filling your 2012 calendar with the outdoors
15 Are you avy savvy?
Some tips for a fun and safe winter season
21 Fulfilling a dream
—
Haute Route
Behind-the-scenes look at planning the trek
23 A Q&A: guide Margaret Wheeler
A look at mountain guiding as a woman
8
Leave No Trace practices do not hibernate
Taking our legacy into the 21st century
Women’s ACL injuries
To the Arctic, an IMAX film companion
News from The Mountaineers Branches
Lodges, winter sports
What’s new in member benefits
A sampling of our many trips, courses
Climbing: an intellectual pastime
—
Alvarez
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 Branching
Out section of the magazine (page 32) for times and locations for
each of our seven branches.
Jan/Feb 2012 Volume 106 Number 1
Enriching the community by helping people
explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the
lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest.
Photographer Jason Hummel captures a bluebird day while
his buddy descends Mt. Baker on a trip to the Coleman Headwall in 2010.
the Mountaineer uses . . .
the Mountaineer would like to thank
for its financial assistance
during the redesign of both this magazine and
www.mountaineers.org. The Foundation operates
as a separate organization from The Mountaineers,
which has received about one-third of the Founda-
tion’s gifts to various nonprofit organizations.
21
7
10
tyingin
The Mountaineers is a non-
profit organization, founded
in 1906 and dedicated to the
responsible enjoyment and
protection of natural areas.
OFFICERS
President Tab Wilkins, 2010-12
President Elect Gavin Woody, 2010-12
VP Properties Dave Claar, 2010-12
VP Publishing Don Heck, 2010-12
Treasurer Mona West, 2010-12
Secretary Lorna Corrigan, 2010-12
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Lorna Corrigan, 2012-15
Rich Draves, 2012-15
Lee Fromson, 2010-13
Dan Lauren, 2010-13
John Ohlson, 2009-12
Mark Scheffer, 2009-12
Matt Sullivan, 2010-13
Tom Varga, 2010-12
Gene Yore, 2012-15
BRANCH DIRECTORS
Steven Glenn, Bellingham
Evy Dudey, Everett
Gerry Haugen, Foothills
Jimmy James, Kitsap
Mike Riley, Olympia
Kirk Alm, Seattle
Jim Feltus, Tacoma
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Martinique Grigg
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
Helen Cherullo
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mary Hsue
MANAGING EDITOR
Brad Stracener
PROOFREADERS
Joyce Bamberger, Chris Compton, Patti
Conley, John Edwards, Brian Futch
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Paul Bannick, Holly Beck, Davide De Masi,
Matt Farmer, Chris George, Jason Hummel,
Steve Sutorius, Mike Sweeney, Mike Warren
The Mountaineer (ISSN 0027-2620) is
published bimonthly by The Mountaineers,
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA
98115. 206-521-6000; 206-523-6763 fax.
Members receive a subscription as part
of their annual dues. Approximately $12 of
each member’s annual membership dues
goes to print and mail this publication. Non-
member subscriptions to the Mountaineer
are $32. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle
WA and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
the Mountaineer, 7700 Sand Point
Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
Opinions expressed in articles are those
of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the views of The Mountaineers.
New Year means taking on new challenges
Martinique Grigg, Executive Director
2012. The New Year brings the opportunity for new beginnings,
new hope and, of course, new resolutions.
I have plenty of aspirations for the New Year, among them are:
• Get in better shape, to dust off my backcountry ski gear and to
get out in the snow with my one-year-old son and my husband
• Learn the skills I need to safely take my family outdoors during
the winter
I’m not the only one with these types of resolutions; I suspect I
share them with many Mountaineers members.
January is always a busy time for The Mountaineers, in fact it’s our
busiest time of year. Our membership grows with new students, youths and participants eager
to fulfill their resolutions, get in shape, learn a new skill or technique, or just simply get outside
and have some fun. Our 800 trained volunteer leaders are ready to teach their courses, lead
trips and give you the opportunity to make good on your resolutions.
Our Basic Climbing Course kicks off in January. For some it will be an eight-month
commitment to learn the fundamentals of alpine climbing
—
tying knots, setting anchors, glacier
travel, navigation and first aid. Finishing the course takes dedication. Even our popular ice
climbing, avalanche, outdoor photography and backcountry-travel courses, although shorter
in length, require a commitment, a resolve to show up, participate, learn and then practice and
master new skills.
Modern life is a constant juggling act between work, family, friends and fun.
Sometimes it seems difficult or impossible to make space for new resolutions, but at The
Mountaineers we get to see people do it all the time. We see students lead their first climb
or master beacon skills; we get to see new volunteer leaders share their love of the outdoors
when delivering their first lecture or leading a field trip.
What always impresses me is watching the transformation from unsure beginner to confident
outdoors person. And if there is one thing I’ve observed, it’s that resolve is a necessary
ingredient in turning aspirations into reality.
Yes, it’s about learning a new skill, but it’s also about challenging
yourself, dedicating yourself to a single purpose and accomplishing your goals. Those who
follow through on that personal commitment reap the rewards of more time spent outside, but
also enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with achieving.
The Mountaineers provides lots of opportunities to learn, get outside, volunteer and
challenge yourself, but you turn those opportunities into reality.
So as we enter the New Year I encourage you to set your sights high. Sign up for that course.
Go on that trip. Volunteer to lead. Give yourself the opportunity to meet your resolutions. We
are here to help. We are committed to your success.
All the best in the New Year.
Welcome new directors! We would like to welcome our newly elected directors, whose
terms start January 1. On October 19, Lorna Corrigan, Rich Draves and Gene Yore were elected
from a field of four candidates that also included Jim Adcock.
4
readerswrite
Craig Romano photo
Letters welcome! We invite your thoughts, concerns and joys in re-
gard to not only The Mountaineers but the greater outdoors community.
Please keep your letters to fewer than 200 words. All letters are subject
to editing for length. Please sign off with your name and address. Thanks.
Praise goes
to youth programs
Plaudits to our new Education
Manager Becca Polglase for
launching the youth and family
programs described in the Sept/
Oct magazine (p. 10-11).
These are exciting times.
Youth and family programs are,
in my opinion, key to enhancing
our ability to support our mission
of “Explore, Learn, Conserve.”
Our Annual Report 2010
(www.mountaineers.org, under
“About Us”) discusses on pg.
7 the importance of “Creating
the Next Generation of Outdoor
Enthusiasts.” Becca has
significant experience
—
both
with youth and climbing
—
witnessed by her whizzing
through both the Basic Climbing
and Crag courses this year.
Her enthusiasm bodes well for
fulfilling our mission. May we
keep up the good work.
John Ohlson
At-Large Director, Mountaineers
Board of Directors
The ‘pedestrians’
There is a view held by some
in the climbing community
that national parks are a bad
thing. I know because in my
fitter days, I mingled with some
who felt that national parks
restrict the freedom of the hills
and hamper alpine endeavors
through regulation and through
the occasional actions of over-
zealous rangers.
The perspective of those
climbers
—
the pedestrians
—
reaches only as far as the end
of their rope. They do not see
that beyond the pitch is an
ecosystem in far greater danger.
We humans are not the only
users of parkdom
—
for us it
means recreation, both physical
and esthetic. For the non-human
inhabitants it is 24/7, a matter of
life and death, of persistence and
extinction.
All the massive evidence that
has been hard won in recent
decades tells us that the larger
a contiguous reserve, the more
likely endangered (and non-
endangered) organisms will
survive.
So, fellow climbers, extend
your view beyond your favorite
climb, ask yourself whether that
is a short-sighted, even selfish
pedestrian view. Recognize
our moral obligation to the
countless animals and plants, for
their welfare, when we humans
manage our unique landscapes.
And support the management
choice that both provides for
climbing activity and promotes
ecological integrity.
John Edwards
Meany event
outstanding!
Emilio, Jerry, Patti, and the
others I don’t have the addresses
of . . . (The Meany Mushroom)
Weekend was outstanding! Our
group had so much fun and
we’re now enjoying eating the
mushrooms we came home with.
Everybody was so
nice, knowledgeable and
approachable
—
I think we may
have caught the mushrooming
bug. It was also nice getting to
introduce my friends to Meany
Lodge. This is my third trip and
I know I’ll be coming back again
and again. My friends were truly
charmed by the community you
have built here.
Brian, Elisa, Tim, Kelly,
and Jill Keller
Thanks for high-
quality articles
You have taken the magazine
to a new level. It is professional-
grade! I appreciate the
space made available to the
Naturalists, and am proud that
the Naturalists have professional
writers who have volunteered to
contribute high-quality articles
for the magazine. Thank you!
Dave Shema
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spindrift
Yes, I did flatten that cherry pie . . . for the trail
After summiting his first Himalayan Peak
—
22,349-foot Ama Dablam
—
on November 4, Doug
Walker has made it back home in time to share some of his favorite ski runs with our readers.
These four favorites may be where you find Doug, a Mountaineers Advisory Council member and
Peak Society co-chair, during the Pacific Northwest winter:
Snoqualmie Pass: “Great Scott Bowl (below the tooth), runs down to Snow Lake, Red Mountain, the
Slot Couloir. Short drive with moderate and challenging runs.”
Washington Pass: “Many easy and hard runs, once SR-20 opens.”
Sahale Peak: “Blue run down the Quien Sabe. Best when you can drive the Cascade River Road.”
Rainier: “Nisqually Chute all the way down to the bridge
—
5000’ vertical.”
Interglacier: “Below Camp Schurman once the road opens.”
Doing the kick turn
A fun way to turn around at the end of your practice area is the kick turn. This looks fancy, but once you catch on it is a snap. You
will need your poles for this. Practice away from an audience for the first few times. To kick turn, follow these four steps:
1. Turn so that your shoulders make a straight line with the tips and tails of your skis. Place your poles behind you, one basket
planted behind both tips and one basket planted behind both tails of your skis. Flex your legs and sag slightly onto your poles.
2a. Swing the leg of your front ski back and then forward.
2b. As it swings forward, lift and open your knee to swing the tip around 180 degrees to point in the opposite direction.
3. Step your weight onto that ski, and then
repeat step 2 with your other leg.
4. Bring your shoulders back into normal
alignment and your pole baskets to either
side of your feet.
1
2a
2b
3
4
Five fabulous ski runs
Excerpted from
Cross-Country
Skiing: Buiding Skills
for Fun and Fitness
(Mountaineers
Books ©2005)
The world’s largest cherry pie may live in George, Washington. But the world’s flattest may reside inside Tacoma Mountaineer
Amy Mann’s backpack. Dubbed ‘pie bark’ by Amy, here is her recipe for a trail treat best served with hot tea:
Buy (or make) a pie. Run it through the blender with just enough water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry out on your dehydrating
sheet and dehydrate it for 12-14 hours. Spread the slurry out as a sheet and cut with scissors into portions when dried. Or you can
drop as you would cookie dough, spreading each spoonful out to make a round that is sort of uniformly thin.
Paul Bannick photo (www.paulbannick.com)
nature’sway
Photographer Paul Bannick knows
a bit about owls and woodpeckers. He’s been
busy rousing audiences across the country
to take an interest in birds since the success
of his book, The Owl and the Woodpecker
(Mountaineers Books 2008).
“We protect what we love, and we only love
what we know,” Bannick muses. Creating a
sense of excitement and intimacy between
the birds and his audience is his primary goal.
For those who already know birds like the
ferocious “flying tiger,” Bannick promises
fresh photographic footage and inspired new
insights at his
with the Naturalists of The Mountaineers
Seattle Branch. Bannick will celebrate the two
Bannick’s
birds: the
owl and the
woodpecker
weighing in at almost five pounds.
Audiences can expect to marvel at the
200-some photographs that examine the
surprising ways these birds have evolved.
Bannick’s job isn’t easy. Capturing the
essence of these birds on film requires time,
patience, and mental and physical fortitude.
Serving a full work week as director of
development with the non-profit conservation
group, Conservation Northwest, leaves
Bannick with too little time for birdwatching.
To tell the stories behind the birds’
behaviors, he recounts many adventures,
from getting lost in grizzly country, to carting
a metal tripod through a lightning storm, to
holing up in a rat-infested cabin to build trust
with a researcher.
Owls and woodpeckers are
considered indicator species of their
ecosystems. Each is intertwined with the
place in which they live. In fact, woodpeckers
craft the cavities that owls inhabit. A growing
population is indicative of a healthy habitat,
and something as simple as one tree species
can alter the indicator species’ behaviors.
“There’s a danger in talking about
conservation,” Bannick says, noting it can
sound “preachy and negative.” So he takes a
different approach
—
celebrating the species
through visual and auditory immersion,
thus providing an “uplifting and inspiring”
experience.
55
species and the diversity they represent with
vibrant oratory, photography and bird sounds.
Washington is home to more owl and
woodpecker species than any other state
in the country, thanks to the diversity of
landscape. Fourteen of the 19 owl species
found in this country and 13 of the 22
woodpecker species nest in our state’s desert
areas, wet forests and mountain ranges.
Avid birdwatchers may recognize the
diminutive northern pygmy owl or the
incredible wingspan of the great grey or
“flying ghost” owl, both local residents.
Winter enthusiasts own ample opportunity
to catch the season’s white snowy owl in
action
—
easily the heaviest of the owl species,
Going ‘bats’ in the city
Did you know bats can live 35 years or more? Washington is home to 15 bat species and
12 are found west of the Cascades. They’re not out to drink your blood, but they will eat
their share of insects. Important to our state’s economy, especially for apple orchards,
bats munch on destructive moths.
Learn about the fragile existence of these flying mammals and how you can help
them survive when state wildlife biologist Christopher Anderson talks about “Bats and
Their Urban Ecology” on February 9.
Naturalists’ Thursday night lectures
January 12 : Paul Bannick, “Owls and Woodpeckers”
February 9: Christopher Anderson, “Bats and their Urban Ecology”
March 8: Ralph Haugenud, “Glaciation of the Puget Sound Lowlands”
(Lectures will be held 7-9 p.m. at The Mountaineers Program Center. Naturalists’ Study
Group members: free; others: $5 donation asked)
A heavyweight:
the snowy owl.
8
conservationcurrents
Plan ahead and prepare
• Educate yourself by taking a winter backcountry travel course.
• Know the area and what to expect; always check avalanche and weather reports.
• Use a map and compass to eliminate the need for tree markings, rock cairns or agging.
Batteries in GPS units may not work well in cold temperatures.
• Night falls early and everything takes longer in cold weather; plan accordingly for travel and
camp setup.
Travel and camp on safe, durable surfaces
• Stay on deep snow cover whenever possible; in muddy spring conditions, stay on snow or
walk in the middle of the trail to avoid creating new trails and damaging fragile trailside
vegetation.
• Camp at a safe, stable site out of view of heavily-traveled routes and trails.
Dispose of waste properly
• Protect water sources and pack out solid human waste if it cannot be properly buried.
• Strain and scatter dishwater away from heavily-used areas and campsites.
• Expansion of food and liquids, caused by freezing, can make a mess. Use exible containers.
Leave what you find
• Destroy any snow shelters, igloos, and wind breaks before leaving your campsite. They
become unsafe as they melt and they encourage concentrated use.
Minimize campfire impacts
• Campres cause lasting impacts in the backcountry. If you do make a re, consider a re pan
so all ash can be saved and discarded in an appropriately hidden location, rather than leaving
a mess in the snow.
Respect wildlife
• Winter is an especially vulnerable time for animals. Protect wildlife and your food by storing
rations and trash securely.
Be considerate of others
• Separate ski and snowshoe tracks where possible. Avoid hiking on ski or snowshoe tracks.
• Pack out or bury all dog feces.
