President’sUpdate
 
Sunday, August 1, 2010
 
 
   Sunset from Badger Mountain                                      [dh]   Badger Mountain Sunset Walk – Beccy Chiaramonte                                                                   Twilight Hikers                       [bc] Twelve hikers braved the heat to enjoy a partially cloudy evening with great appreciation of sunset viewing: Dave Harris, Andrew and Diana Stevens, Margaret McCulloch, Charles Rogers, Carol and Rick Kerkow, Evelyn Painter, Jim Crawford, Angela Cox and Jerry and Beccy Chiaramonte. We finished our evening with refreshments at McCafe                         On the Trail                    [dh]                                   Sundown                  [bc]   Sacagawea Trail Bike Ride, Part 1 – Tom and Wilma Page   We had a great ride with an average riding speed of 10.3 miles/per hour over the 15 mile course which included crossing the Columbia on the I-82 bridge.  Maybe it was the inspiration of the Tour de France or the hot, but not too hot weather.  Participants were Carol Kerkow, Charles Rogers, Sue and John Decker, Beccy and Jerry Chiramonte, and Tom and Wilma Page.  Next Monday we ride Part 2 from the boat launch at Chiawana Park to Sacagawea Park and back.  Join us.   [Please note that the next bike ride can be enjoyed by riders of all capabilities and bike types.  The route is on a paved surface with great scenery.  Riders can proceed at their pace and are encouraged to turn around at anytime they no longer feel comfortable.]                                                Bikers at the End of Sacagawea Trail Part 1       [tp] Presentation on Ethiopia – Kent Richert   Kent provided a slide show and interesting narrative of the history of Kent and Carol in Ethiopia and their most recent trip. The Richert’s travels are not for the causal tourist.  They originally met during their service in Ethiopia while in the Peace Corp in the 60’s.  Their return trip two years ago visited the tribal area, where Kent taught mathematics (and shook the hand of Heile Selassie), and where the natives live in circumstances largely unchanged by civilization.  The pictures show a startling view of the people and their living conditions.  The impression was further enlarged by Sebsibie Abebie, Kent’s close friend he met during his Peace Corp work.  Sebsibie described the peoples and customs of the 14 tribes.  He also discussed the current political situation in Ethiopia.  Thanks to Kent, we are left with some insight of this region that we only see as a name in the news.  Twenty seven people attended the presentation and the luncheon provided by the Charbonneau Retirement Community.  [write-up by dh]                                          Learning about Ethiopia                                      [dh]    – Bill Kinner   The Little Spokane River is a stunningly beautiful waterway preserved in Riverside State Park, just north of the Spokane city limits.  The gently flowing stream is 6 miles of meandering curves and oxbows, through wetlands of trees, grasses, flowers and some stark rock outcrops in the background views.  Fauna abounds including ducks, herons, cedar waxwings, muskrats and a wild turkey. Our moose of last year was in hiding.  Thanks to Bill for leading this trip again and for the training he provided to us about the techniques of river travel.  The other kayakers were Bruce and Eileen Nicoll, Pat and Dave Harris, Annie Hoppe, Max Vogel, Dennis Trimble, Kathy Walker, Verle Coleman, and Angela Cox.      [write-up by dh]                                                  On the Little Spokane River                        [dh]                                                                                                            Thorp Mountain Hike – Dave Harris   Thorp Mountain is located to the northwest of Cle Elum.  As a pinnacle at 5,800 feet elevation, the view of the north cascades is unblemished.  The Stuart range and the Snoqualmie area are almost touchable.  The beginning route took us up a trail marked “unofficial” which we made into an uphill adventure until we reached the beautiful Thorp Lake about a half mile later.  After lunch, the official trail continued, gaining another 1000 feet elevation to the summit.  Several hikers decided to wait at lower elevations for the return trip. The downhill trip was less of an adventure as we found the official “unofficial” trail to the cars.  The hikers were: Gerald Woldti, Kent Richert, Joan Bradley, Margaret McCulloch, Andrew and Diana Stevens, Beccy Chiaramonte, and Dave Harris                                                                    At Thorp Lake                                   [as]                                                                       At the Thorp Mountain Summit                         [dh]   Badger Mountain Walk from Dalles Road – Beccy Chiaramonte   Nine hikers enjoyed the gentle breeze as several bikers passed us coming and going. Hikers: Elfriede Wind, Wilma Page, Diana Stevens, Nancy Stapleman, Joan Bradley, Carol Kerkow, Gretchen Makinson, Gerald Woldti, Beccy Chiaramonte.  See you next time at Shockley Road.                                                   Some of these people were in the same place 12 hours earlier  [bc]   --- About Us – --- The flower picture from the Cash Prairie hike was identified by Paula Clark.  It is a Silky Phacelia, rarely found.  It likes the high elevation and the open rocky terrain.   --- Sharon Grant and Steve Ghan report from China where Steve is presenting on climate change in hot and haze-filled Beijing, to be followed by a week in the mountains of Yunnan Province.   --- The picture last week was not of rocks, but of the nest of a Killdeer amid the barren rocks.  It was so well camouflaged that we demarked it with sticks to avoid it.   --- This week’s picture answers the question often asked in the context of Hanford work.  How many engineers does it take to change a bike tire.                                                                            Upcoming Events – Check the Website Calendar for the Details   August 2nd – Bike ride on a different part of the Sacagawea Trail – Contact Wilma Page August 3rd – Badger Mountain Walk – Meet at the Shockley Road access at 7:30 August 4th – Fat tire bike ride on the John Wayne Trail near Easton – Contact Dennis Trimble August 5th – Walk in the Amon Basin – Contact Pam Woodward August 6th – Paddle to Three Parks – Contact Max Vogel August 7th – Mammoth dig site tour – Contact Dave Harris August 9th – Tour the LIGO research facility – Show up at 10am at the RCC August 10th – Walk up Badger Mountain – Show up at Shockley Road Access, 7:30am August 10th - Board Meeting at the Richland Library – All members are invited, 6:30pm   Please share this update with persons who might enjoy participating in any of the activities we offer.  New members bring new ideas, new places to go, and interesting fellow travelers.                                                        Goodnight Candy Mountain                          [dh]               
Little Spokane River Kayak Trip