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CONTRIBUTORS
SUMMER | 2015 Volume 10. Issue 2
Don Geyer is a photographer from Renton, Washington who specializes in nature/landscape images from all across the western United States and Canada. He has authored a book, Mount Rainier, published by Hancock House Publishing, and his work has appeared in other books, calendars, and publications around the world. See more at mountainscenes.com. Henry Hughes’ poems have appeared in Antioch Review, Carolina Quarterly, Shenandoah, Southern Humani Humanities Review, Seattle Review and Poetry Northwest. He is the author of three poetry collections, including Men Holding Eggs, which received the 2004 Oregon Book Award. Hughes is also the editor of the Everyman’s anthologies, The Art of Angling: Poems about Fishing (Knopf, 2011) and Fishing Stories (Knopf 2013), and his commentary on new poetry appears regularly in Harvard Review. Mitchell Lee is a student at Western Washington University working toward a degree in Recreation and a minor in Business Administration. He has grown up exploring the trails in Bellingham on his mountain bike. Currently he is participating in an internship for the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition. Christian Martin lives and plays in Bellingham, where he is an active hiker, paddler, DJ, wandering naturalist and yogi. His writing has been published in The Georgia Review, Cascadia Weekly, Sierra, ISLE, Science & Spirit and the books The North Cascades: Finding Beauty & Renewal in the Wild Nearby and Conversations with Tom Robbins. He is currently working on a Bay to Baker project with photographer Brett Baunton. Find more of his work at moontrolling.com. Dick McClenahan loves the Whatcom County area for the variety of outdoor activities that it offers. He tries to take advantage of as many of these pursuits as he can and enjoys trying new options. He took up rowing about three years ago and continues to work on the fine points of this challenging sport.
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Emily Morehouse, originally from Grants Pass, Oregon, now calls Bellingham her home. Since moving here, she has taken up adventure racing, ultrarunning, mountain biking, rock and alpine climbing, and backcountry skiing all of which she does with her fiancé, Dusty Caseria. They both compete on the Quest Adventure Race Team. Yvette Neumann is a fine art painter, specializing in abstract and contemporary art. Desiring a more qualitative life, she left the corporate world to pursue her lifelong passion, and has not one regret to report. She is following her bliss, making work and teaching at her studio/gallery in Bellingham. For more info: yvetteneumann.com Alasdair Turner is a mountain guide and photographer based in Seattle. His work as a mountaineer for the United States Antarctic Program has taken him on three trips to the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica. Alasdair has worked as a mountain guide for the last ten years at home in the Pacific Northwest while also traveling regularly to Alaska and South America. More at: alasdairturner.com.
COVER PHOTO: Climbing on the Coleman Glacier by Alasdair Turner
A Look Ahead: Our Autumn Issue Craig Romano’s Top 10 Day Hikes Mountain Biking Wenatchee Autumn Traverse North Cascades Climbing
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INSPIRATIONS IN THIS ISSUE
New Boathouse at Bloedel-Donovan
Richard McClenahan
WRA Comes in From the Cold
Profiles in the North Cascades
Christian Martin
Geologist Jon Riedel
Climb Mt. Baker This Summer
10 14
Learning the Ropes on Koma Kulshan
John D’Onofrio
16
Adventure Racing Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Emily Morehouse
22
Don Geyer
26
Henry Hughes
28
Mitchell Lee
32
John D’Onofrio
36
An Eye for Alpenglow Dawn and Dusk in the North Cascades
Arc & Pulse Lessons From the River
Galbraith Mountain Let the Good Times Roll
The High Divide Walking the Green Horizon
“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.” - René Daumal
DESTINATIONS Earth Economics Out & About 3 Great Hikes ... for Summer Bright Lines Cascadia Gear eARTh: The Art of Nature Race | Play | Experience Calendar Advertiser Index Next Adventure
7 8 9 10 15 20 42 49 50
Photo by John D’Onofrio
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ADVENTURES NW > FIND Adventures NW is available free at hundreds of locations region-wide: throughout Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties, at select spots in Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties, and in Leavenworth, the Methow Valley, Spokane, and Wenatchee. The magazine is also available at all REI locations in Washington and Oregon as well as at numerous locations in the Vancouver, BC metro area and through races and events and at area visitor centers.
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SUMMER | 2015 Volume 10. Issue 2
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Earth Economics F
or those of us who live in the Pacific Northwest, outdoor recreation is very nearly a religion. We like to play - and our options are absurdly diverse. We hike, run, bike, paddle, sail, raft, row, climb, swim, camp, cruise, fish, hunt, ride, ski, board, snowshoe, kiteboard, and simply savor the inspiring landscapes that surround us in such profusion. Increasingly, these pursuits are being sought out by everincreasing numbers of people. Our growing reputation as a recreational Mecca draws a steady stream of visitors from hither and yon to sample an afternoon of paddling on the bay, a weekend of cycling on Galbraith or two weeks in the Picket Range. Additionally, we are seeing folks moving here from less bucolic regions to enjoy these world-class recreational opportunities as well as companies relocating with an eye toward offering their employees these top-drawer ‘quality of life’ benefits. A recently released study - the first of its kind - quantifies all this activity in easy-to-understand economic terms. The study, conducted by Earth Economics at the behest of Recreation NW and funded by Whatcom County, City of Bellingham, Port of Bellingham and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism is an eye-opener. The study revealed that each year, residents and visitors spend $705 million on outdoor recreation in Whatcom County, ranking it eighth-highest in the state for such expenditures. This spending supports a total of 6,502 jobs. Whatcom County Executive Jack Louws sums up the significance of this data: “Whatcom County’s abundant natural beauty is a huge draw for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. This study draws the positive correlation between our scenic landscape and its impact on local businesses and our overall economy.” “Recreation is critical to Bellingham and Whatcom County,”
agrees Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville. “Recreational opportunities not only highlight our beautiful region, but they also help create jobs, attract talented professionals and build our regional reputation as a healthy place to live, work and play.” The study, which builds on a statewide Recreation Economic Impact study commissioned by the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office, reveals that Whatcom County is home to 279 recreation businesses, including retail outlets, boat building, gear manufacturers, etc. Together these businesses generate $508 million in revenue and provide 3,728 jobs. This kind of quantitative analysis of the benefits of our recreation economy has been a long time coming. So what do these numbers tell us? They offer an alternative to our traditional way of thinking about economic growth as a function of resource exploitation. Our history is one of extraction: timber, coal, fish, etc. These natural resources have been monetized by extracting them from the ecosystem. Unfortunately, they have all turned out to be painfully finite, resulting in repeating boom/bust cycles. Clearly not sustainable. This ground-breaking study makes the case for a new way of looking at natural resources. These recreational resources are experiential - activities that generate economic activity. Protecting the conditions that facilitate these activities enables them to be monetized. The opposite of extraction. It is the forests and pristine mountains, the orcas and the eagles, the free-flowing rivers and the breezes fresh off the Salish Sea that make this economic model viable. You can read the report at recreationnorthwest.org.
The Adventure Continues ...
Active People in the Heart of an Active City Independent Retirement Living 1224 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA • 360.733.3500
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Out About &
The Chuckanut Century: Celebrating Cycling for 36 Years
It was raining on October 13, 1979 in northwest Washington. Dave Fayram remembers it well. Fayram is one of the founders of The Mount Baker Bike Club (MBBC) and its signature event, The Chuckanut Century, a road bike ride that grew from that first rainy ride to become a beloved annual local event. “There were about 20 people,” Fayram says. “People weren’t into cycling so much then.” Thirty six years later, the wheels will spin again when the Chuckanut Century happens on September 20 - although expect lots more people now. Beginning and ending - as is custom in these parts - at Boundary Bay Brewery, The Century offers routes for all comers - 25, 38, 50, 62, 100, or the double-metric century of 124 miles. There are options for everyone from the casual weekend cyclist to true long-distance aficionados, each of them highlighting the scenic glories of Whatcom (and a slice of Skagit) The Chuckanut Century (Courtesy of MBBC) County. The Chuckanut Century is not competitive - far from it. This ride, which has become a favorite of cyclists both local and far-flung is all about the gentle pleasures of being out in the open, feeling the wind in your hair and watching the sunlight play on the luscious landscapes of Cascadia, gliding along at a 8
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healthy 16 miles-per-hour. No mass start. Most emphatically not a race. The MBBC’s Doug Schoonover has organized the Chuckanut Century for the past ten years, handling logistics, permits, advertising, you name it. It’s a labor of love. Proceeds benefit Our TreeHouse, a small local non-profit that is quietly doing exceedingly good work in the community, helping children and teens heal after the death of a parent, sibling or primary care giver. Seventy-five percent of registration fees go directly to support the non-profit’s work. Schoonover is quick to point out that the MBBC’s 270 some-odd members enjoy cycling camaraderie all year long, sharing regular cycling excursions around the region with an emphasis on the simple joys of casual group rides in beautiful country. This year, the MBBC is also organizing the Northwest Tandem Rally. This family-oriented yearly celebration of tandem riding comes to Bellingham on the Fourth of July. The event, which originated in Corvallis Oregon in 1986, is held in a different location each year. The MBBC’s Jennifer Longstaff expects upwards of 800 participants from across the U.S. and Canada and is looking forward to “showing off Bellingham as the bicycle-friendly city that it is.” For more info: mtbakerbikeclub.org.
Bellingham Bay Marathon
(Adrenaline Event Photography)
Run the Salish Sea: Northwest Washington Marathons Join Forces The Whidbey Island Marathon, North Olympic Discovery Marathon, and Bellingham Bay Marathon (BBM) have partnered to form the Salish Sea Road Race Series. The three races are all known for their exceptionally beautiful courses and spectacular scenery, as well as a low-key Cascadian vibe. Runners who sign up for one of the marathons are automatically eligible to receive discounts on the other two. All three races are Boston Marathon qualifiers. Dating back to 2001, The Whidbey Island Marathon (WIM) offers racers one of the epic running experiences in the Pacific Northwest - running across the Deception Pass Bridge. The sight of the bridge (which is closed to traffic) covered with runners is a quintessentially northwest scene. Race Director Melissa Riker says that the idea of the three races joining forces was a no-brainer. “Our races were similar in size,” she explains, “and we thought it would be natural for us to get together. We all are very passionate about running.” This year’s WIM, held on April 19, had 1900 participants. The North Olympic Discovery Marathon (NODM), now in its 13th year began with an epiphany by Larry Little, the event’s founder. In 2002, the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) was completed, >>> Go to
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connecting Port Angeles with Sequim. One day Larry decided to get on the city bus to Sequim and run home. Thus was born the NODM, first run in 2003. The NODM is a point-to-point race run primarily on the ODT, a trail that has quickly become a focus for recreation in Clallam County. NODM Executive Director Michelle Little was happy to join the Salish Sea Series, noting that “all three are well spread out, similar in size and have similar missions. We are all “boutique” marathons.” This year’s NODM will be run on June 7. Ben Twigg, in his second year as Race Director for the Bellingham Bay Marathon (BBM) was the catalyst in creating the Salish Sea Series. “ I think the collaboration between three similar events that are relatively close to each other geographically and separately owned and managed makes this a unique partnership,” he explains. “We could easily consider each other’s events ‘competition’ (to our own event), but we believe by combining efforts we can provide runners and walkers the opportunity to participate in something really special.” Begun in 2007, the BBM has become a well-established and popular event, with a course that traces the edge of Bellingham Bay from Gooseberry Point on the Lummi Nation to downtown Bellingham. This year’s BBM is set for September 27. For more info: bellinghambaymarathon.org
The Color Run: Bellingham Welcomes the ‘Happiest 5K on the Planet’ In the four short years since it debuted, The Color Run has become the single largest event series on Planet Earth. This year, the fun run, known for its painting of participants with rainbowhued powder will happen in 300 locations around the globe, including - for the first time - Bellingham on August 16. Participants are asked to wear white t-shirts at the start-line party. This is stories & the race|play|experience calendar online.