As a Leave No Trace master educator,
I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can lighten
my impact on the backcountry. I have always been
the kind of girl who walks through mud puddles to
avoid expanding trails, swallows her toothpaste when
camping and repackages energy bars to avoid fly-
away wrapper corners.
So when it came to the logistics of my first winter
camping trip in the Pacific Northwest
—
two nights
with friends in a snow cave at Mt. Rainier National
Park last New Year
—
I felt somewhat liberated from
the seven principles of Leave No Trace. With a
deep base of snow I could forget about designated
campsites and traverse alpine meadows without fear
of trampling wildflowers and heather. Winter camping
without a trace would be a piece of cake . . . right?
Leave
No Trace
principles
do not
hibernate
Continued on page 9
Public Lands Program Manager
Old-Growth forests
—
what makes them unique?
There are few places in the world where truly old trees and old forests remain, and one of
those places is the Pacific Northwest. Old-growth forests have special attributes that make
them structurally and functionally unique. This uniqueness is evident in the answers to a
variety of questions:
• Do old-growth forests release more carbon than they absorb? And how do we know the
answer to this?
• What special features enable trees to live so long in this part of the world?
• What are some of the age records for trees?
• How do trees get water and mineral nutrients from ground level to its limbs 400 feet
above the ground?
• How do old-growth forests interact with clouds, fog, and the Pineapple Express?
• What might climate change do to old-growth forests?
• Is there already evidence that climate change is indeed affecting old-growth forests?
These questions and more will be answered and illustrated with slides
from the Canadian Rockies to the Sierra Nevada, from southeast Alaska to Muir Woods.
Presenter and Mountaineers member Tom Hinckley chairs the University of Washington
School of Forest Resources. THIS FREE PROGRAM will be FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, at 7 pm in
THE MOUNTAINEERS PROGRAM CENTER.
After our first night, I observed fox
tracks in inquisitive loops near the entrance
of the snow cave as I started to prepare for
our afternoon snowshoe to Panorama Point.
We stowed our food and trash in the park-
issued canisters, but upon our return, we were
shocked to find the campsite splattered with
carnage of Pinot Noir. We had neglected to
stash our cardboard wine carton. The shiny
label must have inspired camp-robber jays to
take a stab at the abandoned vintage.
After two days of camping and cooking in
the same spot, our sparkling, snowy-white
campsite was something of a Leave No Trace
disaster and a reminder that low-impact
camping still requires a lot of thought in the
winter. If anything, winter camping is less
forgiving
—
every spill, lazy dishwashing or
bathroom run is recorded on the white of snow.
For a more low-key winter camping
experience, consider the principles of Leave No
Trace (shown on the opposite page) and learn
more at
Paying to play: Discover Pass
Leave No Trace
principles (continued)
Launched on July 1, the Discover Pass attempts to fill a $64 million gap in
general funds which have historically been available for recreation on state
lands. Visitors to lands managed by Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources or State Parks must display the
$30 annual pass or $10 day pass in their vehicles. Initial sales of the Discover
Pass have been slower than anticipated, with many recreationists still
learning about the pass and arriving to state lands unprepared to pay.
Fees for access to state lands are never overwhelmingly popular, but
in light of the state budget crisis, the pass appears to be a welcomed
alternative to closing popular parks. A recent survey by Washington Trails
Association illustrates general support for the pass among the hiking
community but points to a very clear opportunity for improvement: 87
percent of hikers surveyed do not think that one-pass-per-vehicle is a
reasonable structure for the Discover Pass.
Unlike the Northwest Forest Pass that can be transferred among users, the
Discover Pass is restricted to one license plate. Recreationists with multiple
vehicles must therefore purchase individual passes for each of their vehicles.
In August, 49 state lawmakers signed a letter opposing the one-pass-per-car
rule and requested that agencies not enforce it.
At a recent meeting with Mountaineers trip leaders and staff,
representatives from the state’s three land management agencies asked for
feedback on how to improve the fledgling Discover Pass. The transferability
issue, as well as confusion around Sno-Park access, led the discussion.
Lawmakers are expected to tackle Discover Pass transferability during the
upcoming legislative session.
Tom Hinckley photo
reachingout
Since 1906, The Mountaineers has provided outdoor education, recreation and
conservation to the Pacific Northwest. We have volunteers and members who joined the
organization more than 50 years ago, and new members who join every year.
If you ask a 50-plus-year member and a recent alpine scrambling graduate who just joined
what makes The Mountaineers so great, you’ll probably get similar answers.
People love The Mountaineers because they
form lifelong friendships through our programs,
they learn skills that allow them to recreate safely
and responsibly in the outdoors, and they get
to know highly-skilled volunteers who serve as
lifelong mentors.
This is our legacy: a culture of
volunteerism, a passion for outdoor education,
a focus on safety, and the joy of experiencing
incredible, wild places.
The Mountaineers is perhaps best known for
alpine climbing; our Basic Climbing courses serve
over 200 students every year, and our signature
publication, Mountaineering: The Freedom of
the Hills, is sold worldwide. We also maintain
facilities
—
in the city and in the mountains
—
that
help us provide educational and recreational
opportunities to members.
Our strong partnerships with
organizations like Washington Trails Association help us to steward the lands where we learn
and play. Over the years, The Mountaineers has expanded beyond alpine climbing to meet a
growing diversity of outdoor pursuits; while our alpine climbing program remains as strong
as ever, we now have volunteers teaching everything from backcountry skiing to nature
photography to sea kayaking.
As an organization that celebrates more than a century of innovation in outdoor education,
Taking
our legacy
into the
21
st
century
Continued on page 19
Mountaineers volunteer Leah Schulz introduces mountaineering to fifth grade students in Seattle
All non-profit organizations understand the value of volunteers, but
I have worked in the non-profit world for 15 years in five different states, and I have
never experienced a culture of volunteerism that is as vibrant and impassioned as
that at The Mountaineers.
About 10 percent of our members are active and frequent volunteers, and the
number of hours they devote just about equals the hours by staff. Our volunteers
are bright, creative, passionate about the outdoors and highly skilled. But perhaps
most importantly they are people of excellent character. The instructors, editors,
board members, facility volunteers and event volunteers I’ve interacted with
are reliable, hard-working, humble and compassionate. They inspire others to
learn, grow and give back. Here’s what two volunteers said when asked why they
volunteer for The Mountaineers:
“I’ve been given knowledge, experience, passion, and friendships that will last a
Volunteers make all the difference:
thoughts from our education manager
Education Manager
Continued on page 19
Continued on page 44
Though they have been around for years, splitboards are
just beginning to thrive in abundance and appeal due to improved tech-
nology. In general the use of splitboards has grown slowly in the Pacific
Northwest, especially compared to other places I’ve been, like Utah, where
people had been struggling to find the right equipment for years.
On the other hand, during my season spent in Chamonix last year,
people were baffled by the thought of a splitboard. No one had seen a
setup like mine and I only saw two others the entirety of my three-month
trip. The recent growth in popularity in the past year or two owes itself to
recent advances in technology and availability.
I was a snowboard bum at Mt. Baker while I was in college, taking the
winters off to “shred pow.” It seems like so long ago, but really it was a
mere four years. I remember looking out into the
side country of Mt. Baker from Chair 6, over to
Table Mountain and Mt. Herman. Every once and
a while there would be a distinct boot pack straight
up a shot on Mt. Herman or a couple random tracks
down Little Alaska. It seemed so far away, difficult to
get to and dangerous because it wasn’t controlled.
On a Sunday last year I made the trip up to Baker
and that same side country that was rarely touched
back then was completely tracked out! It didn’t look
any better than in-bounds. There were splitboard-
ers, ski-tourers, snowshoers and boot-packers
abounding, all out there earning their turns. Some
people think it’s a shame, but I say the more the
merrier; there will always be an abundance of back-
country and good snow if you’re willing to work for
it. We might just have to work harder for a better
result in some cases.
Last year I rode the Prior Brandywine 158.
This was the first woman-specific splitboard on the
market and it was great! Last winter in Chamonix
was the warmest and driest on record in the past
40 years and I rode this board on almost every kind
of snow you can imagine, including blower powder;
heavy, knee deep slush; steep icy faces; long, icy cat
tracks, bumpy chunder; hoar frost, a foot of sugar
on top of blue ice; etc. I even took it in the park a
couple times. It’s a great all-around mountain split.
Jones Snowboards is using the newest innovative
technology for free-ride and all-around, mountain-crushing snowboards
and splitboards. The Solution by Jones is what I’ll be riding this year. I
demoed it last year and it was an absolute delight! The rocker design
makes the transition when turning in powder dreamy and effortless. It
has traditional camber underfoot and magna-traction on the inside and
outside edges that make the board feel incredibly stable and catchy when
you need your edges the most while riding and in touring mode. It’s pretty
stiff, so it charges through choppy, ridden-out chunder or slush.
Splitboard
popularity
on the rise
geargrist
Liz between runs in Chamonix
Davide De Masi photo
So you’ve enrolled in the climbing or scrambling course. Now what? Those
summer trips you’ve read about sound like fun, but the thought of that 50- pound backpack hanging off
your shoulders for three days sure doesn’t. Are you over your head or is it far easier than everyone is telling
you? The answer is both and neither.
There tends to be three types of students: those in excellent shape that already have a strong exercise
program; those that do not have an exercise program yet, but start out with an idea of what they want to
achieve and what level of fitness it will take, as well as a plan for how to get there; and those that never give
it a second thought until they show up at the trailhead and suddenly feel like Atlas
just shoved the planet into their pack. This third type of student is going to spend a
lot of the trip suffering and likely go home with no summit, a need for ibuprofen and
ice for sore muscles afterwards.
So you’re not a super athlete, but you want to make sure not to be a subpar
student? When should you start exercising and what should you do to ensure you’re in shape? The answer
is start now, build up slowly, and find the routine that both works for you and fits your schedule. You want to
be realistic about your goals for the summer and how much time you can allocate weekly to achieving those
fitness goals. The key to success is consistency when it comes to conditioning.
An example program might look like the following:
—
Easy cardio workouts 2-3 times a week in the gym. On the weekends throw in an
easy hike such as Tiger Mountain, Oyster Dome, or Little Si to get used to new boots and try out gear
while seeing how your fitness progresses.
So what does ‘be in good
condition’ really mean?
How to get fit for upcoming
Mountaineers courses
Jason Hummel photo
winter course guide
When the weather turns cold
Mountaineers courses
heat up
climbing . . . SCRAMBLING
. . . snowshoeing
NATURALISTS . . .
Mike Sweeney photo
Alpine Scrambling
This course bridges the gap
between hiking and technical
mountaineering, taking the stu-
dent to summits off trail. It covers
the gear, route-finding, avalanche
awareness and avoidance, rock
and snow travel, ice-ax arrest,
glissade techniques and wilder-
ness ethics. Enrollment still open:
EVT/FEB; KIT/FEB; OLY/JAN; SEA/
JAN; TAC/FEB
Avalanche Course
The AIARE-certified Level 1
Avalanche Course introduces stu-
This mini-guide summarizes 2012 Mountaineers courses and seminars that start between first of the year and the first of March. Branches
and outdoor centers are identified as follows: BAKER = Baker Lodge; BEL = Bellingham; EVT = Everett; FH = Foothills; KIT = Kitsap; OLY = Olym-
pia; SEA = Seattle; TAC = Tacoma. are courses free of prerequisites that generally range from one evening or day
to a two- or three-week series introducing students to a new outdoor sport or adventure. The months that class sessions usually begin are indi-
cated after the branch abbreviation. Visit our website, , for verified details about dates, fees and contacts for enrollment.
dents to the primary factors that
cause avalanches while empha-
sizing ways to avoid avalanches.
It consists of three evening
lectures at The Mountaineers
Program Center in Seattle and a
two-day field trip based at The
Mountaineers Mt. Baker Lodge.
The tools introduced in this
course are just as applicable to
managing all sorts of moun-
taineering hazards as they are
to safety in avalanche terrain.
Companion rescue methods are
also covered. SEA/JAN
Climbing
Enrollment for all basic and
intermediate climbing courses
ends soon after New Year’s for
branches other than Seattle and
Bellingham.
—
Those with little or no
experience can learn to safely
belay and rock climb or get a
taste of advanced rock and snow
travel. Courses vary from month
to month, so browse the website
often or call 206-521-6001.
—
A one-to-
two-year course consisting of
classroom instruction, field in-
struction and climbing experience
designed to provide the basic skills
necessary to safely climb rock,
snow and the glaciated peaks of
the Pacific Northwest. EVT/JAN;
KIT/FEB; OLY/JAN; TAC/FEB
—
This
course is for basic climbing
graduates who wish to take their
skills to the intermediate level
(generally up to 5.7 rock, 55-de-
gree snow and ice, easier mixed).
EVT/JAN; KIT/JAN; TAC/JAN
—
Learn
winter course guide
and practice advanced water-ice
techniques. Start with one day of
expert instruction from an AMGA
certified guide in Canmore and
spend the next few days practic-
ing your new skills. SEA/FEB
—
Learn
and practice advanced ice tech-
niques for improving efficiency,
speed and safety. The seminars
consist of midweek evening
meetings. Each seminar focuses
on a specific topic. Keep an eye
on the website for more.
—
Learn the fundamental
technical skills and gain experi-
ence necessary to safely lead
well-bolted, single-pitch routes.
The course consists of six 3-hour
sessions. SEA/JAN
Folk Dancing
Mountaineers International
Folk Dance classes offer fun
along with almost-weekly instruc-
tion in a variety of international
dances. No partners required,
nor is prior experience. For all
ages. Informal attire. SEA/ALLYR;
TAC/ALLYR
Hiking/Backpack
—
An easy way to
learn more about hiking in the
Northwest and with The Moun-
taineers. A one-evening lecture
covers clothing and equipment
(including the Ten Essentials),
conditioning, outdoor etiquette,
safety and other topics. SEA/
ALLYR
—
Ready
to learn hike leadership skills?
Focus is on safety, trip planning,
map and compass, and effective
leadership during three evening
classes, plus two mentored
leader-experience hikes with
in-field training and testing.
The goal is to have you offering
successful hikes with confidence,
by March 2012. KIT/FEB
Naturalists
—
This course features four
lectures and three field trips to
exceptional areas for viewing
nature. SEA/MAR
Navigation
—
Learn
to navigate safely through
wilderness. Relate features on
a topographic map to your sur-
roundings, use your compass to
determine bearings afield, use a
map and compass to determine
your location and desired direc-
tion of travel. SEA/JAN
Photography
—
Add an extra dimension to your
outdoor adventures by bringing
home great photographs . SEA/
FEB (watch Foothills, Kitsap and
Tacoma websites for evening
workshop discussions)
—
Now what? Learn
how to use it with skill at this
three-hour session on January
12. SEA/JAN
Skiing
—
Kick
and glide your way through the
Northwest winter scenery while
staying in shape, making new
friends and enjoying the out-
doors. Depending on the branch,
the courses can be multiple
weekends, one day or half-day;
some branches offer multiple
courses based on skier ability
and technique level. Foothills and
Seattle offer a wide variety. EVT/
JAN; FH/JAN; MEANY/JAN-FEB;
OLY/JAN; SEA/JAN; TAC/JAN
—
Learn how
to safely ski in the backcountry
and avoid avalanche danger.
Discover the freedom and thrill
of skiing untracked powder snow
in the backcountry; extend your
ski season by skiing all year long
on the slopes high above the lift
areas. Depending on branch, the
courses can be multiple week-
ends, one day or half-day. FH/
NOV; TAC/JAN; EVT/NOV
—
Learn the
free-heel turn and how to safely
telemark in the backcountry. De-
pending on branch, the courses
can be multiple weekends,
one day or half-day. SEA/JAN;
MEANY/JAN-FEB; TAC/JAN
—
Weekly lessons in telemark and
randonee skiing skills. FH/JAN;
SEA/JAN
Snowshoe
—
Gives begin-
ning students a solid foundation
in snowshoe travel: techniques,
proper clothing, gear selection,
Ten Essentials, food, safety
and related topics. Number of
lectures and field trips varies
among the branches. EVT/JAN;
FH/JAN; KIT/DEC-JAN; SEA/JAN;
TAC/JAN
—
For
graduates of Snowshoe Lite.
