Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) Blog

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Hello All,

Mark your Calendar!! January 16, 2010

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington will hold its annual meeting and banquet Saturday evening January 16, 2010 at East Shore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32nd St., Bellevue, WA 98005. Please note that this is a last-minute change of location!!! We are planning a dinner (donation or pay what you can), 2009 activities presentation, and guest speaker.

Craig Romano, guidebook author, outdoors writer, and photographer will be doing his talk on snow free winter hikes in western Washington in co-junction with his latest release, Winter Hikes of Western Washington deck. Check out his web site http://craigromano.com/ and http://hikeoftheweek.com/ .

The new Trail Project at Grace Cole Nature Park continues

The last work party at Grace Cole (11-21-09) volunteers started graveling the new section of trail. 300 feet of trail was graveled with help of local residents, university, community college and high school students. Work will continue this coming Saturday.

New volunteers are welcome! No experience needed.

A background on the park is at http://www.lfpsf.org/ColeNaturePark/

The trail project is located on the Grace Cole Nature Park

16715 30th Ave. NE, Lake Forest Park

The work will continue on consecutive Saturdays until the trail is gravel application is complete.

All volunteers are welcome.

The work parties run from 9:00AM to 2:30PM.

Bring your lunch and water.

VOW IRON GOAT TRAIL

The snow has arrived on most of the trail, the IGT Interpretive site at Scenic on Highway 2 has closed for the season and the Iron Goat Trail folks have finished trail work until next spring.

Some folks are busy seeking funding for the upkeep and expansion of the trail. Over the next years, the Iron Goat Trail will connect with the Kelley Creek Trail from the eastern (Martin Creek) trailhead. A significant bridge will be needed to for this new section and there is an active search for a funding source.

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2. VOW has some Iron Goat Trail logo “Pin Back” buttons. Check with the office if you would like one

Plans are continuing to develop in Skykomish for recognition of the 100 anniversary of the 1910 Wellington Avalanche disaster. Thoughts now are to have an event in Skykomish on Saturday, February 27 2010 and again later in the spring at the site. Rumors include that Gary Krist, author of the White Cascade may come for the ceremony. More plans and real information will come later as it develops. Contact the Skykomish Historical Society or Volunteers for Outdoor Washington if you would like to help or participate

Web Tools (or Toys?)

Jackson Holstz, with the Everett Herald wrote an article on September 5 titled “Ghost hunters to stake out site of 1910 train disaster” which focuses on the Wellington town site on the Iron Goat Trail. The article interviews persons with the “Northwest Paranormal Investigation Agency” and the Forest Service. The reader’s comments on the article are interesting to read. The article and the reader’s comments can be found online at:

http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20090905/NEWS01/709059915/0/ETPZONELT

The Northwest Paranormal Investigation agency has some really good non paranormal pictures on their web site. They are also planning to release a documentary DVD titled “Avalanche of Spirits The Ghosts of Wellington” on the 100^th anniversary of the disaster, March 1, 2010.

The Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest web site references the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center (NWAC) for detailed current information on avalanche danger. Information on Steven’s Pass and the Iron Goat Trail’s Wellington trail head is located at http://www.nwac.us/forecast/avalanche/current/zone/2/ and Snoqualmie Pass is at http://www.nwac.us/forecast/avalanche/current/zone/3/

Avalanche danger is always a major concern in the Cascades for winter hikes. Every year there seems to be an “avalanche chute” that covers over or just removes parts of the Iron Goat Trail. The pictures of the before and aftermath of these events definitely get my attention when I am planning to hike on the snow. BE sure to check the avalanche danger before heading out on snowshoes.

Check out what 4Culture has going on with their December newsletter at http://www.4culture.org/enews/2009/december/ . The video on the Northwest Railway Museum and artists chosen for the King County trails kiosk program were of particular interest. There also is an article about the State Legislature’s HB 1386 that increases the county recorder document filing fee from $2 to $5 of which $1 is to be used “to promote historical preservation or historical programs, which may include preservation of historic documents.”

Announcements, maybe of interest

The City of Seattle Trails Program has anounced a work party at Interlaken Park this Friday December 4 from 10:00 to 2:30

Interlaken park redwood Grove trail planting

We have lots of great looking native plants to get in the ground joins us to put the finishing touches on a gem of a project! Planting is always fun! You know you wanna…

Meet at: The new park entrance at the end of 22nd Ave E., this entrance just south of Boyer Ave E. & 22nd Ave E.

City of Seattle also has a work party Saturday December 5 at the West Duwamish Green Belt from 10:00 to2:30

Pigeon Pt. Trail build

Pigeon Point Park is a great place to visit at the north end of the west Duwamish GB and just behind the new site for Pathfinder School. Our work here will be to improve the trails in order to improve the way people work in and enjoy this great park. Lots of good work yet to be done! Satisfying and rewarding exercise, come out and be part of the fun.

Meet at: The parking lot for Pathfinder School at, 1901 SW Genesee St
Seattle, WA 98106

Contact: Jacobo J. to RSVP 206-684-0598 or via Email jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov if you can come

Nature Consortium hosts volunteer work parties year round several times per week. Currently we are working Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am-2pm in the West Duwamish Greenbelt located in West Seattle. Each work party begins with a short informal forest ecology workshop. During the fall and winter we remove invasive species, mulch, and plant native plants and trees in the Seattle's largest remaining forest! Other seasons are devoted to maintenance and monitoring. Performing artists "play in the woods" during many of our work parties, and include singers, instrumentalists, and dancers.

The Nature Consortium will also be working at Pigeon Point on Saturday, Dec 5

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington will hold its December board meeting Monday, December 21 at the Lake City Chamber of Commerce meeting room in the same complex as the VOW office, 12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA. Give the office a call 206 517 3019 if you can come and we will look for you.

Mountaineers Foothills Branch Announcement

NORDIC SKI SWAP for cross-country, skate, telemark, and randonnée gear to benefit

THE MOUNTAINEERS FOOTHILLS BRANCH SKI PROGRAM http://www.foothillsmountaineers.org/skiing and THE SNOQUALMIE NORDIC CLUB http://www.snoqualmienordic.org

Friday Dec 4, 2009 – 6:00-9:00 PM Greenlake area 1 block west of I-5/NE 80th Exit

St. Andrews Episcopal Church
111 NE 80th St, Seattle

Burien Parks has their volunteer schedule for Seahurst, Shorewood, and Eagle Landing parks at http://www.seahurstpark.org/volunteer.html . The next ivy out work party is on Saturday, December 19 in Shorewood Park 10:00 to 12:00.

There will be a Seahurst Moonlight Beach walk December 12 from 7 to 9pm.Check out the flier at http://envsciencecenter.org/press/BeachwalkFlyer_2009_10.pdf

Vow's office is located in Lake City at 12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I in the same building as the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. The office is usually available for use by our members for small meetings. Also, the larger Lake City Chamber of Commerce conference room is available for free with prior reservations. Those familiar with Lake City will find the office a couple of buildings over from Dick's Drive In at Lake City Way and NE 30th.

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Hello All,

The new Trail Project at Grace Cole Nature Park continues

Work at Grace Cole Nature Park in Lake Forest Park is continuing at a good pace. Troop 171 from the Chief Seattle Council came out with an Eagle Scout project and cut 150 feet of new full bench trail. More students from University of Washington and Edmonds Community College as well as a good number of the local residents came out and helped.

Annik hopes to begin placing the gravel on part of the completed sections this coming weekend. Come out and help or drop by to see what is going on!

A background on the park is at http://www.lfpsf.org/ColeNaturePark/

The trail project is located on the Grace Cole Nature Park, located at:

16715 30th Ave. NE, Lake Forest Park

The work will continue on consecutive Saturdays until the trail is gravel application is complete.

All volunteers are welcome.

The work parties run from 9:00AM to 2:30PM.

Bring your lunch and water.

Sign up on the calendar section of the VOW web site http://www.trailvolunteers.org

VOW IRON GOAT TRAIL

Last week, Volunteers for Outdoor Washington held an Iron Goat Trail Volunteer event at the REI Seattle store. Below are my comments and appreciation to those who came and helped (sent out last week):

I want to thank everyone who was able to attend last night's Iron Goat Trail end of the season and volunteer recognition event at REI.

Bill Rowe put together a great program and party that I think everyone there enjoyed. I usually do not like these type of events (I know, I have a bad attitude) but this one was delightful.

Tom Davis had an excellent presentation of this years activities and plans for next year. I know all of VOW really appreciated his effort on this and especially the volunteer appreciation from the Forest Service.

Molly Brackett and Annik Wolfe stepped right in to get the word out on the party along with coordinating some of the last minute details. The event would not have been even half as good without their help.

The REI meeting room was fantastic. It was the perfect venue size for what we were doing. The digital projection system there can be only be described as AMAZING. Normal digital photographs, taken with regular non-professional camera equipment, were projected on a 10 ft (I think or bigger) screen without fuzziness. The images on such a large screen were full sized or even a little larger. For many pictures, it was like you were right there when the picture was taken!

I believe we were able to achieve secondary goals of showing 4culture and REI that the Iron Goat Trail crew and Volunteers for Outdoor Washington are both worthwhile and vibrant.

Todd Erskine with REI confirmed that the 2010 national trails day event will be sponsored by the Seattle REI store. I hope we will be able to get the 40+ people at the work party that we used to get when they sponsored the event in the past.

Anyway, great event and thanks to everyone who helped and attended.

Tom Davis presented the following awards and volunteer recognition at the event and wrote the following summary:

“In Nov. 2009 two individual volunteers were recognized for a cumulative total of 500 volunteer hours or more since 2007, and were awarded an Annual America the Beautiful Pass by the USFS. The recipients were Sandy Evans (523 hrs.) and Endre Dale (530 hrs.).

Also in Nov. 2009, the US Forest Service awarded Take Pride in America jackets to Jim Mattson, Ed Burns, and Dennis Evans who all volunteered an additional 500 hrs. in 2009, plus Take Pride in America t-shirts were awarded to 6 volunteers with more than 100 volunteer hours in 2009 to Richard Botts, Dale Thompson, Mike Lemon, Jim Chapman, Kathleen Burns, and Endre Dale.”

Check out the volunteer America the Beautiful Pass at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/volunteer.html .

VOW presented new Iron Goat Trail logo hats to Paul Maciocha, Tom Davis, Barb Busse, and Bill Rowe recognizing their help with the event.

MORE IRON GOAT TRAIL

The new Iron Goat Trail logo bill caps were ordered from the Queensboro Shirt Company in Wilmington NC. I have used the company several times for embroidered Iron Goat Trail logo items and have been very satisfied with their quality and service. The pricing is not necessarily the absolute lowest available, but they have easy web ordering, no set-up charges, and a 4 piece (mixed) minimum order-(although hats are a separate order category and cannot be combined with other items).

An order takes several weeks to arrive, so preplanning is suggested. Anyway, I talked with them and they have set up a special Iron Goat Trail logo link at http://www.queensboro.com/s/irongoattrail for anyone to use. You will have to enter your address and other information like any other web order.