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Great Hikes ... for Summer Skyline Divide
Photo by John D’Onofrio
Skyline Divide
When the wildflowers are in bloom Skyline Divide is one of the planet’s best places to be. Flying insects? Sure. You will need a zen mind. That’s a given. But make the effort to transcend the buzzing swarms and you’ll be rewarded by a Disney-esque alpine setting, an alpine dream come to life. An hour spent on this precious ridge will remind you that you spend too much time in the office. Trailhead: Deadhorse Road (Forest Road 37).
Heliotrope Ridge
Glaciers offer a rare and primeval beauty and in the North Cascades we are privileged to have more than our share of a dwindling supply. At Heliotrope Ridge, you can sidle right up to the Coleman Glacier and introduce yourself. The trail meanders up through the woods, crossing watercourses - you might get your feet wet - to the complicated edge of the glacier, in its desiccated basin of shattered rock. Lay your hands on the ancient ice and make a connection. Trailhead: Glacier Creek Road (Forest Road 39).
Garibaldi Lake
The BC Coast Range is a hiker’s delight with enough top-drawer destinations to keep you trail dancing for years. Garibaldi Lake and its exquisite surroundings are justifiably famous among Coast Range aficionados. Camping at the lake is certainly not a wilderness experience but the campsites here offer stupendous views and ready access to dreamlands like Black Tusk Meadows and Panorama Ridge. From these high points, the splendor - and scale - of these mountains is revealed in all its glory. Trailhead: Off Highway 99, 37 km north of Squamish, BC.
followed by 5 kilometers of color splash zones. As the participants reach the kilometer color zones, they are showered with color by volunteers. The race ends with a color throwing extravaganza. The event is non-timed and focused more on having fun for both novice and serious athletes Travis Snyder is the founder and executive director of The Color Run, and the mastermind behind paint-style events. He began creating high endurance events, such as triathlons and relay races, 16 years ago. In an effort to create a non-threatening running environment, where professional and novice runners could come together and enjoy the purity of the sport, The Color Run was born. A Celebration of Color
(Courtesy of The Color Run)
Travis’ inspiration came from dayglow events, Disney’s World of Color and color festivals throughout the world, such as Holi, a Hindu Spring Festival popular throughout south Asia. “I wanted to create an event that would encourage people to get out and run just for the fun of it,” Snyder says. “I wanted people to enjoy the community experience of running together, and I wanted to add something a little out of the ordinary to the race; something that could serve as a sort of visual reward for all the hard work these runners put into training for the event.” At the end of the event, there is a “Finish Festival”, where there is music, dancing and all of the participants participate in giant color throws. A portion of the proceeds of the Bellingham Color Run will benefit the Whatcom Family YMCA. The Color Run has donated more than $3 million to charity since 2012. For more info: thecolorrun.com ANW race | play | experience
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New Boathouse has WRA Covered Story by Richard McClenahan
E
very so often, the elements that are essential to making a gamechanging contribution to a community come together. Things fall into place. The stars align. That indeed is what happened with the completion of the Whatcom Rowing Association’s (WRA) impressive new boathouse at the west end of Bellingham’s Bloedel Donovan Park earlier this year.
It took monetary donations from individuals who are passionate about promoting rowing in Whatcom County and philanthropy from local organizations interested in promoting health and
The WRA Boathouse
Photo by John D’Onofrio
POETRY FROM THE WILD
Lupine by James Bertollino It would seem late, yet darkness waits, and the wonders attributed to her name are not all limited, or small. Evenings like this she remembers a gift that traveled years, perhaps lives to reach her - well past the middle of her days. It was a generosity she’d grieved, then was given, as when the leggy lupine brings to high alpine slopes her intoxicating intervals of blue. She has lived those intervals, that intoxication, the inspiriting blue.
fitness for our citizens, including the Rotary Club and the Chuckanut Health Foundation. Add in innumerable in-kind donations of design, engineering and construction work, discounted material from local construction outlets and countless volunteer hours. Top it off with essential support from local permitting, planning and parks departments and just like that, the WRA boathouse quietly opened its doors in January. The club offers rowing opportunities to all ages and all levels of rowing experience, from those who have never had a 12-foot oar in their hands, to experienced ex-collegiate rowers, who are interested in either recreational or competitive rowing and sculling. Programs provided by the
THE
Whatcom Rowing Association Bloedel Donovan Park
Bagels made like bagels were a long time ago James Bertolino’s 12th volume of poetry, Ravenous Bliss: New and Selected Love Poems, was published in 2014 by MoonPath Press. 10
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WRA include ‘learn to row’ instruction, novice rowing programs, experienced masters rowing opportunities, and a robust junior rowing program with 30-40 enthusiastic teenagers participating and competing at regional regattas. Until January the club stored its rowing shells and sculls in a muddy open fenced-in area at the edge of Bloedel Donovan Park. This was a less than optimal arrangement for the growing club. After three years of many cold and wet practice sessions, to be able to store its boats in a dry environment where club members can also work out on the rowing machines and gather before and after practice was a dream come true. As Shelley Bull Bennett, WRA Program Director put it, “we are very proud of our beautiful boathouse and welcome any and all visitors to come down for a tour, and sign up for a ‘learn to row’ session.” With the wide-spread acclaim garnered by Daniel James Brown’s epic account of the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team’s inspiring triumph in the 1936 Olympics, Boys in the Boat, which reached the top of the New York Times Bestseller list last year, interest in rowing has skyrocketed. With their new boathouse, the Whatcom Rowing Association is well positioned to introduce this venerable sport to even more members of the local community. ANW
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• Next Learn to Row sessions: Occurring regularly through the summer, check out dates at whatcomrowingassociation.com. • WRA Boathouse Open House: May 30, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Come and get a tour of the boathouse and meet the coaches. • National Learn to Row Day, June 6, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The boathouse will be open - try your hand in an eight-person shell. >>> Go to
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M y R a ce s in B ’h a m !
RUNNING
C h u c k a n u t Fo o t r a c e, July 11 Color Run 5K, Au gust 16 M ud s to S ud s, Au gu st 29 Be llin gh am Ba y M ar at ho n, S ep t. 27
MU L T I - SP O R T
S k i to S ea , M a y 24 La ke Pa dd en Tr ia th lon , Ju ne 2 7 Ku lsh an Qu es t AR , Ju ly 25 Be llin gh am Tr av er se , S ep t. 19
BIKING
No rt hw es t Ta nd em R all y, Ju ly 2- 6 To ur de W ha tc om , Ju ly 18 M t. Ba ke r Hi ll C lim b, S ep t. 13 C hu ck an ut C en tu ry , S ep t. 20
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Profiles in the North Cascades: Jon Riedel
By Christian Martin
W
hat do you do if you are a young Midwestern college graduate with a degree in geology and a yearning for adventure, wilderness and outdoor work in the West? “You go to where the action is,” says Jon Riedel, and for him, that meant the North Cascades. The North Cascades’ superlative features would excite any geologist: it’s the most glaciated region in the Lower 48, with the most vertical relief; the bedrock floor of Lake Chelan sits more than two thousand feet below sea level; dozens of ice ages and glaciations have contorted the landscape into an infinite number of “problems” waiting to be solved. And better yet, the region had largely been ignored by geologists due to its remoteness and difficult access. Riedel found his calling and soon landed a job with North Cascades National Park as a geologist. “The deductive approaches used in geomorphology - the study of the earth’s surface - caught on with me,” he explains.“The ability to read the landscape and see into the past was intoxicating.” Coming from the Midwest, Riedel found that everything in the North Cascades was different: the brush was thick and the slopes steep, making exposed rock difficult to find and study sites challenging to get to. So Riedel focused on more easily visible surficial geology features such as alluvial fans, floodplains, terraces, moraines, valleys, and of course, glaciers. With persistence and many miles underfoot, Riedel began to understand what makes the North Cascades unique. Because the mountains here have been uplifted rapidly and eroded intensely, volcanic rock more common to the 14
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south has been stripped away to expose metamorphic rocks brought up from great depths. In the North Cascades, it is possible to access the crystalline core that originated ten miles below the earth’s surface, including Skagit gneiss, the rock that Riedel calls “the backbone of the North Cascades.” The region’s glaciation history is distinct. The North Cascades were shaped by local alpine glaciers that grew from mountains down to valleys as well as by continental ice sheets moving slowly from Canada to smother the entire range in ice more than a mile thick. Shaped by multiple ice ages, “the North Cascades are a composite of millions of years of glaciations,” says Riedel.