Takes snowshoeing to the next
level, addressing the skills need-
ed for safe travel and survival in
the backcountry, including emer-
gency shelters, ice-ax arrest,
avalanche awareness, safe route-
finding and incident response.
One lecture and one field trip.
EVT/JAN; SEA/FEB; TAC/JAN
—
Open to
snowshoe, alpine scramble, and
climbing graduates. Learn how
to make a comfortable camp in
the snow, including digging and
spending the night in a snow cave.
One lecture, then one all-weekend
field trip. SEA/FEB
—
Snowsho-
ers and Nordic skiers can take
advantage of this course covering
avalanche awareness and safety,
the Ten Essentials, backcountry
etiquette, cold-weather ailments,
clothing and equipment, and build-
ing overnight shelters. Increase
your safety in the backcountry. KIT/
JAN; OLY/JAN
Wilderness Skills
Open to all
—
Mountaineers and
the general public
—
this course
teaches the basic skills necessary
to safely and enjoyably venture
into the forests and mountains,
whether day hiking, backpacking
or on more adventurous outings.
(It is a prerequisite course for
Olympia alpine scrambling and
basic climbing students.) OLY/JAN;
other branches pending.
Other offerings
features an en-
tire winter sports program (keep
an eye on www.meanylodge.org/
winter/ski_program.html and the
Outdoor Center section of this
magazine). Lessons for all ages,
4 to 90-somethings, and all levels
are taught by certified instructors.
hosts its Mt.
Baker Ski Camp in late winter for
advanced beginners to advanced
telemark, randonee and alpine
skiers. Heather Meadows provides
the setting.
55
education
A general malaise descends upon the Pacific Northwest around wintertime. There are
universal complaints about the short daylight hours, collective moans about windy storms, and
commiseration with strangers in public places as we, together, prepare to step out into the cold.
However, also present is the inner smile, most often shared with other adventurers, because this time
of the year also means winter mountaineering. For some, it may mean putting on the skis; for others,
the snowshoes; and still for others, the crampons. Whatever your pleasure, we welcome winter.
At the same time, winter adventurers also know that with snow come different dangers in the
backcountry. Phrases we put away in the summer come out from their storage places: “avalanche
rose” and “snow-pack analysis.” They creep into discomforting thoughts: Do I remember all the steps
to staying safe? What if my skills are rusty? Am I up to date on the latest information?
Understanding and identifying avalanche hazards play a major role in determining which trips,
if any, you should attempt on any given winter day. Most tragedies can be avoided by making good
choices before and during a trip. In many cases, it may mean just staying home.
Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (NWAC) uses the “Avalanche Triangle” as the framework
for avalanche awareness: weather, snowpack and terrain making up the three sides of the triangle.
These three words are key to assessing which areas are safest for snow travel at any given time. But
you are ultimately in the center of the triangle. You and each person in your group have the power and
responsibility to assess the risk factors and make smart decisions that will keep everyone safe.
Nothing replaces proper training when it comes to safe backcountry snow travel, but
everyone can start with the basics. In the days before a trip, repeatedly check weather reports and
NWAC’s website (www.nwac.us) for trends and new information. Map your route ahead of time on a
topo map and mark potential terrain hazards. Check Washington Trails Association’s (wta.org) recent
trip reports as well as from past winter seasons for a history of reported risks on your route.
Even if you’ve assessed a minimal-risk trip, don’t let your guard down. Once in the field, constantly
be on alert for changing conditions: rapid warming, presence of adventurers on the slope above you,
that nagging feeling in your belly. Always put safety ahead of your original course and destination; be
mindful that your risk-taking puts your group members and potential rescuers at risk too.
Free one-hour avalanche awareness workshops, conducted by Friends of NWAC
instructors, are held throughout the season at various retail outlets, such as Seattle REI and Marmot
Mountain Works.
David Pettigrew Memorial Foundation (www.pettigrewfoundation.org) offers its own avalanche
awareness workshops as well as workshops in mountain safety, companion rescue, and avalanche
terrain observation skills at Alpental, Stevens Pass, and Mission Ridge ski areas. Their cost? The
donation level of your choice.
Finally, serious backcountry winter adventurers should attain the three-day
AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) Level 1 certification. The course fee
is not insignificant, but
Everett, Seattle and Foothills branches are now
all accepting registration for their AIARE Level 1 courses.
For the more studious, consider reading these Mountaineers publications:
• ABC’s of Avalanche Safety, Third Edition, by Sue Ferguson and Ed LaChappelle
• The Avalanche Handbook, Third Edition, by Peter Schaerer and David McClung
• Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, Second Edition, (also available in e-book format), by Bruce
Tremper
55
Are you
‘avy’ savvy?
Tips for
safe fun
in the snow
Are you thinking, “I can’t wait to get hiking again, I am
such a slug in the winter?” In the spring, do you say to yourself, “I am
getting in shape on these easy hikes for serious hiking later this year?”
Well, why not get a jump start on next year and really have fun this
off-season? You can maintain or even improve your hiking condition
during the off-season.
The key areas for hiking fitness are your aerobic conditioning (the
ability to generate energy using oxygen at the cellular level), your legs
(quad muscles particularly), your flexibility (to help prevent injury), and
stability. Here are some winter tips to both maintain and potentially
improve your hiking prowess.
Stay active with a friend:
The trend in personal and club
training is to work out with a friend. While this may sound like a gim-
mick to get two exercisers instead of one, it truly helps your regimen.
Psychologically you are more likely to stay with an exercise program if
you are committed to it with another person. You tend to stretch your-
self just a little more
—
maybe you are competitive or you simply don’t
want to be left behind. Whatever the reason, partnering is effective.
Try something new, outdoors or indoors: Take advan-
tage of the fact that we are lucky to live in an area where we can go
snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Either of these are aerobic if
you do them at the right pace.
If you have never tried an exercise club,
there are plenty of good deals that occur around the end of the year
which allow you to try a club for a month (sometimes a free exercise
consultation is thrown in).
Now is the time to build the muscle strength:
Known in the exercise industry as periodization, take advantage of the
off-season. This is the time to build the muscle strength, which aids in
preventing injury along with making you stronger for hiking. If you join
a club, concentrate on exercises like leg presses or quad machines.
Make sure the routines you do are similar to the demands of hiking.
Snowshoeing or skiing up a hill and a “step” machine in the club will
—
Build on the intensity and length of the gym
workouts. Start adding more and progressively harder trips like Tiger
Mountain 1 and 2, Mt. Si, Granite Mountain and Mt Tenerife. Some of
these are snowshoe trips this time of year and provide additional
exercise after a fresh snow due to the need for trail breaking.
—
Time to start throwing more weight into the pack and
simulating what you would be taking on some of the more
strenuous trips you hope to sign up for.
As your training season progresses, pay attention to how you feel
during AND after each trip into the mountains. This will give you a
And how fit should I be for hiking?
good indication of how you’re progressing towards your goals. If you
find your schedule just hasn’t allowed you the time to do all of the
training you had planned in January, there are still options available.
Research the trips typically offered to find some of the easier ones that
your conditioning level would be a fit for before signing up. It may be
that you need to seek out the easier trips in June and July and work to
get in better shape before trying something more difficult in August.
Be realistic with yourself about where you are in your conditioning.
With a little planning up front in January you will find yourself reaching
your summer goals AND enjoying the trip.
55
Are you fit for upcoming courses? (continued from pg. 15)
improve your hiking conditioning while yoga won’t. (Yoga is great for
flexibility, however.)
Where to go: There are low-level and/or nearby hikes that you
can do in the winter. Just be prepared for the rain and cold. Try the
Chuckanuts near Bellingham and the “Three Sisters of the East Side”
—
Cougar, Squak, and Tiger. If you need to stay closer to home, take ad-
vantage of the many neighborhood stair climbs (see page 29) or parks
like Discovery or Point Defiance to name just a couple.
What not to do: Winter is a time where you can easily fall prey to
more than the usual amount of reading, movies, or watching TV. Bal-
ance “sit” time with exercise.
Don’t forget your weight! We burn a ton of calories hiking but may
not burn as many during the off-season. Consider what you eat.
Don’t give up...just do it. Use your imagination and find what inter-
ests you physically during the off-season. There are lots of ways to stay
in shape in the winter in anticipation of that wonderful time of the year
when the snow melts and the trails open up. Stay healthy!
55
Ed Kula (right) has been a
certified personal trainer since
2002 and is the exercise coach
and a hike leader for the Seattle
Branch offering, the Condition-
ing Hiking Series. He can be
reached at edk[email protected].
About the authors
Mark Scheffer (left), known in Moun-
taineers circles as the “climbing ambas-
sador,” is chair of the Seattle Branch
Climbing Committee. A climb leader for
The Mountaineers since 1993, he says
it is the introduction of the sport and
its splendor to new climbers that thrills
him most.
education
I like to think of “training” as the top of a three-legged
stool supported by: 1) exercise, 2) fueling, and 3) proper recovery. All
three components must remain in balance to achieve optimal fitness.
I focus on activity-specific exercises. Of course, the
best preparation for any activity is to actually go do it, but most of us
can’t get into the mountains every day. This is where you have to get
creative.
If you go to the gym, focus on exercises which mimic the motion you
will be doing. For example, now that snow season is upon us (bring it,
La Niña!) I know I’ll have to wield a shovel for one reason or another.
Thankfully, I’ve never had to dig through avalanche debris, but I’ve
spent plenty of time digging snow pits to assess snowpack conditions.
To prepare for this in the gym, I’ll perform sets of “dumbbell shovel”
exercises to work all the affected muscle groups. While running is the
backbone of my training, to develop leg and core strength needed for
skiing, I’ll do one-legged squats on a Bosu ball.
And if you can’t get into the mountains but can get outside, lace up
your alpine boots, throw on a heavy pack, and find a set of stairs to
climb (see pg. 29). In between sets, perform multiple reps of putting
on your pack, taking it off, picking it up, and setting it down a few feet
away. This might sound silly but your back and obliques will thank you
once you get into the backcountry. Bottom line: have fun with it!
For hydration, my biggest lesson over the years is that it doesn’t
begin at the starting line or trailhead. Aim to “supersaturate” your
body with water (or better yet, a low concentration of an electrolyte
tab like Nuun) for 2-3 days prior to the event.
Training: the three pyramids to success
Gavin Woody, a sub-three-
hour marathoner and
finisher of multiple Ironman
triathlons, has been focusing
more time on endurance
activities in the mountains.
He recently completed the
Cascade Crest Endurance
Run, his first 100-miler, and
is excited about participating
in or creating adventures
like his 2010 “Rainier Triple
Threat,” an 80-hour, single
push to bike from Seattle to
Paradise, summit Rainier, and
run the 93-mile Wonderland
Trail.
About the author
Aim to “supersaturate” your body with
water (or better yet, a low concentration
of an electrolyte tab like Nuun) for 2-3
days prior to the event
Recovery is one of the most overlooked aspects of
training. Many think that this just means getting a full night’s sleep, but
equally important is to have specific workouts just to flush toxins out
of your body. This might mean a very easy hike or a slow jog the day
after a hard workout. Don’t be afraid to go very slowly (a heart rate
monitor can be a great tool to keep your heart rate at 70 percent of
your max)
—
you’ll be able to make the next hard workout really count
and minimize your potential for injury.
See you in the backcountry!
55
And if you can’t get into the mountain
. . . lace up your alpine boots, throw on
a heavy pack, and find a set of stairs to
climb (see pg. 29)
There are two parts to fueling: eating right and hydration.
You can find tons of information about what to eat, but less about
when to eat. When in the backcountry or on long runs, I almost
exclusively eat trail mix and energy gels (GU). I also drink Perpetuem
(a Hammer product) for a total combination of 300 calories per hour.
However, I do have friends who eat “real food”
—
you have to test out
what works for you.
The important point is that a steady stream of calories is much more
beneficial than stopping every few hours for a larger meal.
Post-activity fueling is also critical; you have a short, 30-minute
“glycogen window” after exercise in which to fill your body with solid
nutrition. You can opt for a protein shake but don’t overlook my
favorite: chocolate milk. It has the recommended 4:1 carb to protein
ratio needed to promote rapid muscle repair.
steppingup
Editor’s note: Mountaineers Publisher Helen Cherullo was recently
honored with the 2011 Voice of the Wild Award from the Alaska
Wilderness League for her work as executive director of Braided
River, the conservation imprint of The Mountaineers Books. Amy
Gulick, last year’s award recipient who is also the photographer and
author of Salmon in the Trees: Life in Alaska’s Tongass Rain Forest
(Braided River, 2010), introduced Helen during the ceremony at the
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. Following are
excerpts from her introduction.
For those of you not familiar with Braided River, it got its start with
a dramatic story that even Hollywood couldn’t dream up. To tell this
story, we need to go back in time to 2003 . . . The Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge made headline news with repeated attempts to open
the Coastal Plain to oil development. Enter Helen. Through The
Mountaineers Books, Helen was about to publish a book called Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land by photographer
Subhankar Banerjee. Timing is everything, and with ink still wet
from the printing press, this book was rushed to the floor of the U.S.
Senate by the Alaska Wilderness League, and thrust into the air by
Sen. Barbara Boxer during an oil drilling debate. The book provided
irrefutable proof that the Arctic Refuge was not a “vast nothingness”
and that both wildlife and people rely on its remaining intact. The
subsequent vote to open the refuge to oil drilling failed to pass. A
victory!
But wait. Shortly thereafter, the book’s photographer, Banerjee,
received notice from the Smithsonian Institution
—
which depends on
Congress for its funding
—
that his photographic exhibit of the Arctic
Refuge, slated to show in a prominent location of the museum, was
Alaska Wilderness League
honors Mountaineers
publisher with award
banished to the basement and stripped of any meaningful content.
. . . A blow to the efforts to protect the Arctic Refuge? Hardly.
There’s nothing like controversy to stir up a firestorm of media
publicity, and there’s nothing like compelling photographs and stories
to engage and endear people to the wild places that we all work so
hard to conserve. And where some may have viewed the Smithsonian
debacle as a defeat, Helen saw an opportunity, and Braided River was
born. She has since gone on to publish 10 more books
—
books that
have not only ended up on the Senate floor, but have also made their
way into the hands of President Obama and onto the desks of officials
who manage our cherished public lands. Well done, Helen.
Richard Rutz, champion of Elwha restoration
At a celebration in November, Mountaineers conservation volunteer Richard Rutz was
presented with an award for championing the removal of the dams on the Elwha River.
Rutz
—
one of the earliest “agitators” on the Elwha, according to Shawn Cantrell, executive
director of Seattle Audubon
—
crafted the original Federal Energy Regulation Commission
(FERC) intervention in 1986. He recruited the four groups that joined the Elwha tribe in
pushing for dam removal and was a constant force, said Cantrell, in guiding the campaign
through the passage of the 1992 Elwha Act and the subsequent battles to fund and implement
the act. (See the November/December 2011 issue of the Mountaineer magazine.)
Removal of the two Elwha dams finally commenced this past September. Cantrell gave
pieces of the razed dam to members of the audience as mementos of the historic occasion.
Mountaineers Publisher Helen Cherullo and author Amy Gullick
Volunteer Adam Hollinger teaches lead-climbing to
Mountaineers teens
we are proud to have maintained not only relevancy but also leadership in outdoor
education in the Pacific Northwest through the changing times.