Plans are continuing to develop in Skykomish for recognition of the 100 anniversary of the 1910 Wellington Avalanche disaster. Thoughts now are to have an event in Skykomish on Saturday, February 27 2010 and again later in the spring at the site. Rumors include that Gary Krist, author of the White Cascade may come for the ceremony. More plans and real information will come later as it develops. Contact the Skykomish Historical Society or Volunteers for Outdoor Washington if you would like to help or participate.

Web Tools (or Toys?)

Discover the Forest Sweepstakes

The US Forest Service, the Ad Council, and North Face are conducting a photo sweepstakes directed to “tweens” (ages 8 to12) to spend more time in nature.

The sweepstakes closes on December 7.

Check out the Forest Service news release, http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/discover-contest.pdf and the sweepstakes website http://www.discovertheforest.org/ .

Get to Know Contest

The Get to Know Contest has been Canada's most exciting and impacting nature art contest since 2000. Hundreds of thousands of youth have submitted entries crafted from moments of inspiration spent in nature. The contest, recently launched in the US for the first time and currently accepting entries, is an invitation for youth (age 18 and younger) to go outside (or to a zoo, aquarium, or museum), to "get to know" their wild neighbors, and then to share their experience with the world by creating an original work of art, photography, or writing and then entering their creation in the contest.

All entries must be postmarked or submitted online no later than November 30th, 2009.

Winning entries are chosen both for their artistic merit and for demonstrating that the entry was created by someone who experienced a wild neighbor directly. The winning entries will be published in the 2011 Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest Calendar, on the Get to Know website, and through our contest partners. Besides having their entry published, winners will receive numerous prizes and VIP invitations to special events.

The winning artwork from this year's contest will be published in the 2011 Get to Know Contest Calendar. Because 2011 has been designated the "International Year of Forests" by the United Nations, we have made forests the theme of this year's contest. Discover the natural wonders that can be found in forests, and enter the Get to Know Contest to help us prepare to celebrate forests in 2011. But don't worry if you can't get out and explore the forest – we still want to see art, writing, and photography dedicated to creatively depicting plants and animals found in your own backyard. Youth must go outside OR to a local zoo, aquarium, or natural history museum for inspiration. Artists: while you're there, take photos and make sketches to base your artwork on; submit these with your final art entry for bonus marks. Families: while you're outside, take some time together to learn more about the forests in your state, and all the plants and animals found here.

Check out the website http://www.gettoknow.ca/us/contest/

Announcements, maybe of interest

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest opened Hard Creek Bridge the end of October after two years of restricted availability. The bridge is on Cascade River Road, accessing the Mineral Park Campground on the forest and the Cascade Pass area of the North Cascades National Park. “In December of 2007, an avalanche came crashing down, damaging the bridge railing, decking and footings,” said Jim Mitchell, roads manager with US Forest Service. The bridge has since been under weight limit restrictions.

The Forest Service awarded the bridge design and repair to Federal Highways Administration. Contractors began work in September and completed the project for $240,000. For more information about roads and trail closures, go to alerts and conditions on http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/ .

Cut a Christmas Tree Permits for sale on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest The public can buy permits to cut Christmas trees on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest beginning Nov. 12 through Dec. 24.

Cutting areas are located within national forest lands in the eastern portions of Pierce, King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Maps and information about cutting areas are provided where permits are sold at ranger stations and the Verlot and Glacier Public Service Centers.

Additionally, permits are sold at REI’s Alderwood Mall and the Outdoor Recreation Information Center located inside the downtown Seattle REI store. Permits cost $10 each, one tree per permit, with a tree height limit of 12 feet. The permits are nonrefundable.

Trees taller than 12 feet require a special permit at a minimum price of $20. Credit cards are not accepted at Forest Service offices or the Outdoor Recreation Information Center in the Seattle REI store, however, the REI at Alderwood Mall will take them. Forest Service offices and REI stores are closed Thanksgiving Day. Forest Service offices may close early Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, so call ahead for operating hours.

Plan to purchase a parking permit if the trip includes parking in a designated Sno-Park lot. Getting a tree early before substantial snow falls usually means better access on forest roads. “Set out early in the day to allow for maximum daylight and let friends or relatives know where you are going and when to expect you back,” said Forest Service’s Dave Kendrick, who oversees the Christmas tree permit program. Most trees are accessible only by narrow, unplowed mountain roads. High-clearance vehicles are often required along with tire chains and a shovel.

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington will hold its monthly board meeting next Monday, November 23 at the Lake City Chamber of Commerce meeting room in the same complex as the VOW office, 12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA. Give the office a call 206 517 3019 if you can come and we will look for you.

Next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meetings and Program

Monday, Nov. 23rd

Thomas Hammond of the North Cascades Conservation Council (NCCC) or, as the new project is called The American Alps Legacy Project, will give his slide show on the North Cascades.

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm, program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Free program and parking

Monday, November 23rd 5:00 to 7:00 pm The Seattle Theatre Group, along with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, Washington State Arts Alliance, and 4Culture, is holding a welcome the new Seattle mayor Mike McGinn and King County Executive Dow Constantine in the Paramount Theatre, Grand Lobby 911 Pine Street, Seattle.

The Dead Horse Canyon in Lakeridge Park Volunteers announced they will be planting native plants next Saturday, November 21 from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. “We need all the help we can get because we cleared invasives out of some large areas during the summer that now need to be planted with natives. So, dress for the weather, roll up your sleeves, prepare to get dirty and have some fun. We meet under the blue tent at the trail head for coffee. We supply plants, tools, some gloves and refreshments”.

Information on the park and project is at http://www.seattleurbannature.org/Projects/DHC.html .

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Hello All,

The new Trail Project at Grace Cole Nature Park began with invasive and “other” removal

Last Saturday’s event brought 25 volunteers to Lake City to help with the removal of invasive plants and other debris from the area for the new trail in the nature park. Many of the volunteers were with University of Washington and taking a class in environmental science and will be using the project to write their report.

A background and information on the park is at http://www.lfpsf.org/ColeNaturePark/

Basic info!

The trail project is located on the Grace Cole Nature Park, located at 16715 30th Ave. NE, Lake Forest Park

The work will continue on consecutive Saturdays until the trail is gravel application is complete.

All volunteers are welcome.

The work parties run from 9:00AM to 2:30PM.

Bring your lunch and water.

Sign up on the calendar section of the VOW web site http://www.trailvolunteers.org

Al Wagar provided a summary of the event:

Saturday at Grace Cole Nature Park, Lake Forest Park

On Saturday, October 10 a work party of 25, including 13 students from a University of Washington Environmental Science class, removed invasives from the park--ivy, holly, laurel, and blackberry--as well as removing such trash as a washing machine, derelict motorcycle and many trash bags full of cans and bottles. By the end of the day the "mountain" of removed invasives was about 30 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 6 feet tall. The students get extra credit for their work and, to help them with their reports, Maimie Bolender of the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation explained objectives for the park and showed the students a newly-installed seasonal pond for amphibians as well as an overlook for stream headwaters where salmon fingerlings are released.

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party next Friday and Saturday!

Oct 16 St. Marks Greenbelt

We are working on building new a switchback and repairing old bridges.

Time 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Please join us!

Meet At the North end of the parking at St. Mark’s Cathedral. 1245 10th Ave E.

Look for the Trails project here sign.

Oct 17 West Duwamish Greenbelt

We will be doing a lot of fun rock work in this huge Green belt

Time 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Please join us!

Meet at The corner of 14th Ave SW & SW Holly St

Look for the Trails project here sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

VOW IRON GOAT TRAIL

Lots of thanks to Dennis Evans for the following announcement and activity report :

Due to the deteriorating weather in the Stevens Pass area, we have decided to call an end to the Iron Goat Trail work season. All remaining scheduled work parties on the Iron Goat Trail for this year have been canceled.

Not much to report from the Iron Goat front this week. Colder, wetter weather is setting in in the mountains, and there is a possibility that we will have no further work parties this year. Snow is forecast in the Martin Creek area for tomorrow, and cold wet weather will follow for the next week or so.

We spent Saturday’s work party working on tread cleaning and widening out of Wellington, and culvert cleaning between Wellington and Windy Point.

We want to try and get in a plan-in-hand review of next year’s proposed work this fall before we are weathered out. We may try to do that this week in spite of the poor weather forecast

Plans are beginning to come together for an end of season get together and slide show at the REI main Store in Seattle. A meeting room has been reserved for Tuesday, November 10. More details later.

Web Tools (or Toys?)

David Michael, Region 5 Crosscut Saw Coordinator and Trails & OHV Program Manager with USFS Tahoe National Forest sent information about a cross cut saw restoration slide show on u tube that I think is useful and well put together.

The slide show was made by Dan Dueweke, a volunteer on the Appalachian Trail and is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrYsFlx3OSY

Dan shows good restoration and sharpening techniques in taking an “auction received” one man crosscut saw to a effective saw. Dan spent 15 hours on the restoration and sharpening and the slide show shows the use of the specialized equipment needed to effectively sharpen a saw.

The US Forest Service has a web site highlighting this years fall colors in various national forests. Unfortunately for western Washington there has been very little fall colors due to the weather, Eastern Washington is a little better. Check out http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/ if you plan to take a scenic driving trip (or if you want to take a scenic driving trip)

Announcements, maybe of interest

Eric Taylor with 4 culture sent the following announcement of a free event.

Subject: invitation to emergency preparedness event

Are You Prepared?
In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake caused over $51.2 million in damage to area businesses. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration)
This last winter, a snow storm caused widespread power outages, transportation issues, lost revenue, and business closures, including performance cancellations at local arts and cultural organizations.
This coming winter, if the Green River floods as a result of problems with the Howard Hanson Dam, thousands of residents and businesses could face as much as $2 billion to $3 billion in property damage. (Source: Seattle Times)
Over the summer, the World Health Organization declared the H1N1 virus to be a pandemic based on its broad geographic reach and it’s expected to return this fall. (Source: pnwlocalnews.com)
Nonprofit cultural organizations in King County attract 13 million visitors annually to theaters, museums, science centers, and events. Last winter's relatively mild snowstorms clearly demonstrated that most arts groups, already suffering from strained resources, are not well-equipped to manage a significant emergency event.

In response, you are invited to participate in an upcoming two-hour seminar on emergency preparedness. This seminar is hosted by Seattle University, in partnership with ArtsFund, 4Culture, the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Seattle Office of Emergency Management, and Public Health-Seattle & King County.

You will learn about personal and business applications of basic emergency preparedness as well as how to better prepare for potential crisis scenarios, including snowstorms, earthquakes, floods, and public health emergencies.

As the manager of one of the area’s largest arts groups said, "The economic downturn has burned through a lot of our financial and human resources. We're fragile. A blow like H1N1 could be devastating."

Are you prepared?

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Pigott Auditorium – Seattle University Campus, 901 12th Avenue
Registration: http://prepared.eventbrite.com/
Contact Info. Kevin Maifeld, maifeldk@seattleu.edu

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Wednesday October 28th

Preservation of wilderness is not a simple matter...

It's all about wilderness preservation told in the inspiring words of Harvey Manning, the irate birdwatcher.