One of Riedel’s most important contributions to the understanding of the North Cascades is his Glacier Monitoring Program, which he started in 1993. The study records seasonal surface accumulation of snow and the loss of snow and ice to melting - annual volume change, or mass balance - of four glaciers at different elevations with different aspects draining to different rivers. Riedel and his team visit the glaciers at least twice a year to take measurements against their melt stakes. They also survey the total area of all glaciers in the national park every twenty years. “Glaciers are dramatic indicators of climate change,” explains Riedel. “They
are sensitive to temperature because that is what determines what form of precipitation falls - snow versus rain - as well as the length and magnitude of the melt season.” For example, the one degree Celsius increase in temperature over the last century has melted half of the glacial area in the North Cascades. “The loss is staggering,” he says. “When we look at the past twenty years, the North Cascades glaciers have shed four hundred million cubic meters of water loss. This is billions of gallons of water lost into Puget Sound, equivalent to 650,000 Olympic swimming pools, or forty-five years of water supply for Skagit County, or one month of continuous flow of the Skagit River, ten billion gallons per day for thirty days.” This rapid loss of North Cascades glaciers affects local agriculture, municipal water supplies, industry, hydropower that lights up Seattle, and of course, a broad spectrum of species, from the little-understood ice worms that live on the glaciers to pikas in the alpine zone to the endangered salmon downstream. “Our biggest glacier is Boston Glacier, at seven square kilometers,” Riedel says. “Compared to the glaciers of the north, that’s nothing, but our glaciers are important ecologically because they provide water in dry summers, buffering capacity, water insurance. The Skagit is the only river in the Northwest with five native salmon, and that’s because of glaciers. They are a source of water and also habitat for ice worms that provide food for other species like rosy finches. “Climate change is not something projected to happen, it is happening now,” he says in closing. “Everything is tied to climate and everything is in a state of flux right now. Glaciers are a prime indicator of this.” ANW Reprinted from The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby published by Mountaineers Books >>> Go to
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Timbuk2 Especial Claro Cycling Laptop Messenger Bag Looking for a waterproof messenger bag that won’t get in the way when you’re on your bike? Look no farther than Timbuk2. This San Francisco-based company has the bases covered when it comes to messenger bags. The Especial Claro Cycling Laptop Bag features Timbuk2’s proprietary Tensionlock shoulder strap to make carrying the bag a breeze (plus it’s ambidextrous for you leftys). There’s a padded section for a laptop or other sensitive gear and a roll-top closure ensures serious protection from the elements. More info: timbuk2.com
The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest (Sasquatch Books) The sobriquet, “Jewel of the Pacific Northwest” is an apt description for the Salish Sea, that glittering body of water encompassing Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia along the coast of Washington State and British Columbia. And this new coffee table volume from Sasquatch Books is also a jewel. Filled with breathtaking photographs and thoughtful commentary, The Salish Sea exceeds expectations for a coffee table book by diving deep into this beautiful - and complex - ecosystem. Authors Audrey DeLella Benedict and Joseph K. Gaydos share both their scientific insights and their obvious passion for this spectacular - and fragile - environment.
Cascadia Gear: Cascadia Essentials for your next Adventure Arc’teryx Alpha AR Jacket Guest Review by Gary Malick
So the time has come. You have decided that getting wet during your outdoor pursuits is not an option. Welcome to my world. Over the last month I have put the Arc’Teryx Alpha AR jacket through whatever the Pacific Northwest could throw at me. This included hiking, kayaking and biking in the rain. I am wearing the XL size and the cut is perfect for me - plenty of space for proper layering without being restricted. I am 6’1 and 185. The hood is made to accommodate a helmet but with the three adjustment points it cinches down perfectly for the rain and wind no matter what you have underneath. The visor is spot-on as far as size and placement. The cuffs closed up nice and tight to prevent water dripping down my arms while kayaking. The crossover chest pockets provide easy access when wearing a pack or PFD, and of course all zips are water-tight. The pit zips, which I always need to adjust mid-way through my bike commute, are a bit tight, making them hard to open one-handed. That would be my only small complaint about this well-built extremely versatile jacket. At 13.6 oz., it’s not the lightest shell around, but its rugged construction promises many years of bombproof performance. More info: arcteryx.com
More info: sasquatchbooks.com
Gear Spotlight:
Gimme Shelter: Three Great Tents
WEEKDAYS INDOORS
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Climbing at the YMCA Classes, clubs and teams available. Visit our website today for details. WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA stories & the race|play|experience calendar online.
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by Chris Gerston When it comes to selecting backpacking gear, your tent is obviously a prime consideration. You want lightweight - but you also want comfort and dependability. Here are three great options. The Black Diamond Mesa is the ideal two-person tent for the northwest mountaineer. This tent blends the pole structure of a four-season tent with the materials (mesh walls) of a three-season tent for breathability. The trail weight is decent at four lbs., 9 oz., but you’ll love it when it’s still standing upright in high winds, or under a load of snow. If you venture above tree line, this is the perfect tent for you. $329. The Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 trail weight is amazingly light at 2 lbs., 13 oz., but still offers luxlux urious living space by incorporating a horizontal pole to spread the walls out for more headroom. It’s no wonder the Copper Spur has been the best selling ultralight tent in the industry. It’s ideal for weight-conscious backpackers who still recognize comfort as important to enjoying their time outside. $399 Finally, the Big Agnes Rabbit Ears 4 is our family camping tent. It’s massive, but at 8 lbs. trail weight, it still weighs less than a pair of most two-person backpacking tents. This is a great tent for the family with young kids, primarily interested in car camping, but also serves as a super spacious backback packing tent when the kids are ready for overnight trips. $249 Chris Gerston owns Backcountry Essentials, an outdoor specialty shop located at 214 W. Holly in Bellingham, WA. Check out more gear reviews by Chris Gerston at AdventuresNW.com
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Climb Mt. Baker This Summer Story by John D’Onofrio
On the Lower Coleman Glacier Photo by Alasdair Turner
I
first set eyes on Mt. Baker 36 years ago. I was passing through the Pacific Northwest on an extended look around the United States, a college student inspired by Muir, Abbey and Kerouac looking for whatever adventures might be found on the unpredictable road.
The first time it was just a glimpse of ice and snow, shimmering among the clouds like a landlocked Fata Morgana. The clouds closed in and - just like that - it vanished from sight. I was instantly smitten. Still, it wasn’t until 1999 that I found my way to its sublime summit. On that remarkable 16
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day the sky was cloudless and the sea of peaks that reared up toward the heavens on all sides shone in the sunshine like minarets. It is not an overstatement to say that the moments that I spent on top of the volcano were some of the most euphoric of my life. The view from atop the volcano exhausts superlatives. The North Cascades, when seen from this lofty vantage are resplendent. The Olympic Range, Rainier, Glacier Peak, the BC Coast Range, the San Juan Islands: Wow! If you love this Cascadian landscape, this is the view for you. After standing on its summit, I never looked at the mountain the same way again. There is a connection, almost >>> Go to
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an intimacy now. And considering how it dominates the surrounding countryside, this connectivity has become part of my daily routine, changing, in some small way, my sense of place and perhaps more importantly, my sense of self. Now, strictly speaking, I am not a mountain climber. I’ve finagled my way up a few of our iconic peaks here and there by hook or by crook but when the opportunity came to climb Baker, I was fortunate to be in the company of a friend who made his living as a mountain guide. The good news, it turned out, was that with a little expert guidance and the mastering of some basic safety skills, the summit of Mt. Baker is within the reach of anyone in reasonably good condition possessing a dollop of determination and a zeal for wonderment.
Learning the Ropes So, you want to stand on the summit? You’re in luck: there’s lots of help available to make this dream a fait accompli. A myriad of local climbing guides offer their services to not only get you to the top, but to teach you skills that will come in handy for whatever adventures may come your way. You’ll learn to use the accoutrements of the high life: crampons, ice axe, harness and rope. The freedom of movement across ice and rock is liberating. And did I mention the views? Two local guiding services that have distinguished themselves are American Alpine Institute and Mt. Baker Mountain Guides, both based in Bellingham. Founded in 1975, the American Alpine Institute - or AAI, as it is widely known - is the largest guide service in the United States. In addition to its long tenure and robust organization, AAI is respected around the world for its leadership in program development, alpine education and safety. Mt. Baker Mountain Guides was founded in 2013 by John and Jenni Minier. John is a hands-on guy, and his passion for climbing is what drives the business. For Minier, work and play are one and the same - his infectious love for high places has fueled Mt. Baker Mountain Guides since the start.
An Interview with American Alpine Institute founder Dunham Gooding
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How long has AAI led climbs on Baker? I led our first guided ascent of Mt. Baker as the finale of a course on ice climbing skills in the summer of 1975. In the 70’s and most of the 80’s, no one was offering training in upper-intermediate or advanced climbing skills. I saw the niche and decided to fill it by offering courses that covered comprehensive skills for mountaineering as well as programs in technical ice climbing. It was a way of serving the rather large pool of intermediate level climbers thirsting to do advanced routes.
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What was your background prior to opening AAI? For years I had planned to teach literature at the college level. I moved from Portland to Bellingham in the spring of 1975 when I got a job teaching writing at Western Washington University starting in the fall. I thought that I should try to earn some money that summer, and since I felt I was a very good teacher and ice climber, I should combine the two and fill that niche that seemed to be waiting for someone. During winter break in 1975 I led our first trip to the high altitude volcanoes in Mexico and in the winter break of 1976 to the peaks of Ecuador. After a couple of years of teaching at Western, I decided to devote all my time to AAI and its expansion into the Andes and Himalaya.
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What Baker-related activities/ classes/services will you be offering in 2015? Our three-day ‘Baker Skills and Climb’ program is one of the most popular programs. It provides a good intro to the skills and pleasure of glacier climbing and includes a climb to Baker’s summit. Participants need to have a little backpacking experience and be in good shape, but they don’t have to be athletes to make a successful climb. Depending on the person, six to eight weeks of training usually works fine to get fit enough for a successful climb. With its fabulous glaciers, Baker is definitely a national magnet. You couldn’t design a better training area – it’s actually better than Mt. Rainier – and that’s why we have kept the Institute’s headquarters here in Bellingham. People planning to climb Denali or in the Himalayas or the Andes come here to train on Baker’s immense and complex glaciers.
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What kind of experience could folks expect if they signed up for an activity with you? Rather than just being taught the basics and then being hauled up and down the mountain, climbers at the Institute learn a diversity of specific skills, good judgment, and how to think on their feet. Our climbers learn to take on responsibility for themselves, watch out for the safety of their teammates,
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and problem solve by combining their own abilities and common sense with the skills they learn on the course.
judgment, experience true teamwork, and know that their success was due to the role that they themselves played. For those who want to climb on their own soon after or someday in the years ahead, this experience is foundational to their safety and success. But for everyone, these are the key ingredients in two takeaways that all these new climbers have: a major sense of achievement and pride in their own resourcefulness.
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What makes AAI unique? We offer a full spectrum of courses from the most basic to the most advanced and do so in six states and 16 countries. We also offer family-oriented programs, like treks in the Cascades, Peru, Patagonia, and Nepal, on which some members of the family have the option to climb. And in places like France, Peru, and Bolivia, we’ve designed several cultural and natural history tours for families which are followed by options for member of the family who want to Enjoying the view from the summit of Mt. Baker Photo by Alasdair Turner climb a major peak or two. I should mention that friends As a result, these program particiand couples that join our backpacking pants who are often new to climbing trips in the North Cascades usually get when they join us, come away with so hooked on the beauty of the Cascade a great sense of self-confidence and Range that they come back the next achievement. Instead of experiencing a year to participate in an intro to mounsuccess on the climb that is mostly due taineering course. It’s hard to see our to what the guide did, they have the majestic peaks up close and then not opportunity to exercise good mountain want to climb them.