In the 21
st
century, our volunteers continue to embrace the challenge of
meeting the needs of the community in today’s world while continuing our legacy
for which we are so proud.
Our volunteers have created new, short courses, introductory courses and
modularized courses to improve accessibility as people pack more and more into
their already busy lives. These new courses neither detract from nor water down
our larger, more intensive courses. Instead, they serve as a gateway to our larger
courses, which continue to fill; only now with many students who have tasted an
activity through our short courses, know what it is they’re committing to, and have a
higher probability of success.
We continue to upgrade our facilities so that they can be state-of-the-art
educational centers for our students and the public. Our Tacoma Program Center
will be adding more classrooms and two new climbing walls, and our Kitsap Cabin
property recently acquired a yurt, which provides additional indoor space for our
education programs.
We also have reinvested in youth so that we can not only foster the next
generation of mountaineers, but we can better serve our communities’ growing
needs for youth access to the outdoors.
As The Mountaineers grows and changes with the times, we
continue the legacy that began with our founders in 1906. All of our education
programs are run by passionate, skilled volunteers, who focus on safe and
responsible outdoor recreation. Our partnerships continue to expand, and each year
more than a thousand Mountaineers give back through land stewardship projects.
Our strength as an organization comes from the passion, innovation and
hard work of our thousands of volunteers, who will continue to drive us into the
future.
55
reachingout
lifetime. I’ll never be able to give back to The Mountaineers as much as they have
given to me . . . but I can try,” says volunteer Stephen Sherman.
“I was given the chance to learn by the Mountaineers on many occasions, by
literally hundreds of volunteers, and I feel like I am repaying that debt over time
by giving other folks the same opportunity I was given to enjoy the outdoors and
Mountaineering,” notes volunteer Adam Hollinger.
Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Over 1,000
students each year are taught by experienced volunteers. Last year in Seattle, we
presented 31 youth programs, including a week of summer camp, all new to the
organization, and all taught entirely by volunteers. Just this past month, five youth
outreach programs were taught by 35 volunteers.
Our volunteers are the reason we can deliver so many programs to the public, and
most importantly, they are the spirit of The Mountaineers.
55
.
—
Becca Polglase, Education Manager
Into the 21st century (continued from pg. 10)
Volunteers make all the difference
(continued from pg. 10)
Mike Warren photo
Volunteer Richard Lintermans teaches a ‘Learn to Belay’
short course to adult students
sciencebehind...
Editor’s note: The following article is excerpted from The Healthy Knees Book, by Astrid Jujari,
M.D., and Nancy Schatz Alton (Mountaineers Books/Skipstone, 2010).
For roughly the last decade, many researchers have focused their energy on the
following fact, reported in a 2008 New York Times article titled “The Uneven Playing Field”:
“Female athletes rupture their ACLs at rates as high as five times that of males.” This statistic
reflects ACL rupture rates in sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
Researchers have uncovered at least four theories to explain this high incidence of ACL
injuries in women:
• Females’ hormonal uctuations may be related to increased ACL tear rates. This research
focuses on how hormones affect the ACL, but results have been conflicting, with no
definitive findings.
• Females have wider pelvises than do men, leading to greater stress on the knee joint and
its ligaments.
• The intercondylar notch, the space between the two condyles, or bony protrusions, at the
end of the femur or thighbone, is smaller and more A-shaped in women, which can grind
and weaken the ACL.
• Biomechanical or neuromuscular differences
between women and men may lead to more ACL tears
in women. Females control and move their bodies
differently than do men.
Researcher and biomechanist Tim Hewett,
professor and director at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center, thinks research
findings give the most support to the biomechanical/
neuromuscular theory.
The other three theories may factor into the higher
female incidence of ACL tears, but the only factor
females can readily change is the biomechanical
difference.
“After undertaking neuromuscular training, females
can go out on the field or court to play and show
changes in their injury risk profiles. Several studies
showed drops in ACL injury risk between 20 to 80
percent,” says Hewett.
In ACL injury prevention programs, girls teach their
bodies to move in ways that support their knees better. Exercises and training focus on:
• Increasing muscular strength and core stability. Players learn to use all muscles, including
pelvic, abdominal, and hamstring muscles to execute moves, as opposed to relying on the
quadriceps, muscles and ligaments.
• Increasing muscular balance so both legs are strong and exible, as opposed to having a
dominant leg.
• Learning how to jump and land correctly. Women tend to lock their knees when they move,
instead of bending their knees.
• Participants also practice stopping and cutting correctly.
You can find information on ACL injury prevention programs online.
Locate the PEP (Prevent injury,Enhance Performance) Program, created by the Santa Monica
ACL Prevention Project, and search for Dynamic Neuromuscular Analysis (DNA) Training on the
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s website.
Women’s
ACL
injuries
exploration
Skiing the Haute Route was not my dream
—
it was my boyfriend Jeff’s. Mostly a lift skier, I had done a
few days of ski touring. But when I started living in Yosemite
and dating Jeff, ski touring came back into my life—mostly
because he just loves skiing and good lift skiing was not to be
found nearby. Jeff soon tried to convince me that skiing the
Haute Route had always been my dream.
As his insistence continued, I bought him some books on
the topic. Jeff had all sorts of reasons to convince me to go
on the trip
—
one being to preview the great north faces of
Europe, with the idea that we would return one summer after
the ski trip to climb such peaks as Mount Blanc and the Grand
Jorasse. Finally, I agreed to go with him.
Suddenly I was planning a European ski adventure, though
not at all convinced that I had the skiing skills for such a trip
and so, in a way, quite terrified. Seeking to comfort me, Jeff
commented repeatedly, “You’ll be fine, Babe,” and “What
could possibly go wrong?”
I read as much as possible online about skiing
the route. It seemed that every account or bit of information
talked of skiing the route with a guide. A part of me wished
that we could hire guides, too. But, in climbing we always do
THE HAUTE ROUTE is perhaps the most famous ski tour in the world
and the one to which all other great ski tours are invariably compared.
Originally called the “High Level Road,” it was trekked by hardy 19th-
century pioneers who did not benefit from the extensive chalet system
that is in place today. The route remained popular among summertime
hill walkers until 1897 when a French team, led by Dr. Payot, completed
the route on skis in four days
—
still without extensive huts or ski-lift
areas, and with 19 kg of camera equipment. The team renamed it “the
Haute Route.” The route has many variations but is generally accepted
to begin in Chamonix, France, and end in Zermatt, Switzerland. Along
the way, the intrepid ski mountaineer travels upwards of 120 miles
amidst incredible alpine scenery while surmounting technical rock and
ice passes, crossing glaciers lined with crevasses and skiing down steep
couloirs. The pack is kept light on the route, as lodging in fantastic stone
chalets
—
breakfast and dinner included
—
is available.
Fulfilling a
dream
—
the
Haute Route
Continued on page 22
Davide De Masi photo
things our own way and like making our own
decisions. We didn’t like the idea of being on
a fixed schedule
—
we would rather sit out a
storm for days than skip part of the route and
rejoin it later.
We eventually read an article about families
with young children skiing the Haute Route, so
I felt better—though it went unsaid that little
Italians are born on skis. The decision was
then made and we opted to go guideless.
Wary of all the details in preparing for
unfamiliar terrain and knowing that skiing
in Europe is not the same as climbing at
home, we enlisted tons of help. The day
after Christmas, 2009, found us poring over
maps and route options with backcountry ski
Continued on page 30
About the authors
is a climber, skier and has been a Mountaineers
member since 1997. Her favorite half-day ski tour is from the
top of Yosemite’s Badger Pass, down the backside, following
Rail Creek through its thin blanket of snow while trying to
ski all the way to the road. In between writing this article she
was raking oak leaves and waiting for winter to descend on
Yosemite.
a National Park Service ranger since 1998, is an
outdoor athlete with a special love for climbing and skiing. His
favorite saying is, “What could possibly go wrong?!” followed
by a very big grin. Jeff makes a much-anticipated, annual, 10-
mile ski to the Ostrander Hut for an overnight stay, dinner with
the hut keeper, and sometimes an NPS snow survey. His New
Year resolutions include many first-time-for-him ski descents
and tours through the rock gullies and high places of Yosemite.
instructor-author Martin Volken. We discussed
every detail of the trip and my huge list of
questions. But mostly the guys focused on the
maps and the skiing.
Martin graciously gave us every hint he
could muster, even down to the names of his
favorite taxi companies and various storm
options. After reading his Haute Route tips
online—the only web document we found
on doing the Haute Route unguided—we
contacted John Race, a ski guide based in
Leavenworth, and received much guidance
(and many waypoints!) from him and his wife,
Olivia.
The righteous fear that I felt
about skiing the route spurred me into action.
Starting just after the holidays, I began a
fitness program, including regular cardio and
strength routines, which I followed religiously.
I trimmed about nine pounds from my post-
holiday weight, lowered my body fat, and felt
super-fit. Although I tried to gain sympathy,
no one felt sorry for me that the new work
clothes I bought in January were falling off of
me by March.
And we SKIED! I worked in Seattle, so
much of that winter that I was able to lift-ski
all around the Northwest and spent many
weekends ski touring, alone and with The
Mountaineers. My favorite trip was to Camp
Muir and back down. It was one of the best
‘I read as much
as possible online
about skiing
the route’
Day One: Jeff approaches the Col
du Chardonnet, the “pyschological
crux” of the route.
Holly Beck photo
inspiration
Continued on page ??
A Q&A
with guide
Margaret Wheeler
MARGARET WHEELER, president of the
American Mountain Guides Association
(AMGA), began skiing as a young child in
Vermont. She learned to climb in college
and became a self-proclaimed ski bum in
France after finishing school. She became
interested in ski mountaineering while living
in Europe and later moved to the Northwest
where she now guides in the realm of ski
mountaineering, alpine and rock objectives.
An instructor of guide training for the
AMGA, she is also involved in avalanche
education through her work as an AIARE
(American Institute for Avalanche Research
and Education) instructor and trainer. She
is the co-author of Backcountry Skiing:
Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering
(Mountaineers Books) with Martin Volken and
Scott Schell.
Steve Sutorius photo
Publicist, Mountaineers Books
You are currently the only female guide at North Bend-based Pro
Guiding Service, and in 2006 you became the second woman in the
United States to complete IFMGA/UIAGM certification. Do you think
more women will be drawn to guiding in the future?
I do think more women are being drawn to guiding. Currently there
are seven female American IFMGA guides. Between 1994 and 2006 it
went from one to two, and between 2006 and 2011 it went from two
to seven. And at Pro Guiding Service we now have an aspiring female
guide working with me. I think there is a huge need for it
—
and it’s just
a natural part of the evolution of the profession.
Did you have any particular outdoors experiences as a youth that led
you to become a guide?
It all converged. I learned to ski at a young age and grew up skiing
every weekend of the winter in Vermont. Then I learned to climb in
college. I became a ski bum in France after college before I became an
engineer. And then I was exposed to guiding, which appeared to me to
synthesize so many things I enjoy . . . such an awesome profession in
that way!
Any advice to females, of any age, about pursuing their outdoor
adventure dreams?
This is one thing I learned firsthand: If you are insecure about being
a woman in the outdoor realm, then you may very well be creating
your biggest challenge. Take the time to identify your insecurities
and understand when they are affecting your actions
—
because the
mountains and the outdoor environment don’t care if you are male or
female. If YOU care, then that becomes your own problem. If you don’t
have a chip on your shoulder, then you are much more free and able to
follow your dreams.
Speaking of following dreams, do you have any outdoor athlete
heroes who inspire you, female or otherwise?
My good friend and mentor Hillary Nelson O’Neill. I had the
amazing fortune to join her on a few women’s expeditions to India and
Mongolia, and those experiences, as well as our early climbing and
skiing adventures, really opened my eyes to many new things in the
outdoor world. Sounds cheesy, but I really had no idea how much was
out there
—
Hillary was a big part of that light bulb going off for me.
And any Northwest-based resources you recommend for females
looking to be inspired about the outdoors?
Yes! We have a women’s program at Pro Guiding Service
—
it’s called
She Rocks the Alpine. It’s a small community, but there are two parts:
one is that I run instructional and guided courses in the summer and
winter; the second part is that we get together to share stories, photos
(and wine) as a way to grow the community of women in the outdoors.
Hard to describe how much fun it is . . .
As a female, do you ever find your authority as a guide challenged
by your clients? Are there rules you’ve learned to assert your
leadership in those situations and establish trust?
It rarely happens in a direct way—but I do have lots of funny stories
about how subtle biases come out. Some are generational (guys in
their 50’s aren’t used to a female guide), some are profession-based
(e.g., Navy Seals), but most are just the lingering cultural biases that
surround us. One great example: After guiding a fellow in his 50’s up
Mt. Blanc, he told me, “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but you
were very inspiring for me on this trip. You are a woman, and I figured
if you could climb it, then I must be able to!” I took it as a compliment,
but just barely.
I have found that the mountains tend to take care of things
—
once
Joyful students of
Wheeler’s course
—
She Rocks Intro to
Backcountry Skiing
—
on the summit of
Snoqualmie Mountain
Continued on page 31
‘The mountains
don’t care
if you are male
or female’
Make an impact on The Mountaineers
and outdoor community for years to come
The Tacoma Branch of The Mountaineers is in the midst of a renovation and
expansion of its program center
—
a project that will help advance The Mountaineers’ mission,
maintain our tradition and strengthen The Mountaineers’ standing in the South Sound outdoor
recreation and conservation communities. Most importantly, however, it stands to inspire and
connect the next generation of Mountaineers with the great outdoors.
This great stride forward for the Tacoma Branch and The Mountaineers is all due to a generous
bequest from one of the branch’s longtime members,
an avid Mountaineers climber, backpacker,
skier, basic and intermediate climbing graduate whose life was enriched by The Mountaineers.
For over 100 years The Mountaineers has served as the foremost outdoor recreation
organization of the Pacific Northwest
—
an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring
people to explore the outdoors and conserve and steward public lands. By electing to make a
planned gift, our Tacoma Branch member has ensured that The Mountaineers can continue to carry
out its mission well into the future.
Just as our Tacoma member vested
her passion in the future of the
outdoors, a simple bequest can
enable you to make a significant
impact on building a better future for
outdoor education and conservation.
Whether you want to support our
mission today or design a plan that
benefits The Mountaineers after you’re gone, you can feel good knowing that you are helping
The Mountaineers sustain outdoor programs vital to our mission while supporting our emerging
programs and initiatives so integral to our vision.
We would love to know if your plans already include a bequest to The Mountaineers so that we
may show appreciation for your generosity and recognize you as a member of the Summit Society.
It would be our pleasure to welcome you into this special circle of recognition.
By informing us of your intentions, you help The Mountaineers plan for its future. If you choose
to be publicly recognized, your gift may inspire others to consider a planned gift as well.
Supporting The Mountaineers through a bequest is easy to do. For
more information or for sample bequest language for you to discuss with your attorney, visit The
Mountaineers website or contact Mary Hsue, maryh@mountaineers.org or 206-521-6004.
Only here can you give a gift of tomorrow.
The Summit Society recognizes forward-
thinking individuals and couples who
choose to invest in The Mountaineers with a
planned gift and truly give toward tomorrow
summit
society
The Mountaineers
summit
society
The Mountaineers
summit
society
The Mountaineers
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The Mountaineers became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in April 2011. Your donations are now deductible to the fullest
extent of the law. A 501(c)(3) designation ensures that 100 percent of your gift to The Mountaineers goes to support The
Mountaineers’ highest priorities.
Prior to April 2011, portions of The Mountaineers philanthropic endeavors had been overseen by The Mountaineers Founda-
tion. While the foundation has long supported The Mountaineers, two-thirds of donations to the foundation’s general fund
support grant programs outside of The Mountaineers. The foundation plans to increase its external community grant programs
so that by 2014, 100 percent of its donations will support external programs and zero percent will support The Mountaineers.