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm, program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Follow the legendary Northwest writer and conservationist as he discovers the beauty of Washington's wildest places, and the need to stand up and fight for their very survival. This is Harvey's story about this state's unique wilderness, his deep passion for it, his years of ramblings as an avid backpacker and climber, and his own personal crusade to preserve and protect it for future generations with a wee bit of preaching thrown in to boot.

Filmed and Edited by Robert Chrestensen
Produced and Directed by Robert and Kathy Chrestensen
Words by Harvey Manning

Voice by Earl V. Prebezac
Music by David Michael

Vow's office is located in Lake City at 12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I in the same building as the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. The office is usually available for use by our members for small meetings. Also, the larger Lake City Chamber of Commerce conference room is available for free with prior reservations. Those familiar with Lake City will find the office a couple of buildings over from Dick's Drive In at Lake City Way and NE 30th.

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Hello All,

VOW is beginning a new Urban Trails Project with Lake Forest Park!!!

Basic info!

The trail project is located on the Grace Cole Nature Park, located at 16715 30th Ave. NE, Lake Forest Park

Last Saturday the trail construction was started. The new trail on the west side of the park was blazed and masses invasive plants were removed.

The work will continue on consecutive Saturdays until the trail is graveled completed.

All volunteers are welcome.

The work parties run from 9:00AM to 2:30PM.

Bring your lunch and water.

Sign up on the calendar section of the VOW web site http://www.trailvolunteers.org

The Volunteers at Lake Forest Park provided the following announcement:

 Let's build a trail!

It's begun, folks!

Work continues this Saturday, October 10 on the upper trail at Grace Cole Nature Park!

The crew flagged the new main route (which extends westward above the cutoff going to the "sandpit") and cleared non-natives from a large portion of it.

This week we will salvage native plants from the cleared area.  They will be reused to help stabilize the trail. Rahel, our senior student who has adopted a stretch of the trail as her senior project.  Her crew will be clearing invasive plants from that portion of the trail.

Work is scheduled for consecutive Saturdays until completion of the trail. Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) will be supervising the trail building, but a lot of the work will be done by us (the volunteers).

We welcome you!

The scheduled time will be 9 AM to 3 PM.  Come for a portion of that time if you can't spend all day.

Volunteers are asked to bring their lunch, water and work gloves.

It's good to have long sleeves and log pants, as well.  Tools will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own loppers, shears or other tools if you like.

In addition to trail-building there will be blackberry removal by the boardwalk on Saturday, October 17.

This is a great opportunity for all of us to get out and do a good turn for our parks.  It's also an opportunity for students to fulfill Community Service requirements.  That's 6 hours each Saturday if you choose to stay the entire day (which is optional)!  A bonus is you'll learn from experts how trails are built.  Under age persons please bring written consent of parent or guardian or, better yet, bring the parents along.

Saturday trail-building will continue here until this portion of the trail is completed.

Grace Cole Nature Park is at NE 163rd and 30th Ave. NE.  You get there by heading south on 28th Ave. NE from NE. 178th Street.  When the street turns to the left you'll see the signs to your right. Take the trail up the hill from the parking area at the corner.

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

Oct 10 West Duwamish Greenbelt

We will be doing a lot of fun rock work in this huge Green belt

Time 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Please join us!

Meet at The corner of 14th Ave SW & SW Holly St

Look for the Trails project here sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

VOW I90 Projects

VOW was active on the three I 90 Forest Service areas this year, Asahel Curtis, Gold Creek Pond and Tinkham/Discovery with 10 work parties. Asahel Curtis trail received some major work, removing a set of steps and then re-grading the path to a trail. Another location had a major reroute of the trail and then rebuilding an existing raised gravel path (turnpike). VOW worked with 4 organizations including Discover your Northwest, Conservation Northwest, and O2 (Outdoor Opportunities) to install bat boxes on Gold Creek Pond.

Much of the major work on Asahel Curtis was accomplished this year with a South Center REI store employees work party and many thanks goes out to REI who has been long time VOW supporter. The event was attended by Sally Jewell (REI - CEO) and Rob Iwamoto (Mount Baker Snoqualmie Forest Supervisor), Kathleen Dowd-Gailey (National Forest Foundation Northwest Director) along with a lot of other notables.

Snoqualmie Ranger District Recreation/Trails unit of the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest nominated Harold Buresh of North Bend, Washington for the honor of Forest Service Volunteer of the Year for 2008. On August 14, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack presented Buresh with his award in a ceremony in Seattle. Check out the announcement at http://www.fs.fed.us/fstoday/090814/03.0About_Us/vol_of_year.html

VOW IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

Lots of thanks to Paul Maciocha, this years Iron Goat Crew boss and very major participant in the Iron Goat Trail effort this year for the following activity report:

As far as our main project goes, i.e., the Horseshoe Tunnel/Kelley Creek Trail Spur, we've completed approx. 690 ft. which brings us close to our goal. We'll probably be about 50' or so shy plus construction of the last puncheon/bridge on this stretch. Dennis, with a little help from his friends, finished 3 puncheon/bridges in very dicey spots. This has been a very challenging project, so, kudos to Jim Mattson, Ed Burns and everyone who has participated.

Volunteer Vacation was a great success, again, working in some tough terrain. Thanks to the S. Everett Rotary guys for coming out in August and brushing the upper grade out of Martin Creek. We've had several casual vols who came out several times and were a great help. What more can I say about our longtime regulars?

We also had help this year from PNTA, Pacific Northwest Trails Assoc. Led by Steve Roll, they built a puncheon/bridge at Stream 3 and a turnpike on the trail down to the Martin Cr. bridge site.

As far as October goes, we had a nice turnout on a beautiful day for National Public Land's Day, followed by a barbecue, courtesy of the Evans'. The next work parties, subject to change due to weather, etc., will be const. on Wednesday and maint. on Saturday.

We also took care of several significant maintenance projects this year. Installed and repaired several culverts, removed a root wad near the Adit, repaired railings, reroute on th Windy Pt. Crossover, reroute at Str. 3 on the upper grade, etc.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are continuing on some Saturdays in October and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday and the “other” Saturdays through the season.

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2. VOW has some Iron Goat Trail logo “Pin Back” buttons. Check with the office if you would like one

Plans are beginning to come together for an end of season get together and slide show at the REI main Store in Seattle. A meeting room has been reserved for Tuesday, November 10. More details later.

Announcements, maybe of interest

Shelly Shellabarger the Volunteer Program Coordinator for City of Bellevue, forwarded this note about a new seminar.

VOW or the City of Bellevue has no information about this seminar and provides the listing for information only.

Benevon is a commercial organization.

Free Financial Sustainability Seminar in Seattle November 10th

Join Laura Fixler, Benevon Instructor & Coach, as she talks about a tested system to identify and cultivate donors who love your mission—donors who will give for operations, capital, and endowment—even during challenging financial times.

November 10th: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Lillian Rice Senior Services Center

To Register: http://www.benevon.com/intros/Register-Seattle

Questions: email alaina.szlachta@benevon.com

Alaina Szlachta

Community Resources Representative

Benevon

206-428-2158

www.benevon.com

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Wednesday October 28th

Preservation of wilderness is not a simple matter...

It's all about wilderness preservation told in the inspiring words of Harvey Manning, the irate birdwatcher.

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm, program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Filmed and Edited by Robert Chrestensen
Produced and Directed by Robert and Kathy Chrestensen
Words by Harvey Manning

Voice by Earl V. Prebezac
Music by David Michael

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program is now scheduling work parties for every other Saturday to accommodate midweek youth group volunteers. There is no Seattle Parks Trails Program work party this Saturday, June 20.

Please Join Seattle Parks tomorrow, Wednesday June 16

June 16th West Duwamish Greenbelt

TRAILS RESTORATION WORK PARTY

Project One of our biggest stretches of forests in the entire city. A great opportunity for people who want to be in a real urban forest. Bring water, please! Tools & gloves will be provided.

Sponsor Trails Program

Time 9:30a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Meet at We will be meeting at the corner of 14th ave & Holly St.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 rjacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Website http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

Tom Davis sent the following about the puncheon bridge at stream # 3 lower grade:

The lower grade of IGT is now wheelchair accessible. Thanks to the hard work of a crew from the Pacific Northwest Trails Association (PNTA) consisting of 3 Job Corps enrollees and an adult leader completed a 14' long puncheon bridge at stream # 3 on June 8. This was the site of previous flood (Nov. 2006) and major avalanche damage in 2008 that destroyed the previous puncheon bridge. The crew worked the week of June 1, with temperatures hitting the 90s for some of their work days. The crew was funded by Congressional appropriations for Storm Damage to Trails that were received by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie NF last fall. Let's hope the next natural disaster will be nicer to the IGT.

Dennis Evans and Paul Maciocha sent the following info on the National Trails Day activities

Turnout for National Trails Day on the Iron Goat Trail was fairly light but the volunteers who did participate were eager and energetic. The Mountaineers provided several volunteers and several National Trails Day t-shirts. A substantial amount of work was accomplished on the Horseshoe Tunnel Extension trail which is currently under construction.

After the work party, Richard Botts cooked at a barbecue hamburger feed in Skykomish for the volunteers. All-in-all it was a successful event.

Other News: This year on the trail will see the construction of four puncheon bridges on the section of the trail that is currently under construction. The lumber order was placed earlier this month and the lumber (including several very substantial timbers to be used for bridge stringers) was delivered on June 9. Construction has already started on the first of the planned bridges. Some of the material being used was salvaged from the destroyed viewing platform at the Old Cascade Tunnel.

The Mountaineers have been great supporters of VOW and the Iron Goat Trail since the beginning of the project. We always appreciate them when they help out.

During the National Trails Day work party much progress continued on the Spur Trail. The previous Wed. & Thur. we did some boulder busting and also had a Grip Hoist training session and pulled out a log and a couple of stumps.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are on some Saturdays in June and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday and the “other” Saturdays through the season.

The IGT 2009 Wildflower hikes are scheduled for June 20th, and July 11th. The earlier May 9 hike has been cancelled as there is likely to be few flowers to see due to the late snow.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

The Iron Goat Trail Volunteer Vacation is one of the 6 volunteer vacations with the American Hiking Society in Washington. The Bureau of Land Management and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association are the other groups in the state working with AHS in their volunteer vacation program. VOW has held an Iron Goat Trail AHS volunteer vacation now for over 10 years and it has become one of the special trail events during the season. As every year, we will stay at the Mountaineers Steven’s pass ski lodge during the week. This years’ volunteer vacation is the week of July 12 through the 17.

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2. VOW has some Iron Goat Trail logo “Pin Back” buttons. Check with the office if you would like one

Plans are beginning to firm up for an end of season get together and slide show at the REI main Store in Seattle. A meeting room has been reserved for Tuesday, November 10. More details later.

VOW I90 Projects

The next big I90 Projects family event will be at Gold Creek Pond and trail on July 25!

Good Philosophy

The following is from a message received from the folks at “Leave No Trace”

"There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing"

I overheard this walking down my street, of all places, the other morning, and had to smile. Colorado is notorious for quickly changing weather, but some things like afternoon thundershowers in the summer are fairly predictable.