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In terms of mountain guide services, AAI seems to be one of the largest. In terms of staff and activities, how would AAI rank in the US? In the world? AAI is the largest guide service in the US with an emphasis on teaching leadership skills, self-sufficiency, and advanced skills for rock, snow, and ice climbing. The Institute also has the most extensive programming for advanced and extreme backcountry skiing and splitboarding. Having said that, it’s important to note that national accreditation reviewers have judged the Institute’s mountaineering courses to be the most comprehensive and effective introductory climbing courses in the country.
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Any cool stories that you want to share regarding past activities on the mountain? Sometimes the simplest things are funny. Once we assisted an individual on a private climb who broke his ankle up high on the mountain. After the helicopter took off with the patient, but while it was still in sight, one of the patient’s partner’s looked at the other partner and asked, “so, you have the keys to the car, right?” Well most - but not all - people would think about that ahead of time. Timing can be everything. We ended up giving them both a ride back to Bellingham. In the odd story category, a few years ago one of our guides encountered a climber moving up the Easton glacier tied to a dog. When asked about the issue of falling into a crevasse, the climber
responded that he thought the dog was big enough to keep him from falling to the bottom of a crevasse. In further discussion he acknowledged that it was a major disadvantage that the dog did not know how to do a self-arrest or how to do a crevasse rescue. He and his companion came to the conclusion that it would be better to descend. Learn more: alpineinstitute.com
An Interview with Mt. Baker Mountain Guides owner John Minier
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How long has Mt. Baker Mountain Guides been in business? Mt. Baker Mountain Guides officially launched on January 1, 2013. We’re into our third year, and going strong!
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Are you the sole owner? My wife, Jenni, and I own Mt. Baker Mountain Guides together. Jenni isn’t a guide herself, but she is an active mountain enthusiast. Her love of adventure and her drive to get out and get after it are inspirational. She has a seemingly endless number of alpine objectives on my honey-do-list, and I often find myself struggling to keep up with her on my days off.
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What was your background prior to opening Mt. Baker Mountain Guides? I’ve always been drawn to the mountains. Growing up in Alaska, I could see Mt. McKinley from my front porch – seriously! My family introduced
me to hunting and fishing, and the outdoors became a big part of my life. Climbing seemed to be the natural progression. My father and I summited Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park when I was in my early teens. On the approach, I remember looking up at the East Face, which climbers refer to as ‘The Diamond’. It is solid granite, and dead vertical for two thousand feet. I decided that I was going to climb it someday, and 10 years later, I did! I started backcountry skiing while I was in college at the University of Colorado at Boulder. I eventually began leading backcountry ski tours for the Backcountry Club at CU, which was a student group that I helped to form. After college I drifted between odd jobs throughout Colorado, but skiing, climbing, and guiding seemed to be a pillar of stability for me. In 2011 I moved to the Northwest to guide on Mt. Rainier. Fifteen summits later, I decided it was time to head out on my own.
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What prompted you to start the company? I’ve always been entrepreneurial. In my 30 short years I’ve owned a door-to-door ski tuning business, a
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Shuksan is a local favorite as well. More private tutoring company, a Christmas experienced climbers will appreciate tree lot, and a guide service. Somewhere our technical ascents throughout North in there I was a high-frequency day trader Cascades National Park. We’re also sufor an East Coast Hedge Fund as well. per excited about our Mt. Rainier sumThat was random. I like to joke around mit via the Kautz Glacier. that I should have been a Christmas Tree Mogul. Take the Holidays by Approaching the Roman Wall across the Easton Glacier storm! Photo by John Minier To be perfectly honest, I never pictured myself as the owner of a guide service. It’s funny where life will take you if you let it. When I came to the Northwest, I moved to Bellingham mostly based on its reputation. It hasn’t let me down either. We’ve got some new programs in the works this season as well. We’ll be What Baker-related activities/ adding a few more multi-day alpine obclasses/services will you be ofjectives throughout Washington, as well fering in 2015? We’ve got a full set of as some multi-pitch rock climbing. Keep offerings for summer 2015. Obviously, an eye on our website. given our name sake, we’ll be run-
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ning Mt. Baker climbs on the Easton, Coleman-Deming, North Ridge, and Coleman Headwall Routes. Mt.
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What kind of experience could folks expect if they signed up for an activity with you? I started
Mt. Baker Mountain Guides because I wanted to offer comprehensive, highend guided trips throughout the North Cascades. Our guests can expect fullycatered food service while on mountain. We also provide most of the group gear, such as tents, which is a benefit for our clientele who are coming in from out-oftown, or for individuals new to mountaineering.
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What makes Mt. Baker Mountain Guides unique? We’re really customer serviceoriented at Mt. Baker Mountain Guides. When you call our offices, you’re most likely talking to an owner. This give us the flexibility to develop custom programs that fulfill our client’s dreams. We also know the area really well. The North Cascades aren’t just our office, they’re our playground. We can often find powder long after the storm,
Driven to Abstraction: The Luminous Paintings of Yvette Neumann
My paintings combine aspects of surreal, figurative, and abstract art styles in works of contemporary modern art. To echo nature’s underlying sensuality, I focus my artist’s eye on recurring shapes and patterns, universally shared by living and inanimate things. A ridgeline can infer the arch of a woman’s back, and shadow cast just so might suggest a bird’s wing, stretched in flight. Masculine and feminine too exist in all things. My work can be seen at yvetteneumann.com and I invite other Creatives to join me at one of my workshops, fusing art and culture with the great outdoors: creativelifeadventuresNW.com. Clockwise from right: After the Rain, Blue Mountain Waltz, Park Promenade, Out of the Blue
The art of nature
eARTh 20
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or weave the best line up through the icefall. We’ve got up- to-date conditions as well, so if you’re headed out into the mountains, feel free to give us a call.
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Any cool stories that you want to share regarding past activities on the mountain? I once had an Israeli client on the North Ridge of Mt. Baker. He was the solemn, stoic type, and I was having a tough time getting him to open up, or show any excitement whatsoever. I thought he was enjoying himself, but it was hard to tell. His English wasn’t the best, but if I went to Israel, my Hebrew would be much worse. When speaking, he would often misuse the verb “To Make.” For instance, “I want to make hiking now.” It’s a common error for English language learners, and let’s face it, English is kind of a ridiculous language. We packed up and left camp really early on summit morning. It was dark, and the weather hadn’t been super great. He stoically followed me across the berg-
schrund and onto the ridge proper. He maintained his expressionless demeanor for the entire first half of the climb. Dawn found us several hundred feet below an ominous cloud ceiling. As we climbed through the mist, it got lighter and lighter, and suddenly we emerged above the cloud deck, into a glorious, sunny day. Directly above us was the ice cliff that formed the crux of the route, and beyond that the summit stood like a shining island surrounded by an endless sea of clouds. I looked back at my client and he had this enormous grin on his face. I could see the days of pent up excitement about to explode out of him. As if prompted, he grabbed his ice axe by the bottom of the shaft, thrust it into the air like he was summiting Everest, and shouted “LET’S MAKE KICK ASS!” It’s now our unofficial mantra at Mt. Baker Mountain Guides. We are here to make some kick ass. ANW Learn more: mtbakerguides.com
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Adventure Racing
Not All Who Wander are Lost I
t was three in the morning and pitch black outside except for the light of our headlamps illuminating the brush and forest in front of us. We had been racing since 8 a.m. the previous morning and all I knew at the time was that we were bushwhacking up a really steep hillside somewhere in the foothills of McHenry, Maryland. I started thinking back on all of the things we did that day from whitewater boogie boarding to canoeing against a 20 mph headwind to mountain biking dozens of miles of single-track trails. I never expected I would be competing in a race like this, especially at the National level, but there I was racing with my team at the 2014 United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA) National Championships and having a blast. My fiancé, Dusty, and I began our
A rare calm moment: Brent at the USARA Championships Photo by Emily Morehouse
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Story by Emily Morehouse
adventure race careers two years ago at Island Quest held on Orcas Island. We called ourselves multi-sport athletes but up to that point our main activity was distance running. Neither of us had any real exposure to adventure racing before, but we figured we were fit enough to tackle most activities and challenges to compete in a race. We didn’t know what to expect. Little did we know that we were about to get hooked. Adventure racing is a multi-sport challenge usually involving some form of trekking, biking, paddling and orienteering. It is basically an intense version of a scavenger hunt. There is no set course the checkpoints are the only guidelines. Each team decides what route to take to get to as many of the checkpoints as possible. Accurate navigation is the key. For an added challenge, maps aren’t distributed until just before the start and GPS devices are not allowed. For some races,
teams recieve their maps as little as 15 minutes before the fun begins. There are several different lengths and styles of adventure racing, ranging from a couple of hours to a week or more. In addition to trekking, biking, paddling and orienteering, some races include other activities. At Nationals, for example, we started the race with whitewater boogie boarding. Some races have just enough checkpoints to allow racers to find them all before the cutoff, but others have way too many, forcing racers to choose which ones are worth reaching and which ones to leave behind. The challenges are psychological as well as physical. Additionally all racers must be selfsupported, with each team required to have all of the food and equipment needed to complete the race. At most races, there are a few transition areas where food and gear can be stashed before the next leg, but this isn’t always the case. At Nationals we had to bring our trekking food and equipment with us on the paddle. Different races allow for different team configurations from solo participants to teams of four or more. There are co-ed (requiring at least one male and one female on the team) and same-gendered teams. Interestingly enough, the co-ed division tends to be the most competitive. The top 10 teams at Nationals most years are co-ed. As a female competitor, I like going into to a competition knowing that I get to compete with the best. At Island Quest, our first race, we chose to do the 12-hour option as a co-ed team of two. A unique and appealing aspect of that race was that we were on an island and there was the >>> Go to
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tion. They felt like sprints compared potential to paddle to other islands for to the 12-hour Island Quest. They usucheckpoints. We hadn’t done much ally started and finished in a local park paddling, but thought that an interwith the checkpoints spread throughout island paddle would be pretty sweet. neighborhoods, city parks, and local Headquarters were in Moran State Park trails in the area. These shorter races at the Environmental Learning Center helped us practice navigation since the located at the base of Mt. Constitution. courses covered a much smaller area with The race sent us riding or running up potentially just as many check points as and down most of the trails in the state a longer race. park. There’s nothing like an adventure Another race we used for training race to get to know an unfamiliar area. was Bellingham’s Kulshan Quest. Excited This race presented an added chalto be on our home turf, we ran the 12lenge when torrential rain began to fall. hour race as a two-person co-ed team The paddling segment had to be moved again. However, even though this race to a lake on the island due to high winds was on familiar and dangerous conterrain, we disditions in the open Dusty and Emily at one of the Hike-A-Bike creek crossings in the Cle Elum 24-hour race covered some new water around the Photo by Brent Molsberry places and new island. It rained so ways of getting to much that day that the familiar ones, during the paddle, especially during we could have the paddle. We been completely didn’t have the submerged and it weather excitewouldn’t have made ment of our first much difference. race, but snapThe wild weather ping the rudder added to the sense completely off of of adventure. our tandem kayak Island Quest near the beginwas the regional ning of the race championship race helped to keep and we ended up things adventurqualifying for the ous enough. USARA National Our final training race for Nationals Championships to be held in McHenry, was the Cle Elum 24-hour race, mirrorMaryland the following year. After having the length of the Nationals course. ing a blast at our first race, we decided Our friend and Quest Adventure race we wanted to keep doing more and figdirector, Brent, agreed to be our third so ured that training for Nationals would we could practice working together as a be a good way to get more practice. team of three, which is what we needed Adventure racing is more popular on the to compete at Nationals. It was here that East Coast but, fortunately, we ended up we became the official Quest Adventure finding some great races in the Pacific Race Team. Brent brought with him Northwest for training. a lot more adventure race experience We started our Nationals practice than either of us as he had competed in by competing in some weeknight races Primal Quest, a race that typically lasts in the Seattle area. These races were all about a week. We learned a lot at the three hours long and not all of them race in Cle Elum and felt at least a little included paddling, but they did have more prepared, especially for the deliribiking, running and, of course, navigastories & the race|play|experience calendar online.