Now, donations must be made directly to The Mountaineers to ensure that 100 percent of your gift supports our mission to
enrich the community by helping people explore, conserve, learn about and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest.
The Mountaineers
impactgiving
impactgiving
Wandering through the natural world
—
hiking, backpacking or climbing
—
has
always been extraordinarily important to me. I remember when climbing became a passion. My
family had moved from Grand Junction, Colorado, to Salt Lake City, Utah, where the Wasatch
Range was the mural I woke up to every morning. As a child, my dad took to me to a Disney
movie
—
“Third Man on the Mountain.” The story was set in Zermatt, Switzerland, and was all
about adventure, challenge and had a happy ending. I was hooked.
While my dad, Walt, is no longer around to inspire, The Mountaineers are. We all know that
The Mountaineers teach activity-oriented skill sets like how to climb, sail,
kayak, hike, backpack, navigate and how to do many other outdoor activities.
But through our courses we teach so much more than outdoor skills
—
we
teach life skills, like goal-setting, teamwork, confidence and planning. We
teach people how to prepare for a challenge and how to work through
adversity to reach goals.
Thanks to a generous estate gift from a longtime member of the Tacoma
Branch, Tacoma Mountaineers are embarking on their own challenge and an
amazing opportunity
—
a bold renovation of the Tacoma Branch clubhouse,
soon to be known as The Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center.
The renovation project is scheduled to begin soon and will add a second
story, two new meeting rooms, an office/bookstore, larger kitchen and
bathroom facilities, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, and a “green” or
environmentally-friendly roof.
The renovated facility has been designed to include elements of the
original facility, built by Mountaineers volunteers almost 55 years ago on
donated land and with donated materials. The additional meeting space and
instructional tools will improve our ability to grow and adapt to the changing
needs of our members by providing expanded outdoor education, recreation
and conservation opportunities, and a diverse community of members who share a love of
outdoor recreation.
While we have made a great start toward funding renovation of The Mountaineers
Tacoma Program Center
—
so far raising nearly $50,000
—
we need your help to get us to our
goal of $250,000. Invest in the future of The Mountaineers and the South Sound community by
joining our effort with a gift in support of the Tacoma Program Center renovation. Just visit The
Mountaineers website at mountaineers.org or contact Emily at 206-521-6006. For additional
information, contact Jim Feltus at jimf[email protected].
— Jim Feltus, Chair of the Fundraising Committee
for The Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center Renovation
The Seattle Branch has stepped up
to help its neighbors in Tacoma and the
South Sound community by challenging
other Mountaineers branches to step up
as well.
The Seattle Branch offers to match
every dollar, up to $5,000, from members
of branches outside Tacoma, all for
the cause of bringing the outdoors
community another Mountaineers
outdoor learning center. Just donate
by January 31 to gain a match from the
Seattle Branch. To donate or gain more
information, please contact Mary, 206-
521-6004 or maryh@mountaineers.org.
A Seattle challenge
Mt. Rainier icons Mike Gauthier (left) and
Dee Molenaar during a fundraising event
for the renovation of The Mountaineers
Tacoma Program Center.
Tacoma renovation: building our future
bookmarks
Braided River is taking on Hollywood. The nonprofit publisher from Mountaineers
Books has been working for the past two years to produce the official companion book to the new
IMAX® film, “To The Arctic 3D,” from Warner Bros. Pictures, MacGillivray Freeman Films and IMAX
Corporation. Scheduled for release in IMAX® theatres in 2012, the film follows a mother polar bear
and her two cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home.
The companion book, To the Arctic, follows the film storyline closely, taking readers to some
of the most remote places in the world via more than 160 panoramic images from award-winning
wildlife photographer Florian Schulz. Braided River worked closely with MacGillivray Freeman Films
during the production of “To The Arctic 3D,” sending Schulz to photograph alongside the film crew
in Norway. The 212-page photography-driven book was released in November. For more information
on the book, visit www.WelcometotheArctic.org.
Not only will the book be available as a film keepsake, but it will also help
build awareness around the recently announced “Arctic Home” campaign. Coca-Cola, in partnership
with World Wildlife Fund, announced the launch of this joint initiative on October 26. “Arctic Home”
aims to raise awareness and funds to help protect the polar bear and its habitat. Footage from “To
The Arctic 3D” is featured on the Coca-Cola “Arctic Home” website (ArcticHome.com) as well as in
television advertisements.
“We’re delighted to be associated with this consortium of high profile, committed brands,”
said Helen Cherullo, executive director of Braided River. “Through images and stories, our books
transport people to some of the most extraordinary and vulnerable places on Earth. With the
unprecedented exposure of this campaign, we hope to stir public sentiment and inspire action to
protect the Arctic.”
“Books from The
Mountaineers and
Braided River are
touchstones for
the love of wild
places and for
the inspiration to
protect our natural
treasures”
--Richard Nelson,
award-winning author of
The Island Within and former Alaska
State Writer Laureate
Braided River, a publishing imprint of Seattle-based The Mountaineers Books, focuses on preserving the last
wild places in western North America. As a nonprofit foundation, Braided River was established to raise funds
to support books, exhibits and outreach campaigns that bring awareness to important conservation issues.
Publishing and outreach work is made possible through book sales, grants from individuals and foundations,
including the Seattle-based Campion Foundation. More information on Braided River is at www.braidedriver.org.
goingglobal
March 1-18, 2012
http://web.me.com/
mrbunz/Site_4/Ski_Austria_2012.
html. Join a grand adventure in
Zurich, Appenzell, Innsbruck, Mu-
nich and two weeks in Austria for
winter walking, snowboarding and
skiing: downhill, on or off piste,
or cross-country. Spend Week 1 in
Schruns, Austria, with expansive
terrain on groomed, powder
slopes. Return to refreshments,
the spa, a six-course dinner and
live music.
In Week 2 we go to Lech, the
highest valley of the largest ski
area in Austria, St. Anton, with
over 50 interconnected lifts for
all levels of skiing on and off piste.
$3,495 (12-16 people);
$1,000 deposit with registration.
Patti Polinsky, MeanyS-
ports@me.com , 206-525-7464.
Aug. 23-Sept. 13, 2012
The Dolomites of northern Italy
encompass some of the most
beautiful hiking areas in the
world. Green alpine meadows,
stretching between charming
village-studded valleys, rifugios
(high-altitude mountain huts)
and craggy, awe-inspiring karst
mountains provide visual feasts
in every direction. The hike rating
is upper-moderate to strenuous
with long hiking days, but pace is
moderate. $3,750.
Shari Hogshead, skimntr@aol.
com, 425-957-4548.
Oct. 18-Nov. 9, 2012
This outing combines Himalayan
culture, spectacular scenery,
and the highest peaks on Earth.
Trekkers will stay in lodges, hike
up to the Sherpa village Namche
Bazaar, Buddhist Tengboche
monastery, Mt. Everest base
camp, Kala Patar viewpoint,
Cho La pass, beautiful Gokyo
Lakes, and Gokyo Ri viewpoint.
Meanwhile climbers will follow
the standard Mera Peak
route up a low angle glacier,
guided by local experienced
Sherpas. This is a strenuous
climb because of the altitude,
but porters will haul your
overnight gear, so you carry
only a daypack. For a daily
itinerary, visit mountaineers.
org/activities/nepal_itin.html.
$3,900 (10-13 people),
$4,400 (7-9 people), $4,900
(4-6 people). $2,000 deposit
by March 1 with leader’s
approval. Craig Miller,
craigfmiller@comcast.net, 206-
285-2399.
Editor’s note: Craig Miller
recently finished leading his 13th
Mountaineers Himalayan trek
(all within 14 years!)
—
”Nepal’s
Ultimate Mt. Everest Trek Plus.”
Following is his report of the
trip
—
whetting the appetites for
those thinking about his 2012
trek to Everest (see below).
All of us flew a DeHavilland
Twin Otter STOL airplane to
Lukla (one of the most amazing
airstrips in the world) and then
began the Ultimate Everest Trek:
from Lukla to Namche Bazaar (I
demonstrated four pieces of safety
medical equipment that we carried
with us
—
pulse oximeter, oxygen
bottle and regulator, Gamow
bag, and satellite telephone), on
to Tengboche Monastery and
Kala Patar (classic Mt. Everest
viewpoint) and the Mt. Everest
base camp, over Cho La and then
over Renjo La
—
all in 14 days.
At Thame, six of us climbers
camped at and scrambled over the
19,000-ft. pass, Tashi Labsta, then
climbed Pachermo Peak (20,500
ft.). Meanwhile, the six trekkers
hiked down the historic trail to
Jiri.
According to my altimeter,
the high point was 20,500
ft. (Pachermo Peak), total
cumulative elevation ascent
was 42,000 ft. descent was
47,000 ft. Altitudes ranged from
3,000 ft. (Jagat) to 20,500 ft.
(Pachermo Peak). The varying
altitudes provided much variety
in temperature (hot to cold),
climate (wet to dry), agricultural
crops (rice, corn, wheat, mustard
greens, millet, barley, cauliflower,
potatoes), cultures (Indian to
Mongoloid), and religion (Hindu
to Buddhist).
At Everest base camp, only
a Spanish film crew remained.
I talked with an “icefall doctor”
(Sherpa), who was carrying
the ladders from the Khumbu
Icefall to Gorak Shep for the
winter season. We saw another
climbing up through the icefall
to remove more ladders. I
brought five large contractor
trash bags and cleaned the
trails from Kala Patar, Mt.
Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Ri,
Cho La, and Renjo La.
Seven of us rafted the
Trishuli River (Class III-IV
rapids) with outfitter Ultimate
Descents Nepal on the first two
days of the trip
—
lots of fun!
We all enjoyed hearing the
Buddhist monks chanting
and the musical ceremony at
Tengboche and Pangboche
monasteries. We looked for
yetis (abominable snowmen),
but saw only two skulls at the
Khumjung and Pangboche
monasteries!
Himalayan trekking, climbing
A free, two-part program about Himalayan trekking and
climbing will be held Friday, January 13, at 7 p.m. at The
Mountaineers Program Center. In the first part, Rob West will
present photos from the 2011 “Nepal Ultimate Everest Trek”
and the Pachermo Peak climb. In the second part, trip leader
Craig Miller will discuss The Mountaineers’ 2012 Nepal trek
and the climb of Mera Peak (space available for 2012).
Climber or hiker, ‘ultimate’ trek offers full Himalaya experience
Nepal’s Cho La Pass
Racheal Lee photo
If you want to maintain your overall fitness between those long days of powder skiing or in
preparation for your upcoming climbing or scrambling course, it is pivotal in your training routine to understand
from where you draw your power and stability for any of these chosen activities. It’s in your core. To be precise,
your pelvic floor, the transverse abdominus (deepest layer of your abdominal layers) and mulifiudus (the segmental
stabilizers that run deep along the spine).
These muscles work synchronously, regardless of whether the arm, leg or trunk is initiating the motion, to
provide support for our various movements. When we develop persistent pain
or symptoms that do not seem to be in proportion to our level of activity, the
fault often lies in the core muscles.
When the core is failing, trying to train through the problem by
strengthening one or more parts of the body will likely fail, as the core needs
to be functioning properly to provide a foundation for improved strength and
function in surface muscles of the trunk or extremities. Working on these larger
surface muscles is problematic if the smaller stabilizers are not being trained
properly.
Because your stabilizers are internal, when developing them you should only
feel tension between your pubic bone and your tailbone. Slowly and gently
contract these muscles as if you are drawing a sling upward and inward into
your pelvic cavity. Avoid using your abdominal, gluteal or inner thigh muscles
to cheat. Your back, legs or pelvis should not move. Hold the contraction for at
least 10 seconds or longer while breathing deeply. Practice this and then check
to see if you have these muscles activated as they transition into the outdoor
exercises listed at the end of this article.
In simple terms, your deep core stabilizers will be the difference between a season for the ages or a
reminder of your age as you sit in a physical therapist’s office hearing that dreadful phrase, “Your core is weak.”
Think isolation vs. integration. Isolation would be cognitively learning how to engage your deep core muscles
while stationary. When that becomes seamless, integrate these techniques into your dynamic exercise routine. This
will program your core musculature to operate specifically and effectively when it is time to perform under stress.
The program below is for all of us who live in the city but call the backcountry home. From the graceful
glider to the relentless post-holers, these routines serve as an invitation to a beautiful season of health and
wellness like you have never experienced before.
1. Double-stair walk (warmup)
—
two sets of 10 push-ups on Broadway
2. Single stair jog
—
two sets of 10 deep squats on Broadway*
3. Single stair angled jog
—
two sets of 15 push-ups on Broadway*
4. Double stair jog
—
two sets of 15 deep squats on Broadway*
5. Double stair walk ( cool-down)
—
one set of 20 squats/one set of 20 push-ups*
(*Modifying squats to jump squats and adding weight to ankles or back will be a great way to progress this routine)
5th Ave. and Galer on the EAST SLOPE OF QUEEN ANNE and 13th Ave W. and Wheeler
for the WEST SLOPE. Also, there’s another great set off of GOLDEN GARDENS DRIVE NW, towards the end near the
park. The South Beach trail in DISCOVERY PARK would be another option as well.
education
Train to maximize your backcountry season
Olympic Physical Therapy
For additional information and training techniques contact Olympic Physical
Therapy: 206-545-7844, Chris George BS, Eric Fletcher PT
Try single-step laterals
Did you know that females make up 47 percent of The Mountaineers membership?
Upcoming Climbs:
2012: March 18, July 9, Aug 13,
Sept 24, Dec 17
•
Embark on a wildlife safari after your climb
•
Customize a trip with your friends
•
Group trips available year round
•
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Climb
skiing days of my life as well as a favorite day on the mountain. Ski
touring with The Mountaineers was a fun way for me to get in my
sport-specific training on the weekends and even ski with others who
had skied the Haute Route.
I returned home to Yosemite a couple times and in addition to some
of our other favorite one-day tours, Jeff and I did a two-day tour
—
only
my second overnight
—
to Mt. Hoffman and back from our house on the
Valley Floor. Typically done in three days, we squeezed the trip into my
weekend visit. For the last five weeks before our trip, I unexpectedly
worked in Tahoe. I sampled all the areas, mostly skiing by myself.
Finally, around April 17, 2010, we headed from Yosemite to fly out
from SFO. But, the Icelandic volcano that no one could pronounce had
caused our flight and our 2010 Haute Route to be cancelled. After
the sting wore off, we re-planned the trip for 2011. So now, almost two
years in the making, we were prepared. Or, were we?
Somehow, though illogical, the great fear that inspired my 2010
training season wore off for 2011. Even though we had not actually
skied the Haute Route, we had felt so prepared that we weren’t
really that nervous as we re-planned the trip for 2011. We had done
everything, so we just set it aside to be picked up again the next year.
As a result, I didn’t train properly in 2011. Overall I skied much less
and followed no real fitness routine. Finally, with about six weeks
Fulfilling the dream: Haute Route (continued from pg. 22)
to go, I made a
call to trainer and
co-Mountaineers
member Courtenay
Schurman to help
me do the best
I could with the
remaining time.
Better than nothing,
I figured, but as my
calves were burning
on pass after pass of fabulous skiing, from Chamonix all the way to
Zermatt, I was wishing for more cardio fitness. I spent many a glorious
“down-skis” stopping in the middle of the hill to sit on my behind and
wait for the burn to pass.
In the end, we skied our chosen route with only a few miscues:
—
The Verbier variation took us first from Chamonix to Trient. On
this day we discovered my crampons really did not fit my boots, which
made for an exciting down-climb of the Col du Chardonnet.