I might even take this statement a little further and substitute "bad planning" for "bad clothing". Every season can be enjoyable when you have the right gear, clothing and backup options. Personally, some of my favorite trips and experiences have been in what some would consider "bad weather". I have found that often our environment is revealed in totally new and unique ways during different weather conditions.

A quick look at the forecast, and a little research as to the typical conditions for a given area and season can make or break a trip or even a day out. If traveling somewhere new, stop in the local Outdoor Retailer and ask the local experts what to expect. So even if the "weather" doesn't cooperate, be able to make the most of every trip on your list this year, and enjoy!

Other Happenings,

Forest Service Replaces Ice Caves Bridge, Heavy Construction Closes Trail

Hikers hoping to trek the popular Ice Caves Trail and visitors wanting to enjoy the Big Four Picnic Area will not have to wait much longer. Construction of a new trail bridge over the Stillaguamish River is underway. The trail has been closed since November 2006 floods washed the bridge out.

Heavy construction will keep the picnic area and trail closed until the project is finished. "During construction, the area won’t be safe for anyone,” said Peter Forbes, Darrington District Ranger. Even with signs posted and gates closed, as many as 125 people a day have been parking on the Mountain Loop Highway, walking around the gates and the closure signs to get to the trail. Those continuing to ignore the closures signs and enter the area may be ticketed and fined, Forbes said. The area includes the Ice Caves and Big Four parking lots and 300 feet from the trail.

The current closure won’t last long, “We are hoping to have the bridge done and the trail open by early July," he said.

The Ice Caves Trail is a heavily used, barrier-free trail on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, designated as a National Recreation Trail. It crosses the South Fork Stillaguamish River about one-third mile from the trailhead and continues beyond the river for three-quarters of a mile to the base of Big Four Mountain, where the ice caves form. The Ice Caves Picnic Area and Trail are located about 25 miles east of Granite Falls along the Mountain Loop Scenic Byway. Funding for the repairs is from the Western Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration under the Emergency Relief to Federally Owned Roads program.

Unfortunately, the upper end of the trail received additional damage by heavy snow and avalanches during the winters of 2007 and 2008. More work is planned to complete repairs on the besieged trail later this year. For more information about roads and trail closures, go to alerts and conditions on http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/.

The Greenway Trust is partnering up with REI to present the “REI in the Greenway Series” throughout the month of June.

Join the Greenway Trust for mid-week clinics on recreational opportunities in the Greenway and then again on the weekends for service projects at popular trails like Little Si and Kamikaze Falls.

Get to one or all, and give back to your recreation areas! Come celebrate recreation in the Greenway with us—visit http://www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/events/rei-in-the-greenway for more information.

For groups interested in doing team bonding outdoors, the Greenway Trust is offering mid-week, customized volunteer projects on a variety of restoration and trail projects, including Issaquah Creek, Lake Sammamish State Park, Kamikaze Falls, and Little Si. Dig in the dirt, construct structures, build new trail, and hang out with co-workers, friends, and family. Contact them for more details and to register your team.

Also, there will be more information about a new trail project on Granite Mountain. Projects include hiking supplies to the top of the mountain in June (a great summer conditioner!) and cleaning up the bottom section of the trail in July.

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

The following is from the group at Dead Horse Canyon in Seattle’s Lakeridge Park.

Check out the Times article on Lakeridge park and Taylor Creek at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2002008973_nwwshady19.html

Summer has arrived and we are busy in Dead Horse Canyon with hauling gravel for trail maintenance. The low spots and muddy spots on the trail are being filled in but we still have a long way to go to finish the job. We are also hauling unbelievable amounts of trash out of hard-to-reach areas of the canyon that have not been previously worked. In May, our big find was a huge lawn mower/rototiller that appeared to date back to the 1940s. It took four strong fraternity brothers to carry it up a hill and out to the street in one of the neighborhoods that surrounds the canyon. There is also an old refrigerator in the area behind our house that we have not been able to remove. With enough man/woman power and a little brain power, we should also be able to get it gone. Another project is clearing invasives for fall planting with natives.

So let's all join together this Saturday, the 20th for another project. At 8:30 AM, we will meet under the blue tent at the trail head (hairpin turn at corner of Holyoke and 68th Ave. S.) Please dress for the weather, wear long pants and long sleeves and sturdy shoes and bring gloves if you have them. Our supply of gloves is dwindling. We will supply tools and refreshments and lots of fun.

Call Jude or Darrell at (206) 772-1452 for further information.

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Program: Long-distance hiking in Europe, skiing in Europe, and hiking in Northeast US.
Patti Polinsky will present highlights from numerous Mountaineers outings.

The Mountaineers Foothills Branch has requested this dance announcement conducted with Bellevue Parks and the Tracks program.

Come celebrate the Eastside's newest social dance venue!!

Great Eastside location just off 1-90! Beautiful wooden dance floor! Fantastic dance music!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Co-sponsored by Bellevue Parks and Recreation, City of Bellevue, the Tracks program, and The Foothills Branch of The Mountaineers

WHERE: South Bellevue Community Center, 4509 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, WA

From I-90, take exit 11 (if heading West) or 11A (if heading East) onto 150th Ave SE.

Go south on 150th Ave SE (0.8 miles), turn right onto SE Newport Way.

Go 0.2 miles and turn left into the Community Center driveway. Park at the top of the hill.

WHEN: 8:00- 9:00 pm: Swing Dance Lesson with Ari Levitt (Level: Beginner/Intermediate)

9:00-11:30 pm: Dance to a wonderful mix of Swing, Waltz, Latin, Ballroom, Blues, and more.

COST: $10.00 ALL AGES WELCOME! GREAT FOR SINGLES, COUPLES, & FAMILIES!

The Nature Consortium hosts volunteer work parties in the West Duwamish Greenbelt year round every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am - 2pm, and Wednesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm. Our schedule is starting to fill in and soon enough we will be having work parties 7 days a week! Each work party begins with a short informal forest ecology workshop. During the fall/winter months we remove invasive species and maintain our site. During the fall and winter we remove invasive species, mulch, and plant native plants and trees in the West Duwamish Greenbelt (see below for more details). Performing artists "play in the woods" during many of our work parties, and include singers, instrumentalists, and dancers.

Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are required. Dress appropriately for weather and mud (i.e. synthetic materials and fleeces). We work rain or shine. Bring a full water bottle. We will have water available for refills. Bring a bagged lunch if granola bars will not be enough of a snack. http://www.naturec.org/restoration.htm

Shelly Shellabarger, the Volunteer Program Coordinator with the City of Bellevue sent the following announcement on this upcoming training

Social Networking 101 Training

June 23 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Crossroads Community Center

This Social Networking panel will focus on the basics (nuts and bolts) of social media and how it works. In addition, attendees can learn how social networking can be utilized by community, non-profits and other agencies to increase exposure, as well as to expand marketing and outreach. Panelists from the social networking field with provide valuable information and answer questions in an interactive workshop. Resource materials will also be available. There is no fee, but RSVPs are required. RSVP to volunteer@bellevuewa.gov.

DIRECTIONS TO CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CENTER

Our Address:

16000 NE 10th St.

Bellevue, WA 98008

Ph: (425) 452-4874

Hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, closed Sunday

Burien Parks has their volunteer schedule for Seahurst, Shorewood, and Eagle Landing parks at http://www.seahurstpark.org/volunteer.html . The next ivy out work party is on Saturday, June 20 in Shorewood Park.

The Lake City Chamber of Commerce is holding “Pioneer Days” the first weekend of August. We hope to have a VOW booth at the Street Festival beginning at 10:00. Contact the office if you would like to help. The Chamber is also looking for volunteers for 4 hour shifts, contact Diane Haugen 206 363 3287 chamber@lakecitychamber.org

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

June 13 St. Marks Greenbelt

TRAILS RESTORATION

We will be continuing the construction of a rock wall and staircase at the bottom of the first switch back. Great trail work that will last for a long tome lots of fun!

Sponsor Trail Program & GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Please join us

Meet at The south end of the parking at St. Marks Cathedral.124510th Ave E.

Look for the Trails project here sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Website http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

Jacobo is going to start some mid week work parties in the summer. Contact the office if you are interested.

VOW I90 Projects

The next big I90 Projects family event will be at Gold Creek Pond and trail on July 25!

Recap of the June 6^th VOW National Trails Day event at Asahel Curtis Trail by Annik Wolfe

It was a good day for trail work. No rain. It was not hot and we worked in the shade.

Everyone worked until they pooped out but had great time. The picnic area section of the Asahel Curtis Nature Trail was cleared and brushed and even the Asahel Curtis monument was given a face lift! Another (mammoth) project was the removal of an old set of rotted stairs replacing it with a regraded gently sloped trail with the addition of a culvert at the end. Also one of the bridge approaches was regraded to keep the bridge free of debris.

The event was topped off with a great picnic of hamburgers, dogs & vegie burgers, salads, fruit, and cookies. Everybody had fun and all spent time at the picnic trading stories. It was a pleasant afternoon and did not get cool until 5PM.

All attendees received a T-shirt and a Northwest Forest day pass.

Lots of thanks to the Mountaineers Foothills Branch in helping with this event!

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

Chinook Middle School - IGT Enthusiasm

On May 20th Bob Kelly had the opportunity to talk to over 100 students, at Chinook Middle School, who toured the IGT on June 5th with Oralee Kramer's field trip. He attended five classes during the day and made a presentation titled: The Railroad History of Stevens Pass.

We covered the discovery, building and operation of the GN line. The students learned about switchbacks, snow sheds, the horseshoe tunnel, Wellington avalanche, both long tunnels and current rail operations. Each student will be making a one page report about the trail with photographs as part of a larger assignment. Bob showed them several "then and now" type photos that seemed to amaze them about all the changes. The students were excited about the visit and were loaded with questions about the GN and the trail.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are on some Saturdays in June and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday and the “other” Saturdays through the season.

The IGT 2009 Wildflower hikes are scheduled for June 20th, and July 11th. The earlier May 9 hike has been cancelled as there is likely to be few flowers to see due to the late snow.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

The Iron Goat Trail Volunteer Vacation is one of the 6 volunteer vacations with the American Hiking Society in Washington. The Bureau of Land Management and the Pacific Northwest Trail Association are the other groups in the state working with AHS in their volunteer vacation program. VOW has held an Iron Goat Trail AHS volunteer vacation now for over 10 years and it has become one of the special trail events during the season. As every year, we will stay at the Mountaineers Steven’s pass ski lodge during the week. This years’ volunteer vacation is the week of July 12 through the 17.

Plans are beginning to come together for an end of season get together and slide show at the REI main Store in Seattle. A meeting room has been reserved for Tuesday, November 10. More details later.

Web Tools (or Toys?)

Shelly Shellabarger the Volunteer Program Coordinator for City of Bellevue, sent this note about the new national volunteering web site

Check out this new National volunteering website. You can sign up for updates on national calls to service, and post your volunteer opportunities online.

You Can Help Renew America

President Obama is calling on all Americans to join together in a sustained, collaborative, and focused effort to address the nation's most challenging problems.