Sun, rain or snow, always on the go! Top of Sauk Mtn with Mt Shuksan in the background
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ous time that usually surfaces during the wee hours of the morning. The 24-hour National Championships in Maryland went pretty well for the newly-formed Quest Adventure
Race Team. It included all of the regular activities of adventure racing with some added challenges, and also - yes you did read correctly earlier - whitewater boogie boarding. Despite our lack
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of familiarity with this sort of activity we survived and can all now say that we have whitewater boogie boarding experience. The added challenge to the navigation for this race was that each team had to plot the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for all of the checkpoints, and then mark a route on the map. After being awake for almost 30 hours, running and biking dozens of miles up and over who knows how many foothills and paddling for several hours down a lake into a 20 mph sustained headwind (only to have the wind die before the return trip, denying us the tailwind we so longed for), we had found all but two of the 46 checkpoints. When it was over we finished sixth out of 60 teams - and got to add whitewater boogie-boarding to our adventure racing resumes. We’re already looking forward to the next one! ANW
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An Eye for Alpenglow The Photography of Don Geyer I’ve been fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest nearly all my life. I started enjoying our spectacular outdoors as an avid hiker, backpacker, and eventually climber. I was introduced to photography during this time, and there was no looking back. My camera went everywhere with me, and soon dictated my destinations more so than any climbing objectives. I’ve enjoyed photographing throughout the western U.S. and Canada, and have been lucky enough to visit some of these places under very special conditions – sometimes under dramatic stormy skies or extraordinary morning or evening light.
See an extended gallery of Don Geyer’s 26
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Clockwise from above: Alta Mountain Reflection, Morning Alpenglow on the Neve Glacier, Evening Light on Hi Box Mountain, Evening Light on Mt. Challenger, Evening Light on Whatcom Peak, Mt. St. Helens from Mt. Margaret, Evening Light on Mt. Baker, Icy Peak at sunrise.
beautiful alpine photography at AdventuresNW.com stories & the race|play|experience calendar online.
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&
Arc Story by Henry Hughes Photos by David Farris
F
ishing an Oregon river with my wife, Chloe, turns to dancing. I touch her back and shoulders, leading her gently. She smiles, then follows my gesture, swings back and sees in the bubbly kiss of this emerald tail-out a big slivery flash. A fish that’s come from the ocean. Chloe has taught me a lot, but today I’m teaching her to cast for steelhead. We met a few years ago at the university. She was coming through a divorce and I was surfacing from a drowning relationship. Chloe and I dated, shared our histories, took her children fishing, spent a night and a few months together, and fell in love. “Let your hook always be cast,” Ovid tells us in The Art of Love. “In a pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish.”
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Pulse We had fished this river once last year in early September. The woods were dry, the water low and clear, and the fish wary of our shadows as if they were the smoky dances of fire. The fires of any romantic relationship can burn in the wrong direction. As Chloe and I got to know each other better, we had our first arguments. The issues were familiar - my excessive time spent fishing, long days on the water without a phone call, or just my need to be alone when Chloe said she needed me around. And when plans for marriage firmed-up, we had our first arguments about money. Most disagreements worked themselves through to a place of better understanding, but some clashes turned red and sore. One quarrel over my debts exploded into harsh words, slammed doors and days of silence. When I emailed her to ask if she still wanted to go fishing on Friday as we planned, she typed back, “Okay, but no champagne.” We walked deep into the warm canyon whispering about the Siletz Indians who once speared, trapped, ate, laughed and lay along these basalt ledges. What is it we really want and need from the world, from other people? The Indians surely worried about many things before the ships and wagons arrived, but not loans and credit cards. They needed each other, they needed fish. Hours into the canyon, Chloe and I didn’t see another person, and when we found a sun-drenched stone over a deep pool, we stripped down and plunged into the cold water. Wide awake with just the river and ourselves, it felt so easy to again see, touch and love completely. Would I ever need anything more? I would need this October when rains bring more fish and the opportunity to catch them. Chloe swings the rod forward and sends the blue spinner into the riffles. It has a nice vibratory resistance and she’s steering it right into the sweet spot. No bobber or bells for this woman. She likes to “feel it,” she tells me. I glance up at the narrow grey sky, the rocky canyon lush in moss, fern and fir - a great cathedral echoing wonder and promise. She brings the spinner across the deep tongue and there! - the arc and pulse of the rod, a splash, line tearing out - she’s into a fish. There are many ways people grow closer, and each way comes with the risk that it will lead inversely to pain and undoing. We learn each other’s burning passions and dull apathies, the consistencies and idiosyncrasies of our minds. We count on each other, raise children, take care of a house, garden, even a pet. A couple years ago a skinny grey tabby cat jumped in our boat while I was cleaning up in the driveway. The cat gobbled some leftover prawn baits, rubbed against my leg, and purred. Chloe called him Shrimp and said we should take him in. I was reluctant. Just another thing to worry about. But she and the >>> Go to
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boys convinced me. We love the cat, of course. And yet I do worry sometimes when he’s out at night - will he get bitten by a raccoon or hit by a car? Then that worry seems silly in light of the children’s health, the life concerns of our family and friends, a leaky roof, bills, work. So much matters. But during exciting moments of possibility - diving into water, reaching for someone you love, hooking a great fish - nothing else seems to matter. Chloe is focused, excited, anxious. I touch her flexing back and say “Great.” There’s nothing quite like a big, bright searun fish in a rushing river. She keeps her balance on the slippery rocks, stepping back into the shallows. I coach, and she retrieves a little line and then there’s a confused moment of slack and a rocketing burst of steelhead, its body completely out of the water in an electrifying silver somersault. This fish left the river as a small smolt two or three years ago, returning heavy, handsome and hard to hook - until now. Steelhead may be the sexiest game fish in the world - and it’s taken me a lifetime to find them. When this fish splashes back and disappears, the
rod resumes its pulsing arc. “It’s still on. It’s coming,” she says. A chrome steelhead streaking through the blue-green river. And then it’s gone. “Oh no! What happened?” she groans. My jaw clenches, eyes squeeze shut as I exhale a tremendous sinking disappointment. My hopes were sky high that Chloe would hook a fish today. And she did. Long ago, I got over losing fish on my line, but only recently have I gotten over my fear of losing women. Chloe’s never caught a steelhead and she’s worked hard at it for days, the river rising and falling, the fish constantly on the move. Today’s conditions are ideal, her rod-work perfect. I examine the line and hooks. Everything is fine. “Sometimes it just happens,” I say. “You did great. What a gorgeous fish. Cast again.” The endless, repeated promise of fishing, the hope that the next cast will be the one that connects you to a fish, a magnificent fish, the fish of a lifetime, can lead to a hobby, obsession, addiction, healthy emotional and physical persistence, the faithful practice of something like religion, even passion and love. It has to lead somewhere.
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“The craft of angling is the catching of fish,” Ted Leeson wrote after wading these same Oregon rivers. “But the art of angling is a receptiveness to these connections, the art of letting one thing lead to another until, if only locally and momentarily, you realize some small completeness.” And then you start over. West and east, open ocean and weedy ponds, urban canals and pristine springs, hot swamps and arctic lakes, rowing in the fresh breeze and motoring through outboard fumes, swinging baits, lures and flies for hits and misses, landing little sprats and lead-bellied leviathan, eating some fish and letting others go, it’s been an endless journey of angling. And along the way there
were relationships of every variety - backseat and front seat, crazy and calm, primal and cerebral, one night stands and lifetime friendships, years of dating and nights of being alone, divorce and marriage. The endlessly repeated, recurring, predictable, surprising, erratic and crazy experiences that are so much a part of fishing can drown in an instant or, over time, become the sustaining forces of our existence. Like the constant and constantly changing river that Chloe and I wade in today, you never know what will happen. “Take a step upstream,” I say, “and make another cast.” ANW
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Let the Good Times Roll Story by Mitchell Lee
I
first discovered the trails at Galbraith Mountain at the age of ten. My family and I pedaled our fully rigid bikes up the Pipeline Road toward the Bunny Trails. As my tires hit the trail, a new sensation overwhelmed me as I flew past trees, rolled over rocks, and bounced off of logs. To say the least, I was hooked. Now, at age 24, even though my life has changed dramatically, I am still chasing that feeling I experienced my first time mountain biking on Galbraith. Surrounded by a thick blanket of forested rolling hills between the North Cascades and the Salish Sea, Galbraith Mountain is home to over 45 miles of multi-use trails that stretch out over 2,800 acres - all within 10 minutes from downtown Bellingham. There is no question that Galbraith Mountain is a critical asset to this community as a recreation outlet.