—
Day 2 included a ski to Mont Fort via a wrong turn to the Orny
Glacier—with a view of the Orny hut and an extra ski down an awesome
col
—
followed by a call to a taxi (instead of the intended bus/train
combo), without which we would not have caught the last gondola to
our hut at the end of the day.
—
On Day 3 we skied via the summit of Mt. Rosablanche—where we
met “Team Italiano” (our favorite, speedy friends on the route)—to the
Prafleuri hut, where we finally settled into the hut routine and figured
out how to order a big lunch when we arrived. Someone forgot their
skins at Mont Fort and it was not us!
—
On Day 4 we skied to Dix, which was challenging due to the lack
of snow, and ended up there with a wrong reservation (for the day
before). But this turned into a stay in the Winter Room because there
was no space for us in the normal hut, and we loved it. The hut keepers
eventually forgave us.
—
On the Day 5 we skied from Dix to Vignettes, which was a long
day with a big up-ski and Team Italiano racing so far ahead we could
hardly believe our eyes. A soft and mushy down-ski (oh, my legs!) took
us to the Vignettes cabin with a jolly Santa-like hut keeper.
—
On our last day, we started out towards Zermatt and the
Matterhorn, to ski between open crevasses and, finally, when the snow
ended, hobbling into town with every calorie spent and every mystery
solved. Hello Zermatt, Hotel Bahnhof and rest days!
We learned a lot on our first Haute Route trip and would plan better
the next time around, but only because of experience. I wouldn’t have
changed a thing about how we planned the trip. But you better believe
that I am already training for this June’s trip to the Kichatnas, as
better fitness would have made the Haute just a bit sweeter.
55
Editor’s note: Jeff Webb contributed to this article.
Main rail station in Chamonix, France
Holly Beck photo
we are in the mountain environment the biases don’t seem to last long.
In 2008 for The Avalanche Review you penned a highly-praised
article about “gender heuristics” in the backcountry—that is, how
male or female stereotypes can affect a wide range of decision-
making. How have your perceptions changed since then?
They have not changed
—
in fact the “list of stereotypes” has been
expanded by more people sharing their experiences! The subject of
that article is sort of an ongoing project I like to discuss about what
we can do (whether you’re a guide or just a backcountry adventurer)
about the perceptions/stereotypes that can cause blind spots in
communication or group dynamics.
Do you think you are getting better in avoiding the heuristic trap?
I am getting better at identifying some of the dynamics. But the
problem is that every group is different, and there will always be some
new way that a dynamic manifests itself every time you form a new
group! Especially as a guide, you have to have constant vigilance.
Can you describe some moments when heuristics played a role in
how you guided your team or were forced to change plans?
Every co-ed group always has some gender dynamic in there, but
Margaret Wheeler Q&A (continued from pg. 24)
206.441.5100 climbforcleanair.com
• Mt. Rainier • Mt. Hood
• Grand Teton • Mt. Adams
Matt Farmer photo
Wheeler on a crag
the gender issue is only one of many heuristic issues that groups face.
Each day I guide I am adjusting my goals and techniques to the needs
and goals of my group/person. One recent example: a troop of Special
Forces guys in their late 20’s signed up with our guide service to climb
the three toughest mountains in the Alps, and it took a week for them
to realize—and communicate
—
that they really didn’t want to actually
suffer to climb them!
A backcountry trip is affected by the way one communicates goals
and options as the adventure unfolds, as well as by what goals and
options one starts out with.
You co-authored a Mountaineers book on backcountry skiing and
mountaineering in 2007. Any future educational goals that are
motivating you right now as a guide?
Several! I teach guides’ training courses and avalanche courses
(recreational and professional) and I am fascinated by the need for
ongoing training for professionals as their decision-making skills grow
and develop. For example: What are the human factors that mountain
guides deal with as they become expert decision makers?
Is there a particular moment in guiding that you like most? Is it at
the summit, or some other point along an adventure that you love to
experience with clients?
One big one: the moment whenever (summit or no summit) someone
steps out of their comfort zone and is AMAZED with their self and the
experience.
You’ve been banished to a desert island but you get to take ONE
mountain’s ski descents with you. Which mountain do you take?
It has to have steep tree skiing in deep powder
—
it’s a dead heat
between Alta and Whitewater, British Columbia.
55
Welcome to our seven branches of The Mountaineers
Propelled by dedicated and skilled volunteers, all branches offer a number of courses and seminars. Many courses, such as climbing, scrambling,
kayaking, backcountry skiing and others, require a set of learned skills to enjoy safely and follow a common curriculum from branch to branch.
Some, however, may have slight differences in the names of the courses they hold in common, such as Snowshoe Level 1 and Snowshoe Lite;
Snowshoe or Backcountry Ski Course and Winter Travel; or Sailing Course and Crewing Course. Just look for the descriptions when visiting course
information online or in this Mountaineer. See course events in the “Go Guide” section of this magazine. Although our program curricula are
coordinated to meet Mountaineers-wide standards and policies, each branch offers a slightly different flavor or character to its offerings. Though
you may want to join the branch nearest to your home, you may join any branch of your choosing. Note that once you are a member you may
participate in trips or courses in any branch. One way to gain a taste test of a particular branch is to attend a new/prospective members’ meeting.
General dates of these meetings are noted under each branch heading. For all current activities and links to branch websites, visit www.mountain-
eers.org.
branchingout
Minda Paul
bellinghammountaineers.org.
The Bellingham Branch, tucked alongside
the craggy expanse of the North Cascades,
features a vital, close-knit climbing program, as
well as courses in first aid and alpine scram-
bling. It is also home to one of the most popu-
lar Mountaineers getaway destinations, Mt.
Baker Lodge. The lodge facilitates many of the
courses and seminars offered by the branch.
From the lodge, Mountaineers and guests can
also recreate to their heart’s content year-
round. In addition to the courses noted above,
Bellingham also offers hiking trips, snowshoe
tours and backcountry ski trips.
In most months other than summer, the
branch hosts a meeting and slideshow for
prospective members and new members to
better orient them to branch offerings:
- 7:30 pm at Backcountry Essentials.
- 7:30 pm at Backcountry Essen-
tials.
Carrie Strandell, wolfwoman0819@
hotmail.com
everettmountaineers.org.
The Everett Branch of The Mountaineers
was founded in 1910 by H.B. Linman, an Ever-
ett dentist. The new organization successfully
sponsored over a dozen hikes that year. Its
first outing was a hike to Lake Isabelle. Sev-
eral hundred members of the public attended
“stereopticon” presentations at the Everett
High School auditorium. Dr. Linman, his wife,
and seven other branch members reached the
summit of Glacier Peak in August 1910 during
The Mountaineers’ annual outing. The branch
was not “officially” founded until 1911 when
The Mountaineers charter was amended to
provide for branches. This anomaly allowed
year by year.
Covering communities on the Eastside,
from Bellevue all the way to Ellensburg, the
branch offers opportunities for safe and en-
joyable outdoor recreation year-round.
The branch offers conservation and recre-
ational access advocacy, hiking, photography
and skiing. As its membership grows, the
branch is looking for to steer
current and new programs, and provide new
ideas for additional programs. You might even
want to become one of our leaders or instruc-
tors! We can put you on that trail. Just notify
Foothills Chair Fran Troje, foothills.branch@
gmail.com, 425-746-6726.
The Foothills Branch meeting for new and
prospective members is held most months
throughout the year. They usually start with
a socializing session at 6:30 p.m., which is
followed by a brief update on branch goings-
on and a feature presentation at about 7:20
p.m. Meetings are held in Issaquah at the King
County Library System Service Center. Watch
the Foothills website (listed above) for the an-
nouncement of coming meetings.
—
Foothills
Branch, in conjunction with Seattle Branch,
will offer more than a dozen Nordic ski
courses this winter season. For more about
the courses, visit www.foothillsmountaineers.
org. To register, visit www.mountaineers.org.
The will
be held Fri., Dec. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at St.
Andrews Episcopal Church, 111 N.E. 80th St.,
Seattle. See the Foothills Branch website for
details.
Mike Raymond, branch@kitsapcabin.
org.
kitsapmountaineers.org.
The Kitsap Branch is home to a preserve, a
program center
—
the Kitsap Cabin
—
and an
outdoor stage. All of these allow a potpourri
of activity and delight for Mountaineers and
guests.
Kitsap offers courses and programs in
climbing, alpine scrambling, hiking, snowshoe-
the branch
—
now with over 850 members
—
to
hold its centennial celebration in 2011!
Everett members share a wide variety of
activities. Please explore the branch website
or attend one of the branch monthly meetings
to discover more about the branch.
To learn more about branch activities and
meet some nice people who happen to be
Mountaineers, attend the monthly meetings
on the first Wednesday of each month (except
for July, August, and December). They start
at 7 p.m. in the Drewell Conference Room of
the Snohomish County East Administration
Building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., in downtown
Everett.
The Everett Intro-
ductory Snowshoe Course will be open for
enrollment up to the night of its first session,
Wed., Jan. 11 at 7 pm. See www.mountaineers.
org for more about registering.
Enrollment for the course will end Jan. 10.
Register via www.mountaineers.org. Registra-
tion also ends Jan. 10 for the
. See www.everettmountaineers.org for
details.
For more details about volunteering, contact
Forrest Clark, LOTM@everettmountaineers.
org.
The Everett Basic Climbing Course registra-
tion is now open and wll close Jan. 24, when
the course starts. Registration can be done
online at www.mountaineers.org.
will be held on Thu., Jan. 12 and Sat.,
Jan. 14. For more info contact Nick Mayo,
nicholas.e.mayo@gmail.com, or Adam Clark,
aclark20@gmail.com.
Fran Troje, foothills.br[email protected].
foothillsmountaineers.org.
The newest neighbor in The Mountaineers
hood, Foothills Branch is continuing to add
new programs and adventures to its offerings,
ing tours, photography and sea kayaking.
Its Salmon Safari for youths
—
streamside
observations of spawning salmon in the
Rhododendron Preserve
—
is only a short hike
from Kitsap Cabin amidst some of the longest
standing old-growth forest in Western Wash-
ington’s lowlands.
Also a short hike away is the magical Kitsap
Forest Theater, home to two
stage productions each year.
The Kitsap Branch holds quarterly member-
ship meetings at 7 p.m. at the Norm Dicks
Government Center in downtown Bremerton
(345 6th St.). Anyone interested in programs
offered by The Mountaineers is encouraged
to attend. We’ll share slides of our activities
followed by a feature presentation. Refresh-
ments will be served. Watch the Kitsap Branch
website for coming dates and times.
The Kitsap
Branch will hold its Sixth Annual Branch
Photo Show on Mon., Jan. 9 at the Norm
Dicks Government Center in Bremerton.
This beloved annual event grew from small
beginnings to become the most anticipated
branchwide event on our calendar. Amazing
photos showcase branch activities and
member travels in the past year. Celebrate
the fun that we have had and admire the
impressive talents of the photographers
among us. Photography Committee Chair
John Davis will award certificates of merit in
a number of categories and prizes for the top
three photos.
Kitsap Branch
is looking to train new hike leaders hoping
to offer some spring trips. Contact Dave
Burton, da[email protected]om for course
description/schedule.
We are always look-
ing for volunteers to make our Kitsap Cabin
more accommodating. If you’re in the mood
for cutting up some wood for our beautiful
fireplace or wish to share your carpentry
skills, let us know. Also, if you have some dry,
burnable wood to spare at home, we could
use it! If you can help in any of these ways,
contact Mike Raymond, branch@kitsapmoun-
taineers.org.
To find out the latest about Kitsap
conservation projects, contact Katha Miller-
Winder, conservation and education chair,
info@salmonsafari.org.
Bob Keranen, keranen@hcc.net.
www.olympiamountaineers.org.
The fastest growing of the branches,
Olympia has been offering Mountaineers
programs and training to the South Sound for
more than 45 years, including hiking, skiing,
sea kayaking, snowshoeing, backpacking,
climbing, outdoor leadership, and naturalist
activities.
The Olympia Branch holds a potluck and
special adventure presentation for prospec-
tive, new, and current members on the first
Wednesday of each month from September
through May (excluding November). It is held
at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW,
in rooms 101-102. The next event will be
4. Socializing and the potluck meal begin at
6 p.m. The adventure presentation begins
at 7 p.m., followed by dessert at 8:30 p.m.
This is a great opportunity to meet fellow
Mountaineers, share ideas, learn about oth-
ers’ escapades, and connect with a greater
community of outdoor enthusiasts. Contact
Carolyn Burreson, cbburreson@q.com, if you
have questions.
Leslie Romer’s favorite kind
of hiking is visiting old forest fire lookout
sites
—
especially the ones that are not in the
guidebooks. (See related article on pg. 38.)
Last spring she led a trip to Grand Canyon
National Park. Come see what they found!
Mountaineers Board President Tab Wilkins and
Mountaineers Executive Director Martinique
Grigg will join us.
Larry Cowan will share his recent travels in
Patagonia and Peru, featuring trekking with
magnificent views of Mount Fitzroy, Cerro
Torre, Torres de Paine and the back door
to Machu Picchu. Hear about the hilarious
winds of these remote lands and how to turn
canceled flights and missed bus rides into a
roaring good time! Larry reports that the beer
was better than any he could hope for! Come
enjoy an adventure in these raw and beautiful
lands.
Attend Orientation
Night (see below) or check the branch
website for more details. Classes beginning
in January include Winter Travel, which
includes snowshoeing and Nordic skiing
—
you
can take either or both
—
planning evening
sessions on Jan. 11, 12, 17, and 18, and field
trips on Jan. 21 (ski) and Jan. 22 (snowshoe).
Contact Judson Lang for more details:
360-352-2794, juds[email protected]y.mil, or
[email protected]t. Wilderness Skills, an
introduction to backcountry travel, will hold
an evening session on Jan. 24 and finishes
with two Saturday sessions, Jan. 28 and
Feb. 4. Basic Climbing, Alpine Scrambling,
Mountain Oriented First Aid (MOFA), and
Intermediate Climbing start in February, with
Sea Kayaking and Leadership following in
April. You can sign up for all of these classes
at the orientation. And if you’re interested in
Sea Kayaking, Orientation Night is likely your
only opportunity to sign up, as it usually fills
immediately.
Meet The
Mountaineers at our annual orientation
information fair on Jan. 10 at St Martin’s
Worthington Center (5300 Pacific Ave. SE,
Lacey) between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. This is
your
—
and your friends’
—
best chance to
learn about upcoming courses, talk to activity
representatives, join The Mountaineers
without paying the initiation fee, and
maybe win a door prize. Those who join The
Mountaineers during Orientation Night and
register for a class will see their $35 initiation
fee waived—this night only!
were presented at the
annual banquet on Oct. 22.
for
his dedication to the creation and long-
term support of the branch’s highly popular
kayaking program and for his enthusiastic
support, problem-solving skills, leadership and
dedication to doing whatever the branch has
needed. Bruce Towhey received a posthumous
Service Award for his years of service to the
branch as a board member and a leader in the
climbing division. Paul Wiseman received a
posthumous reissue of his 1964 Mountaineers
Service Award. Jack Sisco received the 2011
Frank Maranville Memorial Stewardship Award
for his long-term participation as a certified
sawyer with the U.S. Forest Service. Jack led
cross-cut saw work parties in the forests of
the Pacific Northwest.
Jon Ewen and Bonnie Betts received the
Cascade Classics peak pin. Lisa Berntsen, Dan
Lauren, and Scott Rice earned the Olympia
Peaks pin. Ralph Owen, Peggy Owen, and
Henry Romer earned the Olympia Lookout
Group One Patch and Ralph Owen and Peggy
Owen earned the Olympia Lookout Group
One Rocker. Scott Rice and Steve Townsend
earned the Olympia Scramble–Copper peak
pin. Henry Romer also received the South
Sound Inlets Paddle Pin and Will Greenough
accepted his Riptides and Rapids Paddle Pin.