Use this site to register projects that will bring people together and engage them in service to strengthen your community and our nation as a whole.

Benefits of Registering Your Project

Millions of Americans will be looking for opportunities to answer the President's call to service.

Listed projects will receive national and local media attention.

Engaged and concerned citizens will have ready access and increased awareness to your cause.

Cool Music

Music over the internet has been a hot topic and eventually became a matter of concern. Record companies and performers have actively monitored their rights of compensation for their work.

Not all performers have sought such control over their work. Many musicians view the internet as a way to get their music out to fans and gain more following of their art.

Michael Fleck and Galena Reiter of Blue-Ize have put some of their music in mp3 format on their web site http://www.undefinedmusic.org/index.html including a song Michael wrote in the Skykomish Cascadia Inn bar a couple of years ago on the 1910 Wellington avalanche disaster. One of the trail heads on the Iron Goat Trail is at the Wellington town site. The title of the song is “The Wellington Train Disaster”

If you want to hear the song off your computer you will need to download it.

A lot of people know how to do this, but in case you are not sure in MS Windows:

Go to the www.undefinedmusic.org web site

Find the music button on the left side of the page, click on it

Find the button on the bottom of the page for “the Wellington Train Disaster” song.

Put the mouse arrow over the button and use the RIGHT click function of the mouse

A screen will come up and choose “save target as” with a left click

A regular “Save as” screen will appear and choose somewhere to put the file.

After the file has downloaded go to the file and click on it. Usually Windows media player will come up and the song will start.

Other Happenings,

MT. BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST

Economic Recovery Projects Benefit Forest Roads and Watershed and Ecosystem Restoration

EVERETT, WA, June 4, 2009 – Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will receive $5.59 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to maintain and repair roads and bridges, decommission and store roads, and upgrade culverts to enhance drainage in watersheds. “This is very good news for our local communities and the Puget Sound ecosystem,” said Forest Supervisor Rob Iwamoto.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 106 projects Tuesday, funded at more than $228 million, located on Forest Service land in 31 states. “These road maintenance projects will provide for public health and safety, resource protection, and access to lands in the National Forests,” said Vilsack. “The rehabilitation of roads will improve water quality by reducing sediments in nearby streams and help to restore natural resources and habitat for fish in areas impacted by deterioration and erosion of road surfaces.”

The Greenway Trust is partnering up with REI to present the “REI in the Greenway Series” throughout the month of June. Join the Greenway Trust for mid-week clinics on recreational opportunities in the Greenway and then again on the weekends for service projects at popular trails like Little Si and Kamikaze Falls.

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Program: Long-distance hiking in Europe, skiing in Europe, and hiking in Northeast US.
Patti Polinsky will present highlights from numerous Mountaineers outings.

The Mountaineers Foothills Branch has requested this dance announcement conducted with Bellevue Parks and the Tracks program.

Come celebrate the Eastside's newest social dance venue!!

Great Eastside location just off 1-90! Beautiful wooden dance floor! Fantastic dance music!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Co-sponsored by Bellevue Parks and Recreation, City of Bellevue, the Tracks program, and The Foothills Branch of The Mountaineers

WHERE: South Bellevue Community Center, 4509 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, WA

From I-90, take exit 11 (if heading West) or 11A (if heading East) onto 150th Ave SE.

Go south on 150th Ave SE (0.8 miles), turn right onto SE Newport Way.

Go 0.2 miles and turn left into the Community Center driveway. Park at the top of the hill.

WHEN: 8:00- 9:00 pm: Swing Dance Lesson with Ari Levitt (Level: Beginner/Intermediate)

9:00-11:30 pm: Dance to a wonderful mix of Swing, Waltz, Latin, Ballroom, Blues, and more.

COST: $10.00 ALL AGES WELCOME! GREAT FOR SINGLES, COUPLES, & FAMILIES!

Dress appropriately for weather and mud (i.e. synthetic materials and fleeces). We work rain or shine. Bring a full water bottle. We will have water available for refills. Arial">The Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Nature FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">West black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> yes"> Bring http://www.naturec.org/restoration.htm

Shelly Shellabarger, the Volunteer Program Coordinator with the City of Bellevue sent the following announcement on this upcoming training

Social Networking 101 Training

June 23 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Crossroads Community Center

DIRECTIONS TO CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CENTER

Our Address:

16000 NE 10th St.

Bellevue, WA 98008

Ph: (425) 452-4874

Hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, closed Sunday

The Lake City Chamber of Commerce is holding “Pioneer Days” the first weekend of August. We hope to have a VOW booth at the Street Festival beginning at 10:00. Contact the office if you would like to help. The Chamber is also looking for volunteers for 4 hour shifts, contact Diane Haugen 206 363 3287 chamber@lakecitychamber.org

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Green Seattle Partnership work party for next Saturday!

June 6 Frink Park

Join in for National Trails Day with the Green Seattle Partnership to spruce-up our local Frink Park trail system. Our trails are getting lots of use and need some attention. Your helping hands can put down a fresh layer of gravel and clear the way of debris and rough spots. If we have extra energy we can continue forest restoration efforts and mulch our new native plantings.
Time: 12:00 am - 3:30 pm Saturday June 6th
Where to meet: Gather by the Parks Kiosk at the intersection of Lake Washington Blvd South and Frink Place (NW corner of 34th and Jackson) Look for signs!
What to bring: Your favorite gloves, long pants and heavy footwear. We will provide gloves (if you don’t have any) as well as all the tools you’ll need. Don’t forget to bring a snack and something to drink. See you there!
Address and directions to site: 400 Lake Washington Blvd South

See website for directions. www.FrinkPark.org

Tip: the project site is NOT near the lake shore.

Where to park: Several pull offs along Lake Washington Blvd or down at Leschi Park proper.

VOW I90 Projects

June 6^th VOW NATIONAL TRAILS DAY EVENT AT ASAHEL CURTIS TRAIL

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington is holding a National Trails Day event in partnership with Mountaineers Foothills Branch and Mt Baker Snoqualmie National forest. The event will run from 8:30am to 4:00 pm and will be followed by a free picnic.

All the volunteers will receive a free T-shirt.
The trail maintenance will consist of installing culverts, repairing drainage, removing existing stairs to establish a new trail grade and cutting back some fallen trees.

Volunteers should bring a lunch, water, gloves and wear long pants, hiking boots and long-sleeved shirts.

Hard hats and tools will be provided by VOW and the Forest Service.

Go to the June VOW calendar, National Trails Day I-90 to sign up: http://www.trailvolunteers.org/calendar.asp?mo=6&org=vow or call Annik (206-368-2688).

Directions to work party parking:
Drive I-90 East to Exit 47.

At the stop sign turn LEFT.

Drive to T in the road and turn RIGHT and go 1/4 mile.

Park at the parking lot on the right. This is the picnic area parking lot (NOT the trailhead parking lot). If you have any questions contact Annik Wolfe at annikw@gmail.com or 206-368-2688.

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

JOHN D. SPELLMAN Historic Preservation Awards

The award ceremony for the King County Executive's John D. Spellman Award for Achievement in Historic Preservation was held at Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center in North Bend, WA on May 29, 2009. The main partners in the Scenic Interpretive Site received the award in the Interpretation category. The award was presented by Congressman Dave Reichert, District 8 to representatives of Volunteers for Outdoor Washington, Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Road Services Division, United States Forest Service, and the Stevens Pass Greenway for their "Exemplary achievement in creating the Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site at Scenic, Washington."

Pictures of the IGT award event are on page 4 of a temporary web site from Ned Ahrens, photographer, King County Department of Transportation that will be open for several weeks at:

http://your.kingcounty.gov/photocenter/09SpellmanAwards/Webpages/gallery-01.html

Tom Davis identified the people in the IGT award group picture as:

Left to Right: Judy Lorenzo, WSDOT; Bobbi Garver, WSDOT, Mike Sharpe, VOW; Congressman Dave Reichert; Ruth Ittner, VOW; Tom Davis, USFS, Skykomish RD; Paul Mahre, WSDOT; Janet Wall, VOW; Linda Dougherty, King County Road Services Division; and Henry Sladek, Stevens Pass Greenway and VOW.

Iron Goat Trail Project Committee activities for May.

From Dennis Evans, The Iron Goat Trail coordinator is the following update:

It’s been a busy month on the Iron Goat trail.

Crew Leader Refresher Training was conducted on May 9. During that work party, we installed or began installing two culverts, built a reroute on the Windy Point Crossover to bypass a set of steps that had never been very satisfactory, and began the arduous chore of removing a root wad from the middle of the trail near the twin tunnels adit.

On May 16, 30 and 31, at our request, Washington Trails Association held work parties to help us with trail cleanup after the winter. During those work parties, volunteers cleaned debris from the trail, installed another culvert, finished root wad cleanup, and built a reroute around a sinkhole at wall #4 on the upper grade. On May 31, WTA fielded a work crew of 27 volunteers. About half of them went down into the new section of trail currently under construction and helped with construction.

With the help of WTA, we are further along in spring trail cleanup than we have been for some time at this time of year. Many thanks to WTA for their generous support.

The work crew on May 30 was composed primarily of volunteers from the Boeing Alpine Club. We also thank Boeing Alpine club for their support.

Wednesdays in May were strictly construction work, as all Wednesdays will be throughout the year. Construction this year will be especially challenging, and we welcome all comers.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

There will be a special VOW -IGT work party event on National Trails Day June 6, 2009. The event will include a (free) after work party BBQ/Celebration in the town of Skykomish.

VOW is working with the town of Skykomish with their Centennial Celebration on June 5 -7. This is the same weekend as the National Trails Day event. VOW will have a booth in the town as well as food sales to raise a little money. A special picnic area has been planned for the free National Trails Day after work party food and celebration.

The IGT 2009 Wildflower hikes are scheduled for June 20th, and July 11th. The earlier May 9 hike has been cancelled as there is likely to be few flowers to see due to the late snow.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

Plans are beginning to come together for an end of season get together and slide show at the REI main Store in Seattle. A meeting room has been reserved for Tuesday, November 10. More details later.

Volunteer!

There is a lot of volunteer effort to work on trails and natural habitat and much of it is not actually on the trail or even the on the land. Record keeping, publicity, answering inquiries, maintaining an office, finding a way to fund administrative expenses are all essential aspects of any non profit volunteer effort.

VOW’s mission is:

VOW trains our volunteers to be stewards of the environment. We partner with land managers to build trails, restore habitat, and preserve Washington State's rich heritage.

Working with other groups is always rewarding to learn what they have developed that is successful and pass along what we have observed over the last 25 years.

If you would like to help out in VOW’s mission beyond the on the ground activities, contact the office at info@trailvolunteers.org . We are definitely looking for help with publicity, office staffing, the web page, special projects, and database.

Other Happenings,

Fees Waived on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on National Trails Day!

Saturday is National Trails Day, and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for free.

The Forest Service is waiving fees at National Forest recreation day-use fee sites, which normally require a $5 fee per vehicle or recreation pass, such as the Northwest Forest Pass, Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age, or Golden Access Passport.