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How good is the riding on Galbraith? “Really good.” according to Jill Kintner, a recent transplant to Bellingham who also happens to be a three-time World Champion mountain biker and Olympic Bronze medalist in BMX. “I have travelled the world racing mountain bikes professionally. Galbraith Mountain has some of the best trails in the world, that are easily accessible, well maintained, and challenge all levels, even top pros.” The trails on Galbraith Mountain are not, however, strictly for mountain biking. They are also used by trail runners and hikers who enjoy the mountain in ever-increasing numbers. Galbraith’s proximity to Bellingham and its plethora of trails create a wealth of welcome opportunities for people to escape from their busy daily routines. “We are lucky to have such an incredible piece of land right in Bellingham,” notes The Greater Bellingham Running Club’s Molly
Hayes, an avid user of the trail system. “On any given day you will find families, mountain bikers, runners, and hikers on Galbraith. It’s just so accessible.” Galbraith Mountain also serves as a social hub for an active community with a busy schedule of group rides, runs, and hikes. Outdoor recreation and open spaces such as Galbraith Mountain are becoming recognized as key ingredients for fostering healthy communities and contributing to a high quality of life. Eric Dobbs, his wife, Kelly, and their two-yearold daughter moved here from Bozeman, Montana a year ago - largely due to the access to outdoor recreation. “Not even a mile into our first ride at Galbraith, my wife and I ran into a couple riding with six children,” says Eric Dobbs. “That was the moment we realized that this was a community we wanted to be a part of.”
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These bonds are created not only in riding the trails but also in the cooperative work of maintaining the trail system. For nearly 30 years the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC) formerly known as the WHIMPS - has built, maintained and acted as stewards of the mountain’s trails. More recently, the WMBC has been working on upgrading several of the most popular ones. Both the SST and Evolution trails now have improved drainage, corners, jumps, and overall flow. Also, after logging occurred in the area where Lost Giants is located, WMBC volunteers spent numerous hours recreating the trail which now weaves through the clear cut with beautiful views of Lookout Mountain. With this work done and a number of new projects currently in progress, conditions
have never been better for recreationalists. The WMBC hosts and supports hundreds of volunteers contributing thousands of hours of trail work each year. This time is not only an opportunity to give back to the trails but also to network with like-minded individuals. Volunteering may be one of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships simply because you are committing to a shared activity together. The outdoor recreation opportunities Galbraith Mountain creates also deliver big benefits to Bellingham’s local economy. Trail users frequent local shops to procure outdoor equipment while travelers from around the region - and the world - flock to Whatcom County to use the trails at Galbraith and are spending
money on lodging, restaurants, groceries, gasoline, and other travel-related expenses. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, a staggering $646 billion is spent annually on outdoor recreation in the United States. With assets like Galbraith, Bellingham is perfectly poised to take full advantage of this trend. Janet Lightner, the General Manager at Boundary Bay for the past 18 years, has seen a clear connection between the growth of the economy and the increase in outdoor recreation. “When I first started, we just had the Ski to Sea and now we have so many races we can barely squeeze another event in,” she observes. “Galbraith is a gem that drives this economy. There are constantly mountain
Photo by Mitchell Lee
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bikes outside Boundary Bay and a lot of them belong to tourists.” For those of us who live here, Galbraith and its trails are an undeniable part of the quality of life that makes Cascadia such an amazing place to live. Summer is here - grab ANW your bike and head for the hills!
Mike Cunningham airborne on SST (Stryka Media)
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GALBRAITH’S BEST TRAILS: WMBC’S TOP TEN by Eric Brown, Trail Director Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition
• Evolution – Starting from the top of the mountain, this technical trail has berms, jumps and drops. The “Stinger” ladder bridge is one of the oldest features on the mountain and recently underwent a full rebuild that should last another 20 years! • SST- A favorite ride on the North side of the mountain that is fun for intermediate and advanced riders. It has rock rolls, jumps, rooty sections and lots of berms and exits into the Hannah Creek development. • Lost Giants – Recently rebuilt after this area was clear-cut, this lower trail is a perfect beginner and intermediate cross country trail with tons of flow and swoopy corners. • Whoopsie Woodle – A meandering trail that traverses from near the top of the mountain over towards Atomic Dog and the Pigs. • Atomic Dog – This directional south side trail is often the trail that riders use when exiting the mountain. It contains roots, rocks, jumps and berms. • Keystone – Keystone has been rebuilt after recent logging and the large ravine was finally bridged in July of 2014. The “Freedom Bridge” was an massive undertaking, but is a prime example of the WMBC’s trail building capabilities. • The Ridge / Miranda – The primary access for the North side, these trails are likely the most used on the mountain by hikers, bikers and trail runners. Half way up the trail, there are incredible views of Bellingham, the bay and the San Juan Islands. • Wonderland – A great trail off the top of the mountain that meanders through younger forest and connects into Keystone. • Unemployment Line – The first machine-built jump trail on the hill that is suitable for beginners and expert riders alike. “U Line” will be undergoing a full overhaul this Spring. • Dog Patch – A cross-country favorite, Dog Patch connects riders into Lost Giants, Last Call and Pony Express and has fun flow and a bridge beside a waterfall. Maps: You can purchase a waterproof paper map or download a GPS-interactive map for your smartphone at wmbcmtb.org/galbraith/
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The High Divide Walking the Green Horizon T Story and photos by John D’Onofrio
he High Divide, that long sinuous ridge that stretches from Excelsior Peak to Welcome Pass has long been a favorite autumn backpacking destination. I’ve spent some glorious October days and nights on the Divide when the sweeping alpine meadows are positively lurid with the golds, reds and yellows of the season. But my visits in mid-summer flower season have been lamentably far and few between.
Mt. Baker from the High Divide Trail
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On this beautiful summer morning, here at the end of the Canyon Creek Road, I am looking forward to rectifying that situation. My travelling companions and I have allocated the next three days to explore the ridge from one end to the other and to linger in what we hope will be alpine gardens. Time to sharpen the senses and soothe the soul, to stop and smell the flowers. The weather is picture-perfect: blue skies, warm sun - and the forecast is for more of the same. From the trailhead we plunge immediately into delightful mature for-
est, old man’s beard hanging from the trees like prayer flags. The path climbs gently through the trees, shadows and silence combining to quiet the internal jabbering. The beginning of any hike is first and foremost a transition from the over-busy hyper-speed song and dance routines of everyday urban life to a place of quiet. A chance to reduce velocity. Over the years I have learned that hiking uphill is a good way to slow down. In less than a mile, the trail dips down to the tiny Damfino Lakes (named, so the story goes, when a ranger of yore was asked what the lakes Moonrise over Mt. Shuksan were called and replied, “damn if I know...”). The marshy basin that cradles them is as green as green gets. Although we’re not tired or hungry, we stop here for a break, just so we can spend a few minutes beside the silent water. Green remains the dominant color as we ascend through thinning forest and patches of lingering snow, emerging eventually above the trees onto steeply pitched meadows of mountain hellebore. These graceful alpine plants are a favorite - their unique beauty is in their elegant spiraling leaves. The
bloom, when it comes, is nothing to write home about, but the leaves are a treat for the eyes. Also called corn lilies or Indian hellebore, the plants are poisonous. Not a problem for me so far, I’ve never been tempted to chew on one. We cross a rambunctious creek on a dubious snow bridge. When the snow is gone, this creek, reduced to a trickle in late summer, is one of the only water sources on the Divide. Looking upward today, we can see patches of lingering snow visible up on the ridge, so we bypass the stream and continue the ascent, climbing the rocky staircase of a trail (Stairway to Heaven?), views widening with each step. Another opportunity to slow down. At the crest of Excelsior Pass, the view-meter is pegged by the abrupt appearance of Baker, Shuksan, the Border Peaks and countless others rising against the sky, icy summits gleaming in the summer sunshine. We turn left and make the last upward push to the summit of Excelsior Peak with a 360-degree view out over the wild mountains. The catbird’s seat. We pitch the tents on the dance
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floor-sized summit plateau and melt snow to fill our water bottles as the sun slides down the western sky, painting the great summits in the rosy hue of alpenglow. A full moon, deep orange, rises above the dark towers of Shuksan and we eat dinner by its soft light. The night’s chill is vanquished by warm morning sunshine and we waste no time heading off along the green undulating ridge, stopping often to examine the rocks and flowers. A falcon soars past as we traverse meadows lush with lupine, tiger lily, columbine, glacier lily, heather and phlox, the Border Peaks rearing ever higher as we move east. My companions turn back toward camp and I continue along the ridge, enjoying the quiet music of birdsong and the breeze fluttering in the flowers. At Welcome Pass I climb a snow gully to a notch with a million-dollar view of Tomihoi and Larrabee. A meltwater pool, cradled in the snow gully is an indescribable shade of blue.
+
I while away the afternoon happily alone, climbing snow gullies, drawing water from snow-melt pools and wandering beside pocket tarns that reflect the elegant peaks. Epic hellebore meadows, sweeping like pitched green seas down the slopes into the valleys far
below lead the eye to the valley bottoms where the meandering Nooksack River can be seen, flashing among dark trees. I return to camp in early evening and savor another soft summer evening on Excelsior, bathed in moonlight. It’s too nice a night to be in a tent so I toss
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out my sleeping bag on a tarp and drop off to sleep with a gentle breeze ruffling my hair. The mosquitoes, doing their duty, wake me shortly before the sun comes up, affording me the opportunity to set up
my tripod and photograph the pearly dawn, alabaster light spreading across the high country and working its way down to illuminate the shadows in the valleys. Today, we opt to head southwest on the ridge towards the distant tower of Church Mountain, climbing up and over a succession of green bumps, each with its view of the resplendent mountains. The path becomes less distinct and we eventually find a small rocky promontory perfect for lazing in the warm sun. My friends move on and I linger on a smooth flat rock and contemplate my good fortune, breathing deeply among the flowers that line the edge of the precipice. The air is filled with the sound of insects, buzzing at a hundred different frequencies. When the breeze dies down, spotted orange butterflies appear, dancing the butterfly tango. Ravens gargle in stands of wind-bent trees. Back atop Excelsior, we watch as a scrimshaw of wispy clouds crisscrosses the sky like webs spun by cosmic spiders. At sunset,
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Mountain Hellebore
GETTING THERE
There are three ways to reach the High Divide Trail. Two of them demand serious sweat equity - the Welcome Pass Trail gains almost 3000 feet in 2.5 miles of relentless switchbacks from Forest Road 3060 to Welcome Pass (5100 feet) and the Excelsior Trail climbs some 3600 feet from the Excelsior Trailhead on the Mount Baker Highway to Excelsior Pass in four miles. The easiest access is via Damfino Lakes and will cost you just 1500 feet of gain. To reach this trailhead, take the Mount Baker Highway (SR542) two miles past the Glacier Public
these clouds glow crimson, swirling like smoke above the peaks. Deep in the night, the clouds take their leave, leaving me with the moon and stars and I sit silently, washed by the tender light and memories of summer evenings long past. The moon makes its way across the sky and I wish it well, crawling into my sleeping bag to watch the stars. ANW Service Center and turn left on Canyon Creek Road (Forest Road 31). Follow this road - paved for the first eight miles - approximately 15 miles (bearing left twice, following the obvious main road) to the trailhead at 4150 feet. From here, the trail ascends three miles to Excelsior Pass (5380 feet). Another third of a mile and 300 feet will get you to the summit of Excelsior Peak (5699 feet). From the pass, you can follow the High Divide Trail east along the ridge top for 4.5 miles to Welcome Pass or wander west in the direction of Church Mountain for as far as you are comfortable (the route gets sketchy). The ridge offers numerous great places to pitch your tent although once the snow is gone, water is in short supply.