And Mike Kretzler received the Olympics Trail
Patch. See “Awards” on branch website for
details.
meets every month at 6 p.m. on the second
Wednesday of the month. The next meetings
are Jan. 11 and Feb. 8 at Alpine Experience in
the Hyak Room. Members are encouraged to
attend.
Located
at Maxine Dunkelman’s house, 5418 Lemon
Rd. NE. Contact Maxine at 360-352-5027 or
maxdunk@comcast.net if you’d like to come
by to browse or check out or return materials.
Returns can also be made at Alpine Experi-
ence (in the box behind the front counter).
Books, DVDs, and maps owned by the branch
are listed and searchable on the branch web-
branchingout
Continued on page 34
site. Maxine also attends our first-Wednesday
potluck presentations with a selection of
books to check out.
Timmy Williams, mtnrtimmy@
clearwire.net.
seattlemountaineers.org.
The largest of our branches, Seattle gives
lovers of the outdoors an opportunity to try
out hiking, backpacking, scrambling, climbing,
skiing, snowshoeing, wilderness navigation,
first aid, family activities, folk dances, leader-
ship training, naturalist study, photography,
singles events, Retired Rovers activities,
Under the Hill Rovers activities and sailing.
Mark Tue., Jan. 31 to
. Join us from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
at The Mountaineers Program Center. Dozens
of volunteers from the branch committees
will be eager to introduce you to all things
Mountaineers. Members of The Mountaineers
Board of Directors are on hand to find out
what you’d like to see in the organization.
Snacks and beverages will be available.
Not sure if you’re heading into potential
avalanche territory? Want to know more
about the causes of avalanches, pre-trip
indicators, and backcountry hazards? The
Seattle Branch Snowshoe Committee will host
a free Introduction to Avalanche Awareness
workshop on at 7 pm at The
Mountaineers Program Center. Presented by
Scott D. Schell, Education Coordinator for
Friends of NWAC (NW Weather and Avalanche
Center), the workshop is open to all but
registration is requested to accommodate for
seating. Visit “Learn” at www.mountaineers.
org for registration.
Do you have
the hiking or backpacking bug but you just
need to know a little more about how to get
started in the Pacific Northwest? The Seattle
Branch offers a free Beginning Hiking Seminar
most months. The next one is set for 6:30
p.m. on at The Mountaineers Program
Center. Though they are free, it is requested
that participants register online for these
seminar to make sure there is enough seating
available.
See
pg. 7 of this Mountaineer.
The Seattle
singles group and the Folk Dancing Commit-
tee hold dances and lessons. Contact Karen
Ludwig, karenludwig2000@yahoo.com, for
upcoming singles dances and visit www.moun-
taineers/seattle/folkdance.
I Got a New Camera for
Christmas and the Basic Photography Courses
Escape to the Kitsap Forest Theater and
stroll down the forested trail to our unique,
breathtaking stage. Create a treasured family
tradition!
The Players are excited to announce the
2012 lineup: “Fiddler on the Roof” this spring
(directed by Craig Schieber) and “Footloose,
the Musical” this summer (directed by Ken
Michels). Guy Caridi will be choreographing
both shows, featuring wonderful stories,
memorable music and fun dancing. Fore
more,see our website, www.foresttheater.com.
If you are interested in helping
in any capacity, please contact Gala Lindvall,
206-542-7815, galabaskets@comcast.net,
and/or Nancy Estill, 206-595-8610, nestill@u.
washington.edu. Visit www.ForestTheater.com.
for “Fiddler on the Roof” and
“Footloose, The Musical,” will be February 25
and 26. We need lots of men, women, teens
and youth for both shows. Consider being a
part of this wonderful group of Mountaineers.
All the details can be found on our website.
The
Players are excited to announce a new
adventure camp for youth, grades K-3. Dates
of the camp are July 9–13 and July 16–20.
Enroll your kids to play, explore and create
at the Kitsap Forest Theater. Their creativity
and imagination will bloom with exciting
activities, including art, music, drama, hiking,
forest skills, creek stomping, story-telling and
just plain fun. Visit out website for additional
information or call 206-542-7815.
branchingout
are open for enrollment. The former will be
held Saturday, Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. at The Moun-
taineers Program Center. The latter starts
Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at the program
center. Regiser via www.mountaineers.org.
Join us for a weekend
hiking trip to the sunny Methow Valley—
leaving on Fri., June 1, and returning Sun.,
June 3. The weekend will include optional
lodging at Sun Mountain Resort for Friday and
Saturday nights, your choice of Mountaineers-
offered hikes of varying distance/gain on
Saturday, and an optional Cowboy Dinner/
trail ride offered on Saturday night. For
more information on the weekend, contact
Chris Ensor, cvensor@comcast.net, or Kelly
Cleman, masterhik[email protected]. To see
more about Sun Mountain Lodge, visit www.
sunmountainlodge.com.
Geoff Lawrence, geoff.lawrence@
tacomamountaineers.org.
www.tacomamountaineers.org.
The second largest of all seven branches,
Tacoma hosts its own program center and
hub (soon to be renovated and expanded) in
the quaint Tacoma neighborhood of Old Town
near Puget Sound. Close to Mt. Rainier and to
yet another Mountaineers property, Irish Cab-
in on the Carbon River, Tacoma Branch offers
an extensive list of activities and courses in
backpacking, hiking, conservation, scrambling,
climbing, first aid, snowshoeing, skiing, sea
kayaking, sailing, bicycling, singles events, wil-
derness navigation, avalanche awareness, folk
dancing, photography and family activities.
Visit our website and browse through our
activities, our events calendar, the “Who We
Are,” and learn about us.
Tacoma Branch holds a free meeting on
the third Friday of every month (except
June-August and December) to introduce
prospective and new members to the
branch. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. with
a presentation about The Mountaineers,
followed by an interlude to talk with various
activity reps (hiking, climbing, sea kayaking
to name a few of 22 activities) Due to the
Tacoma center remodel, the January 20,
February 17 and March 16 meetings will be
at Pierce County Library PAC, 3005 112th St.
E., Tacoma (just south of Highway 512, about
halfway between Interstate 5 and Puyallup).
: Want to
learn snowshoeing? Telemark and/or cross-
country Skiing? Mountain Climbing? Alpine
Scrambling? Come to Tacoma Mountaineers’
FREE Information Nights
—
next one being
Wed., Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Wheelock Library,
3722 North 26th Street, Tacoma.
has
announced an approximately 15 percent
membership discount to all Mountaineers! For
more details visit their website at http://www.
edgeworksclimbing.com.
During
the current upgrade of The Mountaineers
Tacoma Program Center (formerly Tacoma
Clubhouse) meetings and classes will take
place at other Tacoma locations through May.
Contact activity chairs for information on
when and where. A has
formed to raise the $250,000 necessary for
completion (see pg. 26).
On the fourth Saturday,
Sept.-April, the branch offers Scandinavian
folkdance, waltzes, Schottische, polka
and mixers at Normanna Hall at 7 p.m..
$10 admission; no registration required
Contact Karen Goettling, 253-759-3731,
kar[email protected]om, for more.
Tom Shimko, a 26-
year Tacoma member, is the recipient of the
branch’s 2011 Service Award.
Baker Lodge
The Mountaineers Mt. Baker Lodge is
nestled in the spectacular beauty of the
North Cascades and just a short walk from
nine ski lifts operated by the Mt. Baker Ski
Area Co. (www.mtbaker.us). Within a short
distance from the lodge there are snowshoe
routes and cross-country ski trails (www.
nooksacknordicskiclub.org/overview.php).
Watch the Baker Lodge website via www.
mountaineers.org (under “Outdoor Centers,”
“Baker Lodge“ and “Search & Register”) or
www.bakerlodge.org for updates and details
on openings this winter. Unless otherwise
indicated, the lodge is open to the public
on all dates, with reservations on a first-call
basis through online registration or by calling
206-521-6001. Payments are made at time of
reservation with credit card.
Questions can be answered by contacting
Bill Woodcock, 206-725-7750, Judy Sterry,
206-366-2750, jsterry60@comcast.net, Dale
Kisker, 206-365-9508, dskisker@comcast.net,
or by visiting the Baker Lodge website.
Baker Lodge is
open all weekends from Thanksgiving through
early April, provided there is adequate snow
and registrations. Additionally, the lodge
is continuously open from the day after
Christmas through New Year’s Day. Please
click on “Calendar and Reservations” in
the upper right corner of the Baker Lodge
website’s home page at www.bakerlodge.org.
The lodge is normally open
by 7 or 8 p.m. on Fridays. If you need a more
specific opening time, call the host listed
online.
The trail from the parking lot to the lodge
is marked with flagged poles and lights until
approximately 10:30 p.m. when the lights are
turned off. If you arrive after 10:30 p.m. be
prepared with a flashlight or headlamp. Each
person should bring a sleeping bag, pillow,
personal gear and a flashlight. Cars should
have a shovel and chains. Saturday/Sunday
breakfasts and Saturday dinner are served on
weekends.
Baker Lodge welcomes the public, all ages
and abilities. Families with children of age 5 or
under should call the host prior to registering.
from the ski company’s Bellingham office
(9-5:30 weekdays) after completing an
application and providing proof that they are
in the fifth grade. Visit the ski area website
at www.mtbaker.us for the application and
Mountaineers lodges are open year-round for members and guests. Reservations are made through a prepay system which accepts payment by
either credit card or a check. If paying by credit card, simply call 206-521-6001 by 5 p.m. (for all lodges except Meany which is via www.brownpap-
ertickets.com; 800-838-3006) on the Thursday prior to the weekend. If paying by check, the payment must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday prior
to the weekend you wish to reserve. All we ask of you thereafter is to call the program center, 206-521-6001, by 5 p.m. on Thursday to confirm
that your payment has been received and that a reservation has been secured. All cancellations, except for Meany, must be made
at the program center by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before the lodge visit. The cooks need to know you’re coming! This is also the refund deadline.
outdoorcenters
additional information.
Do you enjoy hosting people
at parties, special events or in your home?
Do you enjoy being a part of a team that puts
meals together for others? If so, Baker Lodge
may be your next opportunity.
The Baker Lodge Committee is looking
for energetic individuals/couples/families to
assist with general operations throughout the
year. You can become hosts for Baker Lodge
with just two weekends of training. Specific
duties range from opening and closing the
lodge, assisting with and/or supervising
meal preparations, and coordinating lodge
activities. The possibilities are limited only by
your imagination.
Members of the Baker Lodge Committee
are interested in exploring new ideas for
maximizing this “beautiful little gem of a
lodge” that sits in the shadows of Mt. Baker.
Couples could team up with other couples to
serve as hosts. Families could come together
and welcome other families in for a family
weekend. .
Those who lead Mountaineers trips and
activities are always welcome to bring your
group of Mountaineers members and guests
to the lodge for any overnight or weekend.
Presented by the Foothills
Branch. Meet at Heather Meadows Mt. Baker
Ski area at 9 a.m. Members: $190, Non-
members: $210. Leader: Shannon Marie, (206)
849-3203, [email protected]om (s11/15-2/29)
N. on I-5 to Bellingham,
take Exit 255, the Mt. Baker Highway, and go
E. on SR-542 about 54 mi. to the ski area. At
the Firs Chalet, turn right onto the one-way
loop road that leads 0.3 mi. to our lodge on the
right side of the road. We are about 1-1/2 hours
from Bellingham and three hours from Seattle.
Kitsap Cabin
Built mostly by Mountaineers women in
1918, the Kitsap Cabin is home to The Moun-
taineers Kitsap Branch and The Mountaineers
Players during spring and summer as they
rehearse and perform at the Kitsap Forest
Theater. The Players also hold their Youth
Theater Camp at the Forest Theater.
Kitsap Cabin is surrounded by the Rhodo-
dendron Preserve, a 460-acre private reserve
operated by The Mountaineers Foundation.
It is one of the largest remaining parcels of
Puget Sound lowland, old-growth forest in
the Puget Sound Basin and serves as a buffer
from encroaching development not only for
the theater but also the creeks that are vital
for spawning salmon each fall.
The cabin and theater are available for
private rentals. For rental information, please
call 206-542-7815.
For more about the Kitsap Branch, visit
www.kitsapmountaineers.org.
For information about the 2011 Players’
season, visit www.ForestTheater.com.
For information about The Mountaineers
Foundation and the Rhododendron Preserve,
visit www.mountaineersfoundation.org.
Meany Lodge
We continually add
info and pictures about Meany events. Don’t
worry if you don’t have a Facebook page; all
info is posted on the Meany website and sent
out monthly via e-mail.
We send a general
information email about once or twice a
month. So if you are interested in anything
Meany has to offer, visit our website at www.
meanylodge.org and fill out the email request
information.
Meany is available for
private rentals and Mountaineers events for
the winter season. If you want a nice, secluded
cabin for a retreat or seminar, then visit our
website, www.meanylodge.org. Go to “Con-
tacts” and send an email telling the chair that
you are interested.
: Did you
know that of all the Mountaineers lodges,
Meany is the only one with its own winter
sports facilities and school? We offer a wide
variety of winter sports and it is not too late
to sign up for any of our programs. Go to
and see what is available. If you don’t
think you need lessons, then come up and
try our hill. If you can ski Meany, you can ski
anywhere! For the price of a full day pass at
Snoqualmie, you get a weekend with meals,
a place to sleep and as many and as much
winter sports as you want.
So, do you
think you want to spend all your winter
weekends playing in the snow? Well, do we
have a deal for you. The Meany Season Pass
entitles you to come to Meany, get fed, have a
place to sleep and play in the snow whenever
Meany is open. Of course, you also get to
enjoy the Meany camaraderie
—
priceless.
Prices follow:
Continued on page 36
Adult (14 and up) - $500
Child (5-13 years) - $350
To purchase, visit http://www.
brownpapertickets.com/event/194598.
Did you know
that our own Patti Polinsky, when she’s not
skiing at Meany, leads a series of trips across
the globe? In 2012 it will be her “Ski the Alps
in Austria” tour with great on- and off-piste
skiing complemented by hotels serving grand,
multi-course dinners and post-ski spas. To
preview the trip go to http://web.me.com/
mrbunz/Site_4/Ski_Austria_2012.html. For
more info contact Patti at MeanySports@
me.com or see pg. 28 of this Mountaineer.
Snoqualmie Campus
Snoqualmie Campus is available for group
rentals on Saturdays and Sundays only. Please
contact The Mountaineers Program Center,
info@mountaineers.org (preferred) or 206-
521-6001, if you are interested in renting the
property for your group.
Stevens Lodge
Visit www.stevenslodge.org to view current
activities at the lodge. For more information,
contact Angela or Greg, 425-258-4847, greg@
stevenslodge.org.
Bring a warm sleeping bag, toilet articles
and a towel for the shower, suitable cloth-
ing, your gear and a flashlight. Some pillows
are available, but feel free to bring your own
if you desire. Bring a padlock if you wish to
secure your equipment. Stow your gear in a
pack or sled suitable for walking the 600-foot
distance to the lodge.
: Take US-2 to the
Stevens Pass Ski area. Turn into the parking
entrance just below Tye Creek Lodge (the old
West Lodge) on the W. side of the summit.
Stay left at the entrance and go around the
hairpin turn at the far end of the lot, then
continue to the upper level parking area, Lot
#4. Park here. Look for a steep Cat track/ser-
vice trail leading up the bank at the far end of
outdoorcenters
Foothills/Seattle
Nordic Ski School
are offered
as half-day sessions on three consecutive
Sundays, Jan. 8, 15, 22, 2012. Course
fee is $85 for Mountaineers members,
$100 for non-members. To enroll or
view complete course descriptions,
go to www.mountaineers.org. Overview
of the Multiweek Telemark/Randonnee
ski lesson program is posted at www.
foothillsmountaineers.org/winter/tele.html.