June 6 marks the 17th annual National Trails Day. People can join the celebration by enjoying a hike at a favorite trail or by participating in a planned volunteer activity such as a trail work project or dedication. The United States has about 200,000 miles of community, state, and federal trails, according to the American Hiking Society’s website. The website lists more than a thousand National Trails Day events planned across the country. For more information or to find an event near you, visit www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx .

Revenue from recreation fees are used to maintain the facilities and services associated with trails and other outdoor recreation sites. In 2008, recreation fee sites, including campgrounds and cabin rentals, generated approximately $8 million in the Pacific Northwest for the Forest Service in Washington and Oregon. Many of these dollars funded trail maintenance and other recreation projects completed by youth crews or were combined with money from grants or partnerships to fund larger projects. To see how these funds were used, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r6/passespermits/accomplishments .

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

The VOW office has received some free passes for a screening of Sam Mendes’ first comedic film AWAY WE GO on Tuesday, June 9 at Uptown Cinemas, 511 Queen Anne Avenue, Seattle. The movie is scheduled to open on June 12 in Seattle. It is about a couple who is expecting their first child travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time. We do not know anything about this film so we cannot recommend it, but we do have free passes.

The last time VOW received free passes from Uptown Cinema was for the screening of a certain wildlife film, “March of the Penguins” (yes that “March of the Penguins”) which was a lot of fun. Contact the office if you would like a pair of tickets, first come first serve. THIS IS NEXT TUESDAY.

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

The program will feature local hikes from a variety of sources. More details next week.

The Nature Consortium hosts volunteer work parties in the West Duwamish Greenbelt year round every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am - 2pm, and Wednesdays 1:30pm-5:00pm. Our schedule is starting to fill in and soon enough we will be having work parties 7 days a week! Each work party begins with a short informal forest ecology workshop. During the fall/winter months we remove invasive species and maintain our site. During the fall and winter we remove invasive species, mulch, and plant native plants and trees in the West Duwamish Greenbelt (see below for more details). Performing artists "play in the woods" during many of our work parties, and include singers, instrumentalists, and dancers.

Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are required. Dress appropriately for weather and mud (i.e. synthetic materials and fleeces). We work rain or shine. Bring a full water bottle. We will have water available for refills. Bring a bagged lunch if granola bars will not be enough of a snack. http://www.naturec.org/restoration.htm

Shelly Shellabarger, the Volunteer Program Coordinator with the City of Bellevue sent the following announcement on this upcoming training

Social Networking 101 Training

June 23 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Crossroads Community Center

DIRECTIONS TO CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CENTER

Our Address:

16000 NE 10th St.

Bellevue, WA 98008

Ph: (425) 452-4874

Hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, closed Sunday

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

May 30th Llandover Woods

TRAILS RESTORATION WORK PARTY

We will be doing some routine maintenance along with some trail improvements. Anyone can help and have great time - Tools & gloves will be provided...

Trail Program& GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 9:30 a.m.- 230 p.m.

Meet at the main parking lot off of NW 145th St. and 3rd Ave. NW, look for "Trails Project Here sign".

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

VOW I90 Projects

June 6^th VOW NATIONAL TRAILS DAY EVENT AT ASAHEL CURTIS TRAIL

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington is holding another National Trails Day event in partnership with Mountaineers Foothills Branch and Mt Baker Snoqualmie National forest. The event will run from 8:30am to 4:00 pm and will be followed by a free picnic.

Volunteers should bring a lunch, water, gloves and wear long pants, hiking boots and long-sleeved shirts.

Directions to work party parking:
Drive I-90 East to Exit 47.

At the stop sign turn LEFT.

Drive to T in the road and turn RIGHT and go 1/4 mile.

Park at the parking lot on the right. This is the picnic area parking lot (NOT the trailhead parking lot). If you have any questions contact Annik Wolfe at annikw@gmail.com or 206-368-2688.

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

King County JOHN D. SPELLMAN Historic Preservation Award

Volunteers For Outdoor Washington’s Iron Goat Trail will be one of the recipients. The King County Preservation Program event will take place this Friday May 29 at Meadowbrook Farm, near North Bend. The following news release link describes the award.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/news/release/2009/May/20preservation.aspx

All members and friends of Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) are invited to attend. This is a big honor so if you're free please come celebrate this Iron Goat Trail and Volunteers for Outdoor Washington achievement. It begins at 10:00 am and is over at noon.

For the directions:
http://www.meadowbrookfarmpreserve.org/directions.html

The new Iron Goat Trail Brochure (actually about the same as the old Iron Goat Trail brochure) is in the VOW office. If you would like a copy or several to give out, contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2. VOW will be also receiving some Iron Goat Trail logo “Pin Back” buttons this week. Check with the office if you would like one

Plans are beginning for an end of season get together at the REI main Store in Seattle sometimes around the second week in November, More details later.

Cool Connections

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington will be updating its web page soon, anyone wishing to help and help is needed, please contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org or 206 517 3019. We are thinking of adding a link page listing all the organizations volunteering on trails in the area. If you have a favorite organization or trail, send it and it can be part of the listing. There’s work to be done on trails and it’s good to recognize organizations and get some bodies out there doing it

Other Happenings,

Hiking and camping season opens Memorial Day on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Hiking and camping season opens this Memorial Day weekend, and while memories of winter’s storms may seem a distant past, many favorite trails are still unavailable. Despite snow, all campgrounds on the forest will be open except for Denny Creek, Middle Fork and Tinkham in the Snoqualmie Ranger District, and Miller River Group in the Skykomish Ranger District. Low elevation areas such as Denny Creek and trails along the Mountain Loop are still under snow.

“Deep snow is still found at many popular recreation sites, roads and trails around the forest,” said Gary Paull, trails and wilderness specialist for the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. “Visitors should exercise caution when hiking and camping in the forest. Keep aware of your surroundings, hot sun may weaken large snow cornices on mountain ridges causing them to collapse and start a slide,” he said. Snow covered trails can cause confusion and hikers can get lost, added Paull.

View the accessibility of trails and roads affected by storm damage at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/may-2009-status-report.shtml . Current trail and road conditions are updated at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/ .

Reserve a campground on the National Recreation Reservation System at www.recreation.gov . Visit HooDoo to find a forest campsite and check availability at http://www.hoodoo.com/Mount_Baker-Snoqualmie_national_forest.htm. For campground questions call Rhonda Dow at 360-691-1841. The Northwest Avalanche Center can advise visitors of avalanche danger at http://www.nwac.us/ or 206-526-6677.

May is bicycling month. REI Flagship Store and the Cascade Bicycle Club have some events through the month. Check out this and the other free outdoor oriented events for the Flagship store at http://www.rei.com/stores/store_events.jsp?store=11

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Alan Bauer, Mountaineers Books author and photographer, will present slides and hiking tales at the next Foothills Branch membership meeting on Thu. May 28. Bauer will talk about his latest day-hiking guide, “Day hiking in the Central Cascades.” Books will be for sale by cash or check only.

The Greenway Trust is partnering up with REI to present the “REI in the Greenway Series” throughout the month of June. Join the Greenway Trust for mid-week clinics on recreational opportunities in the Greenway and then again on the weekends for service projects at popular trails like Little Si and Kamikaze Falls.

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

Shelly Shellabarger, the Volunteer Program Coordinator with the City of Bellevue sent the following announcement on this upcoming training

Social Networking 101 Training

June 23 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Crossroads Community Center

DIRECTIONS TO CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CENTER

Our Address:

16000 NE 10th St.

Bellevue, WA 98008

Ph: (425) 452-4874

Hours: 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, closed Sunday

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

May 23rd Camp Long

TRAILS RESTORATION WORK PARTY

This 68 acre forest has a lot of great trails accessible to every one. The trail work you help us with will have an immediate impact and last for years to come!

Your neighborhood park needs you.

Bring water, please! - Tools & gloves will be provided...

Sponsor Seattle Trail Program & GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 9:30a.m.- 230 p.m.

Meet at the main parking lot off of SW Brandon St., look for "Trails Project Here sign".

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Website http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

June 6^th NATIONAL TRAILS DAY EVENT AT ASAHEL CURTIS TRAIL

Volunteers should bring a lunch, water, gloves and wear long pants, hiking boots and long-sleeved shirts.

Directions to work party parking:
Drive I-90 East to Exit 47.

At the stop sign turn LEFT.

Drive to T in the road and turn RIGHT and go 1/4 mile.

Park at the parking lot on the right. This is the picnic area parking lot (NOT the trailhead parking lot). If you have any questions contact Annik Wolfe at annikw@gmail.com or 206-368-2688.

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

The new Iron Goat Trail Brochure (actually about the same as the old Iron Goat Trail brochure) is in the VOW office. If you would like a copy or several to give out, contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org.

IGT Maintenance Work parties are on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

The special Email IGT trail update & work party location info list is up and running. Reply to info@trailvolunteers.org if you would like to be included

There will be a special VOW -IGT work party event on National Trails Day June 6, 2009. The event will include a (free) after work party BBQ/Celebration in the town of Skykomish.

VOW is working with the town of Skykomish with their Centennial Celebration on June 5 -7. This is the same weekend as the National Trails Day event. VOW will have a booth in the town as well as food sales to raise a little money. A special picnic area has been planned for the free National Trails Day after work party food and celebration.

The IGT 2009 Wildflower hikes are scheduled for June 20th, and July 11th. The earlier May 9 hike has been cancelled as there is likely to be few flowers to see due to the late snow.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

The 4Culture Heritage program “Industry” tourism brochure has a section on the Iron Goat Trail VOW has these brochures in the office. Let us know if you would like a copy

Plans are beginning for an end of season get together at the REI main Store in Seattle sometimes around the second week in November, More details later.

Cool Connections

King County Conservation District

King County Conservation District has a volunteer event program that is coordinated by Adam Jackson. They have a Wetland Plant Cooperative nursery where volunteer hours (with them) donated can be exchanged for plant material. For every hour donated you can receive $10 in plant material. So if you are ever in need of plants for projects please contact Adam to set up a work party for you or your group.

The district also has an event program with the Green Seattle Partnership on the Longfellow Creek Legency Trail in West Seattle. The next work party is on June 20^th.

Adam Jackson

Volunteer Coordinator

King Conservation District

volunteer@kingcd.org

Phone: (425) 282-1908

Cell: (206) 890-4722

For more information about the volunteer program please see the webpage:

http://www.kingcd.org/pro_vol.htm

Flash Volunteer

Volunteers for Outdoor Washington participated in last weekends Earthshare “Day in the Park” event at Golden Gardens and had a chance to talk with Flashvolunteer, a new local volunteer organization that is due to launch this summer. VOW is excited about this group and hopes to partner with them in the future.

Below is from their website:

Discover. Connect. Make better.

Flash Volunteer is a local Seattle nonprofit that seeks to inspire neighborhood-focused volunteerism through the use of user-friendly, barrier-free, online tools that connect volunteers to neighborhoods, nonprofits to volunteers and people to projects.

Benefits to individuals:

One-time volunteer opportunities for issues you care about, in the neighborhoods you live and work in.