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Race I Play I Experience MAY >>>
6 p.m., Fairhaven Marine Park all summer, boats available.
Monday, 18 May
Saturday, 30 May
WATER Stand Up Paddleboard Demo––Bloedel Donovan Park, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Free Demo for Paddleboarding.
Sunday, 24 May SPECIAL Ski To Sea Race––Mt. Baker to Bellingham, 7:45 am – 6:00 pm. The Ski to Sea Race is an epic multi-sport relay race from Mt Baker to Bellingham Bay. The relay consists of cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, biking, canoeing, cross county biking and sea kayaking. A team will consist of one person for each leg of the race, except for the canoe leg (2 paddlers per canoe). A person may compete on only one team, and in only one leg of the race.
Tuesday, 26 May WATER Kayak Polo––Fairhaven Marine Park, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Co-ed, no paddling experience necessary, Tues.
WATER Whatcom Rowing Boathouse Open House––WRA Boathouse,10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Open house and tour of the new boathouse at Bloedel Donovan Park.
JUNE >>> Saturday, 6 June CYCLING Apple Century Bike Ride––Wenatchee Valley, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Come and Ride for a Reason! The ride will start in Wenatchee at Walla Walla Point Park, then follow along the Wenatchee River as it winds through Monitor, Cashmere, Dryden and Peshastin until you reach Leavenworth. The 100-milers will continue on, to the Lake Wenatchee Fire Staton where they will turn around for the trip back to Walla Walla Point Park. Please visit www. applebikeride.com for more ride
18 May - 14 June 2015
info and to see how we use proceeds! WATER National Learn to Row Day ––Bloedel Donovan Park, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. See what rowing is all about, try out an eight person rowing shell. SPECIAL “What’s the Point” beach exploration at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve––Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Explore shorelines and learn about aquatic reserves at this family-friendly event featuring multiple naturalist stations.
It’s WILD. And it’s BACK! A benefit for Washington Water Trails celebrating the passion of paddlesports. A unique opportunity to view outstanding watersports films inspiring people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle. Combining humor, fast-paced action, incredible scenery and culture, this film festival takes you around the globe. For only $15 you can ride shotgun for the action!
Saturday, 13 June RUN/WALK Race Beneath the Sun––Fairhaven Park, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Join us for the Race Beneath the Sun, a 5 mile race and 1/2 mile kids fun run at Fairhaven Park in Bellingham. This race takes place Saturday June 13, 2015 at 10:00 am, with the kids run starting 15 minutes earlier. For more information, please see the websitegbrc.net. SPECIAL Blazing Paddles - A Paddling Film Festival––Lincoln Theatre, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. It’s WET.
Sunday, 14 June RUN/WALK Edge to Edge Marathon, 7:30 am – 2:30 pm. The 16th Edge to Edge Marathon travels through the Wild Pacific Trail ~ one of British Columbia’s top natural attractions ~ and the West Coast community of Ucluelet. Runners can chose the full or half marathon courses, or put together a 4-person team for the relay event. Competitors will
Hamster
tn es e m a G
Saturday, June 6th, 2015 Cornwall Park in Bellingham
Saturday, June 13th, 2015
Come find out, with some running, push-ups, lunges, squats and more!
An adventure ride for the whole family
Separate Kids Event
Cool Finisher’s Award
check the website for details: www.hamsterfitnessgames.com On Facebook: Hamster Fitness Games
$15 advance / $20 day of event
www.bellevuewa.gov/lake-to-lake-ride.htm
Start/Finish: Lake Hills Community Park
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A HAMSTER ENDURANCE RUNNING EVENT 42
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14 June (cont.) - 28 June 2015
experience a variety of terrains including hard packed gravel and paved paths, and enjoy spectacular views of open ocean, rocky coastline and lush, green rainforest..
Thursday, 18 June SPECIAL World Premiere of unReal, a mountain bike film from TGR & Anthill Films––Vogue Theatre, 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm. It’s almost time to get unReal. TGR and
Saturday July 11
Anthill Films bring you the most ambitious mountain bike film ever created. Join us as we unleash the epic footage this summer, starting with the World Premiere on June 18 at the historic Vogue Theatre w/ after-party at Roadhouse. Other Northwest shows: June 19 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre, June 20 –
28 th Annual
Portland, OR – Aladdin Theatre, July 10 – Bellingham, WA – Mt. Baker Theatre.
Sunday, 28 June RUN/WALK Kona Marathon–– Waikoloa Beach Resort, 6:00 am – 2:00 pm. Big Island Hawaii - Marathon, Half, Quarter & 5k every June. Land of Aloha! RUN/WALK Bellingham KIDS Traverse––Civic Field, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Get Hooked on the
Bellingham KIDS Traverse, a fun relay race that celebrates the journey of wild salmon. 6 – 12 year olds form solo, tandem and relay teams to run, bike and compete on an obstacle course through Bellingham’s Civic Field. The course includes a Run (1 mi), Mountain Bike (1.5 mi), Obstacle Course (.5 mi), Team TREK (.25 mi).
August 2, 2015 BELLINGHAM, WA
2015
Iron Person & Relay
.3-mile swim 14.8-mile bike 4-mile run
Plus a YOUTH TRI
(flotation devices allowed & parents encouraged to participate with their kids)
Run-Archery is similar to biathlon; you’ll do short running laps, with target archery in between laps. Total running of no more than 5K. Novice and competitive divisions!
www.nwrunarcheryclassic.com 360.336.9414 tonyt@co.skagit.wa.us
skagitcounty.net/parksandrecreation event listings at AdventuresNW.com
Archery in Schools Program
- Directed by Hamster Endurance Running race | play | experience
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2 July - 1 August 2015
JULY >>> Thursday-Monday, 2-6 July CYCLING Northwest Tandem Rally 2015––Lakeway Inn Best Western Plus, July 2nd 2:00 pm – July 6th 5:00 pm. Here’s your 2015 cycling vacation. Join us in our coast city during the best time of year. Enjoy 4
days of cycling on quiet roads with views of ocean, lakes, mountains, forests, rivers, and farms. What’s waiting for you at NWTR, July 2-6 2015: Fully supported rides, meals with fresh local cuisine, banquet featuring The Atlantics, vendor fair, options for
August 15 & 16
Lake Padden, Bellingham, WA
whale watching, kayaking, crab dinner cruise, craft beer tasting party, and on and on!
RUN/WALK Clear Lake Triathlon–– Clear Lake Beach, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Iron Person & Teams, Youth Triathlon.
Saturday, 4 July
Saturday, 18 July
SPECIAL Yes, We CAN! The Pacific Northwest’s #1 Canned Craft Beer Festival––Street party outside of Elizabeth Station, on Holly & Broadway, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. This Fourth of July, neighbors will pile into the streets to enjoy live music by Wild Rabbit & Polecat, circus performances, games for the whole family, food trucks, beer, cider and mead from 40+ craft breweries, and the best view of the fireworks show in town. Bring your lawn chair, dancing shoes, and a wicked thirst – this is the place to be this 4th of July. Tickets on sale now.
CYCLING Tour de Whatcom–– Whatcom County, all-day. Beginning and ending at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market in front of Boundary Bay Brewery. Tour de Whatcom offers three routes: 22 miles, 44 miles or 105 miles – each winding through lush, scenic Whatcom County and offering views of Mt. Baker, Lake Whatcom, valleys, rivers, farmland, beaches and Puget Sound in one fairly level ride. SPECIAL Lily Point stewardship event & intertidal exploration––Lily Point Marine Reserve, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Enjoy a low-tide walk and stewardship celebration with intertidal zone specialists at this unique site!.
Visit AdventuresNW.com for complete listings of Outdoor events throughout 2015
6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours • Custom Made Finisher Awards • Professional Photos • • Complete Nutritional Support • FUN SWAG! • Register On-line At: Get Me Registered Visit our website at: www.hamsterenduranceruns.com Like Us On Facebook: Hamster Endurance Run CONTACT: kjkrieger@comcast.net OR lwayerski@comcast.net
Saturday, 11 July
Saturday, 25 July
RUN/WALK 48th Annual Chuckanut Foot Race––Marine Park, Bellingham, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. This point-to-point, seven-mile trail race starts at Marine Park in south Bellingham and finishes at Larrabee State Park, the oldest state park in Washington. The course follows the legendary Interurban Trail, which threads through the Chuckanut Mountains and features gorgeous views of Chuckanut Bay and the San Juan Islands. View the course map on the website. Busses will take runners back to the finish line and will leave with regularity.
SPECIAL Kulshan Quest Adventure Race––7:00 am – 7:00 pm. Are you smart enough? At Kulshan Quest Adventure Race you are given maps with checkpoints identified 30 minutes before the start. It’s up to you and your team to decide the routes you take on foot, mountain bike and kayak. Check out last year’s maps, checkpoints and passport to get a taste. New to the scene? Try the Recreation (4-6 hour) course. Seasoned or adventurous thrill-seekers try the Expert (8-12 hour) course.
AUGUST >>> Saturday, 1 August RUN/WALK Whidbey Island Triathlon––Community Park, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Beloved for its scenic course and friendly small-town feel, the Whidbey Island Triathlon is a great first triathlon for beginners, while still challenging for competitive triathletes. Starts with a .5 mile swim in beautiful Goss Lake; a 19.5 mile bike course on paved country roads (hilly with views of Saratoga Passage and the North Cascades). Finish with a 3.8 mile run through forest trails and on country roads. Limit: ~300 bikes. Chip timing.
Visit AdventuresNW.com for complete listings of Outdoor events throughout 2015 44
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015 • Hovander Park, Ferndale
• Adult & Kid Races • Costume Contest with prizes • More muds & suds obstacles than ever! • Entry includes t-shirt, BBQ picnic, & drink
• Team & Family Races with multiple starting times • Fire Department trucks hose you off! • Root Beer Garden & Beer Garden • Free Concert at Ferndale Street Festival
Brought to you by Whatcom Events • 360-746-8861 • MudRace@SkitoSea.com
event listings at AdventuresNW.com
Race in teams, crawl in mud, enjoy great food, get your costume on at the most outrageous fun day of your summer
MUDSTOSUDS.COM race | play | experience
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1 August (cont.) - 23 August 2015 SPECIAL Capitol To Bay Relay @ Capitol Forest––Olympia’s Port Plaza, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. The Capitol to Bay Relay (previously the Olympia Traverse), a five-leg relay starts at Capitol Forest with mountain biking (6.9miles), road biking (22miles), paddling (3.5miles), running (4.5miles) and ends at Budd Inlet with the Team Trek (0.5miles). The race concludes at
the Port Plaza in Olympia where vendors, racers, and fans join together with the Thurston County Chamber’s Brew Fest to celebrate and enjoy the local festivities.