Intro to Cross Country Skiing
Intermediate Cross Country Skiing
Intro to Skate Ski
Intro to Cross Country Skiing
Intermediate Cross Country Skiing
Hills, Hills, Hills: Mastering Hills on XC Skis
Intermediate Skate Skiing
are offered as
an all-day session on Sunday, Jan. 22,
2012. Course fee is $60 Mountaineers
members, $70 non-members.
—Intro to Cross Country Skiing: 1 Day
—Cross Country Sking Refresher: 1 Day
—Intro To Skate Skiing: 1 Day
—Mastering Hills on XC Skis: 1 Day
are offered as
on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Course fee is
$40 for Mountaineers members, $45 for
non-members.
—Intermediate XC Skiing: 1/2 Day
—Intermediate Skate Skiing: 1/2 Day
To enroll or view complete Nordic ski
class course descriptions go to www.
mountaineers.org. Overview of the Nordic
ski school program is posted at www.
foothillsmountaineers.org/winter/nordic.
html.
at
Summit-at-Snoqulamie is scheduled for
Wednesday evenings, Jan. 11, 18, 25; Feb.
1, 8, 15. Payment for 2012 will be made
directly to the Summit-at-Snoqualmie
Summit Learning Center (SLC). Course
fees: $160.
the lot. Stay on it and turn right at the top. Go
past the lodge on the left (Penguins’ Ski Club)
for 500’ until you come to a sharp 90-degree
bend in the trail. The reddish-brown, four-
story building is the lodge.
We offer a full range of snowshoe courses, designed to take
you from novice snowshoer all the way to experienced winter
camper. Learn how to travel safely on snow and even build a
snow cave!
Registration for all courses are now open:
• Basic Snowshoe (Jan 2012)
• Backcountry Snowshoe Skills (early Feb 2012)
• Winter Camping (late Feb 2012)
See our website for full details!
www.seattlesnowshoe.org
Seattle Branch Snowshoe Courses
Mt. Baker Telemark/Randonee Ski Camp, March 3-4. See Baker Lodge, pg. 35
LESSONS FOR ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES: downhill, snowboard, classic Nordic, telemark: visit www.meanylodge.org
membershipmatters
www.mountaineers.org
for directions and more
THE MOUNTAINEERS
Snoqualmie Campus
Saturday, January 7, 10am-4pm
1. Get inspired: enjoy member
from Mountaineers Books
2. Get fit: use member benefits to join a gym
—
(Seattle), (Tacoma),
or sign up for yoga teacher training classes at
(Olympia)
3. Get started: explore a new challenge
—
such as Beginning
Hiking, Open Climbs, Basic Map and Compass, Learn to Belay,
and more
—
through the
4. Get active: check the Mountaineers website regularly and
sign up for at least four Mountaineers activities this year
()
5. Get prepared: before winter play, consider supporting
the (NWAC) with
membership (see ad on back cover), or brushing up on snow
safety skills through avalanche awareness training with The
Mountaineers
6. Get outside: attend
with friends and family. Enjoy a day of free snowshoeing at
Snoqualmie Pass Campus (see ad this page)
7. Get outside again: use member benefits to plan a ski trip
to with discounted ski vouchers, or
the Methow Valley using the or
stay overnight with your family at one of
Mt. Baker Lodge, Stevens Lodge, or Meany
Lodge
8. Get connected: update your on The
Mountaineers website with preferences, volunteer interests
and skills to better keep you in the loop
9. Get involved: “each one reach one” and invite a friend to
a to learn about upcoming
courses and activities (Olympia, January 10; Tacoma, Jan. 11,
Seattle, January 31)
10. Give back: volunteer to teach a class, join a committee,
lead an outing, join or make a donation to The
Mountaineer Access Program (MAP) to provide scholarships
for
Meet your 2012 goals, meet The Mountaineers
The New Year, for many of us, marks a time of reflection, resolutions and renewal. Turning the page on
a new calendar can be the perfect time to learn a new skill, pursue a new activity or widen your circle
of friends. If this rings true for you, why not tap into The Mountaineers community this year to help
you make your list and meet your goals in the months ahead? Here are just a few ideas to jump-start
your motivation.
For a complete list of benefits
and how to access
them, log onto our website and check out our MEMBER
BENEFITS PAGE, www.mountaineers.org/membership/benefits.
cfm or contact Member Services at 206-521-6001. And
remember: as a mission-based and volunteer-driven, 501(c)(3)
nonprofit, we rely on the philanthropic support of our members
to continue our recreation, education and conservation
efforts in the community, and all but $10 of your dues are tax-
deductible. TO LEARN MORE about the Membership Program,
contact Valerie Normand, valerien@mountaineers.org, 206-521-
6023.
Mountaineers Top Ten To-Do’s in 2012
When I left my office job a decade ago,
I knew I would be spending more time hiking. I
joined a local women’s hiking club and met some
members who focused on hiking to forest fire
lookouts
—
those still standing and those where
former lookouts once stood. Lookouts make good
hiking destinations, as they are almost always
built on the highest point in the area. And they
had to have either roads or trails for the Forest
Service staff (also known as “lookouts”) to get up
to their posts. A quiet day on a hiking trip in the
Stehekin allowed me to discover The Mountaineers
book, Lookouts, Firewatchers of the Cascades
and Olympics, by Ira Spring and Byron Fish. Once
I started reading about the human lookouts that
used to guard the forests of Washington, and looked
at the lists of lookout structure locations, I was
hooked
—
history, geography and an opportunity for
endless exploration! What could be better?
Lost lookouts are those (usually sites, but
occasionally towers) that are listed in lookout books, but whose routes or specific locations are
not clearly identified. The information in the lookout lists may disagree with the maps; the old
roads or trails may no longer appear on maps, or the maps available may disagree on where the
roads, trails or summit are. Lost lookouts can also be sites featured in old guidebooks, whose
former routes have been made unworkable by road closures and gated roads.
My first hunt started with the words “location unknown” for a Wenatchee National Forest
lookout in the Spring-Fish book. Trips and Trails I, another guidebook, cited a campground
in that forest with the same name and suggested “follow tourist trails and old switchbacks
constantly uphill to a former lookout site.” The next time I was in that area, I hiked that informal
trail and eventually found four large cement footings
—
fairly convincing evidence that a lookout
tower had formerly stood on the site. My discovery was confirmed by an author (Ray Kresek)
of yet another lookout guidebook, Fire Lookouts of the Northwest, and the Forest Fire Lookout
Association. An addendum about the site was thus added to Kresek’s book.
Last spring I journeyed out in search of low-elevation lookouts in Northwest
Washington. Spring and Fish referenced a former state forestry website that, according to my
maps, indicated a particular lookout was probably located in a suburban area. A look at the
Google Earth site showed the lookout area was still forested, with a number of houses nearby.
I approached the house next door to the lookout location, identified myself as a lookout hunter
interested in seeing if any artifacts remained of the former lookout. The resident said, “yes,”
there used to be a lookout next door, but people in the neighborhood had not been able to find
“the metal plate that identified it” since the property had been logged a few years before.
My hiking companion, the neighbor and I then hiked the short distance to the hillock and
started searching among young trees, downed logs and lots of blackberries. In a few minutes
my companion spotted the brass USGS benchmark with the name of the lookout and the date,
1941. After snapping a few photos, my companion and I went away happy, and the neighbor
was already on his cell phone telling family and friends that the lost landmark had been found.
Finding a new route can restore a destination to the local hiking community, as well as add a
lookout name to the lookout hunter’s tally!
55
The hunt
for lost
lookouts
exploration
Presentation:
January 4
A book, Tree Towers of the
Grand Canyon by David Lorenz,
inspired Leslie Romer’s search
for lost lookouts in Grand Canyon
National Park last May. Three
Mountaineers women joined
her for a week of camping and
lookout hunting.
She will share her discoveries
and challenges at the monthly
The branch will also award its
Lookout Award to qualifying
members.
At last count, Leslie had visited 395 lookout sites
goguide
a sampler of what we offer
44
Jones is working on building a women’s line of big
mountain splitboards and non-splits. Stay tuned for their debut, I know
they’ll be incredible boards.
The Karakoram binding setup is groundbreaking in splitboard-bind-
ing technology right now. Twin brothers, Bryce and Tyler Kloster, out
of Snoqualmie, Washington, launched onto the scene last year with a
revolutionary binding sytem that has made backcountry touring easier
than ever. It’s light, easy to work, quick to put together and is as solid
as any other snowboard binding you’ll see on the market for non-
splitboards. I ride my split like my normal board because the bindings
hold the board together so well. Only Karakoram hardware comes with
clips that clamp down, pulling the two pieces of the board together,
thus creating one strong and sturdy deck. I got kicked out of the board
park in France by an angry Frenchman who said splitboarders weren’t
allowed in the park! He obviously didn’t understand the superiority and
high quality of the Karakoram setup. I guess I don’t blame him; it’s hard
to believe how avant-garde they are.
Karakoram sells the bindings and hardware, including the clips and
the heel risers. You can find splitboard skins on Voile’s website along
with avalanche safety essentials like beacons, shovels and probes. I use
Black Diamond’s extendable poles and I love them.
Splitboard.com is an excellent resource for answering
all your questions about what gear you need and a great place to spray
your stoke by posting pictures and trip reports.
When thinking of splitboarding in the backcountry, slashing glorious
powder turns, summiting impressive peaks, face shots and pillow lines
come to mind. So, before you set foot in the backcountry, be sure you
have the proper gear to keep you safe in the case of an avalanche or
any type of emergency. Have the knowledge or travel with someone
with the knowledge of the current snow pack, avalanche conditions
and snow stability. Get a backcountry skiing book and check various
sources online for the destinations you want to shred. Know what
you’re getting yourself into and be prepared.
Splitboarding has seen some massive progressions in the past
couple years. Hopefully the technology will continue to improve so
that we won’t be perceived by many skiers as invalids with an illogical
means of travel. And, as I’ve written the word “splitboard” (forced com-
pound) many times in this piece, maybe at some point the word will be
recognized by most spell-checks.
55
Splitboards (continued from pg. 11)
About the author
Liz Daley is a 26-year-old splitboarder, rock climber and alpinist who grew up in Tacoma and moved to Bellingham
to shred Mt. Baker and attend the university. She possesses a BA in environmental education and sociology but
notes, “What those years really instilled in me was a passion for snowboarding, the mountains, mountain culture
and the addictive thrill of vertical extremes.” She spent a year in Tahoe, then two winter/spring seasons in Chamo-
nix, France. She has snowboarded from the summits of Rainier, Baker, Shasta and Adams, and owns two first female
snowboard descents. “This winter I’ll be shredding Utah powder and working ski patrol.”
Davide De Masi photo
editor’snotes
It’s a new year
—
stretch
your goals, limbs and dreams
i’mwhere?
Can you identify the summit in
the foreground here? Send your
answer (by February 1) by post
or e-mail: brads@mountaineers.
org; I’m Where?, the Mountain-
eer, 7700 Sand Point Way N.E.,
Seattle, WA 98115. If you guess
correctly, you’ll receive a $15
coupon good for Mountaineers
purchases, and we’ll publish your
name in next month’s column. In
case of a tie, one winner will be
chosen at random. Mountaineers
employees or persons shown in
the photograph are not eligible.
Each month we’ll publish a new
mystery landmark and identifica-
tion of the previous one.
for possible publication as a mystery summit (include
identification for our benefit). See e-mail and mailing address at left. If we use your
photo, you will receive a $15 Mountaineers coupon good for Mountaineers purchases.
Several correctly identified Unicorn Peak in the September/October Mountaineer
but Dean Taylor of Olympia won the drawing. The photo was taken by Jessica Todd.
We invite our readers to stretch it a bit this winter
—
literally and figuratively. Stretch your knowledge, your horizons, your
joints, muscles and goals
.
While at it, stretch your winter activity
calendar. If the snow is anything like last year, you will see bonus days
on the slopes.
Stretch your knowledge with some insight on winter and early
spring classes in our course mini-guide (pg. 13). Find out how to
advance to your next basic cross-country move, the kick turn (pg.
6). Or learn about the raptors you are likely to see on your coming
outings (pg. 7).
Stretch your knowledge of options for staying fit by reading what
works for some of our arduous Mountaineers hikers and climbers
—
all
the way down to how to preen those core muscles for all the activities
or courses you plan to tackle this winter (pgs. 12, 16, 17, 29).
Stretch your imagination for potential destinations by piquing the
vicarious bones in your body as Holly Beck and Jeff Webb employ the
cancel-then-go method of doing the Haute Route (pg. 21).
While we are at it, let’s stretch into the second year of a new
Mountaineer magazine format (our postal statement to the right as
required by the U.S. Postal Service). We hope you enjoy this issue.
Brad Stracener, Managing Editor
365
1,522 1,665
7,641 8,540
146 200
7,787 8,740
80% 81%
lastword
“Beautifully
written. Left me
thinking about the
message long after
the last page.”
- Art F., CFO
“Both fun and funny,
my climber friends
and I are loving this.
Totally bizzlin!”
- Emily W., publicist
GUIDEBOOKS
SPORTS HOW-TO
ADVENTURES
CONSERVATION
Buy online using your member
discount code at mountaineersbooks.org
STAFF PICKS:
The Urban Farm Handbook
Faith of Cranes
Climbing Dictionary
M
EMBERS
A
LWAYS
20% O
FF
IN THE BOOKSTORE & AT
MOUNTAINTEERSBOOKS.ORG
“Thick with smart, fresh
information. Better even
than my expectations
when we signed it.”
- Kate R., editor in chief
Backcountry Skiing and
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
“I’m re-reading these for the Foothills
Branch BC Ski & Snowboarding course.
It reminds me that these are without
question the best books available for
this sport.”
- Doug C., director of sales & marketing
“The pleasure of risk is in the control needed to ride
it with assurance so that what appears dangerous
to the outsider is, to the participant, simply a matter
of intelligence, skill, intuition, coordination
—
in a
word, experience,” wrote Al Alvarez, poet and author.
“Climbing, in particular, is a paradoxically intellectual
pastime, but with this difference: You have to think with
your body. Every move has to be worked out in terms
of playing chess with your body. If I make a mistake the
consequences are immediate, obvious, embarrassing
and possibly painful. For a brief period I am directly
responsible for my actions. In that beautiful, silent world
of the mountains, it seems to me worth a little risk.”
Many people who don’t understand climbing or
climbers assume they must be thrill-seekers with
a death wish. Often, many climbers can’t find the
words to explain their passion, leaving others to
do it for them.
Dale Baskin photo
Peter Schoen
www.photographerspro.eu/peterschoen/
HILLEBERG.COM
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The Mountaineers Basic Photography Course
7700 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 521-6000
February 29 – March 21, 2012
• Weekly Evening Classes
• Weekend Workshops
• Learn: Digital Camera
Operation, Composition,
Practice Tips, Advance
Photo Techniques, and
much more!
www.mountaineers.org/seattle/photography
The Mountaineers Photography Committee Presents:
7700 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 521-6000
I Got A New Camera For
Christmas – Now What?
January 21, 2012 – 9am-noon
• Understand and de-mystify
your camera
• Common basic editing
• Digital SLR and digital point &
shoot cameras
www.mountaineers.org/seattle/photography
Don
’
t Let your First tracks
Be your last..
Become a member of the Friends of NWAC
and support the service.
Photo © Stephen Matera
Check the weather and avalanche forecast at
www.nwac.us before heading out.