Easy registration. Complete your profile and you are ready to go.

Become a micro volunteer manager with tools to plan and organize your own local volunteer activity

Connect with fellow volunteers after each event online and in person

FV identifies events that fit your interests and "pushes" them to you through your personal volunteer homepage. Never search again!

Wake up Saturday morning with no plans? FV has last minute volunteer opportunities and will text them to you on your couch!

Benefits to Nonprofits, Community Groups and Local Government:

Access to a large pool of engaged volunteers

No cost

Use of the innovative Flash Volunteer networking platform to recruit, communicate with, organize and thank volunteers

Partnership in FlashVolunteer.org neighborhood outreach efforts

Feedback on past events and access to metrics to help plan future ones

Last-minute, "on demand" event support from local volunteers

Ideal for understaffed groups that rely on volunteerism to thrive

More information is on their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flash-Volunteer/75272433226?ref=ts

Other Happenings,

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

Mount Rainer National Park

Nicholas Abel, the Assistant Volunteer Coordinator at Mount Rainer National Park has sent the May 2009 Volunteer Newsletter. Below are some excerpts:

Volunteer Coordinator Positions

Botany Volunteer Coordinator

Your job will be to coordinate projects in the park's Natural and Cultural Resources programs! Mount Rainier is looking for an engaging and energetic individual to recruit, coordinate, train, and lead citizen volunteers to assist with projects including greenhouse management, seed collection, revegetation, and exotic species control. We are looking for someone with leadership skills and, ideally, some experience in botany. This is a unique, exciting, and brand new program. Come be an important part of our volunteer management team at Mount Rainier National Park !

Maintenance Volunteer Coordinator

You will recruit, coordinate, train, and lead citizen volunteers to assist with projects including back country maintenance, the rehabilitation of historic WPA-era rock walls, wilderness cleanup, spring snow shoveling, campground opening, wayside installation and removal, and restoration of the historic Longmire Campground.

Volunteer Teams

We also have a number of volunteer teams that we are hiring for the summer. These teams require a much shorter commitment of time, sometimes only a day. So even if you can’t afford to volunteer for months at a time, contact us about getting on the mailing list for one of our volunteer teams. You can contact Kevin Bacher at kevin_bacher@nps.gov or nicholas_abel@nps.gov if you’re interested. Teams include…

Citizen Science Team: Be a scientist! As a Citizen Science Team member you will conduct field surveys and research throughout the park. Tasks may include monitoring amphibian species, soundscapes, wetlands, or archaeological resources.

Historic Landscape Retoration Team: Help maintain and restore our beautiful WPA-era rock walls and other historic structures in the park.

Historic (Costumed) Interpretations: Be part of this exciting program in which volunteers in historical consumes interact with park visitors, acting out the parts of historic figures from the parks past. It'll be a blast (from the past)!

If any of these sound interesting contact Kevin Bacher or Nick Abel at kevin_bacher@nps.gov or nicholas_abel@nps.gov

Upcoming Events

June 2-6 – Interpretation Training
We are holding an Interpretation Training event. Details and updates are being posted as they become available. A draft schedule is available here .

June 6 – National Tails Day
A variety of projects, many still to be announced, will be available for volunteers on this day. Keep checking the volunteer blog for more info.

June 13 – Trails Project by MRNPA
The Mount Rainier National Park Associates are hosting a trails project on Saturday, June 13th, for more info visit http://www.mount-rainier.org/index.php?action=projects .

June 27 – Meadow Rover Training
Training for Meadow Rovers will be held on Saturday, June 27. More details will be coming soon on the Rainier Volunteers blog.

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

May 16^th Madrona Woods Ravine

TRAILS RESTORATION WORK PARTY

We could use your help to with the continuation of the trails improvements in this park. Our efforts will be focused on extending east into the ravine helping to provide a sustainable trail for tears to come.

Trails Program & GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Meet at Small parking area across the street at Madrona beach. Look for the trails project sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 orjacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Website http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

May 16^th Day in the Park, Golden Gardens with Earthshare of Washington

On May 16th, Seattle's all-volunteer annual park clean-up is back this year with volunteers removing invasive plant species, cleaning waterways and beaches, and rebuilding trails.

Calling all volunteers: 200 needed to help us care for Seattle’s Golden Gardens park. Come out and have fun and make a difference in your community!

We'll have coffee in the morning and then tackle some of the bigger projects that need to be taken care of in Golden Gardens.

Click here for the details or to sign up.

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

The new Iron Goat Trail Brochure (actually about the same as the old Iron Goat Trail brochure) is in the VOW office. If you would like a copy or several to give out, contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org.

The first 2009 Forest Service contract IGT maintenance work party using Washington Trails will be this Saturday, May 16. Several IGT regulars will be there to help and monitor this batch of IGT “newbies” to assure the correct safety, quality, and standards of IGT work parties are sustained.

IGT Maintenance Work parties will start on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

The Iron Goat Trail National Trails Day work party/Skykomish celebration has been included as one of the eighteen AHS national trails day events listed (so far) for Washington state on the American Hiking Society's "find an event" link. http://www.americanhiking.org/NTDSearchResult.aspx?sId=47

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2.

The 4Culture Heritage program “Industry” tourism brochure has a section on the Iron Goat Trail VOW has these brochures in the office. Let us know if you would like a copy

Bob Kelly is working on some IGT logo pin back buttons that will be available on the June 6 National Trails day event. I am having some “test” IGT embroidered logo twill baseball caps made and a preview will be there also.

Plans are beginning for an end of season get together at the REI main Store in Seattle sometimes around the second week in November, More details later.

Caution Soapbox Ahead!

Volunteers are a critical part of any non-profit organization. It is important to understand what is needed for a successful volunteer program. Several groups and organizations support and offer training on different aspects of volunteer programs. Some of the trainings are free and some are not. Below is an announcement from United Way and Volunteer Administrators Northwest on an upcoming training in June

Advanced Volunteer Management Training with Betty Stallings

Leading the Way to Effective Volunteer Partnerships:

A Workshop for Executive Leaders and Volunteer Management Staff

Tuesday, June 16th

9:00-4:30 pm

(9:00-10:30 morning session designed specifically for Executive Leadership)

Full Day Tuition: $85.00

(Executive leadership can attend 1.5 hour morning session free with volunteer management staff registered for the full day)

Morning Session Only: $20.00

Location: 2100 Bldg, Seattle, Washington

Join United Way of King County and the Volunteer Administrator’s Network (VAN) for a unique opportunity to engage in lively discussion with Betty Stallings, internationally renowned expert in the field of volunteer management and author of 12 Key Actions of Volunteer Program Champions: CEOs Who Lead the Way and Training Busy Staff To Succeed With Volunteers: The 55 Minute In-Service Training Series. This workshop will explore the role of executive leadership and staff commitment in successful volunteer engagement.

Betty Stallings will present a highly interactive workshop focused on building the elements of an exemplary volunteer program and highlighting the leadership role required by executive staff to ensure successful volunteer partnerships and the dedication and competency needed by all staff to effectively interface with today's volunteers.

For more information:

Contact: Nikki Russell
Phone: 206-461-1055
Email: nrussell@uwkc.org

Other Happenings,

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

More information available at www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer .

Volunteers Needed to Hike Mount Baker Area, “Mountain Stewards Protect Ecosystem”

Who: Adult volunteers 18 years or older with hiking and outdoor recreation skills.

What: Hike trails and teach hikers and climbers about Leave No Trace ethics, safety and Forest Service regulations.

When: Apply by June 25. Complete the Mountain Steward volunteer application at

Where: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Three of the busiest trail systems in the Mount Baker area: Skyline Divide, Park Butte/Railroad Grade and Heather Meadows.

www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/volunteering/mtn_steward .

Fax to 360-856-1934 or mail to Mt. Baker Ranger District, Mountain Stewards, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.

Train July 11 & 18, and then volunteer for three shifts on weekend days between July 25–Sept. 13 on trail.

Optional training Aug. 8 for Heather Meadow volunteers.

The program runs July 11 – Sept. 13, Friday through Sunday, daytime hours.

Contact: Call Mt. Baker Ranger District for more information at 360-856-5700 x225, or email brichey@fs.fed.us.

The Lake City Chamber of Commerce is holding “Pioneer Days” the first weekend of August. We hope to have a VOW booth at the event. Contact the office if you would like to help.

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

May 9 West Duwamish Greenbelt

TRAILS RESTORATION WORK PARTY

One of our biggest stretches of forests in the entire city, the West Duwamish Greenbelt is a great opportunity for people who want to be in a real urban forest.

Bring water, please! Tools & gloves will be provided.

Trails Program & GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 10a.m 2:30 p.m.

Meet at the Small parking area on Highlandpark Way just west of W. Marginal Way SW. Look for the trails project sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

The new Iron Goat Trail Brochure (actually about the same as the old Iron Goat Trail brochure) is in the VOW office. If you would like a copy or several to give out, contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org.

Crew Leader refresher THIS SATURDAY May 9. There is still a lot of patchy snow on the trail and this will be the first work party of the season. Plan to meet at the Scenic trailhead (Iron Goat Interpretive site with the caboose) at 8:45. This is currently planned to be a maintenance work party. Anyone coming to the Crew Leader Refresher can have one of the Iron Goat Trail logo hard hat decals.

IGT Maintenance Work parties will start on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

VOW has more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office. We will mail you one for $1 or 3 for $2.

A nice article appeared in the May June issue of Washington Trails about the Iron Goat Trail and VOW’s role in building it. Several Iron Goat Trail work parties are coming up with the organization through their arrangement with the Forest Service. More groups and people helping on the Iron Goat, the better!

The 4Culture Heritage program “Industry” tourism brochure has a section on the Iron Goat Trail VOW has these brochures in the office. Let us know if you would like a copy

Plans are beginning for an end of season get together at the REI main Store in Seattle sometimes around the second week in November, More details later.

Web Tools or Toy’s?

The VOW Happenings email newsletter is sent out through an email list provided by ONE/Northwest, an organization that provides services to non profits. Below is from their web site:

ONE/Northwest is a not-for-profit consulting firm that helps environmental groups connect with people. We are a change agent dedicated to helping communities thrive in harmony with their natural surroundings.

ONE/Northwest was established in 1995 to help environmental organizations use communications technologies as tools of social change. Our approach channels philanthropic support into technological and strategic innovations that we disseminate through consulting projects with hundreds of organizations and coalitions across Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Our programs help environmental organizations more effectively engage their constituents and improve their ability to collaborate with one another. Our constituent engagement work focuses on helping groups use websites, email newsletters, membership databases, and online civic engagement tools. Our collaboration work focuses on extranets and other communication tools aimed at coalitions and less formal collaborations between organizations as well as large-scale services aimed at strengthening connections across our entire movement like email list-hosting service which currently connects some 170,000 people across a wide variety of organizations

ONE/Northwest hosted email lists are a powerful way to collaborate, connect and share information. ONE/Northwest hosts over 1000 email lists for conservation groups and activists throughout our region.

Check out their web site http://www.onenw.org/

VOW uses several different lists from ONE/Northwest.