Sunday, 16 August RUN/WALK The Color Run Bellingham––Bellingham Public Library, 8:00 am – 8:30 am. The Happiest 5k on the Planet is shining brighter in 2015 with a new tour!
Saturday, 22 August RUN/WALK Volcano Rain Forest
Runs Half Marathon–– Kona Marathon, 7:00 am – 12:00 pm. FEEL THE POWER of Hawaii while running on the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea.
Sunday, 23 August RUN/WALK Run The Rock––Texada Island, B.C., 7:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Marathon, Half & 8km.
Where will you run in 2015? January 11th ....................Lake Samish Runs ............................... 6.5 & 13.1 miles February 14th ..................Two For The Road .............................. 5K March 8th ..........................Padden Mudfest ................................. 6 mile trail run April 4th .............................Honeywagon Runs .............................. 4 & 13.1 miles May 2nd ............................Haggen To Haggen ........................... 5K
June13th...............Race.Beneath.The.Sun...... 5.miles July.11th...............Chuckanut.Foot.Race........ 7.mile.trail.run September.5th.......LK.Padden.Relay.............. 4x2.6.miles November 21st.............Turkey Trot ..................................... 5K December 5th ...............Fairhaven Frosty ........................... 5K & 10K
Greater Bellingham Running Club • 10 races • $30-$50 Annual Memberships • 501(c)(3) non-profit • gbrc.net
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Quest Adventure
Races Endurance Scavenger Hunt
Challenging Terrain
Recreation and Expert Teams
YOU IN?
Professional Courses
BELLINGHAM
TRAVERSE
September 19th
Bonus Checkpoints
July 25th
Bellingham, WA Adventure Race
NW Travel, Kulshan Cycles, Birch Equipment, Sustainable Connections, and WWU Alumni Assoc Kulshan Quest supports the Stewardship and Education programs of Recreation Northwest
September 26th San Juan Island, WA Adventure Race
event listings at AdventuresNW.com
Bellingham Traverse supports the Stewardship and Education programs of Recreation Northwest
BELLINGHAM
KIDS TRAVERSE
Sunday, June 28th Bellingham, WA race | play | experience
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16 August - 20 September This is a ride for
Saturday, 29 August
Ride 25, 38, 50, 62, 100, or 124
beautiful miles where the Cascade Mountains meet the Salish Sea!
SPECIAL Muds to Suds––Hovander Homestead Park, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Get your mud on! The Muds to Suds mud run features 22 dirty obstacles, including 8 mud pits, that combine athletic stamina and your child hood fantasy of playing in the mud! You will need endurance to complete this 5K obstacle course, humility to wallow in the mud and a smile to show off at the finish line! Kids ages 8 and up are welcome to join their parents in this family friendly event.
Saturday, 5 September RUN/WALK Lake Padden Relay––East Lake Padden Park, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. 4 Person X 2.6 mile or Individual 10.35 mile Run.
Sunday, 6 September
2015
Chuckanut Century Sunday, September 20
Ride on Whatcom & Skagit counties’ finest cycling roads, including the famous Chuckanut Drive. Enjoy views of Mount Baker & surrounding ranges while cycling along the shores of Padilla Bay, Bellingham Bay, Birch Bay, & Drayton Harbor. Mail-in registration at chuckanutcentury.org • fully supported • hearty food stops • tech tee guaranteed with registrations before 9/1 • tandems: discount for stoker • start & finish festivities at Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro, downtown Bellingham • FREE burger or beverage at finish! register online
RUN/WALK Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon––Orcas Island Moran State Park, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. 17th Annual Steve Braun Memorial TriathlonOrcas Island Friends of Moran Non-Profit. All proceeds directly benefit Moran State Park projects such as the Summit Learning Center and educational outreach! 1/2 Mile swim Cascade Lake, 15 Mile Bike Rural Scenic County Road, 3.5 Mile Run Primitive Trail around Cascade Lake. Book your accommodations early! Register online or day of race. Pre Race Meeting 8 am. Always the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
Saturday, 19 September RUN/WALK Bellingham Traverse––Railroad Ave, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Get Hooked on the Vital Choice
Bellingham Traverse, a fun relay race that celebrates the journey of wild salmon. Families, friends and local companies form solo, tandem and relay teams to run, bike and paddle through Bellingham’s scenic parks, winding trails and open waterways. The course includes a Greenways Run (5.5 mi); Mountain Bike (6.0 mi); Road Bike (18 mi.); Trail Run (3.4 mi); Paddle (3.6 mi.); Team TREK (0.65 mi.)
Sunday, 20 September CYCLING Chuckanut Century–– Bellingham and Whatcom County, all-day. Come join us for one of the most scenic rides in Washington. Pick your distance ranging from 25, 38, 50, 62, 100, or the double metric century of 124 miles. Ride support & food stops with a wide variety of high-energy food and drinks along all of the routes. All routes are gorgeous: views of the San Juan Islands, Chuckanut and Blanchard mountains, Mt Baker, the Canadian Cascades, Mt Shuksan, the Twin Sisters, Birch Bay, and Vancouver Island.
Saturday, 26 September RUN/WALK Methow Off-Road Duathlon––Sun Mountain Trails, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. 4th Annual Methow Valley Off-Road Duathlon, held at the iconic Sun Mountain resort on the Methow Trail’s system. The rolling trails overlook the valley and beyond into the Cascades. We have two options this year so please join us as a team or individual The challenging HARDMAN 40km Mtn Bike & 10Km Trail Run or the SPRINT 20km Mtn Bike & 5km Trail Run. The race finishes with awards/ prizes, free local brew and chili.
at active.com
chuckanutcentury.org 48
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26 September - 8 November 2015 Sunday, 27 September
Friday - Sunday, 6-8 November
RUN/WALK Bellingham Bay Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K Run––7:30 am – 3:00 pm. Come experience the natural beauty of Bellingham Bay, San Juan Islands, mountain views and a touch of trail in Bellingham, Washington. Enjoy what many runners have commented is “the most beautiful marathon in the Pacific Northwest. 9th Annual Event. www. bellinghambaymarathon.org
SPECIAL Friday Harbor Film Festival––Friday Harbor, All-day. The 3rd Annual Friday Harbor Film Festival will be held on San Juan Island, November 6-7-8, 2015. The Festival will feature over 30 award-winning documentaries and docu-dramas, including at least two premieres. In selecting the films to be shown, our goal is to Entertain our film goers, Inspire them to get involved in issues that speak to them, and Enlighten them about environmental issues, social concerns, and humanitarian efforts.
Sunday, 10 October SPECIAL Shoot the Trails Awards––Bellingham Technical College, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition’s 5th Annual Shoot the Trails Awards Video and Photography Contest. Fundraiser for local mountain bike trails. Awards for top three Videos & Photographs,Huge Prize Raffle, Beer, Food. New Location: Bellingham Technical College, Settlemeyer Hall.
Advertiser Index American Alpine Institute ................................17 Appel Farms & The Cheese Shop ..................21 Appliance Depot ...............................................29 Adventures NW Magazine ..............................37 Aspire Adventure Running ..............................43 Bagelry, The .........................................................10 Bellingham Bay Marathon ................................49 Bellingham Farmers Market ............................30 Bellingham Frameworks...................................38 Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism ........11 Boo’s Parlour......................................................35 Boundary Bay Brewery ....................................31 Brandon Nelson Keller Williams Real Estate............................2 Busara Thai Cuisine...........................................41 Chrysalis, The .....................................................12 Colophon Cafe ..................................................12 Color Run, The ..................................................46 Community Boating Center ...........................12 Community Food Co-op .................................24 Creative Life Adventures NW........................21 D’Anna’s Cafe Italiano ......................................31 Danne Neill - Muljat Group............................30 David Mauro - UBS Financial ..........................34 Dawn Durand - Windermere Real Estate ...23 Erinn Nobel - eXp Realty ................................17 Fairhaven Bicycle ...............................................12 Family Care Network ........................................6 Gato Verde Adventure Sailing .........................21 Greater Bellingham Running Club.................46 Hamster Endurance - Lake Padden ...............44 Hamster Endurance - Fitness Games ...........42 Hamster Endurance NW Run Archery Classic ............................43 Heritage Bank ......................................................5 HomeBridge Financial Services ......................24 iClean ...................................................................21 JM Electric ...........................................................24 Josh Feyen - REMAX ........................................18
event listings at AdventuresNW.com
ADVENTURES NW >>>
Don’t get up. We deliver. AdventuresNW.com/subscribe Photo by Buff Black
Ken Harrison/Coldwell Banker Bain .............34 Kulshan Brewery ...............................................52 Labels ...................................................................35 Lake to Lake Bike Ride/City of Bellevue ......42 Leopold, The .........................................................7 LFS Marine & Outdoor ....................................30 Lithtex NW ........................................................39 Mallard Ice Cream.............................................40 McKay’s Taphouse ..............................................13 MBBC/Chuckanut Century.............................48 Mount Baker Mountain Guides ......................18 Nathan McAllister, Attorney at Law ..............35 North Cascades Institute ................................19 North Cascades Mountain Guides................48 North Fork Brewery ........................................39 NW European Autoworks ..............................29 Northwest Navigation .....................................38 Paddle4Ever ........................................................40 Peace Health.......................................................35 Peoples Bank ........................................................3 Percival Consulting Group - Capitol to Bay Relay...................................44 Recreation Northwest - Traverse/Quest .....47 ReStore, The .......................................................39 San Juan Sailing ...................................................39 Silver Reef Casino .............................................51 Skagit Co Parks - Clear Lake Triathlon ........43 Skagit Valley Food Co-op .................................41 Terra .....................................................................40 Tourism Ucluelet ...............................................25 Village Books ......................................................12 West Coast Wellness .......................................31 Whatcom Events ...............................................45 Whatcom Educational Credit Union ............35 Whatcom Family YMCA ..................................15 Whatcom Rowing Association .......................21 Whiskey Landing Lodge ...................................41 Yoga Northwest ................................................24 Yoga with Susan D’Onofrio ............................19 Zaremba Paxton PS ............................................4 Zervas Law .........................................................29
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Broughton Rapture photo by LANCE EKHART “Lost� in the fog amidst a maze of countless islands at sunrise one still glassy-calm morning, I am rowing my dinghy following the haunting calls of a loon as the sun breaks through, setting fire to the trees in a glorious rapture. Another day begins in the Broughton Archipelago, BC. Explore the remarkable photography of Lance Ekhart at lekhartimages.com
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