The VOW happenings is sent on "Volunteers For Outdoor Washington" <trailvolunteers@lists.onenw.org>, that has a special set up that allows only those who have the password to write to it. The trailvolunteers@list has over 500 people on it.

The "irongoatlist" <Irongoatlist@lists.onenw.org>, is a little different. It has a little over 60 people and anyone on the list can write to it. We are hoping that people will write and communicate what is happening on the Iron Goat through the list.

Below is a recent message from John who asked about the tunnel

Can anybody tell me if it's true or just a myth: The story about the blockade across the trail to the tunnel at Wellington is that the tunnel collapsed somewhere inside blocking about a million gallons of water which will explode out of there at any time. I see tourists have mashed down the barricade. I knew that would happen. :-)

Dennis Evans, the Iron Goat Trail Coordinator wrote the following as a reply:

Old Cascade Tunnel Ceiling Collapse

Sometime between November of 2006 and April of 2007 the concrete lining of the Old Cascade Tunnel failed about 600 feet in from the west portal, resulting in a violent mud and debris flow out of the tunnel, destroying the viewing platform that had been constructed in the tunnel portal. Mud residue was found up to seven feet high on tree trunks after the initial debris and mud burst, which gives some indication of the strength of the flow.

The Old Cascade Tunnel was built with a grade of 1.7% downhill from east to west. As a result, the water that naturally seeps into the tunnel flows out of the west portal in a steady stream. The blockage created by the collapse

of the tunnel ceiling acts as a dam and water has backed up behind it, creating a small lake in the tunnel. We estimate that the lake contains about 130,000 cubic feet of water, or approximately one million gallons. It

is considered possible, albeit unlikely, that at some point the pressure of the water behind the debris dam could cause the dam to give way, resulting in an extremely quick release of the water and creating another debris flow.

This could occur at any time without warning. In addition, a sinkhole has developed above the point of the collapse and has grown to about 70 feet by 40 feet and is about 35 feet deep.

The sinkhole and the tunnel portal are extremely hazardous areas and neither should be approached by members of the public or by Iron Goat Trail volunteers under any circumstance. The USFS has geologists monitoring the situation. Informational signs have been posted to stop foot traffic from entering the flood zone. We recognize that the public has an interest in viewing the west portal and a viewpoint has been constructed to allow viewing of the area while maintaining public safety.

Information on the upcoming work parties will be sent out each week on the irongoatlist. VOW plans to monitor the irongoatlist carefully to prevent misuse of the communication.

Other Happenings,

An announcement from Washington Native Plant Society:

CELEBRATE NATIVE PLANT APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 3-9, 2009

Did you know that over 3000 plant species are native to Washington? Governor Gregoire has proclaimed May 3-9, 2009 as Native Plant Appreciation Week. Celebrate our native floral abundance, our amazing biodiversity, and all the good work being done to protect and preserve it.

Washington State is remarkable because of its diversity of ecosystems. Ocean beaches, alpine slopes, deserts, rain forests, river valleys, and even backyard landscapes are all home to a variety of plant species that have been living here since before Europeans arrived. Native plant ecosystems are critical to sustaining our native wildlife and the quality of Washington’s environment. They provide suitable habitat for birds, fish and other animals and protect water quality.

During Native Plant Appreciation Week, people can participate in everything from talks, walks, hikes, garden tours, and visits to our natural areas to active involvement in habitat restoration projects. Governmental agencies, non-profit groups and environmental organizations can highlight their work in protecting native plant species, restoring native plant habitats, and eradicating the threat posed by invasive exotic pests. The public can learn about the many projects and hard work that enhances their area.

The Central Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society has organized several free events in King and Snohomish Counties. We encourage the public to attend.

Garden Tours: Several new private gardens will be open for viewing in and around Seattle and the Eastside.

Contact: Rita Moore (wnpsgardentour@yahoo.com, 206-275-3883).

Native Plant Sale: Saturday, May 9, 10 AM - 4 PM at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Speakers:

Gardening with Native Plants, Marcia Rivers-Smith

Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 PM

Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 4th Ave. S, Kirkland, 98033

Grazing for Edible Wild Plants, Terry Domico

Thursday, May 7, 7:30 PM

Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, 98105

Plant Walks:

Carkeek Park: Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 PM

Contact: Brianne (hikaribri@gmail.com, 206-465-5055)

University of Washington Herbarium: Thursday, May 7, 1-2 PM

Contact: Maria (maria@wnps.org, 206-853-5745)

Washington Native Plant Society

6310 NE 74th Street, Suite 215E

Seattle, WA 98115

206-527-3210 or 1-888-288-8022

E-mail: wnps@wnps.org

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Open to the public. No charge. All are welcome!

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm,

Program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library.

960 Newport Way NW

Issaquah, WA 98027

Volunteer to help everyone enjoy the outdoors,

Richard Botts
Volunteers for Outdoor Washington
12345 NE 30th Ave Suite I, Seattle, WA 98125

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Hello All,

City of Seattle's Trails Program work party for next Saturday!

May 2 St. Marks Greenbelt

TRAILSRESTORATION

We will be continuing the construction of a rock wall and staircase at the bottom of the first switch back. Great trail work that will last for a long time and lots of fun!

Sponsor Trail Program& GREEN SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP

Time 9:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Please join us

Meet at The south end of the parking at St. Marks Cathedral 124510th Ave E. Look for the Trails project here sign.

Contact Jacobo Jimenez (206) 684-0598 or jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov

Website http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/trails/trailsprogram.htm

Be sure to call or email Jacobo if you can come so he will look for you!

IRON GOAT TRAIL Happenings and Calendar

The new Iron Goat Trail Brochure (actually about the same as the old Iron Goat Trail brochure) is in the VOW office. If you would like a copy or several to give out, contact the office info@trailvolunteers.org.

VOW is working with the town of Skykomish with their Centennial Celebration on June 5 -7. This is the same weekend as the National Trails Day event. VOW will have a booth in the town as well as food sales to raise a little money. A special picnic area has been planned for the free National Trails Day after work party food and celebration.

Welcome back Paul Machiocha, the returning US Forest Service Iron Goat Trail crew boss. Paul starts today for the 2009 season. Paul has been an exceptional crew boss for the Project over the last several years. His salary and the truck he uses are funded through donations and grants obtained by Volunteers for Outdoor Washington which enables this project to continue without interruption.

Crew Leader refresher May 9. There is a lot of late snow and this may be the first work party of the season.

IGT Maintenance Work parties will start on most Saturdays in May and the Construction Work parties will be every Wednesday through the season.

The special Email IGT trail update & work party location info list is up and running. Reply to info@trailvolunteers.org if you would like to be included

The IGT 2009 Wildflower hikes are scheduled for June 20th, and July 11th. The earlier May 9 hike has been cancelled as there is likely to be few flowers to see due to the late snow.

One IGT 2009 Interpretative hike is scheduled during Archeology week on October 3.

There will be a special VOW -IGT work party event on National Trails Day June 6, 2009. The event will include a (free) after work party BBQ/Celebration in the town of Skykomish.

The Iron Goat Trail National Trails Day work party/Skykomish celebration has been included as one of the eighteen AHS national trails day events listed (so far) for Washington state on the American Hiking Society's "find an event" link. http://www.americanhiking.org/NTDSearchResult.aspx?sId=47

VOW is ordering more of the small Iron Goat Trail Stickers for the VOW hardhats. If you would like one for yourself, please contact the office

The 4Culture Heritage program “Industry” tourism brochure that has a section on the Iron Goat Trail is now in the office. Let us know if you would like a copy

Caution Soap Box Section

National Trails Day is coming up the first weekend in June and it is not too early to mark your calendar for the event. VOW is planning several National Trails Day events so watch the newsletter. Below is a section from the American Hiking Society on National Trails Day.

National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

Trails do not just appear for our enjoyment, it takes many hours of planning, labor, and
negotiating to develop them. National Trails Day, the only nationwide celebration of
trails, brings awareness to trails and thanks many people and partners for their support
and hard work, including volunteers, land agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. It is
also a day to introduce people to the many joys and benefits of trails.

America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for recreation,
education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more. Trails take us to good
physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our
hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses.

The Outdoor Industry Association's annual Outdoor Recreation Participation Study for the
United States 2006 reports that 72.1% of all Americans 16 and older (or 162 million
people) participate in at least one of the 22 outdoor activities they track, which include:
76.7 million hiking; 13.5 million backpacking; 40.4 million trail running; and 10 million
cross country skiing.

Other Happenings,

The next Mountaineers Foothills Branch Meeting and Program

» TOMORROW « Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Doors open at 6:30 for set-up and socializing.

Branch up-dates at 7:00 pm, program starts at 7:15 pm.

King County Library Systems (KCLS) Service Center (Note: This is not the Issaquah Public Library).
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027

Author Sarah Kirkconnel will discuss how to simplify your meals, but still eat well in the outdoors. She will cover a style of outdoor cooking called Freezer Bag Cooking and two variants, the insulated mug method and meals that require no cooking at all. Sarah will cover one of her favorite subjects, how to find components for these meals, some local, some not. Finally she will cover the outdoor gear that is needed to prepare and make your life easier when in the outdoors and needing a good meal.

Sarah has been hiking since she was a child, and backpacking since she was in college in the early 1990's. She is a cofounder of a regional hiking group, the Pacific NorthWest Hikers. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, car camping and snowshoeing. Her favorite area to hike and backpack is Mt. Rainier NP in Washington State.

Sarah is a Washington State native. She currently lives in the foothills of Mt. Rainier with her husband and son.

The 24th annual Green River Cleanup is coming up on May 2 starting at Flaming Geyser State Park from9 to 9. check out the poster and events at http://www.mgrc.org/Email_10/web-content/index.html This year is particularly big because the lodge at Flaming Geyser State Park is going to be renamed the Wolf Bauer Lodge. State Parks commissioners are doing the honors

An announcement from Washington Native Plant Society:

CELEBRATE NATIVE PLANT APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 3-9, 2009

The Central Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society has organized several free events in King and Snohomish Counties. We encourage the public to attend.

Garden Tours: Several new private gardens will be open for viewing in and around Seattle and the Eastside.

Contact: Rita Moore (wnpsgardentour@yahoo.com, 206-275-3883).

Native Plant Sale: Saturday, May 9, 10 AM - 4 PM at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Speakers:

Gardening with Native Plants for Wildlife, Kerry Marl and Laura Spehar

Sunday, May 3, 2:00 PM

Everett Public Library Auditorium, 2702 Hoyt Ave, Everett, 98201

(This event is not sponsored by the Everett Public Library)

Gardening with Native Plants, Marcia Rivers-Smith

Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 PM

Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 4th Ave. S, Kirkland, 98033

Grazing for Edible Wild Plants, Terry Domico

Thursday, May 7, 7:30 PM

Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, 98105

Plant Walks:

Lawton Park, Magnolia: Saturday, May 2, 2-3:30 PM

Contact: Barbara Downward (lavender@mindspring.com, 206-283-2498)

Twin Ponds Park, Shoreline: Saturday, May 2, 1-3 PM

Contact: John Dixon, 206-363-2987.